“Zhang Qiwei has fled to avoid battle!”
Upon hearing that Zhang Qiwei had escaped, General Fan erupted in fury.
Then, a wave of helplessness surged within him.
If it were an ordinary general, this act alone would warrant sending men to capture the deserter and execute him.
But Zhang Qiwei was the eldest son of the Zhang family, with a sister who was one of the emperor’s most favoured concubines. No matter how angry General Fan was, he dared not have him beheaded.
At most, he could file a report against him upon returning.
“Forget it. A man like Zhang Qiwei is incapable of achieving anything but excels at causing failure. If he’s gone, so be it.”
General Fan rubbed his brow and said, “Send out more scouts to monitor the Dangxiang army’s movements at all times. Also, notify the Fan family army to strengthen their patrols and prepare for a possible attack on the city by the Dangxiang.”
Soon, a large number of scouts quietly left the city. Before noon, reports came back.
According to past patterns, after passing through Qingshui Valley, the Dangxiang would immediately lead their troops to besiege Weizhou City.
But the scouts reported that the Dangxiang main force had set up camp near Qingshui Valley.
“It seems they plan to completely trap the Tielin army. I wonder if this Mr. Jin can hold out,” General Fan sighed and asked, “By the way, what’s the situation with Qing Huai? Is he still unconscious?”
“Commander, General Qing Huai woke up last night, but he probably doesn’t know about the situation at Qingshui Valley yet,” the deputy general replied.
“Since Qing Huai has just woken up, it’s best not to tell him this news for now,” General Fan instructed.
“The whole city is talking about when the Dangxiang will attack. I’m afraid we can’t keep it from him,” the deputy general said helplessly.
Just as he finished speaking, the steward came in to report that Qing Huai was already at the door.
General Fan sighed and said to the steward, “Let him in.”
“General, you’d better go out and see for yourself,” the steward hesitated and said, “Marquis Qing… he’s quite frightening…”
“Frightening?”
General Fan frowned, then walked out of the meeting hall with the deputy general.
As they reached the door, they saw Qing Huai standing outside, hair dishevelled, face pale.
He was holding a military sword, his eyes red as he glared at General Fan and asked, “Where’s Zhang Qiwei?”
Upon waking, Qing Huai had immediately asked about the Tielin army’s situation.
Learning that Jin Feng had led the Macedonian phalanx to crush the Dangxiang cavalry, Qing Huai laughed heartily with joy, drinking two large bowls of plain porridge.
But at dawn, he received news that the Dening army’s negligence in guarding captives had led to the Tielin army being surrounded on Qingshui Mountain.
Qing Huai was so furious he fainted again, only waking up moments ago.
Without even tidying his hair, he put on his shoes and came to find Zhang Qiwei.
“Qing Huai, you’re still gravely injured. How can you move around like this? Come inside,” General Fan gestured for the deputy general and steward to help Qing Huai.
“Don’t touch me!” Qing Huai waved his sword and gritted his teeth, asking, “Where’s Zhang Qiwei?”
“Zhang Qiwei, fearing punishment, didn’t dare enter the city. He took his men back to Bianjing this morning,” General Fan said helplessly.
“Damn it!” Qing Huai, in a rage, slashed at the stone lion by the door.
Perhaps exerting too much force, he aggravated his wound, and a patch of blood seeped through his white clothes.
“Marquis, don’t get worked up,” his guard Liu Qiong quickly stepped forward to support him. “The Tielin army is surrounded on Qingshui Mountain. They’re counting on you to find a way to save them. If anything happens to you, what will the brothers do?”
“You’re right, the brothers are still there.”
In his fury, Qing Huai had been consumed with the desire to confront Zhang Qiwei.
Liu Qiong’s reminder made him realise that the Tielin army was only surrounded, not dead.
Couldn’t they send someone to rescue them?
With this thought, Qing Huai knelt on one knee before General Fan, “Commander, please send troops immediately to rescue the Tielin army!”
“Qing Huai, I want to save the Tielin army too, but you know how fearsome the Dangxiang cavalry are. Our best option now is to hold the city,” General Fan said with difficulty.
“That was before. Now Mr. Jin has created the phalanx and horse-trapping pits, both of which counter cavalry. Our Zhenxi army has tens of thousands of men. Why can’t we fight?” Qing Huai retorted. Seeing General Fan remain silent, he added, “If someone is willing to help the Tielin army, I’m willing to provide barbed wire!”
Just days after Jin Feng left, the porcelain kiln and iron smelter had been fully upgraded.
During this time, Zhang Mancang had led the engineering battalion to produce a good amount of iron wire. Most of the barbed wire woven from it was sent to the Tielin army, but the rest remained in the engineering battalion’s warehouse.
“Really?” General Fan and the deputy general asked in unison.
“Of course,” Qing Huai nodded without hesitation.
“Summon all the generals to my quarters for a meeting immediately!” General Fan ordered the messenger to notify the various noble-born generals.
Since the Tielin army’s great victory at Qingshui Valley, the noble generals had begun training their own armies to form phalanxes.
The Macedonian phalanx was simple in principle: shield-bearing soldiers led the way in front, while spearmen followed behind, thrusting long bamboo poles.
The noble generals’ training had yielded impressive results. Their soldiers moved in an orderly manner on the drill ground, appearing even more formidable than the Tielin army.
In their view, the Tielin army’s victories were mainly due to the phalanx and horse-trapping pits. If they took the field, they could do just as well.
Eager to prove themselves in battle and outshine the Tielin army and Qing Huai, the noble generals were thrilled when General Fan’s messenger arrived.
Wasn’t this the perfect opportunity?
Especially when they learned Qing Huai was willing to provide barbed wire, the nobles rushed to the commander’s residence, fearing they’d miss out on the glory if they arrived late.
Upon entering, they grabbed General Fan and Qing Huai, patting their chests and vowing to rescue the Tielin army.
Such fervent enthusiasm for battle was something General Fan had never seen in his military career.
But he was not pleased.
What should have been a solemn military meeting had been turned into a marketplace by these noble generals.
If the generals were like this, one could only imagine the state of their troops.
In the end, Qing Huai made the decision to send the Ansu and Yongan armies.
This was a choice based on careful consideration.
The Ansu army was led by Ding Yunfei, the second son of Ding Zhaoqian, the Vice Minister of War.
Ding Yunfei came from a military family, and the Ansu army included many battle-hardened veterans, making it relatively stronger than other noble-led armies.
The Yongan army’s leader, Cheng Peng, was in his forties, more composed, and had experience facing the Dangxiang head-on, unlike Zhang Qiwei, who fled at the first sign of trouble.
The other generals, not chosen, left the commander’s residence dejectedly.
Cheng Peng and Ding Yunfei stayed behind to discuss the battle plan with General Fan and Qing Huai.
“General Fan, Marquis Qing, rest assured, my Ansu army will not fail. We will crush the Dangxiang cavalry and rescue our Tielin brothers!” Ding Yunfei accepted the order, enthusiastically patting his chest.
Cheng Peng made no promises but simply nodded to Qing Huai.
“Then I entrust this to General Ding and General Cheng,” Qing Huai said, clasping his hands. “If you can save the Tielin army, I, Qing, will be deeply grateful.”
