My brothers are all warriors capable of taking on ten thousand men; I'll roam freely in the Thr

Time flies.

In the blink of an eye, it was May of the fourth year of the Zhongping era (187 AD).

Nearly half a year has passed quickly amidst the intensive work and changes taking place both inside and outside Zhuojun.

The operation of Youzhou Transportation Group is gradually getting on track, and gray-white cement roads, like tough tendons, stubbornly extend and intertwine on the land of Youzhou.

The main road leading north from Zhuojun, through Guangyang and Yuyang, and directly to the border fortresses of Shanggu and Daijun has been fully opened to traffic.

The wheels and hooves galloped across it, stirring up not dust, but a swift and steady wind.

The connection between the border regions and the heartland became closer and more efficient than ever before because of this road.

During the same six months, within the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Institute of Natural History, the blueprints, models, and arguments surrounding the repeating crossbow finally transformed into a real weapon of war.

In the newly established special training ground of the northern camp of Zhuojun City, the atmosphere was solemn yet filled with barely suppressed excitement.

Several carefully selected crossbowmen and cavalry leaders stood in neat rows, their eyes all focused on the dozens of uniquely designed crossbows in the field.

These are the first two thousand "divine crossbows" that have just rolled off the production line at the military workshop.

This name was changed by Ji Xuanyuan, meaning "divine strategy and victory over the enemy", which also subtly reflects his era-defining origin.

Surrounded by his brothers Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Li Cunxiao, and Dian Wei, Ji Xuanyuan personally inspected the training ground.

His health has improved significantly. Although he is still not as robust as the average person, his complexion is rosy, and he walks with a steady breath. The heavy sickness of the past has been replaced by a vigorous spirit.

"Bring the crossbow," Ji Xuanyuan ordered.

A guard immediately presented a crossbow.

This crossbow is slightly larger than the ordinary hand crossbows of the Han army, but it has an ingenious structure. The crossbow body is made of hardwood and some iron parts. The most eye-catching features are a detachable flat arrow box on the top and a uniquely shaped bronze trigger linkage mechanism on the bottom.

"The core of this crossbow lies in its rapid-fire capability." Ji Xuanyuan personally operated it, demonstrating and explaining at the same time.

He drew back the crossbow string, engaged the trigger mechanism, and snapped the quiver containing ten short arrows into the slot above the crossbow body.

"The quiver is pressed in, and the first arrow falls into the slot on its own, aligning with the crossbow string in the ready-to-fire position."

He picked up his crossbow, aimed at the iron-clad wooden target a hundred paces away, and pulled the trigger.

"bass!"

With a short, sharp sound, the crossbow bolt shot out like a black shadow, and with a "thud," it deeply embedded itself into the wooden target.

Immediately afterwards, Ji Xuanyuan's fingers pulled the trigger repeatedly, his movements so fast they were dazzling.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh..."

The crossbows emitted a continuous and rapid roar, and one bolt after another shot out almost in a row, slamming into the wooden target!

In just a few breaths, ten arrows were fired simultaneously!

The sturdy iron-clad wooden target was riddled with wood chips, and its central area was densely covered with arrow shafts, resembling a hedgehog!

The entire arena was completely silent, with only the faint echo of the crossbow twanging in the air.

Zhang Fei's eyes widened, his mouth gaped open enough to fit an egg, and after a long while, he burst out with a thunderous exclamation: "My goodness! Ten shots in a row?! This... this thing... Brother, what's wrong with your brain? Could it be that the God of Literature... uh, the God of War, has descended to earth to deliver divine weapons to us?"

He rushed forward, snatched another crossbow from the guard, and, imitating Ji Xuanyuan, loaded, aimed, and pulled the trigger.

He was strong and his movements were somewhat rough, but the firing mechanism still operated smoothly.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh..."

Ten arrows were fired in quick succession. Although they were not as steady and precise as Ji Xuanyuan's, the ferocious firepower caused another wooden target next to it to shake violently, almost falling apart.

"Hahaha! That was awesome! So much fun!"

"If this were on the battlefield, and the enemy cavalry charged, and we lined up and fired like this... goodness, they'd fall down in droves!"

Guan Yu stopped stroking his beard, his phoenix eyes flashing with a sharp light: "Not just for infantry, brother, the weight and size of this crossbow seem to suggest it can also be used by cavalry?"

Ji Xuanyuan nodded: "Yun Chang has a keen eye. This crossbow has been optimized and is much lighter than the ballista. It is not impossible for cavalry to hold and fire it with one hand while on horseback. The arrow box provides arrows, which eliminates the tediousness and vulnerability of drawing arrows and nocking the string on the spot."

"Ordinary mounted archery requires years of arduous practice to achieve accuracy, and it is difficult to draw a strong bow while riding. This crossbow is different. With the help of the mechanism, ordinary cavalry can fire steadily while riding with a little practice. Although the initial accuracy is not good, ten arrows fired in succession can cover a wide area and form a deadly barrage, suppressing enemy cavalry charges or clearing out infantry formations. Its effect is far superior to that of a single archer."

Zhao Yun picked up a crossbow, carefully weighed it, and examined its mechanisms. He sighed, "Its construction is ingenious, yet sturdy and durable, not easily damaged. The arrows are standardized, facilitating logistics. Brother, this thing can truly change the way battles are fought. Especially in defending cities, fortified passes, and suppressing cavalry at mid-range, its power is boundless."

Li Cunxiao was even more direct: "Brother, when are you going to equip me with some soldiers too? We can fight at both close and long range, it'll be much more exciting!"

Ji Xuanyuan smiled and said, "Jingsi, don't be anxious, there are arrangements."

His expression turned serious, and he said to the officials in charge of military industry and the generals, "The first batch of two thousand sets of armor should be immediately dispatched by the most reliable team. One thousand eight hundred sets, along with a sufficient amount of arrows, should be transported at the fastest speed via the newly built cement road to Xiang Yu, Lü Bu, Ran Min, and Yang Zaixing in Dai County. They are facing the frontier and need this weapon the most."

He immediately returned to his study and personally wrote a letter to Xiang Yu, his words earnest and solemn: "The divine crossbows have been fired. I hope you will distribute them properly and expedite the training of coordinated battle tactics. The various Wuhuan tribes may have been making unusual movements recently. Since last year, the court has been delaying the payment of border rewards, and the border officials have been handling matters improperly, leading to pent-up resentment. Zhang Chun is disillusioned and harbors long-standing grievances, which must be guarded against. The power of Wuhuan leaders such as Qiuliju is gradually increasing, and their intentions are unpredictable. We must be doubly vigilant, widely deploy scouts, and closely monitor the movements of Wuhuan tribes in the Liaoxi, Youbeiping, and Shanggu directions. If there is any unusual large-scale gathering or mobilization of troops, report it immediately by galloping horse! The peace and tranquility of the border is crucial to the overall situation of Youji and is the foundation of our existence. We must not allow it to be lost!"

In mid-May, at the Jingnan Army camp in Dai County.

Xiang Yu, Lü Bu, Ran Min, and Yang Zaixing looked at the mountain of crossbow boxes before them, and at their brother's earnest instructions in his letter. They felt both excited and burdened by responsibility.

"Brother, you've brought me a timely rain!" Lu Bu stroked the cold body of the Divine Crossbow, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.

"With such a powerful weapon, if the barbarian cavalry dares to come, we will ensure they never return!"

Ran Min inspected the arrow box and said coldly, "We must quickly familiarize the boys with the techniques of mounted archery, which should be coordinated with the halberd and saddle, and the best opportunity should be sought."

Xiang Yu, with his deep, penetrating eyes, issued a solemn order: "All troops, listen to my command! Each of the eight hundred cavalrymen will be issued a single crossbow and five quivers of arrows. In addition, select two hundred of the most reliable and skilled infantrymen to command the crossbow formations. The remaining one thousand crossbows will be temporarily stored in the armory for future replenishment. From this day forward, train cavalry archery and infantry-crossbow coordination formations around the clock. No slackening is permitted!"

The order was like a mountain, and the camp immediately became bustling with activity.

The cavalrymen mounted their warhorses equipped with new saddles and bridles, and, armed with crossbows, began to adapt to this unprecedented form of warfare.

At first, it's inevitable to be unfamiliar with the technique, and the jolting can affect aiming. But as Ji Xuanyuan said, the crossbow requires far less skill from the user than a bow and arrow, and more importantly, it provides sustained firepower.

Within a few days, many cavalrymen were able to fire relatively steadily while on the move. Although their accuracy still needed improvement, the continuous barrage of crossbow bolts created a powerful and intimidating effect that made all the soldiers participating in the exercise feel their hearts pound.

Yang Zaixing was in charge of supervision, constantly adjusting the training methods: "Don't force every arrow to hit the target! From thirty to eighty paces, focus on practicing covering and clustering shots! Listen to the drumbeats and fire in segments!"

Just as the Dai County Jingnan Army was intensively arming and training, and the atmosphere on the border was becoming increasingly delicate, a long-brewing storm finally broke out suddenly in June in the most violent way!

The tipping point was precisely between western Liaoning and the heart of Youzhou.

Last year, Gongsun Zan was granted the title of "Commander-in-Chief" by the imperial court and commanded three thousand Youzhou cavalry to conquer Liangzhou in the west. When the army reached Jizhong, the three thousand Youzhou cavalry under his command had accumulated resentment to the point of no return due to the imperial court's long-term delay in paying them rations and rewards, coupled with the arrogance and harsh treatment by some Han Chinese officers.

The trigger might be yet another broken promise, or perhaps an ordinary conflict being magnified...

Finally, the three thousand fierce Wuhuan cavalrymen rebelled, turned their horses around, broke through the blockade, and fled straight back to their home base in Liaoxi, Youbeiping, Shanggu and other places!

The defection of this elite cavalry not only greatly weakened Gongsun Zan's strength, but also threw a raging fire into the already dry borderlands of Youzhou!

Zhang Chun, the former governor of Zhongshan State who had been secretly waiting for an opportunity, instantly sensed a golden chance!

Zhang Chun already harbored resentment because the court appointed Gongsun Zan instead of him to command the troops. Now, seeing the border troops becoming disaffected and the court's prestige being tarnished, his ambition and resentment spread like wildfire.

He immediately contacted Zhang Ju, the former governor of Mount Tai, and used enticing words such as "The Han dynasty is in decline, and the Yellow Heaven shall rise" to persuade him to join the uprising.

The two quickly fled to western Liaoning and made contact with Qiuliju, the most powerful and long-discontented leader of the Wuhuan people in western Liaoning.

After some secret planning, Qiu Liju's ambition was also ignited.

He was not an isolated case. Other Wuhuan leaders, such as Su Puyan, the Qiao King of Liaodong, and Wuyan, the Khan of Youbeiping, either suffered the same injustice, saw the potential for profit, or were forced by Qiuli's power, expressed their support or participation openly or covertly.

The rebellion, like a flood breaking through a dam, was unstoppable!

Zhang Ju brazenly proclaimed himself "Emperor" in Feiru, while Zhang Chun proclaimed himself "General Mitian and King Anding," and became the nominal "Marshal" of the Wuhuan rebels in various prefectures.

They issued a proclamation, listing the incompetence of the Han dynasty, the greed and cruelty of its officials, and the inhumanity of its border administration, declaring that they would "act on behalf of Heaven" and replace the Han dynasty!

The rebel army, with Wuhuan cavalry as its backbone, co-opted refugees, Han soldiers who had fled from the land, and bandits, and its numbers rapidly swelled to more than 100,000!

Their iron hooves swept straight towards Ji County, a key town in Youzhou.

The city was burned down, and the people were plundered. Many high-ranking officials, including Protector of the Wuhuan, Gong Qichou, Prefect of Youbeiping, Liu Zheng, and Prefect of Liaodong, were killed in battle or captured and killed in the hasty resistance.

In an instant, the northern parts of You and Ji provinces were engulfed in flames of war, and cries of anguish shook the heavens.

Feiru became the stronghold of the rebels. Zhang Ju's "pseudo-court" and Zhang Chun's "Marshal's Office" issued orders from here. Wuhuan cavalry roamed freely, and Han prefectures and counties either fell or were forced to defend themselves in fear. The court's rule in Youzhou collapsed in an instant!

The news, as if it had sprouted wings, carried the stench of blood and burnt flesh, across the Yanshan Mountains and spread far and wide.

Inside the central command tent of the Jingnan Army camp in Dai County.

Xiang Yu slammed his fist heavily on the table, and the heavy wooden table groaned.

He clutched the intelligence scroll, which had just been risked by several scouts and was now corroborated by each other, tightly in his hand. In his double pupils, anger and icy coldness intertwined.

"Zhang Chun, Zhang Ju... Qiu Liju... they really have rebelled!" Lü Bu gritted his teeth.

"They killed officials and plundered the people, yet dared to call themselves emperor! They're courting death!"

Yang Zaixing quickly marked the rebel army's movements on the map, his face grave: "The rebel army is powerful. They have already captured Ji County, and Fei Ru is their stronghold. Their advance will likely soon reach Guangyang, Yuyang, and even Zhongshan and Hejian in Jizhou. We here will probably not have peace either."

Xiang Yu took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

He unfolded the letter from Ji Xuanyuan and looked at the soldiers outside the tent who were training intensely and equipped with divine crossbows.

"Brother foresaw this long ago, and the Divine Crossbow is already in place," Xiang Yu said in a deep voice, his tone as steady as a rock.

"The rebellion has suddenly broken out, and the imperial court needs time to react. The Youzhou government is preoccupied with its own problems. Now is the time for our Jingnan Army to step forward, protect the borders and the people, and establish our might!"

"Pass on my order—"

His gaze swept over his three brothers, and he declared decisively: "The entire army is on high alert! Scouts will regroup and focus on monitoring any potential incursions by the rebels towards Dai County and Shanggu, as well as the exact movements of the surrounding Wuhuan tribes!"

"Immediately write a letter, sent by express courier at an urgent rate of 800 li, to report the details to our lord!"

"We soldiers are sharpening our weapons and preparing our horses, awaiting your command, my lord! If any enemy attacks..." A fierce glint flashed in Xiang Yu's eyes.

"They will be made to understand what a 'pacification army' truly is, and what the consequences of invading their territory are!"

Outside the tent, the wind from the northern frontier carried the scent of war, howling as it swept across the camp.