The Tower of Babel in Chang'an pierced the clouds and Liu Xun was overwhelmed with joy at achieving a perfect score in the first stage. However, the pure gold background on the system panel suddenly rippled with an eerie dark red hue, accompanied by a piercing alarm.
'System Emergency Warning: Abnormal spacetime fluctuations! Non-native civilisation intervention detected (Level 2 Corrector).'
Spacetime Breakpoint: Western Mediterranean Coast
Reality Deviation: The fate of the Roman Empire was forcibly sealed, and the previously fractured Senate was unified in a bloody overnight process.
Technology leak: The rifled technology of the Han Dynasty was reverse-engineered by unknown means.
Rome, Pantheon. Caesar, who was previously terrified, now kneels humbly beneath the throne. The throne is not occupied by any consul, but by a mysterious figure clad in a flowing silver robe with an indistinct face.
'Liu Xun is moving too fast. He's turning this planet into a testing ground for the Han Dynasty.' The mysterious figure's slender fingers traced the structural diagram of a Han Dynasty rifled crossbow lightly, his voice as cold as ice. 'For balance, I will bestow upon you the "Awakening of the Eagle Banner".'
As the figure waved his arm, thousands of slaves in the underground chamber of the Pantheon were frantically pulling the bellows. Traditional bronze casting had been replaced by a complete replica of the Han Dynasty's crucible steelmaking furnace.
'Although we don't have the Han Dynasty's hydraulic press, we can use the flesh and blood of ten thousand slaves to grind out these riflings.' Under the mysterious figure's guidance, the Romans used this revolutionary "technological infusion" to create their secret weapon: the "Eagle Strike Type I Giant Rifled Crossbow".
Abandoning aesthetics in favour of a cold, pragmatic design, this weapon mimics the Han Dynasty's breech-loading structure. Despite its extremely poor airtightness, the "high-energy gunpowder formula" provided by a mysterious figure gave it enough power to threaten the Han Dynasty's ironclad warships at sea.
Following the intervention of this same figure, the Roman legions, who had previously held the Han Dynasty in awe, suddenly underwent a dramatic change in temperament.
They ceased arguing and infighting. With almost mechanical ruthlessness, Caesar swept through all the disobedient city-states within three months, using replica ballistae. The eagle banners that had once been scattered across the western Mediterranean coast regrouped into a sea of blood.
'We must reclaim time, reclaim lightning,' declared Caesar, standing atop the newly built steel fortress and glancing at his watch, which was pointed towards Chang'an. He abruptly advanced it by an hour. 'From this day forward, Rome will no longer obey "Chang'an time"!' Far away, in the Tower of Babel in Chang'an, Liu Xun frowned deeply.
'Gongshu Qi, how long has it been since the trade delegation sent to Rome sent a telegram?'
'Your Majesty, contact has been cut off for seven days.' Gongshu Qi's expression was grave. 'Furthermore, our observation balloon deployed in Cyprus was shot down yesterday by an unknown long-range weapon. According to the survivors, the weapon made a spinning, whistling sound.'
Liu Xun chuckled coldly, lightly tapping his fingertips on the table. 'Rifling technology? On this planet, besides me, there's actually someone else who understands 'reverse engineering'. It seems that the 'corrector' you mentioned is planning to wage a cross-dimensional proxy war against me.' Liu Xun wasn't flustered; instead, he felt a long-lost chill.
'I thought being invincible would be too lonely, but I never expected someone to want to "cheat" my opponent.' He turned to look at the massive, unfinished internal combustion engine assembly diagram behind him; his eyes were filled with murderous intent and fanaticism. 'Since the West wants to rebuild the eagle flag, I'll make sure it shatters on the threshold of the industrial age.' Issue the order to begin the initial research and development of the 'Manhattan Module'. Since ballistae against ballistae are pointless, let's fast-forward to 'radio-guided artillery salvo'."
[System Mission Update]
Main Mission: The Purification of Civilisation
Objective: Destroy Rome's pseudo-industrial system and hunt down the 'Time Correctors'.
Reward: Unlock core internal combustion engine technology and basic petroleum cracking technology.
The azure waters of the Suez Canal, the lifeblood of the Han Dynasty's wealth, were now shrouded in a thick crimson haze as the sun set. Two merchant ships, the Hanhe, laden with silk and steel bearings, lay tilted across the middle of the canal, billowing black smoke into the sky. 'Quick! Put out the fire! Second team, hold the deck!' the captain roared hoarsely. But the only response was a piercing buzzing sound from the desert. It was the sound of specially made arrowheads spinning rapidly and cutting through the air. With a 'whoosh',
A giant steel arrow adorned with spirals precisely pierced the ship's boiler shell, triggering a violent explosion that instantly engulfed the lower decks. Steam and blood mist erupted. The power was far beyond that of ordinary nomadic bandits, vaguely reminiscent of the Han Dynasty's rifled crossbows.
Half a day later, the Han Dynasty's Suez garrison arrived swiftly and Liu Xun's trusted generals stepped onto the charred deck. Liu Xun pulled an arrow with a barely visible deformation from a crack in the broken planks; the shaft was engraved with a tiny eagle's head surrounded by olive branches.
'General, the attackers moved with incredible speed and were equipped with these specially made crossbows. They didn't steal any cargo; they only destroyed the engine room,' said the adjutant, his face ashen. 'This isn't looting; it's the precise paralysis of the canal's waterway.'
The message travelled thousands of miles by telegram in just fifteen minutes, landing on Liu Xun's desk. Inside the Weiyang Palace, Liu Xun, who had been working on 'internal combustion engine spark plugs', slowly traced the bloodstained telegram with his fingertips, activating [Top Performance: The Tyrant's Mercy and the Butcher's Wrath].
"Caesar dares to tamper with my canal?" Liu Xun turned to look at the global real-time latitude and longitude map, his eyes flashing with murderous intent. 'System, the "Time-Space Corrector" can't wait any longer. He wants to test my response time in the event of war by harassing the shipping lanes."
[System Strategic Assessment] Enemy forces: Roman 'Eagle Standard' mercenaries (equipped with rudimentary rifled weapons provided by the Corrector).
Strategic intent: To blockade the Suez Canal and force the Han Navy to disperse its forces for patrols, thus covering Rome's secret military expansion in the Mediterranean.
Danger Level: Medium (there is still a technological gap, but the enemy has a local numerical advantage).
Contrary to Rome's expectations, Liu Xun did not dispatch his main ironclad warships on a cumbersome patrol. Instead, he issued an order that puzzled everyone: "Release the 'Hounds'."
Hundreds of 'high-altitude tethered reconnaissance balloons' painted in desert camouflage took off in dense rows along the canal's banks, each carrying a 'signal relay station' urgently miniaturised by the Academy of Sciences.
Meanwhile, the first 'Desert Hunting Team', consisting entirely of light armoured vehicles from the Han dynasty, set off fully armed. They carried no heavy artillery; each soldier was armed with a breech-loading bolt-action rifle and equipped with basic 'infrared night vision equipment' (using a special filter to capture the residual heat of the campfire), as awarded by the system.
Late at night, Roman mercenaries hiding behind sand dunes and preparing for a second attack were polishing their ballistae around a dim fire. They were confident that they were safe in the darkness. However, three miles away, inside a Han armoured vehicle, a sniper coldly locked onto the moving figures through a green filter. 'Bang!' Bang! Bang!There were no shouts or charges; only the rhythmic sound of gunfire, with each shot taking down a Roman gunner. The so-called 'replica ballistae' didn't stand a chance of aiming before they were reduced to scrap metal in the hail of bullets.
"Go back and tell Caesar," read the telegram sent directly to the Roman Senate by Liu Xun, "that his claws have stretched too far, and I intend to chop them off, one by one. The next stop for the Han ironclad warships is the Adriatic Sea, where they will conduct live-fire calibration.'
The air in Chang'an seemed to freeze. News of the bloodshed at the Suez Canal came as a shock, instantly shattering the proud vision of a prosperous Han dynasty.
A million people gathered before the Weiyang Palace, forming a vast, dark sea. Among them were skilled workers in smart overalls, artisans adorned with Ink Saint Hall medals, and students who had just put down their textbooks. They were all awaiting an explanation from the man who had brought them light and dignity: Liu Xun.
Liu Xun slowly walked up to the platform beneath the Tower of Babel. Instead of his magnificent dragon robe, he wore a deep black 'New-Style Han Military Officer's Overcoat', with a golden sash slung across his chest. He began his 'Supreme Speech: Resonator of Will."
The entire arena fell silent. Liu Xun didn't speak immediately, but gazed silently into the distance. His eyes held heartbreaking sorrow which quickly transformed into raging fury, like churning lava.
'My people,' Liu Xun's voice echoed through every corner of Chang'an via a specially designed 'electric amplification system'. 'Yesterday, in the yellow sands of Suez, I heard the echoes of Han merchant ships. It was the sound of steel being torn apart and the dying cries of my people looking eastward.'
Liu Xun suddenly pointed west, his acting prowess reaching fever pitch. His eyes were slightly red and his voice was hoarse yet powerful. 'They thought they could run rampant across my territory, oceans and deserts. They thought they could challenge the Han Dynasty by imitating a few crossbows. The Caesar of Rome chuckled in the shadows, believing that Han civilisation was like fragile silk, easily torn.' He paused for three seconds — a brief silence that made the breathing of millions of people heavy.
'But he was wrong! He forgot that within that silk lay tempered steel! He forgot that the foundation of this civilisation was the undying spirit of millions of soldiers!'
Liu Xun stepped forward, his hand resting on the command sword at his waist. An immense aura of power emanated from him, causing the surrounding flags to flutter despite the lack of wind. With all his might, he issued a decree powerful enough to shatter the old era:
'Issue my decree: Wherever the sun and moon shine and rivers flow, that land is Han territory!"
'Those who harm my Han people, though far away, shall be punished!' Punish! Punish! Punish!" The roars of a million men coalesced into a tangible wave of sound that seemed to shatter the clouds above Chang'an.
In that instant, the Han dynasty ceased to be merely a geographical concept and became a fully operational war machine. As the speech ended, the system panel flashed wildly before Liu Xun's eyes. Those strings of data represented the will of the entire empire, now united as one:
[System Strategic Feedback]
National Morale: 120% (Breaking Limit)
Industrial Conversion Efficiency: Increased by 300% (all factories have spontaneously activated 'war mode').
Popular Power: [Great Han War Spirit] activated
Judgement: The Roman Empire is no longer facing an emperor, but an enraged industrial civilisation. After delivering his speech, Liu Xun stepped down from the platform. The fury on his face vanished the moment he turned around, replaced by extreme calm.
'Shen Wanshan, instruct all overseas warehouses to activate the "Class B Storage Plan",' Liu Xun ordered in a low voice. 'Gongshu Qi, move all the torpedoes equipped with "depth-determining trigger devices" onto the "Zhenhai" for me. Since Caesar wants to see miracles, I will show him what a 'funeral of the sea' looks like.'
He looked west, a cruel smile playing on his lips. 'Time-space corrector, your agent has set the stage. Next, I will step onto the stage myself and turn your 'Roman Revival' into a complete tragedy.'
Beneath the azure waters of Cyprus, undercurrents flowed that no longer belonged to this era. In Rome, the 'Eagle Standard' fleet, empowered by mysterious correctors, had become more than just a collection of wooden sailing ships. Their bows were fitted with carburised steel rams and their sides were equipped with pressure crossbows capable of propelling a modified version of 'Greek Fire' fuel. However, to Liu Xun, they were nothing more than the remains of an old god in its death throes.
As the massive black shadow of the 'Zhenhai' pierced the Mediterranean morning mist, the system interface in Liu Xun's mind was more solemn than ever. The deep red mission box almost overflowed its golden border: 'Epic System Mission Triggered: Ragnarok'.
Mission Background: The spacetime correctors attempted to forcibly halt the industrial ascension of the Han dynasty by supporting Rome.
Mission Objective: Completely destroy Rome's main Mediterranean fleet and kill or expel the corrector consciousness carriers.
Mission time limit: 48 hours.
Ultimate reward: Wireless telegraph technology (beginner level) (emerging the era of instant global information).
"Ragnarok?" Liu Xun stood in the command tower, his fingertips brushing against the cold periscope. 'Then let this sea become the burial ground of the old civilisation.'
On the Roman flagship, the 'Julius', Caesar followed the Correctors' orders, attempting to use the dense fog to approach and launch an attack. "Report! Smoke column spotted from the Han army three miles ahead!" Caesar was about to order the flamethrower cannons to be used when he noticed that the 'Zhenhai' opposite him was not in broadside formation but sailing on a strange course.
"Boom!" The Han's 300 mm rotary main guns fired first, from three miles away. Using a basic optical rangefinder and precise rifled trajectory calculations, the first shell accurately pierced the deck of the Roman vanguard ship.Unlike the Romans' solid shot, the Han's fixed-explosive shells had delayed fuses and detonated instantly after hitting the wooden compartments. The entire warship exploded like a lit powder keg, bursting into an enormous orange-red cloud over the sea.
"Fire the arrows! Use fire!" Caesar roared madly. Hundreds of giant flaming arrows streaked across the sky, striking the armour of the 'Zhenhai', but producing only a crisp metallic clang before sliding helplessly into the sea. These replicas were met with a wall of despair in the form of the 200 mm carburized steel armour.
Just then, Liu Xun issued the test order: 'Deploy the "self-propelled mine" prototype.' Several metal tubes, powered by small steam engines, were propelled into the water and rushed along the pre-set course towards the dense Roman fleet. After a series of earth-shattering underwater explosions, a huge gap was torn in the formation of the Roman fleet, and the Roman flagship slowly sank in flames.
The 'Corrector', clad in a silver robe, attempted to escape through a spatial rift.
'Since you're here, leave something behind.' Liu Xun activated Top-Tier Performance: Capturer of Time and Space, using the system's temporarily borrowed permissions to lock onto the escapee's energy fluctuations. As the void shattered, the system frantically absorbed the broken laws. [System Announcement]: 'Mission [Ragnarok] perfectly completed!'
Mission Judgement: Roman naval power has been utterly destroyed and the Corrector has been withdrawn due to energy backlash. Reward: Wireless Telegraph Technology (Beginner) Injecting…
That evening, a strange metal wire mesh appeared on top of the mast of the Zhenhai. Liu Xun sat in the communications room looking at the control panel filled with instruments and pressed the transmit button.
'Beep—click, beep—beep—click.' This weak electromagnetic wave travelled across straits and deserts without the need for copper wire, appearing precisely on the receiver at the Chang'an Tower of Heaven, thousands of miles away. Shen Wanshan looked at the slip of paper that had been automatically dispensed, on which a line of Chinese characters was clearly printed: 'The Mediterranean has been incorporated into the Han Dynasty, and the whole world submits.'
In that instant, Liu Xun realised that he no longer needed messengers or had to wait, as he had grasped the pulse of the planet in his palm through invisible electromagnetic waves.
Off the coast of Cyprus, the remains of the Roman fleet were still drifting with the current when the radio transmitter on the mast of the Zhenhai began pulsating at a high frequency.
In his cabin, Liu Xun watched the strings of Morse code flashing across the screen, a cruel smile playing on his lips. This wasn't hand-to-hand combat with cold weapons, but a dimensional slaughter fuelled by information asymmetry.
'Your Majesty, the radio relay stations are fully synchronised in Suez, Alexandria and the Pamir Pass,' said Gongshu Qi, pointing to a global situation map covered in red lines. 'News of Rome's defeat, if transmitted by fast horse and carrier pigeon, would take at least half a month to reach Gaul and London. But through the Han Dynasty's radio waves, it only takes three seconds.'
[System Financial Module Activated: Global Harvesting Mode]
Core Logic: Utilising the 'information lead time difference' to manipulate global commodity and Han Yuan exchange rates.
Operational method: Before the public learned of Rome's defeat, Liu Xun sold off large quantities of Roman bonds and acquired core Western resources and minerals at low prices. He launched his 'Top-Tier Performance: The Mastermind Behind the Scenes" campaign, lightly tapping the table: 'A two-week time difference is enough for me to plunder Western wealth three times over.'
Meanwhile, Western bankers in Constantinople and Rome were sipping wine and discussing rumours that the 'Eagle Flagship Fleet' would cripple the Han army, while the value of Roman-issued 'war bonds' remained firm on the black market, even commanding a 30% premium.
'Tick-tock, tick-tock.' Trade representatives of the Han Dynasty across the country received a top-secret telegram from Liu Xun. 'Sell Roman bonds across the board, with short selling and ten times leverage.' As the Han Dynasty controlled the telegraph network, information flowed terrifyingly transparently. While Roman bankers were still buying bonds in large quantities, Han capital had already been cashed out at high prices and invested in large quantities of pig iron, rubber and saltpeter.
Fifteen days later, a Roman horse, exhausted and drenched in sweat, burst into the Senate.
'Report! The entire navy has been annihilated! Caesar has been captured! The 'Zhenhai' has entered the heart of the Mediterranean!" Silence fell, followed by frantic wails.
However, when the nobles rushed to their treasuries to recoup their losses, they discovered with despair that Roman gold coins had become worthless. Meanwhile, the Han merchants, armed with legally binding contracts signed a month earlier, had sealed off all their mines.
'This is unfair!' an old senator shouted angrily. 'How could you possibly have known the outcome of the battle a month ago?' The Han envoy merely waved the telegram elegantly in his hand, giving a cold laugh. 'This isn't foresight, but the efficiency of Chang'an. In the Han dynasty, the future has already happened.'
In order to consolidate this hegemony completely, Liu Xun ordered the establishment of 'Great Han Royal Postal and Telegraph Offices' in major cities around the world.
[Rule 1] All official international documents must be transmitted via the Great Han Telegraph Network; otherwise, they will not be recognised.
[Rule 2] Non-citizens of the Great Han must pay an extremely high 'channel occupancy fee' to use the telegraph network.
[Rule 3] The Great Han reserves the right to intercept telegram content that endangers global security in real time.
In that moment, Liu Xun controlled not only the ocean, but also the minds of humanity. He was the only person on the planet who could 'hear the whole world breathe'. Late at night, the telegraph machine at the top of the Tower of Babel was still ticking away.
[System Settlement]
[Achievement Completed]
Information Hegemony · Global Interconnection
Financial Gains: Obtained 40% of the West's total wealth.
Judgement: Western civilisation has become the Great Han's 'raw material supplier' and 'cheap manufacturing plant'.
Unlocking Foreshadowing: Residual consciousness of the 'Correctors' has been detected escaping to the far north in an attempt to find ancient 'ice energy'.
Liu Xun put down the telegraph paper and looked at the telegraph lines crisscrossing outside the window like a spider's web. He smiled faintly into the void. 'Time-space corrector, do you think running away will help? In the age of the telegraph, there are no blind spots on this planet.'