Deposed? I couldn't be happier! I wouldn't even be a dog to the crown prince.

Is this really a city on earth?

Roman envoy Marcellus walked unsteadily along Suzaku Avenue.

His boots clattered on the smooth, mirror-like gray-black pavement, producing a crisp "tap-tap" sound. The tactile sensation gave him a strange sense of unreality. In Constantinople, even the best roads were made of irregularly shaped stones.

This main road of the Tang Dynasty was a hundred paces wide and stretched as far as the eye could see. The entire road surface was seamless, without a single gap.

"This is called cement, Mr. Marcellus. It is the 'Skin of the Earth' bestowed upon the Tang Dynasty by His Highness the Crown Prince."

The official from the Court of State Ceremonial, who was leading the way, remained calm. He pointed to the old earthen walls being torn down not far away, his tone revealing an undisguised sense of pride.

"His Highness found the old Chang'an too crowded, with those ward walls resembling birdcages, making it feel suffocating. So, with a stroke of his pen, he ordered all the old walls to be torn down and the city expanded outwards by thirty li!"

Prince Peroz's eyes widened, and his breathing quickened.

"Expanding by thirty li? How many laborers and how much food would that require?"

The official chuckled and casually pointed to a very strange-looking long wooden cart parked by the roadside.

"Laborers? We have plenty in our Great Tang. From the Western Regions, Tibet, Goguryeo... As long as there are those who are unwilling to submit, they will eventually become the most diligent road builders in our Great Tang. As for food, that train carload of potatoes is enough to feed them for several generations."

Marcellus's attention was instantly drawn to the wooden cart.

The carriage was supported by two long, thin rails and had a very large interior that could seat dozens of people. Although it was pulled by several extremely strong horses from the Western Regions, the sound of the wheels rolling was so faint that it was almost inaudible.

"Is this another miracle?"

"This is called a horse-drawn carriage, a great tool for short-distance travel within the city. When the steam engine is miniaturized, His Highness said he wants to replace it with a steam tram, at which point we won't even need horses anymore."

The official spoke as he led them forward.

The closer they got to the core business district of Chang'an, the more intense the impact became on the souls of Marcellus and Peroz.

The traditional earthen and wooden bungalows are no longer visible here.

Instead, towering three- or four-story "high-rises" made of reinforced concrete have sprung up. These buildings have straight, angular corners and are painted a bright ivory white.

Between the floors, large pieces of transparent glass were inlaid.

The sunlight shone on it, and the refracted light forced Marcellus to squint. He even wondered if the Tang Dynasty had used all its gemstones as windows.

What devastated him even more was that many thick cast iron pipes extended out of the gaps between these buildings in a staggered manner.

"What's flowing in those pipes? Is it gold?"

Peroz couldn't help but reach out and touch a cold iron pipe.

"Gold? That's too shabby."

The official gave him a disdainful look, as if he were looking at a country bumpkin who had never seen the world.

"Those are biogas pipes, connected to underground biogas digesters. Just turn on the valve, and you can start a fire to cook. See those glass lampposts by the roadside? Those are biogas streetlights. At night, the entire city of Chang'an will be as bright as day. Our Great Tang Dynasty is now a city that never sleeps."

Marcellus's head was buzzing.

He felt that the quality of life he had been so proud of in Rome was nothing compared to that of a beggar in the Tang Dynasty.

There's no need to gather firewood or light kerosene lamps here.

Even the roads here are paved, and the houses are welded together with iron and stone.

This is a case of dimensional reduction attack.

This is a comprehensive and all-encompassing civilizational crushing force, encompassing everything from clothing, food, housing, and transportation to strategic military might.

"Lord Marcellus, I believe that Persia no longer needs to be restored."

Prince Peroz suddenly stopped, his voice filled with utter desolation.

"If I could be a second-class citizen in the Tang Dynasty, living in a house like this and blowing out lamps like these every day, I think my father would be very happy."

Marcellus remained silent.

Although he represented Rome, at this moment, he felt an extremely strong sense of belonging. He wanted to stay and see just how terrifying this city could evolve into.

Before they knew it, they had arrived in front of a magnificent and imposing building.

The building is five stories high, and a huge gold-plated plaque hangs above the entrance: [Guobin Hotel].

Below the plaque, there is a line of Chinese characters written in a vigorous and elegant style: "Wherever the sun and moon shine, all are guests of the Great Tang."

"Gentlemen, this is where you will be staying for the next few days."

The official handed them two wooden room keys, a playful smile on his lips.

"Hot water and a change of cotton bathrobes are provided in the room. Remember, once you go in, don't touch that ceramic chair; it's a precious item for taking care of important matters in life."

Marcellus and Peroz took the room key with blank expressions.

Guided by several attendants dressed in uniform and with impeccably neat haircuts, they entered the magnificent building.

In the hotel lobby, a huge crystal chandelier, illuminated by the flames of biogas, emitted a mesmerizing, multicolored glow.

The floor was covered with a thick layer of Western wool carpet, which felt as soft as a cloud when you stepped on it.

Marcellus was taken to a luxury suite on the fifth floor.

As soon as he swiped his card to enter, he was stunned by the extremely clear and bright view.

The floor-to-ceiling windows covering the entire wall offer a panoramic view of the vibrant new Chang'an city, which is currently undergoing extensive construction.

"My God...this is heaven."

He sighed, eager to wash away the dust of the journey.

He entered the "secret room" that the official had repeatedly warned him about—the restroom.

What met the eye was a pristine white expanse.

The walls were covered with smooth, spotless tiles.

And right in the center, there was a strangely shaped chair made entirely of delicate white porcelain.

Behind the chair was a towering water tank, with a thin golden chain hanging down beside it.

Marcellus sat down with some curiosity.

"It's really stable, even more comfortable than the council chairs in the Roman Senate."

He tentatively reached out and pulled the golden chain.

"Splash—!"

A loud, powerful sound of rushing water suddenly rang out.

Marcellus cried out in surprise and sprang up from the white chair as if he had been electrocuted.

He watched in horror as a large mass of crystal-clear, flowing water swirled wildly down the inside of the bucket with tremendous force.

In just a few seconds, all the debris at the bottom of the bucket was completely swept away by the water flow and disappeared without a trace.

The slight odor that had been there was completely washed away by the cool air brought up by the water.

Marcellus lay on the edge of what was called the "toilet," his eyes almost popping into the water.

He rubbed his eyes to make sure the ceramic bucket was once again filled with calm, clear water.

"No...that's all?"

"No need for servants to clean it up? No need to dump it into the stinking ditch by the street?"

He stared blankly at the extremely ingenious ventilation hole above the bathroom.

At that moment, the last vestige of pride in the heart of this Roman envoy melted away completely.

Standing before this white porcelain bucket, he felt a chilling awe at the presence of "modern civilization."

He rushed out of the bathroom and ran like a madman into the hallway.

They happened to run into Prince Peroz, who was equally horrified and hadn't even put on his bathrobe properly.

"Your Highness! Did you see that?!"

Marcellus shouted incoherently.

Prince Peroz nodded blankly, his eyes filled with awe for the unknown.

"I saw it."

"The people of the Tang Dynasty... they even wash themselves with water when they defecate."

"Lord Marcellus, tell me, is this really not a miracle?"

Marcellus took a deep breath, looked out the window at the giant city whose lights were gradually coming on, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

"No, this is more terrifying than a miracle."

"This is a civilized... dimensional reduction attack."

He gripped Peroz's shoulders tightly, his eyes gleaming with fanaticism.

"We must see that prince!"

"Even if we have to kneel outside his palace for three days and three nights, we must beg him to see us!"

"Such an empire must never become an enemy!"

Meanwhile, in the East Palace Warm Pavilion not far away...

Li Chengqian was yawning and listening listlessly to the Embroidered Uniform Guard's real-time monitoring report on the two foreign guests.

He curled his lips into a wicked, sinister smile.

"You're scared out of your wits?"

"I haven't even shown them the steam pump and generator yet."

He turned over and adjusted to an extremely comfortable sleeping position.

"Let them wait."

"I haven't had enough sleep yet. Anyone who dares to let them in, I'll send them to the mines to dig for silver."

Outside the door, Dai Zhou, who had just arrived to report on his work, stopped in his tracks upon hearing this.

He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and whispered to his attendant:

"Go tell the people at the Court of State Ceremonial to prepare some extra snacks for those two foreigners."

"Until His Highness wakes up, even if the sky falls, you must guard that gate for me!"