Chapter 45: The Taotie Mask and the Appearance of the Mo Dao Infantry (Bonus Chapter)

Chapter 45: Taotie Visor, The Mo Dao Army Appears (Bonus Chapter)

The appearance of the heavy cavalry pushed the atmosphere of the scene to yet another climax. As the knights marched their horses rhythmically across the plaza, the oncoming wave of oppression felt like facing a towering tsunami, leaving everyone momentarily breathless.

A mere five hundred heavy cavalrymen, both men and horses clad entirely in exquisite armor. Of the riders, only a pair of deep, piercing eyes could be seen through their visors.

Unlike the weapons of light cavalry, the primary weapon of the heavy cavalry was a massive lance with a tri-faceted head, accompanied by a heavy sword at their side. The lance shafts were crafted from white wax wood through countless meticulous processes over a span of three years, maintaining both the rigidity and flexibility required of a polearm. Their primary role was to breach enemy infantry formations and shatter their lines, paving the way for the subsequent charge of light cavalry and infantry.

The manifestation of the heavy cavalry completely shattered the worldview of Princess Vivian of Parthia. Vivian had traveled much further west; she had been to the Seleucid Kingdom and the Ptolemaic Kingdom; she had also heard tales of the Roman Republic and Carthage locked in fierce combat further west, and of the vast territories held by the Kingdom of Macedon.

Yet, even Vivian had never laid eyes upon heavy cavalry equipped in such a manner: exquisite armor, stalwart warriors, and ironclad discipline. They were quite literally the epitome of the perfect soldier.

Gazing upon those formidable figures, everyone was filled with profound respect. Many young men of Great Qin desperately wished that the warriors sitting atop those warhorses were themselves. The heavy cavalry delivered a profound shock to the sons of Qin, causing the number of subsequent military enlistments to surge to unprecedented heights.

Conversely, the envoys from the steppe nations remained utterly unfazed, dismissing them merely as slow-moving targets posing little genuine threat. Relieved from the tense anxiety brought on by the previous phalanx formations, the crowd immediately regained their confidence.

"And now, I shall present the grand finale of this military parade!" the announcer suddenly teased, keeping the audience in suspense.

"They stand seven feet tall; they possess the broad shoulders and powerful builds of tigers and bears; their physiques are imbued with mighty strength, numbering fewer than ten thousand across the entirety of Great Qin! To outsiders, they may seem like a breed apart, but in my eyes, they are the guardian deities of Great Qin!"

The moment the announcer's voice faded, a towering man standing eight feet tall strode out at the very front, wielding a double-edged giant weapon even taller than himself.

As the man marched resolutely onto the avenue, a phalanx of fewer than a thousand men followed closely behind him.

"What manner of men are these? I have never laid eyes upon them before!" whispered various bewildered officials of Great Qin, trading speculative glances.

"This old man has no clue either!"

As the procession advanced, the entire phalanx was fully revealed in the plaza before the grandstands. Much like the towering leader at their van, not a single man in the ranks stood shorter than six feet, with the vast majority ranging between six-and-a-half and seven feet tall.

Wearing fine-iron helmets adorned with feathers, donning Taotie visors, clad in full-body armor, and slinging powerful crossbows across their backs, their attire bore a striking resemblance to the heavy shield infantry of the Xuanwu Army. However, only a select few knew that even the heavy shield infantry were comprised of soldiers who had been weeded out from this very unit.

Their equipment surpassed even that of the shield-bearers, offering exceptional defensive capabilities, and Great Qin had forged only a very limited number of such suits. Most captivating of all were the bizarre, heavy weapons they clutched in their hands. Coupled with the aura of malevolence and slaughter radiating from them, they looked from afar like voracious fiends descending from the netherworld.

Those standing close to them involuntarily felt a piercing chill, taking several steps back in apprehension. Anyone who chanced to look into their eyes immediately averted their gaze, utterly lacking the courage to meet them eye-to-eye.

"Their name shall go unmentioned here, but their martial exploits can indeed be shared with you all. During the decisive battle between Great Qin and the Xiongnu, a thousand of them guarded the central command tent alone, facing the charge of over ten thousand cavalry led personally by Modu, the son of the Hunnic Chanyu. For the sake of the Great Qin behind them, for the peaceful and stable environment of this land, they charged into the enemy host without a moment's hesitation. A thousand men broke through and slaughtered their way across the entire hostile army, leaving behind nothing on the ground but mangled flesh and shattered corpses!"

"Salute to all the heroes of Great Qin!" roared the announcer at the top of his lungs as he reached the climax of his speech.

Across the entire plaza, people bowed in unison to the advancing warriors, pouring out their heartfelt gratitude. Even Emperor Ying Zheng bowed low in homage to the Monument of the Empire's Martyrs.

This poignant scene was witnessed not only by countless citizens of Great Qin, but even the guards maintaining perimeter security and the marching soldiers participating in the parade found their bodies trembling slightly. With calloused hands gripping their weapons ever tighter, they lifted their chests high and strode forward with unyielding pride.

It's over!

Such was the prevailing sentiment echoing in the hearts of most foreign envoys. To broadcast its formidable military might, Great Qin had laid all its trump cards upon the table. This was a clear declaration to the entire world regarding the supreme hegemony of Great Qin.

Sure enough, the chieftains of numerous minor tribes immediately swarmed flatteringly around Yao Jia, impatiently vying with one another to pledge their allegiance and take a stand.

The parade soon concluded, but the profound repercussions it generated were beyond measure.

No sooner had Yang Zimo returned to his estate than Meng Yi rushed breathlessly inside.

"Grand Tutor, you simply must save me!" cried Meng Yi, sporting heavy dark circles under his eyes and a look of utter dejection.

"Lord Meng, what on earth has happened to you? You look so utterly wretched," Yang Zimo asked, genuine curiosity in his voice.

"Do not even ask! Ever since the military parade, many tribes have expressed a strong desire to join the Pan-Asian Continental Alliance. However, I dare not make arbitrary decisions on my own. After consulting His Majesty, he instructed me to seek counsel from the Grand Tutor. Thus, I have presumed to visit you unannounced! I beg the Grand Tutor to forgive my intrusion!" Meng Yi spoke with utmost sincerity, terrified that the Grand Tutor might harbor resentment toward him.

"Think nothing of it! Since that is the case, Lord Meng, why not calm yourself and join me in the hall for a discussion?" Yang Zimo immediately instructed his attendants to prepare refreshments and tea.

"Please take a seat, Lord Meng."

"My deepest thanks to the Grand Tutor!"

Moments later, the attendants served tea and pastries. Meng Yi immediately picked up his cup and took a large sip.

"As expected, only the tea from the Grand Tutor's estate is truly authentic. It is mellow, comforting, sweet, and refreshing aftertaste, rich and full-bodied on the palate, with a fragrance that is both lush and lingering. Once you finish drinking it, your entire being feels revitalized! It is simply incomparable to any tea found outside these walls," Meng Yi praised incessantly as he took another sip.

"You flatter me, Lord Meng!" Yang Zimo replied with modest reserve. The method of stir-frying tea leaves currently circulating in the marketplace had indeed originated from him, but the tea brewed within his own household was selected from the finest harvests and infused with spiritual energy. Its efficacy was vastly superior to ordinary mortal tea.

"I wonder what intractable problem has troubled Lord Meng?" Yang Zimo set down his teacup and inquired.

"Grand Tutor, I am suffering! Ever since the task of establishing the alliance was handed over to Yao Jia, I have spent countless sleepless nights, terrified of failing His Majesty's expectations. I originally thought few tribes would apply, but who could have foreseen that the military parade would stimulate so many of them? Now they crowd the Chancellery day after day, and the other officials at the Chancellery discussed the matter and agreed that I should come to the Grand Tutor for guidance! The concept of the alliance was originally proposed by you, Grand Tutor. Although you explained it in detail during the last court assembly, the intricate rules and specific standards remain elusive to me, hence why I have come to seek your enlightenment." Meng Yi had indeed attended the confidential meetings concerning the Pan-Asian Continental Alliance, but lacking concrete criteria and operational guidelines, he had no better recourse than to turn to Yang Zimo for a solution.

"This is a simple matter. I happen to have just finished writing down the corresponding regulations and detailed criteria. Here, take a look!" Yang Zimo said, withdrawing a thick manuscript from his robes and handing it over.

"As expected of the Grand Tutor!"