591: Chapter 591 Magazine Crossbow

Everyone's gaze was fixed on these three large crates.

This included the First Emperor and General Wang Jian, who had long been eagerly awaiting whatever Zhao Fusu was about to reveal.

Zhao Xuan was also looking at the contents of the three large crates; it was not any type of crossbow he had ever seen before.

It was entirely pitch black, and the crossbow limbs were not made of traditional wooden bow pieces, but rather an unseen composite material that exuded a matte, cold, and hard texture.

At the front of the crossbow body was a rectangular metal box, locked underneath the frame—the very spot where the arrow groove should have been. The rear part of the crossbow body featured a skeletal structure that could be extended or retracted, with a curved end designed to rest perfectly against the shoulder.

"What a strange crossbow!"

Zhao Xuan could not help but exclaim.

Qin Shi Huang unconsciously took a step forward. General Wang Jian went straight to the side of the crate and leaned down to examine it closely.

This was the first time they had ever seen such a crossbow.

Consequently, their eyes were filled with curiosity. The crossbow looked as if a crossbow and an automatic rifle had been fused together.

Zhao Fusu also walked up.

He picked up a crossbow, gripped the center of the body with one hand, and pressed his thumb down. With a click, the magazine detached, revealing the tightly arranged short bolts inside. The shafts were slender, the fletching was tiny, and the arrowheads were triangular pyramids, tempered with a dull luster. The internal structure of the magazine was complex and precise; the springs, follower plate, and locking lug were all fitted together seamlessly.

A look of deep thought appeared in General Wang Jian's eyes.

The magazine was loaded not with bullets, but with short bolts.

This eliminated the need for frequent loading of arrows and could greatly increase the rate of fire!

"This is called a magazine-fed repeating crossbow."

"It is very simple to use; you only need to fold the crossbow to cock it."

"Each time you cock it, you can fire once."

Zhao Fusu's voice was not loud, but it could be heard clearly across the silent training ground.

Everyone listened to Zhao Fusu's explanation in absolute silence.

"This is a detachable magazine, and each magazine holds eighteen bolts."

"Loading it once allows you to fire eighteen times."

"Replacing the magazine takes only a press and a snap, ten times faster than an archer drawing an arrow."

"Everyone will be equipped with six magazines."

"Hiss!"

After Zhao Fusu finished speaking, unsurprisingly, the crowd was shocked.

This meant that each person would be carrying 108 bolts!

Each magazine held eighteen bolts; once finished, you could pull it out, insert a new magazine, and immediately fire eighteen more times in succession!

Zhao Xuan's eyes were shining.

What was the greatest weakness of traditional crossbows?

Slow cocking and even slower arrow loading. In the time it took a skilled crossbowman to fire one shot, an archer could have fired three or even four arrows. Therefore, although crossbows were powerful and accurate, their sustained suppression capability on the battlefield was always limited.

The power of this repeating crossbow might not be great, but as long as...

Its firing efficiency was simply too high.

Looking at its size, it was portable and could be used in close-quarters combat.

Firing at close range could greatly reduce the energy loss of the bolts during long-distance flight, ensuring the enemy took the full brunt of the damage!

He pushed the magazine back into the slot, locked it with a click, and then pointed to the stock of the crossbow, introducing it: "This is a retractable stock, adaptable to different arm lengths."

"How do you retract or extend the stock to adjust the length?"

"Everyone, look at this handle under the stock."

His right hand pressed the handle under the stock.

"By holding down this stock handle, you can extend or retract the stock."

"Adjust the stock to your comfort."

"Once you have finished adjusting it, release the handle. When you hear the click of the locking mechanism, the stock is fixed at that length."

"Does everyone understand?"

Zhao Fusu asked.

"Oh, I see!"

Everyone nodded; this was not too difficult.