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

A few days later, the newly made high-bridged saddle, double-sided iron stirrups, and horseshoe samples were finally delivered from the military workshop to the governor's office.

Ji Xuanyuan examined it carefully.

The saddle is made of hardwood with multiple layers of tanned leather and padded. The front and rear bridges have been optimized for a better fit to the human body.

The double stirrups are forged from wrought iron, with wide and stable stirrup rings and sturdy stirrup bands. The horseshoes are made according to the drawings, with smooth curves and regular nail holes.

"Craftsman Li has done a fine job. Order the military workshop to work at full speed to produce the goods according to this sample. As for the materials needed, ask Prefect Tian for them," Ji Xuanyuan instructed, his tone gentle but leaving no room for doubt.

"Yes! I will do my utmost!" Li Wei's beard trembled with excitement. To be so affirmed by his lord was a great honor for a craftsman.

He nodded, ordered his men to pack the three items into boxes, and headed straight for the northern camp.

Inside the central command tent, Xiang Yu, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Ran Min, Lü Bu, Li Cunxiao, and Yang Zaixing gathered together.

When everyone saw Ji Xuanyuan arrive in person and bring in a wooden box, they all showed curiosity.

"Brother, is there something new again?" Xiang Yu's double pupils flickered slightly as he spoke first.

Ji Xuanyuan ordered his personal guards to open the wooden box, take out three items, and place them on the table: "I recently had an idea and tried to make three small gadgets that may be helpful in mounted combat."

The brothers gathered around to watch, their faces filled with doubt.

"Saddle, stirrups, what's this? A piece of iron?" Zhang Fei stared wide-eyed and scratched his head.

"Brother, aren't these just ordinary things? We have them in our camp too."

"Yide, take a closer look." Ji Xuanyuan pointed to the saddle.

"This saddle has thicker padding and its curves have been recalculated and modified by me, so it fits the waist and legs better when riding, making it less tiring for long rides."

He then pointed to the double stirrups: "From a single stirrup to a double stirrup, both feet can be supported, making it much more stable to exert force, control the bow, and wield the weapon."

Finally, Ji Xuanyuan picked up the horseshoe: "This thing covers the horse's hoof and is fixed with iron nails. It can protect the horse's hoof from sand and gravel abrasion and ice cuts. Even long-distance raids and complex terrain will not be a problem."

Upon hearing this, Lü Bu's eyes flashed with a sharp light: "Brother, are you saying that with these three items, the cavalry's combat strength can be increased?"

"About 30%." Ji Xuanyuan said calmly.

"Thirty percent?!" A look of surprise flashed across Ran Min's cold face.

"Brother, is that really true? Just these three... little gadgets?"

Not only Ran Min, but most of the generals present were skeptical.

They were all top riders of their time, with a deep understanding of horse behavior. It's hard to imagine that improvements to saddles, stirrups, and horseshoes could have such a miraculous effect.

"Seeing is believing." Ji Xuanyuan didn't explain further. He ordered someone to bring over a strong warhorse from Youzhou and personally supervised his personal guards to properly assemble the new saddle and stirrups. Then, a skilled horseman nailed horseshoes onto the warhorse.

Throughout the entire process, all the brothers watched intently.

The warhorse was initially a little uneasy about the horseshoes, but it quickly adapted after being reassured by the craftsman. When it trotted, the iron hooves made a crisp "clattering" sound as they touched the ground.

"Who wants to try first?" Ji Xuanyuan asked with a smile.

"Here I come!" Lu Bu could no longer contain himself. He strode forward, placed one hand on the new saddle, put his left foot in the stirrup, and with the agility of a hawk, landed steadily on the horse's back.

As soon as he sat down, he sensed something was different.

The new saddle has a cleverly designed curve that provides stable support for the hips and legs, allowing the back to straighten naturally and greatly reducing the soreness and numbness that can easily occur after long rides.

What's even more amazing is the double stirrups, which make the rider and horse feel as stable as ever, with both feet firmly planted.

He lightly flicked the reins, and the warhorse trotted off.

At first, it was just a normal gallop, but after a while, a sharp glint flashed in Lü Bu's eyes. Suddenly, he turned around on his horse, his left hand loosely gripping as if holding a bow, and his right hand mimicking drawing the string, making a turning and shooting motion.

This move was extremely difficult to execute in the era of single stirrups, requiring exceptional horse control skills and making it challenging to generate power.

However, with the support of the stirrups, he combined his waist and horsemanship, and his movements were surprisingly smooth and free, and the simulated arrow shot was also very fierce!

"Jingsi, hand me a weapon!" Lu Bu shouted to Li Cunxiao, who was standing by the training ground.

Upon hearing this, Li Cunxiao pulled out a long spear from a pile of weapons and threw it directly at Lü Bu, who caught it steadily.

Then, he gripped the spear with both hands and launched various attacks, including slashing, thrusting, parrying, and sweeping.

With the help of the double stirrups, each "swing" can mobilize the power of the whole body, and the sound of the air being cut is more profound.

"Giddy up!" Lu Bu shouted, spurring his horse to gallop several laps around the training ground. Sometimes he made sharp turns, sometimes he stopped abruptly. His warhorse responded swiftly, its hooves making a crisp, rapid sound without any hesitation.

He deliberately spurred his horse across the scattered gravel area at the edge of the training ground. Normally, the warhorse would have cowered and lurched, but now, with its iron hooves, it felt as if it were walking on flat ground!

After several laps, Lü Bu reined in his horse, turned around, and leaped onto the ground with clean and swift movements.

He walked quickly to the horse's side, bent down and lifted one hoof to examine it closely. The horseshoe was intact, the hoof was not worn at all, and there were no common gravel marks!

"A divine weapon! Truly a divine weapon!" Lü Bu straightened up, his face flushed with excitement. He turned to Ji Xuanyuan, clasped his hands, and bowed deeply. "Brother! If these three items were equipped throughout the army, our cavalry would be like tigers with wings, dominating the borderlands! I am utterly convinced!"

Seeing his high praise, the other brothers were even more eager to try their luck.

"Sixth Brother, move aside, let me try too!" Li Cunxiao shouted the loudest. He pushed past Lü Bu, didn't even step on the stirrups, and with one hand on the saddle, he flipped himself onto the horse with a slight effort.

He was physically strong, and ordinary warhorses would have found it quite difficult to carry him, but at this moment he felt that his mount was exceptionally stable.

Li Cunxiao ran two laps around the training ground like a madman, then suddenly felt like playing around. In the middle of his run, he loosened the reins and stood up on the stirrups, arms outstretched, as steady as a rock!

"Hahaha! That's awesome! That's awesome!" Li Cunxiao laughed and jumped off his horse.

"Brother, this thing is great! It's comfortable to ride, and it's more stable to stand on! Next time I get into a fight, I'll have a lot more strength!"

Zhang Fei, who couldn't wait any longer, snatched the reins: "My turn!"

After mounting the horse, he focused on testing charging and sudden stops and turns. The support provided by the new saddle kept his massive body stable during intense movements, while the stirrups allowed him to unleash even more terrifying impact when thrusting with his spear.

"Great saddle! Great stirrups! Brother, these are more useful than three months of extra training! From now on, I'll be the first to pierce through enemy lines in a charge!"

Ran Min silently stepped forward, but during the test ride, he focused more on simulating dodging and maneuvering in actual combat.

The precise horse control provided by the stirrups allowed him to make more cunning evasive maneuvers, while unusual weapons like the double-edged spear and hooked halberd, which normally require extremely high skill to use on horseback, now felt effortless to him.

"Big brother."

After dismounting, Ran Min's cold eyes blazed with a rare, intense light: "With this, killing the Hu... will be even more advantageous."

When Yang Zaixing was testing riding, he focused on archery and maneuverability.

He simulated actions such as drawing the bow continuously and quickly changing shooting positions. The stable support of the double stirrups greatly reduced the swaying when he shot the arrow.

"Big brother." The young general's eyes gleamed.

"In the past, a skilled archer could hit the target seven or eight times out of ten. With this weapon, I'm confident I can hit it! Moreover, my horse will move faster and more steadily, giving me the upper hand in both pursuit and escape!"

After mounting his horse, Xiang Yu did not rush to move, but quietly felt the coordination between man and horse.

A moment later, he suddenly spurred his horse toward the simple obstacle on one side of the training ground, which was a low earthen wall and barricades used for training.

Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, Xiang Yu effortlessly steered his horse over the earthen wall, bypassed the barricades, and executed several ingenious maneuvers and weavings within the confined space, his double pupils gleaming with divine light.

"Okay." He uttered only one word.

After dismounting, he looked at Ji Xuanyuan and said slowly, "Brother, this thing... can change the way of mounted combat. It is stable, agile, and durable, truly a divine artifact."

Guan Yu had been stroking his beard and observing quietly, and only now did he step forward.

During his test ride, he focused on feeling the support the saddle provided for his lower back and the assistance the stirrups provided for powering and striking.

The Azure Dragon Saber Technique is characterized by its sweeping and powerful movements, emphasizing the unity of the waist and stance, and its profound and vigorous strength.

After a few feints, Guan Yu narrowed his phoenix eyes and nodded, saying, "In the past, when I wielded my sword on horseback, I was afraid that three-tenths of my strength would be spent on controlling the horse. With these stirrups, the power can be concentrated on the blade, making it even more effective at breaking through armor and destroying strong objects than before. I admire your ingenuity, elder brother."

The brothers took turns praising him, and they were all very excited.

The poor experimental warhorse was repeatedly ridden by eight of the world's top generals... well, test-riding. Even though it was a strong horse from Youzhou, it was now panting heavily, sweating profusely, and stamping its hooves incessantly, its eyes filled with "please let it go."

Guan Yu, with his keen observation skills, smiled and said, "It seems this horse has done a great service today; it deserves a generous reward."

Everyone laughed upon hearing this.

After laughing, Guan Yu stroked his beard and asked the crucial question: "Brother, is it possible for such a powerful weapon to be forged in large quantities and equipped for the entire army?"

Ji Xuanyuan nodded: "These three items are not complicated in construction, nor are they made of rare materials. I have ordered the military workshop to work at full speed to produce them, and to divide the work according to the 'assembly line' method. It is expected that the main force of my cavalry will be equipped with them within two months."

"Two months!" Lu Bu's eyes burned even brighter.

"Then... Brother, who should be sent to the border for training..." He finally couldn't help but ask the question that concerned him most.

Upon hearing this, Ran Min, Li Cunxiao, Zhang Fei, and others all turned their gazes toward Ji Xuanyuan, and even Xiang Yu's double pupils revealed a hint of anticipation.

Ji Xuanyuan felt the pressure and coughed twice: "This matter... is of great importance and involves many aspects, so it still needs to be carefully considered."

"Brother is right! But what exactly..." Lu Bu wanted to ask more.

"Um... I suddenly remembered that I still have a few urgent official documents to approve! Yuan Hao is still waiting for me at the manor to discuss matters! Brothers, continue to discuss your experiences with the new equipment. I'll take my leave first!" Before he finished speaking, Ji Xuanyuan had already strode out of the tent, almost as if he were fleeing.

Dian Wei and Zhao Yun exchanged a glance, feeling both helpless and amused, and quickly followed.

Once Ji Xuanyuan's figure disappeared, the atmosphere in the camp immediately became subtle.

With his arms crossed, Lü Bu said proudly, "If you ask me, the vanguard position in this northern campaign against the barbarians is none other than mine. My cavalry are the most diligent in their training and the quickest to master the new equipment."

"You?" Ran Min chuckled, a hint of amusement appearing on his cold face.

"Fengxian, when it comes to killing the Hu, your fourth brother once said that you are at most a...loli."

He deliberately emphasized the last two words. He had heard Ji Xuanyuan casually say this in his early years. Although he did not understand its specific meaning, his elder brother pointed out to him with a smile that "this means that others are weaker than oneself." He remembered it and often used it to tease Lü Bu.

"Fourth Brother!" Lu Bu's face immediately turned red.

"Words are useless; dare you put your skills to the test?"

"Afraid of you?" Ran Min raised an eyebrow.

"Perfect timing to test the new saddle and stirrups in actual combat."

"Come!"

"Let's go together!"

The two immediately turned around and went back to their respective tents to retrieve their weapons and lead their warhorses.

Seeing this, the remaining brothers, except for Guan Yu who frowned slightly, all looked on with expressions of anticipation.

"Let's go! There's going to be some excitement!" Yang Zaixing, being the youngest and most fond of excitement, was the first to follow.

Zhang Fei, ever eager for chaos, ran to the drum stand by the training ground, picked up the drumsticks, and began to beat the war drum with a deafening "boom boom boom!" He roared in his hoarse voice, "Kill! Kill! Kill!"

They treated their brotherly sparring as a battle between two armies.

Guan Yu paused in stroking his beard, then shook his head helplessly: "Fifth brother is being ridiculous."

However, they did not stop them. They turned their attention to the arena, watching the duel between the strong, which was also a way to improve their martial arts skills.

Li Cunxiao and Xiang Yu exchanged a glance, both seeing a trace of lingering fear in each other's eyes.

Not long ago, the two of them went too far in their "sparring" and tore down the courtyard wall, and the scene of being scolded by their older brother is still vivid in my mind.

But... how could we miss such a grand event as a contest between brothers?

The two tacitly looked away and quickly walked to the best viewing spot by the training ground.

Zhang Fei's drumming and shouting created a powerful atmosphere, immediately attracting the attention of soldiers training and patrolling nearby. Many of the bolder ones quietly approached to watch.

"What's going on? Why is General Zhang beating the drums?"

"Look! It's General Lü and General Ran! They're about to fight!"

"Wow! A duel between two generals? This is a once-in-a-lifetime event!"

As more and more soldiers gathered to watch, forming layers upon layers, they discussed the matter animatedly with eager eyes.

Lu Bu and Ran Min, who were already on horseback and holding weapons, stood facing each other and immediately felt different pressure.

Lü Bu held a halberd, its blade gleaming coldly.

Ran Min held a double-edged spear in his left hand and a crescent-shaped halberd in his right, the two unusual weapons reflecting the sunlight.

Both men rode warhorses equipped with new saddles and stirrups, experiencing an unprecedented sense of stability and control, which fueled their fighting spirit.

However, being surrounded by so many soldiers changes the nature of the situation somewhat.

This is no longer just a simple exchange of skills; it is also about prestige and reputation within the military.

If we lose, there may be rumors that "General Lü is no match for General Ran" or "General Ran is inferior to General Lü".

Their eyes met, and sparks flew in the air.

Yang Zaixing sidled up to Zhang Fei and whispered a complaint, "Fifth Brother, you've blown this out of proportion! Fourth and Sixth Brothers are both men of pride. Look at this commotion, with everyone watching like this, they might really start fighting! If things get out of hand, how are you going to explain it to Eldest Brother?"

Zhang Fei was in the middle of his enthusiastic drumming when he heard this and paused, his drumsticks hanging in mid-air. He glanced at the growing number of soldiers around him and realized something was amiss. A sheepish smile appeared on his dark face: "I... I just wanted to beat the drum to cheer everyone on and make it more lively, who knew it would attract so many people?"

He turned to look at the growing number of soldiers, his anger flaring. He roared in a thunderous voice, "What are you all doing here! Have you finished today's drills? Have you polished your weapons? Have you tidied your tents? Are you all bored out of your minds? Get back here! If you dare to stand around again, I'll write your names down, and tomorrow's drills will be doubled! No, tripled!"

Zhang Fei was known for his fierceness, especially his ruthless methods of training troops. The soldiers turned pale at the mere mention of his name and dared not watch the spectacle. They scattered like birds and beasts, running away even faster than when they arrived.

The area around the drill ground was cleared away.

Meanwhile, in the arena, Lü Bu and Ran Min's auras were firmly locked onto each other.

"Come on, Fengxian." Ran Min held his double-edged spear horizontally and his hooked halberd pointed diagonally.

"Let your fourth brother see how much you've improved in the last few months."

Lu Bu brandished his halberd, its tip pointing sharply: "I've been wanting to experience Fourth Brother's superior skills! Come!"