stonecrandall Chapter 986 Hunting, Deterrence!
Chapter 986 Hunting, Deterrence!
Therefore, the core of her teachings to Gao Xu was "knowledgeable and reasonable" and "wise and self-preserving." Gao Xu may not have been as accomplished in scholarship as his brother, but he was exemplary in etiquette and manners. Even the Four Recluses of Shangshan, who were invited by Gao Yao to teach the royal children and were known for their integrity, praised Gao Xu's propriety and respect in front of him.
However, this overemphasis on "propriety" and "self-preservation" also shaped another aspect of Gao Xu's character that made him unsuitable for ruling the world—excessive restraint. His words and actions were always meticulously followed, for fear of making any mistakes and giving others any reason to criticize him.
What he lacked was precisely the courage, responsibility, and pioneering spirit required of a ruler. If Gao Lin was cowardly, then Gao Xu was inflexible. In Gao Yao's eyes, neither of his sons was an ideal successor.
His third son, Gao Ji, born to Lü Su, was still young and his personality was not yet fully formed. However, compared to his two older brothers, he appeared more lively and cheerful, and his thinking was more agile. This was perhaps related to Lü Su's gentle yet assertive personality. This was currently the only faint glimmer of hope in Gao Yao's heart. However, Gao Ji was not the legitimate son, and his maternal family's power could not compare with that of Lü Zhi. If the eldest son was chosen as heir, it would inevitably trigger a huge political upheaval, something Gao Yao had to consider carefully.
The names of these children—Gao Lin, Gao Xu, and Gao Ji—may not seem particularly outstanding to him, and some even seem rather plain, conforming to the naming conventions of the time. But this was precisely the limitation of the era. Although Qin Shi Huang unified the six kingdoms, standardized writing and cart axles, attempting to fuse the cultures of the six kingdoms into one, the integration and unification of cultures was by no means an achievement that could be accomplished overnight.
Even in the historically powerful Han Dynasty, it took nearly a century for a unified "Han culture" to truly take root in people's hearts. Gao Yao could certainly use his power to give his children more "modern" and meaningful names, but he couldn't. Names needed to be known throughout the land, used and accepted by millions of people, scholars, and officials. In an era with extremely low education levels and where the vast majority of people's thinking remained traditional, overly unconventional and complex names would become a barrier, hindering widespread acceptance. Ultimately, he was still bound by this era.
Three days later, the hunting party set off from Xianyang in a grand procession. Gao Yao, mounted on his steed and clad in light armor, glanced at the guards standing solemnly on either side and the vast, distant mountains and forests. This hunt, ostensibly a hunt, was in reality an operation to test gunpowder and observe the performance of the accompanying personnel. It was a microcosm of his current predicament—advancing cautiously through the fog, striving to achieve his objective while guarding against unknown risks.
Duan Wei was prudent in his work; ten shi (a unit of dry measure) of gunpowder had been secretly transported to the designated location. The roar echoed through the deep mountain valleys, shaking the earth and filling the air with smoke and dust, demonstrating its destructive power. Among the accompanying civil and military officials, some wore expressions of horror, while others' eyes flickered with a mixture of awe and calculation. Gao Yao observed all these reactions, silently assessing the situation. This power could be a powerful weapon for protection, but also a deadly curse; how it was used depended entirely on his will.
In early autumn, the Wei River plain was bathed in clear skies and gentle breezes, carrying the bittersweet scent of withered grass and trees. Banners fluttered in the hunting grounds, and the imperial guards, gleaming in armor, stood like nails around the perimeter, forming an impenetrable defensive line. However, the atmosphere in the open space at the center of the hunting grounds was strikingly different from usual. There was no boisterous commotion, no dust billowing from galloping horses; instead, there was an almost stagnant solemnity and a subtle unease.
Led by Gao Yao, a large number of civil and military officials stood in a circle according to their ranks. Their eyes were all focused on the few dark, sturdy, and seemingly inconspicuous pottery jars in the center of the venue. Some officials who had recently joined him, as well as some newly promoted officials who had emerged from Shangshan Academy, still had a bit of curiosity and doubt on their faces, while those veteran officials who had followed Gao Yao in battle or knew his methods well had solemn expressions and a hint of awe hidden deep in their eyes.
Gao Yao was dressed in a black royal robe and had his hair tied up with a golden crown. Although he was not wearing armor, his long-standing authority and the composure that came with experience made him the absolute center of attention simply by standing there. His gaze calmly swept over the faces of everyone present, taking in their expressions.
He knew all too well that the current court was far from monolithic. There were remnants of the previous dynasty, outwardly subservient but perhaps still harboring longing for their homeland; there were officials from various regions who had defected to him for personal gain, their loyalty yet to be tested by time; and then there were the talents he had painstakingly cultivated from the Shangshan Academy, whose foundations were shallow, yet who represented the future direction. Factions and differing intentions were the norm. At this critical juncture, with internal unresolved issues and external threats from powerful enemies such as the Chu, Han, Wei, and Xiongnu armies, he needed something substantial enough to suppress all hidden dissent and unite everyone's will.
"Let's begin." Gao Yao's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of the Ministry of Works official in charge of the demonstration.
The official took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement and nervousness, and forcefully waved the command flag in his hand.
Several well-trained soldiers quickly stepped forward and used torches to ignite the oil-soaked hemp rope extending from the outside of the earthenware pot. The hissing flames, like venomous snakes, swiftly burrowed into the pot.
next moment--
"boom!!!"
"Boom!!!"
Several deafening, earth-shattering roars suddenly erupted! The ground trembled violently, as if an earth dragon were turning over! Everyone felt a buzzing in their ears, and their hearts were struck hard by an invisible giant hammer!
As far as the eye could see, the place where the loud bang came from, where several old tanks and rammed earth walls used for testing had been piled up, were now engulfed by huge clouds of blackish-yellow smoke mixed with mud and wood! The violent shockwave, carrying rubble and broken wood, shot out in all directions. Even from a safe distance, some civil officials were still terrified by the oncoming shockwave, their faces turning pale, and they subconsciously took a half step back.
As the smoke and dust slowly dissipated, the horrific scene on the ground was revealed—the solid earth was blasted into several scorched craters, the remaining chariot frames were twisted beyond recognition, as if they had been crushed by the feet of giants, and most of the low wall had disappeared, leaving only ruins.
Dead!
The entire venue fell into a deathly silence!
Only the pungent smell of gunpowder in the air and the lingering roar in their ears reminded everyone that what had just happened was not an illusion.
Some veteran generals' pupils constricted as they stared intently at the blast marks, images of battlefield carnage flashing through their minds. They knew better than anyone that if this weapon were used in military formations, even the strongest fortified cities, the finest armor, and the most disciplined military discipline would be as fragile as paper before this destructive power! This was beyond human capability!