Reborn in the Three Kingdoms: Da Qiao Doesn't Want to Be a Widow Anymore

Chapter 329 Liu Bei
Huang Zhong led his troops to intercept the ambush, killing all two hundred ambush soldiers and saving the last of the grain and supplies in the granary.

Huang Xu searched the soldiers and found crossbows, then presented them to Huang Zhong. "Father, this is it!"

Huang Zhong held the crossbow and fumbled around for a while, but still couldn't figure out how to use it. "Are you sure this is it?"

Huang Xu was very certain, “Taishi Ci’s army is training an additional crossbow unit. Although I’ve only seen it from afar, I’m sure it’s this one, and its power is astonishing.”

In the army, if someone can shoot an arrow a hundred paces away, they are called a master archer, and such talents are one in a hundred in the army.

With this item in Taishi Ci's camp, everyone could become a master archer.

This same weapon was used to wound Liu Pan on the battlefield, and it was also this crossbow that repelled and defeated Huang Zhong and his son when they went to ambush Xu Xiang.

This thing is quite similar to a crossbow, and in theory, the method of using it should be similar as well. However, Huang Zhong tried several times but could not find a way to open the crossbow.

I don't know if I touched something, but suddenly the crossbow fell apart, and its parts were scattered all over the ground.

Huang Zhong made up his mind, picked up the scattered parts one by one from the ground, wrapped them in cloth, and said, "When I get back, I'll find a military craftsman to take a look and see what's so special about this thing."

Huang Xu nodded in agreement, and then ordered the soldiers to pack up all the bows and crossbows they had received and take them back to the camp.

The next day, when Huang Xu found the craftsman and opened the box containing the crossbows, he found that all the crossbows had fallen apart. Huang Xu reluctantly took out all the crossbows, but not one of them was intact.

This situation was unprecedented, not only for Huang Xu, but even for Huang Zhong, who had served in the army for many years.

“This…it was perfectly fine when I brought it back yesterday.”

Huang Xu's eyes were red with anxiety. Rumors had been circulating among the Japanese troops lately, and he had been harboring resentment. He finally had a chance to earn merit, and he hoped to use this opportunity to gain Liu Pan's trust so that his father, Huang Zhong, could be reinstated!

Huang Zhong gently stroked his head, soothing him softly, then turned to the craftsman, "Could that craftsman restore it?"

They have already found the most senior and skilled craftsman in the army.

The craftsman didn't dare to make any promises, saying, "I'll do my best!"

Only after about half a month did the craftsman dare to cautiously reply, "This item cannot be restored."

In fact, the craftsmen have already been able to recreate about 70-80% of how all the parts are arranged.

Strangely, no matter what method he used, he just couldn't put them together; they would either get stuck here or fall apart there.

"The craftsman who made this item is extremely skilled, far surpassing that of ordinary people."

Huang Zhong was very disappointed. "Is there anyone else who can restore this item?"

“Nanyang has many skilled craftsmen, its metallurgical techniques are famous in the Central Plains, and it has the most people with exquisite craftsmanship. It’s hard to say whether the person who made this item is from Nanyang.”

Huang Zhong did not tell the craftsman the origin of the object, asking, "In the Jiangdong region, is there anyone who can create such an ingenious object?"

The craftsman pondered for a moment, "The world is full of wonders, and we cannot conclude that there is absolutely nothing like it."

In recent years, the third son of the Mo family in Jiangdong has gradually gained some fame, and the Mo family blacksmith shop under his management is also an unparalleled craftsman.

If there truly is a master in Jiangdong, then it can only be someone from the Mo family.

Huang Zhong silently noted this person down, "Then what is the real name of this third young master of the Mo family, and how can we find him?"

"This humble servant truly knows nothing. Even the title of 'Third Young Master' was passed down by others; no one knows for sure if he is truly the third son in his family. However, the Mo family's craftsmen are scattered throughout many counties, and there are several Mo family blacksmith shops in Nanyang County alone. If the general wishes to find the Third Young Master Mo, perhaps asking the Mo family's craftsmen might yield some information."

That's actually a decent idea.

Because of the rumors, Huang Zhong's status and situation in the army were also awkward. After thinking about it, he decided to go north to return to his hometown.

Knowing that he was determined to leave, Liu Pan did not try to persuade him to stay, but instead wrote him a letter of recommendation.

"If you want to join the army, why not go to Xinye? Although Liu Bei doesn't seem to have any great abilities, he guards Xinye and resists Cao Cao in the north. If you follow him, you'll still get the position of Central Protector General."

If you no longer wish to serve in the army, this letter will allow you to fill any vacancies in Xinye County.

Most importantly, Liu Bei had the title of a member of the Han imperial family and had no subordinate relationship with Liu Biao, so Liu Bei did not need to worry about Cai Mao's dislike of Huang Zhong.

Huang Zhong and Huang Xu bowed deeply to Liu Pan before getting up to leave.

Here, he did feel a sense of unfulfilled potential, but he knew that for Liu Pan, being able to protect himself from Cai Mao was already an all-out effort.

Before leaving, he didn't forget to recommend suitable places for himself.

Huang Zhong was grateful for such a talent-cherishing attitude and would certainly repay it if given the opportunity in the future.

When Xu Xiang heard the news of his departure, he sighed, "Such a good general, Liu Pan couldn't protect him, and Liu Biao didn't know how to use him. It's a real pity."

When Xu Xiang returned to Jingkou and told Sun Quan about these things, Qiao Wei was also present.

"Liu Bei is no ordinary man. His subordinates Guan Yu and Zhang Fei are fierce generals, and he also has the famous scholar Xu Yuanzhi as his strategist. He fought Cao Cao several times in Xinye and never lost the battle."

With such a small force, Liu Bei was able to fight on equal terms with Xiahou Dun, Yu Jin, and others under Cao Cao, and Xu Yuanzhi's strategic planning played a crucial role in this.

Xu Xiang's concerns were not unfounded. A good general serving a good master is like a tiger with wings; in the future, he will soar to the heavens and become unstoppable.

Sun Quan didn't want to drive away Huang Zu only to have Liu Bei come along; he didn't want to lose one wolf only to have another tiger appear.

"Whether Liu Bei can be used or not is another matter." Lu Su felt that he could not see what threat Liu Bei could pose at this time.

Qiao Wei also felt that Liu Bei at this time did not have the appetite or ambition to take everything.

He has the loyal and courageous Zhang Fei and Guan Yu by his side. They have accompanied him from his humble beginnings to where he is today, and their bond is more than just that of a lord and his subject; it is a bond forged through thick and thin.

Even though Liu Biao still treated him like a brother, he only gave him a small plot of land in Xinye, and the number of soldiers under his command was no more than three thousand. In the years that he had been rejected by Cao Cao, he had not been able to take any more counties from Cao Cao.

With a general like Huang Zhong gone, how much room would there be for him to display his military talents?

I'm afraid that if Huang Zhong were to leave, he would only be able to live a mediocre life with his tail between his legs, and it would be even more difficult for him to gain Liu Bei's true trust.

Lu Su's guess about Liu Bei was correct.

At present, Liu Bei is still making a living under Liu Biao's command, and the territory of Xinye can no longer accommodate the talented advisors whose ambitions have not yet been fulfilled.

When Qiao Wei later had the opportunity to meet this famous general, he and Huang Xu had become quartermasters in charge of military equipment in Xinye County under Liu Bei.

(End of this chapter)