After my rebirth, my Martial Sect will surely sweep the martial world in blood.

104. Improvement

At Seven Absolutes Manor, Lin Mo was studying a border map in his study. Footsteps sounded outside the door, and Elder Mo strode in, holding a gold-embossed invitation.

"Master, the Ministry of War has sent an invitation to you to go to the capital to participate in the construction of the new army."

Lin Mo accepted the invitation, his fingertips lightly tracing the Ministry of War's seal: "It seems that after Zhou Wenyuan's downfall, our influence in the court has attracted the attention of the Ministry of War."

"Could it be a trap?" Elder Mo asked cautiously. "The Imperial Guard has suffered setbacks within the civil service system, so it's hard to guarantee they won't set a trap within the military."

Lin Mo smiled slightly: "Even if it's a trap, we have to go. Military power is something we must win next, and we can't miss this opportunity."

Three days later, Lin Mo arrived in the capital with several trusted disciples. The Ministry of War was imposing, with heavy guards at its gates. A general in military uniform was already waiting at the entrance.

"Master Lin, I am Zhao Yuanwu, a senior official in the Ministry of War, here to greet you on orders." The general clasped his hands in greeting, but his eyes were secretly sizing up Lin Mo.

Lin Mo returned the greeting: "General Zhao, you're too kind."

After passing through several courtyards, the two arrived at a training ground in the backyard of the Ministry of War. Several officials from the Ministry of War and several craftsmen dressed in various costumes had already gathered there.

An elderly man with gray hair and beard stepped forward: "Master Lin, I am Zheng Yuan, Vice Minister of the Ministry of War. I have long heard that the Seven Wonders Manor's mechanical skills are unparalleled in the world. Today, I have specially invited you to come and discuss the improvement of military equipment."

Lin Mo's gaze swept over the various weapons on display, and he already had a plan in mind: "Lord Zheng, you flatter me. May I ask what kind of weaponry the Ministry of War most urgently needs to improve?"

Zheng Yuan pointed to a row of crossbows in the field: "The border war is critical, and our crossbows are not as effective as the powerful bows of the foreign tribes. If we can improve the crossbows and increase their range and power, it will greatly enhance the combat strength of the border troops."

Lin Mo approached the crossbow and examined its structure carefully. The crossbow had a simple and ancient design and exquisite craftsmanship, but in his opinion, there were still many areas for improvement.

"The crossbow's bow arm is made of excellent material, but its structural design is too conservative." Lin Mo gently plucked the crossbow string. "If the bow arm were lengthened by three inches, a double-string design were adopted, and a set of pulleys were added inside the crossbow, the range could be increased by at least 50%."

A red-faced craftsman in the arena scoffed, "Easy for you to say! Lengthening the bow arm would make the crossbow cumbersome, and a double-string design is unheard of. Is Master Lin merely engaging in empty talk?"

Lin Mo didn't take it seriously and took out a roll of blueprints from his sleeve: "These are the design blueprints for the 'Broken Army Crossbow' developed by Seven Absolutes Manor. Please take a look."

The blueprints were passed around among the group, and their initial indifference gradually turned into astonishment. The blueprints not only detailed the structure of the double-string crossbow, but also marked the dimensions and material requirements of various precision parts.

Zheng Yuan carefully examined the blueprints, his eyes gleaming: "Master Lin, can this Broken Army Crossbow really reach a range of three hundred paces?"

"If the arm is made of the finest sandalwood and the string is made of rhinoceros sinew, the range can reach up to 350 paces," Lin Mo replied calmly.

The red-faced craftsman still disagreed: "Even if the range is sufficient, the cost is too high. Military equipment emphasizes practicality; how can such extravagance be equipped for the entire army?"

Lin Mo smiled slightly: "Master Wang is absolutely right. Therefore, I have prepared another plan."

He then took out a roll of blueprints: "This is the 'Swift Wind Crossbow,' which uses a single-string design, with the bow arm made of common mulberry wood. Its range can reach 280 paces, and its cost is only one-third of that of the Broken Army Crossbow."

Zheng Yuan took the blueprints, his delight growing with each glance: "Excellent! Excellent! This crossbow not only boasts a range far exceeding existing crossbows, but its cost is also within an acceptable range. Master Lin truly lives up to his reputation!"

Just then, a junior officer rushed over and whispered a few words in Zheng Yuan's ear. Zheng Yuan's expression changed slightly, and he said to Lin Mo, "Master Lin, the Minister of War wishes to see you in person."

Lin Mo's heart skipped a beat; he knew the real test was coming.

Inside the Ministry of War's main hall, a middle-aged official in a purple robe sat regally in the main seat, exuding an air of authority. This man was none other than Cui Huan, the Minister of War and a leading figure among the pro-war faction in the court.

"Lin Mo greets Lord Cui," Lin Mo said, bowing.

Cui Huan's gaze sharpened as he stared directly at Lin Mo: "Master Lin, the crossbow blueprints you provided are indeed exquisite. However, I'd like to know why Seven Absolutes Manor is suddenly so enthusiastic about improving its weaponry?"

Lin Mo met Cui Huan's gaze frankly: "To be honest, we recently discovered that the Seven Absolutes Manor's inner guards are colluding with foreign tribes. As citizens of the Han Dynasty, we should do our part."

Cui Huan's eyes flickered slightly: "The Imperial Guards are colluding with the foreign tribes? Does Master Lin have any evidence?"

"It's still under investigation," Lin Mo replied calmly. "However, given Lord Cui's extensive network of information, I believe he should have already heard about the unusual activity at the border."

Cui Huan remained silent for a moment, then suddenly changed the subject: "Since Master Lin is proficient in mechanical arts, would you have any knowledge of cannons?"

Lin Mo understood; this was the real focus of today's discussion. He took out a small booklet from his robes: "These are some suggestions from Seven Absolutes Manor for improving the existing cannons. Please take a look, Lord Cui."

Cui Huan took the booklet, and was stunned as soon as he opened the first page: "Rifling on the cannon barrel? What does this mean?"

"Current artillery lacks accuracy and relies entirely on quantity to win. If spiral rifling were engraved inside the barrel to make the shells spin as they fly out, the accuracy could be greatly improved," Lin Mo explained. "In addition, it is recommended to change solid shot to explosive shells, which will scatter fragments after the explosion, increasing the kill radius several times over."

Cui Huan suddenly stood up, paced around the hall several times, and then stopped abruptly: "Master Lin, how long will it take to verify these improvements?"

"If the Ministry of War provides enough craftsmen and materials, a sample can be made within ten days."

"Very well!" Cui Huan slammed his hand on the table, "I will give you ten days. If it is truly as you say, the Ministry of War will reward you handsomely!"

As Lin Mo left the Ministry of War, the sun was already setting. Walking back to the inn, he pondered his next plan. He knew this was only the first step. The arms reforms weren't just about gaining the Ministry of War's attention; they were also about establishing his own network of influence within the military.

"Master, is Minister Cui trustworthy?" the accompanying disciple asked in a low voice.

Lin Mo gazed at the setting sun on the horizon: "He's trustworthy when it comes to dealing with the Imperial Guards and the alien races. But we still need to be careful."

Upon returning to the inn, Lin Mo immediately wrote several letters and ordered his disciples to deliver them to the Seven Absolutes Manor by fast horse. In the letters, he requested that the manor's most elite craftsmen be mobilized to the capital, and also instructed Elder Mo to intensify his intelligence gathering on the border.

In the dead of night, Lin Mo was alone under the lamp, drawing more military blueprints. He knew that relying solely on crossbows and cannons was not enough; he had to demonstrate more value to gain a foothold in the military.

A soft sound came from outside the window. Lin Mo twitched his fingers slightly, and a copper coin was already between his fingers.

"Master Lin, it's me." A familiar voice rang out.

Lin Mo opened the window, and Zhao Yuanwu slipped inside, his expression grave.

"General Zhao, what brings you here so late at night?"

Zhao Yuanwu lowered his voice: "Lord Cui asked me to tell the Master that the Imperial Guards have taken notice of you. They discovered the involvement of Seven Absolutes Manor while investigating Zhou Wenyuan's case."

Lin Mo's expression remained unchanged: "As expected."

"Furthermore..." Zhao Yuanwu hesitated for a moment, "Lord Cui would like to ask if the Master of the Manor knows anything about the 'Divine Machine Battalion'?"

A glint flashed in Lin Mo's eyes: "An elite force secretly formed by the former royal family, specializing in the research and development of special weaponry, which later suddenly disappeared without a trace."

"It seems the lord of the manor did indeed know." Zhao Yuanwu nodded. "Lord Cui suspects that the Inner Guard may have taken control of the remaining forces of the Divine Machine Battalion."

This news shocked Lin Mo. If the Inner Guard had truly taken control of the Divine Machine Battalion, their strength far exceeded his expectations.

"Thank you for the reminder, Lord Cui," Lin Mo said solemnly. "Please convey to Lord Cui that Seven Absolutes Manor will do its utmost to help the Ministry of War forge stronger weaponry."

After seeing Zhao Yuanwu off, Lin Mo stood by the window, gazing at the bright moon in the night sky. Fragments of his memories of the Shenji Battalion from his past life gradually pieced together. If he remembered correctly, the most terrifying thing about the Shenji Battalion wasn't their military technology, but rather the ultimate weapon capable of changing the course of the war.

Now, he must find the legacy left by the Divine Machine Battalion before the Inner Guards do.