Often, the simpler the intention, the more touching it is. Wei Yao and Wang Zebang only knew that a group of people had come with their wife, but they never bothered to find out what kind of people were following her.
Sure enough, those who could follow the lady were naturally people with the same kind and honest nature as her, and a heart of gold.
Yuwen Sheng nodded, indicating that he understood what Zheng Quchi meant. He said, "Since they are trustworthy people, why don't you tell me more about the special features of this crossbow?"
In fact, the craftsmen themselves were not quite aware of this, since these weapons were jointly developed by Engineer Zheng and the Military Equipment Bureau. They were only assisting in the later assembly of the equipment and did not participate in the construction.
The two craftsmen looked at each other, unsure of what to say, and could only turn their gaze to Zheng Quchi.
Zheng Quchi didn't try to hide it like a secret; she knew they were all curious about the difference between the "crossbow" and the "multi-bow crossbow."
"The ballista does not use ordinary spears or arrows, but stone projectiles and cannonballs. Therefore, its firing device is different. Its firing frequency, that is, the time difference between firing a cannonball and reloading the magazine, is small, which is ten to dozens of times faster than the reloading of all other heavy machinery."
She made a gesture, pretending to hold a stone bullet in her hand, and then "throw" it into the ballista's loader. She then activated the torsion spring and signaled the crossbow arm to drive the bowstring to launch the bullet. The entire demonstration was done in the shape of the ballista.
"It can achieve rapid loading and firing, continuous and relentless killing like locusts on the move."
That sounds... really impressive.
Those who didn't quite understand only grasped the key words and phrases, their understanding only superficial. But those who did understand were dumbfounded and full of surprise.
"Engineer Zheng, what is the power principle of the crossbow? Given its range and rapid firing speed, it must require a strong force to propel it. With the technology currently available to various countries, it is not yet capable of rapid preparation for war. This process must require a large number of people to turn the winch. How is this done?"
"That's right. The triple-bow ballista created by the Kingdom of Julu caused a sensation among the seven kingdoms. The ballista they designed replaced the giant crossbow and the single-soldier crossbow. Ordinary crossbow bolts could hardly penetrate well-made shields and armor, but the triple-bow ballista could cause even more terrifying damage. Could our crossbows be even better?"
The craftsmen from the other warehouses had already rushed over upon hearing the news, and the laborers also gathered around curiously. In the past, they rarely had the opportunity to receive guidance from Master Zheng, but now that the opportunity was rare, they couldn't help but want to come and learn from his "expertise".
"How do cannonballs and stones compare to the propulsion of a spear? Why did Zheng Gong abandon the indestructible spear and choose a blunt object for launching?"
Zheng Quchi never expected that her simple invitation to Yuwen Sheng to share her recent research findings would turn into a large-scale lecture.
But since they were so eager to learn, she didn't hesitate to explain everything to them.
"Besides these, what else would you like to know?"
She looked around at everyone in the warehouse with a gentle smile and an extremely patient demeanor.
"We all want to know, what are the differences between the crossbows built by Zheng Gong and the triple-bow crossbows made by Julu Kingdom? Which one is more powerful?"
Other laymen wouldn't understand either, but Wang Zebang and Wei Yao also had the same question in their hearts at this moment.
When Zheng Quchi saw that the clamor had gradually subsided and everyone was no longer eagerly asking questions, but instead calmly waiting for her reply, she finally spoke.
"Simply put, the firing force generated by the deformation of the traditional crossbow arm is simply insufficient to propel the spear at the required speed and distance. This is why the ballista was developed. However, the ballista still cannot be controlled at will. Not only does it require a cumbersome winch to charge the power before firing, but it also cannot provide the ballista with a flexible sense of direction and elevation..."
"And so, the crossbow appeared."
At this point, Zheng Quchi mentioned a few points: first, the ballista had a long charging time; second, it was not flexible enough, and the control and adjustment of direction were not sufficient.
"So, Zheng's crossbow improved upon these shortcomings?" someone asked.
Zheng Quchi nodded and pointed at the crossbow: "That's right. I installed a torsion spring assembly at the front end of the main beam. This spring technology is now mature and will soon be promoted to various crafts in Ye Kingdom. It is the power device that drives the projectile."
"Look, is there a long dovetail groove on the side of the crossbeam? This is a long guide rail. The slider in the groove can slide back and forth. Behind it is a sophisticated firing mechanism that can easily lock and release the bowstring. By simply pulling the handle, the slider can be moved by dragging the rope. When the firing mechanism locks the bowstring and pulls it back, the weapon is ready to fire. In addition, the circular spike wheel can easily adjust the projectile force and perfectly lock the range."
She bent down, and everyone's eyes followed her every move.
"It also has a freely rotating base, which allows you to adjust the launch direction at will."
"Another point you are most concerned about is whether the improvement of the ballista can surpass the ballista of Julu Kingdom. I think the two are completely incomparable."
"As for why the device used stone projectiles and cannonballs..."
"It's much clearer to see it with your own eyes than to explain it. You'll find out in tomorrow's drill. Let's put the rest of the questions aside for now. Everyone, hurry up and finish what you're doing. We'll discuss it again when we return from the big battle."
She probably only gave a rough outline; it wasn't that she was holding back, but rather that with the war imminent, it was natural to prioritize important matters.
Everyone listened with great interest, and although the abrupt ending left them wanting more, it at least temporarily satisfied their cravings.
"Yes, I will follow Engineer Zheng's arrangements."
This time, Zheng Quchi spoke in public not only to follow the trend, but also because she didn't want them to make wild guesses, because they were worried about the upcoming war and would miss important matters.
Since everything will be made public soon anyway, it's better to reassure them in advance, which will also reassure the entire army.
—The Kingdom of Ye is no longer the "down-and-out" it once was. It is striving to rise again. It just needs time. In the future, it will definitely be no worse than any other country. She wanted to convey this kind of confidence to them.
In a way, Yuwen Sheng and she were in sync; he took the initiative to ask her to "reveal" the secret to everyone.
Now, it seems that the matter of "crossbows" will soon become a hot topic among the Ye army.
After leaving the fire warehouse, Zheng Quchi led them to visit the other warehouses containing metal, wood, water, and earth. Among them were large cleavers that she had specially improved, which were hard and powerful enough to cleave a horse's leg in one stroke. There were also crossbows that she had created, which could fire ten arrows in a row. She had improved all the common types of weapons.
In the gold treasury, she also spent a lot of money to make a batch of scale armor. It is not only the most defensive armor in Ye Kingdom at present, but it can also withstand the penetration of the current intensity of individual shooting to the greatest extent. She has tested and verified this. However, the quantity is limited, and how to configure it reasonably still needs to be decided by the generals.
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