Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
"Ah!"
As the two people in the room sighed simultaneously, Luzi finally decided not to stay any longer. Perhaps he had been too selfish, never considering the feelings of others. If their roles were reversed at this moment, how could personal connections influence national affairs?
So be it!
Luzi quietly apologized and asked for the well-being of Queen Dowager before preparing to leave. He didn't want to burden anyone further; after all, this matter was a national issue for both individuals in the room. Faced with an incomparable friendship... so be it!
Watching Luzi, who used to share everything with her, waiting for approval to leave, Queen Dowager suddenly felt an insurmountable chasm had formed between them. Memories of their past conversations flashed before her eyes, as if they had just happened. It felt like in the blink of an eye, she realized that so much had changed.
"General Lu, take care!" Queen Dowager waved her hand weakly, feeling an indescribable heaviness in her heart. Looking up at Luzi, who had already reached the door, she suddenly remembered something. "If possible... please don't return to Shangdang!"
Hearing this, Luzi smiled bitterly and shook his head. There were hundreds of thousands of comrades there; even if they were to die, they would die together. He said no more and urged Queen Dowager to take care of herself. Then he stepped out the door and turned to leave.
Sitting in her seat, Queen Dowager listened to the fading footsteps before reaching for a bamboo slip on the table to open and check. The words written above had been read countless times by her, yet she never expected it would be this order. At this moment, it was no longer a question of whether Qi State would send troops.
Luzi! Qin State is in danger!
Outside Qi King's Palace, Sun Thirteen did not believe that Luzi would fail in this task; after all, Prosperity Record had contributed so much to Qi State. Moreover, many transactions were conducted privately, perhaps even King Zhao of Qin was unaware. Rather than saying that Qi State now belonged to Tian Family, it was more accurate to say...
When Sun Thirteen saw Luzi walk out of the palace gate with a helpless expression, his heart sank as well. What he couldn't fathom was how something that seemed so simple could go wrong!
Noticing the grim expression on Big Shopkeeper's face, Sun Thirteen dared not ask any questions while driving the carriage ahead. Although he didn't believe in this outcome at all, he couldn't help but think about that unfavorable answer deep down. Even when he desperately tried to shift his attention elsewhere, he still couldn't achieve the desired effect.
Some people do not want to talk, while others do. Sitting in the back, Luzi heard no noise from the front and thus had no conversation to distract from his gloomy mood. "Sun Thirteen! I asked you to return home to send a message to the Artificer for support. The Shangdang Campaign is about to end, yet there has been no response!"
Sun Thirteen had been with Luzi for quite some time and could sense what this Big Shopkeeper was thinking. Hearing the question from behind, he cleared his throat and replied, "Don't mention it! We have problems at home too! Master Chu is overwhelmed and has no resources to spare for the front lines!"
Luzi recalled that during Sun Thirteen's report upon returning from the Chu Region, he mentioned that the domestic side would do everything possible to provide support to the front lines. If he remembered correctly, there was no mention of any issues at home during that report.
"What happened? What exactly is going on at home?"
Sun Thirteen, feeling just as frustrated, wanted to change the subject. He explained that he hadn't mentioned this matter in Shangdang to avoid causing anyone distress. Besides, the Master Engineer had said they would find a solution. There was a choice of whether to speak or not about it, especially since the Artificer had not indicated any inability to provide support.
Listening quietly to the rambling in front of him, Luzi was too irritated to notice anything else. After hearing explanations without any substantial information, he only realized someone had gone off-topic when he saw the flag of Prosperity Inn.
Upon hearing someone remind him, Sun Thirteen let out a long sigh. As he jumped down from the carriage outside the inn, he said, "Innkeeper! Is this negative energy contagious?"
Luzi jumped down after him and retorted, "Nonsense! If there's negative energy, it's because you infected me!"
Hearing this, Sun Thirteen couldn't help but laugh heartily. He handed the reins to the waiting Shop Assistant and entered the inn alongside Luzi. As they walked in, he shared the awkward situation at home to prevent further inquiries.
It turned out there were indeed problems at home, but they could be significant or minor depending on perspective. The reason for this ambiguity was that tricky issues could still be resolved with manpower. Ever since the Qin Army entered Shangdang, subsequent equipment changes had been progressing rapidly.
This led to an unavoidable issue: the demand for crossbow arrows at the front line had reached an all-time high, which brought bronze production into focus. It was shocking once calculated; the weight of metal required by the Arsenal was astronomical.
The term "bronze" actually refers to a copper-tin alloy. Any copper alloy other than brass or nickel silver can be classified as bronze. This explanation clarifies that there are no bronze mines in this world. The bronze widely used in military applications was an alloy produced through smelting techniques developed later on.
During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, conflicts between various Feudal States occurred every year. Countless battles took place, each contributing to a history of warfare. If this copper-tin alloy were only used for civilian purposes, the output from Copper Mines would be more than sufficient. After all, it is a metal and cannot be digested like food.
The only significant consumption of this alloy comes from war, where the weight lost is astonishing. Moreover, once this alloy is widely used in weapon manufacturing, any damaged items are immediately discarded. On the battlefield, who would dare risk their life to collect scrap metal?
The Bronze arrowheads used on a large number of arrows are countless, so much so that they can be described as being fired without concern for retrieval. As a type of ranged weapon that requires precision, very few Soldiers would pick up used arrows from the battlefield. Even after a battle, no general would suggest that their Soldiers search for arrowheads.
Realistically speaking, there are times on the battlefield when conserving resources is encouraged. However, this usually occurs when facing numerous enemies; to ensure effective kills and to hold out until the end, Soldiers are reminded to conserve ammunition.
In recent years, the Qin Army has faced an awkward situation due to a lack of Bronze supplies. This has led to discussions about the ultimate goal of capturing Zhongtiao Mountain, which is rich in Copper Mine resources. Securing control over this mining area would significantly change the current demand for Copper Mines.
At this time, the Qin State's Arsenal is in a difficult position akin to a skilled worker unable to cook without rice. Without sufficient Copper Mine resources being delivered, it will soon become impossible to produce weapons.
Comment 0 Comment Count