The Marshal of the Tian Ri tribe before them was unexpectedly fair-haired and blue-eyed, with a stern demeanor. He scrutinized Du Gu Xiao and the others before explaining in detail.
"Our army hails from the Peacock Dynasty. We have undertaken a long expedition and require a period of rest. What is the situation on the front lines?"
Du Gu Xiao said urgently, "We have been attacking for a long time without success! The trebuchets of Da Qian are no less powerful than the ballistae provided by the Peacock Dynasty, and they also possess a special scorpion crossbow that can shoot a thousand paces, specifically targeting our trebuchets!"
"You can't even take a single city?" Hannibal frowned.
"The regions of Jiangnan are supporting each other. Our army has penetrated deep into enemy territory and dares not divide its forces rashly, lest we be defeated by the enemy piece by piece. This is because the enemy forces are not significantly fewer than ours, and they have a continuous supply from north of the Yangtze River! Our army desperately needs the Marshal to break this stalemate!" Ouyang Ping sighed.
Hannibal pondered.
"I will pay close attention to the front line situation and urge Jian Bei to attack the city. If we still cannot take any city within two months, we will live off the land and wait for our reinforcements to arrive."
"Rest assured, twenty years ago, I was already planning the isolation of Da Qian. The Kingdom of Izumo and the Huichun Sect were responsible for its implementation. With the succession of the new king of Da Liang, this plan can finally be put into action. Da Qian has lost its way and is isolated, and its defeat is inevitable! For now, we need to capture the enemy's scorpion crossbows as quickly as possible and accelerate the imitation..."
The people of Jiaozhou rejoiced and praised, "The Marshal is brilliant!"
Inside the palace, Hannibal gave orders to his generals.
"Four hundred thousand men still cannot take Jiangnan; adding tens of thousands more will not help. However, our tribe's true objective is to burn the flames of war to the mainland of Da Qian, so that Da Qian will have no surplus strength to invade us. Whether it is Jiaozhou, Da Liang, Xianbei, or the Kingdom of Izumo, they are all ultimately our proxies. If the front line collapses before our reinforcements arrive, we can take control of Jiaozhou and then hire local Jiaozhou people to engage in a protracted war with Da Qian."
"The people of Jiaozhou were once subjects of that land. Can they truly be hired?" The Tian Ri generals expressed some concern.
"According to Tian Ri tradition, if they cannot be utilized, they can be destroyed. Our Great Zhou royal family wants that land. As for the subjects on the land, your Tian Ri tribe may dispose of them as you wish," a figure emerged from behind a screen.
It was none other than Yan Jun, the Sect Master of the Huichun Sect, his face filled with resentment.
"I have investigated and found that the ruler of Da Liang is none other than the former Deputy Marshal Zuo Wuji of Da Heng! This man caused my father's death so disgracefully, it must have something to do with Liang Xiao. Liang Xiao!!"
Hannibal smiled, "Da Qian is vast and resourceful, but this has also confined it to this land, making it complacent and its military technology backward. Unlike our tribe, which integrates knowledge. If he appears on the Jiangnan front line, I will personally lead the army north to compete with him. Caesar and Alexander are also eager!"
Yan Jun thanked him joyfully. As a favorite concubine of the Peacock King, she spent a pleasant night with Hannibal...
In bed, Yan Jun stretched out her jade arm and caressed Hannibal's chest.
"I heard that Hannibal, Caesar, Alexander... these great names have existed for thousands of years. Why have these names become your Tian Ri tribe's favorites..."
Hannibal replied, "These individuals were all powerful figures who once flourished in the West. Our tribe studies their military theories and integrates them. The most outstanding practitioners of military strategy can inherit these titles."
"Then what about Mars and Achilles..." Yan Jun asked timidly.
Hannibal laughed, "Those are like gods. Only the most outstanding disciples of the God of War family within the Tian Ri tribe are qualified to inherit them. Similarly, whether it is a strategist or a god, any title serves as a deterrent to all enemies in the world."
Yan Jun suddenly understood.
"However, the Easterners have suddenly erupted with a military revolution and armament reform, which baffles our tribe. Perhaps it is also due to Liang Xiao's existence." Hannibal's gaze suddenly turned cold, then he resumed his smile, "But you can rest assured, our tribe will avenge you. The foundation of our tribe is not something Da Qian can fathom."
Only then did Yan Jun feel content and fawned over him...
In the capital of Da Qian, the Ministry of Works.
Liang Xiao looked at a large machine before him, his heart filled with excitement.
These were "steam engines" that Zhang Yang had taken the lead in having the Ministry of Works attempt to manufacture. They were still in their nascent stage and resembled Watt's improved steam engine in appearance.
"We have diligently studied the special theories you provided and seem to have gained some insight. Currently, this steam engine can barely operate, but it requires burning coal. Burning firewood alone is not very efficient..."
As Zhang Yang explained, he personally scooped up a pile of coal and fed it into the steam engine.
After a moment, the steam expanded, driving the piston. The external flywheel spun rapidly, astonishing everyone present.
Liang Xiao inspected it carefully and confirmed that the internal efficiency of this steam engine was far from that of Watt's.
However, at least a prototype had been created, and it could continue to be improved!
"What is the efficiency?" Liang Xiao asked.
"If coal is continuously supplied, it can be compared to a group of strong men constantly turning a flywheel. It is most suitable for operating the spinning machines you delivered," Huang Xing immediately sent people to bring two spinning machines.
They bore a striking resemblance to the Jenny spinning jenny, one made of wood and the other of iron!
Compared to the steam engine, the Jenny spinning jenny was clearly easier to replicate, as it did not require overly complex principles.
Moreover, most of the parts of this spinning machine were made of iron, unlike the wooden Jenny spinning jenny.
Under the amazed gaze of the crowd, the steam engine's flywheel drove the spinning wheel of the iron spinning machine, rapidly weaving fabric.
"This efficiency is comparable to dozens of workers weaving together, isn't it?!" The Ministry of Works personnel exclaimed with excitement.
Liang Xiao was also overjoyed, "Fortunately, Zhang Yang reminded me, or I would have missed the main point. The steam engine can be slowly improved and promoted, but the promotion of this spinning machine is the most pressing matter!"
Amidst everyone's excitement, Zhang Yang could not help but pull Liang Xiao aside and voice his doubts.
"Liang Xiao, now that you have some free time, I would like to ask. These tools and theories were all taught by you, but there is one thing I have never understood: why do you use strange symbols for the 'laws' you taught me, naming them 'Newton's Three Laws,' instead of 'Liang Xiao's Three Laws'?"
Liang Xiao smiled, "Does it matter what it's called? What matters is whether it is useful, doesn't it?"
"I just feel that for something that will be passed down through the ages, if you don't put your name on it, in the future..." Zhang Yang said with regret.
Liang Xiao immediately interrupted him, "Let's just call them Newton's Three Laws! To be honest, these theories were learned from a deity named 'Newton' when I was sleepwalking in the divine realm."
"So that's how it is! This deity surnamed Niu is indeed worthy of being called a deity. Then what about the spinning machine..." Zhang Yang said with resignation.
Considering that "Newton" at least had the surname "Niu" in Da Qian, but the Western name "Jenny" was difficult to explain, Liang Xiao replied, "Let's just call it the Da Qian Spinning Machine."
Zhang Yang no longer insisted and, along with Huang Xing and others, settled on the names requested by Liang Xiao.
The steam engine was still being improved, but the advent of the Da Qian Spinning Machine shocked the entire court!