Rebirth Of Chen An

Chapter 164: Chen Yang, the Ancient Version

Translator: Flying Lines

The counsellor Qingyu inquired more than once, how this iron box managed to move without a horse pulling it; Chen An answered with a flimsy excuse every time: divine powers.

If he was to teach the counsellor the physics behind the operation of a tank, Chen An wouldn’t be able to finish it in three days and three nights, seeing how the counsellor with his serious learning attitude liked to get to the bottom of things.

In just a few days, the counsellor wouldn’t get anywhere even if he cut open the tank, not to mention that the technology of the time didn’t really allow the counsellor to cut it open.

Three days after the General arrived at the imperial city, Chen An and the others arrived, too. Chen An didn’t want to refer to the General as Lu Feng, because this was not his Lu Feng.

When they came to the imperial palace, Chen An got word that the General and the Prince was discussing strategies for fighting the foreign nationals; he and Ding Sheng were not captives any more; nevertheless, they were not in a position to discuss matters of national importance with the General.

So led by the counsellor, they strolled around in the imperial palace.

There weren’t really much to see for Chen An. Back where he came from, his footprints covered many parts of the world. For any place he went to for business, he would find the time to look around for a few days.

From the pyramids in Egypt, to the Forbidden City, from Taj Mahal to the Roman Colosseum.

Whether foreign or domestic, ancient or modern, there was hardly any place of interest that he hadn’t visited. The imperial palace here was magnificent, yet it fell short when compared with the Forbidden City.

“Where we come from, there are also buildings that look like your imperial palace.” Chen An chatted with the counsellor as they walked around.

When Chen An told him they had buildings that rose high into the clouds, Qingyu’s curiosity was aroused and asked whether they used their divine powers to build these too.

Chen An did not want to explain the physics of a tank because, on the one hand, it involved too much difficult science, and on the other, he did not want to bring weapons of another age into this world still fighting with blades.

He could, however, tell the counsellor about the basic principles of buildings. Most houses here were built with mud bricks or wood, and he therefore pointed out that the key factor for a tall building was a solid foundation. He then told the counsellor about how steel and concrete worked.

Hearing that it was no longer something as unfathomable as ‘divine powers’, the counsellor listened with a rapturous expression. What Chen An told him was common knowledge in modern society, yet in this place, it was novel enough to keep the counsellor occupied for some time.

“Was that the burned down palace of the emperor?” Ding Sheng asked pointing at the remains of a building not far away.

Chen An looked in the direction he pointed. The soil was burned to a brown color, and charcoaled lumps of wood were scattered on the ground; there was something desolate and chilling about the place.

His sight lingered for a moment on the black remains of wood, and Chen An suddenly had a queasy feeling. He frowned while strange images flashed across his vision and rushed into his brain.

Chen An closed his eyes and felt shaky. Seeing him about to collapse, Ding Sheng rushed over and held him. He then asked anxiously: “Uncle Chen, are you okay?”

Immediately, the counsellor ordered a chair to be brought. Ding Sheng seated Chen An down in the chair, as the counsellor asked: “master Chen, are you all-right?”