Chapter 2: A Shocking Proposal

The memories in his mind gradually became clearer.

The person before him was named Chen Ya, the second princess of the current dynasty. The two had grown up together and shared a very close bond. When she learned that Chen Mu had fallen from his horse and his life hung in the balance, she rushed to Mangdang Mountain without hesitation.

“Brother, you scared me half to death,” Chen Ya said, her anxious heart finally at ease.

“I’m fine,” Chen Mu replied, studying her up close.

She was strikingly beautiful and elegant, her features as if chiseled by the hand of God. Her eyes shone like brilliant stars in the sky, and her skin was fair as snow. Petite in stature, she resembled a heroine straight out of an animated tale—adorable and fragile, making one long to hold her close and protect her.

“Come, call me ‘brother’,” Chen Mu said, gently lifting her chin.

“Brother,” Chen Ya called sweetly, her voice soft and delicate, her expression full of charm and innocence.

Chen Mu drew in a sharp breath, feeling his heart melt. “Say it again.”

Before Chen Ya could respond, Chen Xing Tian’s stern voice interrupted, “Did I not order you confined for three months? Why are you running about again?”

“Father, I only stewed a few hawks from the barbarian tribes,” Chen Ya retorted.

“That was their totem! Their faith!” He thundered. “If you’d eaten them quietly, perhaps it would have passed. But you served them at the banquet! Had them eat it themselves, and then told them it was hawk meat!”

Remembering the incident, Chen Xing Tian felt his blood pressure soar. His breathing grew heavy, veins bulging on his forehead. If Chen Ya weren’t his own daughter, he would have had her executed a hundred times over.

The Great Xia Dynasty had only been established for less than fifty years. Its foundation was not yet stable, and powerful enemies pressed in on all sides. Most threatening were the northern barbarian tribes, recently unified into a force capable of endangering Xia’s very roots. For centuries, these tribes had eyed the fertile Central Plains, always harboring ambitions to move south.

Thus, Chen Xing Tian sought to maintain peace and win them over. But the recent incident—Chen Ya stewing their totemic hawks and serving them at a state banquet—had given them the perfect excuse for war.

Xia’s lands were vast and rich. Should the barbarians attack, other border powers would surely be stirred into action. In that case, Xia would find itself beset on all sides, its situation perilous.

“With Father’s wisdom and General Zhao’s invincible army, if those barbarians dare to invade, it will be the perfect chance to sweep them from the northern frontier,” Chen Ya said cheerfully, clearly oblivious to the gravity of the situation.

As her words fell, not a single person present could muster a smile. The northern barbarians were famed for their valor and martial culture, their cavalry unmatched anywhere under heaven. Even the indomitable Zhao Lai, when facing their cavalry, dared only adopt a cautious, defensive strategy.

At that moment, Chen Mu spoke up suddenly, “I agree with Ya’er. If the barbarians dare to invade, we shall sweep them from the north in one fell swoop.”

Chen Xing Tian shook his head and sighed deeply. Chen Ya, after all, was just a girl with a princess’s temperament, ignorant of such matters. But Chen Mu, as Crown Prince, often assisted with state affairs—surely he should understand the situation. Perhaps the fall from his horse had truly addled his wits.

“Your Highness, with these saddles and stirrups, our cavalry will be no weaker than theirs,” General Zhao said earnestly. “But to think of conquering the north is nothing short of a fantasy.”

“I understand your concerns, General Zhao,” Chen Mu replied with a gentle smile.

These barbarians were little different from the Xiongnu of old—entirely cavalry, highly mobile, always harassing the Central Plains. If they could win, they fought; if not, they simply retreated. For thousands of years, no one had truly eradicated the Xiongnu; it was always the Xiongnu who invaded the south.

“I guarantee that with one battle, we can decide the fate of the realm and annihilate the barbarians,” Chen Mu said, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.

Cannons and firearms were difficult and slow to produce in large quantities, but repeating crossbows were another matter. A repeating crossbow could shoot eight bolts in succession, its range and power surpassing the ordinary bow. It was easy to reload and could be operated with one hand. With saddles and stirrups, when they met the barbarian cavalry, wouldn’t it be a one-sided slaughter?

Yet everyone merely shook their heads. Even with all the advantages, it would be near impossible to wipe out the barbarians. If they could not, then a prolonged war would drain Xia’s strength. The barbarians could afford to drag things out; Xia could not.

Suddenly, a soldier galloped up the mountain, dismounted, and knelt before the throne. “Your Majesty, Lieutenant General Xu Fu has been slain by the barbarians. The gold and jewels we sent as tribute have been seized as well.”

“And the barbarians… they said…” The soldier stammered.

Chen Xing Tian frowned. “Said what?”

“They said that one day, they would ride into our capital and wipe out the royal family…” the soldier replied shakily.

Chen Xing Tian’s fists clenched, rage boiling over as he cursed, “Those wretched beasts!”

Everyone around was grave, the air thick with tension.

Xu Fu had been sent specifically to apologize, bearing lavish gifts to demonstrate goodwill—gold, jewels, silks, and more. Even in war, it was custom not to harm an envoy. By killing Xu Fu, the barbarians had made it clear: there would be no peace.

“Your Majesty, the arrow is already nocked and must be loosed,” General Zhao declared, kneeling on one knee. “With the saddles and stirrups the Crown Prince has invented, I have full confidence we can hold the barbarians at the border.”

Chen Xing Tian took a deep breath, but did not respond. With the barbarian tribes united, only by mustering Xia’s full might could they hope to withstand the coming onslaught. But doing so would surely invite the other neighboring powers to take advantage of the chaos.

Chen Mu saw through his father’s concern, and spoke at once. “Father, have you heard of the repeating crossbow?”

“The crossbow?” Chen Xing Tian frowned slightly.

“It’s an improved version of the crossbow—I call it the repeating crossbow. This device can fire eight bolts in rapid succession, with greater range and power than the ordinary bow. It requires minimal skill to operate and is simple to manufacture. Imagine—the barbarians fire one arrow, and our soldiers fire eight. Such overwhelming firepower guarantees victory.”

Chen Mu’s face was alight with confidence.

What barbarian threat? What border troubles? Such problems could be swept away in no time. Once the situation was stable, he could focus on developing the nation’s economy. With a few inventions and clever policies, the nation’s strength would soar.

Then, like the island nation to the east, they could harvest the world’s wealth. For the Great Xia to become a lasting empire—how could it be otherwise?

“A crossbow like this exists? Why have I never even heard of it?” General Zhao exclaimed, eyes wide in disbelief.