"It really is a hundred shots..."
On the empty training ground, the stalwart guard behind King of Zhou revealed an amazed expression as he watched the mother-and-child firearms continuously fire densely at the straw man over a hundred meters away.
"No, it's not just a hundred shots," the middle-aged guard quickly realized in shock. "As long as you carry enough gun barrels, it's not limited to a hundred shots. Two hundred, five hundred... it's all possible!"
The King of Zhou's expression subtly changed.
Indeed, Xiao Yunzhou looked at the Zhou Kingdom guard with an approving gaze, "This brave man speaks correctly. A hundred shots is just a name we've bestowed upon it."
In the little princess's books, this rapid-fire gun was called the 'Hundred-Shot Frankish Gun'. According to the princess's inner voice, this was one of the derivative products of Western firearms that had come to the East.
Xiao Yunzhou felt the name was obscure, so he changed it to the Hundred-Shot Fire Gun, implying the auspicious omen of hitting the target with every shot.
"As long as the soldiers can carry it, and there are enough military resources to support it, they can keep firing by carrying multiple gun barrels, forcing the enemy into a desperate situation," Xiao Yunzhou chuckled. "This can surely create an unstoppable cavalry force."
The King of Zhou and King of Chu listened with boiling blood, yet also felt wary.
They couldn't help but think, if their Zhou and Chu soldiers were equipped with such firearms, the power would be so great that ordinary troublemakers wouldn't dare to invade.
But how did Jing Country manage to invent this thing?
The King of Zhou and King of Chu stared intently at this new precious firearm without averting their gaze!
It was as if by looking long enough, they could discern some clues about how to manufacture it from the mother-and-child firearm.
But unfortunately, just by looking at the appearance, the firearm was entirely iron-colored and tightly sealed, without any traces revealing its internal structure.
"Hehe, what's this? Are you two interested in our Jing Country's new type of firearm?" Xiao Yunzhou snorted lightly.
The other two kings immediately blushed and looked away.
Xiao Yunzhou felt proud. This was technology brought by the fairy's daughter, not something ordinary people could learn just by looking once or twice. The internal structure of the firearm was extremely intricate.
Moreover, this Hundred-Shot Fire Gun was just a prototype. According to the celestial realm's books, there would be other more powerful mature firearms in the future!
Things like machine guns, mobile artillery, naval mines, and so on.
"Today, what's displayed before you is merely one or two tenths," Xiao Yunzhou smiled immodestly at the two kings.
Sure enough, the King of Zhou and King of Chu were even more shocked.
"Alright, since you've seen it, let's move to the study," Xiao Yunzhou waved his hand, letting the people from the Ministry of War take away the firearms.
The gazes of the King of Zhou and King of Chu instantly stuck to these things again!
In a situation where neighboring countries all had firearms equipped, even with their two countries' strong military power, they wouldn't have much advantage. Because whenever there was a conflict, it would consume gunpowder, lives, provisions, and horses, resulting in heavy losses.
This was why, even though they were powerful, they wouldn't easily start a war.
But now, the Yuan King was restless, wanting to send troops against Jing.
Once Jing Country was gone, would it be Zhou and Chu's turn next?
By then, with Jing Country gone and these immensely powerful firearms gone too, could Zhou and Chu really contend with the Yuan King?
On the way back to the imperial study, the King of Chu's complex gaze kept falling on the King of Zhou.
"Your Majesty, is there any way we could purchase a few Hundred-Shot Fire Guns?" The middle-aged attendant behind the King of Zhou couldn't help but speak in a low voice.
The Hundred-Shot Fire Gun had immense power, good for attacking, and naturally also an excellent tool for defending cities!
If they could buy some and bring them back...
The King of Zhou's eyebrows twitched slightly, and he couldn't help but look at Xiao Yunzhou with a complex expression.
[Oh, Zhou Xing Kingdom wants to purchase weapons from us?]
Xiao Chuchu had been staying in the side study. Earlier, for safety reasons, Xiao Yunzhou hadn't taken her to the place where they were test-firing the guns, but she clearly hadn't missed watching the broadcast.
Now, as soon as the three emperors returned, Xiao Chuchu's inner voice started chattering.
[The level of weapon advancement is an important measure of military power. If you're not on good terms with our Jing Country, don't even think about buying from us!]
[We won't sell to you even at a high price! King of Zhou, first look at your own favorability towards Jing Country, it's only just risen to 47% now.]
[King of Zhou, you're not even half on our Jing Country's side!]
Xiao Yunzhou thought the same in his heart, and turned to reject the King of Zhou, who was still wavering between Yuan and Jing, "Not for sale."
"This firearm manufacturing technology is a secret of our Jing Country, specially provided for our Jing Country's soldiers and allied friendly forces."
The King of Zhou and the strong man behind him immediately had stiff expressions.
The King of Chu, on the other hand, was overjoyed, "Xiao Yunzhou, we are friendly forces, right? We offer you a 30% discount on iron ore from our Chu territory, isn't the iron ore source for your firearm manufacturing from our Chu territory?"
Xiao Yunzhou nodded with a smile, "As long as we're allies, everything is negotiable."
The King of Chu's face was full of smiles, "Jing Country is straightforward! Haha, not bad, not bad, I didn't expect that traveling the world would lead me to such a good thing! These firearms in the army are a great killing weapon!"
The King of Zhou's brow furrowed even more.
Just now he was only slightly moved, but now he was anxious!
It was a case of one's gain being another's loss. If Chu State and Jing Country both had this great killing weapon, and Zhou Xing Kingdom didn't, wouldn't that create a huge military power gap?
Chu State had money and resources, and could continuously purchase from Jing Country.
His Zhou Xing Kingdom would be caught between two fires!
[Hehe, the King of Zhou's collection rate has risen to 49%!]
[Indeed, competition makes things more interesting.]
As Xiao Chuchu was musing, she suddenly heard a system prompt.
She looked and was delighted, [Ever since avoiding the deadly calamity for the King of Chu, this hero's collection rate has been stuck, with only 10% left. Unexpectedly, it moved today.]
[Finally reached 100%!]
[Wait, after seeing the firearms and receiving the promise of alliance, the King of Chu's favorability towards Jing has reached 121%!]
[The system says I've completed the mission of conquering the hero beyond expectations — rewarding me with a new skill: Gossip Eye.]
Hm?
Xiao Yunzhou was about to continue persuading the fence-sitting King Zhou Ling when he heard his daughter's inner voice.
He was stunned for a moment.
What Gossip Eye?
Gossip, as in Qian, Kun, Kan, Li, Zhen, Xun, Gen, Dui?
But just as he was guessing, Xiao Chuchu's inner voice had already finished reading the system's notes on the new skill.
[Wow, this Gossip Eye is quite useful. As long as someone stands in front of me, I can immediately see their three most important pieces of gossip.]
"!" Xiao Yunzhou's eyes widened.
He instantly raised his eyes to look at the King of Zhou, this fellow who might help Yuan Mu Country, and coughed lightly, "Wei Zheng, go bring the little princess here, these two earthly kings haven't met the Third Princess yet."
The King of Zhou's expression was surprised. What little princess? Had he misheard? If he were receiving important figures from other countries, he would definitely have his crown prince come out!
"Ah, come, come, this old man misses her too," the King of Chu, remembering to 'value daughters over sons', immediately looked forward to it expectantly.
Xiao Yunzhou blocked this old fellow, standing at the study door and carefully took the adorable Chuchu, who had already changed into light clothes, from Wei Zheng's arms.
"Chuchu, these are your two uncles who have come from afar."
"This one's surname is Zhou..." Xiao Yunzhou stood seven or eight steps away from King Zhou Ling, next to the guards, and turned his precious Chuchu's pink little face towards King Zhou Ling.
But before he could finish speaking, as King Zhou Ling awkwardly looked at this baby who wasn't even a year old, Xiao Chuchu also stared at him with wide eyes.
[Oh my, is this King Zhou Ling?]
[Gossip Eye — the first piece of gossip is right next to his face, it's so big! At least bold size 5 font!]
[Damn, his niece, Princess Ronghua, is at a farm in the outskirts of our Jing Country's capital, about to be poisoned mute and sold off by her own husband!]
"???" Xiao Yunzhou was stunned.
Ah?
[Holy crap, so King Zhou Ling married his own niece to the Yuan King's nephew?]
[No wonder the Yuan King wants to borrow passage through Zhou, they have this kind of marriage alliance!]
[But this Yuan King's nephew has long disliked Princess Ronghua!]
[Oh no, Princess Ronghua has been tied up by him, help! Before he poisons her mute, he wants to disfigure her!]
Xiao Yunzhou's face changed dramatically, looking at King Zhou Ling with indignation and sympathy!
