The decision for the emperor to lead the campaign in person was settled just like that.
After court was dismissed, Liu Xie returned to the Xuan Room.
He also sent someone to summon the Zhen Clan elder.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
The Zhen Clan elder entered the Xuan Room. After respectfully saluting Liu Xie, he asked cautiously, "May I ask what instructions Your Majesty has for this old subject?"
Liu Xie wasted no words and went straight to the point. "How many craftsmen does the Zhen Clan currently have in total? If they rushed to build Traction Trebuchets, how many could they produce in ten days?"
"Traction Trebuchets?"
The Zhen Clan head was briefly taken aback. After a little thought, he answered, "Your Majesty, my clan has over a thousand craftsmen. Traction Trebuchets are very simple to build. Working day and night, producing five or six hundred in ten days would be no problem."
"But... forgive my bluntness, the Stone Shot launched by Traction Trebuchets have too little power. I fear they would be of little use in attacking a city."
The moment he heard "Traction Trebuchets," he understood Liu Xie's plan. He clearly intended to use them to attack Lecheng County.
But their power was truly pitiful, and their range was limited too. The stones they hurled were no bigger than large soup bowls. They had long since been phased out of warfare.
Rather than spend the effort building Traction Trebuchets, they would be better off making more siege ladders, Siege Towers, and other siege engines. At least those were practical.
"I do not intend to build traditional Traction Trebuchets."
As Liu Xie spoke, he picked up the plans he had already drawn on the table with a charcoal pencil, along with the principles written on them, and handed