In northern Shaanxi, there is a mountain range, serving as a natural boundary between Dakang and the Dangxiang.
Twenty miles north of Weizhou City, a valley cuts through this range, known as Clearwater Valley.
At the founding of Dakang, Clearwater Valley was a vital trade route for merchants heading to Dangxiang, and Weizhou City was a bustling trade hub.
Now, Clearwater Valley has become a critical choke point for Dakang to fend off the Dangxiang, a key barrier protecting the Guanzhong Plain.
If breached, Dangxiang cavalry could bypass Weizhou City, charge into the Guanzhong Jingzhao Prefecture, and even threaten the Western Capital.
This is why Qing Huai fought to the death to hold it.
The Iron Forest Army is stationed at the foot of the mountain at one end of Clearwater Valley.
Before they could approach, Jin Feng and Zhong Wu were stopped by sentries.
Zhong Wu announced Jin Feng’s name, and a sentry rushed to the main camp to report.
“Brother Zhong, I’m a complete outsider. If I take command, will anyone respect me?” Jin Feng asked.
This was his greatest concern.
As an absolute newcomer, if no one followed his orders, wouldn’t he be doomed?
He couldn’t face the Dangxiang alone, could he?
“If you were appointed by He Mingqin, no one would accept you. But the Iron Forest Army was built by the Marquis. With his appointment, no one in the army will defy you.”
Zhong Wu said confidently, “Sir, don’t worry. The enforcement team is led by Liu Qiong. If anyone disobeys, just have Liu Qiong deal with them!”
“Alright.”
Liu Qiong, one of Qing Huai’s personal guards, was someone Jin Feng knew.
Knowing a familiar face led the enforcement team eased his mind.
Upon hearing of Jin Feng’s arrival, the deputy general immediately came out with his men to greet him.
Though Zhong Wu’s presence vouched for Jin Feng’s identity, the deputy meticulously checked Jin Feng’s identity token, Qing Huai’s seal, and documents.
Then, he knelt on one knee, clasped his fists, and said, “I, Xu Xiao, greet General Jin!”
“We greet General Jin!”
The officers and lieutenants behind the deputy also knelt on one knee in salute.
“Where’s the Marquis? Take me to him quickly.”
Jin Feng, in no mood for formalities, asked urgently.
“General, follow me!”
Xu Xiao led Jin Feng into the main command tent.
As soon as he entered, Jin Feng caught the strong smell of medicinal herbs.
Qing Huai lay quietly on a bed, bare-chested, his right chest bandaged, a large lump on his forehead.
“How is the Marquis? When will he wake?”
Jin Feng looked at the army physician standing nearby.
“General, the Marquis has two broken ribs and some damage to his left lung. His head took a heavy blow. I don’t know when he’ll wake.”
The physician said helplessly.
“Alright, take good care of him.”
With no help from the physician, Jin Feng saw no point in lingering. He needed to familiarise himself with the Iron Forest Army and plan for the enemy.
He led the deputy outside and asked, “Tell me about the Iron Forest Army’s current state.”
“The Iron Forest Army is authorised for five thousand men. Last year, we lost over twelve hundred in battle. Earlier this year, we added over seven hundred recruits. In today’s fight, we killed three hundred enemies, lost one hundred twenty men, and have one hundred seventy wounded. We currently have four thousand one hundred eighty-six men fit to fight, with enough rations for twenty days…”
The deputy, well-prepared, recited the army’s status fluently.
Jin Feng was fairly satisfied with the army’s current strength.
After the briefing, he followed the deputy to a small hill on the left side of the camp, taking in the entire Clearwater Valley.
The valley stretched about one kilometre long and one hundred sixty metres wide. A river, twenty to thirty metres wide, ran along the right, while a flat expanse of over one hundred metres lay on the left.
The previous battle had taken place on this kilometre-long, hundred-metre-wide flat ground.
Bloodstains and scattered Dangxiang bodies and horses still littered the area. Many horses were entangled in barbed wire, mangled and bloody.
Some Iron Forest soldiers were cleaning the battlefield.
They stabbed any Dangxiang, dead or wounded, without hesitation.
For horses caught in the wire, they killed them and carefully retrieved the wire.
Unfortunately, most wire became tangled after one use, rendering it largely unusable except for melting down and reforging at the armoury camp.
“Why didn’t you place a few catapults on the opposite hill?”
Jin Feng asked, frowning.
The right side of Clearwater Valley had steep, towering peaks with a river below, easy to defend, hard to attack. Catapults positioned on the hill, if well-placed, could rain stones down, covering nearly the entire valley.
“Catapults?”
The deputy asked, puzzled. “What are catapults? Some kind of war chariot?”
“You’ve never heard of catapults?”
Jin Feng was stunned.
Did Dakang not have catapults?
“Never,” the deputy shook his head.
“What about caltrops or horse traps?”
“No,” the deputy shook his head again.
“Alright.”
Jin Feng clenched his fist silently.
No wonder Dakang suffered so badly against the Dangxiang and Qidan cavalry.
Heavy crossbows, catapults, caltrops, all key weapons against cavalry, and Dakang had none.
Jin Feng had assumed too much.
This world’s history differed from his past life. In his world, caltrops and catapults appeared during the Warring States period, while U-shaped horseshoes emerged in the Yuan Dynasty.
Seeing Qing Huai’s horses fitted with horseshoes in Xihe Bay, Jin Feng assumed catapults and caltrops were common.
But they weren’t.
New weapons often worked best the first time, catching enemies unprepared.
Qing Huai’s success against the Dangxiang cavalry today was thanks to barbed wire.
If this world had never seen catapults, caltrops, or horse traps, could they surprise the Dangxiang?
As Jin Feng planned his strategy, General Fan, who had just returned from inspecting military affairs, received news of the Iron Forest Army’s change in command.
“What? Qing Huai is gravely injured and unconscious, and Jin Feng is to lead the Iron Forest Army?”
General Fan, shocked by his aide’s words, said, “The army doesn’t jest. This is no laughing matter.”
“General, how could I lie about this?”
The aide quickly grabbed a letter from the table. “This is General Qing Huai’s appointment document.”
“Is Qing Huai out of his mind?”
General Fan’s beard trembled with anger. “That Jin Feng is just a craftsman. What does he know about warfare?”
“General, Clearwater Valley is critical. It must not fall. Should we remove this Jin Feng?”
The aide asked.
“Per military law, only His Majesty can alter Qing Huai’s appointment made before he fell unconscious. I can’t revoke it!”
General Fan paced around the table. “Go to the Iron Forest Army at once. Monitor this Jin Feng. If he makes any misstep, send someone to report to me immediately!”
