novelapdf 105. Triumph
105. Triumph
The ten-day deadline passed in the blink of an eye. Banners fluttered on the Ministry of War's drill ground, and the new army's military exercises were about to begin. Lin Mo stood on a high platform on the east side of the drill ground, behind him were ten Swift Wind Crossbows and two Broken Army Crossbows, meticulously crafted by the artisans of Seven Absolutes Manor.
Dressed in military uniform, Cui Huan ascended the main grandstand surrounded by a group of generals. His gaze swept across the drill ground, lingering briefly on Lin Mo, and he nodded slightly.
"Master Lin, today's martial arts demonstration is of great importance." Zhao Yuanwu walked to Lin Mo's side and whispered, "The people the Inner Guard has planted in the Ministry of War will also be there to watch, just waiting to see us make a fool of ourselves."
Lin Mo said calmly, "Don't worry, the weaponry of Seven Absolutes Manor never disappoints."
The bugle sounded, and the military exercise officially began. First came the standard weapons display, with archers firing in formation, but the results were mediocre. Several officials in the stands looked impatient and whispered among themselves.
When it was the Seven Absolutes Manor's turn to use their crossbows, a murmur rippled through the crowd. The unique design of the Gale Crossbow had piqued everyone's curiosity.
"Is this the crossbow made by that martial arts sect? It looks flashy." A sarcastic voice came from the west side of the stands. Lin Mo didn't need to turn around to know that it was Sun Dehai, an official in the Ministry of War, who was an informant planted by the Imperial Guard in the Ministry of War.
The first round of shooting began. Ten crossbows fired simultaneously, the sound of bolts piercing the air exceptionally sharp. The arrows accurately struck the bullseye 280 paces away, their force so great that they pierced directly through the thick wooden target.
A moment of silence fell over the room, followed by gasps of amazement.
Sun Dehai's face was grim, but he forced himself to remain calm: "It's just that the range is longer; it may not be practical in actual combat."
The second demonstration was shooting at moving targets. The crossbowmen skillfully adjusted their angles and hit the fast-moving targets repeatedly, achieving a hit rate of up to 90%.
Cui Huan stroked his beard and nodded, a look of satisfaction in his eyes.
Finally, two crossbows appeared. As the crossbowmen adjusted their angles and aimed at the target 350 paces away, everyone in the arena held their breath.
"Three hundred and fifty steps? That's impossible!" Sun Dehai exclaimed.
The bowstring of the Broken Army Crossbow emitted a dull thud, and two specially made steel bolts streaked across the sky like meteors, accurately hitting the distant target. Even more astonishingly, the bolts not only pierced the target but also, with undiminished force, embedded themselves deeply into the earthen wall behind it.
A deafening roar of cheers erupted from the drill ground. Several border generals stood up excitedly, eager to examine these amazing crossbows closely.
Sun Dehai's face turned ashen, and he suddenly shouted, "These crossbows are expensive and complicated to manufacture. How can they be equipped for the three armies? They are nothing but toys for the wealthy!"
Lin Mo was prepared and bowed to Cui Huan, saying, "Lord Cui, the cost of the Gale Crossbow is only 1.5 times that of the existing crossbows, while the Breaking Army Crossbow is more expensive due to its high-quality materials. However, I have another item that can prove that the Seven Absolutes Manor's military equipment is not only excellent but also mass-produced."
He gestured to his disciples to bring over a wooden box. Inside, upon opening, was a peculiar set of tools and several blueprints.
"These are molds and jigs specially made by Seven Absolutes Manor. Using these tools, even ordinary craftsmen can quickly produce qualified crossbow parts." Lin Mo took out a set of parts and assembled them on the spot. In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a complete Gale Crossbow was presented to everyone.
Cui Huan finally smiled: "Excellent! Excellent! Master Lin has thought things through thoroughly, not only improving the weaponry but also the manufacturing process. This is true dedication to the country and its people!"
Sun Dehai remained undeterred: "While superior weaponry is important, the difficulty of operation must also be considered. These crossbows have complex structures, and ordinary soldiers would find it difficult to master them in a short period of time."
Lin Mo smiled slightly and waved to the audience. Ten newly recruited soldiers stepped onto the stage; these young men had never handled a crossbow before.
"These ten men are new recruits who joined the army three days ago. After two days of training, they are already proficient in operating the Gale Crossbow," Lin Mo explained.
The recruits skillfully loaded, aimed, and fired, their movements fluid and natural, hitting the moving target once again.
Thunderous applause erupted in the arena. Several border generals had already eagerly surrounded Cui Huan, requesting priority in equipping him with these new crossbows.
Sun Dehai gritted his teeth, but could no longer find a reason to refute him.
Cui Huan stood up and announced loudly, "I hereby declare that the Ministry of War will purchase one thousand Swift Wind Crossbows and one hundred Breaking Army Crossbows from Seven Absolutes Manor. The first batch of three hundred must be delivered to the border troops within one month!"
Cheers erupted across the drill ground. Lin Mo bowed to accept the order, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over Sun Dehai's resentful eyes, a cold smile playing on his lips. This was just the beginning; the real show was yet to come.
After the martial arts demonstration, Lin Mo was invited to the main hall of the Ministry of War. Cui Huan dismissed everyone except Zhao Yuanwu.
"Master Lin displayed his skills today, not only broadening the horizons of his colleagues in the Ministry of War, but also severely damaging the arrogance of the Imperial Guards." Cui Huan rarely smiled. "Those 1,100 crossbows are just the beginning. The Ministry of War needs more new military equipment."
Lin Mo calmly replied, "Rest assured, Lord Cui, Seven Absolutes Manor will do its utmost. However..."
"But what?" Cui Huan pressed.
"This humble citizen is worried that the Imperial Guard will not stand idly by and watch us grow stronger. Sun Dehai's attitude has become very clear today."
Cui Huan sneered, "Sun Dehai is nothing but a clown. The real trouble is the person behind him."
Zhao Yuanwu continued, "We've received information that the Inner Guard may have mobilized former members of the Divine Machine Battalion and is also developing new weaponry. After today's military exercise, they will definitely accelerate their progress."
Lin Mo's heart stirred: "I do have some clues about the Divine Machine Battalion. When the previous dynasty fell, some of the Divine Machine Battalion's records may have been lost to the public. If the Ministry of War needs them, Seven Absolutes Manor can assist in the investigation."
Cui Huan stared sharply at Lin Mo: "Master Lin seems to know a lot about the Divine Machine Battalion?"
"It's not surprising that the Seven Absolutes Manor, which has been studying mechanical arts for generations, has some records of the Divine Machine Battalion," Lin Mo replied calmly.
Cui Huan pondered for a moment: "In that case, the task of investigating the relics of the Divine Machine Battalion will be entrusted to Master Lin. The Ministry of War will provide the necessary support."
As Lin Mo left the Ministry of War, the sun was already setting. Walking back to the inn, he pondered his next move. Securing the Ministry of War's order was only the first step; his true objective was to use their resources to track down the Divine Machine Battalion.
In my past life's memories, the most crucial secret of the Divine Machine Battalion wasn't the weaponry blueprints, but an ultimate weapon called "Heaven and Earth Coexistence." It was said that this weapon possessed astonishing power, enough to alter the course of the world. If the Imperial Guards were to find it first, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Back at the inn, Lin Mo immediately wrote several letters and used all of Seven Absolutes Manor's intelligence networks in the martial arts world to begin tracking down the whereabouts of the Divine Machine Battalion.
In the stillness of the night, he studied an ancient map alone under the lamp. The map marked several locations that might hold the relics of the Shenji Camp, the most intriguing of which was a secret stronghold in the Zhongnan Mountains.
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," Zhao Yuanwu's voice rang out again.
Lin Mo opened the window, and Zhao Yuanwu slipped inside, his expression grave.
"Sun Dehai secretly met with the Imperial Guards tonight," Zhao Yuanwu said in a low voice. "They plan to sabotage the delivery of the crossbows and undermine the Ministry of War's trust in Seven Absolutes Manor."
Lin Mo sneered: "As expected, you've lost your composure."
"Lord Cui asked me to remind the lord to be extra careful when delivering the crossbows. The imperial guards might disguise themselves as bandits to rob the crossbows along the way, or secretly sabotage their quality."
Lin Mo nodded: "Thank you for the reminder, Lord Cui. However, they're probably going to be disappointed."
He took out a specially made whistle arrow: "The crossbows of Seven Absolutes Manor have special anti-counterfeiting marks, and each crossbow is equipped with a self-destruct device. If it is forcibly disassembled, it will automatically destroy the core components."
Zhao Yuanwu exclaimed in admiration, "Master Lin's thinking is so thorough, I admire him!"
After seeing Zhao Yuanwu off, Lin Mo stood by the window, gazing at the stars in the night sky. Memories of his past and present lives intertwined in his mind, and he knew that the battle with the Inner Guard had only just begun. The secret of the Divine Machine Battalion might very well be the key to victory or defeat.
Under the moonlight, his eyes were resolute and profound. He was determined to win this game of chess.