Volume One, Chapter Nine: The Might of the Sling, Shattering the Divine Crossbow of the Clouds!

Xu Qian turned slightly, gesturing toward the trebuchets assembled behind him. He exclaimed with great delight, "Your Highness, these trebuchets are truly works of ingenious craftsmanship—absolutely exquisite!"

Qin Feng focused his gaze. Ten trebuchets had been fully assembled, standing atop the city walls at hundred-meter intervals. Upon closer inspection, the main frames were constructed from dense, iron-hard black ironwood, with thick supports resembling the bones of a giant, holding the structure firmly in place. The wood had been coated in tung oil, which not only provided protection against moisture and decay but also lent it a deep, lustrous sheen.

The joints utilized sophisticated dovetail mortise and tenon craftsmanship. Each connection was seamless, further reinforced by iron fittings that gripped the critical points like the claws of a ferocious beast, ensuring the structure remained as steady as a mountain even under the immense stress of impact. The long throwing arms were crafted from ox-tendon wood, known for its exceptional elasticity, with the tips slightly thickened to better bear the weight and accelerate the launch of the stones.

"Excellent!" Qin Feng reached out to touch the surface of the trebuchet, nodding in satisfaction.

Xu Qian’s excitement remained undiminished as he said, "Your Highness, this trebuchet is not just formidable in appearance; its power system is where the true brilliance lies."

He was, after all, the officer responsible for military armaments. Although it was his first time seeing these specially modified trebuchets, a brief examination was enough for him to grasp the basics. According to Xu Qian, the trebuchets were equipped with an improved winch mechanism. The central axle was forged from refined steel, wrapped in tough ropes braided from multiple strands of fine linen thread. Treated with a special oil, the ropes were not only more durable but had significantly less friction. Ratchet mechanisms were cleverly installed on both sides of the winch; as the winch turned, the ratchets effectively prevented the ropes from slipping back, allowing the force to be accumulated steadily.

Xu Qian’s eyes sparkled with anticipation as he tentatively asked, "Your Highness, shall we fire one to test it?"

Qin Feng nodded and waved his hand. "Load!"

At his command, several soldiers carried a massive, smooth stone projectile over and rolled it slowly into the specially designed sling. The sling was stitched from thick rhinoceros hide and lined with soft yet durable silk, which protected the stone from damage during loading while ensuring it would release smoothly at the moment of launch. As the stone settled into the sling, it emitted a dull, muffled thud, like a giant beast swallowing a heavy fruit in the darkness.

Immediately after, the soldiers worked in pairs, gripping the winch handles tightly and exerting all their strength to turn them. Driven by this force, the ratchet mechanism emitted a crisp, rhythmic clicking sound. The ropes wound tighter and tighter around the winch, and the throwing arm gradually pulled backward. When the arm reached its limit, Xu Qian slowly raised his hand, then brought it down sharply, shouting, "Release!"

In an instant, the soldiers released the winch handles. The taut ropes unleashed their long-accumulated power, swinging the arm forward with the force of a landslide. The stone projectile, enveloped in a rushing wind, streaked across the night sky like a black meteor, its shrill whistle shattering the silence of the night.

Under the starlight and moonlight, despite the high visibility, the stone vanished into the darkness after traveling several hundred meters.

BOOM!

A few moments later, a thunderous, earth-shaking roar erupted, as if the heavens were collapsing. Dimly, one could see a thick plume of dust rising from the grasslands in the distance.

"Someone!" Xu Qian hurriedly issued an order. "Go immediately to the impact site! Measure the size of the crater and the extent of the surrounding damage!"

"Yes!" Two soldiers near him acknowledged the order, dashed down the city wall, vaulted onto their horses, and galloped toward the distant impact site.

Xu Qian, perhaps too excited, found his hands trembling slightly. "Your Highness, although we cannot see the exact situation, the sound alone is enough to prove its extraordinary power!"

Qin Feng nodded slightly without speaking. He was waiting for the soldiers to return, eager to see just how formidable the system-provided trebuchets truly were.

A short while later, the two soldiers returned with expressions of shock. Qin Feng asked, "How is the power?"

The two soldiers exchanged a look, their astonishment lingering. "Reporting to Your Highness, the power is staggering!"

When they had arrived at the site, they were completely stunned. The grass along the way looked as if it had been ravaged by a violent storm. Near the impact point, a massive crater had opened up. It was over three zhang in diameter, and the surrounding earth had been violently torn apart by an incomparable force, creating deep, jagged trenches. The bottom of the crater was scattered with rocks of various sizes, many of which were deeply embedded in the soil, revealing the sheer force of the impact.

Most tragically, several prairie wolves lay dead at the scene, their bodies shattered, skulls crushed, and brains and blood splattered everywhere. The stench of blood in the air was sickening. More importantly, the maximum range reached a staggering six hundred meters—nearly double that of an ordinary trebuchet!

"Your Highness, a trebuchet of such power will surely inflict countless casualties on the Xiongnu!" Xu Qian exclaimed, wild with joy.

Qin Feng’s eyes flickered with surprise as well. With such overwhelming power, if the Xiongnu dared to invade, a single exchange would be enough to send them to their graves.

Gathering his thoughts, Qin Feng said, "Select a group of strong soldiers, have them master these trebuchets, and reduce the reload time to the absolute minimum!"

Xu Qian saluted. "Yes, Your Highness!"

...

The next day, the sky was clear and cloudless. Qin Feng stretched lazily, watching the bright sun in the firmament with a faint smile on his lips. With the addition of the trebuchets and the composite bows, the pressure from the approaching Xiongnu left-wing army no longer felt quite as daunting.

"Your Highness," Meng Jun approached quickly and saluted. "The damage to the city wall has been reinforced, and the anti-cavalry spikes and cheval-de-frise outside the city have been put in place."

Qin Feng nodded. "General Meng, bring a few men and accompany me to the South Gate."

"Yes," Meng Jun replied.

At the South Gate of Suiye City, the weather was sweltering, and the heat rising from the earth caused the air to shimmer. Qin Feng stared ahead, a faint smile on his lips. "They are here!"

Several hundred soldiers clad in pitch-black armor escorted a convoy of supply wagons, their footsteps steady and powerful. Under the scorching sun, their armor glinted with a dark, eerie luster. The plates reflected the sunlight like mirrors, stinging the eyes and exuding a chilling aura.

The wagons were pulled by sturdy, well-bred horses. Their tall, muscular frames gleamed with sweat, which trickled down their solid, defined muscles. They snorted and puffed, their hooves restlessly pawing at the burning ground. The supply wagons themselves had been specially modified; their bodies were built from thick, heavy timber, and the wheels were massive and wide, the axles groaning with a dull, strained sound under the weight.

Atop the wagons, massive mechanical devices reflected the cold sunlight, appearing like caged beasts, radiating an awe-inspiring presence.

Before long, the wagons came to a halt. The soldiers saluted, unhitched the horses, mounted them, and turned to leave.

Meng Jun stepped forward quickly. Ignoring the heat radiating from the metal, he looked on in shock. "Your Highness, what are these?"