Liu Xin looked at Wei Yan. Could not help laughing. Although his figure is tall. But he couldn't hide his childishness on his face. Obviously still a half-old child. But he is still very enterprising. So he said: "Okay. You also clean up. The matters of the fire-head army will be handed over to others. You go to General Xu Chu. Follow him and do things first."
It's the fifth day of the Lunar New Year. The institute began to work. Because the war is imminent. Many weapons must be produced quickly. Liu Xin also brought Xu Huang, Huang Zhong, and Zhao Yun to the institute. Check the production of sling noodles and other equipment. Considering that the army may have to attack some hurdles going north. Coupled with the good performance of the trebuchet in the Jiangzhou battle. Liu Xin was going to Luoyang with five hundred trebuchets.
After the battle of Jiangzhou. The research institute has concentrated a lot of people. Started mass production of trebuchets. right now. Five hundred trebuchets have been produced. After the institute has been debugged. They must be re-disassembled into individual components. Pack it in a wooden box. To facilitate transportation. Then it was reassembled into a catapult on the battlefield.
Although the institute took five days off. But Xiang Lang only took two days off this Spring Festival. He now also belongs to one of the core figures of Liu Xin Group. Know many top secrets. Naturally, Liu Xin's plan to send troops northward in February did not hide it from him. So this Spring Festival. Xiang Lang is also very attentive. Stayed in the academy almost all day.
Liu Xin finished watching the trebuchet. very satisfied. Said: "With these long-range weapons. Soldiers can suffer a lot less damage. It is easier to siege cities and seize pools."
Xiang Lang bowed his hand and said: "Enjoy the lord. According to the lord’s order. Over the past year, the Academy has made a lot of improvements to the bow and crossbow. The latest strong bow is produced. Ordinary archers can enter the elm half arrow after three hundred steps. ."
The effective range of an ordinary bow and arrow is about one hundred and fifty steps. Some strong bows can shoot up to two hundred steps and still have lethality. The compound bow developed by the research institute based on Liu Xin's ideas. The effective range reached two hundred and fifty steps. In the battle of Jiangzhou, he also showed his power. Unexpectedly, the research institute produced a strong bow with a longer range. Liu Xin was surprised. Asked: "Are you sure you were talking about a bow. Not a crossbow."
Xiang Langchao beckoned behind him. He took a bow from a craftsman next to him. Said: "Lord. Look. This is it."
Liu Xin does not know how to use bows and arrows. He glanced slightly. I don’t think this bow looks much different from an ordinary compound bow. So turned back. Asked: "Which one of you will try."
Xu Huang, Zhao Yun, and Huang Zhong behind him are all good bows and arrows. Hearing Xiang Lang's words one by one. I'm already eager to try. If you hear Liu Xin ask. They said in unison: "I'm coming."
Liu Xin glanced at them. Said: "Han Sheng. Come and try."
Huang Zhong stepped forward and took the strong bow. Pinched in his hands. Said: "This bow is lighter."
Xiang Lang smiled and said, "General Huang. This bow is for ordinary soldiers. If it's heavy, I'm afraid they won't be able to pull it away. You will just try it."
On the shooting range. Huang Zhong has both arms. The bow becomes like a full moon. He peeked at the target painted on elm wood three hundred steps away. Yelled: "Hey."
The arrow went like flying. Hit the bullseye. The pruning arrow shaft has penetrated into the elm tree. Only the carved feather of the arrow tail swayed slightly there. The crowd applauded in unison.
Huang Zhong returned the bow to Xiang Lang's hand. Said: "Xiang Yuanzheng. I have something to ask. Can you help me make a nine-stone hard bow like this?"
Xiang Lang hesitated. Said: "It can be done. It just takes a year."
Liu Xin sent troops northward. The few people who came to the institute today are to bring them. He knows Huang Zhong's shots. I really hope that Huang Zhong can have a useful bow. So he asked puzzledly: "It's just a bow. Why does it take so much time. Hurry up. Try to do it this month."
"The lord doesn't know something. Although this bow is similar to an ordinary compound bow. The materials used are all carefully selected. It does take a year to make it." Xiang Lang bowed his hand. Said with the bow pointing to the hand. "Lord, please take a look. The materials used in this bow include six materials: stem, angle, tendons, glue, lacquer, and silk. Each material must be adapted to the weather. In order to make the best bow. In winter, analyze the bow stem. Spring. Treatment of angles. Treatment of tendons in summer. Closing of various materials in autumn. In the cold winter, set the bow arm and the bow box to shape, and repair the appearance in the extreme cold. The quality of the bow is the best. It takes more than a year. Even so. The bow made is not the best. You still need to install the bowstring in the spring of the next year. Put it in the cellar for a year. Only then can it be called a good bow."
Liu Xin was dumbfounded. It turned out to be so complicated to make a good bow. Can’t help but sigh with emotion: “That’s the calculation. It takes more than two years for a bow before and after. However. A good bow on the battlefield may be able to bring the atmosphere of the battle. It saves many soldiers’ lives. No matter how much time it takes to build a good bow. Not only do you have to help Han Sheng build a hard bow. You also have to produce this kind of strong bow in large quantities. All other bows can be stopped."
Xiang Lang hesitated: "The bow produced in this way is not only time-consuming. It is also expensive..."
Liu Xin categorically said: "It's worth all the money. The range is increased by a hundred steps. At least you can shoot two more arrows than the enemy. You can kill more enemies. Save yourself. Nothing is more precious than the life of a soldier."
Huang Zhong thought this bow was too light. Now I heard that it will take two years to make another one. Quickly said: "Why don't you give me this bow first."
Xu Huang and Zhao Yun also said in unison: "Xiang Yuanzheng. How many of you can't hide it. You have to get us one too."
Liu Xin glanced at Xiang Lang's bow. Asked: "Juda. The research institute has produced a few of them now."
Xiang Lang leaned back and said, "There are only six trial-produced. They are all samples."
Liu Xin waved a big hand. Said: "Give them one for each. You keep one for a sample. I will take the other two with me."
Xu Huang and others heard this. There was joy on his face.
Xiang Lang ordered the craftsmen to get the bow. And ask Xu Huang to give them a try. See how many stone hard bows they need to order. Faced with Liu Xin, he said: "The stance that the lord said. This is the case. Although the range is long, it takes a long time to launch. And the parts are easily damaged. However, according to the lord’s instructions, the production of the parts has been standardized. It can be replaced and repaired at any time. This is not a problem. As for the crossbow cart, his subordinates found a copy of "Mozi" from Mr. Cai. There is a record on it. It is mainly a kind of city defense equipment. The specific craftsmanship has been lost for many years. Subordinates are organizing craftsmen to conduct research."
Liu Xin nodded. Said: "A sophisticated weapon. It may be able to save a soldier's life on the battlefield. It must not be underestimated. I must hurry up to produce the crossbow. This time I will bring three thousand to the north."
Returned from the academy. Liu Xin's confidence is even stronger. Five hundred trebuchets. Three thousand stepped crossbows. They are all remote weapons. Even if you attack the pass, you won't lose the wind.
The city of Lujiang is full of chaos. Yuzhang's army has also been transferred in half. Plus Lujiang's own forces. Sun Jian has gathered nearly 30,000 horses. Of course. He couldn't take all so many people to Luoyang. He is going to leave 10,000 people to guard Lujiang. To the north of the Lujiang River is Yuan Shu of Runan. To the west is Liu Xin from Jingzhou. These people are all armed. Sun Jian is not at ease about his lair. He specially ordered someone to send his family to Yuzhang County to the south. Although the defense there is weaker. But the transportation is inconvenient. There are no strong forces around.
Sun Jian now lacks food and grass the most. He wanted to borrow from Jingzhou. It is to value Jingzhou's roads extending in all directions. You can save time on the march. Naturally, it consumes less food and grass. He didn't know what Liu Xin was like. More of it is the hearsay in those years in Beijing. But his Lujiang River is close to Jingzhou after all. I also know that Jingzhou is relatively wealthy. In addition, in recent years, Jingzhou has been very generous in paying taxes to the court. Then I started to borrow grain from Jingzhou. and. He is ready. If Liu Xin doesn't borrow it. He just grabbed it. Anyway, the court is now in name only. He has no worries.
The messenger returned from Xiangyang. Liu Xin really didn't agree to lend him grain. Even the Tao refused to borrow. Sun Jian couldn't help being furious. Said: "The army will leave today. Go straight to Jiangxia. Take the Jiangxia Mansion Library. Then turn to the north."
Cheng Pu persuaded: "Lord. Liu Xin has many good soldiers and strong generals. At the beginning of the year, he sent troops to search for Ba County and Zhangke County. Both are easy to do. Yizhou Mu Liu Yan still dare not say anything. If our army robs Jiang Xia The treasury. The two sides will inevitably be in conflict. When my army goes north to defeat Dong Zhuo. Liu Xin must take the opportunity to take my Lujiang to avenge this revenge. The lord must not be careless."
Sun Jian pondered: "I also know that it is not time to fight Liu Xin. But I can't swallow this bad breath."
Huang Gai offered a plan: "My lord. I can lead the army across Jiangxia. I try not to disturb other counties and counties. If he doesn't send troops to stop him. If he dares to block the passage of my army, our army will take the opportunity to take Jiangxia. The teacher is well-known."
Sun Jian turned to look at Han Dang and Zu Mao. Asked: "What do you two think."
Han Dang and Zu Mao are brave generations. Together they folded their hands and said: "Since ancient times, soldiers have come to block it. Water has come to cover it. I am afraid that he will do anything. This Jingzhou road is not his Liu Xin's own. We have nothing to go."
Cheng Pu wanted to persuade again. Sun Jian has already slapped his thigh. Exclaimed: "Okay. All the generals will prepare separately. The Japanese soldiers will send Jiang Xia."
Since Liu Xin implemented the new taxation policy in Jingzhou. Farmers' enthusiasm for farming is high. In previous years, it was the first month. Most of the farmers are still at home. Too lazy to go to the ground. But now it's different. In order to have a good harvest. A few days after the New Year. Many farmers began to get busy. Repair the ditches. Prepare fertilizer and seeds. More diligent ones. There are also a few pigs in the family. A few chickens. Even the New Year is not idle.
When Sun Jian took the troops and set off from Lujiang. There are still few people in the field. Once entering Jiangxia. There are more busy people in the fields. These people saw Sun Jian's people. Abandoning the work in his hand, he ran back. Sun Jian knew that these people were ordinary people. It's not easy to catch them. Forgive them for not going to report to local officials. Let them escape.
who knows. The first thing after these people fled back. It is the report of the situation that will be seen. quickly. Zhang Yun and Dianwei received news of Sun Jian's army invasion. He immediately fired up the horses and horses and went straight here.