Wei School's Three Good Students

Chapter 211 Battles and Heroic Culture

As Silverhorn landed on the coastline, a chaotic horned people and twelve Triceratops emerged from the sea. Two kilometers away, four enormous flying creatures "rose slowly" from the side of the horned people's landing beach.

This is an aerial flying boat suspended by eight large lanterns, each five zhang in diameter and ten zhang in height. The size of these lanterns is comparable to the storage tanks in a large strategic oil reserve of a 21st-century nation.

Such a floating celestial vessel is worth four thousand gold coins. Its core wind-controlling component, the "jade" air-control rune system, alone costs eight hundred gold coins. This rune system can flexibly adjust air density.

Furthermore, after arriving in the south, the engineers of Liangtian Pavilion, through exchanges and learning, adopted the local "Magic Gem Octagonal Array" of the Feathered Clan to increase output efficiency.

The main armament of this airship is a crossbow-launched rocket launcher and five rotating machine guns. Because it uses black powder, the barrel needs to be cleaned every hundred rounds.

The reason for not using cannons is that the instantaneous recoil of cannons would cause the ship to sway, making the machine gun fire inaccurate.

It is said that celestial vessels have always existed within the Great Dao realm, belonging to certain immortal sects that specialize in refining artifacts. Their core secrets have remained unknown to the public until now.

Xuan Chong was able to decipher the core secrets of this "heretical artifact" only after obtaining the database of the Chi You ship.

Xuan Chong had never understood how such a small airbag could support such a large airship base.

After careful examination, it was found that the hot air inside the sky lantern was no longer "hot air" but "low-temperature ionized state" with lower density and greater repulsive force, under the action of some mechanism.

Xuan Chong used his rudimentary knowledge of physics to understand this: the gas density inside the airship's dome is only a few tens of thousands of times that of the outside air, yet it maintains the same pressure despite being separated by a layer of sky lantern-like covering. Even if the dome is broken with several holes, the low density of the internal air mass can still be maintained.

It can be said that if this advanced technology had existed in the first half of the 20th century, the Hindenburg would not have crashed due to a lack of helium supply from the United States, and the technology tree for air passenger transport might not have been limited to airplanes.

Faced with this exaggerated buoyancy reserve, Xuan Chong said: "After industrialization, the scenery here will be different from that on Earth."

…System: You cannot see the future here; you are merely history…

On the edge of the coastline, the airship was undergoing calibration. The airship slowly focused its cannons on the cluster of horned people landing.

The airship's observer stood at the very front of the gondola, his eye pressed against the lens of a one-meter-long telescope, which was pointed directly at the coastline where the people were landing.

In the crosshairs of the observer's scope, a small black dot immersed in the tide is slowly advancing. After determining the muzzle parameters, below the airship, bursts of flame are shooting out, and the recoil causes the crosshairs in the lens to swing up and down.

There were some flying people around the spaceship, one of whom was Mu Yun Kuohai. In addition to his own wings, he also had a pair of kite wings to assist him in gliding.

Compared to his noble-blooded kin, his ability to fly and hover in the air was less than a third of that of his own kind, but the Sky Boat provided him with a place to land in the air. He could rest on rows of bamboo poles hanging on both sides of the Sky Boat.

These civilians who joined Xuanchong were allowed to eat honey during aerial combat, then glide seven or eight kilometers using the lift of kites, before climbing back down using their own wings.

Furthermore, during battle, they can obtain crossbow bolts directly from the Skyship, without having to land on the ground and then fly into the air, thus conserving their precious energy.

On the No. 3 airship, Mu Yun Kuo Hai once again spread his silk-like flapping wings.

He thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of soaring through the sky, a sensation his father had once described, but since he was not of noble birth, he lacked the "feathered robes" to enter the sky.

The importance of the "feathered armor" is like that of General Da Yao's ancestral armor and his personal powerful bow.

After circling the four airships in an "∞∞" trajectory, Mu Yun Kuo Hai completed another inspection.

After collecting observation parameters from the four airships, calculations were performed using a protractor to once again determine the location of the dilapidated ship behind the chaotic group of people.

Immediately afterwards, he activated the whistle on the kite's wing in mid-air, and the ultra-low frequency infrasound began to echo back to the spaceship, which slowly adjusted its cannon muzzle.

…The perspective shifts to the point of attack…

Rockets rained down on the densely packed horned people, and Silver Horn watched as his kin turned into corpses and rolled back into the sea with the waves.

The waves, like greedy tongues, licked the fallen horned man into the sea.

Silverhorn roared angrily, then commanded the triangular behemoths to form a barrier to withstand the firepower. He then ordered his men to row quickly and reach solid land as soon as possible.

After losing three or four hundred men, the thousands of people managed to disperse on the beach when suddenly a dark shadow appeared in the sky.

The archers, disheveled and exhausted, still had damp bowstrings and couldn't shoot arrows into the sky. They could only watch helplessly as the three-headed ghost chariot and fifteen griffin riders hurled down scorching "burning blocks," instantly setting their sampans ablaze in the sea breeze.
The horned people stared at the flames behind them and the flying behemoths that had drifted away. These terrifying beings ignored them completely after doing all this, as if they no longer existed.

In a daze, Silverhorn, holding his staff aloft on the beach, realized it was a trap, and now he was forced to fight with his back against the wall.

Silver Horn sensed that the group was about to scatter and flee, so he swung his staff at the chaotic horned people. Some of the leaders' eyes turned ferocious, and after they bit the throats of the fleeing horned people, the disorderly group was once again subdued by fear.

Silver Horn managed to regroup the team, then used magic to release the Triceratops from its shackles in the sea. After conveying the message "follow me and you'll get food" to the Triceratops, he turned and charged towards "Dingling City" without looking back.

The officers riding griffins under Xuan Chong's command sent a signal to the rear that "there is one and a half hours left," based on the speed of the griffin riders.

Then, along the way, the officers took turns keeping an eye on the horned men, ensuring they were always aware of their movements.

…The perspective returns to the sky…

After the artillery barrage ended, Mu Yun Kuo Hai called on his teammates to take turns monitoring these people.

Just as he was about to return to Skyship to rest, he glanced towards the sea and suddenly noticed a griffin from Storm City flying over.

Just as Mu Yunhai was gazing intently, the winged man on the griffin's back crossed his wings in a symbolic gesture, a "sign" used by the families of Storm City.

So Mu Yunhai led him to the position where Xuan Chong was stationed. Xuan Chong met the envoy sent by this "ally," and the two had a polite conversation.

The Storm City knight named "Kau" descended before the earthen ramparts, guided by four Arakkoa. Ten Arakkoa then took to the sky with nets, effectively banishing Kau's griffons from flight.

After calming the griffin, Kau quickly found Xuan Chong, who was waiting in front of the fortress, and explained the situation.

He expressed his gratitude to the allies of the Griffin City-State for their timely assistance amidst the army's advances, and reiterated that the two sides were staunch allies.

Upon learning that the allied fleet was pursuing the enemy and could not assist him, Xuan Chong smiled but did not get angry.

Because, judging from the current outcome, it wouldn't make any difference whether they come or not. However, saying this now provides our side with a "model case".

Eastern culture teaches that "the way one treats another should be used against them."

Xuan Chong invited Kau to remain on the battlefield as a military observer to enhance understanding between the two armies. This was because Xuan Chong believed Kau favored a military alliance between the two sides and belonged to the pro-Yao faction.

Xuan Chong carefully examined the winged nobleman's armor and inquired in detail about the ally's battle situation, trying to extract some information.

Firstly, the Feathered Clan practices a slave system, with a hierarchical structure from top to bottom: royalty, nobles, commoners, and slaves. This system is extremely stable, with virtually no promotions and very few demotions. As for why Mu Yun Kuo Hai's family was demoted, there are likely other reasons.

Xuan Chong found it strange that such a caste system could make the Feather Clan completely accept it: how could they regulate the ever-growing upper class population?
When Xuan Chong asked from a different angle about the difference in bloodline between "nobles" and "royalty".

Kau solemnly declared: The trials of adulthood for kings and nobles are different. The trials for nobles require taming a flock of eagles in a storm, while the "royal family" must not only complete the trial of taming their companions but also cross the ocean to witness the stars as the aurora borealis sets. Kau: In every trial, someone will die proudly. And those who fall behind are unworthy to inherit the bloodline.

Xuan Chong was taken aback, and then realized that the upper class had a mechanism for controlling its population. In addition to ensuring that the upper class did not become corrupt, this mechanism also created a threshold for the upper class that was recognized by the lower class through a form of "self-sacrifice".

Upon closer examination of historical records, we find that the dynasty preceding the "Duo" dynasty (which called itself the Cheng dynasty) was much longer than the "Yao" and "Duo" dynasties. This suggests that the "Duo" dynasty had a more stable internal mechanism that influenced its internal forces.

Now, if the collapse of the "Great Yao" (大爻) stemmed from the collapse of rites and music, then the collapse of sacrificial rites and courts stemmed from the rampant "licentious worship" (淫祀).

Xuan Chong took a deep breath and roughly guessed the reason for the collapse of the ancient "sacrifice" dynasty, but he couldn't verify it himself in this lesson.

Looking back at the Feathered Clan city-states, I understood the profound logic behind how this equally ancient nation, which maintained the caste system, was able to remain stable for so long.

This refers to the ruling logic of the royal family and nobles conducting "trials." Where there is "sacrifice," there is "sacrifice." The upper class bears the "sacrifice," while the lower class cannot produce "sacrifice," so they do not challenge the status of the upper class.

Once the royal family and nobles cease their "trials," which is tantamount to the "sacrifice of sacrifice" being cut off, then they will no longer be able to suppress the millions of people who bow down in submission.

Xuan Chong and his army are currently outsiders, so they must respect the traditional way of thinking in this region. While respecting this, they must try to use their own cultural terminology to understand the logic behind the traditions.

…military power display…

Kau, perched atop a griffin, surveyed the southward-bound land forces of the Yao people. He had to admit that the Yao people's fighting strength was exceptionally formidable. After observing this heavily armored force, he couldn't help but turn to Xuan Chong, curious about what kind of hero Xuan Chong was, capable of commanding such a powerful army.

Suddenly a huge black shadow descended from the sky and landed in front of Kau. Xuan Chong summoned the peacock and gently stroked his mount.

Kau stared at the enormous flying beast, stunned for a moment, and then gradually lowered his head—because this magical giant bird made his partner, the griffin, tremble with fear, and the person who could tame such a beast must be a great hero-king.

Xuan Chong said to Kau: After the battle with the Horned People is over, I will go and try out your trial.

Kau knelt on one knee and said very sensibly: Your Majesty, your will will remain in the sky forever.

…The Name of the King…

When Xuan Chong announced his intention to participate in the trial in front of the Feather Clan envoy, a guard who was worried about him secretly sniffed and asked Xuan Chong after Kau left.

Xuan Chong nodded, but after a while, he sensed whispers outside.

Soon, the group of soldiers, clearly worried about Xuan Chong risking his life, said to the Crow soldiers who had followed Xuan Chong in his campaigns: "Sir, you don't need to submit here."

Xuan Chong glanced at the guards huddled behind him, and smiled without saying a word. This guy was doing it on purpose.

Meanwhile, a crow-man captain on the front had already begun to offer advice. Xuan Chong knew that this person actually worshipped the Moon Goddess, so he said something that appealed to him.

Xuan Chong said to the crow people: "After this battle, I will preside over a grand ceremony, which, in addition to offering sacrifices to Heaven and Earth, will also include the Moon Goddess." — Clearly, if Xuan Chong passes the trial, it will be easier to promote this practice within the local winged tribes.

This believer, who had originally intended to persuade Xuan Chong, was instead swayed by Xuan Chong's "deal" and glanced at Ang Ri who had rushed over.

Xuan Chong then said to Ang Ri, "Regarding the 'religious authority,' I hope you'll keep a tight grip on it. Oh, and don't forget to put my image on the shrine as well."

Angri looked at Xuan Chong with a gaze that seemed to be pressed down by a mountain, and slowly retreated.

…The soldiers who went on the southern expedition all wanted to go home…

After an incense stick had burned, Xuan Chong said to Mu Yun Kuo Hai, who had returned and was constantly reporting on others: If you want your titles to be inherited here, your offspring will still have to pass the trial rules!

Mu Yun Kuohai's body trembled, and then he expressed his gratitude. The secret he had never told Xuan Chong was that his grandfather had escaped the trial, while his father's generation had been deprived of the opportunity to participate in the trial, and because he was born into a commoner family, his wings were weakened considerably.

After hearing Xuan Chong reveal this, Mu Yun Hai Kuo gritted his teeth and made up his mind to make his little cub work hard to flap its wings.

He, Mu Yun Kuo Hai, was promoted by Xuan Chong and sat in the position of "nobleman". However, he was still weighed down by the rules and could not raise his head. In the past few days, he has been flying down to report to the emperor in a very diligent manner. In fact, he knows that he is not worthy of the position and is afraid that everything he has will be taken away.

After watching the bird fly away, Xuan Chong shook his head: He hoped he was raising an eagle, not some weak bird.

After Mu Yunhai left, Xuan Chong instructed the accompanying civil officials to "write down the details."

At the wooden table in the military compound, the twenty-odd young student bureaucrats began to take notes. —This small matter didn't actually require so many clerks.

They were all top students in the assessment at the Northern Administrative Academy.

Thirty percent of them were from Xiazhou, and their notebooks recorded the problem of "the conflict between Muyun Haikuo, a typical example of a nouveau riche from the grassroots, and traditional nobles." They also objectively analyzed the various impacts of this problem and how "governors should manage the conflict."

Having broken ties with the powerful clans and families, Xuan Chong is now in a situation similar to "Kublai Khan shooting an arrow at the Confucian temple." No matter how strong his military is, he has no choice but to "govern the world with leniency." Xuan Chong can only rely on his students now.

It is said that students are both naive and foolish when they first graduate. If they are used directly for local work in the north in the future, putting everything else aside, these foolish students will be lectured by the young ladies of aristocratic families that have been passed down for generations, leaving them speechless. If they are married into a powerful family, they will be controlled to death by their "father-in-laws".

The literati of the northern native civilization exerted a kind of "native culture" pressure on the students of the new schools they trained.

But not here! All the administrative students who come here for internships regard the Feathered Clan city-state and its people as "straw dogs," and this attitude is precisely what leads to enlightenment.

Only those with sufficient skill and experience can contend with the north. The key to this confrontation lies not in identifying strengths, but in identifying weaknesses.

…ambush…

When the Horned People were about to launch their attack, the soldiers waiting on the earthen ramparts leaned against the ramparts. Some were sharpening their spears, while others were using their muskets to aim at the landmarks ahead.

Meanwhile, the griffin riders brought several bodies killed by artillery fire. These bodies were gathered around by numerous squadron commanders.
These horned people are actually of the same race as those in southern Xinjiang, but they look vastly different.
Just like the size difference between rats and cockroaches in the north and south, the horned people of the southern frontier, who are slightly further north, are shorter, with women standing three to four feet tall and men around four to five feet tall (under 1.5 meters). Now, these horned people in the south are all a full seven feet tall and weigh over 150 jin (approximately 75 kg). They have canine teeth and charge forward wielding sharp bone weapons.

When Xuan Chong completely completed his rule over southern Xinjiang, the Horned People wore leaves as clothing, gathered fruits, and fed insects on decaying wood. Currently, the Horned People tribes in the north have become chieftains, and have begun to cultivate rice, spin hemp, and dig ponds to raise fish. Compared to the Horned People slaves here, the Horned People in southern Xinjiang are civilized.

The civilized horned warriors under Xuan Chong's command marveled at these berserk southerners with bloodshot eyes, referring to them as "these things" without any regard for them as one of their own.

This made Xuan Chong nod silently, fearing that his horned people might have compassion. Xuan Chong could speak up to guide the discussion, downplaying the attackers' "horned" identity and separating the enemy from his own side.

Xuan Chong kicked the corpse the griffin had brought over: "These things have all mutated due to the corruption of the Evil Moon. Their physiques are constantly growing stronger, but their ferocity will become increasingly greater."

In fact, most of the Wu family army did not know that the powerful horned people were ultimately the fault of the Feather Clan.

As a caste-based country, even its own ethnic groups are stratified, so the diagonal people, a slave race, naturally undergo artificial selection based on survival of the fittest. The weak are eliminated, and the strong remain. Breeding is carried out without any regard for human ethics, with "selection" and "backcrossing" to artificially choose the best individuals to remain.

After learning about it, Xuan Chong frowned and said: Oh, so these artificially bred humanoid animals belong to the category of functional population.

In his previous life, Xuan Chong was an American tank loader, a black man with exceptionally strong arm muscles. He also went through the same "good horse" breeding process in the plantation economy.

(End of this chapter)