My Imperial Advisor is ChatGPT

Chapter 101 Hu Hai's "Convertible" and the First Ticket

In Xianyang in spring, willow catkins fly everywhere.

With the mass production of the "Shennong No. 1" tractor, a new background sound of sputtering echoed across the fields of Daqin. But for Hu Hai, who had just been appointed as the director of the "Daqin Vehicle Manufacturing Plant," this iron lump that only ate dirt and moved as slowly as a tortoise was clearly unable to satisfy his restless racing driver's heart.

"Too slow! Too ugly! Too boring!"

In the Royal Vehicle Factory's "Special Modification Workshop," Hu Hai circled around a brand-new tractor chassis, holding a wrench in his hand, looking disgusted.

"What I want is the wind! Lightning! The kind of speed that makes your hair fly! Not this kind of pig that only knows how to root in the mud!"

Gongshu Huai, standing beside him, wiped his sweat and cautiously advised, "Young master, this internal combustion engine is designed for low-speed, high-torque operation; it's meant for heavy work. If you want it to go fast, unless..."

"Unless what?" Hu Hai's eyes lit up.

"Unless you remove all the unnecessary parts to reduce weight, and change the gear ratios, sacrificing power for speed."

Hu Hai slapped his thigh: "Just what I wanted! Men, bring over that luxurious four-wheeled carriage that my father bestowed upon me!"

Thus began a brutal and inhumane "modification".

The once luxurious carriage, adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, inlaid with gold and jade, was reduced to just a chassis and four wheels. To lighten the load, Hu Hai even had the heavy rosewood roof of the carriage sawed off.

"Young master, this...this is completely submerged!" The little eunuch stared dumbfounded at the "convertible." "What if it rains? What if birds poop on it?"

"You know nothing!" Hu Hai, wearing sunglasses (made of amber-colored crystal), tidied his hair, which was styled with hairspray (a mixture of pine resin). "This is called a convertible. It's all about that open feeling of embracing nature! Only cowards hide under the roof!"

Next is the power system.

A single-cylinder gasoline engine, "specially tuned" by Wang Jianguo, was tucked under the back seat. In pursuit of the ultimate sound, Hu Hai specially removed the muffler from the exhaust pipe (which was actually just an iron can filled with steel wool).

"We will make sure everyone in Xianyang hears its breath!" Hu Hai grinned as he tightened the last screw.

Although this vehicle only has three wheels (one in the front and two in the back for easy steering), and although it has no airbags or seat belts, and even the brakes are just two pieces of wood rubbing against the wheel hubs, in Hu Hai's eyes it is the pinnacle of Qin Industry - the "Sun Chaser".

The 38th year of King Zheng of Qin, the third day of the third month. Auspicious for travel, but avoid speeding.

On Zhuque Avenue, the widest and most bustling street in Xianyang, pedestrians thronged the area. Vendors hawked their newly arrived qingtuan (a type of glutinous rice dumpling), while nobles rode tall horses, exchanging pleasantries—a scene of peace and prosperity.

Sudden.

"boom--!!!"

A thunderous roar came from the direction of the Vermilion Bird Gate.

Pedestrians on the street were startled and looked up at the sky.

"Thunder? But there are no dark clouds?"

Immediately afterwards, the thunder did not disappear; instead, it turned into a continuous, ever-closer roar.

"Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat—Bang! Rat-a-tat-tat!!"

The sound tore through the air, making the wine banners along the roadside tremble.

"Look! What kind of monster is that?!"

A gasp went up from the crowd.

At the end of the street, a strange, black object emitting blue smoke was rushing towards them at a terrifying speed.

That was Hu Hai's "Sun Chaser".

At this moment, Hu Hai was in a state of extreme excitement. The wind (mixed with the smell of gasoline and black smoke) slapped hard against his face, deforming his dough, but he felt like Liezi riding the wind.

Speed: 20 km/h.

To modern people, this is just the speed of a bicycle. But to the people of Qin, who were used to the slow pace of oxcarts, it was like a shooting star skimming the ground!

"Get out of the way! All of you, get out of my way!"

Hu Hai frantically pressed the air horn in his hand (a rubber ball that would squeal like a duck if squeezed).

"quack--!"

But the duck's quacking was completely drowned out by the engine's roar.

The horses by the roadside were startled. They had never heard such an aggressive sound before; it was the growl of a wild beast.

"Neigh—!"

A chestnut horse pulling a silk ribbon reared up, broke its reins, and rushed into the porcelain stall next to it. With a loud crash, the stall owner let out a pig-like scream.

"My blue and white porcelain!"

Hu Hai paid no attention to any of that. He was immersed in the thrill of speed, feeling as if he had conquered the entire street.

"Awesome! So awesome! This is the taste of freedom!"

However, freedom often comes at a price.

Just as Hu Hai was getting carried away, a ceremonial guard appeared ahead.

Silence, retreat.

That was the sedan chair of Li Si, the current prime minister.

Li Si was in a good mood today. He had just finished revising the detailed rules of the "Great Qin Environmental Protection Law" and was preparing to go to the palace to report to His Majesty. He sat in his sedan chair, closing his eyes to rest, twirling two jade walnuts in his hands.

Suddenly, a strange roar shattered his tranquility.

"What's all this commotion outside?" Li Si frowned and lifted the sedan curtain.

The next second, he saw a dark figure, accompanied by thick smoke, rushing straight towards him.

"Protect the Emperor! Protect the Prime Minister!"

The sedan bearers were terrified and instinctively tried to dodge, but this attempt threw them into disarray.

The sedan chair carriers in front jumped to the left, and the sedan chair carriers behind jumped to the right.

Thus, Li Si's sedan chair drew a strange arc in the air, and then heavily—overturned on its side.

"Ouch, my back!"

Li Si rolled around like a gourd in the sedan chair, his official hat flew off, and even the walnuts disappeared somewhere.

The dark figure, the "Sun Chaser," made a screeching sound when it was less than three feet away from the sedan chair.

"Squeak—crunch—!!!"

Hu Hai pressed his foot firmly against the makeshift wooden brake pedal. The wood rubbed violently against the iron wheel hub, emitting a plume of burnt blue smoke.

The car finally stopped.

Hu Hai took off his sunglasses, looked at the overturned sedan chair in front of him, and then at Li Si, who was climbing out of the sedan chair with disheveled hair and an angry face. His heart skipped a beat.

"Damn it... I've hit a brick wall."

Li Si, supporting his aching back, stood up shakily. When he recognized Hu Hai as the man in the driver's seat, his face covered in soot and his awkward, white-toothed grin, his anger instantly surged to the top of his head.

"Young Master Hu... Hai!!!"

Li Si's roar even drowned out the engine's idling sound for a moment.

"What are you doing? Are you trying to assassinate the current prime minister?!"

Hu Hai shrank back and weakly explained, "Prime Minister, it's a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding. I was testing... testing the braking distance of a new type of vehicle. The data shows that it needs further improvement."

"Strengthen my ass!" Li Si cursed without regard for decorum. "I think what should be strengthened is the Qin Dynasty's laws! Lock you, this menace, in a cage!"

One hour later. Xianyang Palace.

Ying Zheng looked at Hu Hai kneeling on the ground, then at Li Si, who was holding his waist and looked bitter and resentful, and Wang Jianguo, who was standing next to him trying hard to suppress his laughter.

"This is your 'Sun Chaser'?" Ying Zheng pointed to the impounded, dilapidated carriage outside the palace. "Besides emitting smoke and disturbing the peace, what other use is it?"

"Father! It's fast!" Hu Hai protested. "In the time it takes to burn half an incense stick, I've traveled from the east of the city to the Vermilion Bird Gate! If this were used to deliver military intelligence, how incredibly fast it would be!"

"Swift as lightning?" Li Si sneered. "Indeed swift. Wherever they went, chickens flew and dogs barked, horses were startled, and stalls were destroyed. This old minister almost ended up meeting the late emperor!"

Li Si pulled a memorial from his robes and slammed it heavily on the ground.

"Your Majesty! This trend must not be allowed to continue! Although this 'car' is a divine object, if it is not restrained by rules, it is like letting a tiger run rampant in the street! Today it hits an old minister, tomorrow it might hit a commoner, or even... it might ram into Your Majesty's imperial carriage. What should be the punishment?"

Ying Zheng nodded.

"Li Si is right. Machines are inanimate, but people are alive. If those who operate machines have no rules, then disaster will follow."

Ying Zheng turned to Wang Jianguo: "Jianguo, how did later generations manage these iron boxes?"

Wang Jianguo stepped forward: "Your Majesty, in later generations there was a complete system called the 'Road Traffic Safety Law.' Its core consists of three parts: driver qualifications, driving rules, and penalties for violations."

"Very well." Ying Zheng made the decision. "Li Si, since you are the aggrieved party, you shall decide on this law. Take into account the Grand Tutor's advice and come up with a plan for me."

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Li Si glared fiercely at Hu Hai, his eyes seeming to say: Kid, you wait, I'll write you to death.

Three days later, the first **Road Traffic Safety Law (Trial)** of the Qin Dynasty was freshly released.

This law is filled with Li Si's strong personal resentment and the strict style of Legalism, while also incorporating Wang Jianguo's modern traffic concepts.

Article 1: Driving qualifications (driver's license).

"Anyone wishing to drive a motor vehicle must undergo rigorous testing, including reversing into a parking space, parallel parking, and starting on a slope. Those who fail the test are strictly prohibited from driving on the road. Unlicensed drivers will have their vehicles confiscated and will be sentenced to three months of forced labor."

Article 2: Driving Rules.

"Vehicles, pedestrians, and other vehicles must keep to the right (Wang Jianguo suggested this to ensure uniformity). Stop at red lights and go at green lights (although there are no lights yet, red and green flags will be used for now). Speeding is strictly prohibited in busy urban areas; the speed limit is 10 miles per hour."

Article 3: Vehicle Standards.

"All vehicles must be equipped with effective braking systems, turn signals, and... mufflers! Anyone causing noise pollution will have their car smashed in the street!"

Article 4: The red line for drunk driving.

"Don't drink and drive. Anyone caught driving under the influence will have their license revoked for life and be exiled to northern Xinjiang to work on the Great Wall for three years!"

When the last sentence was read aloud, Hu Hai, who loved drinking and driving, felt like the sky had fallen.

"Build the Great Wall? Three more years?" Hu Hai cried out in anguish, "That's too cruel!"

"Ruthless?" Li Si said coldly. "My lord, this is a reverence for life. If you were drunk and drove your carriage into the Wei River, His Majesty would be heartbroken."

Act VI: The Historic Fine

On the very day the law was promulgated, the Court of Justice issued the first traffic violation ticket in the history of the Qin Dynasty.

The person punished: Hu Hai.

Reasons for violations: driving without a license, speeding, noise pollution, damaging public property, disturbing the Prime Minister.

Punishment result:

A fine of ten thousand coins was imposed (to compensate the porcelain stall owner and for road repairs).

The "Sun Chaser" was impounded until a silencer and brakes were installed.

Enrollment in the first "Daqin Driving School" training course is mandatory, and you can only drive on the road after passing the driving test.

Copy the Road Traffic Safety Law by hand one hundred times.

When Hu Hai received the ticket written on the bamboo slip with trembling hands, he knew that the days when he could run rampant in the streets were gone forever.

"Is this the price of civilization?" Hu Hai looked at the ticket and shed tears of regret.

Act VII: Driving School Turmoil

Although Hu Hai was fined, the allure of cars is irresistible.

"Da Qin First Driving School" was officially established in the western suburbs of Xianyang. Principal: Li Si (nominal); Chief Instructor: Wang Jianguo; Assistant Instructor: Hu Hai, who hadn't even passed his driving test yet (responsible for demonstrating negative examples).

People were scrambling to sign up.

Even though everyone can't afford a car, they all want to get a driver's license first. It's a symbol of status! Having a driver's license hanging on your waist when you go out is more prestigious than a jade pendant.

"That guy! Xiang Yu!"

Wang Jianguo shouted through a megaphone on the training field, "Lighten your foot! Lighten your foot! That's the accelerator, not the enemy's head! If you stomp on it, you'll blow up the engine!"

Xiang Yu huddled in the specially made, widened driver's seat, looking aggrieved.

"Sir, this thing is too delicate. It darted out before I even applied any force."

"And you! Liu Bang!" Wang Jianguo roared, turning around. "Back into the parking space! Look where you've gone! That's the flowerbed over there! Are you trying to drive into the Imperial Garden?"

Liu Bang chuckled: "Grand Preceptor, this rearview mirror is too small; I can't see clearly. Could you install a bigger one for me?"

Seeing these powerful figures who were once formidable on the battlefield and influential in the imperial court now scratching their heads in frustration in front of a few wooden stakes, Wang Jianguo felt a strange sense of amusement.

Industrialization not only changed the mode of production, but also the norms of people's behavior. It taught these ancient people what "rules," "precision," and "control" are.

A month later, Hu Hai finally finished copying the traffic regulations one hundred times, and thanks to his exceptional mechanical talent (and the examiner's leniency), he obtained a driver's license with the number **"Qin A·00001"**.

He installed a thick muffler on his "Sun Chaser" and replaced it with drum brakes designed by Wang Jianguo.

When he drove onto Suzaku Avenue again, he did not speed.

Wearing sunglasses, he held the steering wheel with one hand and glided gracefully through the street at 10 kilometers per hour.

The people on the roadside were no longer frightened, but instead cast envious glances.

"Look! That's Prince Huhai!"

"Is that a car? It's really impressive!"

"I heard that if we don't drink, we can get a license to drive someday?"

Hu Hai enjoyed the attention he received and felt an unprecedented sense of accomplishment.

He pressed the newly installed horn.

"Beep—"

Crisp, melodious, and civilized.

On the high floor of Xianyang Palace, Ying Zheng watched the slowly moving carriage and the cement road behind it, which, though still sparse, was beginning to become busy.

"Nation-building".

"Your subject is here."

"With rules, the chariot can travel far," Ying Zheng said calmly. "The same applies to the Qin Dynasty."

"Oh, right, get me one too. I want the extended version, big enough for me and a few of my ministers. I don't want to ride in a carriage anymore when I travel the world; it's too bumpy."

Wang Jianguo laughed: "Your Majesty, that executive sedan called 'Red Flag'... oh no, 'Zulong' is already under design."