Chapter 110: Is Fifth Rank Really That Great?

"Xiao Er, go to my tent and bring it over."

"Yes!" Xiao Er moved swiftly and fetched it back in an instant.

Tuan Tuan slipped down from her father's arms, clinging to Xiao Er's hand and looking closely.

At first glance, it was just a rectangular wooden box.

Opening the lid, inside lay a delicately crafted device made entirely of metal and hardwood.

"What is this?" several people walked over, asking curiously.

"Repeating crossbow," Xiao Yuanhang replied succinctly.

Zhou Jing'an scoffed, "Crossbow? What novelty do you think this is!"

"The Ministry of Works' standard crossbow bolts are no more than ten, loading is cumbersome, firing speed slow—how can that compare to the power of my three-arrow bow?"

Xiao Yuanhang ignored his mockery, his brows furrowed as he stared at the repeating crossbow in the box.

It was precisely the sample forged according to the schematics Feng Zhou had submitted.

Tuan Tuan stretched out her little hand, feeling around the box, tilting her head as she examined carefully.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up; she looked left and right, then picked up a small, angular stone from the ground.

She placed the stone on an inconspicuous latch inside the crossbow mechanism, gave it a gentle push, and the stone snapped, locking the lower catch in place.

She clapped her hands, tugged at her father's sleeve, and said, "All right! Now it'll obey! Daddy, give it a try?"

Xiao Yuanhang picked up the repeating crossbow, examined the spot Tuan Tuan had altered, pondered briefly, then his eyes flashed, "Tuan Tuan, you're amazing! So that's how it works!"

He lifted the repeating crossbow, raised his arm, aimed at the distant target, and pulled the trigger.

"Ka— whoosh whoosh whoosh!"

A burst of light, rapid, dense mechanical clicks rang out, and everyone saw a flash; three black streaks, almost linked head to tail, shot out at speed, striking the bullseye of the target a hundred paces away with pinpoint accuracy!

The speed was far beyond that of bow and arrow!

It wasn't over yet! Xiao Yuanhang kept moving, his fingers working in tandem.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"

Another two sets, three short arrows each, were fired in rapid succession!

Nine specially made short arrows, divided into three bursts, all hit the center within a split second, turning the target into something like a hedgehog!

The entire Training Ground fell into dead silence.

One loading, nine arrows fire in succession! They can be shot in batches or unleashed all at once!

This has completely surpassed the realm of bow and arrow!

Zhou Jing'an opened his mouth wide, his smug expression freezing instantly, as if someone had clamped a hand around his throat.

Zhou Jinhua's face turned even paler, his body trembling slightly.

Their three-arrow bow, which required great force to draw and had poor aim, was reduced before this true rapid-fire killing device to the level of a child's toy!

"This... this can't be!" Zhou Jing'an shouted, voice lost.

Tuan Tuan looked at the target littered with arrows, nodded satisfied, "That's how it's supposed to be!"

Only then did the surrounding cheers and applause erupt thunderously!

"Incredible!"

"This will be the true king of the battlefield!"

"Prince Ning truly lives up to being our mighty war god!"

"Yesterday we captured the divine spear, today we forged a repeating crossbow!"

"Prince Ning is simply blessed beyond measure!"

Zhou Jinhua stared intently at the repeating crossbow in Xiao Yuanhang's hand, his face grim, his eyes greedy.

At dusk, Emperor Xiao Jieyun returned from the hunt, urgently summoning Prince Ning and Princess Jiayou to bring the repeating crossbow into his tent, sending everyone else away, leaving only Eunuch Cheng to attend to him.

"Imperial Uncle!" Tuan Tuan rushed forward as she entered.

"Hey! Good girl! Today Imperial Uncle hunted a plump big deer; later I'll roast some venison for you, okay?"

Tuan Tuan licked her lips, swallowed, "Okay! It'll be so tasty!"

Xiao Jieyun laughed heartily and scooped her into his arms.

His gaze shifted to Xiao Yuanhang, "I have heard of today's events at the Training Ground; does it truly possess such power?"

Xiao Yuanhang stepped forward at once, presenting the repeating crossbow with both hands, "Your Majesty, this weapon is called the 'Nine-Star Repeating Crossbow', created by Feng Zhou, the son of the former Assistant Officer of the Ministry of Works, Lord Feng."

"A few days ago, Feng Zhou submitted the schematics of this repeating crossbow to Tuan Tuan; I tried to craft it, but during test firing the arrows often jammed inside the crossbow."

"Today at the Training Ground, Tuan Tuan identified the crucial point and improved it, resulting in such tremendous power."

"I have already heard of this, Feng Zhou?" Xiao Jieyun took the repeating crossbow, examined it closely, his eyes flashing, instantly realizing its value.

"I recall now, that child once called the Ministry of Works' prodigy—why did he give the schematics to Tuan Tuan?"

Tuan Tuan lifted her little head, "Because I saved him! I'm his ally leader!"

Xiao Jieyun looked bewildered, turning to Xiao Yuanhang.

Xiao Yuanhang smiled faintly, "It was a matter of fate; although Feng Zhou was immensely talented, he repeatedly fell into trouble, and when he was about to end his life, Tuan Tuan happened upon him and saved him. Young Master Feng is grateful, so he gave the schematics to Tuan Tuan."

"I see! This shows the child's compassionate heart, thus earning such blessings!"

Xiao Yuanhang lowered his voice, speaking earnestly, "Your Majesty, such a weapon is of great consequence. If the manufacturing method were to leak outside and fall into enemy hands, future battlefield encounters could cause incalculable casualties among our troops."

Xiao Jieyun tightened his grip on the repeating crossbow, his expression solemn, "Yuanhang, you are absolutely right! Such a national treasure must never be taken lightly."

"Cheng Jinyan."

"The old servant is here!" Eunuch Cheng hurried forward, bowing and waiting.

"Issue my decree: from today, establish the 'Private Goods Workshop', directly under the Inner Court, with Prince Ning Xiao Yuanhang having full authority, all expenses to be covered by my Imperial Treasury!"

Feng Zhou, appointed Supervisor of the Private Objects Workshop with the rank of regular fifth pin. He is solely responsible for the research, manufacture, and improvement of weapons; the Ministry of Works will fully cooperate, and no request may be delayed!

Invest Princess Jiayou as Envoy of the Private Objects Workshop, with rank equal to fifth pin; she may enter and leave the Workshop at any time and participate in important affairs!

Tuan Tuan lifted her little head: "Me? Fifth rank? Imperial Uncle, is fifth rank a big deal?"

Xiao Yuanhang hurriedly said: "It's a big deal, Tuan Tuan; come, come to Daddy."

Xiao Yuanhang, bringing his daughter, bowed together: "Your servant receives the edict with gratitude!"

Tuan Tuan also said in a childish voice: "Tuan Tuan, thank you, Imperial Uncle!"

"Good! Good!" Xiao Jieyun was delighted, rose, and took Xiao Tuanzi's hand: "Let's go! Let's go eat roasted deer meat!"

The next morning, Xiao Yuanhang accompanied the hunt; Tuan Tuan couldn't stay still in the camp, so Cheng Ru'an had no choice but to agree to let Xiao Er take her to wander randomly in the forest of the hunting grounds.

The forest was deep and dense; Xiao Er remained vigilant, protecting Tuan Tuan as she bounced along behind him.

Several guards accompanied them, scattering around the surroundings.

At the same time, on another forest trail in the mountains, however, the scene was quite different.

Huo Wenxuan and Murong Yuyiao were escorted by several guards, following behind Zhou Jing'an and Wei Bing'an, as the group strolled forward through the forest.

"Huh? What's that over there?" Wei Bing'an, sharp-eyed, pointed to a fluffy, clumsily moving golden-yellow fur ball in the nearby thicket.

Everyone gathered around curiously.

It turned out to be a newborn tiger cub!