Jiang Jin pointed to a diagram on the table and explained, "So I was thinking—what if we could forge a type of repeating crossbow equipped with a quiver magazine? Load the bolts into the magazine, and when they're spent, just swap in a new one."
This was actually the same principle as a modern ammunition magazine.
She continued, "This way, our soldiers would only need to carry a few magazines with them."
"However, our current bolts are too large and heavy. Even if we made magazines, they wouldn't be easy to carry. So I plan to make the bolts smaller."
Yun Ci marveled, "So this is why Your Excellency uses this kind of bolt—with an internal mechanism—so that once the tip pierces the body, it splits open inside!"
It was precisely because he could see how devastating these bolts were that he was so shocked.
Jiang Jin nodded and pointed at the blueprint of the bolt head. "Exactly. When the bolt head enters a target, it takes pressure, and when that pressure reaches a certain level, it triggers the mechanism."
"Then, bang." She clenched her hand into a fist and suddenly opened it. "The mechanism springs open, inflicting maximum damage on the target."
The bolts she'd designed afterward were relatively thin, and Jiang Jin worried the striking power might not be enough, which was why she'd added the mechanism.
She'd spent the last few days going through a lot of reference materials before finally settling on this plan.
The mechanism itself wasn't complicated, and because of its small size, the chance of it being damaged after hitting a target was relatively low. It could also be reused.
However, it placed higher demands on the forging process.
Yun Ci nodded thoughtfully. "That shouldn't be a problem. I'll have people make some prototypes first."
"But..." Yun Ci looked at the blueprint for the crossbow body, hesitating. "The crossbow body itself would need to be modified too. It's essentially starting from scratch."
Jiang Jin said, "Right. This crossbow will be smaller than the Dragon-Plume Crossbow, making it easier to carry."
"Are we still producing the Dragon-Plume Crossbow?" Yun Ci asked.
Jiang Jin nodded. "Yes. Both types of repeating crossbows have their own pros and cons, so we can make both. Besides, this new one's range and other specs may not match the Dragon-Plume Crossbow. Make a few first, and I'll test their power."
Yun Ci nodded, then asked, "Your Excellency, is this one also called the Dragon-Plume Crossbow?"
Jiang Jin smiled and shook her head. "No. This one will be called—the Dragon-Ming Crossbow!"
After Jiang Jin left the weapons workshop, Yun Ye remarked, "Most people would be over the moon just to have one type of repeating crossbow. But our Excellency? She's gone and designed two."
Yun Ci laughed. "Our Excellency is a once-in-a-generation genius. We ordinary folks can hardly compare."
He looked up at Yun Ye and the others. "You all need to work hard too. Study well in the workshop first. Once your Excellency is free, she'll definitely hold classes. Pay close attention then."
"I'm getting old, and I learn things slowly. In the future, it'll be up to you young folks." He sighed.
Yun Ye chuckled. "You're not old. You're still young."
Yun Ci shook his head. "You lot—make sure you master the simplified characters. That's the foundation of everything."
Sizhou.
Ever since Hua Ruo had left, Hua Yuanyi had made his tenth trip to Fengge Xuan to shop.
He really was there to shop—each time he picked out a suitable item and left without lingering.
Chen Xi stepped forward to greet him. "General Hua, you've arrived. What would you like to look at today?"
Hua Yuanyi gave a slight nod and browsed the shelves.
Before long, he picked out a glass bottle.
Chen Xi personally wrapped it for him. "General Hua, this bottle just came in with the new shipment. Once you're home, you can appreciate it in your study at your leisure."
Hua Yuanyi's heart skipped a beat. After all this time, a message was finally on its way?
His expression remained calm. "Very well. Ring it up."
A servant behind him stepped forward to pay the price Chen Xi quoted.
Hua Yuanyi carried the cloth-wrapped glass bottle out of the shop—only to run straight into Qiu Tai.
Qiu Tai's eyes lit up. He hurried forward and bowed. "Greetings, General Hua."
Hua Yuanyi couldn't be bothered with him and walked on, anxious to get home and examine the bottle.
Qiu Tai rarely ran into Hua Yuanyi and wasn't about to let the chance slip. It had been ages since he'd seen Hua Ruo—he missed her and worried about her.
"General, I—I just wanted to ask, is Miss Hua..."
Before he could finish, Hua Yuanyi said to the servant who'd just paid, "Beat him. How dare he harass a lady in public."
Qiu Tai was dumbfounded. "I—I wasn't harassing anyone! I—I just haven't seen Miss Hua in a long time, and I was worried about her—ow!"
Again, his sentence was cut short as the servant charged at him. Fortunately, Qiu Tai had brought two servants of his own, who stepped forward to block the attack.
Qiu Tai stumbled backward in fright. He wasn't wearing armor today, and if he actually got the beating of his life, he figured he'd be laid up for a year.
He couldn't help but grumble inwardly: Why did every member of the Hua family resort to violence? Couldn't they just talk things out?
Then he recalled the two times Hua Ruo had beaten him. Those had been their closest moments of contact—and there was a hint of sweetness in the memory.
Chen Xi was thoroughly exasperated. Should he break up the fight, or should he break up the fight?
Watching the three of them go at it, he decided: forget it. Let them fight.
He quietly slipped back inside the shop, poking only half his head out to watch the proceedings.
Mei Sheng and the shop clerk, hearing the commotion, also rushed to the door and mimicked Chen Xi, peeking around the doorframe.
Hua Yuanyi's servant was no ordinary household servant. He'd trained in martial arts and fought on the battlefield. The two Qiu family servants were no match for him. Against two opponents, he easily held the upper hand.
"General Hua, I really don't mean anything else—I just want to know where Miss Hua went!" Qiu Tai, seeing that his servants were buying time for him, figured he could give it one more try.
Chen Xi was stunned. This Qiu Tai really had a thick head.
Couldn't he see that General Hua's face was black enough to drip ink?
Sure enough, Hua Yuanyi, who had been about to leave, spun around and fixed Qiu Tai with an icy stare.
Qiu Tai, frightened by the murderous look in his eyes, turned and bolted into Fengge Xuan.
Chen Xi tried to cover his face, but it was too late—Qiu Tai had already seen him.
Qiu Tai's eyes lit up. He shouted, "Brother Chen, save me!"
Chen Xi: "..."
Hua Yuanyi let out a cold snort and walked away.
He was a general, after all. Beating up a junior in public? Beneath him.
Soon enough, the Hua family servant had knocked both Qiu family servants flat. He smoothed down his slightly rumpled clothes and snorted, "Hmph. A bunch of weaklings."
With that, he puffed out his chest and strode off.
Qiu Tai pointed at him indignantly. "He—he—is he talking about me?"
"Right?" He turned to Chen Xi.
Chen Xi gave him a reassuring smile. "No. He was talking about your servants."
Qiu Tai relaxed. "Good. I knew it. How could I ever be weak?"
"It must be them who are weak." He looked down at his two servants, who were still lying on the ground, faces swollen.
The servants scrambled up, whimpering, "Boo-hoo, young master."
Qiu Tai waved a hand dismissively. "Alright, alright. Get back and let the physician look at you. Go pick up a string of cash each as a reward."
The servants immediately traded tears for smiles. "Thank you, young master!"
A string of cash was already a year's wages for them. Household servants on indentured contracts earned very little. Most of their income came from their masters' generosity.
Getting beaten up once and earning a full string of cash? For them, it was a great deal. And since the medical hall belonged to their own household, they wouldn't need to pay for the treatment anyway.
Chen Xi smiled. "How is it that Young Master Qiu has the time to drop by today?"
