Chapter 10, If you refuse to drink the toast, what use are you to me

In fact, Xiao Hao's speed is already at seventy percent of the speed of the preceding troops! However, when it comes to military deployment, it is better to have a little excess than to be too tight; hence the mention of half an hour. Moreover, since this is the first time using it in such a manner, who knows what problems may arise.

One detail after another has transformed an arrow into a weapon of death

The Xiao family and the Li family sent 200 cavalry, to be precise, mounted troops, directly approaching the city.

It is sufficient to block the entrance; within 7 li, we will surely arrive in half an hour

While Xiao Hao was narrating, Xiao Shilong and Li Yulong were circling around the crossbow cart

Xiao Shijian said at the end, already laughing maniacally

Upon seeing this arrow, even the battle-hardened Li Yulong felt a shiver run down his spine

Blood ties, how ridiculous! When we were in trouble, you did not offer assistance! Now you remember the bonds of blood!

Of course, Xiao Hao does not think so. Since you have all clearly stated your intention for nonviolent noncooperation, it is only natural to proceed according to your wishes

Under the premise of not using chemical substances, the current crossbow cart has already reached its limits, at least temporarily. As for the precious and heavy steel crossbow, it is not needed for the time being. The Tiger Roar Stronghold is only solid in the eyes of bandits; for the current crossbow cart, it is utterly vulnerable.

Be careful! The burly man next to him, the one who was initially targeted by Xiao Hao, saw the danger and, with no time to do anything else, directly blocked Xiao Shijian with his broad sword. This sword was particularly wide, measuring four feet in length, but its width was as much as five inches, resembling a small door panel.

The crossbow in front of us is composed of bamboo strips, wooden pieces, and steel plates, and it has a total of six bow arms, with an extended length of 3.2 meters. The bow arms are crafted separately, with one side measuring 1.6 meters in length, and when fully extended, the arm length reaches 3.2 meters, totaling six pieces.

Most importantly, the arrowhead is not only triangular in shape but also features barbs; once struck, there is absolutely no chance of survival

The rumbling sound... The significant actions of the Xiao and Li families were not concealed at all, naturally attracting the attention of many! However, the crossbow cart escorted by Xiao Hao is currently covered with a rain cloth, making it difficult for everyone to discern its contents; yet, some have already guessed that it must be a crossbow cart! One can tell by its appearance, and it is certainly not small!

You ... ... hum!

However, the faint sound of Li Yulong could be heard from outside, clear despite the distance of over 100 meters, saying, "If you refuse to toast, what use do I have for you!"

Soon, the team was back on the road. The main force rushed to block the door; meanwhile, Xiao Hao, Han Sheng, Zhang Yun, and more than 20 others, along with two craftsmen, were pushing two crossbow carts, which began to accelerate under the pull of the horses. The crossbow carts were drawn by two horses, and the wheels had also been modified; although there were no ball bearings at present, nor the conditions for them, Xiao Hao employed the simplest method—breaking in.

"Xiao Shilong, come out and answer!" Xiao Shijian turned his direction, facing Xiao Shilong

Additionally, let several craftsmen ride horses to follow your advance. Upon their arrival, they will choose to fell trees as ammunition for the crossbows. These two crossbows are capable of launching logs with a diameter of 1 foot and a length of 10 feet to a distance of 150 meters, sufficient for besieging cities and capturing fortresses

Old man, do you know what it means to refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a penalty drink?" Li Yulong replied with a cold smile. The two sides were a hundred meters apart, well beyond the effective range of a bow and arrow

The combined forces of the Xiao and Li families amount to approximately three hundred horses, which can be used for a quick escape—this does not even account for combat, as there are at least two hundred available. The distance traveled back and forth is less than 20 li, making it easy to ride, even for old horses. After a meal that barely satisfied their hunger, everyone disregarded the need for rest and urged their horses to run, without even blocking the flow of information along the way. In fact, very few people could have anticipated that the Xiao and Li families would act so decisively! While they were still trying to persuade with kind words in the front, those in the back had already taken action!

The process of fitting involves taking the castings that have been well-formed and directly placing them on a water wheel to create relative friction between the two castings. Throughout this process, continuous adjustments are made. Ultimately, the smoothed castings are selected for appropriate matching, and the iron components of the axle and hub fit remarkably well. When grease is added, the movement is surprisingly smooth. The center of the axle is made of wood, with iron hoops only at both ends of the hub.

Moreover, how many people do you think there are in Tiger Howl Stronghold! They are all just a bunch of bandits. The core combat strength of Tiger Howl Stronghold is barely over one hundred!

An iron arrow was forcefully embedded in the broadsword, piercing through completely, with traces of blood still on the arrowhead

After looking again and again, Li Yulong finally spoke: "This arrow should not be used unless absolutely necessary"

Your expression changes too quickly! Two hundred cavalrymen have set off with a rumble.

At this moment, the crossbow on the crossbow cart is folded up, making it difficult to discern much; however, based on his experience, Li Yulong immediately recognized that this is undoubtedly a formidable weapon

Xiao Shilong! Li Yulong! You little person! Xiao Shijian roared! Mixed with frustration, fear, and anger, he howled

When Xiao Yulong and Xiao Shilong had traveled less than two miles, they encountered Xiao Hao's team. Han Sheng and Zhao Yun led a group of over 50 people, primarily consisting of apprentice craftsmen, among whom were 20 cavalrymen, escorting two crossbow carts and carrying 30 new bows, all of which were two-stone bows

I have arrived! Li Yulong did not waste any words; he directly drew the long bow, which was the new bow he had just received from Xiao Hao. A three-edged iron arrow was steadily placed on the iron bow. Sometimes, a fist is the simplest! And also the most practical!

"Uncle Wu, you speak," said Xiao Shilong, who truly did not want to speak, as there was still a semblance of blood relation among everyone on the surface

30 bows were distributed to a group of individuals who typically possess the best skills, with each person also receiving three full steel arrows. The arrowheads are adorned with a ring of fine duck down, making them quite perfect. There is a one-inch section at the bottom that allows for a firm grip on the arrows, and they are crafted with a rough, concave forging that enhances friction.

The bowstring is made from specially tanned hemp rope, leather, tendons, and other materials, bonded together with fish glue

Alright, alright, alright, I will just see how you all can manage! The Tiger Howl Stronghold is absolutely not something you can breach. Just wait for a while, and there will be rescue coming from the surroundings.

Suddenly, Xiao Shijian felt a darkness before his eyes, and immediately afterward, with a loud crash, a massive object fell down

I have seen Tiger Howl Village, and using logs that are half a foot in diameter and one zhang in length is sufficient

Xiao Shijian is not a fool; these few words have stabilized the morale of the troops

At this moment, however, Xiao Shijian felt a burning sensation in his chest; the immense force carried by the arrow had hardly been obstructed at all, and it was still fully exerted upon Xiao Shijian's body

The ambition of wolves is evident; I should have seen through the ambitions of both your families long ago! I am quite fortunate that I did not agree to your demands this morning

Moreover, your rear defense is likely weak now, haha, haha ...

Pah! You are not planning to attack the city on horseback, are you? Ha ha...

The arrow unexpectedly emitted a sharp and piercing sound

Li Yulong truly lives up to his reputation as a master of escorting goods across the world. Having only recently taken up the new bow, he is already able to unleash such formidable power. This arrow is not only swift and urgent, but also precise and steady, and with the new bow and iron arrow, it possesses tremendous force and weight

"Hehe," upon hearing this, Xiao Shilong sneered, "I still call you Fifth Uncle, yet you treat me this way

With a clang, the iron arrow shot forth rapidly, striking fiercely against the iron blade. The immense force was beyond what a man of considerable stature could withstand, and the large blade came crashing down hard onto Xiao Shijian's chest

However, in the next moment, Xiao Shijian's eyes widened in shock as he discovered an arrow wound on his chest. A wound the size of a finger was bleeding, but fortunately, it was not deep

Most importantly, it is equipped with pulleys, installed with a rocking wheel and a torsion spring, and features a sight (scope) and detailed coordinate scales. In any case, it gives the impression that: non-professionals should stand aside.

I am sorry, but I feel that you are no longer of any use. It would be better to vacate a position for us to make our move.

This is completely different from the crossbow carts I have seen before! Li Yulong, due to his experience in escorting goods, has a wealth of knowledge. He was immediately captivated upon seeing this peculiar crossbow cart!

Xiao Shilong is not a noble; he is a genuine salt merchant, and certainly not a do-gooder. At this moment, as soon as he opens his mouth, all the cultivation he has accumulated over the years is cast aside.

At this moment, Xiao Shijian finally felt a sense of fear! He witnessed his top warrior lying beside him, convulsing all over, with blood slowly flowing from beneath him.

At this moment, Xiao Shijian could only see his top warrior lying stiffly on the ground, his body still convulsing, but it was evident that he could no longer survive. His chest was pierced by a dark iron arrow, about the thickness of a pinky finger, and after a fall, he was already drenched in blood. The big man's broadsword had fallen to the side, but the appearance of the sword at this moment was somewhat terrifying

You brat, is this how you treat us! Don't forget, we share the same bloodline! In terms of blood relations, we are much closer than the Li family!" Xiao Shijian was truly anxious, not expecting the other party to be so ruthless. They had visited in the morning, and by noon, a large army had arrived!

Two hundred people is truly not a lot, but it is not insignificant either. In fact, during the first battle between the Qing Dynasty and Russia, the entire nation was involved, and the scale was merely two thousand people.

But after narrowly escaping death, what followed was an endless rage! How despicable it is that the opponent directly shot arrows at people, and it was evident that they intended to kill. This truly provoked an overwhelming anger!

It is that great Han!

Bang... The dazed Xiao Shijian was directly slammed against the wall, but finally, with his exceptional skills, he flipped in mid-air and landed steadily; otherwise, falling from a two-meter-high stone wall would not kill him, but he would certainly be unable to get up for quite some time. The gate wall of a small mountain stronghold, of course, cannot be compared to a real city wall.

How to arrange it! Xiao Shilong looked at his son, and although he was not very familiar with the group his son was involved with, he knew they were quite impressive

Father, the crossbows are inconvenient to carry. Two crossbows are following behind; you all go ahead and block the Tiger Howl Stronghold, do not give them time to prepare

"Let's see if you can still smile later," Li Yulong replied with a cold smile

The arrow, imbued with such immense power, made Xiao Shijian's heart race wildly at that moment! Had it not been for the burly man who urgently brandished his large blade, the arrow would have likely pierced through his body long ago

However, it was already too late for the Tiger Howl Stronghold in Kaoshan Town to receive the information!

The man wanted to say something, but could only futilely open and close his mouth. In the end, his head tilted, and he completely passed away

Of course! Xiao Hao chuckled to himself.

The opponent's bow and arrow actually pierced through the broadsword

This is truly shocking; the crossbow is never a symbol of peace

"Xiao Shilong, Li Yulong, what do you intend to do!" Xiao Shijian, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, stood behind the wall of Hu Xiao Village, roaring in anger.

And at that moment, Xiao Shijian felt as if he had been charged by a ferocious dragon!