Chapter 55 Preparing Defenses

Two days later, tens of thousands of people gathered once again in Yancheng, marching majestically toward the coal and iron mines. Meanwhile, Xu Ling led the salt-production laborers back toward the coast. The two-hundred-man transport team recruited earlier was divided into four groups of fifty. They were equipped with newly forged steel sabers and daggers from the iron-smelting plant, as well as newly manufactured single-shot crossbows. Although these crossbows had a slow reloading speed, Zhao Bin had improved their designs to make them much more precise. Within two hundred paces, their hit rate was guaranteed to be over ninety percent, allowing them to deliver effective long-range strikes against enemies before engaging in close combat. The brothers of the transport team would frequently execute transportation missions outside in the future; whether carrying salt or grain, long-term operations outside carried immense risks. Zhao Bin originally intended to craft a complete set of outdoor individual combat gear for them, but time was too tight to accomplish it immediately. Once everything was packed, the transport team marched toward Weizhou City on the northern bank of the Yellow River, tasked with receiving a new batch of grain.

Zhao Bin stood upon the city wall, watching the departing crowd gradually vanish into the desolate landscape. A cold wind blew, kicking up swirls of dust.

"Your Highness, the wind is harsh outside. Would you care to sit inside the pavilion for a while?" Qin Fang asked tentatively from the side.

Zhao Bin turned his head to glance at the Yancheng Garrison Commander. A man in his thirties, his face bore the weathered marks of time, while his gaze held a persistent and resolute determination. Zhao Bin could not help but smile, wondering if placing Qin Fang atop the battlements might serve as a powerful deterrent against the Jie people.

Qin Fang lowered his gaze to inspect his own attire before asking, "Why is Your Highness smiling? Is there something amiss with this subordinate's appearance?"

"Nothing at all. Tell me, Commander Qin, based on your experience, when do those white-haired Jie people usually come to invade?" Zhao Bin asked, looking toward Qin Fang.

Qin Fang turned his gaze toward the rolling mountains to the west. "In the warm spring of March, when the ice and snow on the grasslands melt. These barbarians, having endured a harsh winter, will cross the mountains. Moreover, more of them will likely come this year. Last year, due to conflicts with the Xiongnu tribes to the west, they failed to come and plunder grain during the autumn harvest. If they have reached a reconciliation with the Xiongnu, even more tribes are expected to come and pillage the borderlands this year."

"How have you dealt with them in past years?"

Qin Fang said somewhat sheepishly, "It can hardly be called dealing with them. This subordinate's duty is to defend Yancheng well; as for the common folk outside the city, we have been powerless to help. Previously, we lacked horses and simply could not catch up to the Jie people. By the time we arrived, it was always far too late."

"Would it be useful to set up ampuches along their inevitable routes?" Zhao Bin asked, puzzled.

"Your Highness, Yancheng is situated on flat, open terrain on all sides where horses can gallop freely. There are actually no inevitable routes. Along the mountain ranges to the north and west, there are numerous forest trails through which they can pass, making it very difficult to pinpoint exactly which path they will take. Furthermore, if too few men are sent, there is a distinct possibility of being completely wiped out. This subordinate is ordered to guard Yancheng and dare not easily dispatch troops, lest Yancheng be imperiled."

Zhao Bin looked at the helpless Qin Fang. Yancheng possessed only these few thousand defending troops, yet the Jie people were extremely cunning. Fully exploiting the mobility of their cavalry, they dispatched small units to raid various regions, seizing loot and retreating immediately without entangling themselves in prolonged battles. However, once gathered together, they possessed formidable destructive power, capable of assaulting prefectural capitals at any moment, or even attacking commandery capitals if their numbers reached the tens of thousands. This left Qin Fang trapped in a dilemma where attacking was unfeasible, yet doing nothing was equally impossible.

"Now that Commander Qin has warhorses, do you have any good ideas?"

Qin Fang gave a bitter smile and said, "If Your Highness had not brought up the matter of warhorses today, this subordinate was likely going to seek Your Highness out to discuss this very issue within the next two days."

"What do you mean?"

"Your Highness has indeed provided us with warhorses, but we lack a sufficient number of stirrups and saddles. This subordinate has managed to piece together barely over two hundred sets, so the soldiers have to train in shifts. I originally intended to report to the imperial court to request a batch of stirrups and saddles, but the Ministry of War not only refused to approve it, they even dispatched messengers demanding the warhorses be handed over to them."

"And you agreed?"

"No. This subordinate stated that the warhorses were lent to me by the Prince of Yan and that I had no right to transfer them to the Ministry of War. The Ministry of War then used this as an excuse to claim that since they were not the imperial court's horses, they naturally could not be equipped with items like stirrups and saddles."

"Commander Qin has quite a clever scheme, actually pushing this Prince to the forefront as a shield?" Zhao Bin said, putting on an expression of reprimand.

"Your Highness, forgive me. It is not that this subordinate is using Your Highness as a shield; rather, I know that Your Highness gifted thousands of warhorses to me in the hope that I could use them to protect the people of Yancheng. Naturally, I will not easily surrender the horses. Besides, even if they were truly to be handed over to the imperial court, it would be Your Highness's place to present them, and it is certainly not my place to claim that credit."

Qin Fang spoke word by word, and Zhao Bin listened word by word. That night, while entertaining the Prince of Heng at the Prince of Yan's residence, Zhao Bin had stated that he would make the Jie people pay for their crimes in blood. At that moment, Qin Fang's blood had run hot. He thought of his parents, his clan, and the common people who had died tragic deaths under the iron hooves of the Jie people. Qin Fang swore silently in his heart that if that day truly came, he, Qin Fang, would don armor and lead the charge directly into the Jie camp, using the blade in his hands to avenge his deceased parents and kin. He had remembered Zhao Bin's words, which was why he had turned back for a deep, lingering look at Zhao Bin upon his departure.

Zhao Bin let out a deep breath and said, "There are two thousand sets of stirrups in the iron-smelting plant; send your men to retrieve them. There are no saddles, but there are still plenty of sheepskins in the Prince's residence. You can learn from the Jie people and use sheepskins as saddles for now. Once we have the opportunity later, we will craft proper ones for you."

Qin Fang asked in surprise, "Your Highness knew beforehand that this subordinate would come asking for stirrups?"

"Hell, what do you mean by 'knew beforehand'? Though I did indeed know you would come asking sooner or later, because you could never get anything out of the imperial court. Knowing is one thing, but back then we didn't have them; you saw it yourself—those iron ores were dug out by the common folk in the freezing depths of winter."

"This subordinate understands. I thank Your Highness."

Zhao Bin waved his hand and continued, "To return to the main point, even with these equipments, the soldiers' current capabilities are still insufficient to contend with the Jie cavalry. Cavalry skills cannot be mastered in a short time. Those Jie people grow up on horseback and are especially proficient in mounted archery. To resist the raids of the Jie people, we cannot rely solely on these few thousand soldiers; we must establish a complete defensive system."

"This subordinate is dull-witted; I ask Your Highness to instruct me," Qin Fang asked with curiosity.

"First, we must establish a reconnaissance system, namely scouts. Select men skilled in riding from among the garrison soldiers, organize them into groups of three, and conduct frequent reconnaissance missions in the western and northern directions. Once the traces of the Jie people are discovered, report it immediately and notify the villagers of the surrounding towns to prepare their defenses, or to hide and evacuate in a timely manner to minimize casualties.

Second, the villagers in the towns must be armed as necessary to give them the capability to counterattack, continually wearing down and consuming the enemy's living forces. Especially when the enemy's numbers are relatively small, the villagers can rely on the towns and villages to deny the cavalry the advantage of a charge, and then carry out effective counterattacks and inflict casualties within the settlements—of course, within their realm of capability.

Third, establish a mobile reinforcement unit. Once it is discovered that the Jie people are attacking a village, cavalry can be dispatched immediately to rush to their reinforcement and maximize the destruction of the invading enemy forces."

Zhao Bin explained the three measures he had devised to Qin Fang one by one. On one hand, Zhao Bin himself possessed no army, and this matter required Qin Fang's cooperation for implementation. On the other hand, arming the common folk was no trivial matter, because once the people were armed, the possibility of rebellion arose—such an action was impermissible in any dynasty. He needed to reach a consensus with this garrison commander; otherwise, if this matter leaked to the imperial court, it would be a crime impossible to wash clean even if he jumped into the Yellow River.

After listening to Zhao Bin's strategy, Qin Fang said, "Your Highness, the first and third points are easy enough to handle, but shouldn't we seek the imperial court's intent regarding the second point? If we rashly distribute weapons to the common people, this subordinate fears that someone in the court might act against Your Highness."

Zhao Bin said calmly, "This Prince knows, but if this matter is reported to the imperial court, someone there will certainly obstruct it. However, I will present it to my imperial father in the form of a personal family letter. Yet, going back and forth takes time, while the most urgent priority right now is to protect the safety of the common people. Therefore, I intend to carry out both simultaneously. The first and third points are entrusted to Commander Qin; as for the second point, this Prince will find a way to implement it. However, if the court ever truly decides to hold me, Zhao Bin, accountable, I hope Commander Qin will not stand by with folded arms when the time comes."

Qin Fang cupped his hands in a deep bow and said, "Your Highness's righteousness commands this subordinate's admiration. I am willing to take this gamble with Your Highness. If the court holds anyone accountable, Your Highness may shift the blame onto this subordinate. I have no remaining family members, and I, Qin Fang, am willing to bear this burden alone."

Wang Wu, who had been following closely behind, could no longer hold his tongue: "Damn it, Commander Qin, what do you mean by that? Is my Prince the kind of person to do that?"

"You misunderstand, Captain of Manifesting Virtue. It is not that I am slandering Your Highness. My point is that I, Qin Fang, am unattached and untethered; it matters little if I die. But Your Highness is different—Your Highness's fate is tied to the people of Yancheng, and nothing must go wrong. Should the court demand accountability, I, Qin Fang, am willing to bear it alone."

"Rubbish! Would His Highness let you bear it alone?" Wang Wu retorted with a righteous expression.

"Brother Wu, would you please shut up?" Zhao Bin interrupted Wang Wu. He certainly did not want Old Wu to steal the spotlight here. "Wang Wu is right; I will not let you shoulder this alone, you can rest easy on that. Furthermore, time is not on our side; the cavalry training must be expedited."

"Your Highness, rest assured. This matter is entrusted to this subordinate," Qin Fang said decisively.