Chapter 65: The Key to This Battle

Xiao Moting held his breath.

His heart raced, and he tried his best to suppress the surging emotions within.

The young Prince of Beijiang gazed at the screen, feeling extremely nervous for the first time in his life.

Unfortunately, the moment the girl on the screen thrust the armor-piercing awl into the wooden dummy, the footage came to an abrupt end.

Xiao Dabao stood before the screen, and seeing the footage gone, he grew anxious at once.

"Shennü Daren, you've finished recording already? Turn around and let Dabao have a look, so I can kowtow to you."

Xiao Moting also didn't react in time.

He came to his senses, his brows slightly raised.

"Dabao, the image is just a recording of a person; the Goddess is not inside it."

Xiao Dabao looked disappointed. "Just a little bit more, and I could have seen Shennü Daren. Prince, don't you want to see what the Goddess actually looks like?"

Xiao Moting lowered his gaze, masking the flutter in his heart.

How could he not want to?

He wanted to see Bai Wei more than anyone else.

He wanted to speak with her face-to-face, wanted to see what she looked like.

"Prince, why don't you leave a message for Shennü Daren?" Xiao Dabao chuckled. "Ask her to record herself and send it over so we can take a look?"

"Let's talk about that after this battle is won."

Xiao Moting quickly composed his emotions.

A major battle was imminent, and as the Chief Commander of the army, he had to be rational and could not let too many personal feelings interfere.

Having seen the video, the soldiers had all learned how to use the armor-piercing awl.

Although the heavy cavalry of Daye were wrapped in thick armor from head to toe, except for the Heart-Protecting Helmet which was a single piece of iron plate, the rest of their armor was chainmail that allowed for movement; while swords could not break it, the armor-piercing awl could easily pierce through.

Xiao Moting then went to find Bai Wei to report the situation.

"Shennü Daren, I have finished watching the video. The sickle-hook spears and armor-piercing awls are both very effective; they can definitely deal with the Iron Pagoda of Daye."

"That's good," Bai Wei replied quickly. "I will handle the manufacturing of the iron weapons: the sickle-hook spears, armor-piercing awls, and the giant bolts used for the Bed Crossbow. You gather all the craftsmen and focus all efforts on building the Bed Crossbows."

This Bed Crossbow had been handmade by a carpenter found by the owner of the shooting range, taking half a year to complete.

Modern technology developed too quickly, there were too few carpenters with manual skills, and furniture factories wouldn't take such orders.

But in ancient times, manual carpentry was still the norm, so she handed this task to Xiao Moting.

"Xiao Moting, what else do you need on your end?"

Xiao Moting hesitated for a moment. "I also need a batch of Heart Protector Armor. Time is tight, and the blacksmiths in the camp won't have time to forge them."

"I'll make the Heart Protector Armor; send me a sample."

Xiao Moting immediately sent a piece of Heart Protector Armor over.

Bai Wei asked, "When are you setting off?"

Xiao Moting calculated in his mind.

The harsh winter had passed, the weather was beginning to warm, and the ice on the river was starting to melt.

It would take the Daye Army at most seven days to build a bridge and cross the river.

This meant he had to reach Heyuan County before Daye attacked the city.

He only had three days left.

Three days later, he had to set off no matter what, otherwise, it would be too late.

Xiao Moting told Bai Wei the time.

"That's seven days, which is enough. Bring the wardrobe with you; I will teleport over through the wardrobe when the time comes."

"I'll make the weapons first, and if there's time, I'll forge the Heart Protector Armor. I'll make as many as I can."

"Shennü Daren, Xiao Moting acknowledges."

Zhang Zhao stood to the side, very worried.

"Prince, Shennü Daren is forging tens of thousands of weapons at once; will there be enough time?"

"The Goddess said seven days is enough."

Xiao Moting's expression was calm.

Bai Wei had never broken her word; regardless of what others thought, he firmly believed in her.

After speaking, he immediately ordered the Bed Crossbow to be moved to the training grounds and summoned all the craftsmen in the camp to build Bed Crossbows.

Among the more than forty thousand refugees who had fled to Beijiang last time, there were over five hundred carpenters.

Soon, the carpenters gathered at the training grounds.

None of them had ever seen a Bed Crossbow before, and they were very amazed.

Xiao Moting gave the order.

"Take the Bed Crossbow apart."

Taking apart wooden pieces was second nature to the carpenters.

In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the massive Bed Crossbow was broken down into over a dozen parts, neatly laid out on the ground.

Many of the carpenters had been apprenticed since childhood and had spent their whole lives doing woodwork; some even had family trades, with both father and son being carpenters.

Xiao Moting said in a deep voice.

"Divide the carpenters into groups of ten, with each group responsible for crafting one part."

"Additionally, assign thirty experienced carpenters to be responsible for assembling the parts crafted by each group into the Bed Crossbow."

"Rewards will be based on a piece-rate system: for every part a group crafts, they will be rewarded with one jin of white rice; groups responsible for crafting complex parts will be rewarded with two jin of white rice. The more you work, the more you earn."

"The top three groups that earn the most white rice each day will each be rewarded with a can of luncheon meat for every member."

As soon as the words fell, the carpenters became excited.

Working could actually earn white rice as a reward, and if they got enough white rice, they would even be given luncheon meat!

Such a good thing couldn't be found even if one searched with a lantern!

Although they ate communal meals in the army and didn't go hungry, they all had families; if they took the white rice and luncheon meat home, their families could improve their lives!

Some impatient carpenters had already run off to study the components of the Bed Crossbow.

Xiao Moting then instructed the mess squad to slaughter two live pigs for stew, ensuring that the carpenters' meals had both meat and vegetables; only when they were full would they have the strength to work.

There were rewards, and they were even getting special meals!

The carpenters cheered and jumped for joy, everyone full of drive.

When they worked outside, no matter how hard it was, they had never had such good treatment!

The other craftsmen in the camp watched with extreme envy.

Xiao Dabao laughed heartily, "Everyone, don't be anxious; as long as you follow the Prince of Zhenbei well, there are plenty of rewards."

On the battlefield, the carpenters worked with great fervor.

Xiao Moting called Qin Zhan over, his expression serious.

"There is an important mission to entrust to you; it is the key to this battle."

Qin Zhan immediately knelt on the ground, "Please speak, Prince; this general will certainly give his all."

One hour later.

Qin Zhan led two thousand troops to escort one thousand craftsmen, leaving the Northern Frontier Camp under the cover of night.

Xiao Moting stood on the city wall, holding a Telescope, watching Qin Zhan and his party disappear into the night.

He raised his arm and released the war eagle, Cang Yun.

Cang Yun flapped its wings and quickly caught up with Qin Zhan's main force.

Xiao Moting let out a breath; this was one part of his battle plan.

The mission he gave Qin Zhan was to lead his troops to the upper reaches of Heyuan County to block the river and build a dam.

The Daye Army had three hundred thousand, while the Northern Frontier Army had only over sixty thousand.

Yang Wei had one hundred and ten thousand troops under his command, but now that the plague was spreading, the soldiers in the camp had no medicine and were falling ill one after another; those capable of taking the field numbered less than thirty thousand.

The gap in troop numbers between the two sides was too great; he intended to blow up the dam and flood the enemy army while they were crossing the river.

But for this plan, Explosives were absolutely necessary.

Otherwise, they would have no choice but to fight head-on.

Yang Wei's troops were no match for the Daye Army at all, and although the Northern Frontier Army had the equipment provided by Bai Wei, they would certainly suffer heavy casualties.

Xiao Moting did not want to see his own soldiers die in battle.

But he was in a chaotic world and could not help himself; he could only face the cruelty of war.

The only thing he could do was to do his utmost to reduce casualties and defeat the enemy army!