Chapter 333: Saving the Mousekin (part 2)

The fundamental solution to the mousekin’s lack of combat power was to equip them with more powerful weapons. The first thing Wu Qingsong thought of was firearms, but for now, that was an unattainable goal. Iron was easy to find, but he still had no clue where to obtain saltpeter.

He knew that scraping the old grime from latrines could yield small amounts of saltpeter, but relying on such a source for large-scale weapon production was completely unrealistic.

So, he summoned the most skilled craftsmen in Nagrand and presented his idea: modifying the existing Nagrand crossbows by adding adjustable height stands and wheels suited to the mousekin’s stature. He also suggested installing a winch mechanism to create something resembling the bed crossbows he had seen in his past life.

The mousekin lacked the strength to string a crossbow on their own, nor could they pull a bow with enough force to be lethal. But if they pooled their strength and used mechanical leverage, wouldn’t that solve the problem?

The houndkin craftsmen were unimpressed by the idea. They held their tongues out of respect for Wu Qingsong, but it was clear they didn’t believe this would change the mousekin’s inherent weakness. However, the rats were so moved by the fact that Wu Qingsong had designed a weapon specifically for them that they wept with gratitude.

From the mousekin volunteers, Wu Qingsong selected the twenty strongest and bravest to form Nagrand’s first mousekin squad. He equipped them with two modified crossbows for training and tested the weapon’s combat effectiveness.

The initial results were disheartening. Ten mousekin struggled to move a single crossbow efficiently, and while they could fire once it was set up, their accuracy was abysmal.

Yet the mousekin refused to give up this opportunity to prove themselves. If ten couldn’t manage, they simply reduced their load to one crossbow. They also continuously adjusted the crossbow mount’s design.

Wu Qingsong left them to their work and focused on other matters. By the time the mousekin invited him back for another demonstration, the design had changed drastically from his original concept.

They had added several rotating wheels to adjust the shooting angle, redesigned the crossbow mechanism, and included stabilizing structures for the mount, making it easier to transport. Even the winch system had been completely overhauled to suit the mousekin’s height and strength better.

“Lord, please give the order!” the mousekin squad leader said with confidence.

“Target the second dummy from the right,” Wu Qingsong commanded.

The mousekin sprang into action, moving swiftly. The spectators watched in astonishment as they rapidly positioned and secured the crossbow. Four mousekin worked together to crank the winch, drawing the bowstring. Meanwhile, the squad leader and another mousekin fine-tuned the shooting angle, and another stood ahead, waving a small flag to gauge the wind direction.

In less than twenty seconds, they were ready. A mousekin struck the release mechanism with a wooden mallet at the squad leader’s command. The bolt shot, hitting the target’s left arm.

Wu Qingsong was already satisfied with this result. But the mousekin didn’t stop. They immediately rotated out their loaders, began cranking the winch again, and another pair loaded a fresh bolt. The squad leader meticulously adjusted their aim.

“Fire!” With his shout, the mallet came down again.

The taut bowstring hummed, launching the bolt straight into the dummy’s head, causing it to sway slightly.

Wu Qingsong stood up and applauded. The others, following his lead, joined in.

Even though they still found the idea unnecessary and unimpressive, the houndkin at least acknowledged the mousekin’s dedication and nodded in approval.

The mousekin, overcome with emotion, hugged each other, some even breaking into tears.

“What do you think?” Wu Qingsong quietly asked Ram.

With this weapon, the gap between the mousekin and the stronger beastkin clans was still vast. A single bearkin might still defeat a hundred mousekin in direct combat—but in the face of five powerful crossbows, even a bearkin would have to gamble with his life.

And if one hundred bearkin faced five hundred crossbows, the question wouldn’t be who won, but how many of them would survive.

“This is such a waste of crossbows…” Ram murmured.

It took twenty mousekin working together to fire a single shot, and they couldn’t reposition quickly. These weapons were only viable for fixed defenses on open fields or city walls. By contrast, a single houndkin or wolfkin could easily string, aim, and fire a crossbow, repositioning rapidly as needed. From both an efficiency and practicality standpoint, this demonstration only reinforced the notion that using mousekin as soldiers was a last resort.

“This is just the beginning,” Wu Qingsong told her. “Soon enough, a single mousekin might be able to kill a bearkin.”

Ram shook her head, then, to his surprise, laughed.

“Just wait and see.” Wu Qingsong kissed her on the cheek before walking over to the small mousekin warriors.

***

In the days that followed, the previously idle mousekin and rabbitkin of Nagrand suddenly developed an intense enthusiasm for carpentry. Aside from those selected for priesthood training, nearly everyone was helping to produce crossbow components and weaving sinew into bowstrings.

Mousekin craftsmen began designing smaller, more portable bed crossbows suited to their size and various terrains. These miniaturized crossbows required only ten mousekin to operate. A twenty-ranking team could even carry them while moving. Although their range and power were weaker than standard crossbows, they were comparable to the hunting bows used by herders.

They even devised a tiny crossbow operable by two mousekin. It resembled the toothpick crossbows Wu Qingsong had played with as a child. Its power was minimal, barely effective against beastkin with fur and light armor. The only way to make it lethal was by aiming for the eyes, throat, or other weak points—and poisoning the arrowheads.

Still, the mental image of a swarm of mousekin loosing a hail of arrows, turning enemies into living pincushions, was oddly satisfying.

Regardless of whether these efforts would prove useful, the mousekin and rabbitkin were doing everything they could to reciprocate Wu Qingsong’s kindness and prove his decision was the right one.

And to him, that alone was enough.