“See for yourself!”
Qing Mulan placed the envelope back on the table.
Guan Xiaorou didn’t reach for it, instead giving an awkward smile.
Jin Feng, knowing she couldn’t read, spoke up, “The letter says the Dangxiang have sent people to negotiate with the court. This year’s tribute to them is increasing by ten percent!”
Normally, after a victory, the court wouldn’t need to pay tribute to the Dangxiang. If the court were tougher, it might even use captives to gain significant benefits.
At worst, the tribute could be reduced.
A large portion of Dakang’s taxes went to the Jurchens and Dangxiang as tribute. If tribute stopped, the people’s taxes could be lowered.
Since returning from Weizhou, Jin Feng had asked the escort team to monitor county notices, hoping for news of tax reductions.
But despite waiting, no such notice came. Now he learned that, despite the Iron Forest Army’s victory, the court had compromised!
“Why?” Guan Xiaorou asked, confused, “Dear, didn’t you and Lord Qing repel the Dangxiang at the border and capture their southern army? Why is the tribute increasing instead of decreasing?”
“The court’s bastards compromised, that’s why!”
“Why would they compromise?”
“Why else? To vie for power, to curb Brother Qing Huai’s Iron Forest Army, to suppress the war faction!” Qing Mulan slapped the table, “Sir and Brother Qing Huai shed blood at the border for a hard-won victory, yet the tribute increased by ten percent. It’s utterly ridiculous!”
“How can they do this?” Guan Xiaorou was furious, “How are the common people supposed to survive?”
The tribute the court agreed to would ultimately fall on the people.
Before Jin Feng, taxes were Guan Xiaorou’s greatest fear. Every tax season, she’d lose sleep for days, spinning thread desperately to earn extra money for the family.
Though she no longer worried about taxes, that fear was etched into her bones.
“The court’s lords don’t care about the people’s lives, only their own positions and interests!” Qing Mulan said through gritted teeth, “And that’s not even the most infuriating part. Xiaorou, do you know what’s worse?”
“This isn’t the worst?” Guan Xiaorou was stunned, “What’s worse?”
“The worst is that the court not only returned the war captives to the Dangxiang but also gave them the method to build catapults as an apology!”
“What?!”
Guan Xiaorou finally understood why Jin Feng and Qing Mulan were so angry.
Qing Mulan often dined at their home and, after meals, loved discussing military tactics with Jin Feng. Guan Xiaorou had picked up some knowledge.
According to Jin Feng, Dakang’s best defence against cavalry was early scouting, clearing fields, and holding cities.
Cavalry’s strength was speed, but fast marches meant limited supplies.
So, Dangxiang invasions relied on plundering locals while advancing.
If scouts detected their intent early, and people took their grain to cities or fled to the mountains, the Dangxiang would find no supplies and collapse without fighting.
This was the standard tactic of Dakang’s local commanders against cavalry.
High city walls were a hurdle cavalry couldn’t overcome.
But now, the court had given the Dangxiang the method to build catapults!
With catapults, they could easily hurl stones and oil into cities, causing massive damage to defenders!
“Dear, you said catapults are Dakang’s strategic weapon. How could they give them to the enemy?” Guan Xiaorou nearly cried in anger, “And Lord Qing, why give the catapults to the court?”
“Brother Qing Huai fell for the court lords’ schemes!”
“What schemes?” Guan Xiaorou asked, puzzled.
“The Dangxiang’s closest route to Dakang is through Qingshui Valley into Weizhou. To avoid Brother Qing Huai’s Iron Forest Army, they didn’t take that route this time. Instead, they trekked over a thousand miles across the desert from the west,” Qing Mulan explained, “When the court got word, the Dangxiang cavalry was already at Lanzhou’s gates. My uncle, Duke Qing, petitioned to send the Iron Forest Army to stop them.
But the court lords, fearing Brother Qing Huai’s growing merit, rejected it, claiming the army was too far to mobilise in time. They demanded he hand over the catapult designs to the court for Lanzhou’s defenders to build and resist the Dangxiang.
Brother Qing Huai, loyal to the country, sent the designs as fast as possible. But soon after, catapults appeared among the Dangxiang army at Lanzhou.
Later, my uncle discovered that before reaching Lanzhou, Dangxiang envoys had secretly entered Bianjing, demanding terms for retreat, including the catapult designs.
The emperor, misled by villains, agreed to their demands.”
Jin Feng sighed inwardly. It wasn’t just villains misleading the emperor; the emperor was scared.
If the Dangxiang took Lanzhou, they could march into Guanzhong and threaten Bianjing.
“Sir, what now?” Qing Mulan looked at Jin Feng, her face full of worry.
“I’m just a commoner. The court’s bigwigs have decided, what can I do but listen?” Jin Feng sighed, “Also, keep those words to yourself at home. Don’t say them outside.”
With the new furnace built, the ironworks could mass-produce heavy crossbows. Jin Feng had considered teaching Qing Huai the method, but now he abandoned that idea.
It wasn’t that he distrusted Qing Huai, but he no longer trusted Dakang’s court.
He’d been disappointed before, but this incident showed him Dakang was beyond saving, at risk of collapse any moment. His plans needed adjusting.
Seeing Jin Feng’s reluctance to continue, Qing Mulan left in a huff.
Jin Feng wasn’t in high spirits either. The next morning, after breakfast, he planned to take Iron Hammer out to clear his mind and visit the smelting yard to see if he could find useful materials.
The smelting yard was like a wholesale hardware market from his past life, full of blacksmith-related goods.
As Jin Feng and Iron Hammer entered, before they could browse, a passing young man stopped them.
