[Sorry, I forgot to upload it after writing it yesterday... Here's a big update today!]
In the southern suburbs of Xianyang, there is a workshop for Mo family craftsmen.
"Grand Commandant, what do you think of this?" Xiangli He pointed to a huge crossbow. "We've reduced its weight by half, as you requested."
The wicked man carefully examined the new weapon.
This was a "swarm of bees" he designed based on his memories from the future, but it still looks too bulky and is completely different from what he imagined.
"No," he shook his head. "I need a weapon that can be operated by a single person; this one is still too big."
"But Grand Commandant," Zizhen said hesitantly, "to fire eighteen arrows at once, the mechanism has to be this large..."
"Who said that?" the wicked man sneered. "Think about it, why do you have to line up all the arrows in one row? What if you changed them to two or even three rows?"
The two Mohist masters' eyes lit up.
Indeed, if the arrangement of the arrows is changed, the entire structure can be greatly reduced in size.
"However..." Xiangli He frowned, "This makes the mechanism more complex. The recoil force during launch will also be greater."
"That's why we need your mechanical skills!" The wicked man paced around the workshop. "I remember you have a special shock-absorbing structure, right? It's perfect for this!"
The Mohists' research seems to have no end. Recently, they have come up with many good things, and even springs have been developed.
However, its effectiveness and stress resistance did not reach the level of later generations, but it was still very impressive!
Zizhen's eyes lit up: "The Grand Commandant is right! Using that newly developed multi-layered spring to absorb the impact would indeed be feasible. However, there's the issue of reloading..."
"Reloading?" the wicked man chuckled. "I've already thought of that. You see..."
He picked up a pen and quickly sketched on the drawing: "Make the quiver detachable. Soldiers can prepare several quivers full of arrows in advance and simply switch them during battle. This will not only save reloading time but also make logistical support more convenient."
"Brilliant!" Xianglihe nodded repeatedly. "This will indeed greatly improve combat efficiency. However, the structure of this quiver..."
"Isn't your Mohist school the most skilled in mechanical arts?" the wicked man said. "Design me a simple and reliable latching mechanism. Remember, the simpler the better! There's no time for complicated mechanisms on the battlefield."
The two masters of the Mohist school immediately began to work on improvements.
They first changed the arrangement of the arrows, dividing the eighteen arrows into three rows. This immediately shortened the length of the crossbow by two-thirds.
Next is the shock-absorbing structure.
Xianglihe designed a special spring assembly that cleverly mitigates the recoil during launch, so that even if a person supports the launcher, they will not feel too much impact.
The most crucial element is the arrow casket structure.
Zizhen deliberated repeatedly and finally designed an extremely simple buckle.
The replacement can be completed with a simple push or pull. However, it is extremely secure during launch, with no risk of loosening.
"Grand Commandant, please look!" A week later, the two Mohist masters excitedly displayed their new work. "This time, it weighs only one-third of the original, but its power is undiminished!"
The wicked man carefully examined the new weapon. It was small in size and could be lifted with one hand.
The most ingenious part is the arrow box; it's incredibly easy to load and unload.
"Give it a try!" he said impatiently.
Xianglihe immediately got to work.
He pressed the trigger, and a series of "whoosh" sounds rang out. Eighteen crossbow bolts were unleashed in an instant, riddling the distant target with holes.
What's even more impressive is that he immediately removed the empty quiver and replaced it with a new one. The whole process was seamless and took less than three breaths.
"Excellent!" the wicked man exclaimed joyfully. "That's the effect! How's the range?"
"Reporting to the Grand Commandant," Zizhen said, "the smaller size has indeed affected the range somewhat. However, we've improved the spring mechanism, and now it can still reach 350 paces. Moreover, the accuracy is even higher than before!"
The wicked man nodded; this range was sufficient.
Most importantly, portability and operability have been greatly improved.
"His Majesty will be very happy when he finds out," Zhang Erhe said from the side.
"Oh, right!" the wicked man suddenly remembered something, "Has the arrow problem been resolved?"
"Don't worry about that," Xianglihe said. "We've specially made a batch of arrows. They have sandalwood shafts and fine steel arrowheads. And..."
He smiled mysteriously: "There are two barbs added to the arrowhead. Once it hits the enemy, pulling it out won't be so easy!"
"Well done!" The wicked man nodded in satisfaction. "This is a truly usable weapon. Someone, go and fetch the Minister of the Imperial Household! I, the Grand Commandant, need to discuss mass production with him."
Soon, the head steward of the Imperial Household Department arrived.
After watching the demonstration, he was full of praise: "If this could be equipped in the military, combat effectiveness would definitely increase greatly!"
"So..." the wicked man seized the opportunity, "I'll leave this matter to the Imperial Household Department. This Grand Commandant hopes to equip at least a thousand of these divine weapons by next spring!"
"A thousand bodies?" The steward of the imperial household gasped. "That cost..."
"You don't need to worry about the cost," the wicked man said. "His Majesty said that as long as it improves combat strength, money is not an issue!"
And so, mass production began immediately.
The Mohist artisans worked at full capacity, day and night, to finish the work.
Every part must be strictly inspected, and every crossbow mechanism must be repeatedly tested.
The wicked man came to the workshop almost every day to supervise the production.
He knew the importance of this weapon—it could not only greatly enhance the army's combat power, but also serve as a symbol of Qin's technological strength.
"Grand Commandant," Xiang Lihe suddenly asked one day, "what do you think this weapon should be called? We can't keep calling it 'New Repeating Crossbow', can we?"
The wicked man thought for a moment, then laughed and said, "Let's call it 'A Swarm of Bees'! Look at how densely packed the arrows are when it fires—doesn't it just look like a swarm of bees?"
Everyone laughed.
The name is indeed fitting, catchy, and easy to remember.
Three months later, the first batch of "rushed production" was finally completed.
Each one is meticulously crafted, not only compact in size but also easy to use.
Most importantly, the replaceable quiver greatly improves its efficiency in actual combat.
"Pass down the order," the wicked man said to Zhang Erhe, "Training will begin tomorrow. Select a group of elite soldiers to specifically learn how to use this new weapon."
He couldn't wait to see this divine weapon shine on the battlefield. With "A Swarm of Bees," the Qin army would be even more invincible!
As the sun sets, the workshop remains bustling with activity. Rows of brand-new "swarms of bees" stand in neat rows, gleaming coldly in the afterglow of the setting sun.
The wicked man stroked the weapons with satisfaction. In this era, whoever mastered advanced technology would dominate the battlefield. And the Great Qin would surely become even stronger because of this divine weapon!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
