25: Chapter 25 Zhang Han Wants to Wear Underwear

Zhao Fusu looked at the horseshoe; it was just like a shoe cover.

A craftsman fitted the shoe-cover-like horseshoe onto a warhorse.

However, it didn't look very secure.

Zhao Fusu could see at a glance that if the warhorse ran a bit faster, this shoe-cover-shaped horseshoe would fly off.

Zhao Fusu shook his head.

With such a large lump of pig iron shoe cover, the warhorse wouldn't be able to pick up speed.

He also knew why the craftsmen didn't make the horseshoe thinner and then make it nailable, to be nailed into the hoof.

It was still because the quality of iron in the Qin Dynasty was too poor; if the horseshoe were made thinner, it would be crushed directly by the horse's hoof.

This was also an important reason why bronze weapons remained the primary equipment of the Qin army.

Compared to ironware, bronzeware possessed excellent toughness and strength.

Zhao Fusu watched with great interest.

Zhang Han, meanwhile, found a place and sat down.

He practiced martial arts and was considered a martial artist; he wasn't as fastidious as scholars and sat directly on the ground.

"Head of State, are we going back?"

Just when Zhang Han thought Zhao Fusu would return, Zhao Fusu shook his head.

"Um, Zhang Han, who isn't wearing underwear."

Zhang Han: "Huh?"

"It's about to show."

Zhao Fusu said, "Wear some underwear."

No wonder it was unseemly for the ancients to sit anywhere; they'd let people see their kunkun.

After Zhang Han realized, his expression became quite embarrassed.

He really couldn't refute those words; he truly wasn't wearing any underwear.

No, he had to wear underwear.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

After coughing, Zhang Han eased the awkwardness by saying, "Zhang Han understands."

Zhao Fusu added, "Arrange a room for me in the Forging Workshop; I will stay here for a while."

"By the way, send over a set of office desk and chair."

"Ah!"

Zhang Han hadn't expected Zhao Fusu wouldn't be returning.

"If there's anything from the National Assembly, the Legislative Yuan, or the Judiciary Yuan, just tell them to come here and find me themselves."

Zhao Fusu planned to focus on coal and steel, striving to create a Coal-steel Complex as soon as possible.

Zhao Fusu wasn't afraid of people in the court plotting rebellion.

This place wasn't far from where the army of a hundred thousand was stationed; he would have someone transfer ten thousand troops over to guard it shortly.

Once he produced steel and equipped the troops with steel sabers—since bronze swords couldn't possibly compete with steel ones—his army's combat power would increase several times over!

If he also created the Equality Device, his army's combat power would be even more terrifying.

The army was the foundation that ensured the success of Zhao Fusu's coup.

If Zhao Fusu had new weapons, he would certainly equip his army first.

With state apparatuses absolutely loyal to him, no matter how Li Si or Feng Quji stirred up trouble in the court, they simply couldn't threaten him.

If they were smart, he could still let them serve as premiers.

If they dared to overreach like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, Zhao Fusu wouldn't mind sending them to mine coal.

"Yes, Head of State."

Zhang Han didn't know why Zhao Fusu wanted to stay in the Forging Workshop, but he was smart enough not to ask.

Following Zhao Fusu's instructions, after arranging a room for him in the Forging Workshop, he also sent someone to the Woodworking Workshop to bring over an office desk and chairs.

While Zhao Fusu was focused on creating the Coal-steel Complex, a lean steppe rider on a steppe horse was heading toward the Southern Desert Xiongnu Chanyu Court.

"Modu Chanyu!"

After his weapons were taken by the guards, the rider entered the luxurious Chanyu Court tent, knelt on one knee with his right hand over his chest, and saluted the burly middle-aged man with a square face and a thick beard.

"How is the military reconnaissance going?"

Modu Chanyu asked.

After being expelled from the Hetao Plain by the Great Qin Empire and migrating eight hundred miles north, the Xiongnu Chanyu Court was unwilling to lose their grazing lands and had always thought of heading south.

Over these two years, they had been annexing other forces to strengthen their own in preparation for revenge.

"The Qin people have stopped building the Great Wall!"

The rider said with some excitement.

Modu Chanyu did not show excitement; instead, after a moment of silence, he asked, "The Qin people have always been cunning. Could this be a ploy to lure the enemy?"

"Reporting to Modu Chanyu."

The rider shook his head and said, "All projects along the Great Wall have been halted. Millions of laborers have gone to reclaim land and plant food crops."

"Oh, is that so!"

Modu Chanyu said coldly, "Without the Great Wall to block us, the Qin people still dare to plant crops on a large scale. They truly do not take us Xiongnu people seriously."

"Pass down my command as Grand Chanyu."

"Inform the Left and Right Worthy Kings, and the Left and Right Guli Kings, that when the Qin people's autumn harvest arrives, we shall summon our warriors to follow the Chanyu Court south and plunder their grain."

"Yes, Modu Chanyu."

The rider took the order and left the royal court tent.

A wolf-like glint flickered in his eyes.

Modu Chanyu was a very capable Grand Chanyu.

Modun was originally the crown prince of his father, Touman Chanyu. Later, Touman Chanyu's beloved Yan-shi gave birth to a younger son, and Touman Chanyu wanted to kill Modun to install the younger son as the crown prince.

So he sent Modun to the Yuezhi as a hostage.

Just as Modun arrived at the Yuezhi, Touman immediately launched a fierce attack on them.

The Yuezhi wanted to kill Modun, but Modun stole a fine horse from the Yuezhi and fled back to the Xiongnu on it.

Touman Chanyu thought he was brave and ordered him to command ten thousand cavalry.

Modun created a type of Whistling Arrow and trained his subordinates in the skills of mounted archery, ordering: "Whoever does not follow me in shooting with all their might at whatever target my Whistling Arrow hits shall be beheaded."

First, Modun hunted birds and beasts; if anyone did not shoot at the target hit by the Whistling Arrow, Modun killed them.

Soon after, Modun shot his favorite horse with a Whistling Arrow; when some of his attendants dared not shoot, Modun killed them immediately.

After some time, Modun used a Whistling Arrow to shoot his beloved wife; when some of his attendants were terrified and dared not shoot, Modun killed them as well.

After more time had passed, Modun went out hunting and shot the Chanyu's horse with a Whistling Arrow; all his attendants followed suit and shot.

Thus, Modun knew that the people around him were usable.

Then, he followed his father Touman Chanyu to hunt and shot a Whistling Arrow at Touman Chanyu's head; his attendants all followed and shot their arrows at Touman Chanyu, who died on the spot.

Afterward, Modun killed his stepmother, his younger brother, and all the officials who did not submit to him, declaring himself Chanyu.

Under the leadership of Modu Chanyu, the Xiongnu had been growing steadily over the past two years.

The King of Donghu was annihilated by him, and the Yuezhi were driven westward.

The royal court where Modu Chanyu resided was the most powerful tribe, with a hundred thousand warriors capable of taking up blades and mounting horses.

The forces of the Left and Right Worthy Kings and the Left and Right Guli Kings, combined with the mobilized vassal tribes, could muster four hundred thousand warriors.

In these two years, after Modun campaigned everywhere and integrated the steppe's power, the Xiongnu Kingdom could now deploy a total of four hundred thousand cavalry.

Four hundred thousand against three hundred thousand—the advantage lay with Modun; he did not fear Meng Tian's Great Wall Legion of three hundred thousand!

They were bound to reclaim the eight-hundred-mile Hetao region occupied by the Qin people!