My hotel is full of emperors throughout history.

Once outside the city walls of Chang'an, we stepped onto a relatively wide and flat straight road.

Liu Ju chuckled and immediately kicked hard.

The massive vehicle body paused slightly before suddenly unleashing a powerful thrust.

The scenery outside the window suddenly sped up, and the wind howled through the half-open car window, making his hair fly and his military robe cling to his body.

The truck kept bouncing.

Liu Ju gripped the steering wheel tightly.

Cool!

This is so much more enjoyable than driving it timidly in the palace!

Then the people behind them got annoyed.

"Ugh—!"

"Hurry! Everyone hurry!"

"My...breakfast...ugh!"

"Damn it!!! What did I eat for breakfast?! Ugh!"

Muffled groans, impacts, and the clanging of weapons and armor mingled together in the confined steel space.

Despite the established procedures, the soldiers were still tossed about, thrown down, and slammed against the hard bulkheads and against each other like sacks in a storm.

The already churning stomach acid could no longer be contained, and someone vomited, instantly filling the air with a sour and putrid smell.

A wave of dizziness washed over them; some people experienced blackouts and nearly fainted.

The soldiers or craftsmen on the other heavy trucks traveling in the same direction were in equally dire condition.

The cavalrymen guarding outside the truck were initially able to keep up on horseback, but they were quickly left behind by the increasingly faster speed of the heavy truck.

They watched in astonishment as these steel behemoths roared away, kicking up clouds of dust like yellow dragons.

The warhorses were also somewhat uneasy, startled by the unprecedented roar and the galloping steel monster.

The cavalrymen struggled to control their horses, and a complex mix of sympathy welled up within them for their comrades inside the carriage…

I was quite disappointed that I wasn't selected.

But now it seems... it's not such a bad thing after all!

Fortunately, after a brief period of exhilarating speed, Liu Ju realized the dire situation that lay ahead and eased off the accelerator slightly.

The car became much smoother.

But it's still not that comfortable.

The air was murky, a mixture of the coldness of steel, the pungent smell of engine oil, the stench of leather, and the odor of human sweat.

It was still bouncing around.

Only a faint light from the firing ports and a few oil lamps fixed to the bulkhead provided illumination.

The light and shadow swayed wildly with the car body, illuminating the tense, sweat-drenched, pale faces.

The scenes along the way were both strange and spectacular.

At first, the villagers working in the distant villages or on the ridges of the fields heard the deep, thunderous roar that grew louder and louder as it approached, and when they saw the outline of the steel behemoth emerging from the smoke and dust, they were all terrified. They dropped their farm tools and ran away screaming, thinking it was a mountain spirit or a divine punishment.

However, as the convoy drew closer, they could see clearly the armor plates and flags covering the giant beast, which were in the style of the Han army.

Especially when the bright red flag of the crown prince fluttering in the wind on the roof of the car was displayed so prominently, the panic was gradually replaced by an incredible sense of awe and reverence.

First, the bolder young men stopped and stood at a safe distance, staring wide-eyed at this incomprehensible creation rumbling past, feeling the clear tremors coming from the ground beneath their feet.

Then, the village elders were helped out, trembling, and saw the banners and heard someone in the accompanying cavalry shout, "His Highness the Crown Prince is personally leading the expedition; the heavenly army will crush the barbarians!"

Tears welled up in his cloudy old eyes.

They pushed away the people helping them, disregarded the rough ground, and solemnly prostrated themselves in the direction the heavy truck had driven away, their foreheads touching the ground, chanting prayers for God's blessing upon the Han people and for His Highness the Crown Prince's safe return.

Women held their children and stood far away at the doorway of the house or behind the trees, covering the children's eyes or ears in fear, lest they be frightened by the appearance and sound of the giant beast.

But he couldn't help but steal glances, seeing the steel body gleaming coldly in the sunlight, the figure sitting steadily inside the vehicle, and the imposing Han cavalry following solemnly behind.

A complex mix of fear, pride, and hope surged within me.

They held their children's hands and bowed deeply towards the convoy.

The soldiers and officials at the post stations along the way, as well as the passing caravans, all immediately retreated to the side of the road, stood respectfully, and bowed their heads.

Only after the convoy had cleared into the distance did they dare to look up, whispering excitedly among themselves, their faces beaming with pride and excitement.

"Look! That's the 'Great Han Divine Weapon Iron Beast' mentioned in the notice! It really is that powerful!"

"His Highness the Crown Prince is inside that iron beast! Heavens! His Highness can actually control such a divine creature!"

"With such divine weapons, how can we fear not the destruction of the Xiongnu? Heaven blesses our great Han!"

"Quickly, go back and tell the village head and the villagers that His Highness the Crown Prince has led his imperial troops there! He's going north to fight the Xiongnu!"

The news spread like wildfire along the villages and towns on both sides of the official road.

When subsequent convoys pass by, they often see even more people who have spontaneously gathered.

They no longer merely watched in fear, but having received advance notice, they brought the elderly and children, along with food and drink, and stood in a safe place a little further away from the roadside.

As the heavy truck roared past.

The enormous shadow, the deafening roar, and the sound of metal scraping against the earth created an almost sacred aura.

The dark mass of people, like waves of wheat blown down by the wind, knelt down one after another, touching their foreheads to the ground, and dared not get up for a long time.

The children's cries were quickly muffled by the adults, leaving only the whistling of the wind sweeping across the fields and the distant, yet seemingly imprinted, roar of steel.

Amidst the continuous jolting, Liu Ju occasionally caught glimpses of the kneeling figures outside the window.

Whenever he heard the people shouting, he would respond by sounding his horn.

When the cars behind him honked in response, they also honked.

When the crowd saw that His Highness the Crown Prince had responded, they shouted even more enthusiastically.

The cheers grew louder and louder.

Liu Ju suppressed the stinging in his eyes and put a little more pressure on his feet.

If they had arrived any later, one more person might have been killed!

These are all subjects of the Great Han Dynasty!

Even if the Xiongnu kill one of them!!!

He won't allow it either!!!

Inside the fortress, the soldiers, through the narrow firing ports, watched the blurry figures outside the window quickly lower and kneel in worship, and heard the faint cries of "God bless the Han" and "Long live the Crown Prince." The discomfort churning in their chests seemed to be suppressed by something burning hot.

They didn't know what that thing was.

but……

The group looked at each other and saw the same determination and burning sense of honor in each other's eyes.

"Damn it! It's just motion sickness!!! Hurry up!!!"

"That's right!!! Your Highness! Drive faster!!!"

"That's right! We can hold back!!! Just keep driving!!!"

"Exactly! Drive like a madman!!!"

"As long as the car is okay, we won't die! Ugh!"