"Huh!" Lorist pulled the reins, and Xiongjun's rider stood up, kicked his two bowl-sized horse hooves into the air twice, and then landed heavily on the slippery grass.
"Let's camp on the hillside ahead, and we will arrive at Baron Shaheen's riverside camp tomorrow afternoon."
Today is October 30th. Baron Shaheen sent a letter a few days ago, saying that the flat boat has basically been manufactured, and Ovekis has also arrived at the lower reaches of the Midoburo River with the Thunderbolt Sling Battalion and a Guards Battalion. Everything was ready for the camp by the river, and he asked Lorist if he wanted to go, otherwise he and Ovikis would smash the walls of the arrow towers on the opposite bank.
Go, of course, it just so happened that Lorist also wanted to transport a batch of life jackets to the Thunderbolt Slinger Camp. Anyway, this time he was fighting on a boat. Losing a few is also a casualty accident, so preventive measures should be taken early.
Another reason is that Lorist wants to avoid the turmoil and noise in the family during this period. The root of all this is that Lorist placed a big order to let Master Sid and Falin be responsible for the refining of black iron. The base and crossbow manufacturing base produced 50,000 steel crossbows for the newly formed cavalry corps, and the manufacturing cost of one steel crossbow reached 38 goldfords...
No one thought that the cost of a steel crossbow would be so expensive. You must know that the manufacturing cost of a steel crossbow for a chariot is only thirty-five Gold Fords. The manufacturing cost also exceeded the steel crossbow of the chariot. Fatty Shi, who was present at the time, was the first to shake his head in objection. Immediately after hearing the news, Chief Spell and Camorra also came and expressed their objections unanimously.
After two days of quarreling over a steel crossbow, Lorist made such a big order against all opinions, making 50,000 steel crossbows as the standard long-range weapon of the Chaser Legion, which made the Chaser Legion originally 500,000. Wan's long-range weapon procurement budget was overrun by nearly two million at once, which caused Fatty Shi, Manager Speer and others to show Lorist a bad look these days.
There is no way, the crossbow is expensive to manufacture, but what is even more expensive is the special crossbow bolts it is equipped with. Twenty crossbow bolts cost one Gold Ford, and one crossbow bolt is equivalent to a large silver coin. Fatty Shi's main objection was that the manufacturing cost of the steel crossbow was expensive and affordable, but the problem was that what it fired were not crossbow arrows, but large silver coins!
A hunting cavalry regiment has 60,000 people, four regiments have 20 battalions, and a battalion has 3,000 people. Excluding a chariot steel crossbow battalion and those logistics supplies, grooms and cooks, there are at least 40,000 combatants, each with a cross For a steel crossbow, firing one round is equivalent to shooting two thousand gold points. Is this a battle or a waste of money? A suitable chasseur needs continuous training to master the weapons in his hands, and these special crossbows cannot be recovered, firing them once means they are scrapped and need to be reforged, so when Fatty Shi sums up the cost of crossbows spent on training has to be Thirty to fifty gold dollars for one person, which is not bad, on the spot he opposed the Chaser Legion equipped with crossbows.
In fact, after placing this big order, Lorist always felt that he had distorted the technology tree. Unexpectedly, Master Sid and Master Falin had no experience in researching dwarf muskets in the past two years, but made breakthroughs in bows and crossbows. The crossbow is actually a crossbow gun, and its power has surpassed the old-fashioned smoothbore gun.
The crossbow is different from the longbow. The longbow shoots directly at 100 meters and throws it at 300 meters. This is recognized by the Galintia continent. However, after studying the matter, Sid believes that the best direct shooting power of the longbow is only sixty to seventy meters. Within this distance, the archer has only half the possibility of aiming at the target to be shot, and the target is still stationary. Think about the direct shooting distance of 100 meters, the target is only as big as a soybean, and the archer can only aim and shoot based on rough estimates, and it depends on luck to shoot accurately. Of course, it is not ruled out that there is a perverted sharpshooter like Jost who can hit every shot within a hundred meters.
The continent of Galintia is a world of vindictiveness. Longbowmen can even combine vindictiveness with longbows to increase the power of bows and arrows. Silver-ranked archers can attach vindictiveness to bows and arrows, and an arrow can penetrate gold and stone. The bow is recognized as the number one ranged weapon. The crossbow relies on mechanical energy, it is slow to wind, has a short range, and its main disadvantage is that it cannot be combined with fighting energy. But a longbowman needs at least two years of training to be qualified, while a crossbowman only needs three months of training to become a marksman, because easy aiming and accurate shooting are the biggest advantages of crossbows.
The steel crossbow designed by masters Sid and Falin surpassed the longbow in some respects. The steel and wood structure is like a dwarf musket and can be shot against the shoulder. Pulling a steel rod on the right side of the crossbow body can open the string, load the crossbow arrows, aim and fire again. Although it was not as fast as a well-trained longbowman, it was several times faster than an old-fashioned crossbow.
The direct shooting distance of 70 to 80 meters is the biggest advantage of this steel crossbow. Master Sid swears that in a duel between a longbowman and a crossbow shooter within this distance, the longbowman will definitely fail. Because the aiming of longbowmen can only be estimated by experience, but crossbow shooters can easily catch the target through the sight.
In addition, although the steel crossbow cannot be thrown at a distance of 300 meters like the longbow, Master Sid has also designed an ultra-long-range shooting. This is a combination of the advantages of the steel crossbow of the chariot. There is also a scale on the crossbow, so that the fired crossbow can reach the target with an arc, and it can cover the target at a distance of 150 meters. .
The arrows of the crossbow are also specially made. The diamond-shaped arrows have armor-piercing properties, and the arrow shaft is also semi-hollow made of steel. This is also the main reason why it cannot be recovered after launch. Once the tail fin is damaged, the crossbow will be scrapped.
Lorist recalled the scene when Yuri held the steel crossbow and couldn't put it down that day. He remembered that Yuri said at that time: "My lord, equip the Chaser Legion with this crossbow. I guarantee that the Chaser Legion will have it in three months." Crushing the fighting power of the Ranger Legion of the Fesabrunn family."
Perhaps it was this sentence that moved Lorist, and he insisted on making this big order despite Fatty Shi's firm opposition. Now that he thinks about it, Lorist feels a little regretful. Fatty Shi's objection is actually very reasonable. He asked Master Sid to Master and Falin improved the steel crossbow to reduce the cost to less than 20 gold fords, and improved the crossbow bolts, as long as the cost of one jinford for 100 crossbow bolts is enough.
Master Kexid and Falin said that it is possible to improve the crossbow and crossbow bolts, but it will take time, at least two years. At that time, Lorist was focused on making the Chasseur Legion form a fighting force as soon as possible. In addition, relying on his wealth and wealth, he said to manufacture 50,000 steel crossbows first, and replace the extra ones. Fatty Shi was so angry that he walked away.
Schward had already set up a big tent and laid out a simple marching bed for Lorist. Lorist walked over and lay down on the bunk to watch Schward busy boiling water to make tea for himself.
"Schward, let me ask you, was the order I made to manufacture 50,000 steel crossbows a few days ago a little too hasty?"
Schwader was stunned for a moment: "My lord, I can't say..."
"It's okay, tell me your opinion. As an outsider, you may be more sober than us."
"How should I put it, my lord, I feel that you are too impatient. During this period of time, I found that you seem to be impatient, and you seem to want to get the equipment of the Chaser Legion in one step, and you have already regarded the Feisabrun family as a It's like an enemy of our Norton family. This seems very contradictory." Schwader thought for a while and said.
"Conflict? Why do you feel this way." Lorist sat up.
Schwader frowned and said: "My lord, if you confirm that the Feisabrun family will become our enemy immediately, then you should suspend the arms deal with the Feisabrun family. The transaction will not be completed until the end of next year. During this period of time, it is impossible for the Feisabrun family to turn against our family. We have only delivered one-third of the armaments so far. If you think that the Feisabrun family will become enemies This deal should be aborted, it should be more effective than your formation of chasseurs to deal with them.
Also, the objections of Knight Shredder, Manager Speer, and Manager Camorra are also very reasonable. In fact, we do not lack time, and there is no need to place such a large order so early. In my opinion, the crossbow is not as perfect as imagined. Its steel wire strings and special steel arms need to be replaced frequently, which not only increases the cost but also increases the difficulty of operation.
Moreover, Master Sid and Master Falin also said that this steel crossbow has just been designed and trial-produced, and it needs to be continuously improved through experiments. At that time, when you placed an order for 50,000 steel crossbows, Master Sid and Falin The faces of the masters are all pale, and I suspect that they will not be able to carry out mass production at all. It was only when you said that you would let the family have this kind of long-range shooting weapon at all costs, that they didn't dare to raise objections.
There is also the special crossbow. It is said that the tail fins were inlaid by hand. The hundred crossbows brought this time were forged one by one. Think about it, my lord, if you have 50,000 steel crossbows and 20 bolts for each, you will need 1 million of them. It will be impossible to complete it within a year until it is handcrafted.
What Knight Shredder said made sense. With so many crossbows and cavalry bows in the family arsenal, they can be equipped with the hunting cavalry army first. Their standard steel wire mail armor is much better than the standard equipment of the ranger cavalry of the Feisabron family. If the defense is stronger, then equipping the same weapon will have the upper hand. There is no need to equip such an expensive weapon as the crossbow. Otherwise, my lord, what you formed is not a hunting cavalry army but a gold coin army. "
Lorist laughed loudly: "You're right, I'm too anxious about this matter. Bring me a blank piece of paper, and I'll give Knight Shredder an order to be in charge of the improvement and procurement of the crossbow , cancel the big order I made. I would like to express my apologies and thanks to him, Manager Speer and Manager Camorra. It is my lack of thoughtfulness that has caused everyone more trouble.
In addition, Master Sid and Falin will each be rewarded with a thousand gold merits. This is a reward for designing and manufacturing the crossbow. At the same time, I hope that they will improve the crossbow and reach the goal of mass production and family purchase as soon as possible. Target.
Also, I will write a letter to Josk and Yuri, two knights, explaining why the family is still unable to equip them with crossbows. Please forgive me for canceling the order for crossbows. I hope they can use the family's arsenal. The crossbows and these equipments provide strict training for the soldiers of the Chasseur Cavalry Corps and form combat effectiveness as soon as possible. "
"Yes, my lord, I'll prepare it for you right away." Schwader said.
Because it was a temporary camp and there were no tables and chairs, Lorist finally wrote these two letters on a saddle that had been removed.
"Shward, you are growing up very fast. It seems that in two years after you are promoted to the silver rank, I can send you down to the legion for training. Do you want to become the commander of a battalion?" Lorist wrote in a letter I asked Schwader.
"No, senior brother Reddy said that when I am promoted to the silver rank, I can learn Danhai Yinqi like him."
"Oh, you also want to learn Danhai Yinqi?"
"Yes, teacher, I am your student. Naturally, I have to follow your practice method of the oriental monks and master the inner strength. Brother Reddy said that what he is happiest is mastering the inner strength. Those swordsmen and knights of the golden rank are effortless." Schwader said enviously.
"Uh, well, since you like it, I'll teach you the cultivation method of an oriental monk when you're promoted to Silver."
After deciding to hand over the crossbow affairs to Fatty Shi, Lorist finally let go of this concern, handed the written order and letter to the guard messenger, and took a nap, waiting for Schward to wake him up for dinner. The sky was already full of stars, and the sound of rumbling wheels came from afar. Not long after, Earl Kenmes complained: "Why did you run so fast, I chased him for three hours, the road is so bad, my ass is numb..."
"Who told you to take a horse-drawn carriage? There are small roads to the lower reaches of the Midobro River, not a road for horse-drawn carriages. Originally, I could still drive for another two hours, and I camped so early just to wait for you. "Lorist complained.
Earl Kenmes sat down beside Lorist, took Lorist's gold cup and gulped down a large glass of ale, and then naturally ordered Schwader to serve him a baked cup. Mutton: "Okay, I will ride a horse tomorrow. Who would have thought that there is no road leading to a carriage. Riding a carriage is really a pain. But your ale is good. You still need to drink ale to quench your thirst after such a long journey."
"Can your family army reach the riverside today?" Lorist asked.
"Don't worry, they set off ten days earlier, and they should have reached it even if they climbed. We hurriedly walked the trail for three days, and if they couldn't make it along the main road in ten days, I would have to march. Our family doesn't want to raise a legion of waste. .” Earl Kenmes replied in the affirmative.
"Well, this time it's your family army and Henned's family army playing the leading roles. The momentum of nearly 100,000 people should make the Principality of Madras on the other side feel like a big enemy, and mobilize a large number of troops to confront you. Anyway, as long as you Just build enough momentum, don't go to war with them lightly, so as not to lose troops. Just let Ovekis' Thunderbolt Slingers smash all the way through." Lorist urged.
"Well, I understand. We will hang on to them. The decisive battle will be in the spring of next year. We all know it well." Earl Kenmes nodded.
…