Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

That's really something!

Zhang Han's eyes lit up. Without needing to be urged, he rushed to Zhou Wenqing in three steps and stood properly, but his eyes couldn't help but glance at the remaining boxes on the table.

Zhou Wenqing didn't dawdle. He picked up a long, rectangular sandalwood box from the table and handed it to him.

"Open it and take a look."

Zhang Han took the box with both hands and carefully lifted the lid—

Inside lay a strange object: two copper tubes joined together, their surfaces engraved with fine anti-slip patterns. One end was inlaid with a crystal-clear crystal, like an icicle, while the other end was slightly thinner and also inlaid with a crystal. The entire object was polished smooth and shiny, gleaming faintly in the candlelight.

"Uncle Zhou, this is..."

Zhou Wenqing reached out and took out the copper tube, holding both ends and gently pushing it.

With a soft "click," the copper tube, which was as long as a forearm, instantly shortened and retracted into a single section.

Zhou Wenqing handed the telescope to him: "Close your left eye and look with your right eye. Slowly pull it open while turning the middle knob to adjust the focus. Aim at the top of the old tree outside the window until you can see it clearly."

Zhang Han did as instructed, approached the lens barrel, and slowly pulled it open—

"hiss--"

He only pulled it halfway before he gasped, leaning back sharply and nearly dropping the copper pipe.

"Uncle Zhou! That tree... how did that tree end up in front of me?!"

Wang Jian and Meng Wu were startled by his shout and, forgetting their hostile exchange, rushed over.

"What's wrong? What happened?"

Zhang Han held the copper tube, his hands trembling, and he spoke incoherently:

"I...I saw it! This thing seems to make trees grow legs and run over to me, it's so close! It looks like I could reach out and touch it! But...it's still in the yard! How is this possible?!"

Zhou Wenqing smiled as he took the binoculars, gently pulled them fully open, tightened the screw that adjusted the focus, and then handed them back to Zhang Han.

"I told you to open it up and take a look, but you just pulled it back in. Let's start over, try again this time."

Zhang Han took it with trembling hands, and when he leaned closer, he could see the beard of the guard standing at the gate in the distance, each hair clearly visible!

After a long while, he put down the binoculars.

"Uncle Zhou...this is...this is something that can see far?"

"A telescope." Zhou Wenqing nodded. "On the battlefield, you can see the enemy five miles away, and you can see the enemy camp three miles away. The flags, soldiers, and formations are all clearly visible. Within five hundred paces, you can even see clearly who the enemy general is."

Zhang Han tightened his grip on the telescope, feeling the lens barrel rotate slightly, and then pulled back as if he had been burned.

He lowered his head, looking at it over and over, shortening it and lengthening it, listening to the crisp "click-click" sound, feeling as if he were in a dream.

Suddenly, Zhang Han knelt on one knee, clasped his hands above his head, and said in a hoarse voice:

"Uncle Zhou, this...this...I...thank you, Uncle Zhou!"

He knew this thing was valuable, but with such a powerful weapon on the battlefield right in front of him, he couldn't bring himself to refuse.

"Get up." Zhou Wenqing reached out and lifted him up, his tone indifferent. "Things are for people to use, not for worship. Once you're on the battlefield, stick close to the commander, and look further ahead. The more you look ahead, the more opportunities you'll have."

He placed his hand on Zhang Han's shoulder and said earnestly:

"Work hard. Since I'm the one who brought you here... um, don't embarrass me. In the future, when you achieve great things, you must also... live well, so I can't face your parents."

Zhang Han's eyes were a little red. He nodded forcefully, swallowing the "hmm" back down his throat.

Wang Jian, standing to the side, was so anxious he was scratching his head and pleading, "Zicheng, let this old man see it too! Let this old man see it too!"

"Haha! You shameless old man, still talking about me? Look at you now, you're not even as good as me!" General Meng Wu had been waiting for this moment, and immediately returned the words triumphantly.

But this didn't stop him from eagerly approaching Zhou Wenqing, "Zicheng, do you still have any binoculars? Could you...?"

"There are only two. Go ask the King for them!"

Zhou Wenqing rolled her eyes at him, annoyed.

How easy is it to find such a large piece of crystal?

Fortunately, the king had a rich private collection, and when he heard that he wanted it, he sent it all over. Even so, only five pieces were selected that were big and intact enough. One piece was even ruined during the polishing process, and it still hurts to think about it now.

He was given too little time; otherwise, if he had gotten the glass out, none of this would have happened.

He sidestepped Zhang Han, who tried to pounce on him and hide behind him, and glanced at the crowd:

"Behave yourselves, no grabbing. Zhang Han, take your binoculars and practice them properly. Don't get in my way—or I'll take them back."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Han immediately hid the binoculars in his arms and took three quick steps back.

Wang Jian and Meng Wu also stood up straight instantly, each more serious than the other, but their eyes still couldn't help but glance at the telescope.

"Alright, you guys can step aside."

Zhou Wenqing waved his hand dismissively, then turned his gaze to Meng Tian—

"Uncle Zhou! Thank you, Uncle Zhou! Uncle Zhou, you are... oh no, I mean, you are young and promising, wise and brave, and have an extraordinary demeanor!"

Before he could speak, Meng Tian had already darted forward, arms outstretched, mouthing incessantly:

"Uncle Zhou, you truly deserve to be called a peerless hero and a pillar of the nation! Since I was a child, my father has told me to learn from talents like you! Today, I will remember this gift from you, Uncle Zhou, and I will certainly live up to your expectations when I go to the battlefield!"

Zhou Wenqing: "..."

How long have I known your dad? Where did you hear that from?!

His eyes twitched, he shook his head helplessly, and still picked up a box from the table and handed it to Meng Tian.

Meng Tian quickly took the box with both hands and eagerly opened the lid.

A pair of leather wristbands lay quietly inside, longer and thicker than the ones he usually wore. The outside was engraved with a row of fine copper studs, while the inside was soft, and when turned inside out, even the rough edges were neatly trimmed.

There is also a bone thumb ring next to it, which is polished smooth and rounded, with the part where the thumb goes in slightly narrowed so that it fits perfectly at the base of the finger.

"This is..." Meng Tian picked up the wrist guard and examined it several times.

Zhou Wenqing helped him hold the box: "Try putting it on."

Meng Tian put his left arm inside, the inner deerskin fitting tightly. He looked down and, as usual, began to tie the leather cord.

"Wait," Zhou Wenqing raised his hand to stop him, "It's a double rope, the upper part is tied to the forearm, and the lower part is tied to the wrist, tied separately."

Meng Tian did as instructed, first tightening the upper part, then the lower part, and tried to move it a few times, but it didn't budge. He shook his arm vigorously, but the wrist guard was as steady as if it were grown into his flesh.

"Uncle Zhou, this..."

"These are riding and archery bracers," Zhou Wenqing pointed to them. "The bottom is longer than the ones you usually wear, so they can protect the tiger's mouth. The inside is made of soft deerskin, so it won't rub against your hands."

Zhou Wenqing pointed to the middle of the wrist guard again, "There's a thin piece of cow horn sandwiched in here to support your wrist. When you draw the strong bow, it can support your bones and prevent your wrist from hurting after a long time."

Meng Tian tried to draw the bow a few times, and his wrists held it firmly. The same movements and the same force made it feel much easier than usual.

"These copper nails on the outside," Zhou Wenqing continued, "are not just for show. In case a stray arrow grazes by, they can block it. We don't expect them to stop a direct hit, but they can provide an extra layer of protection against grazes and stray arrows."

Meng Tian looked down at the row of copper nails, then at the wrist guard that fit him perfectly.

"Uncle Zhou!" He suddenly looked up, his voice a few degrees brighter than before, "I never even thought of these things."

"Um?"

"I've always been thinking about how to shoot more accurately and farther," Meng Tian clenched his fist, "but I never thought that I could use these to shoot for longer."

Zhou Wenqing smiled but didn't reply.

Historical records indicate that Tian was once a scholar in charge of prisons and literature, but he was also known for his martial prowess. He drove the Xiongnu north and was renowned for his bravery, so he must have been extremely skilled in riding and archery.

After thinking it over, he decided that these were the most appropriate gifts.

At that time, there were wrist guards, but they were only a single layer of cowhide, loose and flimsy, barely enough to prevent the bowstring from rebounding, and they needed to be repeatedly secured. This one is much better, as it will definitely give Meng Tian wings.

He pointed to the bone thumb ring in the box: "Try that one too."

Meng Tian then remembered and quickly picked it up and put it on his thumb. It fit perfectly, neither too loose nor too tight, with a shallow groove worn into the inside, just enough to hold the bowstring in place.

"Uncle Zhou!" He recognized its use at a glance and clasped his hands in delight, "Thank you so much, Uncle Zhou, this is truly..."

"Don't rush," Zhou Wenqing interrupted him, gesturing towards the corner, "What kind of company sends accessories but not the main component? See that longest box? Move it over here."

Meng Tian's eyes lit up, and he rushed over to carefully carry the half-person-high wooden box back and place it on the table.

The box lid was lifted, and a jet-black recurve bow lay quietly on the velvet cloth. The bow was shorter than that of an ordinary war bow, but it was more powerful and resilient. Fine ox horn patterns could be faintly seen on the bow arm.

"An improved war bow." Zhou Wenqing reached out and gently stroked the bow. "It's a bit shorter, making it more agile on horseback, and the power is increased rather than decreased. With those two things in your hand, you can fire three arrows in quick succession on horseback without hurting your hand."

"Uncle Zhou..."

"Don't get sentimental." Zhou Wenqing waved his hand. "Practice hard, use your skills on the battlefield, that's better than you thanking me a hundred times."

Meng Tian nodded vigorously: "Yes!"