My brothers are all warriors capable of taking on ten thousand men; I'll roam freely in the Thr

Ji Xuanyuan's eyes suddenly lit up!

Hu Che'er?

The future Hu Che'er, the extraordinary man who was the bravest in the army under Zhang Xiu, could carry 500 catties and travel 700 li a day.

This person turned out to be Hu's distant nephew, who had unexpectedly joined his army without his knowledge.

"Hu Che'er".

Ji Xuanyuan suppressed his surprise and asked, "From this day forward, you are no longer an ordinary soldier. A heavy responsibility is entrusted to you. Do you dare to go?"

"What's there to be afraid of!" Hu Che'er puffed out his chest, his voice like muffled thunder.

"I would gladly die for the general's command!"

"it is good."

Ji Xuanyuan nodded: "I don't want you to die, I want you to come back alive. If this matter is accomplished, there will be a great reward..."

He pondered for a moment and said, "I suppose the news has spread throughout the army that I intend to select a group of elite troops to go to the border for training. If you succeed this time, I will grant you a spot and promote you to centurion, breaking with the usual procedure."

Upon hearing this, Hu Che'er's dark face instantly flushed with excitement.

To secure a spot in the "frontier training" competition, Lü Bu has been practically living at the drill ground these days, training his cavalry day and night. His fervor is known throughout the army.

Now, all I need to do is complete the escort mission to get this opportunity, and I might even be promoted to centurion!

"General!" Hu Che'er knelt down on one knee and clasped his hands above his head.

"Hu Che'er will not fail the General's trust! Even if it means my own death, I will ensure the safe arrival of the convoy in Luoyang!"

"Get up." Ji Xuanyuan helped him up and carefully explained the details of the mission.

Although it is unknown whether this Hu Che'er is as loyal and credible as recorded in history, judging from his words and deeds, and with his uncle Hu Zhushi accompanying him and keeping him in check, he should not make any major mistakes.

Moreover, as far as he knew, Hu Che'er's strength and bravery were more than enough to serve as his bodyguard on this trip.

And so the matter was settled.

That night, the moon was hidden and the stars were few, and the chill had not yet faded.

The convoy quietly drove out of the north gate of Zhuojun, choosing to set off late at night to avoid attracting attention.

Before leaving, Zhen Yan left Zhen Mi at the prefect's residence.

"On this journey to Luoyang, I will be preoccupied with many affairs and may not have time to look after Mi'er," Zhen Yan said earnestly, bowing to Ji Xuanyuan.

"Besides, her second sister has just gotten married and needs her family to accompany her. Let Mi'er stay here for a while longer to keep her second sister company. It won't be too late to pick her up when Yan returns from Luoyang."

Ji Xuanyuan nodded in agreement, but he knew exactly what was going on.

Accompanying my second sister?

These past few days, Zhen Tuo and Zhao Yun have been deeply in love and inseparable, so how could they possibly have room for anyone else?

This is just another quiet "investment" by Zhen Yi and his son.

Keeping Zhen Mi by Ji Xuanyuan's side was both a way to strengthen their bond and another silent test of his character.

The carriage rumbled away into the darkness.

In front of the mansion gate, Ji Xuanyuan wrapped his fur coat tightly around himself, looked in the direction where the convoy had disappeared, and coughed twice.

"Little Zhen Mi, do you miss your master?" A lazy voice came from behind.

Guo Jia had wandered over unnoticed, waving an empty wine gourd in his hand, his peach blossom eyes gleaming with a playful light, as he approached Zhen Mi, who was standing quietly under the eaves.

Zhen Mi raised her calm face, glanced at him, and said expressionlessly, "Yes."

"Hey—" Guo Jia drawled, gently tapping her forehead with his empty gourd.

"Your little face doesn't show even a hint of 'wanting' anything. Saying one thing and meaning another is not the behavior of a gentleman... uh, not that of a lady."

Zhen Mi did not argue, but simply hugged the scrolls of bamboo slips she was holding tighter.

"Come, it's been three months since we last met. Let your teacher give you a good test of your recent studies." Guo Jia struck a pose of teacherly dignity, but unfortunately, his unorthodox posture and empty wine gourd greatly diminished his "majesty."

"If you don't answer well, you'll have to copy the book as punishment."

"Please ask, sir." Zhen Mi's voice was clear and calm, still without any ripples.

Guo Jia's eyes darted around, and he casually asked, "The Book of Poetry says, 'Be cautious and apprehensive, as if facing a deep abyss, as if treading on thin ice.' What does this mean? How should one conduct oneself in this way?"

After a moment's thought, Zhen Mi said, "This means to be cautious and fearful. It's like standing on thin ice and fearing falling, or treading on thin ice and fearing sinking. It's a metaphor for those in high positions or in dangerous situations, who should constantly reflect on themselves, be careful in their words and actions, to prevent making a mistake. However..."

She paused, then looked at Guo Jia: "If everyone were so timid and hesitant, no one would dare to build a bridge over an abyss or explore a path on thin ice. I believe that while caution is necessary, a courageous and pioneering spirit is also indispensable, just like the general's actions."

The last sentence, though spoken softly, made Guo Jia pause slightly.

He looked at Zhen Mi, but the little girl's gaze had already passed over him and landed on the pale figure wrapped in a thick fur coat who was turning and walking towards the study.

Guo Jia stroked his chin, then suddenly smiled, a smile tinged with deeper meaning: "Little girl, you have a sharp eye. Alright, you've passed today's test. Here, this is your reward."

He magically produced a small oil paper packet from his sleeve, inside which were several pieces of maltose.

Zhen Mi looked at the candy, then at Guo Jia, and didn't take it.

"Don't worry, there was no poison." Guo Jia said irritably.

"Even if I, your master, am not upright, I would not go so far as to harm my own student with candy."

Zhen Mi then accepted it and said softly, "Thank you, Mr. Xie."

But he still didn't eat it; he just held it in his hand.

"Let's go, it's cold outside. Let's go back inside. Today, your teacher is taking pity on you and will tell you the story of Chen Ping stealing his sister-in-law in the Records of the Grand Historian... uh, the story of Chen Ping's six ingenious schemes." Guo Jia realized he had misspoke and quickly coughed twice to cover it up, laughing as he led Zhen Mi to the side hall.

Ji Xuanyuan listened to the faint conversation between "master and disciple" behind him, a slight smile appeared on his lips, and he shook his head.

Inside the study, the charcoal fire burned quietly.

Ji Xuanyuan sat down at the table. Dian Wei silently added charcoal and poured a cup of hot tea, placing it beside him. Then, holding his twin halberds, he stood like an iron tower in the shadows by the door.

On the desk were piles of documents sent from various places that day: summaries of the policy essays of the newly recruited scholars of the Recruitment Hall, ten-day reports from various workshops, reports from Tian Feng and Ju Shou on the progress of spring plowing, and scattered news from border scouts about the movements of the Xianbei tribes...

Ji Xuanyuan reviewed the documents one by one, occasionally picking up his pen to write comments. His pale fingers turned slightly blue from the effort, and he occasionally coughed, suppressing a sound in his throat.

After handling most of the urgent matters, a hazy bluish-gray hue appeared outside the window.

He put down his pen, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes to calm himself.

Zhen Yan's convoy has already set off. The auction of the glassware has been handed over to Feng Xiao and the Zhen family. He only needs to wait for good news.

At present, the internal affairs of Zhuojun are on track, the salt profits are stable, the popularization of curved plows is progressing smoothly, and the people's hearts are gradually winning over the government. Although the recruitment hall caused a stir, it has indeed recruited some useful talents.

It's time to look further ahead.

"Although Zhuojun has been pacified, it is only a small territory, and its influence is limited." Ji Xuanyuan opened his eyes, looked at the flickering candlelight, and muttered to himself.

Of the eleven commanderies and kingdoms in Youzhou, Zhuojun was only one.

To truly establish a foothold in this chaotic world and possess greater strategic depth and resources, it is essential to expand outwards.

Following the Zhuojun model, how can we gradually penetrate other counties and prefectures with new policies and industries?

It's not impossible, but it's too slow and would easily provoke fierce backlash from local powerful figures and vested interests, costing an immeasurable amount of money and energy.

His frail body might not be able to wait that long.

The most direct, quickest, and most effective way to unite people and build prestige is through military achievements.

In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, where were the military achievements most outstanding?

Where can one best demonstrate martial prowess, gain the court's approval, and win the support of the border people?

frontier!

After the disastrous defeat of the three generals Xia Yu, Tian Yan, and Zang Min in their campaign against the Xianbei in the sixth year of the Xiping era (177 AD), the imperial court adopted a defensive stance towards the nomadic tribes beyond the Great Wall. The Xianbei and Wuhuan became increasingly arrogant, and raiding the borders became almost a regular occurrence.

The border prefectures of You, Bing, and Liang have long suffered from the hardships endured by the military and civilians.

If we can build a strong army, fight off the northern barbarians, defend our land and bring peace to our people, why should we worry about not achieving fame and glory? Why should we worry about not gaining prestige?

At that time, riding the wave of victory, new policies will face much less resistance.

"Yu Di, Feng Xian, Yong Zeng... this is the opportunity they've been waiting for, isn't it?"

These younger brothers are all tigers born for the battlefield.

They were constantly trapped in the bandit suppression campaign in Zhuojun and Jing'an, which honed their skills but made it difficult for them to truly unleash their full potential.

"If we want to march north and attack the Hu, cavalry is of paramount importance." Ji Xuanyuan's thoughts gradually became clear.

"The Xianbei and Wuhuan are swift as the wind, and their horsemanship and archery are superb. The Han army has suffered more defeats than victories in the past, not only because the soldiers are not brave, but also because there is a gap in equipment and tactics."

He picked up his pen again, spread out a new sheet of paper, and his eyes became focused and bright.

"It's time to get the 'Cavalry Trio' out."

As the brush touches the paper, lines gradually emerge.

The so-called "cavalry three-piece set" consists of a saddle, stirrups, and horseshoes.

At this time, Han cavalry mostly used "high-bridge saddles," with high front and rear bridges that provided some support, but the comfort and fit between rider and horse were still lacking. Stirrups were mostly single-sided leather or wooden stirrups, mainly for mounting and providing limited assistance while riding.

What Ji Xuanyuan needs to do is to improve the existing high-bridge saddle, strengthen the padding, optimize the curves, and make it fit the horse's back and the rider's hips and legs better, reducing fatigue during long-distance runs and improving stability when riding, shooting, and slashing.

The double stirrups, on the other hand, are the key to the leap.

Draw two symmetrical, sturdy, and reliable metal stirrups.

The widespread adoption of double stirrups will provide cavalry with stable support for both feet, greatly freeing up their hands and making it possible to achieve accurate mounted archery, control of long weapons, and complex tactical maneuvers (such as side-stepping slashes and turning to shoot), which can be described as a revolutionary improvement in cavalry combat effectiveness.

Finally, there are horseshoes.

This seemingly simple item is the cornerstone of ensuring the cavalry's ability to fight continuously.

Although the horn layer on a warhorse's hooves is hard, it is easily worn down, cracked, or even detached during long-distance gallops, heavy loads, and charges across different terrains, rendering the horse unusable. A fine horse is very valuable, beyond the reach of ordinary farmers, and its loss represents a huge financial burden.

Ji Xuanyuan meticulously drew the shape, size, and nail hole positions of the horseshoe, and noted the key points of forging next to it: wrought iron with good toughness should be used, the curvature should match the natural shape of the horseshoe, and attention should be paid to the depth when nailing, so as to be firm but not to damage the flesh of the horseshoe...

With horseshoe protection, the wear and tear on the hooves of warhorses will be greatly reduced, and their ability to traverse complex terrain, their endurance on long marches, and even their battlefield survivability will be significantly improved.

At the same time, the extended service life of warhorses also means a decrease in the maintenance cost of cavalry units, allowing for more frequent and extensive maneuvers and combat operations.

These three items have low technical barriers, readily available materials, and can be mass-produced quickly once the design is finalized.

With the skills of Zhuojun craftsmen and the efficiency of "assembly line production" today, it is not difficult to equip the entire army within a few months if all work is carried out at full capacity.

"Well-equipped, well-trained, and with appropriate tactics..." Ji Xuanyuan stopped writing, examined the blueprints, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

"With such cavalry, our fighting strength against the Xianbei and Wuhuan will increase by at least 30%! At that time, achieving merit on the frontier will not be just empty talk."

He carefully rolled up the blueprints and summoned the guards standing outside the door.

"Quickly send this drawing to the military workshop and hand it over to the master craftsman Li Wei. Instruct him to make a prototype based on the drawing, prioritize its production, and strive for excellence. Provide all necessary materials and manpower. Once the prototype is completed, send it to me for inspection immediately."

"Yes, sir!" The guard took the blueprints with both hands and hurriedly left.

By this time, it was already broad daylight.

Guo Jia had wandered back at some point and was leaning against the doorframe of the study, holding a bowl of steaming soup in his hand.

"Senior brother, you haven't rested all night? Here, the kitchen just made some chicken marrow and bamboo shoot soup, it's very nourishing."

He placed the bowl of soup on the table, glanced at Ji Xuanyuan's pale and tired face, and said seriously, "We need to plan things out, but our health is even more important. If you collapse, our group will really fall apart."

Ji Xuanyuan took the bowl of soup, the warm porcelain soothing his icy fingertips.

He scooped up a spoonful and put it in his mouth, the fresh, fragrant, and warm sensation slowly seeping into his lungs.

"Fengxiao, regarding Zhen Yan's side, you, Yuanhao, and Gongyu will need to put in a lot of effort to handle the various details of the auction in Luoyang along the way," Ji Xuanyuan said while eating.

"In particular, the auction strategy must be made to create a great deal of hype and attract the wealthy and powerful to compete for it. A portion of the gold and silk obtained should be used to purchase high-quality iron and leather, especially materials that are in short supply in Youzhou."

"Understood." Guo Jia nodded, his peach blossom eyes slightly narrowed.

"Don't worry, senior brother. Jiading has made those nobles from Luoyang willingly empty their pockets and feel like they've gotten a great deal."

Ji Xuanyuan smiled slightly and continued, "In addition, we should keep a close eye on the court's movements regarding the border war, especially the troop deployments of various tribes in Youzhou and the attitudes of the governors. If we want to take action, we need the court's explicit decree or tacit approval. At the very least, we cannot give rise to the pretext of 'initiating border conflicts without authorization'."

"I'm already keeping an eye on it," Guo Jia said.

"Mr. Yuanhao has recently been corresponding with several old friends to find out what's going on. The court both hates and fears the Xianbei. It wants to intimidate them, but it is also afraid of losing face again. If a border general can volunteer to fight and win a few battles, the court will probably be happy to see it happen."

"That's good then." Ji Xuanyuan finished the last mouthful of soup, put down the bowl, and turned his gaze to the map of Youzhou hanging on the wall.

"Once the cavalry's new equipment is in place, the troops are well-trained and well-fed, and the time is right..."

He slowly traced the locations of border counties such as Daijun, Shanggu, and Yuyang on the map.

"That will be the time for us to quell the border troubles in the north and display our might beyond the Great Wall."