The afterglow of the setting sun reflected the Buddha City like a flame. Jiang Kai returned to the military camp, walked into the imperial tent, and held up the imperial flag:

"Your Majesty, Jiang Kai, led his troops back to the camp and returned His Majesty's orders."

Tangtang raised her hand and signaled Mingwuci to take back the flag: "General Jiang, thank you for your hard work. Go down and rest."

"yes."

The Qiang army and the Jibeilu army retreated without a fight, and no one knew what Emperor Zun had planned.

Although we have agreed to fight again tomorrow, if we find strange excuses to delay the fight like today, we cannot keep delaying it.

Xuan Ning said: "They don't dare!"

"Today, the Lord of the Shark Demon Kingdom made most of the Qiang army unable to move and watched helplessly as the camp was burned down. If Xiao Zhanye doesn't go out to fight tomorrow, the morale of the army will be weakened."

Pingyang Jun said: "Qiang Jun made countless people and soldiers become living dead, and even soldiers sacrificed their lives. It was too late for Xiao Zhanye to be happy."

"Besides, he has Emperor Xuanwen and Mr. Xuehai as hostages, and he might be able to blackmail the empress in turn."

Speaking of this, everyone couldn't help but look at Tangtang.

Tangtang smiled generously: "You don't have to worry about me being threatened by him. The most important thing now is the battle."

"As for the Supreme Emperor and Mr. Xuehai, I will ask for help and will never let Xiao Zhanye's treacherous plan succeed."

Everyone nodded and discussed how to meet the enemy tomorrow, and did not leave until midnight.

"Where is Pang Cheng?"

Tangtang looked at the sand table in the snowfield for a while and thought of the trebuchet: "I heard that he has been improving it during this time. How are the changes now?"

Qian Shuang said: "This time Young Master Su brought a total of ten burning catapults. Young Master Pang led people to assemble them for trial use. In the rear camp, I will accompany your Majesty to see them?"

Tangtang nodded, put on her snow cloak and carried a lantern and walked into the snow.

There is a large wilderness in the camp behind the Chinese army's imperial tent. Before we even get close, we can hear the excitement ahead, and the firelight is as bright as day.

In the snow, the craftsmen were divided into three teams to perform the final assembly of the catapults. Pang Cheng was supported by someone and stood under these towering carts.

He was tied with white silk between his eyebrows and eyes, dressed in plain clothes, and wrapped in a thick fur cloak. Only half of his thin face was exposed, and he was still coughing.

It wasn't until someone reminded him that the empress had arrived that he put away the handkerchief in a panic and turned around: "Your Majesty."

Tangtang quickly walked to him: "It's so cold, why don't you go to the tent and wait?"

Pang Cheng smiled: "These trebuchets are very different from before. I'm worried that the craftsmen can't assemble them well, which will delay tomorrow's battle, so I'm watching them here."

Tangtang looked up at the trebuchet.

The body of the locomotive is supported by huge wheels, which can roll forward smoothly during transportation.

On the tower-like body, there is a shaft near the top in the middle, connected to a huge wooden lever arm.

On both sides of the wooden arm, one long arm is a bomb basket that can hold large rocks and incendiary bombs, and one short arm is connected to a telescopic winch.

After loading the big stone, pull the short arm close to the tower body, and the stone can be projected out.

A trebuchet generally used in battles can throw rocks weighing dozens of kilograms forty or fifty feet. After Tangtang's improvement, it has reached seventy or eighty feet.

Pang Cheng often drew pictures of these instruments, and he gained new inspiration. The stones that could be projected increased each time, and the tower body could also be freely expanded and contracted.

"Besides these," Pang Cheng motioned to the craftsmen to demonstrate to Tangtang, "During the march or retreat, you can throw stones anytime and anywhere."

He pointed to the car body and said: "I have also left space on the car body for placing incendiary bombs. Even if there are not enough stones, it can still cover the march of the army."

Under his command, the craftsmen tried out several trebuchets, which were extremely powerful.

Tangtang jumped down from the high slope where she was watching, her eyes widened with laughter: "Brother Pang Cheng, you are so awesome."

Pang Cheng's face heated up slightly: "Your Majesty is so complimentary. I just have some ideas based on your Majesty's new designs."

"In this world, there is no one who is better at improving weapons than Your Majesty."

"It's easy to talk about."

Tangtang jumped around a few more places and watched the trebuchet in full. The more she watched, the more she liked it:

"Brother Pang Cheng has made such a great contribution. Is there any reward you want? As long as I can do it, I can promise it to you."

Pang Cheng shook his head: "My life was saved by your Majesty. It is your blessing to be able to serve your Majesty. I dare not claim credit. If..."

"What if?"

Pang Cheng held his sleeves tightly with his hands and hesitated for a long time before saying: "If I can stay with Your Majesty for a long time, I have nothing else to ask for."

Amidst the roar of people, Pang Cheng's breath was slightly trembling.

While Tangtang was thinking, Qian Shuang poked the expressionless Tang Bi and asked in a low voice:

"Hey, what do you mean by being with me for a long time?"

Tang Bi: "...I am not Pang Cheng. General, did you ask the wrong person?"

"Aren't you both men and have the same mind? You said this is a long-term relationship, do you want to enter the palace, or do you want to enter the harem?"

Tang Bi: "..."

Qian Shuangshuang's eyebrows were flying and she wanted to ask something, but she saw the empress's faint eyes and immediately changed her words:

"I am also concerned about Young Master Pang. He has a rough background and is extremely talented. He cannot compromise his talents."

Tangtang snorted twice: "Really? Then what do you think we should do so that we don't feel wronged by brother Pang Cheng?"

Qian Shuang: "..."

Your Majesty, why are you still trying to pass the blame?

I am a young and promising young master who wants to be by your side, not mine. Can I keep my word?

Looking at the gloomy empress, and then at the shy young master Pang, Qian Shuang was holding this hot potato, almost crying without tears.

"I feel, I feel..."

It's better to stay in court, otherwise it would be too beastly for the twelve-year-old empress to put such an older brother in the harem.

"The Ministry of War or the Ministry of Industry is more suitable for Mr. Pang's identity. What do you think, Your Majesty?"

Tangtang gave her a look that said, "You know what I mean?" and then asked Pang Cheng:

"The Ministry of Industry has an ordnance factory, and the Ministry of War has an armored crossbow department. Which one does Brother Pang Cheng prefer?"

Pang Cheng smiled: "Your Majesty makes the decision."

Tangtang jumped to his side: "Let's do this, I will create a separate government office for you, and call it 'Anminjian', which means using sharp weapons to protect the country and the people."

"The arsenal and the crossbow department will be under your control. Then you will select experienced craftsmen from the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of War to assist you. At the same time, you will also make uniforms such as armor, guns, and cannons."

Pang Cheng's face turned redder and scarlet: "I would like to thank Your Majesty for your consideration."

Tangtang smiled and patted him on the shoulder: "From now on, you will be the Fourth Grade Supervisor of the Civil Affairs Bureau. You can join the court and discuss politics. You don't have to worry about others bullying you anymore."

Pang Cheng knelt down and performed a grand salute of three kneels and nine kowtows: "I thank you, Your Majesty!"
Chapter completed!