"Neigh!" Laurist pulled the reins, and the majestic horse stood up on its hind legs. Its two large hooves kicked twice in the air before landing heavily on the slippery grass.
"Let's set up camp on the hill in front. We'll be able to reach Baron Shahin's camp by the river tomorrow afternoon."
Today was the 30th of October. A few days ago, Baron Shahin had sent a messenger to inform him that the flatboats had basically been completed. Overkiss had brought the Thunderbolt Catapult Battalion and a Guard Battalion to the camp by the lower reaches of the Mitubro River. Everything had been prepared, and he had asked Laurist if he wanted to go. If he did not, then he and Overkiss would smash the walls of the arrow towers on the other side of the river.
Of course he would go. Laurist also wanted to send a batch of life jackets to the Thunderbolt Catapult Battalion. After all, they would be fighting on the boats. The Thunderbolt Catapult Battalion's soldiers were all well-trained catapults. If they accidentally fell into the water and lost a few of them, it would be a fatal accident. It was better to take precautions.
Another reason was that Laurist wanted to avoid the chaos in his family. The root of all this was that Laurist had made a big order. He asked Master Sid and Master Farlin to be in charge of the Darksteel Refinery Base and the Crossbow Manufacture Base to make 50,000 Crossbows for the newly formed Hunter Corps. The cost of making a Crossbow was 38 gold coins …
No one had expected the cost of a Crossbow to be so high. It should be known that the cost of making a War Crossbow was only 35 Gold Fords, and the Crossbow was much smaller and less powerful than the War Crossbow. The cost of making it was even higher than the War Crossbow. Fatty Shi, who was present at the time, was the first to shake his head and object. Then, Spear and Camorra also heard the news and expressed their opposition.
They argued for two days over a Crossbow. In the end, it was Laurist who stood his ground and made such a big order to make 50,000 Crossbows as the standard long-range weapon for the Hunter Corps. This exceeded the original 500,000 long-range weapon purchase budget by almost two million gold coins. This caused Fatty Shi and Spear to be unhappy with Laurist for the past few days.
There was nothing that could be done about it. The production cost of the crossbow was expensive, but the special bolts that came with it were even more expensive. Twenty crossbow bolts cost one gold coin, which was equivalent to one large silver coin. Fatty Shi's main objection was that the cost of making the crossbow was still affordable, but the problem was that it didn't shoot crossbow bolts, but big silver coins!
A Hunting Cavalry Regiment consisted of sixty thousand people. Four divisions would make up twenty battalions, and each battalion would have three thousand people. Excluding the War Chariot Crossbow Battalion and the logistics, there would be at least forty thousand combatants. If everyone had a Crossbow, one round of firing would be equivalent to two thousand gold coins. Was this a battle or a waste of money? In order for a Hunter Cavalryman to master the weapon in his hand, he would need to train continuously. Furthermore, these specially-made crossbows could not be recycled. After firing them once, they would have to be sent back to the furnace to be forged again. Therefore, Fatty Shi estimated that the cost of training the crossbows would be around 30 to 50 Gold Fords per person, which was unacceptable. He immediately objected to the Hunter Cavalrymen being equipped with crossbows.
In fact, Loriste always felt that he had gone astray after making this big order. He didn't expect that Master Sid and Master Fallin, who hadn't gained much from studying dwarven firearms in the past two years, had instead made a breakthrough in crossbows. The Crossbow was actually a crossbow gun, and its power had already surpassed that of the old-fashioned musket.
A crossbow was different from a longbow. A longbow could shoot a hundred meters straight, and a projectile could shoot a distance of three hundred meters. This was widely recognized in the Galinthia Continent. However, after Master Sid's research, he believed that the maximum range of a longbow's direct shot was only sixty to seventy meters. At this distance, an archer would only have a fifty percent chance of accurately shooting the target, and the target would still be stationary. Think about a hundred meters straight shot, and the target was only the size of a soybean. An archer could only use a rough estimate to aim and shoot, and whether or not he could hit the target depended on luck. Of course, there was also the possibility of a talented marksman like Jost, who could hit the target 100% of the time within a hundred meters.
The Galinthia Continent was a world of Combat Aura. Longbowmen could even combine Combat Aura with the longbow to increase the power of the bow and arrow. For example, Silver-ranked archers could attach Combat Aura to the bow and arrow, and an arrow could pierce through gold and stone. Therefore, the longbow was recognized as the number one long-range weapon for thousands of years. On the other hand, crossbows relied on mechanical energy, so they were slow to load, had a short range, and could not be combined with Combat Aura. However, a longbowman needed at least two years of training to be qualified, while a crossbowman only needed three months of training to become a marksman. This was because the crossbow's greatest advantage was the ease of aiming and accuracy.
The Crossbow that Master Sid and Master Fallin designed had already surpassed the longbow in some aspects. It was made of steel and wood, imitated the dwarven firearms, and could be used to shoot from the shoulder. Using the principle of a lever, it could be easily reloaded on horseback after firing. A steel rod on the right side of the crossbow could be pulled back, loaded, and fired again. Although it couldn't compare to the continuous shooting speed of a well-trained longbowman, it was still several times faster than the old-fashioned stone crossbow.
The crossbow's greatest advantage was its seventy to eighty meters long range. Grandmaster Sid solemnly vowed that in a duel between a longbow archer and a crossbow archer, the one who would lose would definitely be the longbow archer. This was because a longbowman's aim could only be estimated by experience, while a crossbow shooter could easily lock onto a target with the help of a sighting device.
In addition, although the crossbow couldn't be shot from a distance of three hundred meters like a longbow, Master Sid had also designed an ultra-long range shot. This was a combination of the advantages of a tank's steel crossbow. There was also a scale on the crossbow, so that the fired crossbow arrow would reach the target in an arc, and it could fire at a target up to a hundred and fifty meters away.
The crossbow's bolt was also specially made. The rhombus-shaped armor-piercing head was also made of steel, and the shaft was semi-hollow. There were three very thin iron fins at the end of the shaft. This was also the main reason why it couldn't be retracted after firing. Once the fins were damaged, the bolt would be useless.
Loriste recalled the day when Yuri hugged the crossbow and couldn't bear to part with it. He remembered that Yuri had said, "My Lord, equip the hunting cavalry with this crossbow. I guarantee that in three months, the hunting cavalry will have the fighting power to crush House Fisablon's Ranger."
Perhaps it was these words that moved Laurist. He disregarded Fatty Shi's firm opposition and insisted on this big deal. Now that he thought about it, Laurist felt a little regretful. Fatty Shi's opposition was actually very reasonable. He requested Master Sid and Master Fallin to improve the crossbow and reduce the cost to within 20 gold fords. In addition, he also asked Master Sid and Master Fallin to improve the crossbow and reduce the cost to within 20 gold fords. In addition, he also wanted to improve the crossbow bolts to reach the cost of one gold ford per 100 bolts.
However, Master Sid and Master Fallin said that they could improve the crossbow and bolts, but it would take time, at least two years. At that time, Loriste wholeheartedly wanted the hunting cavalry to form a fighting force as soon as possible. In addition, he also relied on his wealth and said that they would first produce fifty thousand crossbows. The rest could be replaced later, which made Fatty Shi so angry that he stormed off.
Schwald had already set up a simple camp bed for Loriste in the large tent. Loriste walked over and laid on the bed, watching as Schwald busied himself with boiling water to make tea.
"Schwald, let me ask you. A few days ago, I set up the order to produce fifty thousand crossbows. Was it too hasty?"
Schwald was stunned for a moment. "My Lord, I can't say …"
"It's fine. Tell me your opinion. As an outsider, perhaps you're more clear-headed than us."
"How should I say this, my Lord? I feel that you're too impatient. Recently, I've noticed that you seem to be very impatient, as if you really want to equip the hunting cavalry in one go. In addition, you've already treated the Fisablon family as our enemy. This seems very contradictory, "Schwald said after some thought.
"Contradictory? Why do you have such a feeling? "Loriste sat up.
Schwald furrowed his brows. "My Lord, if you're sure that the Fisablon family will immediately become our enemy, then you should stop the arms deal with them. The arms they've purchased from our family will only be completed by the end of next year. During this time, the Fisablon family will not fall out with our family. Up until now, we've only delivered a third of the arms. If you think that the Fisablon family will become our enemy, then you should stop this deal. This should be much more effective than forming the hunting cavalry to deal with them.
Also, the objections of Knight Shredder, Chief Steward Spear, and Chief Steward Camora are also very reasonable. We actually don't lack time, so there's no need to place such a large order so early. In my opinion, the crossbow isn't as perfect as I imagined it to be. Its steel string and specially made crossbow arms need to be changed frequently. This not only increases the cost, but also increases the difficulty of operation.
Moreover, Master Sid and Master Fallin also said that the crossbow has just been designed and trial-produced and still needs to be continuously improved. When you placed the order for fifty thousand crossbows, Master Sid and Master Fallin's faces paled. I suspect that they won't be able to mass produce it. It's only because you said that the family will have this long-range weapon at all costs that they didn't dare to object.
As for the specially made crossbow bolts, it's said that the fins are manually embedded. The one hundred bolts we brought this time are made one by one. Think about it, my Lord. Fifty thousand crossbows with twenty bolts for one crossbow would require a million. How long would it take to make them by hand? It's impossible to complete it within a year.
Knight Shredder's words are very reasonable. The family's arsenal has so many stone crossbows and cavalry bows that we can equip the hunting cavalry first. Their standard steel chain mail armor is already much better than the standard equipment of the Fisablon family's Ranger army. Their defense is much stronger, so they will have the advantage if they equip the same weapon. There's no need to equip them with expensive weapons like the crossbow. Otherwise, my Lord, you wouldn't be forming a hunting cavalry army but a gold army. "
Lollister laughed heartily. "You're right. I was too impatient. Bring me a blank piece of paper. I'll give Knight Shredder an order and put him in charge of improving and purchasing the crossbows. Cancel my big order. Also, I'll express my apologies and thanks to Steward Spear and Steward Camorra. It was my thoughtlessness that added to everyone's troubles.
Also, reward Master Sid and Master Fallin with a thousand gold fords each. This is a reward for their design and creation of the crossbows. At the same time, I hope they can improve the crossbows and reach the goal of mass production and purchasing for the family.
Also, I'll write a letter to Knights Josk and Yuri, explaining why the family can't equip them with crossbows at the moment. Please forgive me for canceling the order. I hope they can use the crossbows stored in the family's arsenal to train the hunting cavalry soldiers strictly, so that they can form a fighting force as soon as possible. "
"Yes, my Lord. I'll prepare it for you immediately," Shredder said.
Because it was a temporary camp, there were no tables or chairs. In the end, Lollister wrote the two letters on a saddle that had been removed from the ground.
"Shredder, you're growing very fast. It looks like you'll reach the silver rank in two years, and then I can send you to the army to train. Do you want to be the commander of a battalion? "Lollister asked Shredder as he wrote.
"No, Elder Brother Redi said that when I reach the silver rank, I can learn the Dan Sea Qi Gathering Technique like him."
"Oh, you want to learn the Dan Sea Qi Gathering Technique too?"
"Yes, teacher. I'm your student. Naturally, I want to learn the eastern monk's training method and master inner force. Elder Brother Redi said that he was the happiest when he mastered inner force. He could easily defeat the gold-rank swordsmen and knights in the knight's tournament, "Shredder said enviously.
"Oh, alright. Since you like it, then I'll teach you the eastern monk's training method when you reach the silver rank."
Lollister was relieved after deciding to leave the matter of the crossbow to Fatty Shi. He took a short nap after passing the letter and the order he had written to the messenger. When Shredder woke him up for breakfast, the sky was already filled with stars, and the sound of wheels rumbling could be heard in the distance. Not long after, Count Kenneth's grumbling could be heard, "Why did they run so fast? They made me chase them for three hours. The road is so bad, and my butt is numb from the shock …"
"Who told you to take the carriage? There are only small roads from here to the lower reaches of the Midburo River, not the main road that carriages can use. I could have traveled for another two hours, but I set up camp so early just to wait for you. "Lollister complained.
Earl Kenneth plopped himself down beside Lollister. He picked up Lollister's golden goblet and gulped down large mouthfuls of ale. Then, he casually instructed Schwald to bring him a portion of roasted mutton. "Alright, I'll ride a horse tomorrow as well. Who would've thought that there wouldn't even be a path for carriages here? Riding a carriage is pure torture. But your ale is not bad. It's better to drink ale to quench my thirst after such a long journey. "
"Can your family's army reach the river today?" Lollister asked.
"Don't worry, they set off ten days ago. They should have reached by now even if they had to crawl. We'll whip our horses at full speed on the small roads for three days, and they'll take ten days on the main roads. If they don't reach by then, I'll have to resort to military law. Our family doesn't want to raise an army of trash. "Count Kenneth answered with certainty.
"Yes, this time, your family's army and Henned's will be the main characters. The momentum of nearly a hundred thousand people should make the Madras Duchy on the other side of the river feel like they're facing a great enemy. They'll mobilize a large number of troops to confront you. In any case, you just need to create enough momentum. Don't recklessly start a war with them, lest you lose men and horses. Just let Overkiss's Thunderbolt Catapult Battalion smash their way through. "Lollister warned.
"Yes, understood. We'll keep them hanging. The final battle will be next spring. We all know what to do." Count Kenneth nodded.
… …
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