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

The thick red silk, like the receding tide, slowly slid down the huge pedestal.

The entire expo plaza fell into a suffocating silence.

All eyes, whether on the proud Roman envoy or the down-on-his-luck Persian prince, were now drawn to him as if by a magnet.

On that pedestal stood a "freak" whose entire body gleamed with a cold metallic light.

It has four sturdy iron wheels, with the rims wrapped in thick tanned cowhide.

There is no carriage, only an exposed cast iron frame with a violent, mechanical aesthetic.

Behind that frame, an enormous bronze boiler was radiating astonishing heat.

The intricate connecting rods, gears, and dense brass pipes shimmered with a dazzling luster under the Tang Dynasty sunlight.

"This...this is the truth Your Highness spoke of?"

Marcellus rubbed his eyes, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

"It has neither horses nor oxen; does it expect to be propelled by gods?"

Prince Peroz, standing nearby, was also stunned, staring intently at the intersecting gears.

"Lord Marcellus, look at that boiler over there, it's smoking!"

"It's alive! This steel monster is alive!"

The envoys took a step back in alarm, fearing that the monster might suddenly jump off the platform.

Mo Ju stood beside the pedestal, carefully wiping a steam pipe that had just been discharged with a rag.

He looked up at Li Chengqian, his eyes gleaming with fervent pride.

"Your Highness, the Great Tang's Number One 'Iron Donkey' is ready!"

When Li Chengqian heard this name, the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.

"Old Mo, didn't I already tell you to call it 'The Great Tang Dragon Soaring'?"

"An iron donkey sounds so shabby, but this will be recorded in history."

While complaining, Li Chengqian nimbly flipped over and jumped into the leather driver's seat.

His white bathrobe fluttered in the wind, creating a strange contrast with the cold, steel machinery.

"Hold on tight, Father, I'll take you for a drive."

Li Chengqian raised an eyebrow at Li Shimin below.

At this moment, Li Shimin no longer cared about the dignity of the emperor and had already jumped into the passenger seat like a monkey.

"Quickly! Get it moving! Let me see if it can outrun my Salu Purple!"

Li Chengqian smiled slightly and reached out to grasp the thick iron control lever.

He gently pulled back.

"laugh--!"

A piercing burst of high-pressure steam erupted from the pressure relief valve, and white mist instantly enveloped the entire platform.

Followed by.

"Besides! Besides! Besides!"

A dull yet rhythmic metallic roar exploded across the square!

The huge flywheel began to turn slowly and steadily, driving the connecting rod to move back and forth wildly.

"It's spinning! The wheel really is spinning!"

Amidst the terrified screams of the envoys from all nations, this steel monster, weighing several tons, actually began to move across the land!

It had no reins and no whip.

There was only an eight-year-old child there, gently moving the lever.

"Ugh—!"

Li Chengqian sounded the specially made steam whistle.

The voice was high-pitched and expansive, piercing through the clouds of Chang'an, as if declaring war on this old era.

The steel monster sped faster and faster, racing wildly across the hard concrete square.

The black smoke billowing from the chimney stretched into a long line in mid-air.

As it swept past Marcellus, the scorching heat and acrid smell of burning coal caused the Roman envoy to collapse to the ground.

"My God... this is not a miracle."

Marcellus watched the departing figure, tears streaming down his face.

"This is mortals usurping the authority of the Creator!"

In the square, the steam-powered car made a perfectly round arc and stopped precisely in front of the envoys from various countries.

The tires screeched against the concrete, producing an extremely loud noise and a puff of white smoke.

Li Shimin jumped off the carriage, his old face flushed with excitement.

"Excellent! Excellent stuff! Chengqian, I want to learn how to open this too!"

"This iron lump not only runs fast, but most importantly, it's reckless!"

At this moment, the Persian prince Peroz suddenly rushed out like a madman.

He knelt down in front of the steam car with a thud, his forehead slamming hard against the stone slab due to extreme excitement.

"Your Highness! The great Son of God!"

Peroz raised his head, his eyes filled with an almost insane longing.

"If you're willing to sell me these chariots, I'm willing to surrender ten cities in eastern Persia!"

"No! Not just the city, I'm willing to give you all the women of the Persian royal family as your slaves!"

"As soon as this kind of divine vehicle appears before the Arabs, they will surely believe that God has descended to earth, and their attack will crumble without a trace!"

Upon hearing "ten cities," the surrounding envoys all gasped in shock.

Marcellus panicked. He didn't even bother wiping the dirt off his face, and shouted:

"Your Highness! Rome is willing to offer a higher price! We have an inexhaustible supply of gold!"

In an instant, the square descended into chaos.

The envoys surrounded Li Chengqian, their eyes red, staring at the smoking "iron donkey" as if it were a priceless treasure.

This is a steel creation that requires no animal power, possesses immense strength, and is indifferent to fear.

For any commander, it is the ultimate goal to end a war.

however.

Li Chengqian sat in the driver's seat, looking down at the group of barbarians who had gone mad.

He was still toying with the intricate pocket watch in his hand, a cold and indifferent smile playing on his lips.

He uttered a single word, instantly chilling the bustling square to the bone.

"Not for sale."

Prince Peroz was stunned, and asked tremblingly, "Your Highness... do you think my offer is too low?"

Li Chengqian jumped out of the car and slowly straightened his slightly wrinkled bathrobe.

He looked westward, at that world still fighting endlessly for land and faith, his tone unusually calm.

"You guys can't lift this kind of thing right now."

"The truth of the Tang Dynasty is only intended to remain in Chang'an for the time being."

He turned to look at Mo Ju, his eyes flashing with a higher level of calculation.

"Old Mo, push the car back."

"By the way, let me tell these friends who have come from afar that this whole truckload is not for sale."

"But I can sell them some custom-made small parts, like... the bearings on these."

Li Chengqian pointed to the extremely delicate steel balls and revealed a smile that was utterly cunning.

"This is called the parts business, and the profit margin is much higher than selling whole vehicles."

Prince Peroz slumped to the ground, watching the steel monster being covered with a red cloth, his eyes filled with despair.

He knew that as long as the Tang Dynasty controlled these machines, the entire world would become its mine.

"Your Highness, what must we do to secure your help in restoring our kingdom?"

Li Chengqian stopped and turned his head, the sunlight outlining his youthful yet dignified features.

"Help you?"

"Send over all the geological and mineral maps of your country, and I will consider them."

"The expo isn't over yet, what's the rush?"