I started on a deserted island and encountered Ying Zheng, who insisted I was an immortal.

"joke?"

Ying Zheng toyed with the oil-stained wrench in his hand.

Very heavy.

Chromium vanadium steel.

Its hardness is several levels higher than that of Qin Jian.

"My home has certainly been lively these past few months while I was away from Xianyang."

He tossed the wrench to Wang Ben.

"Keep it safe."

"This thing can be used for more than just car repair in the future."

"It can even repair your brain."

Wang Ben took the wrench, put it in his pocket, and placed it next to the breastplate.

The cool, metallic touch made him feel incredibly secure.

"Imperial Advisor, what's the news?"

Li Si leaned closer, looking expectant.

He's now addicted to the endless stream of new gadgets that Zhang Ying has.

horse riding?

That's something primitive people would do.

Anyone who has ridden in a tank never wants to experience the chafing of their inner thighs again.

Zhang Ying remained silent.

He tapped a few times in the air.

Only he can see the interface of the system store.

Sufficient balance.

The system judged the bombing of the Xiongnu as a "major advancement in the progress of civilization," and the reward points skyrocketed.

"exchange."

Zhang Ying snapped her fingers.

The air is distorted.

Light and shadow intertwine.

Three enormous, dark green vehicles appeared out of nowhere.

Six wheels.

The truck bed is towering high.

The treads on the tires were deeper than the wrinkles on Li Si's face.

Dongfeng Mengshi military truck.

Although it's a troop transport version, its rugged industrial aesthetic instantly makes the Qin Dynasty warhorses next to it look like trash.

"this……"

Li Si walked around the truck.

He reached out and touched the front grille of the car.

"Is it male or female?"

"..."

Zhang Ying opened the car door and jumped into the driver's seat.

"Get in the car."

"Wang Ben drove a tank to clear the way."

"Old Zhao is in the passenger seat."

"Li Si, go to the back of the wagon and keep an eye on Maodun."

Li Si's face fell.

"Imperial Preceptor, I also want to sit in that soft seat..."

"It's cooler in the back."

Zhang Ying started the engine.

The diesel engine emitted a deep roar.

A plume of black smoke billowed from the exhaust pipe.

Li Si coughed repeatedly from the choking.

But he didn't dare to say a word and climbed onto the back of the truck using both his hands and feet.

In the truck bed.

Maodun was huddled in a corner, trembling with fear.

He was terrified.

Upon seeing Li Si approach, the once arrogant Xiongnu Chanyu actually shrank back, trying to bury himself among the pile of spare tires.

"What are you looking at!"

Li Si kicked Maodun.

The fox borrows the tiger's power.

"Behave yourself!"

"If you dare move, I'll throw you down to feed the wolves!"

The convoy started.

The tank roared as it rolled over the grass, its tracks kicking up mud.

The truck followed closely behind.

The speed is 60 kilometers per hour.

In an era when horse-drawn carriages could travel eighty li a day, this speed was equivalent to flying close to the ground.

The wind noise is very loud.

Ying Zheng rolled down the carriage window.

He had a cigarette between his fingers and his arm draped over the windowsill.

The wind tousled his hair.

But he didn't care.

He watched the scenery rushing past the window.

From desolate grasslands to rolling hills, and then to the winding Yellow River.

The world seemed smaller to him.

What used to seem like an insurmountable distance is now just a matter of stepping on the gas.

"Zhang Ying".

"what?"

"May I drive this car?"

Do you have a driver's license?

"drving license?"

Ying Zheng frowned.

"Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to the king."

"I drive on my own land, do I need anyone's permission?"

Zhang Ying glanced at him.

"Clutch, accelerator, brake."

"If the coordination isn't good, the engine will stall."

"Your tank is automatic, this thing is manual."

Ying Zheng flicked the cigarette butt out the window.

"Teach me."

"Now?"

"Now."

Ten minutes later.

A truck painted with a dragon appeared on the wasteland.

"Shift gears! Shift gears, Lao Zhao! Those are the windshield wipers!"

"Press the clutch! Press it all the way down! Don't force it!"

"Slow down! There's a pothole ahead! Holy crap—"

The truck took off.

It landed heavily.

The shock-absorbing spring groaned in pain.

Ying Zheng gripped the steering wheel.

The veins on the back of his hand were bulging.

But there was no sign of panic on his face.

Instead, it exuded a kind of fanatical excitement.

conquer.

It's not just about conquering land.

We must also conquer this steel behemoth.

"Cool!"

Ying Zheng laughed loudly.

He floored the accelerator.

The tachometer needle shot red.

The truck roared up a dirt slope, jolting Li Si so much that he vomited his breakfast all over Maodun.

……

three days later.

Xianyang.

The atmosphere was so oppressive it was suffocating.

Inside Zhangtai Palace.

Hu Hai sat on the steps, holding a jade pendant in his hand, stroking it incessantly.

Zhao Gao stood behind him.

The shadow covered most of his face.

"teacher."

Hu Hai's voice trembled slightly.

"Father...is he really not coming back?"

"News has come from Jiuyuan County."

Zhao Gao's voice was high-pitched, carrying a hint of barely perceptible pleasure.

"Two hundred thousand Xiongnu troops are pressing on the border."

"His Majesty only has Meng Tian and his small group of men by his side."

"and……"

Zhao Gao paused.

"I heard there's a storm at sea."

"Your Majesty's ship has long since sunk."

"That one in Jiuyuan County..."

"Perhaps it's a stand-in."

Zhao Gao sneered.

"Perhaps it was false information released by Meng Tian to stabilize the morale of the army."

"Young master."

Zhao Gao bent down.

Whisper in his ear.

"A country cannot be without a ruler for a single day."

"Young Master Fusu is far away in Shangjun, and distant water cannot quench immediate thirst."

You need to make plans soon.

Hu Hai gripped the jade pendant tightly.

The knuckles are turning white.

"But...if Father hadn't died..."

"So what if you're not dead?"

Zhao Gao straightened up.

Looking out at the gray sky outside the hall.

"As long as we close the city gates."

"Change the will."

"This Great Qin."

"It's yours."

Your Highness.

The courtiers whispered among themselves.

Right Chancellor Feng Quji frowned and paced back and forth in the main hall.

"absurd!"

"Your Majesty is a man of good fortune and divine favor; how could you possibly meet with such an impending doom?"

"These are all rumors!"

"But Your Excellency the Prime Minister."

An official who was an ally of Zhao Gao spoke in a sarcastic tone.

"It's been three months already."

"Not a single word."

"Shouldn't we consider the future of the nation?"

"What if the Huns invade..."

Before he could finish speaking...

The ground suddenly shook.

Ripples appeared in the teacup.

"An earth dragon turning over?"

Someone exclaimed in surprise.

The vibrations grew stronger.

It was accompanied by a strange sound that I had never heard before.

buzzing-

Boom boom boom—

It sounded like muffled thunder.

It sounded like countless monsters roaring.

The sound came from the direction of the north gate.

Getting closer.

Even the pillars of the main hall were trembling, and dust was falling in clumps.

"What's going on?!"

Zhao Gao's expression changed.

He suddenly rushed out of the main hall.

Standing on the high steps, I looked north.

All that could be seen was the direction of the North Gate of Xianyang.

Smoke and dust billowed.

Cover the sky.

Amidst the endless yellow sand.

A black, steel monster was charging toward the palace with unstoppable momentum.

The soldiers guarding the city wall were terrified.

The archer drew his bow, but dared not release the arrow.

Chang Ge gripped his weapon, his legs trembling.

what is that?

What is that thing?!

There are no horses.

There are no cows.

It's just a metal box that runs by itself!

And it runs incredibly fast!

"That's... a demonic beast!"

Someone screamed.

"Close the door! Close the door now!"

The garrison commander roared.

Several soldiers struggled to push the heavy city gate.

squeak-

The heavy wooden door slowly closed.

The bolt fell.

The captain breathed a sigh of relief.

This gate is made of century-old ironwood and covered with copper; even a battering ram would have to ram it for ages.

however.

next second.

The metal box showed no sign of slowing down.

The turret rotates.

That dark, gaping pipe was aimed at the city gate.

boom--!!!

A loud bang.

It's ten thousand times louder than firecrackers during Chinese New Year.

The city gate was blown up.

Wood chips flew everywhere.

The copper sheet is twisted.

The city gate, which was said to be impregnable, was instantly turned into a huge hole.

Amidst the smoke and dust.

The tank burst through the flames.

The tracks rolled over burning wood.

They drove straight into Xianyang Avenue.

Behind.

Three huge trucks followed closely behind.

On the truck bed.

The black dragon flag fluttered in the wind.

It rustled.

"This is……"

Zhao Gao's hands, which were gripping the railing, began to tremble.

He saw it.

The person standing on top of the tank.

He was wearing a black windbreaker (given by Zhang Ying).

Wearing sunglasses.

He was holding a strange tin megaphone.

Although her clothes and appearance have changed.

But that figure.

That aura.

Even if he were reduced to ashes, Zhao Gao would still recognize him.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty..."

Zhao Gao's knees buckled.

He knelt down on the ground.

The tank sped along at breakneck speed.

The people on the street panicked and tried to avoid the area, but were soon driven by curiosity to peek around.

"Is that His Majesty?"

"His Majesty has returned riding a metal monster!"

"That's a divine beast! It must be a divine beast!"

"Long live Your Majesty!"

I don't know who started shouting it.

The people all knelt down.

A deafening roar, like a tsunami.

The tanks drove all the way to the Royal Palace Square before stopping.

Sudden braking.

The tracks left a trail of sparks on the bluestone slabs.

The cannon barrel was pointed directly at Zhao Gao and Hu Hai at the entrance of the main hall.

The distance is less than fifty meters.

The sense of oppression is overwhelming.

The engine stalled.

The world fell silent instantly.

Only the cooling fan was still whirring.

The car door opened.

Wang Ben climbed out of the driver's seat.

He spat out a mouthful of saliva mixed with sand.

"That's fucking awesome!"

Next was Li Si.

He jumped off the truck behind him.

He gagged twice while holding onto the wheel.

He then straightened his clothes and instantly regained the dignity of a prime minister.

At last.

Ying Zheng took off his sunglasses.

He casually tossed it to Zhang Ying.

He stood on the tank turret.

Looking down from a high vantage point.

He looked down at the pale-faced ministers.

His gaze swept over Zhao Gao.

Sweep past Hu Hai.

It swept over everyone with ulterior motives.

"What's wrong?"

Ying Zheng picked up the tin horn.

Press the switch.

The sound was amplified by the loudspeaker.

The noise carried by the electric current.

It meanders throughout the entire palace square.

The sound was deafening.

"I've only been gone for three months."

"Are you all in such a hurry to prepare a banquet for me?"

The entire room fell silent.

No one dared to speak.

You can't even hear them breathing.

Hu Hai trembled all over, and the jade pendant in his hand fell to the ground with a "crack" and shattered into pieces.

"Father...Father Emperor..."

He wanted to stand up.

But my legs wouldn't obey me.

Zhao Gao kowtowed so hard that blood flowed out, and he didn't dare to lift his head.

"Say something."

Ying Zheng jumped off the tank.

It landed silently.

He walked step by step toward the main hall.

Behind.

Thirty fully armed "special forces" (actually elite soldiers handpicked by Wang Ben, dressed in camouflage and carrying crossbows) jumped off the truck.

They quickly lined up in front of the main hall.

A murderous aura emanated from them.

Ying Zheng walked up to Zhao Gao.

Stop walking.

He used his toes to lift Zhao Gao's chin.

"Prefect Zhao."

"I think I heard you say something when I was at the door just now..."

"substitute?"

Zhao Gao's teeth chattered.

"This servant...this servant deserves to die...this servant..."

"You deserve to die."

Ying Zheng's voice was calm.

You can't tell if he's happy or angry.

He turned around.

He looked at the ministers.

"Feng Quji".

"Your subject is here!"

Feng Quji was so moved that tears streamed down his face, and he knelt down with a thud.

"Your Majesty! You're finally back!"

"Um."

Ying Zheng nodded.

"I have not only returned."

"I also brought you some local specialties."

He waved.

Li Si immediately understood.

They dragged the terrified Maodun to the center of the hall like a dead dog.

Let me introduce myself.

Ying Zheng pointed at Maodun.

"The Xiongnu Chanyu"

"Modu".

"From now on, you will be the number one miner at our Daqin Coal Mine."

boom--

The crowd erupted in uproar.

The ministers stared wide-eyed at the ragged, stubble-covered man.

Is that the Xiongnu Chanyu?

That grassland overlord who raided southwards year after year, causing the Qin Dynasty endless headaches?

That's it...

They've been caught?

"This...how is this possible..."

Some people couldn't believe it.

"What's impossible?"

Zhang Ying leaned against the tank, holding a can of cola in her hand, and chuckled.

"While you were still figuring out how to defend the city..."

"Old Zhao has already taken the map all the way to Europe."

Ying Zheng ignored the ministers' shock.

He walked up to the dragon throne.

He did not sit down.

Instead, he turned to look at the magnificent, golden hall.

before.

He felt that this place was very big.

It was enough to accommodate his ambition.

just now.

He felt the place was too small.

suffocated.

"Li Si".

"Your subject is here."

"Draft an imperial edict."

Ying Zheng's voice echoed throughout the hall.

"First."

"Zhao Gao formed cliques for personal gain and plotted a rebellion."

"Drag him out."

"Right here in the square."

"Use tanks."

"It's been pressed down."

Zhao Gao suddenly looked up.

His face was filled with despair.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, spare my life! Your Majesty..."

Two soldiers in camouflage uniforms rushed up.

They dragged him down like a piece of trash.

After a while.

A scream echoed from the square.

Then came the sound of bones cracking.

Stopped abruptly.

That pool of blood.

This became the first footnote to the industrialization reform of the Qin Dynasty.

"second."

Ying Zheng continued.

His tone remained completely unchanged.

"Starting today."

"Abolish the order that suppresses commerce."

"The status of artisans was equal to that of scholar-officials."

"Bring back all those Mo family members to me."

"I intend to establish 'Great Qin Heavy Industry'."

The ministers looked at each other.

That's taking too big a step.

That could easily cause injury.

"His Majesty……"

Feng Quji forced himself to speak.

"This action... is likely to violate ancestral rules..."

"Ancestor rule?"

Ying Zheng smiled.

He pointed to the tank outside the door that was still cooling down.

"Ask it."

"Does it recognize ancestral traditions?"

Feng Quji shut up.

Trying to reason with that monster that blasted the city gate apart with a single shot?

He's not crazy.

"third."

Ying Zheng took out the world map from his pocket.

That was printed out for him by Zhang Ying.

High-definition version.

He spread the map on the dragon table.

Use the oil-stained wrench to press down on one corner.

"Take this picture."

"Make 10,000 copies."

"Distribute to all counties and prefectures."

"Hang it in the school."

"Hanging in the tavern."

"Hanging above the bed of every Qin person."

Ying Zheng raised his head.

His gaze was intense.

"I want everyone to know."

"Our journey."

"Not the ruins of these six kingdoms."

"But..."

He pointed to the top of his head.

He then pointed to the ground beneath his feet.

"The stars and the sea."

Zhang Ying whistled from the side.

"Old Zhao, your lyrics are pretty strong."

Ying Zheng ignored him.

He looked at Wang Ben.

"Wang Ben".

"Your subordinate is here!"

"Fill up the gas tank."

"In a few days."

"I'll take you to a nice place."

"where?"

Ying Zheng's lips curled up slightly.

He revealed an extremely dangerous smile.

That's the expression on a hunter's face when he sees his prey.

He pointed heavily at the map with his finger.

That location.

It is rich in gold.

It is rich in gemstones.

And then there's that group of Brahmins who call themselves gods.

"The Mauryan Dynasty".

The image freezes.

Ying Zheng pressed his finger on the Indian plate on the map.

The wrench lay to the side, gleaming with a cold, metallic sheen.

outside the hall.

The tank's cannon was still pointing towards the sky.

It was as if it were making a declaration to the world.

The iron hooves of the Qin Dynasty.

Upgraded.