Chapter 1052: The Mechanized Chariot
Chapter 1052: The Mechanized Chariot
September 25, 2017
Although Bei Feng was a newly established city, it had rapidly developed into the political and cultural center of Bingzhou within just a few short years. This city, rising from the plains, had grown at a breathtaking pace.
Even before the lords' campaign against Dong Zhuo, Bei Feng was already a formidable city, rivaling ordinary county towns. Now, its scale was astonishing, and its size was almost comparable to that of a capital city in terms of land area.
The sheer sight of its towering walls, several dozen meters high, was awe-inspiring!
The group from Yangzhou had spotted the walls of Bei Feng City from afar. The two of them gazed at the walls from a distance, their eyes somewhat numb, showing no signs of awe.
After entering the northern part of Bingzhou, they had encountered numerous awe-inspiring sights along their journey, and their immunity to such wonders had increased. The towering walls of Bei Feng City failed to impress them.
Following the official road, the group arrived at the gates of Bei Feng City, where their smooth journey came to an official halt.
Although Lu Hai Kong could allow them to roam Bingzhou with several hundred cavalry, it was out of the question to bring these cavalrymen into Bei Feng City. Even with Lu Hai Kong's confidence in controlling the cavalry, he would not let them cause chaos within the city.
Outside Bei Feng City, Lu Hai Kong had set up a massive military camp.
This camp was managed by Lu Hai Kong's soldiers and served as a temporary gathering place for the escort teams of various factions attending the wedding. The two young men had to leave most of their cavalry here before entering Bei Feng City.
They both cooperated and, under Lu Hai Kong's arrangements, left behind nearly all of the five hundred cavalrymen, keeping only a small number of guards with them.
As for the gifts they had brought, there were dedicated personnel to receive them before they entered Bei Feng City.
After taking the gift lists from the two young men and accepting their gifts, the staff noted down the six characters 'Sun Jian, Governor of Changsha County' and then led the two young men into Bei Feng City.
The two young men had intended to ride into Bei Feng City on horseback, but before they could mount their horses, the reception staff stopped them, saying that a mechanized chariot had been prepared for them!
Upon hearing the words 'mechanized chariot,' the two young men were taken aback, as they were unfamiliar with the term and unsure what it meant. Nonetheless, they complied and handed their warhorses to the nearby reception staff, awaiting the arrival of the so-called 'mechanized chariot.'
The receptionist mentioned the 'mechanized chariot' casually, so the two young men didn't pay it much attention at first, assuming it was some kind of special horse-drawn carriage.
However, when the actual 'mechanized chariot' appeared before them, even these two young men, who had seen and experienced much, were stunned.
The mechanized chariot was a type of walking machine beast developed by the Carpenter Camp after studying the mechanization integration technology that Lu Hai Kong had brought back from Kunlun City. It was a combination of the mechanized puppet chariots from Kunlun City.
The design of this mechanized beast was inspired by Lu Hai Kong's previous life's automobiles, with a similar overall shape. However, due to the lack of glass-making technology, these mechanized chariots were mostly open-topped.
Moreover, as these chariots were made primarily of wood and metal, and the artisans lacked artistic skills, the design was... well, rather wild and rugged, exuding a fierce and beastly aura.
Of course, despite its wild appearance, the Carpenter Camp had put considerable effort into making the mechanized chariots comfortable. The seats were professionally upholstered by tailors using animal skins, providing a relatively cozy ride.
The only drawback was that due to the rampant wild beasts and numerous ferocious animals in this world, tigers were not considered rare or protected. As a result, the chariots were covered entirely in tiger skins, with the entire tiger's head displayed inside, making the chariots appear even more ferocious. This design choice startled the two young men when they first saw it.
These two boys were no ordinary lads, and they quickly calmed down under the guidance of the nearby attendant. They boarded a so-called "Mechanized Chariot" and began their journey to the designated reception area.
Once on board, the boys were intrigued by the novelty beneath them.
The spacious and comfortable seats and the entirely different riding experience piqued their interest. Among the two, the one with clear eyes and a handsome face asked the attendant about the Mechanized Chariot.
The attendant had no secrets to hide regarding the chariot and even provided a detailed introduction, covering every aspect of its design.
From the attendant's explanation, they learned that the model of the Mechanized Chariot they were riding was called "Tiger 01," one of their flagship products. It was an exceptional Mechanized Beast, crafted entirely from iron and wood. It could withstand a full-power attack from a martial artist with a strength of 80 for three minutes, and its top speed reached 180 kilometers per hour. The official selling price was a staggering 3.27 million gold!
Listening to the attendant's elaborate explanation, the two boys barely grasped the basic functions and price of the Mechanized Chariot.
After gaining this knowledge, the boys were filled with an overwhelming urge to shout profanities.
But there was no need for them to voice their curses. Wang Jun had already exclaimed those words during the development of the Tiger 01. After all, the production cost of a single chariot approached 500,000 gold. If it were used to enhance the army's combat effectiveness in battle, he would have no complaints. However, Lu Hai Kong had created it purely for show, which seemed utterly unnecessary.
Although Lu Hai Kong promised to sell the chariots, Wang Jun couldn't believe anyone would spend such a hefty sum on something so useless.
However, reality proved Wang Jun to be too naive.
On this very day, orders for the Tiger 01 had already reached several dozen, and even these two boys, who seemed ready to curse, had customized five of these Mechanized Chariots.
Of course, their purchase wasn't for mere enjoyment. Most of them intended to modify the chariots into deadly weapons for the battlefield.
Many who ordered the chariots wondered if Lu Hai Kong had become arrogant after defeating the Three Heroes, thinking himself invincible. Why would he sell such a valuable weapon instead of keeping it for himself as a war machine?
Some people had a more profound insight. When they placed their orders for the Mechanized Chariots, their hearts were heavy. If Lu Hai Kong was willing to sell this invention, what unimaginable creations might he have kept hidden?
The clear-eyed boy belonged to the latter group. After ordering the Tiger 01, he felt a sense of heaviness in his heart.
With this weight on his mind, the boy observed everything he could see of Bei Feng City from the chariot. The more he saw, the heavier his heart became.
He had to admit that Bei Feng City was the most prosperous city he had ever visited.
Within its boundaries, he encountered people from all corners of the land, and he could discern whether they were locals or attendees of Lu Hai Kong's wedding.
The majority were indeed locals.
What shocked the clear-eyed boy even more was the numerous construction sites they passed along the way.
These construction sites didn't create a chaotic or noisy atmosphere; instead, they exuded the city's vibrant vitality.
Limited by his vantage point on the chariot, he couldn't see much. Before he could fully take in the sights, they had already arrived at the Purple Gold Pavilion, their designated reception area.
When the two boys reached their destination and laid eyes on the building before them, they were once again left in awe.
Standing before them was a ten-story-tall structure, the likes of which they had never seen before—an incredibly grand and luxurious building!
The boys stood in front of the building, stunned for several minutes, before finally snapping back to their senses. They exchanged glances and, guided by the attendant, entered the Purple Gold Pavilion...
(End of Chapter)
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