Jin Feng had originally prepared iron wire to secure beams during house construction. Last night, while sorting the wire, he pricked his palm, and the idea of using it against cavalry flashed through his mind.
He wasn’t certain it would work.
Iron wire required low-carbon wrought iron, demanding high craftsmanship, so it appeared late in history.
Jin Feng had never seen historical precedent for using iron wire against cavalry.
Qing Huai harboured deep resentment toward cavalry. Though sceptical that soft iron wire could counter them, he decided to try Jin Feng’s proposal.
They already had the wire; they just needed to twist iron spikes onto it.
Jin Feng called back Man Cang and summoned two of Qing Huai’s guards. Together, they worked for over an hour to create a six or seven-metre wire net.
They found a flat spot in the back hills, casually tossed the wire net across a path, and Jin Feng, yawning, nodded to Qing Huai: “Let’s begin.”
He hadn’t slept all night and was exhausted.
“That’s it?”
Qing Huai, already doubtful about the wire net, found Jin Feng’s casual attitude even less convincing.
“Let’s just try it.”
Jin Feng stepped back a few paces and sat on a rock.
“He Wei, you try.”
“Yes!”
A guard led his horse forward, looking reluctant.
But with Qing Huai’s order, the guard had no choice but to mount.
Not daring to vent at Qing Huai, he irritably asked Jin Feng: “Sir, what should I do?”
“Just ride the horse over the wire net.”
Jin Feng, unbothered by the guard’s attitude, smiled and pointed at the net.
“Hyah!”
The guard spurred the horse, and it trotted forward.
When the horse’s front hooves crossed the wire net, nothing happened, but as it lifted its hooves, the wire caught in the horseshoes and tangled around its legs.
The spikes pierced deeply.
The horse, in pain, thrashed its legs to shake off the wire, but the more it struggled, the tighter the wire wrapped, and it fell with a thud.
Luckily, the guard was prepared and rolled aside as the horse collapsed, avoiding being crushed.
Looking back, he saw the horse’s four hooves kicking wildly, trying to dislodge the net.
The more it kicked, the tighter the wire gripped, and the deeper the spikes dug, causing the horse to roll in pain.
It ended up wrapped in the wire.
Blood flowed from its legs and belly, soon staining the path red.
The other guards rushed to help, struggling to remove the net.
By then, the horse’s front legs, belly, and back were covered in wounds. It wouldn’t die, but it couldn’t be ridden for now.
Qing Huai rubbed his hands excitedly: “Sir, it really works!”
“Lord, this is too idealistic. In a real battle, who would ride into a visible wire net? I’d just go around it,” the guard said, upset about his horse, deliberately arguing.
“Then I’d lay more to block your path,” Jin Feng replied.
“Then I’d have the horse jump over!” the guard retorted, unconvinced.
“Then I’d make it twenty paces wide so you couldn’t jump,” Jin Feng countered.
“Sir, you’ve clearly never seen a cavalry charge. It’s all men and horses as far as the eye can see. Twenty paces won’t stop a few horses,” the guard said. “You can’t cover the whole battlefield with wire nets, can you?”
“Cavalry’s strength is its momentum, but that’s also its weakness. Once a horse charges, it can’t stop instantly with a shout.”
Jin Feng explained: “I don’t need to trip every horse on the battlefield, just the front row. The ones behind will easily crash into them. Even if they don’t fall, they’ll slow down.
What’s there to fear from cavalry that’s stopped?”
“I…”
The guard wanted to argue but found no words.
“Enough, He Wei. There’s some healing salve in my room, go get it,” Qing Huai said, stopping the guard. He bowed slightly to Jin Feng: “Sir, this tactic could save countless lives of Dakang’s men. Please accept my deepest respect!”
“Lord, you’re too kind.”
Jin Feng waved it off: “Do you now believe I can handle cavalry?”
“I believe!”
Qing Huai nodded without hesitation.
The crossbow’s lethality was already proven. Jin Feng had solved the issues of loading and firing. The only challenge left was materials and craftsmanship.
From their recent interactions, Qing Huai knew Jin Feng was cautious and never overstated his claims.
If Jin Feng said he was seventy to eighty percent confident in solving the crossbow material issue, he would surely succeed.
“Rest assured, sir. I’ll write a memorial to His Majesty to request a title for you!”
Qing Huai said: “If His Majesty refuses, I’ll offer my own title to you!”
“No, one doesn’t jest before the emperor. This tactic is just our idea, untested in battle. If it fails, we’re both done for, likely beheaded by His Majesty!”
Jin Feng quickly stopped Qing Huai.
This man had just suffered a defeat, and the emperor was displeased with him. Requesting a title now would be futile.
“Then what’s your plan, sir?” Qing Huai asked.
“I think we should first produce a batch of crossbows and wire nets, send them to the battlefield to take down some cavalry, prove they can counter them, then report it.”
Jin Feng said: “That way, Lord, you’ll have merit, and your words will carry more weight.”
“But my military authority has been stripped. I can’t go to the battlefield for now.”
At this, Qing Huai’s mood sank.
“Then find a way to take it back.”
Jin Feng said: “I heard from Liang Ge that your defeat wasn’t your fault. If you pull some strings, you should have a chance to regain your command, right?”
“It’s doable, but…”
Qing Huai hesitated.
He wasn’t the legitimate son of Duke Qing but born to a concubine, neglected since childhood.
Only in recent years, with military achievements that brought honour to Duke Qing, had his and his mother’s status in the household improved.
Yet he still disliked the opulent, impersonal Duke Qing’s mansion. After losing his command, he preferred staying in Jinchuan County, even Xibeiwan, over returning to Bianjing.
“Lord, if you have a way, please act quickly. When we left, He Mingqin took over the Iron Forest Army. That man’s good at brothels and gambling, not warfare!” Zhong Wu knelt on one knee, pleading: “The sooner you return to the front, the fewer of our brothers will die.”
Zhong Wu’s words struck Qing Huai’s weak spot.
When he left, a foppish commander had taken over the Iron Forest Army.
It was said that on the second day, he recklessly led them to the frontline.
“Fine, I’ll write to my father to pull some strings. Sir, please hurry and produce the wire and crossbows,” Qing Huai said.
