Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

To cock this type of crossbow, one needed to sit on the ground and exert their full body strength, like rowing a boat. When firing it, one had to brace it against their shoulder because of its significant kickback, to prevent severe shaking. Its lethality came primarily from projectile motion, rising to an extreme height before falling at a slant, pinning the enemy at the impact point to the ground. Only the most robust Samurai could wield it, hence it wasn't produced in large quantities, but was used for long-distance morale strikes and formation disruption.

The youth pondered in secret, "One 'stone' in the Han Dynasty is slightly over thirty kilograms, close to 70 pounds. A seven to ten stone crossbow would be the impressively powerful stirrup crossbow. The heaviest ten stone, a 700-pound heavy wooden crossbow, would be known as the 'Great Yellow Crossbow,' with a range exceeding three hundred and fifty paces. This is the limit for individual use and belongs only to the absolute warriors."

The Great Yellow Crossbow would also be specifically lengthened for drawing, designed for sniping at the enemy's Commander-in-Chief. During the Han army's northern campaigns, there were more than a few instances of sniping at Xiongnu leaders, so there must be some method to increase the accuracy of long-distance shooting.

Xiulote thought hard for a while and then sighed with longing. Due to the advantage of a two- to threefold draw length, along with wood's lower energy transfer loss compared to medieval steel, the kinetic energy transfer of a 500–700-pound stirrup crossbow would be roughly equivalent to a 2000–3000-pound pulley-cocked steel crossbow, capable of dealing fatal threats to heavily armored targets.

In fact, a thousand Samurai armed with stirrup crossbows could completely suppress a hundred European Knights in heavy armor. Under the intense long-range shooting, the cavalry would be subject to continual impacts, losing their horses and their lives. While at short ranges within fifty paces, the massed shooting was enough to bring down plate-armored knights. Although the crossbow bolts might not always penetrate high-quality polished plate armor, the continuous impact's momentum was sufficient to fracture bones, and bolts hitting the head would cause severe concussions, rendering the knights wholly incapacitated.

For the Mexica people, all three types of these Han crossbows were within the scope of technologically feasible production. It was just a matter of how much cost was involved, how much copper ore needed to be consumed, and whether they could be mass-produced on a large scale.

As for more powerful siege crossbows, according to Song Dynasty records, they ranged from 20 to 30 stones. The arms of the crossbow were to be over two meters long, with a draw length astonishingly between one and three meters. Even the trigger mechanism was 30 to 40 centimeters, the bolts akin to two-meter javelins, with shooting ranges of 1 to 2 Li. Such weapons belonged to super long-range siege weapons, far exceeding the current technical capabilities.

Xiulote closed his eyes tightly and then reopened them. He withdrew his thoughts, returning from the river of history, thinking no more, simply reminiscing about old dreams flowing like water and imagining a flurry of blossoms.

Next, the youth looked towards the Master Carpenter. Kushinji had already become completely engrossed in the formidable power of the stirrup crossbow. He gazed at the drawings on the planks, his hands constantly gesturing. It took a while before he came back to his senses, somewhat discontent, he looked at His Highness.

"Your Highness, how long exactly are the arms of this stirrup crossbow? Can the trigger mechanism really withstand such a great force?"

Xiulote was startled once again. After thinking for a while and making sure he had fully grasped what he could from his wealth of knowledge, he gave a vague command.

"It certainly can. As for the specifics of the design, it's just a matter of lengthening, thickening, reinforcing, and using better materials. I've pointed out the most difficult direction for you, the rest is up to you to explore. You are the best Master Carpenter, trust in your abilities! By the way, prioritize the trial production of the Stirrup Crossbow, I will come to inspect it after the New Year's sacrificial rite."

"With a few hundred Stirrup Crossbows at the post-harvest coronation war, nothing could be more secure! Kushinji, the great cause of the Alliance relies on you!"

After leaving one last encouraging remark, the youth tiptoed, smiled, and patted the Master Carpenter's shoulder, then turned away with dignity before the other could ask more questions, stepping away briskly. Bertade followed silently with a composed expression.

Next, Xiulote intended to inspect the reinforced military equipment, the Cloth Armor and Rattan Armor. There were also improvements in civilian technology to be checked, including woodblock printing, paper enhancements, Charcoal production, glass making, and brick kiln construction... This was the eve of rapid technological advancement, a history he was personally pushing forward!

Behind him, Kushinji, at some point, looked up again, his gaze following the departing Highness. A long time later, the Master Carpenter looked up at the sky, where the Sun God had ascended to the Throne of the Gods, His light spilling down upon the earth.

"Is there really such a thing as Divine Revelation in this world? Could the distant Sun God truly be watching over the mortal realm?"

After a moment's distraction, Kushinji lowered his head again in silence. With full concentration, he began the trial production of the Stirrup Crossbow. A breeze blew through the courtyard, bringing with it the fresh scent of wood. Soon, the bygone history was set to reemerge!