“Yesterday, I drank with Young Master Zheng, and he was still lamenting to me that the Iron Forest Army is doomed this time, with the main Dangxiang cavalry stationed around Qingshui Valley.”
Qing Zheng said, “When I heard this news yesterday, I felt it was a pity that Qing Huai wasn’t with the Iron Forest Army, who knew he’d send a letter today, seeking his own death!”
“Big brother, is Young Master Zheng’s information accurate?”
“Young Master Zheng just returned from the battlefield two days ago, he’s a staff officer in the Zhenxi Army, so his information is certainly accurate.”
Qing Zheng said, “Moreover, the eldest son of the Duke of Kui’s family was there too, and he said the same.”
“Big brother, last year Qing Huai led the Iron Forest Army to hold off the Dangxiang cavalry for ten days and nights, what if he wins this time?”
“Last time he could hold them off because the area around Wild Boar Ridge was all mountains and forests, where cavalry couldn’t manoeuvre, allowing him to exploit a gap.”
Qing Zheng pointed at the map and said, “But look at Qingshui Valley, it’s flat land for miles around, perfect for cavalry warfare, that’s why the Dangxiang placed their cavalry there.
In such terrain, Dangxiang cavalry are invincible, once the Iron Forest Army is caught by them, even if Qing Huai is a god, he can’t escape!”
The second son took the map and examined it closely.
As sons of a military family, though wastrels, they understood basic military knowledge.
After studying it, they found it was indeed as Qing Zheng said, in the terrain around Qingshui Valley, if the Iron Forest Army encountered Dangxiang cavalry, they were basically as good as dead.
“I’m just afraid father won’t agree.”
The second son set down the map and sighed, “Father has been increasingly favouring the third brother these years, since we all know Qingshui Valley is dangerous, father might not let Qing Huai go.”
“I hope father agrees.”
In the duke’s study, the Duke of Qing frowned as he gazed out the window, but his eyes lacked focus, clearly deep in thought.
After a full quarter-hour, he snapped back, calling out, “Someone, go to the west garden and summon the third son’s guards.”
Soon, Zheng Fang and Liu Qiong were brought into the study by servants.
“Does the third son know the Iron Forest Army is in Qingshui Valley?”
The Duke of Qing stared coldly at them, “No outsiders here, tell me the truth.”
Zheng Fang and Liu Qiong knelt silently.
Qing Huai had commanded the Iron Forest Army for years, with loyalists everywhere, how could he not know their situation?
Silence meant affirmation.
The Duke of Qing nodded slightly and asked, “Is the third son planning to die with the Iron Forest Army, or does he have a strategy?”
He knew his son well, if Qing Huai knew the situation yet still requested to reclaim command, it was one of these two possibilities.
Zheng Fang and Liu Qiong remained kneeling silently, as before.
As a duke, he was shrewd, seeing their silence, he slapped the table, “If you won’t speak, go back and tell Qing Huai I disagree.”
Hearing this, Zheng Fang and Liu Qiong panicked but dared not speak recklessly, only kowtowing repeatedly, chanting, “The marquis begs the duke to grant his wish!”
“Then tell me honestly what Qing Huai plans!”
The Duke of Qing leaned back lazily, “This is your last chance, if you don’t speak, you can leave, I won’t allow my son to seek death.”
Zheng Fang and Liu Qiong exchanged glances and said, “The marquis found a way to counter Dangxiang cavalry!”
“What?”
The Duke of Qing stood abruptly, “What way?”
“The marquis discovered in Jinchuan County…”
To regain military command, Zheng Fang chose to betray Jin Feng.
After betraying, he consoled himself, anyway, Mr. Jin only instructed the marquis not to mention barbed wire in the letter, he didn’t say I couldn’t speak of it.
“You say this barbed wire can really entangle horse legs?”
After listening, the Duke of Qing’s face showed shock.
“Replying to the duke, I saw it with my own eyes, after the warhorse was entangled in the barbed wire, it struggled only a few breaths before it couldn’t move.”
“If so, why didn’t the third son mention it in his letter?”
“Mr. Jin said the barbed wire hasn’t been proven in battle, fearing errors, so he told the marquis to report it after proof.”
“Quite cautious.”
The Duke of Qing nodded, “You know military matters are no joke, if you dare deceive me, you know the consequences!”
“Every word I said is true, if there’s a single lie, the duke may behead me!”
Zheng Fang quickly assured.
“Hahaha, heaven blesses my Qing family!”
The Duke of Qing laughed heartily.
He knew too well what countering cavalry meant.
If Qing Huai succeeded this time, it would be immense merit, perhaps enough for promotion to duke.
One family with two dukes would be a legendary tale.
The Duke of Qing laughed for over half a minute before stopping.
“You two listen, this is top-secret military intelligence, once out of this room, never mention a word, understand?”
“Yes!”
Zheng Fang and Liu Qiong quickly agreed.
“Someone, prepare horses for the Duke of Kui’s residence!”
The Duke of Qing ignored them and called out.
In the evening, the Duke of Qing returned and again summoned Zheng Fang and Liu Qiong to the study.
“This is the transfer order, take it back to Qing Huai.”
The Duke of Qing took out an ornate envelope from his bosom, “Fast horses are ready for you, hurry back.”
“Thank you, duke!”
Zheng Fang was overjoyed, accepting the envelope with both hands and backing out.
Outside, they didn’t even take luggage, mounting horses and galloping away.
“Big brother, the third brother’s guards left the city!”
The second son, watching Zheng Fang’s movements, got the news first.
“Did they get the transfer order?”
Qing Zheng asked urgently.
“They left in such haste, they probably did.”
The second son said, “Father visited the Duke of Kui’s residence this afternoon, likely for this.”
“Good they got it, now Qing Huai is doomed.”
Qing Zheng laughed gleefully, “Let’s go to Spring Breeze Pavilion.”
The second son vaguely felt something amiss, but couldn’t pinpoint it.
Outside the capital, Zheng Fang and Liu Qiong reached the outskirts just before the gates closed.
Out of the city, they didn’t rest, riding through the night.
On the road, they slept at most four or five hours daily, hurrying the rest of the time.
In nine days, they returned to Xihe Bay.
By then, their clothes’ colour was indistinguishable, covered in dirt from head to toe, even eyelashes.
“You two rest.”
After reading the order, Qing Huai turned to find Jin Feng.
“What, the order came down?”
Jin Feng frowned, “Didn’t you say at least a month, why so fast?”
He wasn’t ready yet.
