Love Lock

Chapter 307 A combination of kindness and power
Gertai's fingertips trembled slightly as he lifted the carriage curtain, which crumpled into a ball in his hand.

He gazed at Pingchuan's raised arm under the solar-powered lights, the arm hanging in mid-air like a battle flag.

Behind Pingchuan, two rows of Cangzhou soldiers were holding a black metal object, more than twice the size of the "hunting rifle" they had seen at the Qingshui County Prefectural Government.

The muzzle of the M16 gleamed with a cold, menacing light under the lights of the northern desert, like a row of pupil-less eyes, silently locking onto the mission's convoy.

Gertai took a deep breath, the scent of dust and dry grass filling his chest.

Sure enough, these soldiers didn't use swords or blades; this dark object was the source of the King of Cangzhou's confidence.

It lacked the cold glint of a scimitar and the whistling sound of arrows, yet it possessed a chilling and intimidating power.

The wide-open city gates of Ling'an City gleamed in the distance; they represented the path home, but also the formidable obstacle they had to overcome.

He was an old envoy whose life had long been staked on the grasslands.

Whatever is about to happen, he must go out and face it now.

The carriage curtain fell. Gertai bent down and climbed out of the carriage.

The wind from the northern desert immediately lashed his face, carrying the scent of fresh grass.

He stood firmly, then raised his arms high, a gesture of submission that transcends ethnicity.

"General, please calm down!" he shouted, his voice straining to cut through the wind of the wilderness. He tried to project a semblance of composure, but his voice still trembled uncontrollably. "We are envoys from Ala and Meng! Your Prince of Cangzhou has agreed to let us return to the grasslands!"

Pingchuan's face was as cold and hard as cast iron, without the slightest wavering.

He uttered only a concise and cold command, his voice not loud, but like a boulder crashing into the deathly silence: "Everyone, get off the carriages."

Gertai's heart sank.

He turned around and waved laboriously to the convoy behind him.

The orders were relayed like ripples on water. One carriage after another, the curtains were hesitantly lifted.

The envoys from both countries, some looking alarmed and others trying to remain calm, stepped onto the trembling footboards and onto the land of Cangzhou.

They slowly gathered in front of the row of dark gun barrels, like a flock of tamed sheep, and eventually all disembarked from the carriage.

Marshal Pingchuan stepped forward, M16 in hand, his voice sounding particularly cold and hard in the night wind: "Envoy of Gertai, His Highness has ordered that you all follow me."

The members of the delegation looked at each other, their faces pale.

Hassa exclaimed in a low voice, "Are we being taken to be executed? Are we really going to die here?"

Panic spread like wildfire, and the members of the mission began to stir.

Gertai forced himself to remain calm, signaled everyone to be quiet, and followed Pingchuan's group slowly forward.

However, Pingchuan did not lead them into the city, but instead detoured to a brightly lit construction site in the west of the city.

The night breeze carried the shouts of craftsmen, the clanging of wood, and even the crisp sound of horses' hooves pounding on the newly paved road.

The scene here was bustling with activity, quite unlike the execution ground that people had imagined.

On the construction site, the huge wooden frame structure was already taking shape, and rows of neat stalls were stretching out. The ground was paved with a smooth, bluish-gray material, just like the roads they walked on in Cangzhou.

Even more surprisingly, several tall lampposts stand around the construction site, and the familiar solar lights at the top are also lit up here, illuminating the construction site as bright as day at night!
Pingchuan stopped and pointed to the vast construction site: "This is the Three Kingdoms Trade Market built by order of the Prince. It will be completed in two months. At that time, the three kingdoms of Ala, Meng, and Dajing can trade here."

"what?"

"Trade between the three kingdoms?"

"really?"

The delegation members were astonished, as if they had heard something unbelievable.

Pingchuan remained expressionless, his gaze sweeping over the surprised and uncertain faces of the delegation members.

He pointed to the solar lights and continued, “The prince said that Cangzhou now has things like these lights that can make the night as bright as day, cement that can build sturdy roads and houses, and even those ‘three-wheeled vehicles’ that can carry goods and people… Through the trade, you can exchange them with your goods in the future.”

After saying that, Pingchuan looked at their gaping mouths in astonishment and added, "No need for war, no need for ceding territory."

After a deathly silence, various incredulous whispers erupted from within the group.

Hassa suddenly grabbed Gertai's arm, his fingers trembling with excitement: "Master! Did I hear that right? Those lights... that cement road... we can have that too?!"

Gertai stood frozen in place, still reeling from the shock.

He gazed at the orderly construction site under the lights, his mind reeling.

They were still in the darkness, filled with fear, jealousy, and plotting how to plunder by force, while the King of Cangzhou... had already paved a road for the three kingdoms to share prosperity.

Immediately, shame surged into her heart like a tidal wave, making Gertai's cheeks burn.

Hassa couldn't wait to ask, "General! You said that...that magical lamp, can we really trade it for goods?"

Pingchuan nodded, his voice steady: "Yes! As long as the rules of the trade are followed and fair transactions are conducted, all goods in Cangzhou can be circulated."

After saying that, Pingchuan raised his hand and waved it. There was a "whoosh" sound of bullets being chambered. Before the delegation members could react, the soldiers' M16s were all pointed at them.

"General, this..." Hassa was stunned and subconsciously raised his hand.

Pingchuan slowly spoke: "However, the prince said that all of this is only open to friends. I wonder... do you want to be friends, or wolves?"

He spoke his last two words softly, yet they instantly brought everyone to their senses—the chilling intimidation still existed, but now it protected the road to prosperity, not just death.

Just then, the lyrics of the song he had heard in Qingshui County flashed through Gertai's mind: "We welcome friends with good wine, but if jackals come, we will greet them with hunting rifles!"

He felt a jolt, and all his doubts and calculations were washed away in that instant.

He took a few quick steps, almost lunging at Pingchuan, his voice hoarse with excitement.

"General! Please convey to the Prince of Cangzhou that we want to be friends! We want to be friends! Our Ala Kingdom is willing to follow the Prince, and our grasslands... will also become as bright and prosperous as Qingshui County!"

Upon hearing this, Pingchuan looked down at him, a knowing, almost gentle expression on his face.

"His Highness anticipated that you would share this sentiment. Therefore, he ordered me to wait here to inform you: the wine of friendship has long been prepared. On the road to prosperity, Cangzhou is willing to walk hand in hand with its neighboring states."

Gertai and Hasa were completely stunned, then suddenly realized with utter shame.

It turns out that all their fears, greed, scheming, and even their current ecstasy and fervent devotion had already been clearly seen and meticulously arranged by the King of Cangzhou, who was far away in the prefectural capital.

Their self-righteous mission, their constant fear and anxiety along the way, were seen by the other side as nothing more than a well-planned and strategically guided game of chess.

Their self-righteous ambition and fear appear so laughable and insignificant in the face of absolute strength and far-sighted planning. They are like clowns putting on a great show, while the audience has already seen through everything.

Geltai gazed at the brightly lit market construction site, brimming with boundless hope, then looked back at the dark wilderness he had come from. Finally, he placed his hand on his chest and bowed deeply, his voice filled with utmost sincerity.

"Please convey to the Prince of Cangzhou that our country will never forget this kindness and wishes to remain friends forever, not wolves and jackals."

Hasa quickly chimed in, "Yes! Our Meng Kingdom is also willing to be friends. Upon returning to the royal court, we will report to the Chanyu, draft a letter of state, and establish a lasting friendship with the Great Jing."

"Hmm!" Pingchuan nodded in satisfaction, signaling the soldiers to put away their M16s, and then gestured for them to proceed. "Distinguished envoys, please come in! Meals and lodging have been arranged for you in Ling'an City."

The members of the delegation were filled with irrepressible joy as they followed Marshal Pingchuan and slowly made their way towards the Ling'an City Gate.

The solar streetlights illuminated the smooth cement road stretching forward. Pingchuan turned to the side and smiled as he introduced the road to Gertai and Hasa, who were riding side by side.

"The prince instructed that once the trade market opens, the best craftsmen will be sent to the grasslands to help you build brick houses that are warm in winter and cool in summer."

Hassa poked his head out of the carriage, his eyes sparkling: "Brick houses? The kind of sturdy houses that the Dajing people live in, the kind that can withstand the white-haired wind?"

“Exactly.” Pingchuan nodded. “Not only will we build walls and beams, but we’ll also teach everyone how to build heated brick beds. No matter how strong the wind blows outside in winter, the house will stay warm and cozy.”

Gertai stroked his curly beard and pondered, “We live by the water and grass, and our ancestors have lived in felt tents for generations… Once we have houses, we will also have cities.”

Pingchuan smiled knowingly, "The prince said he can also give you three-wheeled vehicles and have the craftsmen teach you how to speed them up and repair them. In the future, you won't have to rely on horses and people to carry grain and milk buckets anymore."

"Marshal Pingchuan," Gertai's voice was filled with barely suppressed anticipation, "please be sure to tell the Prince of Cangzhou that the eagle of the grasslands is longing for the spring rains."

Along their journey, everything they saw and heard in Cangzhou stirred up a storm in their hearts.

The wide, flat road stretches to the horizon, and the solar-powered lights, as bright as day at night, illuminate the road. Three-wheeled vehicles come and go at an astonishing speed.

What chilled them even more were the dark, menacing weapons—though their names were unknown, their mere presence exuded a suffocating pressure.

What moved them most was the composure and unity on the faces of the people of Cangzhou, a sense of security and confidence that was unlike anything they had ever seen on the grasslands.

Geltai gazed at the towering city walls in the distance, his heart surging with emotion.

How wonderful it would be if the grasslands could have such a view!

The roads are no longer muddy, the nights are no longer dark, and the people no longer fight for a single grain of food.

What impressed him most was that despite possessing such formidable military power, the Great Jing did not march north to plunder and pillage small countries like theirs. Instead, it established a trade market outside Ling'an City, sincerely seeking trade and mutual prosperity with various states.

After entering Ling'an City, Gertai kept the carriage curtain slightly raised, admiring the street scene with unwavering eyes.

Under the cover of night, Ling'an City was brightly lit, pedestrians strolled leisurely, shops lined the streets, and the sounds of vendors hawking their wares filled the air.

This bustling and peaceful scene made him imagine what the future grassland capital would look like—

Perhaps one day, a city that never sleeps will appear on the grasslands.

Just as he was immersed in this wonderful dream, a familiar "putt-putt-putt" sound came from afar.

Gertai looked in the direction of the sound and saw a three-wheeled vehicle speeding past the delegation, with a fat live pig tied to the back of the vehicle.

The driver was an elderly man with gray hair and beard. He greeted Pingchuan and the soldiers along the way with familiarity, his face beaming with a simple and honest smile, before speeding away.

This harmonious scene between the military and civilians amazed the members of the delegation.

As we approached the inn, the three-wheeled vehicle reappeared before our eyes.

The old man was struggling to drag the stubborn fat pig, the rope digging deep into his rough palms.

Pingchuan called out from afar, "Why are you still lingering here, old man?"

The old man wiped the sweat from his brow and replied breathlessly, "Reporting to the Marshal, the post station is hosting distinguished guests today, and pork is in short supply. Unfortunately, I'm the only one on duty today, and this beast is being disobedient..."

Before he could finish speaking, the pig suddenly struggled, almost knocking the old man down.

Pingchuan laughed loudly, "Let go and let it be."

The old man shook his head repeatedly: "That won't do! If we let go, it will be hard to catch us again."

Pingchuan laughed as he dismounted, rubbing his waist, and said, "Didn't you want to deliver pork? This general will deliver it for you."

The old man hesitated, looking at Pingchuan and then glancing at the delegation before finally loosening the ropes: "Then... then we'll listen to the Marshal."

As soon as the old man let go, the pig squealed and ran wildly in all directions.

In the blink of an eye, Pingchuan calmly drew his pistol from his waist and fired two shots.

"Bang! Bang!"

Two loud bangs ripped through the sky, and the pig fell to the ground, killed by a single shot from fifty or sixty paces away.

Gunshots echoed in the post station square, and the members of the delegation who had stepped down from their carriages fell silent instantly.

Gertai felt a chill run down his spine—in the past three days, they had speculated countless times about the power and method of using the black weapon, but they never expected it to be so terrifying.

In that split second, Pingchuan demonstrated not only the precision of his weapon, but also a subtle yet powerful deterrent.

From dozens of steps away, the "hunting rifle" killed him with a single shot.

How powerful is this?
Gertai and Hasa couldn't help but exchange a glance, both seeing lingering fear in each other's eyes.

Hassa's fingers trembled slightly, and he subconsciously pressed his hand to his chest, secretly relieved.

“Thank goodness we chose to be friends,” Gerthai murmured in a voice only the two of them could hear, his Adam’s apple bobbing involuntarily.

He knew that Pingchuan was deliberately using this tactic at this moment to combine kindness and threats.

If they had made a single wrong decision and chosen to become enemies with such a powerful neighbor, they would not only have lost the opportunity to trade, but, as the King of Cangzhou said, they would have died right here.

They now fully believe that the King of Cangzhou has the power to do so.

Ahead, Pingchuan had already sheathed his gun and had the soldiers following him help the old man carry the pig into the post station. He chatted and laughed with the old man, as if he had just done a trivial thing.

He smiled and nodded to the old man: "Now that the pig is behaving itself, I'll send one of my brothers to take it to the kitchen for you."

After saying that, he turned to the delegation and smiled gently, as if the thunderous attack had never happened.

However, in those smiling eyes, Gertai saw the confidence and composure of a powerful empire—a heart full of compassion, yet with the power to strike with overwhelming force.

At that moment, he finally understood what the demeanor of a great power truly meant!