PDLP Chapter 358 The Aftereffects of Flight Begin
Chapter 358 The Aftereffects of Flight Begin
After everyone landed safely, Zhao Heng and Zhao Gou exchanged a meaningful glance, then supported each other as they slowly stepped out of the helicopter. The moment their feet touched solid ground, they both felt a sudden weakness, their knees buckling involuntarily, almost collapsing to their knees. Li Qianshun, following closely behind, fared slightly better; though also slightly unsteady, he managed to remain standing. As for Wanyan Ping, he seemed completely oblivious to the lingering fear from the heights, his steps steady and unwavering.
Li Zhen gazed at Wanyan Ping with a profound look, secretly thinking: If this man were born in this era, he would definitely be an excellent candidate for pilot. Just now, he had been piloting the helicopter, constantly climbing and diving in the air; those violent ascents and descents were something that no one without flying experience could withstand.
As for Li Zhen's two wives, they were being gently embraced by him as they walked out of the cabin. They had already lost consciousness during the thrilling flight and were now in a peaceful slumber.
In Li Zhen's spacious and elegant reception room, Bu Liang moved among the guests with an almost obsequious smile, deftly pouring warm tea for each person, his every move revealing an extraordinary shrewdness. Li Zhen, on the other hand, sat upright in the main seat, his deep gaze filled with warmth and pride, slowly sweeping over everyone present.
"Hahaha... How did you all feel? Was that soaring above the clouds just now a thrilling experience? I'm not afraid to admit it, but helicopters with such excellent performance are only a handful in my collection, barely enough to make up ten."
As soon as the words were spoken, a slight twitch appeared on everyone's lips, and they were secretly astonished: a dozen or so? In this era, even a single helicopter like this could be a game-changer on the battlefield; its roaring firepower could shake the heavens and earth and rewrite the course of battle. Imagine if Li Zhen's dozen or so helicopters were to take to the skies together, unleashing a deluge of firepower upon the vast land; no force would be able to withstand such devastating damage, its power enough to shake the balance of an entire era.
The story didn't end there. At Li Zhen's command, his entourage carefully hung a magnificent map from the future on the wall of the hall. As soon as this giant map appeared, it attracted everyone's attention like a magnet. They couldn't help but gather around it, curiously examining this unprecedented geographical wonder.
Holding a gleaming stainless steel telescopic baton, Li Zhen's face beamed with pride. He elegantly guided the crowd's gaze across the map: "Where we stand is the vast expanse of Asia; beyond that lies the historically rich Europe; further on, the turbulent Middle East; and across the oceans, the vibrant North America and the enigmatic South America..."
After Li Zhen's meticulous explanation, everyone finally identified their respective territories on the intricate map. Initially, they were secretly pleased, thinking their territories were vast and boundless, but they never expected that on this grand map, their so-called "territories" were smaller than the palm of their hand, appearing so insignificant.
Zhao Gou's gaze lingered over the vast lands yet to be explored, his tone gentle yet carrying an indescribable depth as he slowly opened his lips and asked, "Brother-in-law, have you ever heard of how many unseen kingdoms lie hidden beyond the borders of this ancient Asia beneath our feet, in that distant and mist-shrouded world? They are quietly and patiently waiting for us to unveil their mysteries and listen to their silent stories?"
Li Zhen frowned slightly, his thoughts seemingly traversing a long corridor of time, slowly settling. His deep, magnetic voice rang out in the silence: "From my limited understanding, the map of Europe today is dotted with hundreds of countries, varying in size and form. Some countries are densely populated, with millions of inhabitants; while others are so small as to be like a drop in the ocean, with only a few hundred people maintaining the pulse of the nation. However, in this political landscape of the Western world, an undeniable presence is the authority of the Pope. In name, he is the common sky above those numerous countries, and the legitimacy of their rule is often established through his coronation. In other words, without the Pope's sacred touch, even if one ascends the throne of emperor, it is like a tree without roots, unable to escape the shadow of illegality."
Wanyan Ping slowly rose to his feet, his steps steady as he walked towards the massive map hanging on the wall. His gaze was piercing, fixed on the vast expanse of land in northern Jin territory. A murmur unconsciously escaped his lips: "I never imagined that such a vast territory lay hidden in the north of Jin. If I had known this earlier, why would I have been entangled with Song? Wouldn't it have been more direct and efficient to simply march north and bring these unknown lands into our territory?"
Just as he was lost in these thoughts, a steady voice quietly sounded behind him. It was Li Zhen, who had silently approached without him noticing. "The northern lands, though vast, remain an untamed wilderness due to their unique geographical location. Even the rugged tribes of Eastern Europe hold this place in awe and dare not venture there lightly. Moreover, our country's resources are already limited, so developing that unknown land is no easy task."
Wanyan Ping turned his gaze back to the vast map hanging on the wall. His eyes lingered on his own position for a moment, as if he were making a silent assessment, before he slowly walked back to the table.
He gently picked up a cup of warm tea, faced Zhao Heng across from him, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips: "Right now, the flames of war between our two armies are raging in Huainan Road. My original intention was to do my best to seize more territory from His Majesty Zhao Heng. However, after glimpsing this map that shows the whole world, my thoughts have quietly changed."
Having said that, Wanyan Ping downed the tea in one gulp, as if swallowing his past obsessions along with it: "My mind is made up. From this moment on, I will no longer clash with Emperor Zhao Heng's Northern Song cavalry on the battlefield. My gaze has already moved beyond the current strife and is now fixed on a more distant place..."
Having said that, he gently picked up the stainless steel command stick that gleamed with a cold light from Li Zhen's hand, and lightly tapped the location of Fusang on the map with his fingertip. His eyes flashed with an unusual light: "Instead of competing for an inch of land with powerful figures like you who dominate your respective regions, why not turn your attention to the vast overseas territories? I know I am not capable of conquering Goryeo, but I am confident that I still have the strength to fight for Fusang and bring it into my possession."
He then turned to Zhao Heng, his gaze sharp and his tone resolute: "In that case, I will back down and let the world be yours. The land west of the canal will be yours. From this day forward, our armies shall cease hostilities and make peace. I hereby solemnly swear that I will never initiate war or invade your territory."