Tiger Guards

Chapter 249: Meeting at Zhending
Inside Jingxingkou is Baoduzhai.

As usual, defending general Zhang Nan sat on the earthen fort inside the village, enjoying the breeze and thinking about life.

The fort was in a dangerous and solid position, and unless he fell down accidentally, it was impossible for any enemy arrows to hurt him.

"Captain, look!"

A military officer standing on a higher beacon tower waved to him, pointed in the southwest direction, and jumped with a look of horror.

Zhang Nan stood up carefully, turned around, crawled into the low cave, and climbed up the wooden ladder to another beacon tower.

Squinting my eyes to look towards the southwest, I saw teams of knights in purple and red robes marching lightly. There were many knights and even more horses.

There was no end in sight, and crimson and purple knights were walking in a line on the mountain road, their formation already in disarray.

Occasionally, some people would leave the team and go to the roadside to change horses.

Zhang Nan had excellent eyesight and even saw that some of the purple-robed knights had superb riding skills and did not dismount but moved on the horse's back to change to a new horse.

Upon hearing the news, the military commander also climbed up the beacon tower, raised his hand to shield his brow, and observed carefully: "Captain, these must be the elite cavalry of Bingzhou! Our scouts have fought them before. The ones in crimson uniforms are from good families in Bingzhou, and the ones in purple are from Xiongnu volunteers."

Zhang Nan looked out with a solemn expression: "Light the signal smoke."

Regardless of whether he could pass on the important warning message, all he could do was light the signal fire here.

Two smoke clouds rose slowly from Baodu Village, one in the south and one in the north.

When Zhao Ji passed by, he just took a casual look, but when he saw the steep and rugged mountains, he lost interest.

If he had enough time, he could bring a group of elite archers to compete with the defenders in archery, but he didn't have time now.

Except for more than 300 armored knights who led the way, the other knights were all lightly equipped, with armor, weapons and food carried on running horses and draft horses respectively.

Marches were mainly carried out on horseback, with draft horses carrying loads, or using horse-drawn carriages to transport armor.

As for the precious war horses... they are eager to be loaded onto trucks for transportation, so how can they bear to let them carry heavy loads?
When the army rested every twenty or thirty miles, the horses would eat grass and fine feed. The horses' hoof wraps and straw sandals would also be checked, and if they were worn out, they would be replaced immediately.

Only when following a large group of cavalry did Zhao Ji feel the importance of horseshoes.

He reined in his horse on a gentle slope near Baodu Village and, observing the marching troops, he could not help but sigh, "We are still too poor. From now on, each infantry unit will be equipped with twenty chariots, and each cavalry unit will be equipped with thirty chariots."

Wei Xing, wearing armor, reined in his horse and stood beside him, asking, "Are you saying that knights should travel by chariot?"

"Well, do you think it's easier to walk with a woman on your back, or to run?"

Zhao Ji asked back with a smile, turning his head to look at Wei Xing, who grinned, "It must be easy to walk. If it was really easy, you should ride on a woman's back."

"It's the same principle. Is it easier for you to carry her on your back or to push her in a cart?"

Zhao Ji's question silenced Wei Xing, and then he suddenly realized, "Ah! The Minister is indeed clever! Currently, a cavalry unit has 300 horses, and they only have enough food and fodder for three days. If they were equipped with chariots for transportation, let alone 30, even 50 carts, with a hundred horses, would be enough to pull them. With more military supplies and equipment, they could have enough food and fodder for half a month!"

The most important thing is that you can save horses!
With so many vehicles, we don’t even need to set up camp.

By adding only fifty chariots, a knightly century could reduce the number of horses by one third.

Vehicles only have a manufacturing cost, and if they are not used, they will not consume food and will not get out of order.

Even if it is damaged, military craftsmen can repair it.

Horses are constantly being worn out. If you are not careful during the march, some horses will die of exhaustion or even limp.

The horses saved by the cavalry are distributed to the infantry. The infantry is equipped with enough baggage carts, which saves time on camping, so the daily marching distance can be increased.

If the elite infantry were converted into charioteers, they could travel in chariots while wearing armor... Such an army would not be afraid of any ambushes at all!
Wei Xing was very excited after he instantly understood the advantages brought by vehicles. Only chariot soldiers can defeat cavalry.

Taiyuan has exterminated the clans of the big families and has gained control of too many craftsmen, so it is not difficult to build a car.

But Wei Xing didn't realize that Zhao Ji wanted to build a bigger car.

When I was a teenager, I played Age of Empires. It seemed that Germany had a kind of charioteer in it. It was a very large chariot. I have almost forgotten the purpose of this chariot.

But as long as we overcome the chassis technology and build a chariot with a wide compartment, our heavy infantry will be able to dominate the world in the future!
Zhao Ji looked around and turned his gaze to the east.

He saw that the stream running parallel to the road turned north, and his knights marched in a line, their horses trampling on the wide, shallow water surface, heading towards Jingxingkou.

The water turns here, flows through the mountains, and flows into Zhongshan Lake in Zhongshan State in the north.

More and more knights poured out of Jingxingkou, and the various Black Mountain troops camped around Zhending City climbed up the ramparts to observe the emperor's army. Although they were rebels before, many of them did not truly rebel.

They have an instinctive respect and awe for the emperor.

Following behind more than three hundred armored knights was the emperor's carriage pulled by six horses...the carriage was naturally empty.

Zhao Fanlai was waiting by the roadside. When he saw Zhao Ji's battle flag appear, he immediately went to greet him with joy: "Minister."

"I will go to Lieutenant Zhao's camp to rest the officers and soldiers. You immediately go and invite General Zhang to Lieutenant Zhao's camp to discuss matters."

"Here!"

Zhao Ji had no intention of reminiscing with Zhao Fan. He rode forward, leading the knights, who were tired from marching, and under the guidance of scouts, headed straight for Zhao Yun's camp camped by the river south of the city.

The camp was not large enough, and many knights did not bother to collect their horses after dismounting, but quickly went into the camp to find a place to sleep.

The knights in the camp also went out to help collect and sort the horses.

"I, Zhao Yun, the Lieutenant of Changshan, pay my respects to the Minister of the Interior, Marquis Zhao of Pingyang!"

Zhao Yun led dozens of military officers to the outside of the camp gate. He strode in the front row, wearing a silver-gilt iron armor. His body was very broad, like a wall, with a square face and a slight double chin.

This makes Zhao Yun's facial features softer and less fierce.

Zhao Ji still wore a feathered helmet and military and civil sleeves, but he wore a double-layered scarf to protect his face from dust when riding and marching.

Zhao Yun and other military officers of Changshan State were also observing Zhao Ji. Zhao Ji raised his hand and took off his veil, which immediately made some military officers who looked up and observed him stunned.

"No need to be polite, let's go into the camp to discuss matters."

Zhao Ji was now an excellent rider, and he didn't even need to kick the horse or make any sound. He just thrust his hips against the saddle, and Yue Lihei, who was sitting on the horse, took a step and walked towards the camp.

Since Zhao Ji had more and more cavalrymen under his command, Yue Lihei seemed to have realized that his status was unique and high, and he no longer had the bad temper he had before, and he cooperated with Zhao Ji in a particularly good manner.

Especially after the Xiongnu Chanyu, Zuo Xian Wang, You Xian Wang, and Tuge Xiongnu kings successively sent envoys to present Zhao Ji with famous horses, Yue Lihei cherished every opportunity to appear.

It also enjoyed the feeling of leading thousands of horses to gallop. When Zhao Ji rode it to a high place to review the military appearance, Yue Lihei seemed to be reviewing the horses as well.

Compared with the past, although it is extremely submissive internally, it is more arrogant externally.

The military officers who followed Zhao Ji dismounted, led their horses and walked in a line. When they passed by Zhao Yun, they bowed and introduced themselves, and Zhao Yun also returned the greetings.

Inside the military camp, the officers and soldiers who had arrived earlier had prepared clean water. After Zhao Ji washed the dust off his face, he entered the barracks and sat at the head of the room.

Soon, Zhao Yun, Wei Xing and others entered the big tent. The first-level supervisors were not qualified to enter, so they all stood outside the tent and listened.

The captains of the Changshan army were all standing straight, while the military officers who followed Zhao Ji were extremely tired. They sat down casually, and some even lay down and fell asleep when they found a comfortable place.

"Lieutenant Zhao, how are Yuan Shao's troops doing?"

"Yuan Shao's main army has already passed Gaoyi, and today we have the Black Mountain Army retreating back. It's said they were defeated by Yuan Shao's vanguard, Yan Liang, between Yuanshi and Gaoyi. Therefore, I conclude that Yuan Shao's central army has already passed Gaoyi and will camp at Yuanshi tonight."

Yuanshi is seventy miles south of Zhending, separated by two obvious rivers.

Zhao Ji spread out the map and gestured, "So, starting tomorrow, Yuan Shao's entire army will be on war footing, setting up camp and advancing. In as little as two days, they can confront our army across the river?"

"It won't take two days. We'll be across the river tomorrow evening."

Zhao Yun added, "Primarily, Yuan Shao appointed Cavalry Commander Ju Su as commander-in-chief, commanding Wen Chou and Gao Lan, and stationed them in Gengxiang, with approximately ten thousand men."

Zhao Ji examined the map and said, "Geng Township is on the north bank, twenty-five miles downstream from here?"

"Exactly. Wen Chou was ferocious, and with the assistance of Qian Zhaodu and over a thousand Wuhuan cavalry, General Zhang was forced to abandon Gengxiang, which was then occupied by Ju Su. With Ju Su's detachment at his side, Yuan Shao's main army could approach Gengxiang tomorrow and easily set up camp."

"I want to see how powerful Wen Chou is first."

Zhao Ji then took off his helmet and said, "Lieutenant Zhao, quickly prepare the meal. Afterwards, you will come with me and General Zhang to Gengxiang to see the state of the Hebei army."

"Here!"

Zhao Yun answered loudly. He had a good impression of Zhao Ji and the Jin army officers and soldiers who arrived one after another. At least they did not start shouting and asking if there were any kabuki actors nearby.

An army that is willing to spend money to hire Kabuki is already a moral one.

(End of this chapter)