Li Daoxuan’s perspective followed Gao Yiye, Thirty-Two, and Feng Jun as they entered Heyang County. Feng Jun hosted a banquet for them. Just as the three were enjoying the al, a swift horse galloped into the county office. The rider, draped in white robes, was none other than Bai Yuan.
Finding no sign of Feng Jun in the front hall, Bai Yuan rushed straight to the courtyard and dashed up to the banquet table: “Lord Feng, disaster is imminent! I’ve received reliable intelligence—Wang Jiayin’s fleet will soon attack Qiachuan Port.”
Clatter! Feng Jun’s chopsticks fell to the ground. Blood imdiately gushed from his nose.
“Regardless, please muster militias from every village and town, Lord Feng, and send them to Qiachuan Port,” urged Bai Yuan. “I’ll also rally Chengcheng County’s militia to reinforce us.”
Feng Jun swept his official robes aside and sprinted out, his voice trailing behind him: “Agreed! I’ll mobilize the militia imdiately. Chengcheng’s forces are in your hands, Mr. Bai!”
Spotting Gao Yiye and Thirty-Two, Bai Yuan looked genuinely startled: “Oh? You happen to be here in Heyang County too?”
Gao Yiye smiled. “Yes, the Deity is with us.”
Bai Yuan turned his face skyward, overjoyed: “Deity, Bai Shui Wang Er has returned safely! He’s at Qiachuan Port now.”
Upon hearing this, Li Daoxuan felt a surge of relief. Excellent. Wang Er was practically one of his own people—his safety mattered most.
Bai Yuan spoke rapidly: “But his return wasn’t effortless. He failed to persuade Wang Jiayin to join Gaojia Village. Zhang Liwei and Wang Guozhong plotted to kill him. Thankfully, Wang Er prepared in advance. By employing a ‘golden cicada shedding its shell’ stratagem, he stole a small boat and escaped at top speed. He reached Qiachuan Port just an hour ago.”
Li Daoxuan murmured, “Since Wang Er’s appeal failed, Wang Jiayin will proceed with his original plan: attacking Qiachuan Port. That ans Wang Jiayin’s naval forces will sail downstream toward us soon.”
“Exactly!” replied Bai Yuan. “Therefore, I intend to return to Gaojia Village imdiately to summon Instructor He for support.”
“No need to return,” Li Daoxuan interjected. “Roundtrip travel wastes precious ti. I’ll call Instructor He over.”
Bai Yuan clasped his fists. “Gratitude, Deity!”
Li Daoxuan pondered: Qiachuan Port still lies beyond my vision. Another battle unfolds where I can’t intervene to protect my people. If even one is lost, it’ll haunt .
They require more reliable ans of self-defense.
His thoughts drifted to how Wang Jiayin’s fleet had previously assaulted Hequ County in Shanxi, only to be repelled by Western cannons under the provincial commander. Coastal artillery turrets proved devastating against ships.
Not long ago, I supplied capillary steel tubing to the artisans at “Artisans’ Well.” Did they manage to build cannons in such a short tifra? This feels rushed.
Li Daoxuan tapped the label “Gaojia Village.” Instantly, his perspective snapped back—landing first near the military camp. With his field of vision now stretching 1,000 ters long and 600 ters wide, he simultaneously observed the regular barracks, firearms bureau, and cavalry camp.
Without preamble, he printed a sheet of paper and held it aloft in the sky: All Units: Advance to Reinforce Qiachuan Port.
The three camps mobilized at once.
Leading were Zao Ying’s troops. Cavalry reacted fastest. Within monts, a core group of 120 elite riders—her forr bandit company—sped out. Newer recruits scrambled after them, saddling frantically, uncertain if they could keep pace.
Next ca Cheng Xu’s infantry. They packed hastily, collected ammunition from the firearms bureau, and marched out. As foot soldiers, their speed paled against the cavalry; they’d need a full day to reach Qiachuan Port. Li Daoxuan sighed inwardly: We must complete that cent road soon. At least then we could transport troops using sun chariots.
Once both divisions marched, Li Daoxuan switched his focus to Artisans’ Well.
There, resting on the ground, stood two “stainless steel cannons.” Astonishingly, the craftsn had forged them within re days. Then it struck him: the core challenge of cannon-making was the barrel. By providing pre-made capillary steel tubing—custom-blocked on one end with firing chanisms preinstalled—he’d given them functional barrels straightaway.
All the artisans had done was add details: mounting wheels, attaching flash-pan covers, building handles, crafting compatible rounds, and preparing pre-asured bombs… Simple tasks for Gaojia Village’s current productivity.
But here lay the problem: these weapons were freshly completed. No artillery unit had trained to use them.
Doesn’t matter. Take them now!
Wishing not to alarm the tiny figures, Li Daoxuan slipped on an “Infinity Glove” over one hand—extending its shimring golden form toward Artisans’ Well—while leaving his other hand bare for delicate control.
Artisans cheered at the sight of the “Deity’s hand”: “The Deity is reaching down! What will he take?”
Li Daoxuan gently plucked a cannon with his ungloved hand, nestling it onto his golden palm. To the small figures, the cannon seed to levitate independently before landing across his vast hand—proof of the Deity’s boundless divine power. He then lifted a crate of cannonballs onto his palm.
His enormous hand swept horizontally, halting at the firearms bureau entrance. Without instruction, bureau chief Xu Dafu led his gunpowder makers outside. They piled bundles of pre-asured bomb packs onto the waiting palm.
No words passed. Li Daoxuan withdrew his hand beyond the box. The small figures watched the golden-skinned giant hand vanish into the clouds, cradling two cannons and ammunition stores.
He then tapped the tag above Heyang County. His perspective shifted back to the county seat.
As Bai Yuan readied to return to Qiachuan Port, Gao Yiye addressed him: “Mr. Bai, one hundred militia guards are protecting . Since the situation is urgent, take them. They’re elite fighters—far superior to Heyang County’s militia—and include skilled warriors like Ground Rabbit and Zheng Gouzi. Though honestly… If you excluded those two, the unit’s combat effectiveness would actually improve…”
Bai Yuan replied sternly, “Impossible! Should Qiachuan Port fall, we withdraw to the county seat—a minor setback. But protecting the Saint Lady takes precedence. I won’t divert her guards.”
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