Li Daozong simply experimented with it himself, this crossbow was indeed less powerful than he imagined, but it was not so small that it was difficult for a soldier to pull it away after four or five pulls at most.

But when they tested its power next, its power surprised Li Daozong and them, several inches thick wooden planks could directly penetrate, and this ordinary shield or armor could not stop its power at all.

Even His Highness's newly developed steel armor obviously couldn't stop its power at all.

When the double crossbow and the class crossbow were taken out, the two of them were completely speechless, the double crossbow was actually the medium-sized bed crossbow that Li Ke had used in Nanyang before, and the class crossbow belonged to the large bed crossbow, this thing is also available in Datang, but the structure and volume of Datang must be bigger and more bulky than this!

Because these bed crossbows are modular in design and assembly, in addition to the fact that some of its important non-elastic structural parts are cast in stainless steel, if wood is used, the wood required must be very strong, but stainless steel does not need to be such heavy wood.

So it looks very delicate.

But the power of this thing can be seen by looking at the shaft of an arrow that is almost as thick as an adult's wrist.

"We don't seem to need these things." Li Daozong asked with a wry smile.

"Your Highness said that the main task this time is to test these weapons, and the other is to test a new method of warfare." Hokin added.

"What tactics?" Li Daozong and the others glanced at each other.

"Fire coverage." He Jin spoke.

Fire coverage?!

"His Royal Highness said, it is said that Qin crossbows are famous all over the world, so my Datang must not lag behind, so the number of crossbow arrows in Datang must keep up. Whether it's a siege or a field battle, you can cover the enemy with arrows. He Jin said.

Li Daozong and An Xinggui were a little speechless, okay...... Fire Coverage ...... It's a really apt word, if there are enough arrows, especially if all of them are iron arrows, it will be really difficult for the enemy to carry them.

"In addition, in fact, the Ordnance Institute has also studied a lot of ordnance, Your Highness asked you to test them all, such as the new counterweight trebuchet." He Jin spoke.

"Counterweight trebuchet? What's the difference with the previous trebuchet? "Li Daozong, they are all a little curious, and they naturally know about trebuchets.

The trebuchet was first recorded in the Zhou Dynasty, and it has been used in the siege of all Chinese dynasties, and the technology of the trebuchet in the Tang Dynasty has been very mature.

The so-called counterweight trebuchet is actually the return cannon of the Yuan Dynasty, which is not much different from the original trebuchet, but the original trebuchet is a net of stones installed at the head of the long pole, and when the counterweight falls, the stone at the head of the long rod is thrown out.

The counterweight trebuchet, on the other hand, has two ropes developed at the head of a long pole that are linked to a mesh pocket in a groove.

In this way, when the counterweight falls, the stone in the pocket will extend the length of the rope again on the length of the long pole, so that it can move farther, the centrifugal force will be greater, and the power and distance of the projectile will naturally be greater.

"There's also a new thistle to prevent cavalry charges." He Jin asked people to take out a bag of special things from the warehouse and handed them to the two generals.

When this thing is in his hand, Li Daozong has a bad chill on his body, thistle terrestris has been there since ancient times, this thing was probably invented in the Warring States Period, but His Royal Highness this is obviously longer, obviously its power will be greater, and there is a hole in its middle, and the rope has been threaded into it, which can be easily arranged and collected.

This thing has been a weapon of defense since ancient times, but in fact, although it has not left a big name in history, the main reason is ...... Poor, unaffordable.

Iron tools need to be used in ancient times too many places, this thing is at most in some important cities or defensive positions to prevent cavalry impact, but if the field troops carry it, they can't afford to carry it at all.

If there are fewer of them, they won't be of much use, and if there are more of them, there are so many iron tools, so much of them, it's better to use them to make armor.

But this thing is not difficult for Li Ke at all.

Including the rope used for the link, Li Ke can directly switch to wire connection, and after the steam engine was developed, the difficulty of making iron wire plummeted.

"Your Highness can also provide this thing in large quantities?" An Xinggui was a little curious, if it is said that although arrows and other arrows consume iron weapons, they are important strategic equipment after all, but this iron thistle, its defensive use and the amount required are not cost-effective compared with arrows.

But when it comes to defending against cavalry, it's really invincible.

"Of course, apart from the shipping troubles, other aspects are not a problem." Ho Kim nodded.

"If that's the case, then the Western Turks and the like are no match for us at all." An Xinggui couldn't help but speak, if the number of this thing is really enough, no Turkic cavalry should be worried, find their position, and sprinkle this thing in large quantities on their several important retreat routes in advance, and the other party will be the turtle in the urn.

Although the grassland is indeed a vast area, in fact, except for a small number of grasslands in this world where you can run around as you like, most of the other grasslands are not really casual for large groups of cavalry to pass through.

"The things were handed over to the two generals. The next thing is the matter of the two generals. ”

After Li Daozong and An Xinggui took over all the materials, they also had a deep impression of Datang's current strength.

"To be honest, I can't even understand how His Highness conjured these things now, isn't it only three years to say it? Is there such a big change in three years? Because An Xinggui has been in Liangzhou for a long time, he really can't understand these changes.

Li Daozong's experience is more profound, three years seems to be a short time, but thinking about the changes in Xizhou, Li Daozong shook his head: "Three years of changes is still very big. ”

"But since His Highness has provided so many weapons, I don't think our large army needs to come, what do you think? It was enough to send 3,000 men to defend the city. ”

"I think it's fine." An Xinggui said very simply, "If you just defend the city, five thousand people are enough, and we don't even need to dispatch five thousand people, a single dispatch of two thousand people is enough." Test what His Highness says it's like to have fire coverage. ”

"Yes. Anyway, we can contact the army in the rear at any time. Li Daozong nodded.