Outside Peshawar in the Gobi Desert, the Han army stood like a forest, the cold gleam of their armour mingling with the sandstorm. The "Guardian King" of the Kushan Empire stood before the two armies, surrounded by what he claimed was a secret phosphorescent illusion technique. He boasted that the steel blades of the Han soldiers couldn't harm his Buddha-blessed skin. Liu Xun stood on a makeshift cement command platform, a dangerous smile on his face. Instead of ordering a charge, he patted a wooden box covered in black cloth beside him.
'Gongshu Qi, give the Guardian King a little something extra.' Liu Xun activated his 'Top Performance: Tyrant Who Controls Thunder."
As the black cloth was lifted, dozens of dark blue cast iron balls appeared before everyone's eyes. The iron balls were covered in irregular bumps and each one was topped with a hemp rope soaked in kerosene.
[System reward issued]: 'Basic Gunpowder Weapon – Prototype of the Heaven-Shaking Thunder'.
Core technology: The golden ratio of saltpeter, sulphur and charcoal (75:10:15), and the pressure granulation process.
Destructive mechanism: The explosion generates high-pressure gas, propelling pre-formed iron fragments at supersonic speeds in all directions.
Additional effects: Increases fear and intimidation by 500%; warhorse confusion rate reaches 100%.
"What are those? Just a bunch of iron lumps!' The Dharma King laughed wildly as he stood before the formation, opening his arms to receive the black ball launched by a specially designed catapult.
'Boom!' A deafening roar, enough to rip eardrums, exploded across the Gobi Desert. A burst of flame shot into the sky and a powerful shockwave carrying tiny iron fragments radiated outwards.
The Dharma King, known as 'Indestructible', was reduced to nothingness within the orange-red fireball before he had time to scream. A deep crater was blasted into the ground, which had previously been flat. Smoke filled the air and the atmosphere was permeated by the pungent smell of sulphur.
Below the reviewing stand, the Han army generals, who had once boasted of their formidable martial prowess, were now all ashen-faced. Some unconsciously tightened their grip on their horses' reins.
'Is this the Thunder God descending to earth?'
'Can Your Majesty actually imprison heavenly thunder within an iron sphere?' Liu Xun slowly walked to the front of the platform and looked down at the astonished generals. He activated his 'Actor's Public Relations: Civilization Leader' mode, his voice deep and powerful.
"Gentlemen, this is not thunder, but the truth of the Great Han Academy of Physics. Before me, there are no invincible secret techniques, only steel that is not strong enough and explosions that are not powerful enough!" He suddenly drew his sword and pointed it at the trembling Kushan elephants. 'Did the Kushans think these beasts could stop me? Today, I will turn this city of Baishawa into a graveyard for the gods!'
After a brief silence, a deafening roar erupted: 'Long live the Emperor! Long live the Great Han! Long live His Majesty!' The fear in the eyes of the Han soldiers had vanished, replaced by fervent adoration — since the emperor possessed 'heavenly thunder', this war was no longer a desperate struggle, but a one-sided 'miracle demonstration'.
[System Prompt]:
[Army Morale]: Breaking the threshold, activating the attribute 'Fighting to the Death'.
[Enemy Chaos]: The Kushan vanguard elephants have begun large-scale infighting and the commander's will has broken.
Unlocked follow-ups: Basic Mortar Ballistics, Preliminary Bitter Acid Synthesis
Liu Xun looked at the collapsing Kushan phalanx, his eyes cold. He knew that this explosion had shattered not only the Dharma King, but also the foundation of the theocratic rule that the Kushan Empire had maintained for centuries.
'Gongshu Qi, advance with the entire army.' Liu Xun sat back on his dragon throne and elegantly adjusted his cuffs. 'I want a steaming cup of the Academy of Sciences' speciality coffee in the Kushan palace before sunset.'
Liu Xun did not intend to send the Han army deep into enemy territory alone. Instead, he wanted to spark a 'storm of scientific inquiry' that would sweep across Eurasia. In Shule, a former Silk Road stronghold, the battle flags of thirty-six kingdoms fluttered in the wind above a magnificent concrete training ground.
At the centre of the command platform stood Banji, Liu Xun's top disciple, who had been personally trained at the Academy of Scientific Inquiry and was now the Deputy Protector-General of the Western Regions. He was no longer the boy who spent all his time cleaning flasks in the laboratory. He now wore heavy armour made of cold-forged steel and carried a specially made recoilless crossbow at his waist. His eyes reflected the calm and fervour instilled in him by Liu Xun.
'Kings, watch closely! This is the power that the Great Han bestows upon its followers!' Banji shouted, waving his hand sharply.
On the edge of the training ground, a group of strong men selected from Wusun, Dayuan and Kucha began their drills. They were equipped with standardised weapons mass-produced by the Great Han, and among every ten men there was a 'scientific inquiry instructor' who had received short-term training from the Great Han.
Liu Xun had used this system to create a 'Collaborative Command System' for this allied force.
System Command: Activate 'Geopolitical Coalition Module – Multinational Allied Forces'.
Core Logic: Lock in the loyalty of allies through 'technology authorisation' and 'logistics control'.
Equipment bonuses: Standardised passwords, flag signal linkage and a medical team from the Han Red Cross.
Control Core: Restrict all heavy siege equipment (such as thunderclaps) to the Han army; the allied forces are responsible for flank harassment and capture.
'Dayuan cavalry! Your horseshoes must be replaced with fine steel ones from Han!' Boomed Banji's voice through the megaphone. 'Kucha archers, your bowstrings must be coated with cold-resistant, moisture-proof paraffin wax produced by the Han!' Just as the kings of the thirty-six kingdoms hesitated, a huge white silk screen at the far end of the training ground lit up.
Using the Basic Shadow Puppet Magnifier/Slideshow Technology rewarded by the system and a high-brightness kerosene projection system, Liu Xun projected his imposing image from Chang'an onto the screen.
"My subjects!" Liu Xun activated his 'Ultimate Performance: King of Kings', his enormous phantom appearing like a god looking down upon the world. 'The Kushans have plundered the trade routes and cut off your source of wealth. I do not ask for your tribute; I only ask for your troops! I grant those who follow me to conquer Baishawa a three-year exemption from 'export tariffs'!"
'Long live the Emperor! Long live the Han Dynasty!' The kings of the thirty-six kingdoms knelt down; their eyes believed that this ability to 'appear' across thousands of miles was nothing short of a miracle. Under the setting sun, a massive army of 150,000 began its westward march.
The army's composition was peculiar: at the forefront were camel supply brigades belching black smoke and carrying heavy provisions; on the flanks were foreign cavalry clad in Han-style cotton clothing and wielding repeating crossbows; at the heart stood the First Legion of the Han army, silent and iron-willed, wielding gunpowder.
[System notification] [Geopolitical map] updated. Loyalty of the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions has risen to 'Rock Solid'.
[Multinational Force Combat Strength Assessment]: sufficient to easily crush any classical empire that had not yet entered the industrial age, unlocking [Basic Signal Flare Development] and [Prototype Field Radiophone (Magnetic Transmission Principle)].
Banji mounted his warhorse and looked back at Chang'an. He knew that his mentor, Liu Xun, had not only given him an army, but also the means to shatter the old world's geopolitical order.
'Move out!' Destination: Peshawar!'
The standoff outside Peshawar had entered its third week, with the camps of the Western Regions' allied forces stretching for miles. However, beneath this seemingly invincible force, corruption was brewing along the Han Dynasty's vital westward route.
Liu Xun did not stay in Chang'an to receive Banji's briefing. Instead, he donned ordinary cold-forged infantry armour and, accompanied by only three Hidden Dragon Guards, rode at full speed to the crucial choke point connecting the Han and Kushan territories — the first fortress of the Pamir Mountains. Inside the fortress, steam cranes were hoisting crates of thunderclaps and standardised cotton clothing. However, in a corner of the warehouse, Liu Xun witnessed a different scene. 'This crate of "refined salt" is recorded in the loss account. The gold dust exchanged with the Wusun caravan will be divided according to the usual rules.' A low-ranking officer with a protruding belly was picking his teeth and gesturing at the ledger.
Behind him, a stack of 'high-strength degreased gauze', intended for frontline soldiers, was casually stuffed into the satchel of a Western Regions merchant.
[System Command]: Initiate 'Internal Scan – Corruption Index Monitoring'.
Detection Target: Logistics Department of the Pamir Fortress.
Corruption level: Red (moderate).
Core impact: The frontline ammunition supply rate decreases by 15% and soldier morale declines.
Host status: Absolute Calm switches to Tyrannical Ruler Mode.
'General Zhao, it seems the ledger is missing three thousand catties of coke and fifty repeating crossbows.' Although Liu Xun's voice wasn't loud, it carried a penetrating power that instantly silenced the entire room.
'Where did this madman come from, daring to spy on military secrets? Seize him and kill him without mercy!" Enraged, Centurion Zhao swung his heavy sword at Liu Xun. Liu Xun sneered. He hadn't taken personal action for a long time, but that didn't mean that his system-enhanced body had rusted.
[System Plugin Activated]
Instantaneous Martial Power Burst — Overlord's Descent
Physical functions: Strength increased by 300%; visual persistence enhanced.
Attack Logic: Joint locks, throat-crushing technique, high-frequency strikes.
Much to the soldiers' astonishment, the 'soldier' swayed and dodged the afterimage of the heavy sword's slash. Liu Xun's right hand coiled around the opponent's wrist like a serpent and, with a 'crack', the steel longsword fell to the ground.
Immediately afterwards, Liu Xun delivered a simple punch that struck Commander Zhao's breastplate squarely. The heavy armour, crafted using cold forging techniques, bore an imprint from the blow of a fist. The commander flew ten metres away like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily into a concrete wall and coughing up blood.
Liu Xun slowly removed his helmet, revealing the imposing face that had graced the front page of the Great Han Daily for years. 'Your Majesty... Your Majesty?!' Thousands of guards instantly knelt as if a mountain of gold had collapsed; the only sound was that of the howling wind filling the drill ground.'I provided you with the finest steel and the most plentiful rations so that you could expand my territory, not so that you could drink the blood of my people from behind my back!' Liu Xun accepted the blood-red cloak offered by the Hidden Dragon Guard, his gaze sweeping over every officer below. 'Zhao, according to the laws of the Great Han, those who embezzle military pay or collude with foreign enemies shall be executed by slow slicing.'
He snatched a sword from a soldier beside him and, in an instant, the centurion with the surname Zhao's head rolled onto the concrete steps before he could even beg for mercy.
[System Prompt]:
[Army Discipline]: Increased to 100%.
[Army Awe Value]: Overflowing
Achievement obtained: Iron-Blooded Commander – Invincible Against Ten Thousand.
"Issue the decree." Liu Xun wiped the blood from his sword and switched to the [Cold-Blooded War Machine] mode. "All officers in the Pamir Mountains are demoted one rank and assigned as inspectors. If logistical supplies are still insufficient, fill the cement beneath these walls with the bones of corrupt officials.'
On the distant walls of Baishawa, the Kushan defenders seemed to sense the chilling aura emanating from the east, and even their banners ceased to flutter.
The oppressive atmosphere of the fortress in the Pamir Mountains had not yet dissipated when an envoy from the Kushan Empire rode a magnificent Akhal-Teke horse covered in dust. Exuding arrogance, he charged before the ranks of the Han army, holding aloft a scroll of sheepskin sewn with gold silk — a personal reply from the Kushan King, Botiao.
On the reviewing stand, Liu Xun remained, still seething with rage and with the warmth of his fingertips lingering from the execution of the corrupt official. He tore open the luxurious sheepskin scroll, revealing clumsy yet arrogant calligraphy in the style of the Han Dynasty: 'Hear, Master of the Eastern Silk Road: West of the Pamir Mountains lies a land bathed in Buddhist light. Your petty skills are nothing but frivolous tricks. If you want the Han caravans to be able to travel safely, you must pay tribute to Peshawar every year: ten thousand dan of refined salt, one hundred thousand bolts of cotton cloth and three sets of blueprints for the core of a steam engine. Otherwise, my elephant cavalry will trample the bricks of Chang'an!" Liu Xun suddenly burst into laughter, a chilling, maddened cackle that sent shivers down the spines of his soldiers. He launched into his 'ultimate performance: the extremely calm tyrant', casually tossing the priceless golden sheepskin scroll to the ground and grinding it repeatedly underfoot.
'Your Majesty, this humble subject will immediately draft a formal letter vehemently condemning its errors!' The Grand Herald trembled with rage as he reached for pen and ink.
'No need.' Liu Xun waved his hand, his eyes like sharp blades beneath ancient glaciers, piercing the west. Then he turned and walked towards a row of neatly arranged, heavy, steam-powered tractors. These 'steel monsters' were spewing thick black smoke and had prototype siege cannons mounted behind them, powerful enough to tear apart city walls.
'Replying to the dead doesn't require pen and ink. I intend to reply in this way.' "
[System Command]: Total War – Blitzkrieg Peshawar."
Strategic Core: Use steam-powered tractors to ignore terrain and forcibly tow heavy artillery clusters across mountain passes to achieve mechanised mobility.
Tactical Logic: Abandon traditional infantry confrontations and initiate a 'decapitation strike'.
Current bonus: marching speed increased by 200% and firepower coverage doubled.
Chapter 3: The 'Blitzkrieg' of the Steel Great Wall
Upon Liu Xun's command, the formerly silent Pamir Fortress instantly transformed into a war machine, with hundreds of steam-powered tractors secretly assembled by the Gewu Academy emitting a low roar as their thick vulcanised rubber tracks gripped the gravelly ground.
'All troops, engage gears, charge!' Banji's heavy cavalry regiment no longer marched at a leisurely pace; they used the powerful engines of their tractors to minimise supply pressure. While the Kushan scouts were still calculating how long it would take the Han army to transport all the provisions, Liu Xun's 'Iron Wall' had already crossed the formidable natural barrier. At dawn, the defenders of Peshawar were still asleep.
King Botiao of Kushan was embracing his favourite concubine and dreaming that the Han emperor knelt before him, presenting him with blueprints for a steam engine.
"Boom!" A deafening explosion shattered the Kushan Empire's arrogance. This was the first high-explosive shell to be personally calibrated by Liu Xun.
The thick, several-metre-high outer gates of Peshawar crumbled instantly amidst smoke and flames.
Liu Xun sat on top of the first tractor, his cloak fluttering in the black smoke. Gazing at the panicked Kushan palace in the distance, he murmured to himself, "Botiao, this strike is to seek justice for over three hundred merchants." 'The next blow will mark the beginning of the Great Han Dynasty's global trade zone. Are you prepared to risk your life for it?" System notification:
[Enemy Emperor's Fear Level]: 99% (Triggered "Heart-Piercing Fear" slow buff).
[Conquest War Progress]: 45%
[Limited-Time Unlock Weapon]: White Phosphorus Bomb – Aerial Projection Version (Hot Air Balloon Unit Only).
Liu Xun did not rush into the city to accept the surrender. Instead, he ordered the construction of a nine-zhang-high 'standardised prefabricated command platform' three li outside Baishawa. Once there, he changed out of the rough hemp infantry armour he had worn during his incognito visit and into the 'Great Han Supreme Black Cold-Forged Full-Coverage Armour', which had been secretly crafted by the Gewu Academy.
This armour was made using a vacuum carburising process, giving it a deep, matte black finish reminiscent of the abyss. Embedded in the chest was a slightly pulsating steam pressure gauge, protected by high-purity glass and connected to a miniature hydraulic auxiliary system on his back.
Holding a fine steel longsword named "Ding Qin", with its tip pointing diagonally at the ground, Liu Xun launched his "Top Performance: Iron-Blooded Conqueror." An overwhelming aura emanated from him, as if emerging from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, causing the 150,000 allied troops below to breathe cautiously.
'Soldiers! Two hundred years ago, the Yuezhi migrated westward to escape the Xiongnu invasion, eventually establishing the Kushan Empire. They forgot the humble origins of their ancestors and became arrogant towards the Han Dynasty!" Liu Xun's voice echoed like thunder through dozens of high-powered loudspeakers in the open valley.
'Bo Diao thought the Pamir Mountains were an impenetrable barrier and that his elephant cavalry were invincible, but to me, this land has only one name: "Kushan Province of the Western Regions Protectorate of the Great Han Dynasty"!'
[System Command]: Activate 'Civilization Harvest – Return to the Former Land'.
Core Logic: Utilise the historical connection to the 'former land of the Yuezhi' to establish legitimacy of rule.
Morale boost: 'Han army loyalty' is locked at 120%, and 'allied forces fear' is converted to 'worship'.
Current bonus: mechanised marching speed increased by a further 50%.
Liu Xun suddenly drew his sword — the Dingqin Sword — which shone with a blinding white light in the sunlight as he pointed it directly at the crumbling palace in Peshawar. 'Today, I swear an oath here, not only to annihilate the Kushans, but also to let the world know that within the territory of the Great Han, wherever the sun shines there will be pastures and wherever rivers flow there will be bathing pools!' At his command, dozens of hot air balloons behind the command platform slowly ascended. Below the balloons were baskets bearing the red Qilin flag of the Han Dynasty, filled with high-explosive charges — the 'reply' to be dropped on Bo Diao.
'Target: The former territory of the Yuezhi! All troops, charge!' As Liu Xun roared, hundreds of steam-powered vehicles sounded their horns simultaneously, the piercing blast shattering the last vestige of hope in Peshawar. Banji's heavily armoured cavalry surged into the ancient capital like a black lightning bolt through the breach blasted open by heavy artillery.
[System Notification] [Han Dynasty National Fortune Value]: Exploding growth
[Western Countries' Intimidation Level]: Parthian and Qin (Rome) spies are transmitting intelligence back home overnight.
[Unlock Ultimate Reward]: Basic Wired Telegraph (Spanning the Pamir Mountains).
Standing on the command platform, Liu Xun watched the black Qilin flag rise over the walls of Peshawar. He knew that this was just the beginning. After the Kushan Empire came Parthia, and after Parthia came the azure of the Mediterranean.