Chapter 235 Twelve Crossbows
Zhenzhu knew that Bai Qinghuan was asking about the number of troops. Thinking of Dongxi's situation, worry appeared on her face.
"Girl, we also have 500,000 people, 200,000 in the southwest and 300,000 in the northwest."
Biyun exclaimed: "That means 500,000 against 1 million, how can we fight this?"
No matter how powerful the Regent is, it is not easy to defeat him.
Or are wars breaking out in the southwest, northwest and north at the same time? Can the Regent use the art of splitting himself into two?
Zi Yan has confidence in the Regent: "The Regent has often defeated the larger force with a smaller one, so I think there will be no problem this time."
Bai Qinghuan disagreed: "To defeat a larger force with a smaller one requires the right time, place and people. This battle is not easy to fight."
"girl..."
Pearl was a little anxious: "What should I do then?"
If Dongxi was defeated, it might be divided up by Nanzhao and Xirong.
Nanzhao is barbaric and Xirong is cruel and brutal. They will show no mercy to the people of the Central Plains.
By then, there will be a huge loss of lives.
"Zhenzhu, tell me about the situation outside Xingzhou City."
She only knew that Chi Ming used water to flood the area, but she didn't ask for details.
Thinking of the news that Bai Qingyou was about to be escorted to the capital, Zhenzhu looked at her face carefully.
"Why? Can't tell?"
"No, girl, it's..."
Biyun is impatient: "What is it? Tell me quickly."
Zhenzhu closed her eyes and told everything she knew outside Xingzhou City.
Bai Qinghuan was surprised: "You mean Bai Qingyou is here too?"
"Wasn't she exiled to the north?"
“Who says it’s not?”
"She was really capable. She fled all the way from the north to the south. As luck would have it, she ran into the rebels and ended up in front of Chi Zhuoxu.
She could make a repeating crossbow, but its range was not enough; she also made gunpowder, but the iron lump she made only emitted black smoke.
Girl, do you think this is funny? Hahaha..."
After saying that, Biyun and Ziyan couldn't help laughing.
However, Bai Qinghuan did not laugh.
Thinking about the crossbow and gunpowder in his mind, it seems that Bai Qingyou has only learned half of it.
The three of them were confused when they saw this and quickly stopped smiling.
"Girl, is there something wrong?"
"Nothing, your words gave me some ideas."
"ah?"
"Your Highness let Bai Qingyou go and took him back to the capital. Miss, aren't you angry?"
"Why should I be angry? Could it be possible that your prince could fall in love with her?"
Pearl waved her hands quickly and said anxiously, "Of course not, the prince only likes you, young lady."
"That's it, why should I worry?
The prince specifically ordered that she be escorted back. He must have his reasons. We don't need to worry too much. ”
Pearl also breathed a sigh of relief, as long as the girl wasn't angry.
"By the way, Pearl, go get me some saltpeter, charcoal, and sulfur."
"Oh, and arsenic and honey."
Pearl was a little confused by these two things that were completely unrelated.
"What does the girl need these for?"
"It will be useful, go now."
Zhenzhu's words gave her a hint. This was the era of cold weapons, and with five hundred thousand versus one million, the chances of winning were less than three percent.
Bai Qingyou is a half-baked person, but she is not.
She had studied all of these in her previous life.
Due to Dongxi's purification technology, it could only produce some impure gunpowder, also known as black powder.
Even so, the lethality is enormous.
Once successful, the city will be impregnable, and it may even be possible to annex Nanzhao and Xirong, greatly expanding Dongxi's territory.
In fact, in his previous life, Bai Qinghuan’s favorite thing to watch was the unification of the world by the First Emperor and the continuous expansion of territory by successive dynasties.
Putting aside the civil unrest caused by the change of dynasties, expanding territory has always been the foundation of a strong country.
If Nanzhao and Xirong were incorporated into Dongxi's territory and gradually assimilated into the Han culture, then the other small countries would surely submit and pay tribute every year.
Thinking of this, she was also excited.
Over the next few days, she locked herself in a remote room and began preparing gunpowder.
Of course, she also drew the picture of the crossbow and gave it to the craftsmen to make.
Three days later, Bai Qinghuan looked at the newly made gunpowder in his hand, but he was still not completely sure of its power.
She wanted to give it a try, but there were farmers everywhere around her, and a rash experiment would most likely cause panic among the people around her.
So he decided to take the gunpowder and the newly made crossbow to the palace to meet the emperor.
Chi Ming was not in the court, and the emperor and the crown prince Chi Zhuorui were in charge of government affairs.
Upon hearing that Bai Qinghuan had an important matter to discuss with him, the Emperor dragged his sick body and moved to the imperial study.
He knew that Bai Qinghuan would not enter the palace unless there was something serious.
He and Chi Zhuorui were worried about the war on the border, and maybe Bai Qinghuan came for that.
In the imperial study, Chi Zhuorui's face was full of curiosity, and his eyes fell behind Bai Qinghuan.
The crossbow and gunpowder in Zhenzhu's hand, but the crossbow was slightly different from the drawing sent by Xingzhou.
Bai Qingyou's crossbow can only hold six crossbow arrows, while this one has twelve holes.
And as for that lump of iron, there's no difference.
He asked, "Princess Rong'an, where did you get these things?
Didn’t they say before that the crossbow doesn’t have a long range and that the gunpowder only produces black smoke? ”
Bai Qinghuan bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, this is not the one outside Xingzhou City. This is my improved one. Please move to an open area and demonstrate it."
Chi Zhuorui was already very enthusiastic about the repeating crossbow, and thought that the Ministry of War might be able to develop it one day.
Unexpectedly, Bai Qinghuan made it first. When he heard this, he immediately said excitedly: "Let me try!"
Everyone then came to the training ground in the palace. Chi Zhuorui loaded all twelve arrows on the crossbow and aimed at the target in the distance.
After pressing the launch mechanism, twelve arrows were shot out in succession with a few whooshing sounds, and hit the target in the distance steadily.
Seeing this, Chi Zhuorui was pleasantly surprised: "This arrow has a much longer range than an ordinary bow and arrow, and its power is also greater. It's simply amazing!"
Staring at Bai Qinghuan with sparkling eyes: "County Lady, how did you do it?"
Bai Qinghuan smiled without saying anything, then said, "Prince, this gunpowder cannot be used in the palace. Once it explodes, I'm afraid it will blow up the entire training ground."
His Majesty was originally sitting on a chair. After seeing the power of the crossbow, he stood up in surprise and burst into laughter.
"Qinghuan, you are really my Dongxi's lucky star."
Too much joy leads to sorrow. In his great joy, the emperor couldn't stop coughing.
Desheng quickly helped him sit down and patted his back to help him calm down.
Because the emperor had limited physical strength, Chi Zhuorui took the gunpowder and went with Bai Qinghuan to a remote valley in the suburbs.
Bai Qinghuan looked at the depth of the col and said, "Pearl, light the fire."
Pearl lit the gunpowder fuse and threw it down quickly.
In an instant, there was a loud bang, and the mountaintop under his feet shook. Chi Zhuorui almost fell on his butt.
Chi Zhuorui, Zhenzhu and others stared down with their eyes wide open.
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