Many modern people think that calling one’s wife “qian nei” is an insulting term.
In fact it is not. The “qian” in “qian nei” does not describe the wife; it refers to the speaker himself, a humble way of saying “my lowly household”.
Next, Han Feng introduced Qing Mulan, Zhang Liang, and the others.
Zhou Jin came up the hill with two female army doctors.
Quite a few civilians had fled to Big Python Slope, and the female medics travelling with the army were extremely busy.
Zhou Jin stayed close to Jin Feng not because she was slacking off, but because she worried that if Jin Feng and his group were wounded there might not be time to treat them.
Knowing that treating wounds required removing clothes, when Zhou Jin went down to fetch help, Zhang Liang had Jin Feng’s personal guards put up three small tents nearby and spread cloth on the ground to serve as a temporary treatment area.
“Big Brother Han, come in!”
Zhou Jin entered one tent, crouched down, opened a small wooden box, and skilfully took out alcohol, gauze, suturing needles, and similar items.
“Jin’er, wait a moment. I still have something to discuss with Sir!” Han Feng waved his hand.
“What could be more important right now than treating your wounds?” Jin Feng glared and scolded.
“War horses!” Han Feng said in a low voice.
“What do you mean?”
A guess flashed through Jin Feng’s mind, and his eyes gradually lit up.
As the Jinchuan Merchant Association and Zhen Yuan Escort Agency grew larger, the shortage of horses became ever more serious.
The merchant side could still manage. Mules or donkeys produced within Great Kang could pull cargo.
But when escorts sometimes needed to rush to support a battle somewhere or pursue enemies, horses bred in Great Kang simply would not do.
Their explosive power and endurance were far inferior to the war horses of the grasslands and plateaus.
Both the grasslands and the plateaus feared Great Kang developing cavalry forces and strictly forbade selling war horses to Great Kang.
Even when some were smuggled, the quantities were tiny and the prices astronomical.
Therefore, the best way to obtain war horses was through battlefield captures.
Yet with the fighting ability of Great Kang’s pampered soldiers, capturing war horses was even harder than smuggling.
The horses Jin Feng had seized at Clearwater Valley were the largest haul Great Kang had seen in decades.
Unfortunately, Qing Huai had failed to hold onto them. They had been carved up by various powers, and Jin Feng had been unable to do anything about it.
But now, from what Han Feng was saying, it seemed they had obtained war horses.
“Sir, when I was organising the civilians, I took it upon myself to tell them that when they escaped, they should try to lead away one or two Tubo war horses if possible. We would buy them for five taels of silver each!”
Han Feng continued, “When I escaped I looked around. Many civilians were leading horses. I reckon we should be able to collect a good number.”
His original goal upon entering the prisoner camp had been to organise a civilian uprising.
The horse camp was relatively lightly guarded, so Han Feng had chosen it as the breakout point.
Later he had another thought: since they were breaking out from the horse camp anyway, why not let the civilians take the horses with them?
Danzhu had captured tens of thousands of civilians. Even if only a third managed to lead away horses, Danzhu’s horse camp would be stripped clean.
Cavalry without horses could hardly still be called cavalry.
Even if the horses did not end up in Jin Feng’s hands, it would still be a heavy blow to Danzhu.
So Han Feng had done exactly that.
Events proved his decision extremely wise.
For ordinary civilians, five taels of silver was no small sum.
Consequently, many people led away war horses while fleeing.
By the time the civilians scattered, Danzhu’s horse camp was almost empty.
Ninety-nine percent of the horses had been “conveniently” taken by the civilians.
“Old Han, you have done brilliantly!”
Jin Feng rubbed his hands together in delight.
He had guessed Han Feng might have obtained a batch of horses, but he had never dared imagine Han Feng had played it so big.
Danzhu had brought ten thousand cavalry to Great Kang. Even if Jin Feng could only buy half, no, even just a tenth, it would completely solve the horse shortage.
“As long as Sir doesn’t blame me for deciding on my own.”
Han Feng gave a simple, honest grin.
“You’ve achieved a great merit this time. I’m only thinking how to reward you. How could I blame you?”
Jin Feng asked, “Did you tell the civilians where to gather?”
“Yes, I told them to go to Old Crow Gully in the north after escaping,” Han Feng replied.
“Good. Now hurry and get your wounds treated. Leave the rest to me!”
Jin Feng pushed Han Feng into the tent.
Coming out of the tent, Jin Feng thought for a moment, then walked towards Ninth Princess.
Even a marquis like Qing Huai, backed by the entire Qing family, had been unable to keep captured war horses. A mere Baron of Qingshui like himself would stand even less chance.
If he really ended up with several thousand horses, it might bring disaster rather than wealth.
So he decided to cooperate with Ninth Princess.
Ninth Princess had actually noticed Jin Feng talking with Han Feng. From their expressions she could tell they were discussing something important.
Yet out of her own good breeding and respect for Jin Feng, she did not approach.
If Jin Feng did not tell her, she had no intention of prying.
Now that Jin Feng was walking towards her, with Ninth Princess’s intelligence she immediately realised he did not plan to keep it from her.
A secret spark of joy flashed through her heart. She took the initiative and asked, “Sir, is there some good news? You look so happy.”
“It really is good news, and great news at that!”
Jin Feng drew Ninth Princess aside and explained the matter of the war horses.
Ninth Princess’s eyes grew brighter the more she heard.
Back when she learned Jin Feng had captured a batch of horses from the Dangxiang people, she had hoped to form a cavalry unit.
But by the time she received the news and could act, the horses had already been mostly divided up by the court’s great lords.
This time was different.
This time she was right here in Xichuan and was the first to come into contact with the horses.
“This time, no one will take these horses from this palace!”
A compelling light flashed in Ninth Princess’s eyes. “Whoever stretches out a hand, this palace will chop it off!”
“Ahem!” Hearing this, Jin Feng felt rather awkward.
Wasn’t the whole reason he had said so much precisely to partner with Ninth Princess and secure some horses?
Now it seemed there was no chance.
“Er… I didn’t mean Sir.”
As soon as Ninth Princess saw Jin Feng’s expression she understood his intention and smiled. “Sir has rendered outstanding service in this battle, and these horses were obtained by Sir’s men. If Sir needs them, Wuyang can give Sir half… can give Sir one tenth!”
She had almost said half a tenth, but realising that would be excessive, she changed it to one tenth.
After saying it, she even sneaked a slightly guilty glance at Jin Feng.
She valued Jin Feng and drew close to him, yet in the end it was not because she had truly fallen in love with him; it was still for Great Kang.
If Jin Feng made other requests, Ninth Princess might compromise.
For example, back at Xihe Bay, if Jin Feng had truly demanded she share his bed, she probably would have agreed.
But war horses were out of the question.
Because war horses were equally vital to Great Kang.
Ten thousand war horses were enough to form several cavalry units.
If used well, they might even change the entire current situation of Great Kang!
Strategic resources of this level had to remain in her own hands. Ninth Princess was determined.
