"That's wonderful!" Princess Jade Hayes exclaimed, overjoyed. If those overseas scholars really managed to build an antique automobile, it would be a game-changer!
Warhorses are no match for modern machinery; they'd be wiped out in an instant.
With the automobile as a foundation, Princess Jade Hayes planned to invest heavily in military hardware. Once they had cars, tanks and armored vehicles would soon follow.
Seeing Princess Jade Hayes so delighted, Edward was thrilled as well. "Your Majesty, the automobile needs gasoline, which we currently have to import from overseas. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could produce it ourselves?"
Princess Jade Hayes smiled. "There are oil fields within the Kingdom of Qin, so producing gasoline is certainly possible."
Edward's eyes lit up and he slapped his thigh. "What! There are oil fields in the Kingdom of Qin? Oil is a treasure! I've heard some countries overseas get rich just by selling it!"
Princess Jade Hayes laughed. "We don't need to sell oil; we'll keep it for ourselves. Our silk, tea, and porcelain are exported overseas, and the profits are far greater than selling oil."
Edward scratched his head. "Right, right, Your Majesty is absolutely correct. I almost forgot. Our three treasures sell like hotcakes overseas—much better than oil!"
As they chatted, Edward drove the antique automobile aimlessly around Charleston, drawing a crowd from half the city. Everyone came to see this marvel—a vehicle that needed neither pushing nor horses to run.
Eventually, Edward drove the automobile right up to the gates of the Qin Royal Palace. The car was so large that they had to open the main gate—usually kept closed—and remove the tall threshold just to get it inside.
Edward grinned. "Prince Alexander Hayes will be stunned when he sees this automobile!"
Speak of the devil, and he appears.
Alexander Hayes, dressed in black robes, strode down from the main hall, tall and dignified, followed by close advisors like Xiao Yun.
"What treasure is this?" Alexander Hayes smiled at Princess Jade Hayes sitting in the automobile. "You always have Edward bring back rare things. This big metal box looks so strange—what is it?"
Hearing Alexander Hayes call the automobile a metal box, Princess Jade Hayes burst out laughing. She opened the car door, got out, took Alexander's arm, and said, "Come on, let Edward drive and show you this Western marvel—it's called an automobile."
"Automobile?" Alexander Hayes repeated the curious name as Princess Jade Hayes pulled him to sit in the back seat.
It was Alexander Hayes' first time in an automobile. Fascinated, he looked around at the strange metal box. "Darling, what use does this automobile have?" he asked.
"Of course, an automobile is for riding and running! Edward, drive—let our King enjoy a ride!" Princess Jade Hayes laughed.
"Alright! Everyone, hold on!" Edward shouted gleefully, stomping on the accelerator.
With a loud hum, the automobile shot forward. Alexander Hayes felt a sudden inertia press him back against the seat, his face turning a little pale in disbelief. "This metal box moves by itself? And faster than a horse? Darling, is there some kind of mechanism hidden inside?"
Princess Jade Hayes laughed proudly. "Ha! The principle behind this is complicated—I couldn't explain it all. Edward, the palace square is big and the road is smooth. Speed up and show our King just how fast an automobile can go!"