Qiang Jin Jiu (Author : Tang Jiuqing 唐酒卿)

Chapter 37 : Blunderbuss

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The world darkened before Shen Zechuan; he was now much closer to Xiao Chiye. He heard Xiao Chiye say, “So it’s really the smell on me. This is way too pungent.”

Shen Zechuan switched the topic and asked, “Did you just add the blunderbuss to the Imperial Army’s arsenal?”

“Bronze blunderbuss.” Xiao Chiye moved his finger closed to the tip of Shen Zechuan’s nose to let him take a sniff. “It was mixed together with the scent on you, so I couldn’t tell it apart for a moment.”

“There’s no scent on me.” The tip of Shen Zechuan’s nose twitched slightly. He said, “Did you raid the Eighth Great Training Divisions’ military armory?”

The blunderbuss was restricted by the imperial court. After it was improved from the original bamboo tube design into the bronze version, it became the equipment of the Eight Great Training Divisions’ Chunquan Battalion. This weapon was lethal, but it was not easy to control. The projectiles had limited range, and it took time to load. However, the Eight Great Training Divisions’ job was to guard Qudu, and it was mostly street fights when they came to blows with others. Not only was it hard to bring out the firearm’s full potential to do what it was meant to do, but it also became a burden. That was why the Eight Great Training Divisions did not popularize the use of it and chose to set it aside instead. It was only during the yearly drills at the military drill grounds that they would take it out to use.

It might not suit the Eight Great Training Divisions, but it was very suitable for Libei’s Armored Cavalry. The Armored Cavalry of Libei were heavy cavalry, with a very small number of infantry and light cavalry. They favored straight-on assault that hit like a surge of monstrous wave. In the early years, Dazhou set up a cavalry garrison at Luoxia Pass. In order to deal with the fast speed of the Biansha Cavalry, they spared no expense to purchase horses and attempted to build Dazhou’s very own cavalry’s horse ranch. However, all the horses sent by the Biansha Tribes were often inferior steeds in their own tribes, while their own horses were true brave horses who had fought against packs of wild wolves at the foot of the Hongyan mountains. Paired up with machetes and sturdy warriors, they were invincible everywhere they went.

It was because of this that Xiao Fangxu established the Libei Armored Cavalry with heavily armored men and horses. They formed a living metal wall in the northwest so that there was no way the Biansha Cavalry’s storm-like assaults could pass through this steel wall.

The northwest was a vast, boundless expanse of grassland. If the Libei Armored Cavalry could be equipped with blunderbusses, then the long-ranged attacks of the Biansha Cavalry would turn into Libei’s Armored Cavalry’s advantage. Long-ranged attacks could leave enough time for the blunderbusses to be charged. By the time the cavalry arrived before them, they would be within the shooting range of the blunderbusses.

To Libei, this simply served to boost their power and strength, much like a tiger that had been given wings.

“Even with Xi Gu’an removed, the Eight Great Training Divisions are still the Eight Great Training Divisions.” Xiao Chiye took a step closer and pushed Shen Zechuan forward with his chest. “There’s no raiding to talk of for a military armory. It’s just a change of master. Don’t worry about it. I’m only just taking it to play with.”

Shen Zechuan walked a few steps as if he really did not care and said, “Can you just lift the blanket away and walk?”

“The days are short, and the nights are long. Why not hold a candle for a leisure walk?” Xiao Chiye smiled. “Want to play with me too?”