“Sir, please sit.”
Qinghuai stood in front of a map, his brow furrowed.
Seeing Jin Feng enter, he forced a slight smile and greeted him.
“Is something wrong with the transfer order?” Jin Feng asked.
“No, the order from Bianjing hasn’t arrived yet.” Qinghuai rubbed his temples. “It’s about the Iron Forest Army.”
“What’s wrong with the Iron Forest Army?”
“That bastard He Mingqin is stationed with the Iron Forest Army at Qingshui Valley. If the Dangxiang attack, they’ll hit the Iron Forest Army first!”
Qinghuai slammed his fist on the map in frustration. “I thought we had time, but today General Fan told me the Dangxiang army is almost ready and could attack any moment. I don’t even have time to adjust tactics.”
“Can we pull the Iron Forest Army back?”
Jin Feng frowned as well.
He had no attachment to the Iron Forest Army. He came to Weizhou to gain merit, perhaps earn a title, not to lose his life to the Dangxiang.
“Impossible. This is the first battle against the Dangxiang. Even if the Iron Forest Army is wiped out, we can’t retreat. If morale collapses, the later battles will be impossible.”
“If the Dangxiang could attack any time, where will we find time to make barbed wire and heavy crossbows?”
Jin Feng asked.
“The Iron Forest Army’s workshop is in the city. I’ve already requested General Fan’s approval to send Zheng Fang to Qingshui Valley to get He Mingqin’s written order. Then you can take over the workshop.”
Qinghuai said, “Zheng Fang left over two hours ago. He should be back soon. Hopefully, He Mingqin doesn’t make trouble over this.”
“At this point, it’s our only option. Make as much as we can and leave the rest to fate.”
Jin Feng sighed heavily, feeling slightly relieved.
As long as he wasn’t sent to the front line.
Speak of the devil, and he appears.
Just as Qinghuai mentioned Zheng Fang, Zheng Fang rushed in.
Behind him followed a short, fat young man with dark circles under his eyes.
“He Mingqin, why are you here?”
Qinghuai’s face showed undisguised disgust at the sight of the young man.
This man, relying on his family’s influence, had taken the Iron Forest Army, which Qinghuai had built, from his hands.
He Mingqin ignored Qinghuai’s hostility, looked at him, and wiped tears excitedly.
The Iron Forest Army was once a ragtag group. After Qinghuai took over, with iron-fisted methods, he turned it into a formidable force in just a few years, winning several battles while other armies suffered defeats against the Dangxiang.
Because of this, Qinghuai earned a marquis title at a young age.
But success breeds envy. Qinghuai’s achievements made Bianjing’s nobles jealous and embarrassed some veteran aristocrats.
They kept losing, while Qinghuai kept winning, making them look incompetent.
Thus, in court, Qinghuai became a target for many aristocrats’ impeachment.
Fortunately, Qinghuai made no major mistakes, and Duke Qing’s faction protected him, so the aristocrats couldn’t touch him.
But last year, a general from Duke Qing’s faction suffered a crushing defeat, giving opponents leverage.
To save that general, Duke Qing had to compromise, agreeing to transfer Qinghuai from the front line.
He Mingqin’s family, with the strongest backing, secured the command of the Iron Forest Army.
In He Mingqin’s view, Qinghuai’s title came from the Iron Forest Army. He believed he could do just as well.
So, after taking over, He Mingqin insisted on stationing the Iron Forest Army at the dangerous Qingshui Valley.
That was the fastest way to gain merit.
But once at Qingshui Valley, He Mingqin realised his mistake.
A grave mistake.
From the hills beside Qingshui Valley, he could see the Dangxiang army’s camp miles away.
Endless tents stretched beyond sight, with cavalry swarming the hills, their strange cries audible from miles away.
The first time He Mingqin saw this, his legs gave out, and his guards had to carry him down the hill.
He immediately requested General Fan to withdraw the Iron Forest Army, only to be berated harshly.
Recently, the Dangxiang army’s movements grew more frequent. Everyone knew war was imminent. He Mingqin was so terrified he couldn’t sleep, fearing his head would be taken by the Dangxiang in his sleep.
In this state, hearing Qinghuai had come to Weizhou, He Mingqin’s feelings were imaginable.
He abandoned the camp and followed Zheng Fang to see Qinghuai.
Wiping his tears, He Mingqin asked urgently, “Qinghuai, are you here to take back the Iron Forest Army?”
Before Qinghuai could answer, Zhong Wu rushed in. “Marquis, General Fan is here!”
“Sir, come with me to greet General Fan!”
Qinghuai ignored He Mingqin and hurriedly called Jin Feng to leave.
“No need!”
A stern voice came from the door.
Jin Feng had imagined General Fan, so highly praised by Qinghuai and Zhong Wu, as a tall, skilled warrior.
But when General Fan entered, he was far from imposing, even somewhat frail.
At most 1.6 metres tall, around forty or fifty years old, he wore no armour, just a faded scholar’s robe like Jin Feng’s.
Upon entering, he kicked He Mingqin. “Do you know the penalty for a commander deserting his camp? I could behead you right now!”
He Mingqin, a top noble in Bianjing, didn’t dare retort after being kicked. He said with a pained expression, “General Fan, Qinghuai is here. I’m willing to return the Iron Forest Army to him.”
“Useless! You’ve been on the battlefield this long and still don’t know basic military rules! Until the command seal is officially transferred, you’re the Iron Forest Army’s commander. You can’t desert your post!”
General Fan trembled with anger at He Mingqin.
Jin Feng couldn’t help but feel sorry for Dakang’s soldiers.
That such a man could lead an army showed the state of Dakang’s military.
“Get out and leave the seal!”
General Fan was utterly disappointed in He Mingqin. “Don’t return to the Iron Forest Army for now. Once the transfer order from Bianjing arrives, you can go back.”
He Mingqin, desperate to avoid the front line, quickly pulled out the military seal and tokens, placed them on the table, and fled the study.
“Qinghuai, take these for now.”
General Fan pointed at the seal and tokens.
“Isn’t this against protocol?”
Qinghuai frowned slightly.
Transferring command required not only Qinghuai’s order but also a matching order from the Ministry of War, with identical codes to be legitimate.
“In extraordinary times, we take extraordinary measures. The Iron Forest Army is strongest under you. Before you arrived, I feared He Mingqin would ruin it. Now that you’re here, I’m relieved.”
General Fan patted Qinghuai’s shoulder. “The Dangxiang could attack any moment. Prepare yourself and head to the camp soon.”
“Yes!”
Qinghuai clasped his fists in acknowledgment. “But before I go, I need to arrange things for the sir.”
