Chapter 89: The Chariot of the Dawn Star Officer
Gao Chuwu and Zheng Daniu were having the time of their lives driving.
Men, to their dying day, remain boys; as they grow older, their toys simply become more sophisticated, but their fundamental love for playthings never changes.
For Gao Chuwu and Zheng Daniu, the Solar Car was the most thrilling, oversized toy imaginable.
While driving in the village, they couldn't truly let loose, always fearful of hitting something or someone if they sped up. But on the official road, heading thirty *li* to Bai Family Fortress, why wouldn't they charge ahead like wild horses?
The sunshade was pulled back as far as it could go, and they pushed the speed to its maximum, reaching eighty kilometers per hour. Had it not been for the food piled on the car partially blocking the solar panels, they might even have pushed the Solar Car to a hundred kilometers per hour.
Ahead, a small hillock rose.
Anyone who drives knows that nearing the crest of a hill, you must slow down, because the summit obstructs your view of the road beyond, making accidents likely. But these two simpletons had never attended "lessons in road safety" and had no such common sense. Their speed remained absolute; "charge" was their only thought.
As a result, the Solar Car surged over the hill at eighty kilometers per hour, and only then did they see the main road on the other side was completely packed with people. By then, it was too late to brake.
The Little Overlord's rebels were just scaling the slope.
The Little Overlord was about to burst into song when, from the nearby woods, Cheng Xu's furious roar echoed: "Charge!"
On both sides of the official road, a hundred government soldiers instantly appeared!
The soldiers' equipment was far superior to that of the rebels. Dozens of bows were drawn simultaneously, aimed, and ready to fire. Cheng Xu brandished a long sword, adding a dramatic flourish for the archers: "You villain, Little Overlord, this day next year will be your death anniversary..."
No sooner had he finished his grandiose pronouncement than a "rumbling" sound erupted from the other side of the hill. A colossal vehicle, with a *whoosh*, burst over the crest and plunged forward.
Gao Chuwu and Zheng Daniu shouted in unison: "Get out of the way! We can't stop in time!"
No one could possibly react.
Eighty kilometers per hour! How many people could react to that? Both the rebel bandits and the government soldiers were utterly dumbfounded.
The massive vehicle plowed straight through the ranks of bandits in the middle of the road. Men and horses were sent flying. The rebel chieftain, Little Overlord, didn't even have time to utter a curse before being struck squarely by the front of the vehicle, collapsing without a sound. Several of his close associates were also sent soaring outwards in a fan shape.
The government soldiers on both sides of the road collectively gasped. *Thank goodness I didn't rush onto the road, otherwise I'd be flying through the air with those bandits right now.*
Zheng Daniu: "Ahhh, we've caused trouble! We've run someone over!"
Gao Chuwu: "Oh no, what do we do? Should we stop?"
Zheng Daniu: "We can't stop! The victims' families will kill us! Run!"
Gao Chuwu: "But that feels so wrong."
Zheng Daniu: "It's better than being killed right now! Go, go! We'll prepare compensation later and come beg for forgiveness."
The two dared not stop, continuing their fierce charge, breaking through the remaining rebels and heading towards Bai Family Fortress.
Traffic fatality compounded by fleeing the scene—how many years in prison would that warrant?
This question, no one was pondering!
Because neither the rebels nor the government soldiers could process coherent thoughts in such a short time. All the rebels were stunned by the rapid succession of astonishing events, their minds utterly unable to keep up. The soldiers on both sides were equally dumbfounded, their drawn bows still unreleased.
This bizarre paralysis lasted for several seconds until Cheng Xu roared: "What are you staring at? The rebel chieftain is dead! Quickly, wipe out the remaining bandits!"
The soldiers snapped awake, their arrows finally loosed, scattering the rebels. Then, the soldiers surged forward. The Little Overlord's rebels were no match for even a single engagement with the government forces; in moments, the situation was resolved.
Once the bandits were either slain or scattered, and the scene had calmed, Cheng Xu finally turned his head to gaze in the direction where the peculiar grand vehicle had vanished. *That was no earthly object! Could it be a divine artifact sent from heaven to help me quell the bandits?*
----
Bai Family Fortress was bustling with renewed life.
Under Bai Yuan's command, Bai Family Fortress had undergone a thorough reconstruction. The fortress walls were repaired and slightly reinforced. Although nowhere near as tall as the walls of Gao Family Village, Bai Yuan had tried his best to emulate it, erecting watchtowers at the four corners and carving crenellated battlements into the walls.
The Bai family was wealthy, so various supplies posed no problem. The only thing they currently lacked was grain.
Grain, at this time, was something money could hardly buy.
Bai Yuan was just contemplating whether to seek assistance from Gao Family Village when he heard his household guards shout: "Master, Master! A strange, large vehicle just drove into the village entrance! The drivers are from Gao Family Village!"
Bai Yuan's spirits lifted, and he hurried out to greet them.
"Ah, you're from Gao Family Village... Gao One? Gao Two? Gao Three?"
Gao Chuwu, his face a mask of distress: "Master Bai, I'm Gao Chuwu."
Bai Yuan: "Ah, yes, yes, you're Gao Chuwu, I remember clearly."
*Had he heard this conversation before?* Bai Yuan felt a peculiar sense of déjà vu. "You're a grown man, why the long face?"
Gao Chuwu was on the verge of tears: "I... we... we ran someone over on the way here."
Bai Yuan's gaze swept over the strange grand vehicle. The front bumper bore marks of collision, along with fresh blood and torn fragments of coarse cloth. It seemed they had hit more than one person.
He picked up a piece of the torn cloth, frowned, then his expression relaxed. "Don't worry. In these chaotic times, what decent person would be roaming around outside? You must have hit bandits or similar ruffians. This piece of cloth confirms it. A large group of people wearing such crude garments on the main road must surely be bandits."
Hearing this, Gao Chuwu and Zheng Daniu's spirits lifted somewhat. Both were simple-minded and easily trusted others, especially a learned man like Master Bai, who was proficient in the Six Arts. Any word from him was enough for them to accept as gospel.
Gao Chuwu grinned: "Oh, that's good, that's good. If we only hit bandits, there's nothing to worry about."
Zheng Daniu: "Master Bai, we are here on the Heavenly Lord's orders to deliver some grain to you."
Bai Yuan was overjoyed: "The Heavenly Lord is benevolent."
The two simpletons unloaded a large pile of rice, flour, salt, and sugar from the Solar Car. This immediately resolved Bai Yuan's urgent needs, and he solemnly bowed several times towards Gao Family Village: "The Heavenly Lord still remembers this humble mortal. Your immense kindness, I will never forget."
After expressing his gratitude, his gaze finally turned to the enormous, strange vehicle: "What is this thing?"
At this, the two simpletons became animated.
Gao Chuwu, beaming with excitement: "This is a Solar Car bestowed upon us by the Heavenly Lord. It runs when the sun is out and stops when the sun sets."
Hearing this, Bai Yuan was startled: "It runs when the sun comes out? Then... could it be... the Chariot of the Dawn Star Officer?"
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