The world of film and television starts from the flow of money

County Magistrate's Office.

In the lobby, the solemn atmosphere made people feel a little breathless.

Li Xin sat there, his posture as upright as usual, but his furrowed brows and slightly pursed lips still revealed his inner worries. Xiao He, on the other side, looked somewhat relaxed.

Li Xin longed to make great achievements, expand the territory for the Qin Dynasty, and leave his name in history. However, when he thought of the task assigned by His Majesty, he felt like a huge stone was pressing on his heart.

Your Majesty wants him to pacify the Western Qiang within three months. How is that possible?

The Western Qiang territory was vast, and the Qiang tribes were scattered among the valleys and grasslands. They were familiar with the terrain and were very flexible. Their cavalry was elusive and could launch a surprise attack on the Qin army at any time.

"Let alone joining forces with General Meng Tian to attack the Xiongnu, just pacifying the Western Qiang within three months is an almost impossible task."

Li Xin broke the silence, his voice low but clear: "Although your majesty has mobilized the troops of Shu County to attack from two directions, the actual operation is difficult."

He raised his head slightly, looked at Xiao He, and continued: "Shu County is far away from Longxi. Not only are there mountains and rivers blocking the way, but the roads are also rugged and difficult to travel. It is extremely inconvenient to pass messages. If something unexpected happens during the battle, the two armies will not be able to communicate and coordinate in time. Moreover, we have limited knowledge of the specific situation of the Western Qiang. We don't know their troop distribution, the relationship between the tribes, etc. If we advance blindly, we may fall into the enemy's trap."

"The land of Western Qiang is mostly desert grasslands, and it is difficult to collect enough food and fodder locally. If the food and fodder are not transported in time, the army is likely to fall into a food shortage dilemma."

As he spoke, Li Xin stood up, walked to the window, looked at the direction of the parade ground outside, and slowly said: "Besides, they are good at riding and shooting. Our infantry can easily become their target in the open area. ... This matter is as difficult as climbing to the sky!"

Xiao He stood up and walked to Li Xin with steady steps. He slightly turned sideways, paused for a moment and said, "General, given the current situation, we might as well send some elite spies deep into the Western Qiang. Ask them to find out as much as possible about the distribution of Western Qiang tribes, the specific location of each tribe, the size of each tribe, and the relationship between them. At the same time, it is crucial to find the Qiang people's water source. The water source is not only the key to their lives, but also an important strategic location in wartime. There are also their common marching routes, which will help us predict the enemy's actions and set up ambushes or avoid the sharp edge."

Xiao He looked at Li Xin with a smile on his face and said:

"Although the three-month deadline is tight, we only need two months to prepare for battle. The Prime Minister ordered me to bring some military supplies this time. The general may change his mind after seeing them."

"Oh? You're talking about Prime Minister Zhao?!"

Li Xin raised his eyebrows slightly, a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes. After a moment of thought, he looked at Xiao He and said, "I have heard that Prime Minister Zhao's sister is the reincarnation of the God of Craftsmanship. I know that the farm tools she made are exquisite and practical, which greatly improved the efficiency of farming, but I didn't know that she can also make weapons."

Xiao He nodded slightly, with a hint of admiration in his eyes, and said: "General, you don't know that although Prime Minister Zhao's sister is a woman, she is extremely intelligent and has extraordinary ingenuity. I can only say that the siege weapons made by Lord Yi can be as powerful as a million troops!"

"oh?!"

Curiosity and anticipation appeared in Li Xin's eyes, and he said, "Master Xiao, I wonder what kind of weapons they are? If they are really ingenious, perhaps they can really increase our chances of victory in this expedition."

Xiao He smiled and kept it a secret: "Don't worry, General. You will know when we go to the training ground."

After saying that, Xiao He made a gesture to invite Li Xin to come in. Li Xin stood up and the two of them walked towards the parade ground together.

Along the way, Li Xin was thinking about what kind of surprises these unknown weapons would bring him, and whether they could really change the current tense situation and allow him to complete the arduous task of pacifying the Western Qiang within three months. Xiao He walked steadily, full of confidence in the military equipment and believed that it would definitely help Li Xin.

The vast training ground outside the Longxi County Wei Mansion glowed golden under the direct sunlight, like a golden ocean. The flags around were flying freely in the breeze, making a whirring sound.

The soldiers were dressed in neat black armor, like a silent black forest, their postures were as straight as pine trees, their ranks were neat, and the sunlight was shining on their armor.

Xiao He strode towards the area where military equipment samples were placed. There were several solid wooden racks in that area, and all kinds of brand-new weapons were displayed on them.

"General Li, this is a repeating crossbow. It is easy to carry and has great power... It can be equipped to the cavalry."

Xiao He signaled his guards to pick up a crossbow and turned to face Li Xin.

Li Xin observed this strange-looking crossbow with curiosity. It was about two feet long, and the crossbow was carefully crafted from hard black wood with fine and tight texture. The crossbow arm was embedded with iron forged parts, which fit perfectly, not only enhancing the stability of the crossbow, but also giving it strong tension. The crossbow string was carefully twisted from strong beef tendons, and every fiber contained strength.

A row of armored guards behind him picked up the crossbow and pulled out a crossbow arrow from the quiver beside him. The arrowhead was sharp and triangular, shining coldly in the sunlight, and the carefully crafted blood groove on the arrowhead was chilling. He skillfully placed the crossbow arrow on the crossbow, held the crossbow body tightly with both hands, and pulled the crossbow string hard. With a slight "click", the crossbow arrow was firmly in place. He looked at a row of straw targets in the distance. Those straw targets were tightly tied with thick layers of straw and wrapped in a layer of rough linen. They swayed gently in the breeze, as if silently waiting for the judgment of fate.

Xiao He looked at a guard beside him and nodded slightly. The guard understood, stepped forward and shouted:

"Get ready!"

The row of armored guards quickly stepped out, holding crossbows, and walked in neat steps to the center of the training ground, quickly getting into shooting positions.

The guard raised his hand, swung it down, and shouted, "Shoot!"

The soldiers pulled the triggers at the same time. In an instant, the crossbow arrows whizzed out like a storm. The crossbow arrows made a short and sharp sound. The crossbow arrows shot accurately at the straw target, and the linen on the straw target was easily torn by the arrows, and wood chips flew like snowflakes. Some crossbow arrows were deeply embedded in the straw target, and the tails of the arrows trembled violently in the air; some directly shot through the straw target, with flying debris.

After a round of shooting, the soldiers quickly and skillfully loaded the crossbows. Their movements were skillful and smooth, and they finished loading again in a short while, preparing for the next round of shooting.

Xiao He looked at Li Xin and said, "General, this crossbow is not only extremely powerful, but after training, the soldiers can complete loading and firing in a short time, continuously striking the enemy."

Li Xin nodded slightly, walked forward, took the crossbow from a soldier, and looked at it carefully. Feeling the weight and touch of the crossbow, he gently pulled the crossbow string and felt its tension. Then, he looked up at the straw target in the distance, thinking about how to use the crossbow on the battlefield. After a while, Li Xin gently pulled the crossbow string, feeling the tension and smoothness of the crossbow string, secretly admiring its exquisite design. Then he pulled out a crossbow arrow from the quiver, and the cold light of the arrowhead made him feel a chill in his heart. He put the crossbow arrow on the crossbow with a skilled and steady movement.

Li Xin raised his head and looked at the straw target in the distance. He took a deep breath, and his eyes instantly became focused and sharp. He slightly adjusted his posture, spread his feet apart, and stabilized his lower body. Then he pulled the trigger, and the crossbow arrow flew out like lightning. At the moment the crossbow arrow left the string, his ears moved slightly, catching the sound of the crossbow arrow cutting through the air, and his eyes were fixed on the trajectory of the flying crossbow arrow. The crossbow arrow flew straight towards the straw target, and with a "whoosh", it accurately hit the center of the straw target. The linen cloth on the straw target was torn by the arrow, and wood chips flew.

Li Xin was filled with surprise, and without pausing, he quickly reloaded the crossbow. His hands moved quickly and deftly, and soon he finished reloading. He raised the crossbow again, and this time he leaned slightly to raise the crossbow a little higher. He fixed his eyes firmly on another straw target and fired again. The crossbow arrow whizzed towards the target and once again stuck firmly on the straw target.

Li Xin couldn't help but reveal a satisfied smile on his face, and he kept trying different shooting angles and methods. With each shooting, he became more and more familiar with the performance of the crossbow, and his movements became more and more fluent. Li Xin's eyes flashed with excitement, as if he had seen the scene of the crossbow's great power on the battlefield.

"General Li...what you're going to do next can be considered a divine weapon!" Xiao He said to Li Xin with a mysterious smile on his face and a hint of excitement and solemnity in his eyes.

"Oh? What can be called a divine weapon?!"

Li Xin was slightly startled, a strong curiosity surged in his heart. He stared at Xiao He closely, waiting for further explanation.

Xiao He cleared his throat and said seriously, "Please order General Li to get the soldiers ready. No matter what happens, all soldiers must remain calm and not panic. In addition, the general needs to send people to lead all the horses five miles away."

Li Xin was even more confused, but he knew that Xiao He had a reason for this arrangement. He turned to the deputy general beside him and said, "You should immediately arrange for the horses to be settled five miles away according to Lord Xiao's instructions. At the same time, send an order to the soldiers to calm down and not panic."

The deputy general took the order and left. The soldiers on the parade ground heard the order and began to move in an orderly manner. Although they were full of curiosity and doubts, long-term training had made them develop the habit of obeying orders, and their movements were quick and orderly.

Xiao He watched the soldiers carry out orders in an orderly manner, nodded slightly, then turned and walked towards the area where the mysterious military equipment was placed.

Li Xin followed behind Xiao He, keeping a close eye on his every move.

Xiao He walked to a huge object covered by a thick black canvas and stopped. He raised his hand to signal the surrounding soldiers to step back a distance to ensure safety. Then he reached out and grabbed a corner of the canvas, took a deep breath, and slowly peeled it off. As the canvas slid off, a wooden box appeared in front of everyone. In the wooden box, there were dozens of round objects the size of earthenware jars, with a thin thing at the tip.

"General, this is gunpowder, also known as thunderbolt fire."

Xiao He's voice was steady and powerful. "This is a new weapon made by our Great Qin. Its power is beyond imagination."

As he spoke, he raised his hand.

The guards beside him understood and first picked up a thick wooden board and placed it at a distance, then placed a small basket filled with soil and rocks in front of the board to simulate a simple defensive fortification. Then, he picked up a special small stone throwing device from his side, carefully placed the Thunderbolt in it, adjusted the angle, lit the fuse, and then quickly pulled it back to a safe distance.

The fuse was burning with a hissing sound, and the sparks were rapidly approaching the gunpowder bag. In an instant, there was a loud bang like thunder, deafening, and flames shot up into the sky. The powerful impact force spread the heat wave wildly in all directions, and the small basket filled with soil and rocks was instantly blown away, and the wooden board was also blown to pieces. Wood chips and soil and stone debris flew out like raindrops, raising a cloud of dust on the ground.

The soldiers around were instantly shocked by the sudden explosion and didn't know what to do. Some soldiers stared with their eyes wide open, their mouths slightly open, their faces full of disbelief, as if time had stopped at this moment, and their minds were briefly blank with the loud noise. Some soldiers trembled unconsciously, and almost dropped the weapons they were holding tightly in their hands. Although they had received the general's order to remain calm, the unimaginable power still filled them with fear. Several younger soldiers' legs became weak, and they knelt directly on the ground, clasped their hands together, and prayed in their mouths, praying for the protection of the gods. Some soldiers subconsciously took a few steps back, and then reacted to their actions, and quickly stabilized their bodies, trying to stand up straight again, but their eyes were still full of panic.

Li Xin's eyes widened, his face full of shock. He felt as if his heart was being tightly grasped by an invisible hand, beating violently, and his breathing became rapid. The huge noise buzzed in his ears, making him a little dazed for a moment.

Looking at the mess after the explosion, a storm surged in his heart. He had charged into battle on countless battlefields, seen the volleys of strong bows and crossbows, and witnessed the power of catapults throwing boulders, but he had never seen something so destructive. Various possible battlefield scenarios flashed through his mind like lightning: the sturdy camps of the Western Qiang collapsed under the bombardment of gunpowder, and the Xiongnu cavalry was knocked off their horses by the explosion. Excitement surged in his heart like a tide, and he seemed to see the dawn of victory in front of him. With such a sharp weapon, there was no need to worry about the enemy's army not being broken. However, a trace of worry also arose. Such a powerful weapon, if there was a mistake during use, it would undoubtedly be a disaster for his army. Moreover, the power of this gunpowder was so great. If the enemy obtained or mastered the method of manufacturing, what kind of threat would the Qin Dynasty face?
There was a gleam in Li Xin's eyes, and he fell into deep thought, thinking about how to maximize the power of the gunpowder while ensuring that it would be foolproof.

Xiao He raised his voice slightly to ensure that Li Xin could hear clearly: "General, when attacking a city, you can put gunpowder in a trebuchet or other launching device and throw it at the enemy's city wall. The impact and destructive power generated by the explosion can effectively destroy the city wall's defense facilities and open up an attack channel for our army. Even when facing a solid enemy camp, gunpowder can blow open the camp gate and collapse the barrier, leaving the enemy with nowhere to hide."

As he spoke, he pointed to several temporary earthen slopes not far away, on which flags representing the enemy were inserted, simulating the enemy's positions. "If two armies are facing each other and the enemy is gathering in formation, the gunpowder can be thrown accurately into the enemy's formation. The loud noise and fire produced by the explosion can not only instantly shock the enemy and cause great chaos in their morale, but also the fragments and shock waves produced by the explosion can cause large-scale casualties to the enemy, disrupting their formation and making it impossible for them to take care of each other. Compared with previous siege and confrontation weapons, the power of gunpowder is enough to scare the enemy."

Li Xin stared at the still smoking explosion site, and nodded slowly after a while: "This gunpowder is indeed incredibly powerful. If used properly, it will definitely be a great killer on the battlefield."

As he spoke, he took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down. His eyes slowly moved from the smoke-filled explosion site to Xiao He, and he clasped his fists and said, "Captain Xiao, although this gunpowder is very powerful, our army has never used it before. I don't know how to exercise it to maximize its effectiveness? And how to ensure its safety during transportation?"

Xiao He nodded slightly and said seriously, "General, your concerns are very true. The Prime Minister has arranged for craftsmen who are familiar with the production and use of gunpowder to come and assist. In terms of drills, they will instruct the soldiers on how to load, ignite, and control the angle and timing of throwing. As for transportation, special wooden boxes will be specially made with soft lining inside to reduce shock, and placed in the middle of the team, with heavy guards."

Li Xin frowned slightly, thought for a moment and said, "Even so, we must not take it lightly. The terrain of Xiqiang is complex and the roads are rugged. If we encounter an enemy surprise attack on the way, once the gunpowder is detonated, the consequences will be disastrous."

At this time, the deputy general stepped forward, saluted and said:

"General, I think we can send a vanguard to explore the road conditions in advance, eliminate the enemy's traces, and ensure the safety of the gunpowder transport team."

Li Xin nodded and looked at Xiao He: "Captain Xiao, what do you think?"

Xiao He replied: "This plan is feasible. At the same time, we need to strengthen the training of soldiers so that they can quickly familiarize themselves with the use of gunpowder in different battlefield environments. For example, when attacking a city, how to coordinate the firing frequency of the catapult; when facing the enemy cavalry, how to grasp the distance and timing of throwing."

"Captain Xiao is absolutely right!"

Li Xin nodded, turned his head and looked at the last few things in the middle of the playground, with a strange look in his eyes: "Captain Xiao, what are those? Could they be more powerful than Thunderbolt? "

(End of this chapter)