He prepared to put on his most imposing outfit—the Iron Massacre, and then, armed, he would go to pay his respects.
When worshiping the statue, he would treat firing the gun as a form of prayer to the heavens.
While intimidating the natives, it could also enhance the momentum of the entire ceremony, adding a solemn, militaristic demeanor.
The posture for worshiping the statue was also important; it couldn't be the single-knee kneeling for allegiance, but must be a double-knee kneel, with the head knocking on the ground with a sound.
Of course, as the "one closest to the gods," Chen Zhou naturally could skip this set of rituals.
After all, Wang Lingguan once even lent his own pedestal for him to cook on, the relationship was that good, bowing could make it seem unfamiliar.
...
In fact, if analyzed by modern standards for regions that emphasize rituals, Chen Zhou's ceremonial process could be considered quite rudimentary.
