Chapter 547
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
You can buy coins here to unlock advanced chapters: https://gravitytales.com/coins-purchase-page/
Chapter 547: Malfunction?
One Three-Bow Bed Crossbow had a malfunction.
Luo Ji made no further comment, instead motioning for the goblins to continue with the volley fire.
On the battlefield, one couldn’t stop an offensive just because one Three-Bow Bed Crossbow malfunctioned.
As they proceeded to the sixth volley, another Three-Bow Bed Crossbow lost its attack capability due to a broken support frame.
Jiang Zhan’s forehead became increasingly beaded with sweat.
Luo Ji, however, maintained his calm demeanor.
Then, during the ninth volley, one Three-Bow Bed Crossbow almost completely disintegrated from the strain, and in the process, several goblins operating it were injured.
This test involved a total of twenty volleys.
By the end, six of the ten Three-Bow Bed Crossbows had experienced malfunctions.
The ones with minor malfunctions could be easily repaired and quickly returned to service.
As for those with severe malfunctions, they had completely fallen apart.
The remaining four, however, performed quite robustly, making Luo Ji fully realize that the chance of malfunction truly depended on luck.
At this moment, Jiang Zhan was extremely nervous, fearing that Luo Ji would be displeased with the results.
However, the truth was, Luo Ji found it acceptable.
In a normal siege, siege weapons would rarely get twenty opportunities to attack.
Ten rounds would even be considered a lot.
Unless the opposing player stubbornly refused to engage, they wouldn’t even get to fire ten rounds before enemy infantry and cavalry units would charge out.
Luo Ji only had them perform twenty rounds this time because it was simply a test.
After briefly commending Jiang Zhan and rewarding him with some money, Luo Ji pondered for a moment and then spoke again.
“In any case, produce ten more of these fragile versions of the Three-Bow Bed Crossbows and siege weapons. Once that’s done, you’ll assist the Armament Production Department in manufacturing regular versions of hand crossbows.”
Luo Ji clearly hadn’t forgotten about his crossbowman units.
When he subjugated the goblin civilization, he had indeed acquired quite a few hand crossbows.
However, most of those hand crossbows came with the ‘Goblin Tech’ buff.
What he needed more now were regular versions of hand crossbows.
‘Goblin Tech’ was a double-edged sword.
If used well, he could, with low prices and costs, produce and deploy large numbers of military machines and crossbowman units, overwhelming the enemy with sheer numbers, much like Gawain’s usual approach.
But if he encountered bad luck and his equipment frequently malfunctioned, it would not be a pleasant experience.
Therefore, Luo Ji had an idea.
He would bring a mix of both fragile and regular versions of military equipment, establishing a relatively safe proportion.
For instance, he might bring three regular Three-Bow Bed Crossbows and seven fragile ones.
This way, out of ten Three-Bow Bed Crossbows, at least three would be reliable.
Even if half of the less reliable seven malfunctioned due to bad luck, he would still have at least five or six Three-Bow Bed Crossbows usable.
The same principle applied to crossbowmen.
For a thousand crossbowmen, five hundred would use the regular version, and five hundred would use the fragile version.
While taking a certain risk, this would ensure a portion of stable combat power.
This could be considered a relatively safe approach.
Of course, the level of goblin technology also needed to be rapidly increased.
It would be best to reduce the malfunction rate as much as possible.
Just as Luo Ji was contemplating this, Ye Xuan, who had been studying the fragile Three-Bow Bed Crossbows a moment before, quickly rushed over.
“Your Majesty, I’ve also brought new weapons for testing this time. Would you like to see?”
“New weapons?”
Luo Ji’s eyebrows subtly raised upon hearing this.
Thinking about it, he realized he didn’t actually know what Ye Xuan had been researching recently.
At the same time, when Ye Xuan spoke, the artisans from the Armament Department and Jiang Zhan’s group, who were preparing to leave, all stopped in their tracks.
Jiang Zhan, whose recent test results weren’t ideal, was clearly eager to see what new achievements the human side could produce.
Luo Ji was also very curious about this. So, he straightforwardly replied.
“Alright, bring out whatever new weapons you have.”
The Armament Research Department was clearly well-prepared, just waiting for Luo Ji’s words.
After receiving Luo Ji’s permission, Zhao Lei, the deputy director, quickly directed his department members to bring out the pre-prepared equipment.
To enhance the demonstration of the new weapon, they had even specially simulated a battlefield formation, setting up rows of straw figures dressed as soldiers.
At a glance, there were at least a hundred of them.
The display was quite grand, sparking a clear sense of anticipation in everyone present.
Luo Ji, sitting there, had a contemplative look in his eyes.
As his thoughts raced, a Three-Bow Bed Crossbow manufactured by the Armament Production Department was pushed forward.
From a distance, Luo Ji couldn’t see it particularly clearly at first.
However, judging by the setup, it was clear that the Three-Bow Bed Crossbow had undergone some improvements.
“Your Majesty, may we begin?”
Zhao Lei asked, his face beaming, clearly confident in the new weapon.
“Begin.”
After Luo Ji nodded in approval and the command for the demonstration was given, the department members responsible for operating the Three-Bow Bed Crossbow in the distance immediately began their work.
These military weapons were mostly crafted by members of the research and production departments.
So, although they weren’t formally trained soldiers, they demonstrated considerable skill in operating the Three-Bow Bed Crossbow.
Not long after, with a hum, the Three-Bow Bed Crossbow in the distance fired.
Everyone’s curious gazes followed the flying heavy crossbow bolt, quickly falling towards the distant formation of straw figures.
But then, something unexpected suddenly happened!
The heavy crossbow bolt flying through the air suddenly split open with a bang.
Jiang Zhan almost burst out laughing at the sight, assuming that the new weapon developed by the human Armament Department had malfunctioned.
In the research and development of new weapons, failures and malfunctions were perfectly normal occurrences.
But this particular failure happened to be witnessed by the Emperor.
This was not ideal.
However, just as Jiang Zhan was thinking this, before his thoughts could fully settle, the unexpected happened again!
From inside the split heavy crossbow bolt, like scattering celestial flowers, a large number of even smaller arrows flew out in the blink of an eye.
In just one breath, they formed a small rain of arrows in the air!
Then, without mercy, they swept over the straw figure formation below!
