Jin Feng hurriedly helped Zheng Fang to his feet.
Zheng Fang’s left arm hung limply, likely broken, with several wounds on his face and body, blood dripping, looking utterly terrifying.
The warhorse nearby was panting heavily, its four legs trembling uncontrollably, its hindquarters covered in bloody whip marks.
“Physician, go fetch a physician quickly!”
Jin Feng turned and shouted at the idle workers watching the commotion.
One worker took off running.
Zhong Wu, who was observing the old kiln workers modify the porcelain kiln nearby, craned his neck to look.
“Old Zheng, how did you end up like this?”
Zhong Wu rushed over, helping Jin Feng support Zheng Fang. “What happened?”
Zheng Fang ignored Zhong Wu, looking up at Jin Feng. “Sir, the Dangxiang people have attacked, the Marquis…”
Before finishing his sentence, he began coughing violently.
“Don’t rush, take it slowly.”
Jin Feng had a worker bring a bowl of water and handed it to Zheng Fang.
Zheng Fang didn’t hesitate, gulping down the water in a few swift swallows.
After drinking, Zheng Fang’s condition improved slightly.
Only then did Jin Feng ask, “What’s the situation? Is the Marquis alright?”
“The Marquis is gravely injured and unconscious…”
“What? How did this happen?”
Zhong Wu exploded, grabbing Zheng Fang’s collar and roaring, “Before you left, you swore to me you wouldn’t let anything happen to the Marquis!”
“Zhong Wu, calm down!”
Jin Feng pushed Zhong Wu aside.
Zheng Fang was Qing Huai’s personal guard, and seeing him so badly injured, Jin Feng had already sensed something ominous.
“What exactly happened?”
“The Dangxiang people have suffered heavy losses at the Marquis’s hands, so they despise him. Today, the Marquis received orders to hand over command, and he raised his general’s flag.
The Dangxiang were resting, but when their scouts spotted the Marquis’s flag, they launched an attack immediately.”
Zheng Fang continued, “He Mingqin had left the Iron Forest Army in disarray. The Marquis was at the front, reorganising troop deployments, when the Dangxiang attacked.
We were caught off guard, but thankfully the barbed wire held back their cavalry, allowing us to repel them. But the Marquis was stabbed, and we’re out of wire…”
“How could this happen?”
Jin Feng scratched his head in frustration.
It was his worst fear, the Dangxiang attacking too soon, leaving no time to prepare weapons. And just after he prayed it wouldn’t happen, they struck.
“Before the Marquis fell unconscious, he wrote an appointment, naming you, sir, as the temporary commander of the Iron Forest Army. If he doesn’t wake, you are to lead the army for now.”
Zheng Fang pulled a piece of cloth from his chest, inscribed with the appointment of Jin Feng as temporary commander until the Marquis awoke or the war ended.
Then, Zheng Fang produced Qing Huai’s seal.
Per Dakang military rules, if a commander was gravely injured or killed, someone could temporarily take charge, but the Ministry of War would reclaim authority after the conflict, appointing a new leader.
Usually, unless the defeat was catastrophic, the temporary commander would be confirmed permanently.
“Me, lead the Iron Forest Army?”
Jin Feng’s scalp tingled.
In both his past and present lives, this would be his first time on a battlefield. He had no idea how to wage war.
“Yes, the Marquis said you discussed military formations with him on the boat, and you would make a capable general.”
Zheng Fang explained.
In this era, without computers, phones, or even many books, life was dull.
On the journey from Jinchuan County to Weizhou, besides learning to ride, Jin Feng had discussed military matters with Qing Huai several times, even conducting mock drills.
Dakang’s combat methods were as primitive as their metallurgy. Most battles involved both sides gathering forces and clashing head-on, with little tactical finesse.
The nomadic Dangxiang were even cruder, favouring wild charges on horseback.
Generals like Qing Huai, skilled in strategy, were rare.
That’s how he led the Iron Forest Army last year, outmanoeuvring thousands of Dangxiang cavalry.
Throughout history, advanced technology was often first applied to warfare.
Though Jin Feng hadn’t studied military science in his past life, his research into ancient mechanics led him to watch numerous war documentaries and films, giving him some knowledge of battle formations.
In mock confrontations with Qing Huai, Jin Feng had even won twice.
“But those were just games on the boat. How can that compare to real warfare?”
Jin Feng asked with a bitter smile.
“I don’t know. I’m only relaying the Marquis’s orders.”
Zheng Fang said, “From now on, the lives of thousands of Iron Forest Army brothers rest in your hands, sir.”
That made Jin Feng even more nervous. He asked, “Can I pass this position to someone else?”
“Who would you give it to?” Zheng Fang asked.
“Anyone would be better than me,” Jin Feng said. “Like the Marquis’s deputy.”
“No, unless His Majesty personally intervenes or the Marquis wakes to change the order, no one can take your authority, not even General Fan.”
Zheng Fang added, “If you’re truly unsure, you could ask the deputy for help.”
“So I have to lead the Iron Forest Army?”
“Yes, unless you want to be beheaded,” Zheng Fang said.
“Do I have to go to the front lines?”
“Of course, the commander must stay at the camp and cannot leave without permission.”
“No escaping it, then…”
Jin Feng sighed heavily.
He had come to Weizhou for prestige, never expecting to end up on the front lines.
But with things as they were, there was no point dwelling. He asked, “When might the Dangxiang attack again?”
“It’s hard to say, it could be anytime. The Marquis guessed no more than three days before he passed out.”
“Is there any barbed wire left?”
“None, it’s all used up.”
“Two or three days isn’t enough to make more wire.”
Jin Feng thought for a moment, then shouted to Zhong Wu, who was crouching nearby, “Go get Man Cang and bring two horses. We’re heading to Clearwater Valley.”
“Yes!”
Zhong Wu dashed off.
Since he had to go to the front, the sooner, the better, to find a way to manage.
With only a day or two, making wire was impossible. He needed to see the front lines himself to find a way to stall the situation.
He didn’t aim to defeat the Dangxiang, just delay them for a while.
Once the porcelain kiln was ready, they might mass-produce crossbows.
Before firearms, crossbows were the ultimate counter to cavalry.
Then, the Dangxiang riders would be no threat.
The armoury camp’s recent focus had been upgrading the iron furnace and making wire, tasks Man Cang had learned from Jin Feng and could handle competently.
Leaving the camp to Man Cang with some instructions, Jin Feng set off with Zhong Wu, hurrying to Clearwater Valley.
