Chapter 145

Chapter 145

Can strategists not ascend the throne? Volume Five, Two Parts Han, Battle Settled in Hexi, Chapter 145: Only the Eastern Wind is Needed.

The cavalry’s three treasures: saddle, stirrup, and horseshoe.

Bingzhou boasts a naturally favorable environment for training cavalry. With enough military provisions, skilled generals, and the right battle strategies, equipping these three essentials will undoubtedly yield overwhelming advantages.

Improving the stirrup further ensures no tripping occurs while mounting or dismounting—something not hard to achieve for Bingzhou.

From the governor to the officers, cavalry combat is essential, especially for the relatively younger Qiao Yan, who can elevate the standard saddle to a higher bridge saddle without encountering any trouble—this is not a technical issue at all.

But the horseshoe? That’s a headache for her.

It’s not just a matter of hammering a curved piece onto the horse’s hoof.

Historically in Europe, horseshoes came loose, causing commanders to fall off their horses—only for their subordinates to mistakenly believe they were shot and subsequently rout in chaos.

Although the horseshoe is nailed onto the horse’s keratin layer without pain, Qiao Yan had no clue how the tools required—like the nail clippers and hoof knives—should be fashioned. She could only vaguely describe some mechanisms; better to have specialists handle this.

While Bingzhou had plenty of warhorses, the personnel responsible for their care were woefully few, giving off a rather makeshift vibe, leading Qiao Yan to ponder letting her subordinates switch careers.

Mi Zhu’s gift was truly heartfelt!

The Donghai Mi Clan’s vast wealth is undoubtedly tied to their high emotional intelligence and keen insight.

Qiao Yan rose and said, “Take me to meet these people. It shows Zi Zhong’s thoughtfulness.”

Mi Zhu, naturally, was more than happy about it.

Qiao Yan even took a warhorse from the governor’s stable to have Mi Zhu’s team of Ding Ling trim it.

While they used tools to remove the excess “nails” that had grown from the warhorse’s long runs, Mi Zhu heard Qiao Yan casually ask, “In Liangzhou, rocky paths give rise to fragments; I’ve heard in Jiuquan, Dunhuang, and Zhangye, there are practices of wrapping camel feet in animal hides to ensure safe travel. Couldn’t we try nailing wooden or metal pieces to the horse’s hooves for the same purpose?”

The Ding Ling person trimming the hoof paused and looked at Qiao Yan. Despite Mi Zhu’s claim that they had intermarried with the Han for generations, this man’s features still retained hints of his Hu ancestry.

Yet his Mandarin was quite standard as he replied, “Under the horseshoe? Is this what you mean?”

He pulled out a piece of cowhide from his satchel, bearing the pattern of a wooden shoe.

A wooden shoe is made to resemble a hoof and drilled with four holes, matching those on the hoof to secure them with wooden wedges or ropes.

According to the diagram, the wooden shoe materials were similar to those used for wagon wheels. Given the higher cost of iron, this was relatively the best solution.

This concept hadn’t surfaced in the Central Plains likely because horse riding there wasn’t as harsh as on the border, making such complicated measures only minimally beneficial.

But Qiao Yan wanted efficient cavalry operations, and with her current control over the salt and iron monopoly in Bingzhou, she indeed had the capital to produce a sufficient number of horseshoes.

Her gaze fell to the end of the diagram, and she asked, “Would you be able to do this in iron?”

The man retained a Liangzhou person’s cheerful demeanor, answering, “If the governor needs it, I can give it a try!”

“Great!” Qiao Yan clapped her hands and immediately had him taken to the workshop where agricultural tools were forged, pairing him with the blacksmith to try to make the horseshoes as quickly as possible.

But she didn’t play favorites.

The other two groups Mi Zhu brought were equally important.

One batch for making chain mail was sent to the leaders stationed in various commanderies for tailored fittings.

Meanwhile, the person who was even creative enough to think of applying sail techniques to deer carts was channeled straight to Ma Jun.

Their only goal: to refine the mountain carts to the best operational standard for transporting in combat before winter.

After setting up these arrangements, Qiao Yan beckoned Mi Zhu to join her.

After taking a couple of steps, her tone softened from the earlier decisive planning and turned more conversational, “I understand your intentions behind the thoughtful gift, Zi Zhong, but don’t you worry that should the Donghai Mi Clan face any trouble, I, being in Bingzhou, might be unable to help?”

“A merchant must be accustomed to losses,” Mi Zhu replied calmly, “As long as there’s over a 60% chance of success in a deal, one can invest a bit more. What I see here with Lord Qiao isn’t just 60%, so I can afford to put in extra effort.”

Qiao Yan smiled, “Since you’ve offered the peach, how could I not return the favor with a plum?”

When Mi Zhu returned to Xuzhou, the group had a few extra members.

In the current bureaucratic and personnel structure of Bingzhou, one person stood somewhat apart.

To employ him would mean tying the position to one of the eight school lieutenants under Emperor Ling of Han—at least stepping into a role above a lieutenant; otherwise, it would be unfair to Qiao Yan, who adhered to Emperor Ling’s last wishes.

But oddly enough, in Qiao Yan’s current military plan, this person had no role.

So rather than let him hang awkwardly during this western expedition to Liangzhou, it was better to utilize him as an external bodyguard for the Donghai Mi Clan, should they need to escape.

This was none other than Bao Hong.

Backup from He Jin citing corruption in military provisions had once nearly taken him down, and Qiao Yan had inquired about this; according to Bao Hong’s account, he had taken a bit, but it was well within the bounds of unwritten rules among the current leaders—not as severe as He Jin claimed. After being warned by Liu Hong, he was too scared to make this mistake again.

However, given Qiao Yan’s caution towards the Liangzhou campaign, this made him even less suitable as a lieutenant for the expedition.

Instead, sent to the Donghai Mi Clan, as a lurking protector leading a team, he could still enjoy great merchant hospitality, which was a decent gig.

Bao Hong knew well that as one of Emperor Ling’s remnants, his safety lay in backing the current situation, hence this deployment wasn’t a chance for him to choose another master.

“He might still serve a purpose,” Qiao Yan remarked to Xi Zhicai as she watched Bao Hong escort Mi Zhu away.

“Are you thinking of using this slightly greedy person to spy on someone in Xuzhou?” Xi Zhicai queried in return.

“More accurately, I want to see if a person like him, after witnessing Bingzhou’s landscape, could still be swayed by Ze Rong’s stick of the Buddha’s land,” Qiao Yan stated. “This isn’t merely an issue of Xuzhou.”

Just as Mi Zhu had detected, Ze Rong rose in Xia Pi, deeply trusted by the governor of Xuzhou, Tao Qian, yet undoubtedly remained a significant instability factor in Xuzhou.

He amassed followers through preaching, acting far more unscrupulously than Zhang Jiao, yet in such extreme Buddhist propaganda, he could still rally five to six thousand staunch believers.

Even as he consistently betrayed and attacked those he allied with, these followers’ loyalty towards him remained unchanged, a religious frenzy more alarming than Zhang Jiao’s healing and preaching during the plague crisis.

Unfortunately, such circumstances were not rare in the late Eastern Han.

Even if she previously used clever argumentation to dismantle Zhang Jiao’s legends, that was primarily due to Zhang Jiao’s genuine intent to save others; Ze Rong lacked this, leading his proclaimed divine kingdom to go uncontested in his sphere—unless someone like Liu Yao came along to conquer it by force.

But that was only a stopgap measure.

The common folk and Buddhist followers he led had already seen their lives collapse under societal decay and viewed Buddhism as a form of emotional sustenance.

Ultimately, the move against Ze Rong wasn’t about realizing this religious belief was unreliable; it was more about preserving their own lives.

His massive promotion of Buddhist temples in regions like Xuzhou and Yang Province created ripples that stretched across the Northern and Southern Dynasties, inevitably sending shivers down people’s spines.

While Qiao Yan’s short-term plan focused on attacking Liangzhou, she couldn’t afford to narrow her vision to just Bingzhou and Liangzhou boundaries.

“Fortunately, Mi Zhu harbors ill feelings towards Ze Rong. If Bao Hong misbehaves, he can remedy it promptly. Naturally, I hope it doesn’t come to that,” Qiao Yan added.

Temporarily pulling back from concerns about the situation in Xuzhou, she shifted her attention to internal construction in Bingzhou.

After the autumn harvest, Bingzhou was clearly spreading the joy of the local residents’ harvest and the intense sense of belonging to those newly relocated here, creating a vibrant atmosphere.

Starting in autumn, life transitioned from primarily agriculture to open-pit coal mining, moving towards a production line lifestyle, drawing the new residents into this shift.

This year, several new production categories emerged, especially for items used in the campaign.

Budugen also completed this year’s resource exchange with Bingzhou, taking back the winter supplies Qiao Yan had reserved for him.

However, after he departed, the first batch of organized…

The Xianbei people working at the open-air coal mine in Yanmen County were now under the watchful eye of Zhang Liao.

Who knows if Zhang Niujiao would find common ground with these Xianbei folks? After all, on their first day arriving, regardless of other thoughts, one idea united them—

Is this really the food in Bingzhou?

If digging coal meant they could eat this, they might as well acknowledge the Bingzhou Prefect as their Chanyu!

If Budugen found out that his entrusted subordinates not only failed to properly survey Yanmen County but also swiftly switched allegiances, he might just lose his cool on the way back to the Xianbei royal court.

But Qiao Yan clearly wouldn’t be concerned with his thoughts.

While sending letters to Zhang Liao and Zhang Yang instructing them to demonstrate the Yanmen garrison’s might if necessary, she also decided to check her “Clever Strategies” again mid-September—a nice distraction amidst her busy schedule.

You have received leader intelligence – Han Sui

Rumor has it, while Han Sui is a bit of a bookish fellow, he can hold his own in fights, just not in arguments. He once got schooled to tears by the historian Gai Xun of Hanyang County. It’s said he fell out with North Palace’s Bo Yu because he couldn’t win a quarrel—only they know the specifics.

Qiao Yan: “……”

This piece of gossip fit the definition of hearsay even better than Yuan Shu’s remarks about Xu You and He Yong.

However, one of those mentioned had some say in the battles in Liangzhou.

Gai Xun of Hanyang County.

Gai Xun—

At this moment, he was no longer the historian of Hanyang County.

In Liangzhou’s ten counties, including Beidi, Anding, Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiuquan, Dunhuang, Jincheng, Longxi, Hanyang, and Wudu.

During the Zhongping years, Gai Xun first served as the Prefect of Hanyang County, then Wudu County, and he was currently in the latter position.

But what kind of place is Wudu County?

Once Ma Teng and Han Sui from Jincheng and Longxi decide to attack the Three Auxiliaries, Wudu County would be the first to fall.

So Gai Xun had to escape with the help of subordinates to other parts of Liangzhou, intending to reclaim Wudu, just as Dong Zhuo was trying to woo Ma Teng and Han Sui and had preemptively stripped Gai Xun of the Wudu County Prefect title.

This imperial edict, issued in the name of Emperor Liu Xie, undoubtedly robbed Gai Xun of the chance to return to Wudu.

He couldn’t help but complain to the Hanyang County Governor that if that’s all the emperor could order, he might as well recognize the eastern court; who cared about distances?

Just after grumbling, he received a letter from Qiao Yan via Huangfu Song, expressing her desire for him to come to Bingzhou to discuss attacking Ma Teng and Han Sui.

If anyone truly understood the rebel forces in Liangzhou, it wasn’t the strategist Jia Xu from Liangzhou, nor even Huangfu Song, who frequently battled them; it was Gai Xun, who had once been an official in Liangzhou and sent Han Sui packing.

Had it not been for Qiao Yan being seen as the key to a breakthrough in the last years of Emperor Ling’s reign, this upright Liangzhou gentleman would have likely been summoned to the capital to become the Magistrate of Jingzhao, leaving behind tales of never accepting gifts from Dong Zhuo after his death.

But now he could still be useful, filling the final gaps in preparations against Xiliang in Bingzhou!

So after being hinted at Gai Xun’s existence through this “gossip,” Qiao Yan immediately extended an invitation.

“Qiao… Bingzhou?” Gai Xun clutched the invitation in his hand.

He hadn’t shared the news of hiding in Hanyang from Ma Teng and Han Sui with many; Huangfu Song was among the few.

The fact that Huangfu Song chose to deliver this letter meant he deemed Qiao Yan a trustworthy person.

In Huangfu Song’s eyes, her plan to attack Liangzhou might just be worth a shot.

Gai Xun was no pushover eager to endure insults, and he was hell-bent on reclaiming Wudu County; how could he miss this chance to attack?

“Are you planning to go?” asked the Hanyang County Prefect beside him.

This Hanyang Prefect hailed from the Zhang clan of Jiuquan, closely related to Zhang Huan. After the previous Hanyang Prefect Fu Xie died for the country, he was appointed by Emperor Ling.

But at this moment, the coalition forces of Ma Teng and Han Sui were massive, even though they had been momentarily repelled by the alliances of Dong Zhuo and Huangfu Song; they were still pushing the front closer to Hanyang.

Having witnessed Fu Xie’s fate, this Hanyang Prefect didn’t just jump into the role; he relied on the four prominent families in the area to relay orders, making it possible for him to accept Gai Xun.

“Why not go?” Gai Xun slammed the table, “That Bingzhou Prefect isn’t afraid of me being a threat to my superiors, asks me to go, so why shouldn’t I guide him?”

“Cough…” The Hanyang Prefect almost knocked over his teacup at that, “Let’s not talk about threatening our superiors.”

Gai Xun wasn’t wrong; although he had only been in politics for a short time, he had driven away five Liangzhou governors. In a way, he actually fit the bill of “threat to superiors” better than Lü Bu!

But everyone in Liangzhou knew the constant turnover of governors wasn’t entirely on Gai Xun.

His first Liangzhou prefect, Liang Hu, was a neighbor of Qiao Xuan, and while he was a decent calligrapher, he was a bit of a chicken when it came to actually governing Liangzhou, so he got shuffled back by Liu Hong.

The second Liangzhou governor, Zuo Chang, who took office in the seventh year of Guanghe, was discovered pocketing military funds during conscription. Because Zuo Chang’s reinforcements were late, contributors like Han Sui were coerced by North Palace’s Bo Yu to rebel, leading to his quick dismissal.

Then came the third prefect, Song Xiao, who had an equally “brilliant” idea: since Liangzhou was always in turmoil, the problem must be that the citizens weren’t educated enough. He suggested that every household should copy the “Classic of Filial Piety.” You can guess how that turned out; even Liu Hong knew it was nonsense.

By the time the fourth Liangzhou prefect, Yang Yong, faced famine, it didn’t take long for him to be dismissed either.

As for the fifth one, Geng Bi, he recklessly suppressed a rebellion and ended up losing his life while dragging Fu Xie down with him.

Seeing the qualities of these five, it was clear Gai Xun couldn’t shoulder the blame.

However, in an era obsessed with prophetic verses, Gai Xun could definitely use this to mock himself.

“Alright, enough about that; lend me a couple of guys so I can even make it to Bingzhou,” Gai Xun shifted the topic.

Before the Hanyang Prefect could reply, Gai Xun turned to a young man standing aside, “Zhong Yi, are you willing to accompany me?”

“I’m a junior from the four families of Hanyang. What am I even doing accompanying you to Bingzhou?”

The boy, Jiang Jiao, quickly retorted, “I’m willing to follow you, Prefect Gai!”

Gai Xun had been active in Liangzhou for years, and before becoming the Wudu Prefect, he had been the Hanyang Prefect, fostering good ties with the Jiang family of the four Hanyang families.

In those famine years, he had exhausted his savings to feed the county folks, earning their gratitude while still serving as Hanyang’s Prefect.

Young as he was, Jiang Jiao was naturally impressed by Gai Xun’s deeds and momentarily forgot about his new boss.

Gai Xun didn’t hold back either, laughing heartily, “Good lad, good guts! Let’s go meet that Bingzhou Prefect!”

Let’s see if she’s truly as prepared as she claimed in her letter—all she needs now is a wind from the east to blow her into Liangzhou.

By the time Gai Xun received the letter, it was already late October.

In November of the first year of Guangxi, the craftsmen sent to Bingzhou by Mi Zhu finally managed to produce a whole set of horseshoes and their attached tools, which rapidly went into large-scale production under Qiao Yan’s orders.

At this time, the benefit of a fruitful harvest in Bingzhou was showing; people in the state, seeing the announcement for manpower to mine coal and iron, eagerly signed up, knowing they’d get paid.

The Xianbei being sent to work by Budugen had to put in extra effort to keep up with the enthusiastic folks in Bingzhou.

Thus, instead of the usual scene of Xianbei raiding in winter, there was now the curious sight of two groups working side by side, competing with each other.

Though, not many people got to witness this spectacle.

Qiao Yan, draped in a cloak, overlooked the bustling scene from the heights of the open pit in Yanmen County, speaking to the Yanmen Prefect Guo Yun, “Let’s have them stop working in half a month; it’s going to get too cold for this soon.”

Guo Yun asked, “What about those Xianbei people?”

We can’t just let them lounge around for an entire winter, can we?

That would make Bingzhou sound like a charity case!

We can’t afford such a loss!

Qiao Yan answered calmly, “They won’t be idle; I’ll send them to Wuyuan, to Yuan Zhi’s side.”

Of course, she wouldn’t let them just enjoy Bingzhou’s rations for free. Winter would see them working, too.

But sadly, these folks were all thumbs, unsuitable for factory work.

However, there was a place where they might fit in.

Now that the division of powers had become apparent, she had already had a falling out with the Yuan clan in Runan once, and according to the “stabilize internal issues before dealing with external ones” principle—

The General of Duhliao, Han Fu, could now be removed from Bingzhou, couldn’t he?

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