Since the reform of the imperial examination system, the number of students gathering in front of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion every day has only increased.
However, Mu Zian did not show up, so as not to be accused of forming cliques for personal gain.
After all, right now almost every aristocratic family in Dali hates Mu Zi'an.
Mu Zian also understood the principle that the tallest tree in the forest will be felled by the wind. He had been in the limelight too much in the past few days, which inevitably made him the target of people's resentment.
Inside the study, on the desk in front of Mu Zian lay a detailed blueprint of the Divine Arm Crossbow.
The so-called crossbow is actually a bow with an arm. The crossbow played an indispensable role in the Qin Dynasty's unification of the six kingdoms.
A normal archer could only shoot up to fifty paces, but the Qin crossbow could reach a range of two hundred paces.
The Qin army typically used repeating crossbows for precise strikes before advancing with heavy troops, a tactic that proved consistently successful.
The Divine Arm Crossbow is the pinnacle of crossbow design, with an effective killing range of up to 300 paces.
In the fourth year of the Shaoxing reign of the Southern Song Dynasty, Wanyan Zongbi (Wuzhu), the commander of the Jin army, riding on the momentum of the Battle of Fuping, launched a general offensive with 100,000 troops against the Southern Song soldiers and civilians who were guarding Xianren Pass.
They thought victory was assured, but to their surprise, Wanyan Zongbi's most prized Jin cavalry was riddled with bullets, armor and all, by the Shenbi crossbow.
Even the "Iron Pagoda," which was said to be invincible, was riddled with iron spikes by the Divine Arm Crossbow.
The Southern Song Dynasty's ability to withstand repeated attacks from the Jin Dynasty with its superb crossbows is a testament to their extraordinary capabilities.
Just as Mu Zian was engrossed in his research, the sound of a door opening interrupted his thoughts.
Mu Zian turned his head and saw Xiao Xiuning, dressed in white, standing at the door.
Her ethereal气质 is like that of a fairy who has descended to the mortal world.
For a moment, Mu Zian was stunned.
"Cough cough!"
A soft cough sounded, and Liu Ru stepped out from behind Xiao Xiuning, then looked at Mu Zian with ill intent and said.
"Young master, the Ninth Princess has come to visit."
Seeing this, Mu Zian smiled awkwardly and quickly invited Xiao Xiuning in.
Although the two had already agreed to be engaged, this kind of marriage-first-love-later storyline was something that even Mu Zi'an, who had lived two lifetimes, had never experienced.
Fortunately, Liu Rushi was a well-educated and reasonable woman. After escorting Xiao Xiuning to her room, she turned and left.
Xiao Xiuning's gaze was drawn to the drawings on Mu Zian's desk, and she couldn't help but step forward and ask.
What is this?
Upon hearing this, Mu Zian stepped forward and said.
"Your Highness, this item is called the Divine Arm Crossbow."
Upon hearing the word "princess," a hint of arrogant displeasure flashed across Xiao Xiuning's face.
Mu Zian reacted instantly and called out nervously.
"Xiuning?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Xiuning's cheeks flushed slightly, but her smile remained sweet.
"You've been staying home these past few days researching this?"
Mu Zian nodded and stepped forward to introduce them.
"This divine crossbow has a range of over a hundred paces greater than the best crossbow in the Great Li Kingdom today."
"If two armies are facing off, I can shoot the enemy from a hundred paces away, but the enemy cannot shoot me. I have already gained the upper hand before the battle even begins."
"If all the soldiers of my Great Li were equipped with this crossbow, their combat effectiveness would be greatly enhanced."
As Mu Zian spoke, he gestured on the drawing.
Xiao Xiuning stood to the side with a smile, gazing at Mu Zian with eyes as clear as water.
Although she wasn't interested in military matters, seeing Mu Zian so excited made her happy too.
As the saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and this applies to both men and women.
Mu Zian currently has a grand plan in mind: to build a special forces unit in Dali.
The Great Li Kingdom may seem peaceful and prosperous at present, but in reality, it is surrounded by wolves.
A specially trained special forces unit would be an absolute game-changer in this era.
However, the investment required to build such a groundbreaking special forces unit is enormous.
Relying solely on the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion is certainly not enough, and training a private army could easily arouse the emperor's suspicion.
Therefore, Mu Zi'an set his sights on Xiao Xiuning.
As Xiao Yu's most beloved daughter, Xiao Xiuning is undoubtedly the richest woman in Dali.
With this thought in mind, Mu Zian sighed deeply.
"The Divine Arm Crossbow is excellent, but it is not easy to make. It is a pity that although there are blueprints, there are no craftsmen who can make the Divine Arm Crossbow."
After a moment of contemplation, Xiao Xiuning spoke.
"This matter is simple. We just need to hand this item over to the Ministry of Works. The Ministry of Works gathers the best craftsmen in the world. As long as we have the blueprints, it should not be difficult to create the Divine Arm Crossbow."
“I can speak to the Minister of Works about this myself, and I’m sure he won’t refuse me.”
"As long as the prototype of the Divine Arm Crossbow meets the standards you described, we can report to my father, the Emperor, for mass production, and this credit will be given to you."
Upon hearing this, Mu Zi'an felt a warmth in his heart. He couldn't find a wife as beautiful and kind-hearted as her even with a lantern.
So Mu Zian didn't beat around the bush and spoke directly.
"The Divine Arm Crossbow is just an appetizer; I plan to train a special forces unit for Dali."
"Special forces?"
Xiao Xiuning was puzzled by what she heard, but Mu Zian patiently explained.
"Special forces are military units that carry out special missions."
"For example, going deep into the grasslands to gather intelligence, assassinating enemy leaders, and so on."
“They must be the elite of the elite, even stronger than the elite battalion my father trained, and they must all be cavalry.”
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