Chapter 115: New Weapon, Block Missile
Holy Monday, Eighth Update
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"Bai Family Fortress held!"
A swift horse galloped from the direction of Bai Family Fortress. As it neared Gao Family Village, the rider, a Bai family retainer, became clear. He bellowed at the top of his lungs towards Gao Family Fortress: "Bai Family Fortress held! Master Bai and Military Inspector Cheng Xu worked together to repel Bu Zhan Ni from Luochuan. Bai Family Fortress is safe!"
Hearing this, the villagers of Gao Family Village emerged from the fields, from around corners, and from atop walls, cheering in unison: "That's wonderful!"
"Master Bai is a good man; it's good that he's alright."
"If Bai Family Fortress is safe, then the bandits won't enter our county, will they?"
The retainer dismounted quickly at the fortress gate, and under the gaze of the villagers, strode into the fort. After saluting San Shier, he made his way to Madam Bai and Young Master Bai's rooms, where they were lodging in Gao Family Village, to report on the battle at Bai Family Fortress.
Li Daoxuan, leaning over the diorama box, ate his tomato and egg stir-fry over rice, listening intently as the retainer vividly recounted the defense of Bai Family Fortress.
"Madam, Young Master," the retainer explained, "This time, only Bu Zhan Ni's division attacked. Wang Zuogua from Yichuan did not appear. If he had joined, the total bandit force would have numbered over three thousand. In that case, Bai Family Fortress might not have held. Military Inspector Cheng Xu is unreliable; he could flee at any moment. So Master told me to inform you that he requests you continue to lodge at Gao Family Village for a while longer."
Hearing this, Madam Bai sighed deeply: "Alas, very well. Go back and tell Master to be careful in all things, not to act recklessly. If the situation turns unfavorable, he should abandon Bai Family Fortress and escape."
The retainer replied, "I obey."
The retainer bid farewell to the Young Master and Madam, then mounted his horse and returned to Bai Family Fortress.
Li Daoxuan, having listened to their conversation, couldn't help but frown.
It wasn't over yet!
There were five or six thousand bandits in Huanglong Mountain, and this was just one skirmish.
Didn't Song Gongming attack Zhu Family Manor three times? It was unlikely the Huanglong Mountain bandits would give up after just one assault on Bai Family Fortress, was it?
No, he had to help his little people.
Master Bai (Bai Yuan) and his retainers were, in Li Daoxuan's mind, his own little people. He couldn't just leave them.
But how could he help them more effectively? The Plastic Catapults and Giant Crossbow Vehicles had very limited combat power, and he couldn't increase their numbers indefinitely. The space within the fortress limited how many catapults and crossbows could be stacked.
Should he have Gao Chuwu and Zheng Daniu drive the Solar Cars to ram them?
No!
The Solar Cars weren't good at off-roading. If they drove into ditches or field ridges, the vehicles could easily get stuck, and Gao Chuwu and Zheng Daniu would needlessly sacrifice their lives.
He needed a weapon with more destructive power, something that could instantly crush the bandits' morale.
Ideally, something that could unleash a barrage of "projectiles" in a short time, hitting the enemy from afar and making them cry out in distress.
Rapid fire!
Li Daoxuan's eyes suddenly lit up. *Hmm?*
He suddenly thought of something.
He quickly opened a certain online marketplace. He vaguely remembered seeing an interesting small toy last time. It was too big, and he felt his little people couldn't use it, so he hadn't bought it. But now, Solar Car No. 3 was operational, and transporting heavy objects was no longer an issue, so he could buy that item now.
A Block Missile launcher, 7 centimeters long. (See image in chapter comments)
Placed into the late Ming Dynasty, it would become a massive 14-meter-long monstrosity, incredibly huge. However, it had one advantage: it could be disassembled and assembled. It could be taken apart into pieces, transported by the huge Solar Car No. 3 to Bai Family Fortress, and then Master Bai could organize the militia to assemble it.
Good, he quickly placed an order and sent a message to the seller: "Dear, I'll pay extra for expedited SF Express shipping."
The divine art of "Paying Extra" was invincible!
About half a day later, the Block Missile arrived.
By this time, evening was approaching in Gao Family Village; the sun was setting in the west.
Madam Bai stood on the tall corner watchtower, gazing towards Bai Family Fortress, her heart filled with worry for its safety.
Young Master Bai stood beside her, whispering, "Mother, Father has always been upright and kind, a gentleman who constantly reflects on himself. Heaven will surely look after our Bai family; please don't worry."
Madam Bai sighed: "Let's hope so."
Just then, Gao Yiye climbed the nearby stairs and stood beside them: "Young Master Bai, the Heavenly Lord has a celestial artifact that he wishes to teach you to use. Learn it diligently, and tomorrow, return home to teach your father."
Young Master Bai was stunned: "Me?"
He was still just a half-grown boy of thirteen or fourteen, but children of that age already understood quite a bit and learned quickly. Hearing that the Heavenly Lord wanted to teach him, he was both curious and apprehensive, yet also a little excited.
Madam Bai, however, was startled: "You want my son to return to Bai Family Fortress? That's too dangerous."
Gao Yiye smiled: "He only needs to go back to teach Master Bai how to use the celestial artifact, then immediately return to Gao Family Village."
Only then did Madam Bai relax.
Gao Yiye instructed: "Prepare to watch closely."
Madam Bai and Young Master Bai quickly composed themselves, standing solemnly and widening their eyes.
They watched as the clouds in the sky parted, and a large collection of strange, colorful wall-like objects descended from above, spreading out over the open ground in front of Gao Family Fortress.
Then, these scattered pieces, as if grasped by an invisible giant hand, floated into mid-air. *Click*, they assembled together; *click*, they combined again. Before long, they formed a massive, peculiar contraption over four *zhang* long.
Madam Bai and Young Master Bai stared in astonishment: "What... what is this thing?"
Gao Yiye called out loudly: "Li Da, the Heavenly Lord wants you to strike the mechanism at the back of that thing!"
Li Da responded, approaching with a large hammer, grinning: "Time to unleash another celestial artifact? Wow, this one's enormous!"
Gao Yiye declared: "Do you see the four mechanisms at the back? Strike them repeatedly."
Li Da laughed: "Alrighty!"
He swung his large hammer, *thump, thump, thump, thump*, striking four times in succession. As he hit each mechanism, the celestial weapon *thump-thumped* out two enormous cylindrical projectiles. Eight shells from four strikes soared through the sky, *bang, bang, bang* as they impacted a distant hillside, knocking down several withered trees and kicking up clouds of dust.
Li Da exclaimed: "Oh my goodness, this thing is powerful!"
Madam Bai and Young Master Bai were also speechless, staring wide-eyed.
Gao Yiye asked: "Young Master Bai, the Heavenly Lord asks, have you learned it?"
Young Master Bai blinked: "Huh? Huh? Yes, I've learned it. Just hit those four mechanisms at the back with a big hammer, right? I'll go grab a big hammer and strike it for the Heavenly Lord's inspection right now."
"Pfft!" Gao Yiye burst out laughing: "Hahahahaha, the Heavenly Lord didn't ask you to learn from Blacksmith Li. He asked you to learn how to assemble the pieces of the celestial weapon!"
Young Master Bai gasped: "Huh? The assembly method? Oh no, I forgot to remember it."
Everyone present: "..."
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