Chapter 22: The Manifestation of the Automobile

"Continue," the Emperor’s voice was terrifyingly calm.

"They assert that Your Majesty will pass away at Shaqiu during your fifth eastern tour," Meng Yi articulated every word, not daring to withhold even the slightest detail.

Outside the hall, the final sliver of sunset was swallowed by dark clouds. The bronze lamp cast Ying Zheng's silhouette against the wall, and the shadow suddenly flickered violently.

Meanwhile, on the other side, the stomachs of Jiang Ye and his companions began to growl.

Fang Gaochang rubbed his stomach and complained, "Why hasn't the food been delivered yet?"

No sooner had he spoken than several maids entered in a file, carrying lacquered wooden food trays.

The trays were laden with meals prepared according to the standards of the Qin Dynasty nobility: golden steamed broomcorn millet, tenderly stewed mutton, a few types of seasonal wild vegetables, a dish of dark paste, and a pot of warm rice wine.

"Finally, something to eat." Jiang Ke rubbed his hands in excitement and was the first to dive in.

As everyone eagerly picked up the food and brought it to their mouths, the expressions on their faces instantly froze.

"This—this is too bland, isn't it?" Shi Xiaoyu swallowed a bite of wild vegetables with difficulty, her little face scrunching up. "How could they be so stingy with the salt?"

Li Jun poked at the broomcorn millet with his chopsticks. "What kind of rice is this? It's all yellow. Is it millet?"

"This is broomcorn millet, the staple grain for the common people in ancient times," Jiang Ye explained. "In terms of texture, it doesn't compare to modern refined rice, but it has high nutritional value. Everyone, just make do."

The others nodded, indicating they understood.

Zheng Chen picked up a piece of mutton with his chopsticks. As soon as it entered his mouth, he nearly spat it out. "Damn! This mutton has such a strong gamey smell."

As he spoke, he grabbed the rice wine nearby and took a large gulp, which finally diluted the gamy taste in his mouth.

"Don't they remove the fishy or gamy odors?"

Jiang Ye rubbed his forehead and explained patiently, "The Qin Dynasty lacks seasonings. The nobility mainly uses plums, meat pastes, and coarse salt for flavoring. It’s incomparable to modern times."

Accustomed to dishes cooked with a variety of modern seasonings, the group found it difficult to swallow such pure, natural food all of a sudden.

Seeing the conflicted looks on the eight people's faces, Jiang Ye smiled and said, "Be content; this is already aristocratic treatment. Common people might not even be able to afford a meal like this in their entire lives."

"But this is just too..." Zheng Chen pushed the boiled mutton aside with a bitter expression.

"I actually miss the flatbreads (called *fanbing* in the Qin Dynasty) I had during the day. Even though they were hard and tasted bad, the more you chewed, the better they got," Shi Xiaoyu sighed.

Facing the "delicacies" on the trays, all eight people simultaneously found themselves yearning for the taste of instant noodles.

"Just make do!"

The next morning, the group drank porridge accompanied by *qizou* (pickled vegetables) that did not suit their palates, barely filling their stomachs. As soon as they finished eating, the courtyard door was gently knocked.

Jiang Ye opened the door to see Meng Yi standing below the steps in a dark robe, morning dew still clinging to the fabric on his shoulders.

"High Minister Meng, good morning."

Meng Yi nodded slightly and asked with a smile, "Did everyone sleep well?"

"Not bad."

"Quite well."

...

They said this with their mouths, but in reality, they had been so excited that they stayed up talking until the second half of the night. This morning, they had been woken up early by Jiang Ye, and at this moment, they were all still in a dazed state.

"His Majesty summons you at the hour of the Snake (9:00 AM to 11:00 AM)." Meng Yi's gaze swept over the people in the courtyard. "Are you all prepared?"

"The High Minister may lead the way."

Meng Yi walked in front, Jiang Ye followed closely behind, and Jiang Ke and the others lagged a few steps, whispering to each other.

"We have to leave at nine-thirty. Do you think we’ll have a chance to take a photo with the First Emperor?" Jiang Ke's eyes were full of eagerness.

"I think that’s a bit difficult."

"After all, there are many people who want to kill Ying Zheng, so he won't easily let anyone get close to him. As for a photo..." Li Jun was not optimistic, even though he also wanted a photo with Ying Zheng in his heart.

Li Lin didn't think so. "I actually think there's still hope. As long as he believes we are from two thousand years later, perhaps he will agree to our request."

Shi Xiaoyu interjected, "Let's wait and see. If it works, that would naturally be the best. If not, we'll just have to give it up."

Everyone nodded.

Arriving once more at the temporary palace from yesterday, there was no body search this time because Ying Zheng was standing right outside the door.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," Jiang Ye led the group in a respectful bow.

Ying Zheng stood on the steps with his hands behind his back, his black dragon robe fluttering slightly in the morning breeze. He swept his gaze over the group and said indifferently, "You may rise."

Jiang Ye straightened up and bowed with folded hands, "Your Majesty, do you wish for a brief meeting, or a demonstration? If you wish to see the speed of the automobile, we need to find an open area. A long, straight road would be best for it to run."

Five minutes was enough to demonstrate it to the First Emperor.

Ying Zheng raised an eyebrow and looked at Meng Yi.

Meng Yi understood immediately, "The drill ground west of the city is three hundred paces long and fifty paces wide, surrounded by high walls."

"Very well," Ying Zheng nodded.

Before long, a squad of imperial guards cleared the way, and the group moved to the drill ground. Along the way, guard posts stood everywhere, and black-armored soldiers holding halberds stood in formation, encircling the entire field. The ground was packed with yellow earth, and the weapon racks on both sides had been cleared—it was indeed a good place for a test drive.

Jiang Ye looked around and nodded with satisfaction, "This place is perfect."

He turned to Ying Zheng, "Please wait a moment, Your Majesty. Once it is the second quarter of the hour of the Snake, it will arrive."

At the second quarter of the hour of the Snake, the sun was high in the sky.

Ying Zheng looked up at the sky, and Zhao Gao, understanding his intent, spoke up, "Your Majesty, the time has come."

Ying Zheng looked at Jiang Ye and his group below.

Zhao Gao called out, "Young friend Jiang, the time has arrived."

The implication was clear: it was time to act.

Jiang Ke and the others fixed their eyes on Jiang Ye; at this moment, the eight of them could not help but feel nervous. If it failed, it would be a matter of life and death.

Jiang Ye stood in the center of the drill ground, his expression calm, and he quietly pressed the unlock button on the system panel.

In an instant, ripples like water appeared in the air, and a blinding white light exploded out of thin air.

"Boom!"

Accompanied by a low roar, an eighteen-seater ginger-yellow Coaster commercial vehicle suddenly appeared like a giant beast!

The streamlined body reflected the glaring sunlight, the alloy rims gleamed with a cold metallic luster, and the windshield was as clear as a mirror, reflecting the shocked faces around it.

"This, this..." Zhao Gao gasped in shock.

The halberds of the surrounding guards were drawn with a clatter, and they stared at the suddenly appeared giant object with vigilance and terror.

On the viewing platform, Ying Zheng stood up abruptly, the jade beads of his crown shaking violently, yet they could not hide the look of shock shooting from his eyes.

The vast drill ground fell silent, with only the "humming" sound of the engine echoing.

This steel beast had descended out of thin air onto the territory of the Great Qin, like a divine miracle.