“Sir?”
General Fan noticed Qinghuai looking at Jin Feng and followed his gaze.
Among Dakang’s generals, Qinghuai was the one General Fan admired and knew best.
This was the first time Qinghuai had placed such importance on someone.
The young man before him looked tall and thin, seemingly unremarkable.
As General Fan sized up Jin Feng, Jin Feng curiously observed him in return.
That afternoon, while chatting with the guards, Jin Feng had learned about this General Fan.
He was a true heavyweight.
Qinghuai was a general, but only a fifth-rank Ningyuan General, whereas General Fan was a second-rank Zhenjun Grand General, his military status on par with Qinghuai’s father, Duke Qing.
General Fan’s life was legendary. Born into a noble family, he served as a civil official until his thirties. As the Khitans and Dangxiang pressed closer, he could no longer stand idly by. He submitted a memorial impeaching the border generals for their passivity and incompetence.
The generals, though poor on the battlefield, were adept at court politics.
The two sides clashed fiercely in court until the generals taunted Fan: if he thought he could do better, he should try.
With a fiery temper, Fan accepted the challenge.
He abandoned his civil career and embarked on a military one.
Backed by the influential Fan family, he wasn’t invincible but became one of Dakang’s few generals able to confront the Khitans and Dangxiang head-on.
As public calls for resistance grew, General Fan, a leading advocate for war, rose in prominence.
This time, against all opposition, he secured command of the Western Pacification Army.
“This humble scholar pays respects to the General!”
Jin Feng bowed slightly, offering a scholar’s salute to the legendary general.
Having navigated the court for years, General Fan wouldn’t make the rookie mistake of judging by appearances. Since Qinghuai valued Jin Feng, he wouldn’t put on airs.
He nodded with a friendly smile.
“General, Mr. Jin is a great talent I met in Jinchuan, highly skilled in craftsmanship. I plan to entrust the Iron Forest Army’s workshop to him,” Qinghuai explained. “Once I’ve arranged for him, I’ll head to the Iron Forest Army immediately.”
“Just a craftsman…”
General Fan had held some expectations for Jin Feng, thinking he might be a hidden gem Qinghuai found among the common folk.
But after Qinghuai’s explanation, he felt disappointed.
What could a craftsman, no matter how skilled, do?
At best, make sturdier armour or sharper weapons.
With tens of thousands of soldiers amassed by both the Dangxiang and Dakang at the border, what was needed was morale and strategy. A craftsman could change nothing.
General Fan lost interest in Jin Feng, gave Qinghuai a few more instructions, and left.
Noticing General Fan’s dismissive attitude toward Jin Feng, Qinghuai explained, “This battle is critical. As commander of the Western Pacification Army, General Fan has endless tasks and immense pressure. Please don’t take it personally, sir.”
Indeed, if the Iron Forest Army’s position weren’t so vital, and if General Fan hadn’t heard He Mingqin had deserted to find Qinghuai, risking the army’s stability, he wouldn’t have come in person.
“It’s fine.”
Jin Feng smiled and shook his head. “Aren’t you eager to check on the Iron Forest Army and see what mess He Mingqin made? Let’s go to the workshop.”
In his previous life, Jin Feng had been berated countless times while working part-time. A few words from General Fan wouldn’t rattle him.
Qinghuai was indeed anxious to see what He Mingqin had done to the Iron Forest Army. He rolled up the map and led Jin Feng out of the study.
Dakang’s smelting technology was limited, and soldiers’ weapons wore out quickly. The workshop’s main task was repairing damaged weapons.
Since workshops required smelting furnaces, they were usually not located with the army camp but in a safe, fixed location.
Each month, damaged weapons from the camp were sent for repair and returned once fixed.
The Iron Forest Army’s workshop was close to Qinghuai’s residence. They didn’t ride horses, arriving after a short walk around the corner.
Since the Dangxiang began raiding, Weizhou City’s population had dwindled. Those with connections fled to the Central Plains to join relatives.
Land was cheap, so the workshop occupied a large area, filled with the constant clanging of metal.
“Marquis, you’re finally back!”
The lieutenant in charge of the workshop saw Qinghuai and kowtowed excitedly.
During Qinghuai’s absence, He Mingqin had made life miserable for the workshop.
“This is Mr. Jin. He will take charge of the workshop from now on. Everyone must follow his orders. If anyone disobeys, don’t blame me for forgetting old ties!”
Qinghuai pushed Jin Feng forward. “Zhong Wu, stay to assist the sir. If anyone defies orders, execute them on the spot!”
“Marquis, rest assured, we will fully cooperate with Mr. Jin.”
The lieutenant promised Qinghuai, then turned and kowtowed to Jin Feng. “I, Liu Yang, greet Mr. Jin.”
Jin Feng, still unaccustomed to kowtowing, helped the lieutenant up. “I hope for your assistance in the future, Lieutenant Liu.”
“Mr. Jin, just give the orders, and I won’t shirk.”
The lieutenant thumped his chest confidently.
“Then tell me about the workshop’s situation.”
Jin Feng said casually.
“The workshop currently has thirty guards, forty-nine craftsmen, seventy-two laborers, three iron smelting furnaces, and one porcelain kiln…”
Before the lieutenant finished, Qinghuai interrupted, “Since when did the workshop have a porcelain kiln?”
“Four months ago, General He heard from someone that the clay in Sangu Valley outside Weizhou was suitable for porcelain. He ordered me and the workshop to build a porcelain kiln within a month…”
At this, the lieutenant’s eyes welled up. “I had no idea how to build a kiln. We barely found a master craftsman, but we finished a day late. General He gave me thirty lashes, nearly killing me…”
“Absurd! The workshop should focus on repairing weapons, not building porcelain kilns! Tear it down!”
Qinghuai was furious at He Mingqin.
“Yes!”
The lieutenant, resentful of the kiln, agreed and was about to call men to dismantle it.
“Wait, don’t tear it down!”
Jin Feng, thrilled at the mention of the porcelain kiln, slapped his thigh and stopped the lieutenant.
This was a treasure, not to be destroyed.
“This…”
The lieutenant looked at Qinghuai, then at Jin Feng, torn.
One ordered the kiln destroyed, the other forbade it. Whose order should he follow?
By rank, Qinghuai was the Iron Forest Army’s supreme commander, so his word should prevail. But as the saying goes, a distant official holds less sway than the one on the ground. Qinghuai had just declared Jin Feng in charge of the workshop, and the lieutenant had vowed to follow him. Defying Jin Feng now would make things difficult going forward.
What to do?
