Chapter 22: Volume 1 Chapter 22 – The Unknown Secret

Thinking of the repeating crossbow, Rong Luoge couldn't help but recall the ancient book she obtained during a mission in her previous life; at that time she was interested in cold weapons and even learned some things from a few archaeological experts.

The repeating crossbow, also called the "Zhuge crossbow," is said to have been made by Zhuge Liang and can fire bolts continuously.

Ordinary arrows are made of a tip, wooden shaft, and feathers, with the feathers providing balance during long‑range flight. If a repeating crossbow uses arrows made in the usual way, the feathered part of the shaft interferes with the bolt chamber wall, preventing the bolt from naturally falling back into the firing position under gravity. Therefore the repeating crossbow uses a non‑standard method, and "using iron as the bolt" is scientifically sound.

First, because a whole bolt that is only eight inches long and not made of iron is light and lacks significant killing power, the iron bolt solves this problem. Second, a magnet attached to the bottom of the bolt chamber causes the iron bolt to be attracted to the bolt groove, solving the issue where, when the crossbow is aimed upward and its body tilts beyond 90 degrees, the bolts in the chamber detach from the groove and fall backward, and also preventing the bolts from slipping when the bow is drawn downward for a low shot. Third, it resolves the continuous supply of bolts, allowing continuous loading and firing.

At that time, Master Kongming's decision that the bolt length should be eight inches was scientifically precise. In manufacturing practice, if the shaft exceeds eight inches, the bolt chamber lengthens and the mechanism's interaction becomes sluggish; an iron bolt longer than eight inches gains weight and reduces range. Conversely, if the bolt is shorter than eight inches, the bolt chamber shortens, the crossbow's limbs open a smaller gap, and the launch force weakens. Thus, "bolt length eight inches" is the optimal size.

However, because the repeating crossbow's bolts lack feathers, the iron bolts lose balance and tumble during long‑range flight, and the wooden shafts require high precision, making hand‑crafting difficult and large‑scale production impractical. Yet it can fire several bolts simultaneously, delivering a strong psychological shock and danger to the enemy, so for a certain period this type of repeating crossbow was quite popular.

If it were in later eras, refined craftsmanship and superior materials would naturally remedy the drawbacks, but in this time and space it remains limited by conditions.

Rong Luoge drew the schematics of the repeating crossbow, then thought and added a concealed rapid‑fire sleeve arrow—a hidden weapon she habitually uses in later times. This device is easy to carry, needing only to be bound to the wrist, but it requires a craftsman with even finer skill to forge.

Rong Luoge cannot make it herself, but she can sketch it; she assumes the Crown Prince can find a skilled artisan, and it would be nice to ask the Crown Prince to have a few for self‑defense as well.

Rong Luoge spent several days laboriously completing the two schematics; after careful review she found no omissions, and finally let out a long sigh of relief.

Standing up now, she felt hungry; she had pulled an all‑night vigil last night, and her empty stomach sang the "Empty City Strategy."

Rong Luoge quickly ordered Cang Yun to prepare food for her; Cang Yun had already instructed the kitchen to finish the dishes, and upon hearing the girl's request hurriedly had them brought over, saying with some concern, "Miss, staying up all night like this is bad for your health; you must rest properly."

Rong Luoge was so drowsy that her eyelids kept fighting each other; she nodded, thought for a moment, and said, "Call He Huai over."

She no longer needed to go herself to deliver the schematics to the Crown Prince; when He Huai arrived, Rong Luoge handed him the wrapped drawings and instructed, "Deliver this to Mr. Yu Yan of Dong Gong."

He Huai took the item, tucked it into his chest, asked no unnecessary questions, nodded, and turned to leave.

Rong Luoge liked He Huai's temperament; she drank two bowls of shredded chicken congee, ate a small basket of shrimp steamed dumplings, along with eight‑treasure sauce vegetables and rouge‑colored goose breast, and felt revived.

"Cang Yun, there hasn't been any movement at Guo Gong Fu, right?" Rong Luoge asked, suppressing her drowsiness. Logically there should have been no activity these past days, so something must have delayed.

At the mention, Cang Yun became interested and said, "Miss, you haven't heard yet: Consort Ming went to Qi Wang Fu and humiliated Rong Dai, driving her out; Rong Dai returned to Guo Gong Fu to complain, and I heard she quarreled with the Duchess of the State. It's quite lively over there."

Huh?

Rong Luoge immediately felt delighted, thinking that they were fighting each other like dogs, and no good thing would come of it.

"What great news, what about Prince Qi? No reaction?" Rong Luoge thought this shouldn't be the case, since Prince Qi liked Rong Dai so much; although he couldn't yet make her his principal consort, he certainly wouldn't stand by while she was bullied.

"Prince Qi has been busy in the palace these days attending to Consort Ming, and I heard Consort Ming is ill," Cang Yun laughed.

Rong Luoge's eyes lit up; it seemed Consort Ming had definitely coordinated, using one to keep Prince Qi occupied and the other to deal with Rong Dai—quite a good collaboration.

If Prince Qi didn't intervene, Rong Dai would have little hope of reclaiming her lineage.

Back then, Chu Ke was willing to take her back but refused to let Rong Dai and her sibling be entered into the family register; was she truly fearing Rong Dai?

No.

What she truly feared was Rong Dai's brother Rong Lang; if Rong Lang reclaimed his lineage, he would become the eldest illegitimate son of Guo Gong Fu, posing a great threat to her son.

Although Rong Luoge couldn't immediately see how Chu Ke could restrain the Protector Duke from allowing Rong Dai and her sibling onto the family register, the last time it succeeded; this time, without Prince Qi's support, Rong Dai certainly stands even less chance of success.

What a pity; if it could succeed, that would be great—then Chu Ke and Rong Dai would live under the same roof, and the Protector Duke's mansion would surely be bustling.

Rong Luoge was extremely drowsy and said to Cang Yun, "I'll go rest for a while; call me if anything is needed."

"Miss, go quickly; you haven't rested properly for several days," Cang Yun said with concern, hurriedly entering the room to make the bed and attend to his own Miss before quietly stepping out.

The already sleeping Rong Luoge naturally was unaware of Yu Yan's astonishment after receiving the schematics; she hurriedly put the items away and rushed to meet the Crown Prince.

"Your Highness, this repeating crossbow is more portable than the crossbows currently used by the army; the bolts are only eight inches and can fire ten in succession, whereas the army's bows can only fire three," Yu Yan exclaimed excitedly, noting that such a fine item was worth a fortune.

Han Xinglan's dark, heavy eyes fell on the delicate, tiny sleeve arrow; at first glance one would think it a wrist ornament, not at all a lethal weapon for close‑range killing.

They indeed hadn't mistaken the person; Rong Luoge truly did have an unknown secret.

"Have someone forge it immediately for a test," Han Xinglan said to Yu Yan.

Yu Yan promptly nodded; it should be tested. The design looks exquisite, but whether it can be manufactured, and how powerful it will be once made, remains uncertain.

Yu Yan carefully tucked the schematics into his chest and then left excitedly.

After Yu Yan left, Han Xinglan thought of Rong Luoge; it had been a long time since visiting that residence, and with nothing else to do today, it was a good chance to go take a look.

Today the weather is fine, suitable for touring old places and visiting old acquaintances.