The smoke from the battle at Ctesiphon had not yet completely cleared, and bloodstains still clung to the silver armour of the Snow Dragon Riders. Liu Xun stood before the ruins of the Parthian palace. The shards beneath his feet bore the coats of arms of the seven noble families. Yet he didn't rush to launch a massacre.
The system screen in his vision displayed a deep purple: 'Diplomatic Deception Module – Sowing Discord Specialist.'
Two hundred captured Roman 'Thunder' Legion soldiers were brought to the centre of the square. They expected to be greeted by the Han army's terrifying crossbows or sharp blades, but instead they were met with a steaming pot of 'high-calorie beef stew'.
Liu Xun removed his bloodstained black armour and donned a dark blue robe embroidered with dark dragon patterns. He began his 'top-tier performance': a patriotic and compassionate host.
"Marcus, I've heard that Rome has the Twelve Tables and upholds the rule of law. Unfortunately, you've been deceived by the Parthian king. He told me that it was Rome that provoked us by trying to seize my Caspian oil fields and forcing him to cooperate." Liu Xun walked over to the Roman advance officer, cut his ropes personally, and looked at him regretfully.
"That's impossible! Orod said he was willing to cede the entire Syrian border in exchange for our support!" Marcus roared.
"He's playing with fire." Liu Xun smiled slightly as he pulled a secret letter, treated with a 'parchment ageing process', from his robes.
[System Command]: Activate 'Multilingual Semantic Trap'.
Core Tool: Latin-to-Latin Accurate Translation Plugin (simulating the style of Roman Senate documents).
Technical core: Using Latin puns in the letter to translate Parthian alliance terms as 'begging Rome to be cannon fodder'.
Visual guidance: Leaving a 'Goddess of Wisdom' pattern on the edge of the letter that is only understood by the Roman high command.
In Marcus's presence, Liu Xun wrote a private letter to the Roman Emperor Severus with flamboyant strokes using a fountain pen engraved with 'Great Han Qilin'.
The letter was highly provocative: 'To Your Excellency, Augustus of Rome: My army has crushed Ctesiphon. The Parthian king, seeking peace, has surrendered the deployment map and supply lines of your Twelfth Legion. I deeply regret that such a valiant legion has become a pawn of the Parthians. I cannot bear to slaughter my civilised compatriots; therefore, I am releasing the prisoners of war and am willing to share the silk trade rights within Parthia with Rome on the condition that Rome withdraws from the Euphrates River and allows me to deal with these fickle Parthian scoundrels.'
'Take this letter and return to your province of Syria,' said Liu Xun, lightly patting Marcus's shoulder with disdain. 'Tell your emperor that the Great Han prefers to do business with the strong, not play games with traitors.' "
As the two hundred Roman soldiers disappeared over the western horizon with the goods and gold coins, and the poisonous letter, the 'gentleness' in Liu Xun's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by an unfathomable calculation.
[System Notification]
[Sowing Discord Progress] 100% (The Roman advance party has developed a serious cognitive bias).
[Parthian–Roman Diplomatic Trust Value] has dropped to -150, on the verge of border friction.
[Achievement] 'The Transoceanic Farewell of the Strategist'
Unlock rewards: Basic Printing Technique – Western Movable Type Edition, Encrypted Pigeon Tracking System.
'Your Majesty, will the Romans really believe it?' Gongshu Qi asked in a low voice.
'Whether they believe it or not is unimportant.' Liu Xun sat back on the golden throne, tapping his fingertips lightly on the armrest. 'What's important is that Marcus will return with news of the Parthian betrayal. Once the seed of doubt has been planted, even if the Parthian king had a silver tongue, he wouldn't be able to talk his way out of it." 'At that point, all I need to do is set up high-powered searchlights along the Caspian Sea and watch them kill each other.'
The magnificent arches of Ctesiphon looked especially lonely in the afterglow of the setting sun. This 500-year-old capital city, the centre of power in the Parthian Empire, trembled under the shadow of the 32-pound heavy mortars of the Han army.
Rather than breaching the city, Liu Xun set up his command post on a high hill on the outskirts. Twelve steam-powered searchlights intertwined in the darkness, forming a vast net of light that illuminated the walls of Ctesiphon as though it were daytime. This "artificial daylight" had a more devastating psychological impact than any battering ram.
With the system's 'pressure field' fully activated, the trembling Parthian Regent Orod led his delegation into Liu Xun's dark tent.
Liu Xun wore no armour, only a deep purple Han-style robe, and toyed with a block of 'refined bitumen' solidified from Caspian crude oil. He activated his 'Ultimate Performance: Conqueror of Civilisation', his gaze sending chills down the spines of every Parthian noble who met his eyes. 'I've already had the translator draft the contents of the treaty,' said Liu Xun. His voice was calm yet carried an undeniable authority. 'I'm not discussing this with you; I'm preserving a spark for Parthia.'
Aurod trembled as he accepted the document printed on high-quality Dowling paper. Each clause felt like a sharp knife cutting into flesh.
Core Clauses of the Treaty of Ctesiphon: Territorial Cession: The Parthian Empire permanently relinquished all territories east of the Caspian Sea and west of the Amu Darya River. These territories were formally incorporated into the Han Dynasty and established as the 'Han Central Asia Province'.
Energy Privileges: The Han Dynasty's Royal Energy Department has exclusive rights to exploit and generate revenue from the Caspian Sea oil fields. Parthia must provide 20,000 labourers free of charge to construct an asphalt road leading to the interior.
Financial control: A branch of the Han Bank must be established in Ctesiphon. Parthian gold coins are to be abolished and Han Yuan paper currency is to be introduced.
The agreement also stipulated that the Han army would station 3,000 troops on the outskirts of Ctesiphon to protect trade, and that the eldest son of the Parthian royal family would be sent to the 'Academy of Natural Sciences' in Chang'an to continue his studies (as a hostage).
'Your Majesty, this is practically a treaty of annihilation!' Orod cried, tears streaming down his face.
Liu Xun smiled slightly and casually opened a large wooden chest beside him. Inside were glass mirrors, fine steel tableware, kerosene lamps and high-purity alcohol.
'Sign it, and this will be your daily life as nobles. I will also build a steam-powered plant here to help you convert the black oil underground into kerosene for night-time illumination.' Liu Xun's tone softened, transforming him into a 'preacher of civilisation'. 'If you don't sign, my mortars will fire at dawn and turn Ctesiphon into a second Peshawar.'
Faced with the dual temptations of death and civilisation, Orod finally pressed the Parthian royal seal, his hand trembling. As the large red seal fell, the system emitted a crisp notification sound:
[System Notification]
[Geopolitical upheaval achieved]: The Parthian Empire has become a semi-colony and the Han Empire has officially established the prototype of global hegemony.
[Han Dynasty National Fortune Value]+500,000
[Territorial Expansion] The Central Asian provinces have officially been incorporated into the administrative territory, with Banji as the first governor.
[Unlocked Ultimate Reward]: basic tram blueprint and high-purity nitrocellulose (a key material for smokeless gunpowder).
That evening, Liu Xun stood on a hill outside Ctesiphon, watching the celebratory fireworks lighting up the Parthian capital to mark the signing of the treaty. To him, however, they were merely a reflection of the setting sun of the old empire. Looking westward, he saw the main force of the Roman legions gathering on the horizon.
'The treaty is signed. Now it's time to write to Emperor Septimius Severus.' Liu Xun toyed with a piece of black bitumen, his eyes gleaming with the fervour of a plunderer. 'I wonder if the walls of Rome can withstand my smokeless gunpowder?'
Evening breeze blew over the Euphrates, carrying the smoke of Ctesiphon, when the iron hooves of the Han Dynasty shattered the barter system of the old world. On the magnificent terrace of the Parthian palace, Liu Xun toyed with a 'New-Style Fine-Made Five-Zhu Coin of the Great Han Dynasty', freshly pressed from the Imperial Academy's precision stamping machine. Made of a high-purity copper-nickel alloy with fine anti-counterfeiting serrations along its edge, the coin gleamed with a captivating purple light in the setting sun.
'Your Majesty, the Parthian nobles are still secretly hoarding Roman gold coins (aurei) and ancient Persian silver coins. They remain resistant to our "paper money" and "new currency",' the Grand Herald reported in a low voice, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
Liu Xun chuckled coldly and launched into his 'Grand Performance: The All-Controlling God of Wealth'. He flicked a five-zhu coin crisply into the air; it traced an arc in mid-air.
[System Command]: 'Currency Wars – Credit Hegemony'
[Core Act]: 'Great Han Global Trade Settlement Order'
[Core Clause]:
'All silk, porcelain and refined kerosene exported to Great Han territory, or spices and myrrh transported from Great Han's Central Asian provinces, must be paid for using "Great Han Five-Zhu" or "Han Yuan Drafts".'
Mandatory Logic: Caravans that refuse to use Han currency will be subject to a 300% 'civilisation entry tariff' and have their rights to use steam engines confiscated.
In the central square of Ctesiphon, Liu Xun ordered the construction of a large "affordable supply station".
'Look carefully! A bag of refined white flour transported by a large Han steamship costs three grams of Roman gold coins, but only one 'Five-Zhu coin' is needed!'
As Liu Xun waved his hand, cheap white flour produced by the 'industrialised flour milling machine' developed by the Institute of Geography poured out like a waterfall, rendering the Roman gold coins seem incredibly cumbersome by comparison. In the face of the immense industrial capacity of the Han Dynasty, the scarcity of gold was utterly shattered by 'industrial production efficiency'.
'Whoever controls the source of goods holds the power to define currency.' With an elegant, Oscar-worthy smile, Liu Xun addressed the stunned Parthian merchants below. In order to give the 'Wuzhu coin' a powerful boost, he unleashed his 'ultimate weapon'.
[System Plugin Activation]: 'Oil Standard - Anchoring Module'.
Announcement: From now on, every drop of oil produced in the Central Asian provinces of the Han Dynasty will be traded not for gold or silver, but for the Han Wuzhu coin in exchange for 'black gold' to power steam engines.
This move instantly drove the Parthian and Roman nobles into a frenzy. Without oil, their workshops could not operate and their cities would be plunged into darkness. Overnight, the Han currency, which had previously been considered worthless, became the most sought-after hard currency across Eurasia. Parthian nobles even began toppling their golden Buddha statues just to exchange them for ink-scented Han yuan at the Han Bank.
[System Prompt]:
[Global Currency Globalisation Progress]: Covers the entirety of Central and West Asia, extending to the eastern coast of the Mediterranean.
[Financial Plunder Profits]: Through exchange rate differences, the Han Dynasty's treasury has indirectly obtained 15% of the Roman Empire's circulating gold.
[Achievement]: Creator of a financial empire.
Unlock rewards: Basic Securities Trading System and Anti-Counterfeiting Watermark Papermaking Technology (Second Generation Enhanced Version).Liu Xun examined the coin in his hand, tracing the uneven 'Five Zhu' characters with his fingertips. From this moment on, he knew that the Han Dynasty's conquest would no longer rely solely on swords and cannons, but on every copper coin flowing through the veins of trade.
'Gongshu Qi, tell the Roman envoys that if they don't accept the Five Zhu coin, they can starve to death amongst those expensive piles of gold. My railway tracks are only laid for those who accept the deal.' Looking at the faintly visible Roman eagle banner on the western horizon, Liu Xun's eyes were as cold as an abyss.
In the evenings, the winds in Ctesiphon no longer blew only yellow sand; they also carried the acrid smell of coal smoke and lubricating oil. The Han expeditionary force had firmly established itself on the Parthian plateau. However, Liu Xun sat on the cold stone throne of the Parthian palace, experiencing a mental storm more violent than the silence of a thousand horses.
As the last flames of the Parthian expedition and the pacification of Central Asia were extinguished, the long-absent metallic voice of the system exploded in his mind like a divine oracle:
'System Instruction: Detected that the host has completed the 'Geopolitical Hegemony – Western Expedition' stage mission.'
Settlement rewards: [Civilisation Progress Gift Pack – Steam Age] Unlocked! Core Acquisitions: Complete conceptual drawings of a primary watt-type linked steam engine, high-pressure boiler special steel smelting technology, centrifugal governor physical model. Host bonus: inspiration for investigation increased by 1000%; instantly able to perceive wear points in any mechanical transmission." "
Liu Xun closed his eyes and the previously blurry mechanical outlines in his mind instantly became crystal clear, showing pistons churning wildly in the cylinders and condensers converting exhaust gases into surging power. This power was enough to tear down all the old world's animal power barriers; it was true demonic power.
'Gongshu Qi, bring the best craftsmen from the Imperial Academy. I want you to forge an 'iron lung' for me according to this drawing within three days." Liu Xun spread Xuan paper out on his desk and began to draw with divine skill. What he drew was no longer a delicate repeating crossbow, but a colossal machine with a heavy flywheel and crank-connecting rod mechanism.
'Your Majesty, can this iron barrel really pull a minecart that a hundred horses couldn't budge?' Gongshu Qi stroked the intricate crank-connecting rod diagram, his voice trembling. 'This isn't called an iron barrel.' Liu Xun's eyes flashed with fanatical light, yet he spoke in a terrifyingly calm tone: 'This is the "heart" I give to this earth. 'With it, the Han Dynasty could weave ten thousand bolts of silk in a day and night; its warships could sail upstream; and Ctesiphon could even be moved to Chang'an!'
In order to support the mass production of steam engines, Liu Xun utilised the 'Machine Tool Precision Calibration Module' rewarded by the system, initiating a 'dimensional reduction attack' on the craftsmanship of the Han Dynasty.
[System Plugin Activation]
[Mother of Industry – High-Precision Lathe Technology]
Technical core: Utilising a steam-powered belt drive system to achieve standardised cutting of metal parts.
Significance: From this moment on, the Han Dynasty would no longer rely on the craftsman's touch, but on interchangeable parts.
'Look closely: when all the screws and gears are exactly the same, this is God's order.' Liu Xun picked up a freshly cut 'standardised hex bolt', weighing it in his hand: 'The Romans are still hammering their shields, while I have already begun assembling the world on an assembly line.' "
Outside the city gates of Taixi, the first test section laid with high-manganese steel rails had officially been joined. As Liu Xun personally tightened the last bolt, the system emitted a resounding celebratory sound.
[System Notification]
[Seed of Industrial Revolution]: Successfully germinated!
[Global Hegemony Attribute]: Evolved from 'Military Hegemony' to 'Technological Hegemony', achieving the [Torchbearer of the Steam Age] achievement and unlocking the [Basic Electromagnetic Induction Experiment Pack] and the [Rubber Vulcanisation Process (Tyre Pre-Engineering Technology)]. Looking at the Roman legions in the West, who were still researching crossbows and javelins, Liu Xun stood up and smiled with pity.
"Gongshu Qi, write a letter to the Roman emperor. Tell him that my army won't walk to him; they'll ride fire-breathing iron dragons directly into his senate."
The clamour of Ctesiphon gradually faded and the lustre of the Parthian crown was lost under the onslaught of the five-zhu coin. The nascent steam engine emitted a beastly growl. Liu Xun did not linger in the extravagant palace to enjoy the adoration of the masses. Instead, he galloped back to the western shore of the Caspian Sea with a small contingent of Hidden Dragon Guards.
As the setting sun slowly sank into the sea like a piece of red-hot iron, it dyed the turbulent surface a chilling dark gold.
Standing with his hands behind his back on the reef, Liu Xun's mind was filled with the frantic flashing of the 'Global Strategic Holographic Map'. From Chang'an to Peshawar and from Transoxiana to Ctesiphon, the banner of the Han dynasty had traversed thousands of miles of land. However, looking at the long supply lines on the map, which were maintained only by animal power and rudimentary railways, Liu Xun encountered an unprecedented level of resistance.
[System Command] Activate 'Civilisation Expansion Limit Calculation'.
Current status: 'Land Power Hegemony' has reached its limit (due to geographical isolation and the logistical attrition ratio).
Core Pain Point: Crossing the Pamir Mountains takes three months and crossing the desert uses up half of the required food supplies. Land friction is reducing the industrial benefits of the Han Dynasty.
Strategic recommendation: Find a 'zero-friction' global transportation route.
[System command] Activate 'Civilisation expansion limit calculation'.
Current status: 'Land Power Hegemony' has reached its limit due to geographical isolation and logistical attrition ratio.
Core pain point: Crossing the Pamir Mountains takes three months and crossing the desert uses up half of the required food supplies. Land friction is reducing the industrial benefits of the Han Dynasty.
Strategic recommendation: Find a 'zero-friction' global transportation route.'The land has boundaries, but desires should not.' Liu Xun activated 'Top Performance: The Lonely Prophet'. Casually picking up a seashell, he tossed it into the rolling waves of the Caspian Sea. Although the Caspian Sea is vast, it is ultimately just an inland lake. But to Liu Xun, its waves reflected the shimmering light of the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific.
'Gongshuqi, look at this water,' said Liu Xun, pointing to the boundless surface. His eyes were as deep as the ocean. 'No matter how fast a carriage travels on land, it is still hindered by mountains and rivers. But with a sufficiently sturdy ironclad ship, this water is a "paved road" to any corner of the world.'
[System Plugin Activated]: 'Age of Exploration Pre-Module: Heart of the Ocean'.
[Technology Unlocked]: 'Large Keel Structure Stress Analysis', 'Basic Sextant Principle', 'Paddle Wheel and Propeller Propulsion Scheme'.
Core concepts: [Tonnage is Truth], [Navigation Range is Border].
At this moment, the system emitted an unusually long cry. A golden pillar of light rose in Liu Xun's sea of consciousness, symbolising the successful conclusion of the first volume, 'Dominating the Land'.
[System notification]: 'Western Regions Rumble' officially completed! Achievements summary: destroyed the Kushans, subjugated Parthia, deterred Rome and sown the seeds of industry.
Level upgrade: host privileges promoted from 'King of the Western Regions' to 'Civilisation Navigator'.
New Volume Preview: Naval Power Struggle: Iron and Fire Beneath the Waves begins!
Gifts: Standardised Shipyard Blueprint, Long-Latitude Anti-Corrosion and Anti-Barnacle Coating Formula, High-Latitude Nautical Chart (Undeveloped Area Blurred Version).
Liu Xun turned around, his back to the surging Caspian Sea. The setting sun had completely set, replaced by a brilliant starry sky.
'My Great Han should not merely be a giant of the inland.' Looking eastward towards Chang'an and the Pacific Ocean, he knew there was more to come. He knew that, in the depths of the South China Sea, countless minerals, lands and unknown civilisations awaited the ironclad warships of the Great Han to 'preach'.
'Notify the Academy of Natural History to halt all fortification work on the city walls at the second-line passes.' Liu Xun mounted his horse, his inner actor unleashed. 'Transport all the steel and timber to the southeast coast. I want every inch of this land to bear the mark of 'Wu Zhu'!"