"Kongming is about to get married, and I will soon be setting off for Jingzhou."
Upon hearing this, Laifu was also very excited, but he could not go to participate because, as the Celestial Master, he had to stay in Yizhou.
"Master, please deliver a generous gift on my behalf," Leif pleaded.
"Don't worry, I've already made arrangements," Lu Li said confidently, patting his chest.
........
Three days later, Lu Li set off for Jingzhou.
He has now lost all his internal strength and can no longer fly, so he cannot reach Jingzhou in an instant and can only go by horseback.
Since Yizhou borders Jingzhou, it didn't take Lu Li too long to arrive in Jingzhou.
Xu Ermao also stayed by Lu Li's side, partly to protect Lu Li, and partly because he wanted to challenge Huang Zhong to an archery contest.
In Xiangyang County, Lu Li had just stepped off the carriage when he saw a handsome and tall man walking towards him.
"Sir, I have been waiting for you for a long time!" Xu Shu said politely, a confident smile on his face.
"Yuanzhi arrived so early?" Lu Li asked, somewhat surprised.
Although Yingchuan Academy is not far from Xiangyang, Yuzhou is not currently under the control of the Yellow Turban Army, so it will probably take some time for them to come over.
“We arrived half a month in advance,” Xu Shu explained.
Afterwards, a group of students emerged from the post station; they were all students of Yingchuan Academy.
"gentlemen!"
"Greetings, sir!"
Lu Li greeted them, though he no longer recognized some of them, as most of the earliest students had now joined various warlords.
"Isn't Dean Xun here?" Lu Li asked Xu Shu, who was standing to the side.
"My teacher is busy with important matters, so he sent me to represent him and congratulate Kongming!" Xu Shu said with a smile.
"Hehe, it seems Dean Xun values you quite a bit," Lu Li teased.
"Academician Xun is a man of both virtue and talent, and he is an idol to us younger generations. We also hope that one day we can be as respected as Academician Xun," Xu Shu said modestly.
As the two were talking, they arrived at Zhuge Liang's house.
"Please, sir, a banquet has been prepared inside." Xu Shu led Lu Li into the manor, and after crossing a wide street, they arrived at the entrance of the banquet hall.
"Please, sir!" Xu Shu gestured for him to enter.
Lu Li nodded and slowly walked inside.
Although the Zhuge family was considered a prestigious family, it was still inferior to the Huang Yueying family of Xiangyang, Jingzhou.
However, since they were a noble family, the furnishings were quite luxurious.
Upon seeing Lu Li arrive, Zhuge Liang quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Kongming greets you, sir!"
Lu Li waved his hand, indicating that there was no need for such formalities.
He then glanced around and noticed that many famous scholars from Xiangyang had come to greet him.
After all, Lu Li had once been a teacher at Yingchuan Academy, and now Jingzhou was under the rule of the Yellow Turban Army.
Most of the people present had seen Lu Li before, and some had even personally experienced his prowess.
"Kongming, I have brought you a great gift, and I believe you will be very happy with it." Lu Li looked at Zhuge Liang and smiled meaningfully.
Upon hearing this, Zhuge Liang's cheeks twitched a few times, clearly recalling how Lu Li had tricked him so badly back then.
"Oh? I'll have to take a look then. I wonder where it is?" Zhuge Liang asked curiously, feigning interest.
"You'll find out soon enough," Lu Li said with a smile.
Lu Li's words made Zhuge Liang feel uneasy. This sinister feeling made him uneasy because Lu Li had tricked him in the same way last time.
After the banquet, Zhuge Liang took Lu Li to a room for a detailed talk.
"Sir, what exactly did you send to Kongming?" Zhuge Liang asked impatiently.
"Hahaha!" Lu Li laughed loudly and said, "Guess!"
Zhuge Liang was furious and glared at him, saying, "Sir, you're making fun of me again!"
"Alright, I'm not teasing you anymore, Er Mao, take it out."
After saying that, Xu Ermao took out a repeating crossbow that was bigger than the palm of his hand.
"Crossbow?" Zhuge Liang was somewhat surprised, because crossbows were not rare; they had existed as early as the Warring States period.
Lu Li nodded and explained, "This is a powerful crossbow with a range of over 500 meters, and its destructive power is extremely strong. Moreover, it can fire in rapid succession."
Zhuge Liang examined the crossbow, becoming increasingly amazed as he pondered it. "Truly a divine weapon! Sir, who invented this?"
He had worried that Lu Li wouldn't understand these things, but now it seems he was worrying for nothing.
"I hope you can improve it and turn it into a real weapon on the battlefield!" Lu Li instructed.
"Um……"
After pondering for a moment, Zhuge Liang said, "This thing probably cannot be made in a short time."
Lu Li also knew that it couldn't be made in a short time, after all, this kind of crossbow was extremely complex in terms of materials and craftsmanship.
He wasn't in a hurry, because this kind of thing would take a long time to develop, and he didn't expect this weapon to become widespread quickly.
It would be enough if Zhuge Liang could manufacture it and use it in the army.
"Kongming, are you confident that you can figure it out?" Lu Li asked.
"It might be difficult for me to do it alone, but with Yueying's help, it should be possible!"
Huang Yueying had almost no friends growing up, so he often tinkered with things by himself. Over time, he developed a unique talent for making mechanisms and hidden weapons.
Lu Li suddenly realized that he had forgotten about Huang Yueying. Historical records show that Huang Yueying helped Zhuge Liang develop the wooden ox and flowing horse, the Zhuge repeating crossbow, and other inventions.
If it weren't for the relatively low status of women in ancient times, both of these inventions were actually developed by Huang Yueying, with Zhuge Liang simply crediting them.
"Alright, then thank you for your hard work." Lu Li smiled and patted Zhuge Liang on the shoulder.
"Wait a minute... sir, what happened to the wedding gift you promised me? How did it turn into me helping you with your research?" Zhuge Liang was both amused and exasperated.
He had been tricked by Lu Li again. Last time, he was inexplicably summoned to cast a spell to summon the wind. Now, he was supposed to be giving a gift, but he ended up falling into an even bigger trap!
Zhuge Liang thought to himself, "That old fox is too cunning!"
"Didn't I already give you the repeating crossbow? Don't you like this gift?" Lu Li asked with a faint smile.
"I like it, I like it." Zhuge Liang's lips twitched violently a few times, and he agreed through gritted teeth.
Lu Li chuckled, a sly glint in his eyes, and continued to coax, "I'm glad you like it. Kongming, what are your plans for the future? How about joining the Yellow Turban Army?"
Upon hearing this, Zhuge Liang felt a tightness in his anus and quickly chuckled dryly, "Sir, I still have to entertain the guests. Please rest for a while."
After saying that, he immediately fled the room and slipped away without looking back.
"well......"
Lu Li shook his head slightly and sighed, "Young people are really easily frightened."
P.S.: Guys, it's my birthday tomorrow, I'll try my best to update five chapters. Please forgive me if I can't!
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