Chapter 279 |
Chapter 279 (Heartbroken…)
What exactly is a cannon cart?
To put it bluntly, before witnessing with his own eyes how it could shoot an iron ball-like object a mile into the forest, before seeing a big tree—half a person’s embrace in size—pierced with a huge hole, before seeing solid ground blasted open into a big crater… Sha Shan had always regarded that thing as an "idiot’s wagon."
To put it more crudely, Sha Shan simply did not believe that a cannon cart’s power was better than that of a war chariot!
But reality is a harsh teacher.
Xi Liuzi used facts to prove to him that anyone who doesn’t believe in His Highness the Wise King will be slapped in the face.
How could one possibly doubt the power of a cannon cart?
Don’t they know this is the formula given by His Highness the Wise King?
Are they not aware that everything given by His Highness is a gift from the immortals?!
Previously, only the people in the Research Institute thought like this in private, but now that the cannon cart appeared, after the brainwashing by Xi Liuzi and others, even the Gray Guards like Sha Shan came to believe it!
What else could produce such a divine weapon other than a gift from the immortals?!
Having witnessed the devastated mountain forest after being struck by the cannonball, Sha Shan solemnly confirmed a fact in his heart:
— The Ninth Highness truly deserves the title of the son of the True Dragon.
–
Wei Yu was quite satisfied with the initial test results of the cannon cart.
Especially with the two types of cannonballs made by Master Fusheng—the solid shot and the shrapnel shot. Dean Fusheng made it so well, that Wei Yu sincerely thought, “Great Wei, what would we do without the old master?”
The solid shot fired was perfectly suited for attacking cities, piercing city walls and fortifications, and even breaking open enemy ship hulls.
The shrapnel shot contained gunpowder. Simply put, it was an explosive projectile, similar to a bomb. Upon explosion, fragments scattered in all directions, making it an area weapon to strike enemy troops.
Only two cannonballs were fired during the test. After observing the effect, there were no more bullets left.
When Wei Yu left the test site with the excited chemists, the Gray Guards hiding in various spots began to emerge.
Each of them squatted around the exploded cannonball craters, looking at the surrounding devastation; they looked at each other in confusion.
After a while, someone spoke up, “So this is the cannon cart?”
Someone pondered and then nodded, “Better than the war chariot.”
Someone else said with a stern face, “Want one.”
They were the emperor’s elite guards and must be equipped with the best weapons in the world!
The word “want” expressed the heartfelt wish of everyone present. A group of them quickly turned to look at their superior.
Sha Shan, the superior, was silently standing in front of a big tree, staring at the large hole pierced through its trunk, filled with confusion.
Such a thick tree was pierced just like that?
If this hit a person, wouldn’t it shatter them into meat paste?!
Sha Shan suddenly felt a bit melancholy.
Not for himself, but for others.
Great Wei now had not only explosives but also cannon carts. If others were blind enough to oppose the Imperial Court, it would be difficult for them to even leave an intact corpse!!
Alas, what a sin.
Worrying about the enemy, Sha Shan made up his mind in two seconds about the future.
What’s the big deal if they even die with an intact corpse?
Not leaving a good reputation among the living is the best outcome!
Someone called out again.
“We want one.”
Sha Shan snapped back to reality and looked over with a stern face, “Want what, want what! Can I make this decision? Ask His Highness!”
The subordinates were speechless…
Thinking of His Majesty eagerly waiting in the palace, Sha Shan instructed the others to clean up the site and quickly went back to the palace to report the news.
–
“Tsk.”
Inside the palace, which was usually quiet except for the slight rustling of paper, Emperor Wei once again irritably put down his pen. He looked up from a pile of memorials and frowned, asking Li Cheng, “Are they here yet?”
“No, His Majesty.”
This was the fourteenth time Li Cheng had given the same answer to His Majesty.
Eunuch Li was quite helpless.
Since early morning, when His Majesty received the cannon cart news from the Gray Guards, he had asked roughly every fifteen minutes whether the people had arrived. If it weren’t for propriety, Li Cheng might have asked His Majesty if his mouth was tired.
Emperor Wei’s mouth wasn’t tired, but his heart was.
“What is Wei Yu doing, dawdling like this! Doesn’t he see what time it is? Does it take so long to look at a cannon cart? That bastard!”
Emperor Wei slammed the table and scolded Wei Yu again.
Li Cheng counted silently—this was the ninth time His Majesty had scolded the Ninth Highness.
After scolding the unfilial son, Emperor Wei felt a little peaceful inside. He picked up the memorials again, ready to review them.
It was at this moment that Sha Shan arrived.
“Your Majesty, Master Fusheng has made two types of cannonballs: one solid shot and one shrapnel shot. Today, the Ninth Highness tested the cannon cart in the backyard of the Research Institute. When the cannonballs were fired, the mountains shook and the power pierced through trees…” Sha Shan knelt before Emperor Wei, reporting the facts he had witnessed.
The more he spoke, the brighter Emperor Wei’s eyes became.
“Is it really that powerful? Did you ask Fusheng how many cannonballs have been made?”
Emperor Wei stood up, his face flushed with excitement. The gleam in his eyes was fierce, even more fearsome than Lord Grand Commandant.
Sha Shan said, “Every word I say is true, and I dare not deceive Your Majesty. Since the full effect has not been confirmed, Master Fusheng has not made many more cannonballs.”
Oh, that meant no extras were left.
Emperor Wei felt some disappointment; after all, he had planned to personally experience it tomorrow.
But no extras wasn’t a big problem. Fusheng could make more. All he had to know was that Great Wei had gained another weapon of war!
Harboring grand ambitions of unifying the world, Emperor Wei sat down calmly.
He rubbed his hands and asked Sha Shan, “Where is the Ninth Highness? Why didn’t he come to the palace as well?”
Emperor Wei remembered that Wei Yu’s holiday was tomorrow.
Although he wasn’t counting on his fingers, he had Li Cheng to keep track for him!
Li Cheng had it all recorded.
Sha Shan replied, “Your Majesty, the Ninth Highness is still at the estate. He said the cannonballs can still be improved, so he must stay at the Research Institute to discuss with Master Fusheng.”
Upon hearing this, Emperor Wei couldn’t help but let out a cold snort.
Fake!
This excuse sounded so fake!
There was no way that bastard would be so diligent and conscientious; obviously, he was deliberately avoiding his father!
Understanding Wei Yu’s reason for not coming to the palace, Emperor Wei directly instructed Sha Shan to relay a message to Wei Yu:
— “If you don’t want to attend the court, fine, but bring more cannonballs.”
Heavens!
That sounded harsh!
Wei Yu, who had been hiding at the Research Institute hoping to slack off, immediately felt uneasy upon hearing this.
How could he bring more cannonballs? Where would he get them?
The Research Institute only had a few people, even if they gave all the cannonballs, there still wouldn’t be enough manpower!
That old man was really full of wild ideas.
Wei Yu grumbled about his father’s irresponsibility and then, that very afternoon, hurriedly went to the palace.