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Chapter 54
"This level of team coordination is simply too terrifying!"
"I've heard before that the lady's trained troops can take on three times their number. I didn't believe it at first, thinking a woman couldn't possibly understand training methods that well; there must have been someone exaggerating on her behalf."
"But now I see... it's truly as they say."
"If my soldiers encountered such heights, their first reaction would be figuring out how to climb up themselves, not immediately cooperating with their comrades."
The warrior sighed softly, his eyes filled with awe and shock.
He suddenly began to wonder what kind of world that was.
No imperial power, everyone equal?
No execution of nine generations for one offense?
The people living happily, free to love whoever they wished.
No wars, yet possessing such a terrifying military?
The warrior marveled inwardly, the people of the future surpassed them in vision, resources, and military might alike!
"Bang!"
"Bang bang!"
More gunshots rang out in quick succession.
The citizens and officials jumped in their hearts.
They watched in shock as all the soldiers on screen held some black tubular device, firing at targets fifty meters away.
They'd hear a sound, then see something black whizz past rapidly.
Yet their myriad eyes, glued to the livestream, could not make out how these devices were fired.
By the time they saw, there was already a new hole in the target!
"What was that thing? As loud as thunder, as fast as the wind - how could there be such a swift device?"
"Did my eyes fail me? I watched intently but couldn't see how that device was fired, just heard a bang and the fifty meter target was hit!"
"Heavens! Look quickly!"
"Each of their targets has eight or nine rings hit - are they all master archers? The future soldiers are too formidable!"
"Your Majesty, we must ask how to make this thing. It's far more powerful than arrows!"
A warrior's eyes lit up as he stepped forward excitedly, wishing he could leap into the screen to study it.
With such a treasure, what need was there to fear the barbarians?
Pei Changying's heart burned with desire to possess it, but then he resented Gu Sang.
If the future had such powerful devices, why had Gu Sang never told him?
If Gu Sang had taught him how to make these weapons...
He could have trampled the barbarians and struck the Xiongnu long ago!
The more he thought, the more resentful Pei Changying became: "Gu Sang, I underestimated you. Why didn't you teach me about these formidable devices?"
"Outwardly pretending to be kind, claiming not to want the people to suffer."
"In truth, you're selfish and hypocritical to the extreme. You had such good things but hoarded them, not sharing them. So much for caring about the people - no wonder Consort Zhao believed you."
Hearing Pei Changying mention Consort Zhao made Gu Sang furious.
This wretched man!
Just wait!
Wait and this throne will change hands before long.
The Princess was already recruiting warriors, searching Lingnan for sweet potatoes. Once the food issue was solved...
Along with the modern techniques she provided to win the people's hearts, victory was assured!
Gu Sang was in no hurry: "Pei Changying, you have no right to mention Consort Zhao."
"You truly don't recognize your own abilities or the gap between ancient and modern technology, do you?"
"Even if I gave you these things, neither you nor anyone here could replicate them in a hundred years!"
Gu Sang's words naturally displeased some officials.
Though true, the truth is often hardest to hear.
Some elderly officials frowned, defending their erudition: "Ignorant woman, unaware of her station. No matter how good those devices are, they'll never be more than underhanded tricks."
"Think you can rule all under heaven with those? Fool!"
"If only our army could go there, we'd show you true military might."
Gu Sang scorned debating them further.
These officials had only seen guns and marksmanship - not the real heavy artillery to come.
The main event was always last!
Once they witnessed it, they'd understand how laughably arrogant their words had been.
The officials thought the future they glimpsed was the whole, when it was merely the tip of the iceberg!
"Beep beep—"
A shrill alarm rang through the training area.
Even the ancients knew that urgent sound meant calling soldiers to prepare for attack.
But hadn't they said there were no wars?
Could another country be invading?
As the ancients wondered, they heard more "click, click" noises.
Then on the livestream, they saw a door slowly opening behind the soldiers.
The soldiers swiftly yet orderly ran into the armory.
At Gu Sang's urging, the cameras followed inside - terrifying those mocking officials moments before.
An elderly official gaped: "Wh-What are those things, so huge?"
A citizen asked, "Why aren't they charging? Aren't they retreating by vehicle?"
A warrior was bewildered: "Where are their armor? Horses? Swords?"
A consort exclaimed in shock: "Sister Sang! I saw female soldiers! Heavens, in that camera pan I saw women training, truly no less than the men!"
Before the ancients could make sense of it, a deafening roar erupted!
What did they see?
That massive thing slid forward two steps, then flew straight into the sky?
This sight made even Pei Changying stand.
The ancients murmured in a daze: "Ah! Is that also an aircraft? But it looks much smaller than before, and lacks wings?"
"Is it cold there? They're already wearing such thick clothes, why the additional garments?"
"Hahaha, look, their faces are painted like ghosts - so funny!"
"Where are they going? Can that thing be used on battlefields too?"
They watched the helicopter fly towards a forest, its occupants flinging the doors open.
Then, to the ancients' baffled eyes...
Someone actually leapt from that height of several hundred meters!
At that moment!
All the ancients' hearts stopped beating!
"Ah!!! How did he jump down there!"
"Another one jumped, no, why are they queuing up to seek death?"
"Not at all, look at the first one who jumped down, what's that kite-like thing hanging on him? Oh my god! He stopped, not falling rapidly anymore?"
"What is this treasure that can make a person descend slowly from hundreds of meters in the air?"