Heaven-Shaking Thunder made all beings equal; a Fourth Rank expert backed down on the spot

The wind outside the city camp was much stronger than at the teahouse entrance.

As soon as Wang Batian stepped into the training ground, he saw more than a dozen rows of armored veterans carrying wooden crates. The crates were covered with iron plates at the corners and made a dull thud when they hit the ground.

Xue Huan handed the warrant to Zhen Daijin.

"Captain, His Highness has ordered you to lead 20,000 troops to assist Dali in resisting the enemy."

Zhen Daijin and took a look. He then ordered his deputy to inform the army, and half an hour later, they marched south.

Wang Batian, standing to one side, looked around, somewhat dissatisfied.

"Your Yi Prefecture Army looks rather ordinary. The Tubo are strong and robust. Let's discuss whether we should bring more troops, how about 50,000?"

To be honest, I'm good at leading troops. Why don't you let me pick some capable ones?

"Fifty thousand? You intend to take advantage of this opportunity to conquer Tubo?"

"I'm just a little worried because I see there are still elderly people in your army."

Zhen Daijin snorted coldly and raised his hand to order the old soldiers to form ranks.

Shields were erected one after another, their edges interlocking, and spears protruded from the gaps between them. The crossbowmen in the rear were divided into two rows, their crossbows pressed against their arms, the arrows aimed at the open ground in front.

Wang Batian stopped in front of the formation.

Xue Huan smiled and pointed, "Go in, and if you can come out, you can choose people."

Wang Batian tapped the back of his sword against his palm.

"I am a Fourth Rank expert, how could I possibly be unable to leave with just over ten people?"

You can give it a try.

"Let's give it a try."

Wang Batian raised his hand, and the knife was drawn.

A surge of Fourth Rank internal energy blew out, causing the hem of his robe to be lifted by the strong wind, and several nearby recruits took a small step back.

Wang Batian felt this scene was respectable enough, and raised his sword, pointing it at the shield formation.

I'll go in and take a look.

With that, he stepped into the formation.

The shields at the front row pushed forward simultaneously, and Wang Batian swung his sword down, the force of the blade striking the shields, the sound of the impact echoing across the training ground.

His arm went numb from the shock, but the old soldier behind the shield used the force to retreat. A second shield filled the gap, and three spears thrust in from different directions, blocking his shoulder, abdomen, and knees respectively.

Wang Batian swung his sword to deflect the spears, and as soon as he turned around, the crossbows in the back row were already raised.

Before the gust of wind had even dissipated, three crossbow bolts whizzed past in front of him.

One of them grazed my neck.

The wind from the training ground rushed into his collar as he held his sword, maintaining the posture he had just swung.

Xue Huan stood outside the formation, "Continue, brave warrior, why did you stop?"

"Continue with what?"

Wang Batian slowly lowered his knife.

"You're breaking the rules! How come you still have arrows and crossbows?"

Did you consult the rules before charging into battle?

"I don't care, you're cheating! Send some soldiers, let's lay down our weapons and have a fight!"

" Wang Batian, when the Tubo attacked you, were they empty-handed? Who talks to you about so many rules and regulations on the battlefield?"

Wang Batian choked, looked at the shields and crossbow bolts around him, and raised his hand to sheath his sword.

"Never mind, it's just that I didn't perform well."

"Would you like to do it again?"

Wang Batian placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, his gaze falling on the row of crossbowmen, and slowly lowered his raised hand.

"No, no, it's windy today, it's affecting my judgment."

Zhen Daijin led him to the edge of the training ground. Behind them, ten soldiers carried two wooden boxes. When the lids were opened, short grenades with wooden handles were neatly arranged inside.

Wang Batian leaned closer, "What's this?"

" Heaven-Shaking Thunder."

"I've never seen this before, what's it for?"

"Want to see it? This thing is very expensive."

"Once we get to Dali, I'll give you five hundred taels of silver. Just let me see what it's for."

Zhen Daijin was taken aback.

This thing costs three taels of silver to make, and he's offering five hundred?

This deal is feasible.

He took out a short grenade with a wooden handle and handed it to a soldier beside him, saying, "Go to the open area."

The soldier carried the short grenade to the end of the drill ground, stuck it in the ground, lit the fuse, and immediately retreated behind the earthen wall.

Wang Batian stood still, his hands supporting his knees as he looked forward.

As the fuse burned to its end, a short, muffled thunderclap sounded, soil was thrown into the air, gravel flew in all directions, and dust fell from the earthen walls.

Wang Batian opened his mouth.

A clod of mud landed on his forehead and slid down his brow bone.

"This thing is so powerful... it could probably knock down a dozen people?"

Zhen Daijin smiled.

"Our prince said this is only the first version, and its power isn't great enough. At most, a year later, one bolt will be enough to flatten a teahouse. So, don't blame me for not warning you, you'd better not siding with Dali anymore."

Wang Batian was completely stunned.

My goodness!

While we in Dali are still playing with swords, spears, and clubs, the Great Yan have already started practicing these evil things?

If what he said is true.

If it's that powerful a year from now, wouldn't it be possible to break through the Dali City without tens of thousands of elite troops? Wouldn't just a few dozen of these things be enough?

This is terrible! We must find a way to learn their skills!

He turned to look at the dozen or so rows of old soldiers, his attitude becoming exceptionally friendly.

"Seniors, that formation just now was truly amazing!!"

After saying that, he gave a thumbs up.

Then he looked at Zhen Daijin.

"Captain, do you think I could stay in your army after this battle? I really like these powerful weapons, and I am Fourth Rank martial artist."

Commandant Zhen remained silent, Xue Huan smiled first.

"So what if Fourth Rank official? Our Prince said that before the Heaven-Shaking Thunder, all beings below the Fourth Rank Third Rank are equal. You may not be killed by the blast, but it will easily send you staggering back several feet."

"No, trust me, I can be your capable assistant."

Zhen Daijin lazy to listen to his nonsense and led his men to start checking the supplies in the boxes.

Wang Batian followed beside him, his gaze falling on the repeating crossbow again. His finger touched the crossbow mechanism, but it was slapped away by an old soldier next to him.

"Armor must not be touched indiscriminately."

"I'll just take a look."

"Stand back if you want to see it."

The army began to assemble at the main camp.

Wang Batian stood beside the cart, watching the group of armored veterans load the grain boxes and weapons onto it, and a cold sweat broke out on his body.

Princess, oh princess, you probably don't know the true weight of the contract you signed!

Gu Moran probably wants more than just copper mines and customs duties from Dali!

On the other side.

The door to the secret room in the old prince's mansion closed.

Liu Ruyan placed a stack of yellowed account books in front of Gu Moran.

Shen Ling'er then entered the room and placed a medical record next to the account book.

"This is a reorganization of the old records that Sister Liu found."

She pointed to a few lines of text on the medical record.

" Madam Shen originally only suffered from postpartum blood and qi deficiency, but later her pulse gradually became weak and thready, and she also experienced palpitations, tinnitus, and cold hands and feet."

"Postpartum health problems can develop into chronic illnesses, but they wouldn't deteriorate so rapidly in a short period of time, many years after childbirth."

Gu Moran's fingers rested on the armrest of the chair.

"You mean she was poisoned?"

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