My hotel is full of emperors throughout history.

Outside Yingtian City, deep within a royal forbidden garden, lies a secret training ground.

The area was heavily guarded, with the elite of the Embroidered Uniform Guard deployed in layers to isolate the inside from the outside.

"Duke Xin, do you know why His Majesty summoned us here?"

Fu Youde asked Tang He in a low voice.

Tang shook his head, his brows slightly furrowed.

"The secret edict only mentions 'observing new artifacts,' but the specifics... even I can't fathom them. Judging from this scale, it's no small matter."

"Just watch and that's it. Do you guys remember that stick? I have a feeling His Majesty probably has something new again."

Xu Da, who was standing nearby, chimed in.

"New stuff? How new can it be? It can't be like last time, just a stick we broke, right? They're not going to come to us for that!"

Feng Sheng chuckled.

Lan Yu stood a little distance away, her eyes darting around.

He had rushed back from Yunnan because of Zhu Biao's matter, but ever since the Crown Prince reprimanded the Eastern Palace, he had been somewhat uneasy.

"His Majesty has arrived! His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived! His Highness the Prince of Yan has arrived!"

As the guards announced, Zhu Yuanzhang, dressed in neat casual clothes, strode in, his face solemn and imposing without being angry.

Zhu Biao and Zhu Di followed closely behind.

The generals immediately stood at attention and saluted.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness the Crown Prince, and Your Highness the Prince of Yan!"

Zhu Yuanzhang walked to the front of the crowd and raised his hand in a gesture of support.

"No need for formalities. We won't waste time with pleasantries. The reason I've called you old geezers here today isn't to discuss border affairs or to muster troops."

He paused, then grinned.

"It's to open your eyes and show you what real weapons of war are, so you won't always think you've seen it all and that the swords, spears, bows, and horses you have are the most powerful in the world!"

Duke Tang He stroked his white beard and replied with a smile.

"Your Majesty, what you say is true. Although we old ministers dare not claim to be the best in the world, we have indeed never suffered a loss in the world when it comes to swords, spears, bows, horses, and the muskets and cannons that you had the Divine Machine Battalion develop."

"Could it be... that the artisans in the Ministry of Works have come up with some new tricks again?"

Duke Fu Youde of Ying was an impatient man. Upon hearing this, his eyes lit up. He looked around at the empty drill ground and the tarpaulin covering in the distance, and rubbed his hands together.

"Your Majesty, stop keeping us in suspense! Where is the treasure? Is it hidden under that tarpaulin? Is it a new type of general's cannon? How much longer is its range? Is the loading process quicker?"

After the events at the Eastern Palace, Lan Yu was somewhat reserved, but seeing the relaxed atmosphere, she couldn't help but speak up.

"Your Majesty, I am not boasting, but the most powerful weapons in the world are nothing more than strong bows and crossbows, sturdy armor and sharp blades. As for firearms, they are intimidating in appearance, but when it comes to close combat and long-distance raids, we still have to rely on the swords in our hands and the horses we ride!"

"Could there possibly be something that can shoot farther than the triple-bow crossbow, penetrate armor more effectively than the long-handled broadsword, and strike faster than the Five Thunder Divine Machine?"

Duke Feng Sheng of Song squinted at the distance, then at the calm-looking Zhu Biao and the excited Zhu Di, and pondered.

"His Majesty summoned even His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Prince of Yan today, so this thing must be extraordinary. However... the training ground is empty, with no army in sight, nor any craftsmen's furnaces. How will this new weapon be demonstrated? Could it be... a model from a picture book?"

The other vice-commanders and commanders also began to whisper among themselves.

"Look at what's covered by that tarpaulin; it's quite large. Could it be a giant crossbow?"

"Perhaps an improved rocket vehicle? One of those swarm-like ones, but with a longer range and greater accuracy?"

Some people asked Zhu Di with a smile.

"I noticed His Highness Prince Yan's eyes were shining; he must know something! Your Highness, could you perhaps reveal a little?"

Prince Zhu Di of Yan was equally curious at this moment.

He stared at the mysterious covering in the distance, feeling an irresistible itch in his heart.

When someone asked, he quickly waved his hand and smiled wryly.

"My uncles and elders, please don't make fun of me. I don't fully understand Father's decree either. However..."

He looked at Zhu Yuanzhang, his eyes gleaming with eager anticipation.

"Father said it would broaden our horizons, so it must be something extraordinary! I can't wait to see what kind of divine weapon it is that deserves to be called Father's 'true weapon of destruction'!"

Zhu Yuanzhang took in the reactions of his generals and laughed heartily.

"You lot, your vision is still limited by what our Great Ming Dynasty has! Today, I'm going to broaden your horizons, you old fogies!!!"

After he finished speaking, he walked to a wooden box.

The lid was pried open, revealing rows of shiny, uniformly shaped items inside.

The generals' gazes followed.

"This is... a new type of firearm?"

"It really does look like it!!!"

"But what's so great about this fire-wielding technique?"

Zhu Yuanzhang casually picked up a gun, pulled the bolt, and made a crisp "click" sound.

Then he chuckled at everyone.

"This item is named A...Made during the Hongwu era."

His voice was loud and clear.

"No match cord needed, no complicated loading required. This is called a magazine."

As he spoke, he removed the magazine and showed it to the user.

"It contains thirty bullets. Pull the trigger here."

Old Zhu gestured with his hand to indicate the name, then placed his finger on the trigger.

"Then it can fire continuously, bullets like a deluge!"

"Continuous firing?"

Xu Da couldn't help but speak up.

"Your Majesty, how...how is this possible? And what about its accuracy and power?"

"All talk and no action is useless."

Zhu Yuanzhang chuckled and pointed to a distance of a hundred paces, where dozens of straw targets stood, dressed in the style of the Ming Dynasty cotton armor, some even lined with iron plates.

"Fourth brother, have someone try it on and show it to everyone!"

"Yes, sir!"

Zhu Di had long been eager to try, and took the AK47 from Zhu Yuanzhang's hand.

Upon handling it, feeling its weight and its mechanical beauty, he immediately fell in love with the thing.

"This is amazing!!!"

Zhu Di marveled at it, liking it more and more the more he looked at it.

When Old Zhu saw that he was still dawdling, he kicked him on the spot.

"Damn it! I asked you to test the gun, and you've started playing around with it!!!"

After saying that, he pointed to the target in the distance.

"Aim at those targets, pull the trigger, and keep firing!"

"Alright!"

Zhu Di wasn't angry at being kicked; he just chuckled, his demeanor changed, and he aimed and pulled the trigger.

"Da da da da da—!!!"

A series of rapid, continuous loud bangs, like popping beans, suddenly exploded out.

The muzzle flash spewed out, and spent cartridges were ejected from the side of the gun like a golden waterfall.

The immense recoil caused Zhu Di's shoulders to vibrate continuously, but he held on tightly.

In the distance, the row of armored straw figures seemed to be struck repeatedly by an invisible giant hammer.

The cotton armor was instantly torn open with countless holes, and the inner metal plates made a crisp "clanging" sound, sparks flew everywhere, and the hideous bullet holes were clearly visible.

The straw man was knocked about by the impact of the bullet, and the straw inside gushed out.

In just three or four seconds, thirty bullets were fired, leaving the target area in a state of utter chaos, with almost no intact targets remaining.

The gunfire ceased, and the training ground fell into a deathly silence.

All the generals, including Xu Da and Tang He who were used to seeing big scenes, stared wide-eyed at the area that had been baptized by the "metal storm," and then slowly looked at the iron rod in Zhu Di's hand that was still emitting a faint blue smoke.

Their breathing became heavy.

That rate of fire...!!!

This power...!!!

That armor-piercing ability!!!

Holy crap!!!

"My goodness!!!"

"That's fucking awesome!"

"That's absolutely awesome!!!"

Zhu Di was stunned. He looked at the Hongwu coin in his hand, then at the mess in the distance, and gasped.

He gently stroked the gun in his hand, liking it more and more the more he touched it.

This is just what he likes!

He likes it!!!

"how?"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at their expressions and chuckled.

"Xu Tiande, what do you think of this compared to the bows, crossbows, and muskets in your army?"

Xu Da's Adam's apple bobbed, he took a deep breath, clasped his hands in a fist and said in a deep voice.

"Your Majesty... if this weapon were to be mass-produced and deployed, the infantry's combat power... would likely undergo a complete transformation! In formation, they would be invincible in a frontal assault; in guerrilla warfare, they would be impossible to defend against! I... am truly awestruck!"

The other generals also recovered from their shock, their faces filled with horror and fervor.

They were all soldiers, and they understood best what a good weapon meant.

If this thing were taken to the battlefield, it would be a devastating weapon!

Without a doubt!!!

Zhu Yuanzhang was very satisfied with everyone's reaction, but this was just an appetizer.

"This is nothing!!! There's something even more amazing coming up!"