Governor Kong Rong strode into the room, his expression unusually tense. His sharp eyes immediately locked onto the wooden case beside Zhao Ming, and he wasted no time with pleasantries.

  “Zhao Ming, is it true? The crossbow—it works?” His voice carried a mix of excitement and urgency.

  Zhao Ming nodded, pcing a steady hand on the case. “It works, but it’s not perfect yet. We managed to fire five arrows in a row before the mechanism jammed. There are still issues we need to fix.”

  Kong Rong exhaled sharply, rubbing his chin. “Even five consecutive shots—that alone would revolutionize warfare.” He turned to Aide Chen, his tone commanding. “We need to see it in action.”

  Zhao Ming inclined his head. “We’ll need arrows and a pce to test it.”

  The governor gestured to Aide Chen. “Fetch some arrows and clear a space behind the chamber. The garden should be secluded enough for a demonstration.”

  Aide Chen bowed and swiftly exited the room.

  As they waited, Kong Rong sat down, fingers drumming against the polished wood of the table. “You said it’s not perfect yet. What exactly is the issue?”

  Zhao Ming untched the wooden case, carefully lifting the newly crafted repeating crossbow. The polished wooden stock was sturdy yet lightweight, while the metal components gleamed under the chamber’s dim light. The mechanism, however, was still a work in progress.

  “The problem lies in the arrow-feeding system,” Zhao Ming expined, running a finger along the intricate grooves of the magazine. “Right now, it fires five arrows, but after that, the alignment starts shifting slightly. When that happens, the next arrow doesn’t load properly, causing a jam.”

  Lu Qianyi, who had been silently observing, finally spoke. “But it’s still an improvement. The academy schors barely managed two shots in a row before their attempts failed.”

  Kong Rong gnced at her, nodding. “True. Even at this stage, this is a breakthrough.”

  Zhao Ming smirked. “And that’s exactly why I brought it here. If we refine this design, the repeating crossbow could become a weapon that redefines battle strategy.”

  Kong Rong’s expression darkened. He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice. “That is precisely what concerns me. If this weapon reaches its full potential, it could give any army a terrifying advantage.” He paused before adding gravely, “And that’s also why we must ensure it stays out of the wrong hands.”

  Zhao Ming agreed, but he had already been considering the risks. He tapped the crossbow lightly. “It’s a double-edged sword. Whoever controls this technology controls the battlefield.” He let his words sink in before continuing. “The academy schors struggled to reconstruct it because they cked proper weaponsmiths and military experience. Even now, Uncle Qian and Wen Tao are still refining the mechanics. But if someone else—someone with ambition and resources—manages to replicate this…”

  Kong Rong’s brows furrowed. “The bance of power would shift.”

  Zhao Ming nodded. “That’s why secrecy is crucial. Even within the Han army, we need to be careful.” He gnced at the governor. “If this is truly meant for the Han army, then why all the secrecy? Shouldn’t the court support its development openly?”

  Kong Rong was silent for a moment before sighing. “Because the imperial court is not as united as it should be.” He leaned back. “The central authority is fragile. The eunuchs control the pace, and the nobles and warlords each have their own ambitions. If word spreads about this crossbow, every faction will fight to cim it for themselves. Some might even try to steal it or kill for it.”

  Lu Qianyi folded her arms, her gaze thoughtful. “So that’s why Father wanted the project handled discreetly at the academy…”

  Zhao Ming frowned slightly. “But even the academy schors struggled to reverse-engineer it. Without Murong Trading House’s workshop and skilled craftsmen, we wouldn’t have made this much progress.”

  Kong Rong’s eyes sharpened. “Then that means the Murong Trading House will py a crucial role in this.”

  Aide Chen returned just then, carrying a bundle of arrows. “The garden is ready for testing,” he announced.

  Kong Rong stood up, his expression tense yet eager. “Let’s see this weapon in action.”

  Zhao Ming slung the crossbow over his shoulder and followed them out. Today’s test would determine more than just the weapon’s progress—it would decide its pce in history.

  The small, secluded garden behind the governor’s chamber was well-kept, with neatly trimmed hedges and a few decorative rocks arranged in harmony. A wooden target had been set up at the far end, its surface already marked with previous test shots from archery training. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and pine.

  Zhao Ming stepped forward, taking the bundle of arrows from Aide Chen’s hands. He inspected each one before loading them into the crossbow’s magazine, a narrow wooden compartment affixed atop the weapon. The process was smooth; he could feel the weight of the arrows settle into pce.

  Taking a steady breath, Zhao Ming raised the crossbow, leveling it toward the target. He rested the stock against his shoulder, his fingers gripping the smooth wooden body. With his thumb, he pulled back the lever, engaging the internal mechanism. A click sounded—the arrow was in position.

  He pulled the trigger.

  A sharp twang echoed through the garden as the first arrow shot forward, slicing through the air with precision. In a fraction of a second, it buried itself into the wooden target, piercing deep enough that only the feathered fletching was visible.

  Before the target had even stopped vibrating from the impact, Zhao Ming pulled the lever back again. The crossbow’s internal mechanism rotated, automatically feeding the next arrow into pce. He fired.

  Twang!

  The second arrow struck just beside the first, mere inches apart. The accuracy was remarkable.

  Zhao Ming continued.

  Twang! Twang! Twang!

  Each pull of the lever and squeeze of the trigger sent an arrow flying in rapid succession. The sheer speed at which he fired exceeded that of any standard bow or crossbow.

  By the time the fifth arrow hit its mark, the wooden target looked like a porcupine, five arrows embedded in a tight cluster near the center. The force of the shots had splintered the surface, showcasing the raw power behind the mechanism.

  Just as Zhao Ming prepared to fire again, something went wrong.

  He pulled the lever, but instead of smoothly cycling the next arrow, the mechanism locked up. The magazine shifted slightly, misaligning the arrows. When he tried to fire, nothing happened.

  Zhao Ming furrowed his brows, lowering the crossbow. He tapped the side of the weapon and carefully examined the feeding system.

  “The magazine misaligned again,” he muttered, adjusting his grip. He tried to reset the lever, but the jam persisted. “The first five shots worked, but on the sixth, the alignment failed.”

  Kong Rong let out a breath he had been holding, stepping closer to inspect the results. His eyes flickered between the crossbow and the devastated target. “Incredible…”

  Lu Qianyi, standing beside him, looked equally stunned. “Five shots in a row—with that level of accuracy and power…” She clenched her fists. “If this were used in battle, a single crossbowman could eliminate multiple enemies before they even got close!”

  Kong Rong nodded, his excitement evident. “No ordinary soldier could defend against this kind of rapid fire.” He looked at Zhao Ming. “Even with the jamming issue, this is already a weapon of war.”

  Aide Chen, usually composed, let out a low whistle. “It’s no wonder Lu Zhi and the academy schors were desperate to see this project succeed.”

  Zhao Ming, however, remained calm. “It’s still not complete. If it jams during battle, it’s useless.” He gave the crossbow a final inspection before slinging it over his shoulder. “We need to fix the alignment issue. But at least now, we know this prototype is functional.”

  Kong Rong exhaled sharply, crossing his arms. His mind was already racing with the implications. “We need to secure this development immediately.” He turned to Zhao Ming. “Tell me what you need. Resources, funding—I will make sure you get it.”

  Zhao Ming smirked slightly. “First, we need to ensure secrecy. This project can’t fall into the wrong hands.”

  Kong Rong nodded firmly. “Agreed. Let’s discuss the next steps inside.”

  With that, they turned back toward the chamber, their minds now focused on the future of the repeating crossbow—and the shifting bance of power it could bring.

  Back inside the chamber, the air buzzed with a mixture of excitement and deep contemption. Lu Qianyi still looked amazed by the test, while Governor Kong Rong had a thoughtful expression. The success of the prototype was undeniable, but its fws also needed addressing.

  Lu Qianyi, still brimming with enthusiasm, spoke first. “Even with the jamming issue, this is a breakthrough! Imagine an ambush force raining arrows before the enemy has a chance to react!”

  Kong Rong nodded but remained measured in his response. “The potential is clear. Zhao Ming, what do you need to continue development? More workers? Better materials? I will make sure you get it.”

  Zhao Ming, arms crossed, leaned slightly against the table. “For now, we have everything necessary to keep improving the design. The real issue isn’t resources—it’s time. We don’t know how long it will take to fix the jamming issue.”

  Silence settled for a moment as the weight of that reality sank in.

  Zhao Ming continued, tapping his fingers against the crossbow. “There are two ways we can go about this:

  Refine the crossbow until it fires fwlessly with true rapid-fire capability. This would make it a long-term game-changer, but it could take months—or even years.

  Make it a single-use weapon. We refine the design just enough to guarantee at least five or six consecutive shots. Once used, it gets returned for repair—or, if the situation calls for it, designed to be easily destroyed to prevent capture.”

  Lu Qianyi immediately tched onto the second option. “A single-use weapon makes the most sense! We don’t have the luxury of waiting for perfection. In war, a single ambush can decide the outcome of an entire battle. If soldiers can fire five arrows before retreating, that’s already an overwhelming advantage!”

  Kong Rong stroked his beard. “A crossbow that can be recovered and fixed or discarded if needed… That would certainly allow for faster deployment.”

  But his expression turned contemptive. “Yet, if perfected, a fully functional repeating crossbow would be unstoppable. It would not just be a tool for surprise attacks—it would change warfare itself.”

  A brief silence followed as they weighed the two possibilities.

  Zhao Ming finally spoke, giving his stance. “I agree with Lu Qianyi’s idea for now. We can produce a crossbow that can reliably fire five shots, and soldiers can return it for maintenance. If they can’t recover it, they destroy it. This way, we gain an immediate advantage while continuing development in the background.”

  Kong Rong, though reluctant, eventually nodded. “Very well. We’ll go with that pn for now.”

  Just as they settled on the decision, Kong Rong’s expression darkened. He exhaled heavily and turned toward Zhao Ming. “There’s another matter.”

  Zhao Ming raised an eyebrow. “Something urgent?”

  Kong Rong’s tone grew serious. “I received word from Lu Zhi. The news from Luoyang is not good.”

  Both Zhao Ming and Lu Qianyi tensed, sensing the gravity of his words.

  The room fell into uneasy silence, the weight of incoming news pressing upon them.

  Something was happening in the Imperial Court—and whatever it was, it wouldn’t be in their favor.