Zhuo Wulue and Mu Hong instantly felt as if facing a formidable enemy, sweat beading on their brows. "What if the enemy accidentally discovers the method for making Heavenly Thunder, and also such abundant sulfur deposits..."
Liang Xiao said gravely, "It seems we must stockpile some military provisions in advance, preparing for potential future expeditions. We cannot wait until we are thirsty to dig wells!"
Besides these Heavenly Thunder soldiers, only he and Zhuo Zifang knew the crafting process of black gunpowder. Even Lü Yi, Gongsun Ye, Zhuo Wulue, and Mu Hong, to avoid suspicion, dared not inquire.
However, it was not impossible for the enemy to deduce the manufacturing method; after all, Monk Longyue could guess it.
Many inventions and creations hinge not on the difficulty of manufacturing but on the initial "discovery." Black gunpowder is no different.
When Chen Changqiu reported the situation of the Peacock Dynasty to Liang Xiao, it included the location of mineral deposits.
These were revealed to Chen Changqiu by local rebel leaders. However, based on his descriptions, these rebel forces might have already been annihilated.
This was because the Peacock Dynasty's military might was too formidable. One particular cavalry unit, with peculiar attire, numbered over ten thousand and was invincible. Combined with other branches of the military, they were capable of exterminating the entire native population of the Peacock Dynasty.
Heraclius, in his later accounts, also mentioned the attire of the Heavenly Sun Gallopers, confirming that this cavalry of the Peacock Dynasty was indeed the formidable and ferocious Heavenly Sun Gallopers.
Zhuo Wulue and Mu Hong, understanding the gravity of the situation, immediately returned to the Ministry of War and began covert mobilization.
Liang Xiao also urged the Ministry of Armaments to expedite the production of Water Pattern Steel.
While cast iron was slightly harder than steel, steel possessed greater toughness, superior corrosion and high-temperature resistance, and was less prone to deformation or rust. Water Pattern Steel, in particular, was the pinnacle of steel.
Iron weapons could be easily cut like mud by Silver Dragon Gold weapons, but Water Pattern Steel might still offer considerable resistance.
The Great Qian Kingdom spared no effort in producing Water Pattern Steel, aiming to equip all elite forces of Great Qian, led by the Shadow Guards, as quickly as possible.
Spearheads forged from Water Pattern Steel also had stronger piercing capabilities than iron spearheads. On the battlefield, a slight difference could lead to a world of difference!
"Marquis, Mr. Pu Yuan of Yanzhou has sent word. Those Silver Dragon Gold weapons and White Dragon Gold armor have already been crafted!"
Liang Xiao, after receiving a new report at the Marquis of Anguo's mansion, held a phantom-faced battle helmet in his hand.
Following the style of the Heavenly General's helmet, Pu Yuan had crafted this White Dragon Gold helmet for him, painting the surface the same dark silver-white as the Heavenly General's helmet. The demonic mask was also identical to the previous one.
He immediately urged, "Have someone deliver these to those generals!"
Yue Yun's martial prowess was comparable to Nan Jiyun, and it was said that he was on par with Heraclius.
However, Yue Yun faced Achilles and was at a disadvantage in terms of weaponry, leading to his defeat more swiftly than Achilles.
The White Dragon Gold armor, on the other hand, was defensive equipment capable of stably resisting the sharpness of Silver Dragon Gold.
As for the "Crimson Gold Divine Wood" used to forge the Sunset Bow, Liang Xiao also learned from Pu Yuan that this material had long since vanished.
Even if Crimson Gold Divine Wood were to appear, it would be difficult to craft with.
The hardness of Crimson Gold Divine Wood far surpassed that of iron birch wood, which Liang Xiao recognized as an exceptionally hard wood. Its toughness was also unparalleled by other woods.
All of Pu Yuan's top-tier weaponry had been dispatched by Liang Xiao to various quarters. Nan Jiyun, Lü Changhe, Yue Yun, Zhuo Ying... the mighty generals of Great Qian finally had the opportunity to be equipped with Silver Dragon Gold weapons and White Dragon Gold armor as rewards, just like the fierce generals of the Heavenly Sun Tribe.
Yue Qingtian had his own approach.
"Marquis, there's an old man selling a large shield in the market. He claims no weapon in the world can pierce his ancestral shield!"
Liang Xiao was chatting with Yue Qingtian and Yue Wenxin about Silver Dragon Gold and White Dragon Gold weaponry when a guard suddenly reported from outside.
"How formidable can it be?" Yue Wenxin scoffed.
The guard explained, "Reporting to Madam..."
"I, I'm not Madam!" Yue Wenxin's face instantly flushed red as she chided.
"Very well, Madam. I witnessed it firsthand. General Yang, the Feathered Forest Cavalry Officer, wielded his divine weapon on the shield, but he couldn't leave any mark!" the guard replied.
Liang Xiao was taken aback.
Yang Huan, the Feathered Forest Cavalry Officer, was his elder brother Liang Feng's father-in-law. As a general, he had naturally been allocated a Water Pattern Steel sword.
Such a sharp weapon couldn't even leave a scratch?
"What happened next?" Yue Qingtian asked urgently.
"General Yang was both surprised and delighted. He immediately offered a thousand taels of silver to buy the shield. However, the old man refused to sell! No matter how much General Yang increased the offer, he merely shook his head!" the guard replied.
Yue Qingtian excitedly said, "Marquis, I want to buy it! We are in dire need of a large shield!"
Liang Xiao nodded slightly, "Let's go take a look."
Yue Qingtian was accustomed to leading charges on the battlefield. However, once his shield was damaged, he had to retreat to the main formation.
At that time, Yue Qingtian was still using infantry armor, gradually upgrading to plate armor, steel infantry armor, and finally White Dragon Gold armor.
If there truly was a shield with unparalleled toughness and hardness, it would be a tremendous asset to Yue Qingtian. With his brute strength, this shield would be sufficient to allow him to advance continuously on the battlefield.
The commander charging bravely into battle was a great morale booster for the allied forces.
The battlefields of Jiangnan required the Qingtian Guard and the Great Qian Town Guard to display their might and achieve victory wherever they went.
Yue Wenxin also expressed her curiosity and followed Liang Xiao to the marketplace.
"Old Qin, two thousand five hundred taels is the highest price I can offer. Ordinary people wouldn't need such a treasure, and I merely wish to gift it!"
In the marketplace, Yang Huan was earnestly trying to persuade the sturdy old man in sackcloth, who looked distressed and merely kept shaking his head.
Liang Xiao and Yue Wenxin sat on a second-floor balcony in the distance, observing the scene.
Quite a crowd had gathered, pointing at the shield and whispering amongst themselves.
Liang Xiao's gaze fell upon the shield, and his pupils contracted!
The entire shield was crimson, with a faint golden sheen shimmering on its surface?!
In an instant, Liang Xiao had an epiphany.
Wasn't his Sunset Bow of the same hue?
And this shield, a full ten feet high and five feet wide, was simply unbelievable!
On the inner side of the shield were two supports, one horizontal and one slanting. The horizontal support was for easy handling, while the wide slanting support was for stationary defense, requiring no manual holding, and capable of withstanding enemy attacks.
Such a large shield, once placed on the ground after advancing to a certain position, would allow the user to focus on preventing sideways advances. As for strikes and bombardments, they might barely budge it, unless an extremely strong impact drove the entire shield into the ground.
Yue Wenxin secretly glanced at Liang Xiao. Seeing his intense gaze, she couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle.
So, there were still treasures in this world that could make him covetous?
Yue Qingtian pushed through the crowd and nodded to Yang Huan.
Yang Huan was momentarily surprised, then smiled and pulled Yue Qingtian over, saying to Old Qin, "The treasure saber in this general's hand can cut through iron like mud. Do you dare let him try? I want to buy this shield to send to his master's mansion."
Old Qin was stunned. He sized up Yue Qingtian and nodded, "If you can break the surface of my ancestral shield by half an inch, I will take no payment, nor will I ask for compensation if I give you the shield. I mean what I say!"
Yue Qingtian's face lit up with excitement. He ordered the crowd to step back and then raised the Silver Dragon Gold long saber in his hand.
Old Qin stood on the inner side opposite him, holding the horizontal support of the shield.
"Forgive my offense!"
With a furious roar, Yue Qingtian's long saber sliced through the air, striking the shield with immense force. A dull thud echoed across the ground, and sparks flew!
"It's correct," Liang Xiao rejoiced immensely.
The onlookers stared, their jaws agape.
The long saber stopped on the surface of the shield. When it was withdrawn, a conspicuous scratch was visible on the shield's surface.
Yue Qingtian, far from being angry, was overjoyed, "This shield belongs to my Marquis!"
Liang Xiao saw clearly that this scratch was not a damage to the shield or the saber itself. It was merely the accumulated dust of years on the shield's surface, opened by the saber, revealing the true color beneath, which was no different from the Sunset Bow.
Fiery crimson, shimmering with golden light.