Chapter 277: Tang San Targets the Nobles of the Heaven Dou Empire, Qian Renxue's Invitation
"Indeed, he is worthy of being the Holy Son. He actually managed to complete it in just three days?!"
In the logistics department of the Spirit Empire, the logistics elder held the latest blueprint drawn by Su Yun, his eyes filled with indescribable excitement.
As a professional, it was rare for him to see such exquisite drawings.
Even some top blacksmiths would struggle to match Su Yun's designs.
Su Yun yawned and said, "You have one day. Get it made and bring it to the conference room."
Having pulled two consecutive all-nighters, he was eager for Bibi Dong to see the results as soon as possible.
He had to admit, he was a bit rusty after not doing this for a few years. In the past, he could have completed it in one night.
"Rest assured, Holy Son. With such professional blueprints, we will definitely have it ready for you within a day." The logistics elder laughed heartily and immediately led a group of Spirit Empire blacksmiths into the forge.
The next day.
In the conference room.
Numerous elders of the Spirit Empire and Bibi Dong looked at the brand-new Zhuge Divine Crossbow in the logistics elder's hand, their shock no less than his the previous day.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Holy Son's overnight research and design of this Zhuge Divine Crossbow not only perfectly solves the core problems of the previous model but also increases the effective range from fifty meters to sixty meters!"
"This ten-meter difference will greatly reduce the casualties of our soldiers!"
"Moreover, with the resources of our Spirit Empire, we can equip this newly developed Zhuge Divine Crossbow with better materials. It can then be given to our soul master assassination squads, allowing it to be driven by soul power, extending its range to over a hundred meters!"
The elders present gasped in astonishment.
Being able to be powered by soul force was already reaching the level of a soul tool.
Realizing that this was a weapon that both civilians and soul masters could use, the elders looked at Su Yun with admiration and respect.
"As expected of the Holy Son."
"Having the Holy Son is truly a blessing for our Spirit Empire."
"..."
Listening to the logistics elder's report, Bibi Dong nodded silently.
However, she couldn't help but recall the condition Su Yun had mentioned that night. Her jade hand hidden under her sleeve suddenly gripped the armrest tightly.
But then, thinking about the time left until the exchange of conditions, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"At least it's not today. I can still delay for a while..."
With Bibi Dong's arrangements, the logistics elder immediately organized the blacksmiths to start forging the new Zhuge Divine Crossbows for deployment in the battlefield.
...
Heaven Dou Empire.
Clear Sky Sect.
"Master Lou Gao, the Young Sect Master requests your presence urgently." A servant of the Clear Sky Sect hurriedly knocked on Lou Gao's door.
Lou Gao had previously requested not to be disturbed unless absolutely necessary, as he was studying Tang San's unique Tang Sect hidden weapons.
"What's the urgent matter?" Lou Gao opened the door, clearly displeased at being interrupted.
"I don't know, but the Young Sect Master said you'll understand once you see him," the servant explained.
Since it was an invitation from Tang San, Lou Gao couldn't refuse. He immediately followed the servant to the meeting hall of the Clear Sky Sect.
Inside the meeting hall, besides Tang San, there were Grandmaster, Tang Xiao, Ning Fengzhi, Yu Yuanzhen, and the current Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Beng!
"Tang San, what do you need from me?" Lou Gao asked directly.
Tang San's expression was grave as he handed Lou Gao a weapon similar to his Zhuge Divine Crossbow.
"Master Lou Gao, please take a look at this 'Zhuge Divine Crossbow.'"
Lou Gao examined the weapon carefully, and after a few moments, his eyes lit up with excitement. "Amazing! What a brilliant design!"
Still excited, Lou Gao looked up at Tang San. "Tang San, have you designed a new and improved Zhuge Divine Crossbow?"
Lou Gao immediately noticed that the design of this Zhuge Divine Crossbow was more perfect than the one Tang San had originally made, almost reaching an ideal standard.
"No!"
Tang San shook his head with a grim expression. "I didn't design this. It was captured from the Spirit Empire on the battlefield."
"Thanks to this new Zhuge Divine Crossbow, our soldiers' casualties on the front lines have increased significantly!"
Xue Beng spoke up, "Master Lou Gao, this new weapon has caused great trouble for our soldiers, even some soul masters. We hope you can disassemble, replicate, and even improve it."
"Me?"
Lou Gao was puzzled. "Does this mean that Tang San couldn't do it?"
He looked at Tang San with a questioning gaze.
Tang San shook his head again. "The core of this Zhuge Divine Crossbow is designed in an integrated way. To open it, you have to break it."
"But I've tried. Once it's broken, the internal components automatically shatter, making it impossible to disassemble."
Lou Gao's expression changed. "Since when did the Spirit Empire have such a talented blacksmith? I had no idea."
Tang San and the others were equally troubled.
This weapon was not yet widely used by the Spirit Empire.
If it became widely equipped, the Heaven Dou Empire would fall even faster!
Ning Fengzhi, sitting to the side, said, "We've received information that the blacksmiths who fled from the Spirit Empire, except for your trusted ones, Master Lou Gao, almost none have escaped."
"How can that be?" Lou Gao looked incredulous.
"The Spirit Empire must have detained them all."
Xue Beng's face was filled with anger. "The families of those blacksmiths are within the Spirit Empire's borders. The Spirit Empire can easily hold them hostage. Even if the blacksmiths wanted to escape, they would be helpless."
Yu Yuanzhen nodded. "The latest information I received is that the Spirit Empire has deployed many soldiers to tightly surround Gengxin City. Weapons and armor are allowed out, but blacksmiths are not easily permitted to leave."
"The empire is currently facing a shortage of blacksmiths. Frontline supplies are already running low. We had hoped that Master Lou Gao's arrival would solve these problems, but unfortunately..." Xue Beng's expression was one of helplessness.
During this period, the Heaven Dou Empire had lost more battles than it had won against the Spirit Empire. Most of their victories were due to the Spirit Empire's strategic withdrawals to minimize losses. Otherwise, the Heaven Dou Empire would have had no chance of winning.
## Chapter 277: Tang San Targets the Nobles of the Heaven Dou Empire, Qian Renxue's Invitation
The equipment was naturally taken away by the Spirit Empire soldiers after each defeat on the battlefield.
The most critical issue was the dwindling supply of soldiers.
The Heaven Dou Empire had only a limited number of regular troops. Although there were soldiers in various cities, their quality varied greatly.
Heaven Dou Empire's recruitment only targeted commoners, not nobles. While there were many private soldiers owned by the nobles, this was technically against the rules.
According to the empire's regulations, nobles were not allowed to maintain private armies. These private soldiers were more like household guards, existing in a grey area.
Therefore, the bulk of the recruitment focused on commoners.
Commoners generally did not have high combat training, most of them being farmers. Moreover, many had once benefited from the Spirit Hall's welfare and knew that the welfare under the Spirit Empire far exceeded that of the Heaven Dou Empire.
As a result, even when the empire increased recruitment incentives, many were still unwilling to join the Heaven Dou Empire's army.
Commoners had learned from the fall of the Star Luo Empire that the Spirit Empire would not harm them and even provided benefits. Conversely, they dealt with nobles by eliminating them entirely.
Given this, who would want to risk their lives for the Heaven Dou royal family?
Many commoners, understanding the Spirit Empire better, hoped for a quick end to the war.
"We're short on soldiers and equipment. If this continues, it won't be long before our Heaven Dou Empire..." Xue Beng clenched his fists as he spoke.
Tang San thought for a moment and said, "Your Highness, don't be so pessimistic. Even if given the chance, the Spirit Empire cannot swallow our Heaven Dou Empire in one gulp."
"As you mentioned, we lack soldiers and equipment, so we need to find solutions."
"First, we need to recruit more soldiers."
"Besides commoners, I believe nobles should also go to the battlefield."
Tang San's words startled Xue Beng.
Not only Xue Beng, but the three sect masters also twitched their eyebrows.
"Xiao San, nobles are titled individuals and cannot be conscripted for battle. That's the rule."
"If you propose this, it will surely cause discontent among the nobles."
Xue Beng nodded, "Lan Hao Wang, your idea is too bold."
"Nobles are the foundation of our Heaven Dou Empire. If you..."
Tang San raised his hand to stop Xue Beng from continuing. With a serious expression, he said, "Your Highness, let me ask you a question. 'Water can carry a boat; it can also overturn it.' The boat represents our Heaven Dou Empire. What do you think the water is?"
"Naturally, it is the nobles."
Xue Beng replied, "Without their ancestors, how could our royal family have conquered half the continent?"
"Wrong."
Tang San shook his head. "The water includes their ancestors, but it also consists of countless commoners of the Heaven Dou Empire."
"Have you forgotten that the soldiers who didn't receive titles or ranks eventually became commoners?"
Hearing this, Xue Beng was momentarily speechless.
Tang San continued, "Your Highness, while nobles cannot be conscripted, remember that the laws of the Heaven Dou Empire only apply to titled nobles."
"In each noble family, how many truly hold titles?"
"According to the rules, almost all noble families should be treated the same as commoners, so they must go to the battlefield."
Xue Beng's eyes lit up, "It does seem that way, but..."
His expression changed again.
While the rule existed, implementing it was another matter.
"Your Highness, if you are willing, I can dispatch sect disciples to help enforce this. However, we need the Emperor's approval since this concerns the relationship between the nobles and the royal family. We cannot overstep our bounds."
Tang San's words made Xue Beng nod repeatedly.
"Very well, Lan Hao Wang, I will discuss this with my father immediately."
With that, Xue Beng left.
After he left, Tang Xiao and the others asked, "Xiao San, are you sure the royal family will agree to such a demand?"
Tang San confidently nodded, "Of course."
He smiled, "For the royal family, the more nobles there are, the harder it is for them to control local resources, as they are limited by the nobles."
"Now, with the founding rules, Emperor Xue Ye can use this as a reason to forcibly conscript soldiers from every noble family. With the justification of war, it is an excellent opportunity to weaken the nobles' power."
"And we will be there to support this from the shadows."
He clenched his fist, "We soul masters have the power to shake the heavens and the earth. By playing the villain, those nobles will have no choice but to obediently go to war."
As expected, everything happened as Tang San predicted.
Emperor Xue Ye sent Xue Beng to the Clear Sky Sect overnight, expressing his agreement with Tang San's proposal.
Thus, a conscription campaign quickly began in the Heaven Dou Empire.
Both nobles and commoners were required to enlist.
Many previously hesitant commoners joined the recruitment, seeing the royal family seize significant wealth from the nobles and use it for conscription.
Nobles who resisted faced hardship from Tang San and his Tang Sect disciples playing the role of enforcers.
...
Spirit Empire.
"Holy Son, here is the latest intelligence on the Heaven Dou Empire. You may want to take a look."
Su Yun took the latest report and glanced through it. Seeing the actions of Tang San and others, he smiled, "Forcing the nobles to enlist. Quite bold."
Su Yun shared the report with the present elders.
Today, Bibi Dong had gone to the Blue Silver Clan's territory to rest, leaving Su Yun in charge of the meeting.
"No wonder I felt the quality of Heaven Dou Empire's soldiers decline recently. So, this is the issue." An elder from the front lines spoke about his experiences.
"These uneven soldiers are no match for us, but they do have many strange weapons we've never seen before, likely from Tang San's Tang Sect."
Su Yun said, "These gadgets are minor tricks with little impact on the battlefield."
"True victory will inevitably be ours."
"However, if you encounter units using these weapons, avoid direct confrontation and arrange for soul masters with long-range attacks to counter them."
"Understood."
"..."
After some discussion, a voice suddenly called out.
"Holy Son, Miss Xue invites you for a discussion." A soul master from the Worship Hall appeared at the conference room door.
Qian Renxue?
Su Yun was puzzled.
Wasn't she undergoing the Angel God trials?
Why was she suddenly looking for him? (End of Chapter)