TPITWOHEF 2

Chapter 212

Firearms had existed since the previous dynasty, but even in the prosperous Chu State, they couldn't claim to fully equip all soldiers. At most, only elite troops in critical positions would be armed with them.

Despite their scarcity, firearms weren't exactly a novelty.

Whether it was the King of Chu or the King of Zhou, when Xiao Yunzhou mentioned these firearms, their expressions remained composed, not displaying the wide-eyed wonder of a country bumpkin entering a grand garden.

However, this composure wouldn't last long.

"A new type of firearm? Capable of a hundred shots?" The King of Chu, who was on friendlier terms with Xiao Yunzhou, couldn't help but ask first, "You must be joking."

The King of Chu, at sixty years old and with a wealth of experience, had been on the battlefield and closely monitored the Chu State's military department's research on firearm technology.

A firearm with a hundred bullets... How large would the body of such a weapon need to be to accommodate so many bullets? Cavalry on horseback, carrying such an oversized firearm, might not even be able to lift it. How could one possibly fight with that?

The King of Chu couldn't imagine what a hundred-shot firearm would look like.

Even if Jing Country had mystical experts, the King of Chu thought Xiao Yunzhou was talking nonsense!

"Xiao Yunzhou, you're not trying to fool us, are you?" Even the King of Zhou remained skeptical.

Let alone Jing Country, which wasn't particularly wealthy, even Chu, rich in iron ore, didn't possess such technology!

Xiao Yunzhou waved his hand, gesturing for them to remain calm. "Wait until they bring it here, and we'll all take a look together."

"By the way, since you both enjoy 'The First Immortal Lord,' have you heard the storytelling of 'She Returned After Five Years'?"

"As it happens, I recently had a play arranged. While we wait, shall we have them perform an act for us?"

The King of Chu and the King of Zhou were in no mood to watch a play at the moment.

Although they were engrossed in the legendary experiences and rise to power of Zhou Tiantian from the novel, in the face of national affairs—the firepower of these new weapons—the novel seemed insignificant.

But Xiao Yunzhou was the host, and they were guests, so they could only comply with his arrangements.

Soon, they moved to a specially partitioned pavilion within the palace for watching performances.

The stage was already prepared. Before long, the actors took their positions.

The King of Chu and the King of Zhou were initially distracted, but after about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they were drawn in by the clear-spoken, beautiful actors on stage.

Surprisingly, the play wasn't entirely sung; it had more spoken dialogue and less singing.

Even with their divided attention, they could hear every word the actors said clearly and see their expressions and tears vividly.

This performance style differed from traditional opera, using plain language from the Central Plains rather than the local dialect.

The King of Chu and the King of Zhou found themselves captivated, but after a while, their expressions grew solemn.

The woman who had once been hurt and driven out by her husband had now transformed into a princess with powerful backing, adopted by the royal family.

She was exceptionally intelligent, previously lacking only an opportunity. Now, after five years of tutelage from royal mentors, she had mastered mathematics, astronomy, and geography...