138: Chapter 138 Military Parade? Does he think we're afraid?!

"Have the newspapers release the news that we are holding a military parade on National Day."

Zhao Fusu instructed Li Si.

"Understood!"

Li Si responded.

He had developed a keen interest in the National Day parade, especially the artillery bombardment performance Zhao Fusu mentioned; Li Si was particularly curious about what that was.

Zhao Fusu began making arrangements for the National Day military parade.

He had always wanted to organize a parade, to review his troops with that all-conquering gesture.

It was already September, and only one month remained until October.

Zhao Fusu also had to start preparing for the artillery demonstration.

The first step was to collect a large amount of raw materials for making smokeless powder.

After the First Emperor was buried, the three hundred thousand laborers at Mount Li were no longer all needed there.

Zhao Fusu mobilized two hundred thousand of them, intending to build a fortress measuring four hundred by four hundred meters directly outside the city.

He had originally only wanted to build a hundred-meter section of wall, but he simply had too much manpower.

To make the deterrent effect even stronger, Zhao Fusu changed his original plan.

He would construct an entire fortress and then station artillery at all four gates simultaneously to bombard it.

This way, more citizens of Xianyang could witness his carefully prepared Artillery Performance.

Under Zhao Fusu's mobilization order, two hundred thousand laborers began to gather in the wasteland outside Xianyang.

After leveling the small hills, they began construction on the fortress.

Such a massive commotion immediately set the citizens of Xianyang abuzz with discussion.

Among the onlookers was the First Emperor himself.

"He Zhi!"

He called He Zhi over to ask what big commotion Zhao Fusu was stirring up now.

He Zhi had long anticipated that the First Emperor would ask him this.

Holding a copy of the Great Qin Empire Weekly, he walked up to the First Emperor and respectfully presented the newspaper, saying, "Young Master Fusu's purpose in building the fortress is to conduct an Artillery Performance."

"Artillery Performance?"

The First Emperor was taken aback.

"What on earth is that?"

He carefully read the report in the newspaper. It didn't provide specific details, only mentioning that the Great Qin Empire would hold a military parade outside Xianyang on October 1st, National Day. The citizens of Xianyang could watch the parade from designated locations.

"Your Majesty."

He Zhi said with a wry smile, "Your subordinate also doesn't know what Young Master Fusu has up his sleeve."

"However..."

He changed his tone, "This might be related to the recent joint petition from the Nobles of the Six Lands, requesting to return to their ancestral lands to pay their respects!"

"Those Nobles of the Six Lands still haven't given up!"

A cold light flickered in the First Emperor's eyes.

News of Zhao Fusu's upcoming military parade reached the ears of the Nobles of the Six Lands one after another, and they all gathered for a meeting.

A middle-aged man said disdainfully, "Is Qin trying to flaunt its military might?"

"Does he think we'll be scared!"

"Exactly!"

"The First Emperor is dead; Qin can no longer suppress the Six Kingdoms!"

How could these nobles who wanted to return to the Six Lands not understand the purpose behind Qin's sudden military parade?

After all, the timing was too deliberate. They didn't hold a parade earlier or later; they chose to do it precisely when the nobles petitioned to return to their ancestral lands. This was clearly aimed at them!

"Qin's parade this time is nothing more than overestimating its own strength!"

"Indeed, indeed!"

The Nobles of the Six Lands were filled with contempt.

A noble from the Chu Region said, "I heard that to intimidate us, Qin is even building a small fortress outside Xianyang."

"During the parade, they will have artillery bombard that fortress."

"Artillery?"

"What is that?"

Many of the Nobles of the Six Lands grew curious.

A young master from the Han State Land said with a face full of disdain, "It's probably just siege engines like Trebuchets."

"I may be young and untalented,"

The young master from the Han State Land continued, "But I know a thing or two about Trebuchets. They require a massive amount of manpower to pull the ropes and launch the projectiles."

"At least twenty or thirty people, and as many as two or three hundred."

"This not only consumes a lot of manpower but also makes it difficult to ensure everyone's strength and rhythm are perfectly synchronized, which affects the stability and accuracy of the launch."

"The rate of fire is also extremely slow; it's considered good if they can launch one projectile in the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn."

"Their power is also limited. Against solid walls and fortifications, if the walls are thick and the structure is sturdy, a Trebuchet might need a long time and a vast number of launches to cause any damage, and even then, it might not destroy them completely."

"The main point is that a Trebuchet will break after being fired a few dozen times."

"When the time comes, we can just go and watch Qin make a fool of itself."

"Quite right, quite right. Drink, drink!"

This group of Nobles of the Six Lands had not yet realized the gravity of the situation.

Zhao Fusu's upcoming Artillery Performance outside Xianyang also became a topic of conversation for the city's residents over their meals.

Many people were curious about this Artillery Performance.

Zhao Fusu sent people to notify the workers in the Industrial Zone, road construction, and armor manufacturing that they would have a holiday for National Day. Arrangements were made for them to watch the parade outside Xianyang, and meals would be provided.

The workers were all very happy; they didn't have to work, they got to go out and have fun, and food was included.

This was a wonderful thing!

With these million people watching the National Day parade on-site, October 1st was destined to become a carnival for a million people.

When Xiang Liang, Fan Zeng, Xiang Yu, and their group went to Fangling, they were carrying a large number of sickles, so their speed was relatively slow.

On the way back to Xianyang, they galloped on horseback, so it only took them half a month to return.

When they saw the fortress being built outside Xianyang, they were immediately puzzled, not knowing what Great Qin was up to.

They had many guesses, such as the construction of an arsenal or perhaps a garden for sightseeing.

But when they inquired and found out that Qin was using so much manpower and materials just for a military parade, to provide a target for the artillery, both Xiang Liang and Fan Zeng frowned.

They felt that something was not quite right about this.

After a detailed inquiry, they finally learned the whole story.

It started with the joint petition from the Nobles of the Six Lands to return to their ancestral lands for ancestor worship. His Majesty the Head of State replied that it wasn't impossible, but he would only agree to let them return after the National Day parade.

"Brother Fan, what do you think?"

Xiang Liang turned his gaze toward his resourceful friend, Fan Zeng.

After a moment of silent reflection, Fan Zeng spoke, "This is clearly Qin attempting to project a deterrent."

"This Paramount Leader is very confident; he believes his means of deterrence can intimidate these Nobles of the Six Lands."

"I am quite curious to see what kind of methods this Paramount Leader can produce."