Chapter 246: Weapon
In the eighth year of the Tong Zheng Calendar, on the training ground of the military base in Donghua Commandery, Xuan Chong took out the new weaponry he had developed over these many years.
The Mu Luan war machine was being debugged. This wooden kite had already been fitted with an energy storage power pack made of thick spirit wood, silk, and jade, no longer a flapping machine temporarily charged by human pedaling and Feng Shui arrays. Instead, it was a mech directly powered by jade energy and propellers, almost a knockoff combat mech.
In the sky, eight Mu Luan were in action. These latest heavy-duty war machines had a military rating as high as Guiche, belonging to aerial artillery units.
In the skin-covered belly of the Mu Luan, six iron Divine Fire Flying Crows were hidden, internally loaded with refined “Thunder Fire Essence,” the core raw material of “Thunder Fire Bombs.”
The formula for “Thunder Fire Essence” came from the Li Palace.
After the battle in Zhen State settled the western mountains and rivers, the landscape stabilized, and the Palace of Exchange had been established in Lelang City.
The Li Palace was then secured by Fen Xing City. — That old thing Emperor Shu had hidden a whole bunch of good stuff back then.
As for how Liangtian Pavilion in Zhen State refines Thunder Fire Essence, that comes down to this world’s “Dan Ding Art.” Alchemists use Yao Calculation to continuously stack structures in the materials that can absorb and bind energy, then combine them in refining furnaces into various finished products.
Within Zhen State territory, Liangtian Pavilion is now systematically organizing Dan Ding Art theory. For military gunpowder, agricultural fertilizers, industrial oils, they have set up super Dan Dings with volumes from twenty shi to around one hundred shi.
As for Xuan Chong, he still derived the chemical molecular formula for this Thunder Fire Essence based on his original worldview. He discovered that the nitrogen-carbon polymer molecules had extremely high mass!
What exactly the chemical structure was like from his previous life? Xuan Chong’s rudimentary chemical knowledge didn’t know. But he knew one principle! Traditional TNT is a planar explosive structure, its energy already at the limit, while more advanced fourth-generation explosives are complex and three-dimensional.
Xuan Chong’s outer path system now had a set of stacking theory, and he had learned a series of calculation experience. According to Xuan Chong’s speculation, certain “Yao Calculation data to note in alchemy” should be related to molecular bond angles. — In short, when he asked the system himself, the system insisted on principles.
…The class dismissal bell had not yet rung…
With a “boom,” as the Divine Fire Flying Crow floated two kilometers away, a small mushroom cloud rose from the mountain body; the shock wave spread, forming a three-zhang-diameter ring of scorching hot explosive trench, with the center in a bowl-sized molten state.
Here, Xuan Chong opened his Chi You Soldier combat mech to view the destruction. The mech’s buzzing sound lingered on the training ground; the blue Mach ring nimbly flicked at the nozzle.
After Xuan Chong landed and emerged from the mech cabin, Wu Lu said, “Father, the Chi You Soldier is much more imposing than the Great Ming you ride! (Great Ming is Peacock’s nickname.)”
Xuan Chong lightly hummed in acknowledgment, then at the “crystal projection” screen nearby, began tapping code to adjust the programming effect of the “fluid crystal tube” arrangement in the Divine Fire Flying Crow, making its trajectory better.
Xuan Chong, currently acting as a code farmer, had no time to pay attention to the bratty child.
Wu Lu asked, “If you used the Chi You Soldier, couldn’t the battle a few months ago have been broken in one fight?”
Xuan Chong stopped programming, typed a comment code, then looked up at him and said: “War is fought not just with force, but also with hearts. This weapon’s power is certainly immense, but it is not recognized by the Yao soil families. Taking it out has already violated many sects’ taboos. And if I showed off its might in the Zhenzhou battle, we would inevitably face various evil calamities, and you, as one close to me, would also suffer.”
Xuan Chong patted his shoulder and solemnly said: “After this, I will seal this thing away properly, so you can’t find it. Of course, I’m not sure how far your ability will go; perhaps one day you will break through the barriers I set. So I advise you, in the future, do not go against the hearts of the people under heaven by using this thing for killing, otherwise — you and those around you will face disaster.”
Wu Lu had no choice but to repeat: “If I use the Chi You Soldier, it will forever be only against the enemies of the Xi People.”
Xuan Chong looked at him, knowing he was not resigned, and shook his head.
Xuan Chong looked up at the Evil Moon hanging over the Heluo region and murmured: “It’s coming soon. In a few more months, the Evil Moon gate will open in the human world. I must go; take good care of yourself.”
Wu Lu paused and proposed: “Father, father and son soldiers on the battlefield.”
Xuan Chong looked at him: “This doesn’t concern you. Stay properly in Chong Land to handle official duties. Right, don’t learn from Emperor Ling; don’t get indulgent the moment I leave.”
Wu Lu: “You always say that, isn’t it inauspicious? Emperor Ling was utterly rebellious. Could your son be like that?”
Xuan Chong smiled, patted his shoulder, and said: “Alright, everything is left to you now.”
…Heavenly disaster is approaching…
East of the Jia River, in various villages, a kind of madness disease is spreading. The people in the villages can go without grain; they just need to look up at the moonlight on the eighth of each month, but the price is that every time under the moonlight, their bodies turn blood red and become frenzied creatures that must be hacked to stop.
One village after another is turning blood-mad, and there are no more farmlands being planted between villages.
And those villages with farmlands have also been hacked to death by these rampant monsters, then transformed into their likeness.
The once fertile Heluo Region has passed the famine, but without farmlands and society, it can be said that the state altars are gone.
The madness spreads like a virus from village to village.
Qian Family Village, the largest stronghold here, in last year’s “eat chicken” grabbed all the grain from the eighteen surrounding villages, relying on their sturdy fortress to hold off the farmers from other villages armed only with wooden sticks and iron forks last year.
However today, the people in Qian Family Village looked at that group of bloodthirsty things and trembled involuntarily; because these things were no longer human, their limb lengths could change, and when the front limbs became as long as the hind limbs, they could crawl up like animals. These monsters ignored arrow clusters, climbed the fortress walls, and bit the household guards on the walls with sharp teeth.
In no time, blood sprayed, human heads were brutally twisted off, and screams rang out in every courtyard of the Qian Family.
And in the sky, blood-colored moonlight fell, like a blood tentacle dangling from high above, then firmly entering Qian Family Village.
Zhao Cheng discovered this in July, but when he brought his troops here, the entire fertile land’s former people had all turned into monsters. After his corps poked dead these mutated monsters with spears and crossbow bolts, fighting for eight days, infections appeared among them too. Zhao City had no choice but to execute the infected soldiers, which left his morale extremely low.
After thinking it over, Zhao City resolved to seek aid from Zhen State.
…Belated New Year’s money…
And on the other side, Eastern Yao’s newly built auxiliary capital.
Here in Zhen State, as locomotives transported supplies onto ships at the waterways. Then through the Heluo river channels, Zhen State ships conveyed these wooden plank container supplies, ultimately delivering this equipment under His Majesty.
This was Zhen State’s wave of tribute to Eastern Yao.
So what was the point of this operation? To Xuan Chong, it was just investing in a stock. After Yao’s legitimacy hit rock bottom, investing a round might prove useful later.
Moreover, Yao territory was not currently under his control. If Yao revitalized, it would give the surrounding other vassal states more headaches.
Such tribute allowed Zhen State’s transport machinery to openly infiltrate other vassal lands. — Whoever stops the tribute, I can beat them! And beat them as traitorous ministers and thieves.
This was Xuan Chong’s elegant counterattack after the many eastern vassals collectively demonized Zhen State in the context.
Tong Zheng Emperor looked at the tribute items from Zhen State, quite moved. And he looked with great curiosity at those ships on the river surface, powered by waterwheel machines conveying thunder power, able to move on the river surface themselves.
Gong Qian with graying hair and the group of envoys arrived in Eastern Yao’s city after a five-hundred-kilometer journey; Gong Qian looked at the “Royal Army” arrayed at the palace gate and couldn’t help sighing.
Once upon a time, in Emperor Shu’s era, when vassal lords and merchants from all under heaven came to Yao Capital, seeing the square formation of armored imperial guards glowing with treasure light all over, all prostrated in worship. The imperial guards’ majesty made the four directions submit.
But now here in Eastern Yao, these “imperial guards” in cloth clothes were obviously just hastily called in from the fields to make up numbers.
Tong Zheng Emperor looked at this batch of tribute supplies, feeling somewhat apprehensive; for this reception, he had scraped together a batch of silk to give as rewards, unsure if Zhen State would give him face.
However, next, Zhen State sent batch after batch of items; for example, a large teacup-shaped golden conch. This thing was imported from the Feather Tribe, with beautiful spirit patterns distributed on the conch; in Great Yao, any material capable of complex Yao Calculation could store spiritual energy, the more complex the spirit patterns, the higher the quality.
Thus, New Yao Capital’s Sitian Cheng rarely saw such southern goods, but knew such spiritual materials were hard currency across the entire Xi Ren Realm. At the same time, spirit wood trees were also delivered to New Yao Capital to build a palace for the new emperor.
For the silk and jewelry rewarded by Tong Zheng Emperor, the Zhen State envoys said: We dare not accept! Because for these years without tribute, it is a great sin. We only beg His Majesty to pardon Duke Zhen.
Hearing such words, Tong Zheng Emperor’s eyes couldn’t help welling with tears; these years, the vassal lords under heaven paid lip service while acting against him. Not to mention tribute, even demanding daily expenses only got cold responses.
However, Tong Zheng Emperor suppressed his emotions; he had heard of Zhen State lord’s reputation as a master of business, so this visit was certainly not out of loyalty. Thus, he probed Gong Qian: “What exactly does Zhen State lord need?”
Gong Qian earnestly said: “Zhen State is far away, unable to often offer tribute, and needs to build an enshrined hall (embassy) in Eastern Yao Capital to long-term coordinate and manage eastern goods trade, better preparing tribute for His Majesty.”
Tong Zheng Emperor suddenly understood: Xuan Chong wanted to use his banner to sell goods across Great Yao’s central regions. He couldn’t help finding it amusing; what he thought was loyalty was actually deeming himself valuable.
Tong Zheng Emperor said: “Duke Zhen is thoughtful, but.”
He walked to the offered goods and slowly said: “Duke Zhen was appointed by the previous emperor as Town North General, a famous military strategist under heaven, so why is there no military strategist weaponry in today’s tribute?”
Gong Qian: “Your Majesty, weapons are tools of ill omen.” But he was interrupted before finishing.
Jia Ying: “Ritual, music, conquest all come from the Son of Heaven. If he is truly loyal, do not fool me with these vain things.” Then Jia Ying arrogantly ordered the Ministry of Rites to reciprocate Zhen State’s tribute at equal value, but of course the Ministry paused and stood aside dragging time, because it was awkward to say the treasury was empty.
Gong Qian naturally wouldn’t let Tong Zheng Emperor’s posturing end halfway in embarrassment.
When Chong Lord (Xuan Chong) came, he had already said: Show sufficient respect to Tong Zheng Emperor, but operationally use the theory of building overseas colonial outposts to lay out in New Yao Capital.
For example, over there in Feather Tribe’s Ding Ling City, Xuan Chong used merchant groups, city army, local reclamation villagers as three elements to classify power, create a “legitimate rationale” ritual, then dragged all these power entities under this ritual for control.
Now Tong Zheng Emperor has a “legitimate rationale,” but lacks army, economy, and loyalty from the land’s people; by inserting into these three elements, Zhen State can influence Tong Zheng Emperor.
In other words, once confirming Tong Zheng Emperor wants to achieve something, then invest in economy and military, and share the “politics” dividends. Tong Zheng Emperor also knew his “politics” reputation; his previous “cooperations” with Yan Family were very unpleasant; Yan Family was empty-handed white wolf, seizing his name while guarding against him in military and personnel matters.
So Tong Zheng Emperor here was not throwing a tantrum, but rather like a son righteously demanding things from his dad.
Gong Qian hurriedly said: “Your Majesty lacks tools of conquest due to our negligence; may I relay His Majesty’s holy words to Duke Zhen.”
Tong Zheng Emperor nodded; he naturally knew such a complex matter couldn’t be agreed to in one go.
An hour later, Gong Qian: “Duke Zhen bids me apologize to His Majesty; Chong Lord is willing to contribute a corps’ worth of equipment to His Majesty.”
Tong Zheng Emperor was stunned; he didn’t know what this exactly was or how much; then opening the list, he was shocked inside: this was two thousand firearms, five hundred sets of armor, eight ox cannons, twenty ballistae, and eight light Mu Luan (old version).
Gong Qian explained that Guiche and War Kui weren’t impossible to give; but their maintenance costs were too high, hoping Tong Zheng Emperor would first restore local livelihoods.
Jia Ying suddenly stood up. He originally just wanted to extract a sum to build his palace’s hundred-man guard, never expecting Xuan Chong to directly send a proper corps’ equipment; restraining his excitement, maintaining poise, he said: “For these equipment, can Chong Lord send people to train?”
Gong Qian: “If His Majesty needs, we will send people; but Your Majesty, your current situation requires keeping a low profile and biding time.”
Jia Ying hurriedly nodded, but soon reacted, shouldn’t seem obedient, so he coughed: “My dear minister speaks correctly.” Seemingly without loose talk, but his eyes showed leaping delight.
…Perspective to the other side…
Thus, after May of year eight, Jia Ying’s new “Eastern Market Army” was formed. On the other side, a hundred soldiers selected internally also received new armaments; they were all at fifth layer of postnatal true qi.
The imperial guards wore scale armor covered in “spirit script.” They carried twelve-millimeter caliber firearms with copper-cased bullets. The firearms weighed twelve kilograms total, two meters long; as standard anti-tank equipment from later eras, ordinary people struggled to carry them, and this firearm also mounted a war halberd.
Jia Ying (Tong Zheng Emperor) wanted his army to be like the Eastern Market Army at the end of Emperor Shu’s reign, suddenly forming and exterminating external threats.
However, this made the real Eastern Market Army feel threatened.
…Three days later, North…
Dai Commandery Prefect Hong Qiang examined the secret letter, using his eye sockets to clip the glasses lens, carefully reading the intelligence report.
Upon seeing the changes in New Yao Capital, including military, he immediately stood up.
If other vassals under heaven sent a batch of equipment to help Tong Zheng Emperor regain conquest ability, he would scoff. But — if the person was Wu Yuanchang, he felt suffocated.
Back then as a member of Eastern Market Army, when he first joined, he didn’t think Wu Fei had much ability, until taking Bo Prefecture did he feel Wu Fei’s military system was first-rate.
Then after Wu Fei left, he increasingly felt he still hadn’t understood Wu Fei back then.
Although Wu Hengyu took over and could lead everyone to beat the vassals under heaven, Wu Hengyu’s military strategy was fierce enough but lacked harmony.
And as years advanced, he increasingly felt Wu Yuanchang was actually far more terrifying than Wu Hengyu; Wu Hengyu’s strength was momentary, while Wu Yuanchang’s, as long as he lived, was a volcano gathering momentum for eruption.
Because when organizing the next generation Eastern Market Army in Bo Prefecture, he found no more generals who could convince Yao Capital noble families above and connect with rope-pullers below.
Hong Qiang had always paid attention to Xuan Chong. After Xuan Chong defeated Zhao Cheng on the frontal battlefield, he heard that the generals under Xuan Chong were actually those kids from Bo Prefecture prefecture who played house with beans and grains of rice back then. He felt suffocated!
Easy to get a thousand troops, hard to find one general; how hard to cultivate generals, he knew, but Xuan Chong mass-produced them like turning stone into gold.
Now Xuan Chong deployed his “son” into Yao Capital; he couldn’t sit still.
Under the lamplight, his clothes from the hunched sitting posture had many wrinkles.
As a former old Eastern Market Army member, he feared the rising wave!
The next day, he immediately told Wu Hengyu about this, demanding absolutely not to let Yao Capital’s Son of Heaven regain armed forces; Wu Hengyu seemed absent-minded, believing Wu Yuanchang wouldn’t let Yao Capital’s new army target them.
Right, Xuan Chong had written to Wu Hengyu, reminding him to guard against Evil Moon influence.
Now weird things had appeared on Zhao Cheng’s territory. Wu Hengyu was watching from the walls. So Wu Hengyu interpreted Yao Capital’s training as Xuan Chong’s remedy.
…Times are unfavorable, the steed will not go…
Hong Qiang got no result from persuading; looking at the already middle-aged Wu Hengyu, he shook his head: “Not worth plotting with.”
However, just as Hong Qiang was depressed, Xian Daoren appeared, expressing willingness to make a trip to see if Yao Capital’s situation posed a crisis to Bo Kingdom.
