On the city gate tower, a man stepped forward, moving past the crowd.
The commoners and officials’ families below took no notice, but those of royal blood standing atop the gate certainly did.
Standing behind Princess Boyang, Chen Shi’ba-niang turned her head in surprise when she heard the words “Maoyuan Mountain.”
The man looked utterly unremarkable – plain, even a little down-and-out.
And yet it was for such a man that she had caused such a stir, even at the cost of harming herself.
Fan Jianglin knelt before the Son of Heaven and performed a full ceremonial bow.
Perhaps knowing that the Emperor had no wish to exchange words with him, he spoke directly after the salute:
“I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty’s wisdom. I shall serve the country with absolute loyalty, unafraid to die for it.”
Oh no, don’t – your lives are far too precious to lose so easily.
The Emperor sneered inwardly. Of course, as the Emperor, he would not stoop so low as to show displeasure toward a mere commoner in front of the court. Instead, he nodded with a faint, polite smile.
The eunuchs quickly gestured for Fan Jianglin to kowtow and withdraw. Yet after bowing, Fan Jianglin did not move to leave.
“Your Majesty,” he said, “I am crippled and can no longer fight on the battlefield to slay the enemy for Your Majesty. Therefore, I offer one thing – a token that will fight in my stead, that will kill for Your Majesty and spread Your Majesty’s glory.”
The onlookers noted that Fan Jianglin’s hands were empty. What could he possibly be offering?
A poem of congratulation for the Emperor’s birthday?
A blessing from that so-called divine doctor, spoken in the tongue of immortals?
Or perhaps an elixir of immortality?
The Emperor thought with faint, sardonic amusement.
“Present it, then,” he said.
“I offer a weapon of war,” Fan Jianglin said. “Without Your Majesty’s permission, I dare not present it directly.”
A weapon of war?
At that, murmurs rippled through the gathered officials. In the Emperor’s mind, a sudden phrase flashed – horseshoe…
“What kind of weapon?” he asked after a brief hesitation.
“A crossbow,” Fan Jianglin replied.
At those words, derision crossed many faces; some even burst out laughing.
“Oh? And which sage has used this miraculous crossbow?”
“No, no – surely it must have been wielded by an immortal!”
Soft laughter drifted from the crowd behind.
The Emperor’s expression, however, remained unchanged.
“My crossbow surpasses the heavy crossbow a hundredfold,” Fan Jianglin continued.
A hundredfold stronger than the heavy crossbow!
The court erupted into astonished murmurs – but he wasn’t finished.
“My crossbow can strike over three hundred and forty paces, drive half a bolt deep into elm wood, and pierce through iron armor from seventy paces away,” Fan Jianglin went on.
He remained kneeling upright, his expression solemn and steady – neither trembling before the Emperor nor flustered by the startled commotion around him.
“Fan Jianglin, do you understand what you’re saying?” The Emperor’s composure wavered slightly as he looked at the commoner before him.
The heavy crossbow was already the most powerful weapon widely used in the army –essential for both attack and defense.
Stronger than that? A hundred times stronger?
What kind of crossbow could that possibly be? Such words were beyond bold.
“Your Majesty may test it for yourself,” Fan Jianglin said.
The Emperor studied him for a moment.
Very well, he thought – since you insist, I’ll grant you this chance. Don’t say it was I who made you embarrassed before the whole world.
“Approved,” he said.
If it were true…
Three hundred and forty paces, half a bolt sunk into elm wood, piercing iron armor from seventy paces away…
Though his health had long been poor and he was no longer young, this Emperor -truth be told – had always carried a warrior’s heart, a taste for battle that had earned him many a rebuke from his ministers in his youth.
Hearing Fan Jianglin’s words, the emperor had already begun calculating in his mind the power and lethality such a crossbow would possess.
If it were true…
Then it would truly be a weapon of devastation.
If it were true…
He lifted his head, watching the eunuchs and guards who had gone to fetch it. Because such a deadly weapon was forbidden near the imperial city, it took quite some time before it could be brought in.
The commotion atop the city gate finally drew the attention of the common people below. Questions rippled through the crowd, and as word spread that an imperial decree had been issued, the city square soon boiled over with excitement.
“It’s not even the Emperor’s spring outing, and we still get to see the Imperial Guards perform their mounted archery!”
The common folk chattered excitedly. They had no idea what grand claims had been made about the crossbow that was to be tested – seeing a spectacle was thrill enough for them.
“They’re coming! They’re coming!”
Amid the rising buzz, a eunuch appeared, followed by a squad of stern-faced Imperial Guards, their expressions solemn and alert, escorting a young man forward.
The youth wore battle armor and held a crossbow in his hands, his bearing proud and strikingly handsome.
In those days, the customs were open and lively; seeing Zhou Liu-lang like this drew cries and laughter from many young women. Perfumed handkerchiefs and sachets were tossed toward him, just like during the grand spring festivals when the emperor toured the gardens and the Imperial Guards displayed their riding and archery.
The commotion followed the procession up until they reached the ranks of officials, where it quickly fell silent – officials’ wives and daughters dared not behave as boldly as common girls.
But suddenly, from one corner, an outburst of laughter and shrieks rose again – sharp with surprise.
Who could be so discourteous?
Everyone frowned and turned to look.
“Liu-lang! Isn’t that Liu-lang?” cried a young lady of the Zhou family, pointing at the youth striding proudly down the road.
Madam Zhou clutched her chest, gasping for breath, as though she might faint at any moment.
“Didn’t he say he wasn’t going out today? How – how not only did he go out, but went straight before the Emperor?”
“What is he trying to do?”
The young ladies chirped and chattered in alarm – until Madam Zhou’s eyes rolled back and she collapsed in a faint.
The commotion followed Zhou Liu-lang for a time but gradually faded as he passed. When he came near the ranks of high-ranking officials and nobles, there were no women’s shrieks – only the sharp whistles of men.
Zhou Liu-lang kept his gaze fixed ahead, not glancing to either side, and walked on without faltering.
Qin Shi’san-lang withdrew his gaze with a cheerful grin, glancing at the people on both sides who were staring at him in suspicion and confusion.
“Quite valiant-looking, isn’t he?” he said with a smile.
Everyone rolled their eyes at him and went back to whispering among themselves about the crossbow the young man carried.
“…Doesn’t look like much…”
“…What’s it made of? Doesn’t even seem to have sinew or horn – looks like something a child would play with…”
Play with?
If you truly tried to “play” with it, you wouldn’t be able to afford the price.
Qin Shi’san-lang smiled faintly, his eyes following Zhou Liu-lang, who had now reached the base of the city gate.
Because he was carrying a weapon – and was so close to the Emperor – the Imperial Guards did not disperse. Their hands rested on the hilts of their blades, eyes sharp and alert, ready to cut him down the instant he made a wrong move.
“Zhou Fu requests permission to test the bow for Your Majesty,” Zhou Liu-lang declared in a clear, steady voice, dropping to one knee before the emperor on the city gate.
Wearing his battle armor, he was exempted from a full ceremonial bow.
The Emperor nodded, glancing at the young man.
He’s rather young… Does he have the strength for it?
Perhaps it would be better to find a more seasoned archer to perform the test.
The thought passed through his mind, but he said nothing aloud.
“Set up the armored targets!”
At the command, shouted by one of the Imperial Guards who had already been briefed, several soldiers stepped forward carrying heavy shields and took their positions seventy paces away.
At the same time, another row of guards took their places atop the gate, shields raised to protect the emperor, the imperial kin, and the assembled ministers behind him.
All eyes turned toward the young man holding the crossbow.
The young man lowered the crossbow and set his foot upon it.
From afar, no one could quite see what he was doing – only that, a moment later, he raised the weapon once more. The entire scene fell silent.
But he did not shoot. Instead, he frowned and turned to the Imperial Guards beside him.
“Leave only the shields,” he said. “There’s no need for anyone to get hurt – it’s just a test.”
At those words, the nearby guards exchanged startled looks.
What did he mean by that? At such a distance, piercing armor alone would already be impressive – did he think he could actually kill someone?
When the Emperor saw there was no movement below, he frowned and stepped forward slightly. The eunuch at his side understood and quickly called out to inquire what was happening.
The guards below relayed Zhou Liu-lang’s words upward, and the city gate erupted again – some shaking their heads, some laughing, others scolding with stern faces.
“Your Majesty, his words are not empty – better to be cautious,” Fan Jianglin said.
At this point, the Emperor simply waved his hand – let them make their spectacle as they wished.
At the command, the Imperial Guards pushed the shields into position and withdrew, leaving only the shields propped upright on wooden stands.
Zhou Liu-lang raised the crossbow and took aim at the shields before him. Once again, the scene fell utterly silent.
Countless gazes fixed upon him – hot and unrelenting as sunlight, almost enough to scorch through flesh. The suffocating stillness only grew heavier. Even the guards standing beside him began to tense, their eyes darting toward the young man.
Had this youth ever been under such scrutiny before?
Could he still loose his shot under so many eyes?
The guards’ sharp gazes fell on Zhou Liu-lang’s arms, searching for even the slightest tremor.
“Ah – my lady, my lady…”
In Zhou Liu-lang’s ears, a woman’s startled cry seemed to echo once more. It was as if he had returned to that day in the Yudai Bridge residence – seeing Cheng Jiao-niang standing by the straw target, reaching up to loosen her hair, the dark strands cascading down like a waterfall.
A pear was placed upon her head.
A crisp green pear, black flowing hair, bright clear eyes, fair cheeks, and a dark gauze robe draped over a pale skirt – all of it composed a vivid, almost playful tableau beneath the sunlight.
“Go on – shoot,” Cheng Jiao-niang said, lifting her hand to point at the pear atop her head.
The maids gasped in horror.
Zhou Liu-lang was stunned.
What kind of joke was this!
“Is it that you dare not, or that you cannot?” the young lady asked with a faint smile.
Her words and that smile struck straight at the young man’s heart. He gave a short huff and raised his bow.
“Ah – Young Master Zhou, you mustn’t!” Ban Qin cried out in fright, spreading her arms as she rushed to stand in front of Cheng Jiao-niang.
“Ban Qin, is it that you don’t trust me, or that you don’t trust Young Master Zhou?” Cheng Jiao-niang said calmly.
Ban Qin turned her head aside.
“Miss, let me do it – let me take your place,” she pleaded anxiously.
“You? Better me than you,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied, lifting a hand to signal her to step aside.
Ban Qin bit her lower lip, turning to look at Zhou Liu-lang. He strode forward, bow drawn, his expression proud and unyielding, offering not a single word.
These two – both stubborn to the core.
Ban Qin had no choice but to step aside, unwilling though she was.
“Go ahead,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
The moment her words fell, Zhou Liu-lang released the bowstring. Amid the shrieks of the maidservants, the pear atop Cheng Jiao-niang’s head was pierced clean through and sent flying.
Ban Qin clutched her chest and hurried forward, dabbing her handkerchief over the few drops of pear juice splashed onto her mistress’s face.
“All right, all right, enough – no more of this!” she said breathlessly.
But Cheng Jiao-niang shook her head and held out her hand.
“Bring another,” she said.
Ban Qin’s eyes widened.
“I’m not playing,” Cheng Jiao-niang said softly. “I don’t have time to play… and I don’t know how to play.”
No time to play… don’t know how to play…
Somehow, those words carried a quiet ache that made one’s heart twist.
From the fruit plate beside her, another pear was taken and placed upon Cheng Jiao-niang’s shoulder.
But she wasn’t finished yet. As Zhou Liu-lang stepped forward to steady the pear with his hand, then slowly backed away, Ban Qin and the other maids felt their hearts leap into their throats.
“Miss…” they couldn’t help but cry out.
One step. Two steps. Three, four, five…
Zhou Liu-lang kept his eyes fixed on the woman, silently counting his paces, until at last she stopped with her back against the wall.
“The house is too small,” Cheng Jiao-niang said. With one hand, she swept her hair to one side; with the other, she pointed lightly to the pear on her shoulder and smiled faintly. “Go ahead.”
Zhou Liu-lang bit his lower lip, narrowing his eyes as he looked at her.
In the sunlight, the green pear rested beside the young lady’s face; her hair was swept to the other side, revealing a small, pale ear – unadorned, without earrings. She must not have her ears pierced.
Simple-minded since childhood – who would have thought to pierce her ears?
And who would ever bear to mar such skin… not even a little, no, never…
Zhou Liu-lang released the bowstring.
Whirr– Then, a sharp clang!
Seventy paces away, one of the shields quivered from the impact.
But he wasn’t done. The young man lowered the crossbow, bent to brace it with his foot, then raised it again.
Whirr, whirr, whirr – clang, clang, clang!
The sounds came one after another, hammering ceaselessly against the ears of all who watched.
“What incredible reloading speed…” one of the Imperial Guards murmured.
“So effortless, too…” another whispered.
And what did that mean? It meant time saved – and on the battlefield, time meant life.
In war, life and death, victory and defeat – often turned in the span of a single heartbeat.
When Zhou Liu-lang finally lowered the crossbow after firing ten bolts in succession, the guards who had been watching him so intently at last saw what they’d been waiting for: the rise and fall of his breath, the faint tremor in his arms.
But who the hell cared about that now!
Every gaze swung in unison toward the shields seventy paces away.
One of the Imperial Guards ran forward.
“Pierced through!” he shouted, raising a shield high for the Emperor atop the city gate to see – then turned to show it to the crowd all around.
The people below let out a collective murmur, ready to cheer – but before the sound could rise, another shield was lifted.
“Pierced through!”
“Pierced through!”
“Pierced through!”
With each cry, another shield was raised high.
Those who had been on the verge of cheering suddenly fell silent. The high-ranking officials standing closest understood all too well what this meant – shock spread across their faces, and none of them made a sound.
The commoners behind them might not have grasped the full significance, but seeing the nobles’ reactions, they too quieted down.
Before the vast city gate, packed with people, the scene turned utterly still – just like that moment earlier when they had waited for the Emperor to ascend the gate tower.
At that moment, the Emperor stood atop the city gate.
The multitude below was silent. Before them, the line of shields – each one raised high, each one bearing a clean, gaping hole – formed a scene both eerie and awe-inspiring.
“Imagine,” the Emperor said, “if before you stood a full line – or even two lines – of soldiers armed with such crossbows. What kind of sight would that be?”
What kind of sight indeed?
From the ranks of soldiers, bolts would fly in unison, loosed from those crossbows – an iron rain sweeping toward the western invaders. No longer would the arrows clatter harmlessly off shields and armor.
They would pierce.
Pierce through!
Pierce through!
Flesh torn apart, screams rising to the heavens, the battlefield awash in blood – an unstoppable tide crushing everything before it. What heavy infantry of the western bandits? What iron cavalry of the enemy?
Hahaha!
A commander of the Imperial Guard beside the emperor suddenly burst into unrestrained laughter.
No one thought to rebuke him for such impropriety before the throne. Instead, with that laughter, a shiver ran through them all – their scalps tingling, their blood surging hot.
A weapon of mass slaughter!
