“General Zhang, you and the Dening Army have come a long way. It’s been a tough journey. There’s no need to trouble your brothers with defence duties. Just follow the Commander’s orders and guard the prisoners well.”
Spouting nonsense with a straight face, Jin Feng was no stranger to it.
Zhang Qiwei understood that the Iron Forest Army held all the advantages now, and Jin Feng would not easily relinquish the defence line to the Dening Army.
His earlier suggestion was merely a shot in the dark, thinking Jin Feng, a country bumpkin, might foolishly agree to share some of the glory.
Unfortunately, Jin Feng did not take the bait and even brought up General Fan right away.
“Haha, thank you for your consideration, Master Jin. I’ll respectfully comply.”
Zhang Qiwei laughed heartily and asked, “Where are the Dangxiang prisoners being held?”
“Xu Xiao, take General Zhang to the prisoner camp.”
Unfamiliar with camp handovers, Jin Feng assigned the task to his deputy, Xu Xiao.
“Yes!”
Xu Xiao agreed and led Zhang Qiwei to the prisoner camp.
Meanwhile, Jin Feng turned towards the small hill on the left.
“Master Jin, what are you doing over there?”
Old Zhao asked curiously.
After the morning’s battle, his attitude towards Jin Feng had completely reversed. He genuinely admired him, shifting from calling him “lad” to “Master.”
During the battle, Jin Feng, from the high ground, saw the old man draw his attendant’s sword, ready to fight bravely. This changed Jin Feng’s view of him.
He could tell that, despite some arrogance, the old man sincerely wanted to help him and the Iron Forest Army hold Clearwater Valley.
Even when the Dangxiang cavalry attacked, he did not flinch but chose to fight.
A wise elder is a treasure. The battlefield is unpredictable, and Jin Feng was not particularly skilled in military tactics. Old Zhao, having fought under General Fan for half a lifetime, was surely experienced.
Having such a person as an advisor compensated for Jin Feng’s weaknesses. So, when the old man offered peace, Jin Feng went along with it.
Smiling, he replied, “Old Zhao, I’m building some fortifications on the hill. I’m going to check on the progress.”
“The square formation and pit traps already counter cavalry perfectly. Why build fortifications on the hill?”
Old Zhao asked, puzzled.
“Better safe than sorry. More preparations are always beneficial.”
To Old Zhao, these two methods were enough to handle cavalry, but Jin Feng knew the Macedonian phalanx and pit traps were not foolproof.
If he were Li Jikui, he could think of several ways to break the phalanx and pit traps.
As for barbed wire, it was even less reliable.
Jin Feng’s inspiration for using barbed wire against cavalry came from tripwires, but like pit traps, tripwires had significant limitations and were easily countered, quickly fading from history.
However, the power of catapults had been proven through history.
In the era of cold weapons, catapults were indispensable on the battlefield until the Song Dynasty, when faster, longer-range ballistae gradually replaced them.
Though this victory was significant, the Dangxiang might not soon find ways to counter the pit traps and Macedonian phalanx. For safety, Jin Feng decided to build catapults.
Only then would he feel truly confident.
“That makes sense.”
Old Zhao nodded, sensing Jin Feng’s reluctance to elaborate, and wisely dropped the subject.
…
In the Dangxiang camp, the usual cheerful atmosphere was gone. Everyone slowed their steps near the commander’s tent, wary of disturbing the commander and the generals.
Inside the tent, Li Jikui and the Dangxiang leaders sat in grim silence, not a word spoken.
The defeat was too devastating.
Yeli Xiong’s fifteen hundred cavalry, including the elite vanguard, were either killed or captured, with none returning.
Hundreds more died during the reinforcement attempt.
In decades of fighting Dakang, this was a first.
If this news reached the homeland, Li Jikui would face more than ridicule from the higher-ups; the Dangxiang Emperor might even behead him.
The only way to salvage this was to destroy the Iron Forest Army and rescue the captured cavalry.
But the Iron Forest Army was no longer what it once was. The pit traps and that strange formation were too formidable. In a direct confrontation, victory was uncertain, let alone wiping them out.
Finally, a Dangxiang general broke the silence, “Commander, we must quickly find a way to rescue our captured brothers.”
“I know we need to save them, but how? Can you break through that bizarre Iron Forest Army formation?”
Li Jikui snapped irritably.
“I…”
Silence fell over the tent again.
As night fell, a strategist in the corner stood up, “Commander, I have an idea that might work.”
Li Jikui’s eyes lit up, “Speak, sir.”
“There are many Han slaves in nearby cities. We can use them as vanguards.”
The strategist explained, “Dakang claims to be a land of propriety, valuing benevolence and ethics. The Iron Forest Army is unlikely to attack Han slaves. The slaves can fill the pit traps, and our men can hide among them, infiltrating the Iron Forest Army’s rear.”
“And if the Iron Forest Army kills the Han slaves?”
A Dangxiang general said, “The battlefield isn’t a place for ethics.”
“We captured so many Han slaves last year. If the Iron Forest Army wants to kill them, let them. We can always capture more.”
The strategist continued, “Dakang’s court is rife with infighting. Duke Qing, Qinghuai’s father, has many political enemies. If the Iron Forest Army slaughters Han slaves, Duke Qing’s rivals will attack them. The Dakang Emperor might deal with the Iron Forest Army without us lifting a finger.”
“Brilliant strategy, sir.”
Li Jikui gave a thumbs-up and ordered, “Ashuo, go to the nearest city and bring all the Han slaves here.”
“Yes!”
A Dangxiang general left immediately.
From noon the next day, Han slaves began arriving in a steady stream.
After three days, over two thousand slaves had been gathered.
“I know many of you dream of returning to the Central Plains. Today, I give you that chance.”
Li Jikui stood on a high platform, gesturing for the Dangxiang soldiers to clear a path, “You may leave. Ten miles south down this road is Clearwater Valley. Beyond it, you can go home.”
The Han slaves stood still, eyeing each other suspiciously, unconvinced by such generosity.
“What a bunch of wretched fools. You clamour to return to the Central Plains, but now you won’t go!”
Li Jikui barked coldly, “Drive them out.”
The Dangxiang soldiers cracked their whips, herding the Han slaves out of the camp towards Clearwater Valley.
