Chapter 1421: Seizing the Bridge, Blowing Up the Waterway (Part 12) [Seeking Monthly Tickets]
Gu Chi moved his fingers slightly in his sleeve a few times.
A moment later, the little trinket wrapped around his wrist rhythmically tapped his arm, and Gu Chi knew what was going on. He relayed the message via telepathic communication: "The Peking University Craftsmen are ready to build the bridge; the enemy hasn't reacted yet."
Building a suspension bridge without the enemy noticing is no easy task.
Bei Qiu was given a critical mission and made a pledge.
Before leaving, she left behind a small trinket: a metal ornament wrapped around Gu Chi's wrist. At first glance, it looked like a red gold bracelet, made of more than twenty round red gold beads. In fact, Shen Tang thought it was a rudimentary version of a "walkie-talkie"—the Imperial Workshop originally wanted to recreate the seismograph described in the Word of Power as "eight feet in diameter" and "shaped like a wine vessel" to monitor the movement of the earth dragons in all directions within Kang Kingdom. However, instead of creating the seismograph, they accidentally created a new material.
This new material has a keen sensitivity to the energy of heaven and earth.
Later, it was used by the Northern Chicks as a short-range communication medium.
Both players can use their spiritual or martial energy to move the bracelet balls, and the movement of the balls will be reflected in the corresponding bracelet balls. As long as both players check the encrypted information represented by each ball beforehand, they can interpret the correct information based on the movement of the balls.
Unfortunately, the communication range is very limited.
However, one thing is worth mentioning: this thing is very well hidden.
Its security is even much higher than that of [Sound Transmission].
Shen Tang lowered her eyes, watching the battle below, and sighed, reflecting on her actions: "I was reckless just now. I shouldn't have killed him so easily. I should have kept him alive to play with him slowly..."
Gu Chi said: 【How can this be blamed on the lord?】
The battlefield environment is unpredictable, severely weakening and suppressing martial artists. Our side lacks a comprehensive understanding of the enemy, and if our lord's duel drags on too long, exhausting her stamina and giving the enemy an opportunity to ambush her, we'll regret it. Besides, our lord is always upright and straightforward; she wouldn't do something like torture and kill the enemy just to buy time—in her words, in chaotic times, pushing living people onto the battlefield to kill each other means that both sides are powerless, and a quick death is a kind of happiness.
To deprive someone of even this basic right to "happiness" is inhuman.
Gu Chi said: "It would be just as good if Lord Gongyang put in some effort."
Shen Tang: […I think his chances are slim.]
I wonder what kind of background this old friend of mine is. He's extremely skilled in martial arts, and his imposing manner is overwhelming, basically beating Gongyang Yongye to a pulp. If it weren't for Gongyang Yongye's status as a 19th-rank Marquis within the Pass, his old bones probably wouldn't have been able to withstand it. Shen Tang: [I wonder if there's any scholar in this world whose 'Way of the Scholar' also possesses the special abilities of the mines below; that would truly be a moat.]
No matter whether you are a high-ranking official of the eighteenth rank or a marquis of the nineteenth rank, once you enter this place, you must abandon your previous unrestrained and violent clashes of martial arts, and be confined to your mortal body. Even if you have a thousand or ten thousand means, you have no choice but to dance in shackles.
Qi Shan joined the "group chat" at some point without her knowing.
He said, "Where is the 'Way of the Scholar' needed here?"
Shen Tang glanced sideways, and his voice rang clearly in her mind: "[Meng Yuan's family's incantation of words possesses a similar ability.]"
This is not what Tan Ting is proficient in.
However, according to what Tan Ting revealed, such restrictions on martial artists and scholars using words of power are not uncommon in some aristocratic families in the Central Plains. Some words of power are specifically designed to suppress martial artists, while others restrict scholars or military formations. Generally speaking, they can be categorized as "weakening the enemy's upper limit" / "raising one's own lower limit".
There are even things that are "absolutely prohibited"!
[Absolutely prohibited?]
[Completely suppress the energy of heaven and earth.]
In layman's terms, within the battlefield, there are neither warriors nor scholars, only "ordinary people" of varying physical abilities, transforming the war into a barbaric state reminiscent of the time before a monstrous apocalypse. In this unique region, even a rank 20 Marquis with the unparalleled courage of "one man against ten thousand" could be surrounded and hacked to pieces by ordinary people—with literary or martial prowess, the difference between a rank 20 Marquis and an ordinary person is immense, but without them, the only difference between an ordinary person and a rank 20 Marquis is physical strength.
Shen Tang: [...]
She sighed, "It feels like they're coming straight for me."
You're nerfing her every time you update the game, right?
That's why it's called a tribulation.
Being targeted like this is her fate.
Qi Shan's understanding differed from Shen Tang's: [The Lord is the ruler of Kang, so if the Central Allied Forces aren't targeting the Lord, who are they targeting?]
In his view, this is even a good thing.
Although the gap between a rank 20 Marquis and an ordinary person could be forcibly closed with enough troops, once a rank 20 Marquis lost their prized martial prowess, the gap between them and ordinary people could be forcibly closed with only one-tenth or even one-hundredth of their original strength. Qi Shan was quite troubled when he first learned this, but he quickly realized he was worrying unnecessarily; Kang Guo was truly the god of this version!
If the Central Allied Forces really dare to use this method against Kangguo, then the Directorate of Works on Kangguo's side will be of great use.
The Mohists are an absolute game-changer in this kind of battlefield.
It's no wonder that Kangguo has been so frugal all these years, making sure to allocate funds to the Imperial Academy of Works. He has never shortchanged anyone, not even the Mohists.
Shen Tang said, "We're not even on the same page."
She couldn't help but think of her own avatar, Zixu, on her entrepreneurial journey in the central region, and it seemed she hadn't encountered a similar situation yet. It was normal that she hadn't, as these were the trump cards of the established families in the central region, only brought out in crucial moments.
Such classified information should naturally be leaked as little as possible.
If Kangguo hadn't sought to emulate Wuguo's unification of the continent, consolidating the northwest and southwest regions, the aristocratic families of the central region wouldn't have reacted so strongly, even going so far as to abandon all pretense and seek reinforcements. Only when the continent beneath their feet is fragmented, with various states mutually restraining each other without any absolute dominance over one another, is this the state they desire most, allowing them to secure stable benefits.
Gu Chi said quietly, "I feel the same way."
Calculated solely by land area, regardless of population and land use, Kang State now occupies nearly half of the landmass. In this situation, Kang State wants to expand its territory but is blocked by the enemy in the Yudi Mountains, stuck in a strait, which is indeed very difficult.
If this is also fate, then it truly is a case of "good things come to those who wait."
Praying for good: [...]
Qi Zhongshu once again reflected on his failure to keep up with the times.
He only served as regent for two or three years.
Gu Chi stated that this wasn't a matter of whether or not he was a regent, but rather a matter of vocabulary reserves; the regent shouldn't be blamed for this. Speaking of regents, could anyone have been a regent before Gu Chi? Just as Gu Chi was about to scoff, a sudden movement came from his wrist, and his eyes lit up.
[My lord, there is movement.]
Two flowers bloom, each representing a different branch.
In stark contrast to the bustling atmosphere of the main battlefield, a tense silence reigned in the shady areas of the mountains. Nearly a hundred Mohists, each carrying a "Universal Love" toolbox and adorned with uniquely designed implements on their hands and feet, moved with ease. These implements allowed them to climb and move effortlessly along the cliff faces without any special aids, easily piercing through even the hardest rock. They possessed high suction power, produced minimal noise, and were difficult to detect.
Under the cover of thick fog, nearly a hundred ink enthusiasts arrived safely.
They had just drilled a hole in the opposite cliff face and secured one end of a specially made iron chain—this "iron chain" weighed less than a tenth of a normal iron chain, but the two were about the same strength, so it was fine for temporary use—and wound it with a thick rope. Then they brought the other end of the thick rope to the opposite cliff, which was behind the enemy lines.
Simply drill a hole here, fix a thick rope in place, and the rope can be used to pull the bridge across the cliff. Finally, tighten the specially made "iron chain" to secure it, and a suspension bridge will be completed.
The Director of Works, who had overseen the construction of no fewer than a thousand iron chain bridges in Kangguo in cooperation with the Ministry of Works, was intimately familiar with the process and could complete most of it with his eyes closed. However, while he had previously only faced natural obstacles and unexpected events, this time he also had to withstand the pressure of being discovered and annihilated by the enemy.
Bei Qiu appeared calm on the surface, but was actually sweating profusely.
Only after other Moists brought back good news did the pressure on her shoulders recede like a receding tide. She secretly sent a message, signaling the other side to lower the "iron chain" to the thick rope. Everything proceeded smoothly, with no other sounds except for breathing and heartbeats, all of which were swallowed up by the mountain wind. She felt a great weight lifted from her shoulders when the clear, melodious metallic clanging sounded.
A dozen or so specially made "iron chains" nimbly burrowed into the thick fog like living snakes, sliding across the rough ropes to the other side. Only then did Yun Ce remember that he could still breathe. He wiped the sweat from his nose, fearing something might go wrong. He stared intently at the other side until he heard the sound of the mechanical ropes rubbing against the iron chains, a sound as beautiful as heavenly music.
Bei Qiu said, "Give me a hand."
Nearly a hundred Moists successfully returned.
Bei Qiu stepped on the sturdy suspension bridge, somewhat proudly saying, "If given more time, I'm sure I could build one of even better quality."
Yun Ce whispered, "Isn't the little ancestor scary enough?"
Bei Qiu rolled her eyes at him: "You're getting more and more timid. Where did your former fearless spirit go?"
The senior apprentice leaned over and teased, "You've been worn down by the allure of women, haven't you? Who else could Yuanmou be sweating with fear for? He's thinking about you all the time, and you not only don't understand romance, but you also hurt him. Tsk tsk tsk, even the senior apprentice can't help but feel sorry for Yuanmou."
Bei Qiu has developed a thick skin over the years.
She didn't even blush.
He retorted, "How can you blame me for this?"
These were all arranged by the Lord.
Despite their special relationship, Bei Qiu and Yun Ce didn't really want to cooperate much on the battlefield. It wasn't that their relationship was in trouble, but rather that she felt it was easy to let concern cloud her judgment. She had risked her life to build the iron chain bridge on the other side, and Yun Ce had worried about her; now that he was fighting on the battlefield, how could she not be anxious? It was better to avoid seeing him.
If you can't see it, you naturally won't miss it as much.
I don't know what the master's considerations were, but he really liked having the two of them cooperate, so that Bei Qiu couldn't say no even if he wanted to refuse.
Gu Yatai once joked about shipping couples: "...It's rare to find a couple with a healthy relationship; she cherishes that."
Bei Qiu didn't believe it: "Does the Imperial Censor think I'm easy to fool?"
Gu Yatai laughed somewhat awkwardly: "Some things are best left unsaid; why bring them up? Young people are boring."
Bei Qiu: [...]
What do you mean, "you already know perfectly well"?
Looking at the sweat still damp on Yun Ce's face, she suddenly understood—she and Yun Ce did indeed care about each other, but it was also a shackle for each other. On the battlefield, if there was any danger, who would easily abandon the other? Naturally, they would risk their lives.
Yun Ce hurriedly said, "It's not your fault, it's not your fault, it's my fault."
The Mo family's task was now complete, and the remaining paving work was to be handled by Yun Ce. The paving wood was specially made, not easily combustible, and its surface was coated with a special metal using a special process from the Imperial Workshop, making it similar in material to "iron chains." A group of agile warriors carried wooden planks, their toes stepping on the iron chains as they leaped across.
Their movements were unified and orderly, like birds skimming across the lake.
Aside from a few minor disturbances, there was nothing else.
For every smooth progress Yun Ce made, Gongyang Yongye's journey was fraught with difficulties. His old friend, whom he had never considered a worthy opponent before, was acting like he was on drugs, incredibly fierce. Gongyang Yongye almost rolled over the entire stone wall of the battlefield, leaving him bruised and battered. Enraged, Gongyang Yongye cursed, "You old bastard, how much anger have you been holding back? Are you taking it all out on me?"
His composure was broken, and he lacked the magnanimity and refinement expected of a Marquis of Guannei.
My old friend smiled kindly: "Guess?"
Gongyang Yongye gritted his teeth, speaking in the tone of a street thug: "I'll guess your head my ass! You've eaten the roots of all the wild beasts within a hundred miles of your home, otherwise you wouldn't be able to produce such a huge fire?"
My old friend suddenly sneered: "Will you curse again?"
"Are you really going to kill me?" Gongyang Yongye was on the verge of losing his guard, but he still had his pride and lowered his voice so that no one outside could hear him. "A few favors, is it worth risking your life for someone like this?"
An old friend retorted to Gongyang Yongye, "This is the question I should be asking you. Is it worth risking your life to get involved in this mess?"
Gongyang Yongye: "That was because you forced me to."
If the Central Branch hadn't made a move against Xiang Zhao, he wouldn't have needed to risk his life. If Xiang Zhao hadn't gotten into trouble, Gongyang Yongye would at most go through the motions out of respect for Xiang Zhao, fighting if he could and not fighting if he couldn't. But Xiang Zhao got into trouble, and right under his nose, whether out of arrogance or self-interest, the Central Branch had completely offended him.
To put it bluntly, the Central Committee was shoving shit and piss on his head; anyone with a temper would find it unbearable. Gongyang Yongye had simply lived in seclusion as a doctor for many years, losing the spirit he once had when he wielded a long-handled sword to slay all gods and demons on the battlefield; he hadn't become a coward.
The current situation is entirely the result of the actions of some Chinese media outlets, who still have the audacity to ask why he got involved in this mess.
They know best why they're getting involved in this mess.
Seeing the unquenchable rage burning in Gongyang Yongye's eyes, Guyou, though unaware of the details, knew this stubborn mule wouldn't give up easily—either kill him or cripple him! Neither option was easy. Guyou lowered his eyes and then raised them again, a genuine killing intent surging within them, his palm secretly preparing. Suddenly, Gongyang Yongye's vision blurred, and Guyou's movements slowed dozens of times before his eyes.
It seems that even the five senses are forced to be activated at their highest level.
When Gongyang Yongye saw the old man like this, he knew something was wrong and alarm bells went off in his mind. He saw his old friend's arms grow from two to four, and from four to eight. Thousands of afterimages of arms appeared behind him like a peacock spreading its tail or towering mountains, bringing extreme pressure in an instant.
Countless palm strikes converge into one.
"In that case, there's no point in saying more!"
(￣┏∞┓￣)
I bought a super cute typing skin, the kind that tracks your typing. It shows Nezha's Universe Ring tapping the keyboard left and right, it's so adorable! (It's not the Nezha version, it's probably a Sogou Input Method skin co-branded with Nezha Legend.) I never knew you could do this!
P.S.: I didn't have enough words for Chapter 2...
(End of this chapter)
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