336: Chapter 336 What is this?! Zhang Liang's shock

Zhang Liang and Si Chen looked toward the source of the sound, only to see a fiery red light screaming into the high sky like a firework.

After the fiery red light ascended into the high sky, it erupted into a blindingly bright light.

"What is this!"

"How can it be so bright!"

Si Chen's mouth hung wide open.

He saw that the surroundings of the steam train were as bright as day, and those approaching the steam train were clearly visible.

Zhang Liang was equally astonished.

The taigongs art of war he held in his hand had dropped to the ground without him even realizing it.

Zhang Liang bit his teeth hard.

In the taigongs art of war, there was absolutely no record of such a thing!

He knew that this thing must have been invented by that remarkably gifted His Majesty the Head of State again.

And that was indeed the case.

This was called a flare.

The luminous component was the core part, containing an illuminant used for light. Its main components were metal fuel, an oxidizer, and a binder, which produced intense light upon combustion.

After Zhao Fusu obtained the design blueprints for the flare through a check-in, he handed them over to the military.

Through the research of military technical personnel, they successfully developed flares for illumination.

When enemies took advantage of poor nighttime visibility to launch a sneak attack, firing a flare could illuminate an area within a five-hundred-meter radius.

To extend the duration of the illumination, the luminous component was also equipped with a parachute, allowing the illuminant to descend slowly.

A hundred soldiers lay prone on the roofs of the carriages, aiming their revolvers at the attacking Yunmengze Water Bandits.

"Bang, bang, bang..."

Amidst the heavy gunfire, one Yunmengze Water Bandits after another was hit.

"Ah!"

The Water Bandits hit in vital areas died on the spot.

Those who weren't hit in vital areas tumbled to the ground, wailing incessantly.

Huang Long watched as his subordinates died miserable deaths one after another.

Besides anger, he felt an immense sense of fear.

Those firearms were too powerful; as long as one was hit, they would be heavily injured if not dead!

Huang Long did not dare to step forward and quickly fled.

Centurion Centurion Duan Peng expressionlessly shot down the Water Bandits attacking the steam train.

A hundred soldiers were hidden on every steam train.

Besides protecting the safety of the steam train, these soldiers were also carrying out Zhao Fusu's secret mission.

The railway linked the Southern Desert, Han State Land, Yan Territory, Zhao Territory, Wei Territory, Chu Region, and Qi Territory together.

Several steam trains ran on these lands every day.

He deployed troops directly onto the steam trains.

When rebellions occurred in these areas, these soldiers could reach the site of the rebellion at the fastest speed to provide support.

Zhao Fusu was still building railways in large quantities to connect the Six Lands more closely with the Qin Region and the Southern Desert. At the same time, it was to strengthen control over the Southern Desert and the Six Lands.

"Retreat!"

Zhang Liang's expression was gloomy.

The sudden appearance of the flares had ruined his plan.

Originally, with the cover of night, even if the steam train's escort had firearms, he could have taken them out in the dark.

He even had greater ambitions, which were to seize the firearms from the escort's hands.

Once they could also possess firearms, their combat power would inevitably see an explosive increase.

Zhang Liang had already experienced many times how powerful these firearms were.

The appearance of the flares had destroyed all his deployments.

The only thing that consoled Zhang Liang was that he had deployed half of his strength on the retreat path, which would allow him to escape Mount Laohong.