Chapter Forty: Emperor Liu Heng of Great Xia

Returning to a few days ago, within the training grounds of the Imperial Guards in a corner of the Imperial City of the Great Xia capital.

Liu Heng, the Emperor of Great Xia, dressed in casual attire, held a uniquely designed crossbow, aiming at a target standing two hundred meters away. At thirty-six years old and having reigned for twenty years, Liu Heng still appeared vigorous, though a few strands of white could be discerned amidst his black hair. Beside him, in addition to his personal eunuch, stood Di Chao, the newly appointed Commissioner of the Privy Council.

"Whiz!"

After steadying his aim, Liu Heng decisively pulled the trigger. A sharp arrow shot from the crossbow, streaking toward the distant target.

"Your Majesty, you hit it!" Su Peigui, seeing the arrow strike the target with precision, shouted with excitement.

"What are you all standing there for? Go and bring the target over!" Seeing the young eunuchs standing by in a daze, Su Peigui hurriedly scolded them. Several young eunuchs finally reacted and scrambled toward the target.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty!" Seeing this, Di Chao bowed and offered his respects. "Your Majesty’s prowess remains undiminished; your archery is as skilled as in years past!"

"Hahahaha!" Liu Heng was naturally delighted.

Soon, the eunuchs returned carrying the target. Upon seeing the arrow embedded deep into the wood, even Liu Heng drew a sharp breath, his expression turning slightly more animated.

"Minister Di, who exactly crafted this crossbow?"

Early this morning, Di Chao, who had returned to the capital only a few days prior to take up his post, had presented the newly crafted crossbow to the Emperor. Intrigued, Liu Heng had immediately come to the training grounds to test its power. The results were startling; the new crossbow not only possessed a range far exceeding the current standard-issue weapons of the Great Xia military, but its power was also formidable.

Hearing the question, Di Chao replied with a smile, "Your Majesty may find this hard to believe, but this crossbow was created by a seventeen-year-old youth from Yuezhou!"

"Truly?" Liu Heng, somewhat skeptical, asked, "Who exactly is this youth?"

Instead of answering, Di Chao shifted the topic. "Your Majesty, before I introduce this youth, there is something else I wish to convey."

"What is it?"

"I have come today, in truth, to plead on behalf of someone."

"To plead?"

Liu Heng studied Di Chao, his face revealing no change in expression. "Whom are you pleading for today, Minister Di?"

"The Qin family of Yuezhou, in the Jiangnan Prefecture of Great Xia!"

Su Peigui, standing nearby, felt his gaze flicker slightly at these words.

"The Qin family of Yuezhou?" Liu Heng’s eyes instantly turned cold. "Are you referring to the family of the former Left Prime Minister, Qin?"

"That is correct!" Facing the Emperor’s gaze, Di Chao’s tone remained neither humble nor overbearing.

"But I have heard that during your time in Yuezhou, you never had any dealings with the Qin family!" Di Chao’s words immediately sparked suspicion in Liu Heng.

Facing the Emperor’s scrutinizing look, Di Chao continued, "Your Majesty, this very crossbow was crafted by a member of the Qin family!"

"What?" Di Chao’s words clearly exceeded Liu Heng’s expectations once again.

"I would never dare to deceive Your Majesty. This person is the son of the head of the Qin family—the nephew of Lord Qin Zhong—and his name is Qin Song. He has always had a penchant for hands-on work and research; this crossbow was surely something he designed himself after careful study. Furthermore, besides this crossbow, he also gifted me the blueprints for a large-scale siege crossbow, with a range capable of reaching a thousand paces!"

At this, Liu Heng’s expression did not show excessive joy; instead, he continued to stare at Di Chao.

Di Chao remained calm and continued, "Beyond that, he also gifted me something else! A invention of unprecedented value to our Great Xia!" As he spoke, Di Chao reached into his robes and produced the piece of wool fabric Qin Song had given him. "This cloth was woven by the Qin family using sheep's wool. It is not only of exceptional quality but also offers superb warmth. The Qin family has promised that before winter sets in this year, they are willing to gift Great Xia fifty thousand sets of garments woven from this wool."

Liu Heng, his face impassive, took the wool fabric from Di Chao. After a careful inspection, his expression could not help but turn surprised.

"Your Majesty, the reason the Qin family sought me out is, in truth, a last resort, for they feel that their destruction is imminent!"

"Oh?" When this was said, Liu Heng’s expression finally shifted. "Minister Di, what do you mean by this?"

Although Liu Heng had dismissed Qin Zhong from his post, he had yet to decide how to deal with him, let alone the Qin family behind him.

"Not long ago, the head of the Qin family led merchant ships to the capital to deliver this year’s tribute of Xiangyun Silk to Your Majesty. However, they were raided by river pirates mid-journey. The head of the Qin family was killed, and the silk was plundered. The Yuezhou Qin family plummeted into ruin overnight. Combined with the mistakes committed by Qin Zhong, the family was forced to turn to me."

"I tested the power of this crossbow yesterday. If this weapon were to be equipped by our Great Xia armies, along with the even more powerful siege crossbow, it could very well change the outcome of a war!"

After Di Chao finished speaking, he stood there silently, and Liu Heng remained quiet for a long while.

At this moment, Su Peigui, standing to the side, spoke up. "Your Majesty, I have something to say!"

"Speak!" Liu Heng’s tone was faint, devoid of emotion.

"When I arrived in Yuezhou to read the imperial decree, it happened to coincide with a conflict between the young master of the Qin family and the eldest grandson of the Cao family. Both were detained in the Yuezhou prefectural office. When I arrived, I happened to encounter Minister Di, who was intending to bring the Qin scion out."

"That day at the prefectural office, aside from the Qin family members and the Cao scion, the Yuezhou garrison commander, Lord Yang Xun, the Jiangnan Prefecture Governor, Lord Li Wei, and the Yuezhou Naval Admiral, Lord Chu Haiyuan, were all present."

Su Peigui, having accepted over a thousand taels in bribes from the Qin family that day, naturally stepped forward to speak, though he kept his words measured and did not overstep his bounds.

"I took the young master of the Qin family that day primarily because there were issues in the manufacturing process of the crossbow that required his consultation," Di Chao added. "Moreover, as far as I know, there may be hidden circumstances. By the time I set off for the capital, the Yuezhou Magistrate, Lin You, had handled the matter so unfairly that it had sparked the outrage of the people of Yuezhou!"

"Public outrage?" The last two words clearly struck a chord with Liu Heng.

"I heard that the Cao scion had caused the deaths of two courtesans in Yuezhou. The Qin scion sought justice, leading to a conflict between the two families in the streets. The behavior of the Cao scion was so egregious that it ultimately incited the fury of the populace!"

"It seems quite a lot has happened in Yuezhou these past few days!" Liu Heng, who had already begun to guess the truth, saw his expression darken once again.

"Di Chao, I am now aware of this matter! If the Qin scion is truly as talented as you say, I will certainly not let his talents go to waste."

"Your servant thanks Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, I shall take my leave." Having achieved his objective, Di Chao bowed and departed the palace after receiving Liu Heng’s consent.

"Su Peigui!"

"Your servant is here!"

"Notify the Shadow Guards. From the moment Qin Zhong was relieved of his post as Left Prime Minister, have all reports regarding what has happened to the Qin family in Yuezhou brought to me!"

"Your servant obeys!"

Su Peigui, upon hearing this, hurried off to carry out the Emperor’s orders.