The northern desert, the royal court.
Amidst the raging snowstorm, a knight covered in blood came galloping in: "Disaster! The Right Wise King has fallen in battle!"
Crimson Cloud Wolf suddenly stood up, a look of shock flashing in his eyes.
An uproar immediately erupted inside the royal tent.
Ulan was his most capable general. Three years ago, he was able to quell the internal strife and seize the position of Chanyu, all thanks to the help of this close friend.
But now we've suffered such a huge loss on the border of Qin?
"What happened?" he asked in a deep voice.
The fleeing guard knelt on the ground, his voice trembling: "The Qin army has a new weapon that can fire more than ten arrows at once. Our 30,000 iron cavalry were utterly defeated by their 5,000 men. Right Wise King..."
He choked back tears as he said, "The Right Wise King was struck by three arrows and died on the spot. I watched him fall with my own eyes..."
Chi Yunlang's face turned ashen. He knew Ulan's abilities all too well; for such a warrior to die, the Qin army had truly unleashed its trump card this time.
"Your Majesty," an advisor stepped forward and said, "we were careless this time. The Qin people have always been adept at manufacturing new weapons; we shouldn't have attacked rashly without understanding the situation."
"Hmph!" Crimson Cloud Wolf slammed his fist on the armrest of the throne. "Ulan was careless. Who would have thought the Qin army could be so powerful in this weather! Send the order down immediately to find out the details of this new weapon."
"yes!"
Over the next few days, spies from all directions kept sending back messages.
"The Right Wise King's forces suffered heavy losses; 15,000 men were either killed in battle or captured, with less than half escaping back."
"The Qin army's new weapon was called 'One Nest Bee,' shaped like a crossbow but capable of firing in rapid succession, and easy to carry; one person could operate it."
"I've heard this is a new divine weapon crafted by the Mohist school, specifically designed to counter our steppe cavalry..."
Hearing this news, Crimson Cloud Wolf became even more silent.
Three years ago, taking advantage of the chaos following the Qin army's killing of the Xiongnu Han general, he seized the position of Chanyu in one fell swoop.
Over the years, he has been secretly accumulating strength, waiting for the day when he can restore the grassland to its former glory.
Unexpectedly, the Qin people progressed so quickly that they developed such a terrifying weapon in just a few years.
"Your Majesty," the old strategist advised, "it is not advisable to engage in a direct conflict with Qin at this time. We have just quelled an internal rebellion and need time to recuperate. It would be better to feign weakness for now and wait until we find a way to deal with the 'rush'."
A cold glint flashed in the eyes of the Crimson Cloud Wolf.
He certainly understands this principle.
But Ulan's death was a huge blow to him.
This sworn brother, who had fought alongside him to conquer half the grasslands, had now met a tragic end at the hands of the Qin army.
"Pass down the order," he said through gritted teeth. "From today onward, all tribal warriors must intensify their training. Especially the shield formation; they must be trained to withstand a dense hail of arrows."
"Furthermore..." he looked at his advisor, "send someone to contact the various states of the Western Regions. Doesn't the Qin have new weapons? Then we should find some helpers too."
"Your Majesty is wise!" the crowd exclaimed in unison.
This victory of the Qin army not only wiped out an elite force of the Xiongnu, but more importantly, it crushed their arrogance.
But Red Cloud Wolf was clearly not going to give up.
Meanwhile, in Jiuyuan County.
Meng Tian is inspecting the border defenses.
Since the last great victory, the Xiongnu have never dared to invade again.
But he knew this calm wouldn't last long.
"General," a scout reported, "we've spotted the Xiongnu gathering in the northern desert. They seem to be practicing a new formation, specifically designed to counter our 'swarm' attack."
"Heh." Meng Tian sneered, "This Crimson Cloud Wolf does have some skill. However, even if they know the power of the 'Swarm of Bees,' they might not be able to find a way to deal with it. Pass down the order to continue training; make sure every soldier is proficient in using this divine weapon."
The snowstorm on the grassland gradually subsided, but a new storm was brewing.
Having suffered a great loss, the Xiongnu would surely try every means to get revenge.
But with the "swarm of bees" as their trump card, the Qin army was not afraid of them causing trouble.
This is just the beginning of a real contest!
Just then, another scout rushed in: "Reporting, General! We've spotted traces of the Xiongnu to the west. They seem to be testing a special kind of large shield, made of layers of cowhide and wooden planks."
"Interesting." Meng Tian said thoughtfully, "It seems they're trying to find a way to resist a 'rush'. However..."
He sneered, "Even the thickest shield can't withstand the impact of eighteen arrows! Send the order down to the craftsmen to forge more barbed arrowheads. These barbarians like to play tricks, don't they? Let them see what real pain is!"
Meanwhile, in Yunzhong County.
Wang Li is inspecting the newly built arrow box workshop. Here, arrow boxes are being produced day and night in droves to provide a continuous supply for the border troops.
"General," a craftsman stepped forward and said, "We have improved the structure of the arrow casket according to the design of the Mohist master. It is now easier to replace the arrows, and it is less prone to jamming."
Wang Li picked up an arrow box and examined it closely. The craftsmen were indeed skilled; every part was polished with extreme precision. No wonder the soldiers at the front said that this new weapon was easy to use.
"Good!" He nodded in satisfaction. "Keep production going. Remember, it's better to be slower but ensure quality. The battlefield is no joke!"
Just then, a messenger rushed in: "Reporting to the General! The Xiongnu have been making frequent moves lately. They keep sending out small groups of cavalry to probe our defenses, seemingly testing our defensive arrangements."
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