Building a Legion

"Your Highness, rest assured, Ling Yi will return and select a highly skilled blacksmith to teach the art of crossbow forging."

At the Third Prince's residence, Ling Yi solemnly promised, "Within six months at most, we can provide Your Highness with the first batch of three thousand crossbows, along with matching bolts."

"Going forward, as long as the raw materials keep up, we can produce at least a thousand crossbows every month, whether to increase the number of users or to replace worn-out ones."

"Excellent!" Xue Ye beamed with delight, her gaze towards Ling Yi filled with even greater admiration. "In that case, I will certainly speak to my father, the Emperor, and grant him a noble title!"

If Ling Yi can do what he says, then their [Heaven Dou Empire] will surely be able to build a legion that uses crossbows as its primary means of attack.

Just now, under Ling Yi's guidance, Xue Ye had already tested the power of the crossbow. It was enough to pierce three layers of iron armor within fifty paces!

Such destructive power surpasses the First Soul Skill of many Power Attack System Soul Master, and even approaches the power of their Second Soul Skill.

In addition, both aiming and changing arrows are extremely convenient. With the same arrow reserves, crossbowmen have a greater endurance than archers. All these factors mean that the combat power of a crossbowman legion will far exceed that of an archer legion!

Most importantly, it is much cheaper than training a qualified archer!

As the Third Prince Xue Ye, who is about to lead the establishment of such an excellent crossbowman legion, he will surely gain a lot of points in the eyes of Emperor Xue Rong!

Furthermore, having previously secured the rights to spread "Blue Silver Rice" in two major provinces in the northern part of the [Heaven Dou Empire], as long as the next planting season is well arranged, and the harvest season arrives with a truly doubled yield, then Xue Ye will hold both military and civilian achievements in his hands. In this way, wouldn't his position as crown prince be secure?

Overjoyed, Xue Ye hosted a grand banquet at his princely residence to entertain Ling Yi and Dugu Bo.

These two individuals, one a brilliant talent capable of helping him gain an advantage in the struggle for the throne, and the other a powerful Soul Saint, are both worth Xue Ye Ye's efforts to win over.

After a pleasant luncheon, Ling Yi declined Xue Ye's offer to stay and, with the already somewhat impatient Dugu Bo, left the Third Prince's residence and headed back to the small courtyard in the east of the city.

An hour later, in the study of the Third Prince's residence.

Xue Ye and Xue Xing sat facing each other, and on the desk between them was the exquisite crossbow that Ling Yi had given to Xue Ye.

After examining it closely, Xue Xing exclaimed once again, "Exquisite craftsmanship! Truly an exquisite masterpiece!"

As a prince who yearns for the battlefield and wants to become a great general or marshal, rather than coveting the throne, Xue Xing grows more and more fond of the crossbow, a powerful weapon that can exert tremendous force on the battlefield.

"Alright."

Xue Ye tapped on the table, interrupting Xue Xing's engrossed reading, and asked in a deep voice, "Ninth Brother, as far as I know, you and the border general Ai'er Timosi have a very good relationship?"

"It's pretty good." Xue Xing raised her head, looked at Xue Ye, and replied, "Brother San, you know, when I was in the academy, I formed a team, and Ai'er Timosi was my teammate for a year."

"After he graduated, he returned to his family to inherit the title and served in the border army. Over the years, although I haven't been in frequent contact with him, our relationship has never been broken."

Upon hearing Xue Xing's introduction, Xue Ye nodded noncommittally.

Xue Xing glanced at the crossbow in her hand and asked Xue Ye curiously, "Brother San, you're not planning to establish a crossbow legion within the border army through Ai'er Timosi, are you?"

Xue Ye had already relayed the crossbow forging information that Ling Yi had given him to Xue Xing, so Xue Xing naturally understood some of her Brother San's thoughts immediately.

"This is not a good choice," Xue Xing said.

"Not to mention that Ai'er Timosi's main influence is in logistics and he can't get involved in the military, there are all sorts of intricately entrenched Soul Master families on the border. If you really establish the Crossbow Legion, it's hard to say whether you'll still be able to control it."

"Of course not."

Xue Ye shook her head, denying Xue Xing's guess, and said:

"I'm just trying to find someone for me in the border army through Ai'er Timosi."

"Looking for someone?" Xue Xing's curiosity intensified upon hearing this. "Who is it that you're so concerned about, Brother San?"

Faced with Xue Xing's eager gaze, Xue Ye didn't hide anything and said directly, "A centurion named ' Ku Fan.' At least, he was a centurion when Ling Yi was still in the border army."

"Ku Fan? Centurion?" Xue Xing raised an eyebrow. "In the border army, this position at most corresponds to Two-Ring Grand Soul Master, right? He might even be a One-Ring Soul Master. Is there anything special about this person?"

In the Heaven Dou Empire, anyone who reaches the level of Three-Ring Soul Elder and is willing to pledge allegiance to the empire can be granted the title of Baron.

If one joins the military, the starting position is at least a corps commander.

However, Grand Soul Master cannot sit in this position without several major military achievements.

So, is a mere centurion, at most a Grand Soul Master, really worth the attention of Xue Ye, the dignified Third Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire and a strong contender for the Crown Prince position?

Xue Ye said calmly, "According to Ling Yi, this Ku Fan's Martial Soul is called ' Hurricane Soul-Chasing Crossbow,' which is the prototype of the crossbow in your hand."

"Oh?"

Hearing Xue Ye's words, Xue Xing was taken aback, then an expression of interest appeared on her face, and she murmured, "I see. I wonder how powerful his Martial Soul is, and how he uses his Soul Skill?"

Immediately, Xue Xing asked Xue Ye, "Brother San, are you planning to transfer that Ku Fan to your command?"

"Hmm." Xue Ye nodded and said, "If he proves to be a good candidate, I plan to find a way to place him in the Royal Knights."

"What?!"

Xue Xing was shocked and almost stood up. Looking at Xue Ye, she said incredulously, "Brother San, this is no joke. If Father finds out..."

"Don't worry." Xue Ye waved her hand and said, "I will inform Father Emperor in advance."

"The Royal Knights 50,000. With Ku Fan's strength—enough to serve as a centurion in the border army—he should have no problem getting in."

"But if he can only be a lowly soldier, then it's not worth my time at all."

"I will first demonstrate the power of the crossbow to my father. If Ling Yi can indeed provide three thousand crossbows in six months, followed by a supply of one thousand each month, I believe my father will not refuse to allocate a separate crossbow cavalry unit from the fifty thousand ' Royal Knights '..."

"Crossbow cavalry..." Xue Xing repeated the term subconsciously, then asked, "Does Brother San mean that if that Ku Fan has potential, you're planning to promote him to be the commander of this crossbow cavalry?"

Xue Ye neither nodded nor shook his head, but simply said, "Let 'Ai'er Timosi find the person first."

As for the centurion named "Ku Fan," neither Xue Ye nor Xue Xing had considered whether he was willing to pledge allegiance to Xue Ye.

Who is Xue Ye? He is the Third Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, and he has a very high chance of becoming the Heaven Dou Emperor. Would a mere centurion in the border army refuse such a powerful figure?

It is only natural to be loyal to such a future empire ruler!

Still writing, the next chapter should be before midnight~