xymnovel Chapter 20 The Wolf is Coming? No, it's the Tiger Coming in a High-Speed Carriage
Chapter 20 The Wolf is Coming? No, it's the Tiger Coming in a High-Speed Carriage
At the foot of Yinshan Mountain, the north wind howled, swirling up thousands of piles of snow.
This was the location of the Xiongnu royal court, and also the most troublesome ulcer in the north of the Qin Empire.
Inside the enormous, domed golden tent, a charcoal fire burned brightly. Several whole roasted lambs sizzled on the grill, releasing their fragrant aroma. Touman, the Great Chanyu of the Xiongnu, reclined on a soft couch covered with tiger skins, a gold-inlaid ox-horn cup in his hand, as he gulped down strong liquor he had acquired from the Western Regions.
"The Qin people... hiccup." Touman hiccuped, his full beard stained with alcohol and oil. "The Qin people are a bunch of groundhogs."
He slammed the horn cup heavily on the table, pointed to the faint outline of the Great Wall visible to the south outside the tent, and burst into laughter at the tribal chiefs inside.
"Look at Qin Shi Huang, he spent so much effort and so many people died just to build that wall. Did he think that by surrounding himself, we couldn't do anything to him?"
"Once winter comes and the Yellow River freezes over, our horses will be able to cross the ice! Then this wall will be a joke!"
A burst of laughter erupted from inside the tent. The Xiongnu people revered aggression and wildness. In their eyes, only cowards would hide behind walls.
"The Chanyu is wise!" The Left Wise King raised his butcher knife, his face full of flattery. "I heard that Ying Zheng has gone even crazier lately. Instead of planting crops in the fields, he's paving the ground with stones. He says he's built some kind of 'straight road' that runs from Xianyang all the way to Jiuyuan."
"Lay stones?" Touman paused for a moment, then laughed until tears almost streamed down his face. "Has he lost his mind? Those stones are so hard, wouldn't a horse slip on them? Besides, no matter how fast he works, can he be faster than a four-legged horse like us?"
"The Qin infantry need three days of rest after marching a hundred li. By the time those two-legged soldiers crawl from Xianyang to Jiuyuan, we'll have already looted all the women and food and are back on the grasslands celebrating our victory!"
Everyone burst into laughter again, the atmosphere was lively and wild.
Only one young man sitting in the corner did not laugh.
He was lean and wiry, with eyes as sharp as an eagle's, a high-bridged nose, and a sinister air that belied his age. He was intently whistling an arrow in his hand with a sharp knife.
He was Modu, the eldest son of Touman, and the future crown prince. But he knew that his father did not like him, because his father's new wife had given birth to a younger son, and the old man was thinking about how to depose the eldest son and establish the younger one in his place.
"Father," Maodun suddenly spoke, his voice cold as the wind outside the tent, "I feel something is wrong this time."
The laughter inside the tent abruptly ceased. Touman frowned unhappily, looking at his eldest son who made him uncomfortable.
"What's wrong? Are you scared?"
"It's not fear." Maodun lowered the whistle arrow, stood up, and said, "My scouts report that the 'stone road' is very strange. It's gray, as flat as water, and... the carts that run on it are different."
"How is it different? Can it fly?" the Left Wise King sneered.
"Very fast." Maodun ignored the sarcasm, his expression grave. "Extremely fast. The scouts say those wagons are like madmen, covering hundreds of miles a day. And the loads on them... are frighteningly large."
"Father, if the Qin reinforcements can really reach Jiuyuan within ten days, then our southward expedition to raid for supplies will be a suicide mission."
"Bullshit!" Touman roared, smashing his horn cup at Maodun. "Boosting the enemy's morale while diminishing our own! Ten days? From Xianyang to Jiuyuan is 1,800 li! Even birds would need three days to fly there! I know what kind of chariots the Qin people have; their wheels would fall apart halfway through!"
"I think you've been terrified of the Qin people! Since you're so afraid, then you'll be the vanguard this time!"
A murderous glint flashed in Touman's eyes. This was the perfect excuse to kill this troublesome son on the battlefield, or to execute him legitimately because of defeat.
"I'm giving you five thousand cavalrymen. Go to Jiuyuan County and test the waters. If you can't bring back cattle, sheep, and the heads of Qin people..." Touman sneered, "don't bother coming back."
Maodun dodged the flying wine cup and bowed expressionlessly.
"Your subject obeys."
Stepping out of the tent, Maodun looked at the gloomy southern sky and gripped the signal arrow tightly in his hand.
"You old bastard, you want me dead?"
"Then I'll show you who really dies."
……
Jiuyuan County, Qin army camp.
What should have been a somber and tense border camp, preparing for war, was now bustling like a large market.
The governor of Jiuyuan County and the garrison commander stood outside the gate, mouths agape, staring in disbelief at the incredible scene before them.
On the distant horizon, on the newly built gray Qin straight road, billowing dust (actually, there wasn't much dust, because it was a cement road) surged like a long dragon.
One after another, strangely shaped four-wheeled carriages with wheels covered in cowhide and steel plates underneath rushed into the camp like a flood of ferocious beasts.
"Where...where did these heavenly soldiers and generals come from?" the captain stammered.
"It looks... like General Meng Tian's banner?" The prefect rubbed his eyes. "But we just received news a few days ago that the army had broken camp. How come they've arrived today? This... this is too fast! Did they fly here?"
"parking--!"
At a command, the first carriage came to a steady stop.
The carriage door opened, and Meng Tian, dressed in military uniform, jumped out with great spirit. Unlike usual, he didn't look weathered and exhausted; instead, he was radiant, and even his battle robe was relatively free of dust.
"Lieutenant Li, stop standing there in a daze!" Meng Tian strode forward and patted the still-stunned captain on the shoulder. "Quickly, empty the storerooms! No, the storerooms aren't enough, clear out the drill ground too!"
"General...General?" Lieutenant Li finally came to his senses and saluted. "You...how did you arrive so soon? I thought it would take at least another half month..."
"Half a month?" Meng Tian pointed to the endless stream of carriages behind him and laughed heartily, "That's the old almanac! With the sacred road built by His Majesty and these divine carriages made by the Imperial Household Department, that 1,800 li journey is like taking a stroll in our own backyard!"
"Stop talking nonsense! Unload the cargo!"
When Lieutenant Li looked back, he was so frightened that he almost knelt down.
What was being unloaded from those wagons were not sacks of grain, but mountains of grain!
The white Qin Chuan rice, and even cured meat and salted fish transported from Guandong, as well as... jars of Qin wine with intact seals?
"This...this food standard..." Lieutenant Li swallowed hard. "Are we here to fight a war, or to celebrate the New Year?"
"His Majesty said," Meng Tian recalled Ying Zheng's words before his departure, a hint of awe flashing in his eyes, "War is about money, about logistics. We must ensure our soldiers are well-fed and well-drinked while we slaughter the Xiongnu."
"Also, there's this."
Meng Tian waved his hand.
Several carriages covered with black cloth were pushed forward. The black cloth was lifted, revealing gleaming weapons inside.
It was neither a bronze sword nor an old-fashioned halberd.
There were bundles of brand-new "ring-pommel swords" forged using the new steelmaking method, and mountains of triangular crossbow bolts.
"This is something the Imperial Household Department has been working day and night to make." Meng Tian drew a ring-pommel sword and casually chopped it down at a wooden stake next to him.
"Snap!"
The wooden stake, as thick as a bowl, snapped instantly, leaving a smooth, mirror-like cut.
Lieutenant Li's eyes widened.
"What a fine knife! It's much sharper than the bronze swords we have! And it's not brittle!"
"With this, the Xiongnu's leather armor is nothing but paper!"
Just as the entire battalion was immersed in the joy of the "rich battle", a discordant voice came from the grain pile.
"Gently! Gently place it!"
Han Xin, holding an account book, was roaring at several soldiers who were carrying grain.
"This truck carries special rations (canned meat), don't tip it over! And those over there, those are arrows, don't mix them with the hay! You'll be responsible if they get damp!"
Although Han Xin was only a minor "military advisor and logistics manager" at this time, he had a stronger presence than Meng Tian.
There was nothing Meng Tian could do; after half a month on the road, he had finally come to admire this young man.
This isn't a human being; it's practically a magical abacus.
Han Xin knew exactly how many miles they would travel each day, how many times the horses would rest, the wear and tear on the wheels, and even when the soldiers needed to relieve themselves. It was precisely because of his almost obsessive precision in scheduling that this massive convoy was able to travel at high speeds without becoming chaotic, scattered, or stuck in traffic.
"Officer Han." Meng Tian walked over and handed him a pot of water. "You must be tired from the journey. You should rest now that we've arrived."
"A break?" Han Xin took a sip of water, his eyes fixed on the distant Yinshan Mountains, and sneered, "General, the show has only just begun."
"According to my calculations, the vanguard of the Xiongnu will reach the 'Black Wind Pass' north of Jiuyuan County in about three hours."
Meng Tian was surprised: "So fast? How did you know?"
"I've figured it out." Han Xin pointed to his head. "The speed of the Xiongnu's horses, the current wind direction, the distribution of grasslands... if they want to move south, Heifeng Pass is the only way. Moreover, they definitely think we're still on the road, so their defenses are at their weakest."
"General," Han Xin's eyes flashed with a bloodthirsty light, "this 200,000 shi of grain isn't for nothing. We need to prepare a 'gift' for the Xiongnu."
"No need for many, just three thousand crossbowmen, along with these 'wagons' filled with sand, and set up a formation at Blackwind Pass."
"I want them to know what 'dimensional reduction attack' really means."
……
Xianyang Palace, Qilin Hall.
Ying Zheng did not relax despite the success at the front. On the contrary, he was looking at a huge world map and worrying about it.
The map was projected by Little G. Although most areas are still shrouded in fog, the outline of the Asian tectonic plate is already clearly visible.
"Little G." Ying Zheng traced his finger across the northern grasslands. "I have a premonition. This time, after repelling Touman, the Xiongnu will not be destroyed."
"The grasslands are too vast, and they are constantly shifting. Although my straight road is fast, it can only reach Jiuyuan. Once we leave the Great Wall and enter the vast grasslands, our vehicles will be useless."
Yes, Your Majesty.
This is the inherent disadvantage of agrarian civilizations over nomadic civilizations: mobility.
On the grasslands, warhorses are tanks, are fighter jets. But the Qin army, in essence, was still an infantry regiment.
Even with Meng Tian and Han Xin, they could only defeat them, not annihilate them.
Ying Zheng frowned.
"If we can't annihilate them... then did I build these roads and these vehicles just to be a coward, merely driving them away?"
"No. What I want is to eliminate future troubles."
"I need an army that can keep the Xiongnu coming after them. A cavalry that is faster and more ruthless than them."
Ying Zheng looked at the location of the Dayuan Kingdom on the map.
"Horses. I lack good horses. Although the Xiongnu horses have good stamina, they lack explosive power. I've heard that there are Akhal-Teke horses in the Western Regions..."
Your Majesty, horses alone are not enough.
What you lack is 'riding skills'.
The Xiongnu were born on horseback and were unparalleled in archery and horsemanship. While Qin soldiers could also ride, they couldn't let go of the reins while mounted, meaning they would have to dismount and fight on foot in a fight. How could they possibly pursue them?
Ying Zheng remained silent. This was a fatal flaw.
"Then there's no other way?"
The screen flickered, as if hesitating whether to give away a spoiler.
There's a small invention that could change all of this.
It is known as the "fifth great invention of ancient China, after the Four Great Inventions."
Its emergence directly eliminated the training barriers for the knightly class, allowing a farmer to, after three months of training, be able to fight head-on with nomadic tribes who had ridden horses since childhood.
Ying Zheng suddenly looked up: "What is it? Don't keep me in suspense!"
A simple iron ring appeared on the screen, hanging on both sides of the saddle.
Stirrup.
To be precise, it's a double-sided metal stirrup.
With it, the knight's feet have a foothold. Man and horse become one. Hands are freed to shoot arrows, wield swords, or even stand up on horseback to deliver a powerful strike.
[In conjunction with the "Takahashi Saddle" (to prevent it from falling off during a charge), this was the cornerstone of heavy cavalry.]
Ying Zheng stared at the seemingly inconspicuous iron ring, his breathing becoming rapid.
Avenue to Jane.
The cavalry problem that had plagued the Central Plains for hundreds of years could actually be solved with just two iron rings?
"Zhao Gao!"
Ying Zheng's voice pierced through the hall.
……
Thirty li north of Jiuyuan County lies Heifeng Pass.
This is a long, narrow valley with jagged rocks on both sides, and the cold wind is like a knife.
Maodun led five thousand vanguard cavalry, moving like ghosts through the valley. He was cautious, sending out three groups of scouts to confirm there were no ambushes ahead.
"Your Highness, the beacon tower of Jiuyuan County is just ahead," a cavalry captain whispered. "It looks quiet; the Qin people probably haven't realized what's happening yet."
Maodun squinted, looking at the distant beacon tower. There was indeed no smoke signal.
But his unease grew stronger.
That unease came from the ground beneath my feet.
The ground... seems to be shaking?
"Stop!" Maodun suddenly pulled on the reins.
"What's wrong, Your Highness?"
"Something's not right." Maodun lay on his horse's back, his ear close to the mane. "It's not the sound of cavalry... This sound is too heavy. It sounds like... thunder?"
Before he could figure it out, a carriage suddenly appeared from the mountain pass ahead.
That was no ordinary tank.
It was a four-wheeled vehicle that had been modified into a "mobile fortress." The cargo box was raised and thickened, covered with sheet metal, and even had firing ports.
One, two, three...
Hundreds of these large vehicles rushed out of the mountain pass and then... lined up end to end, forming a huge circular formation.
"A chariot formation? No, a chariot city?" Maodun was stunned.
The Qin people used chariots before, but those were for charging into battle. Who has ever seen chariots used to block roads?
"Fire the arrows—!"
A cold shout came from behind the line of cars.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
That was the distinctive, teeth-grinding sound of the bowstring of the Qin Dynasty's powerful crossbows.
Not a few hundred, but several thousand!
A deluge of crossbow bolts, like a black rainstorm, rose from behind the wagon formation, tracing a deadly parabola in the air before crashing down on the Xiongnu cavalry.
"Defend! Raise your shields!" Maodun roared.
But it didn't work.
These crossbow bolts are newly made three-edged armor-piercing bolts by the Imperial Household Department, specifically designed to penetrate leather armor.
"Pfft pfft pfft!"
The sounds of sharp blades piercing flesh rang out rapidly. A swarm of Xiongnu cavalrymen fell instantly. Screams and the neighing of horses echoed through the valley.
"Retreat! Retreat quickly!" Maodun reacted swiftly; he knew he had run into a brick wall. This wasn't a case of weak defenses; it was a trap that had been waiting for him to fall into!
But just as he turned his horse around to escape, countless black banners suddenly appeared on the hillsides on both sides.
"Great Qin! Wind! Great wind!"
Amidst a thunderous roar of battle cries, countless Qin infantrymen rose from behind the rubble. In their hands, instead of long spears, they wielded new, gleaming swords.
Han Xin stood on high ground, holding a command flag, coldly watching the massacre below.
"Trying to run away?"
"According to my calculations, your horses have only reached 60% of their strength after their long march. My ambush troops, on the other hand, are well-rested and ready to strike."
"seal!"
With a wave of the command flag.
A Qin army unit that had been lying in ambush in the rear pushed several large carts loaded with stones, completely blocking Modu's retreat.
To trap a dog by closing the door.
Maodun looked at the densely packed Qin army all around him, a hint of despair flashing in his eyes.
But he was, after all, a powerful and ruthless figure.
"Brothers!" Maodun drew his scimitar, a wolf-like glint in his eyes. "The Qin people are all infantry! As long as we break through that chariot formation, we'll have a chance to survive!"
"Charge with me! Smash their turtle shells!"
Five thousand cavalrymen, like cornered beasts, launched a desperate charge.
However, when they rushed closer, they discovered that the seemingly cumbersome carriages were actually chained together. The warhorses rammed into them, but the carriages only wobbled; they couldn't break free.
Meanwhile, the Qin army spearmen hiding behind the chariot mercilessly thrust their spears through the gaps.
This was a one-sided massacre.
It was also a case of industrialized logistics overwhelming nomadic raiding.
Maodun's personal guards fell one by one. He himself was struck by two arrows, and his blood stained his fur robe.
"When did the Qin people... become so hard so quickly?"
Maodun gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with resentment.
Just when he thought he was going to die there, an unexpected turn of events occurred.
A sudden commotion broke out at one corner of that seemingly impregnable formation of vehicles.
A wheel of a large vehicle (which was an early product and of varying quality) suddenly broke, causing the vehicle to tilt and reveal a gap.
"Heaven hasn't forsaken me!"
Maodun was overjoyed. Ignoring his men behind him, he cracked his whip and leaped out of the gap on his Akhal-Teke horse!
"Stop him!" Han Xin, who had a clear view from his vantage point, angrily threw down his command flag. "That Zhao Gao who invented the wheel! I'm going to impeach him!"
But Modu's horse was too fast. Several Qin infantrymen tried to stop him, but Modu swung his sword and cut them down.
He broke through the encirclement and ran northwards without looking back.
Han Xin watched the fleeing figure and sighed.
"Never mind. One escaped; I can go back and report."
"Let that Touman Chanyu know... that the Great Qin is no longer the Great Qin of the past."
……
The battle ended quickly.
Of the five thousand Xiongnu vanguard, only Modu and a few dozen guards escaped; the rest were either annihilated or captured.
As Meng Tian walked across the battlefield, looking at the Xiongnu men and horses lying in pools of blood, he was deeply shocked.
In the past, when the Qin army fought against the Xiongnu, they killed a thousand enemies but lost eight hundred of their own.
But today...
"How many casualties?" Meng Tian asked.
"Reporting to the General," the quartermaster said, his hands trembling as he held the roster, "Twelve dead. Three hundred wounded (mostly from falling on their feet while carrying stones or being run over by wheels)."
Meng Tian took a deep breath and looked in the direction of Xianyang.
"Your Majesty...you've sent me a heavenly army!"
Meanwhile, Modu, who had escaped, was lying on his horse, fleeing towards the royal court in a disheveled state.
The cold wind blew across his bleeding wounds, but instead of weakening him, it fueled the hatred and ambition in his eyes.
"Qin people...stone roads...iron chariots..."
"Father, you're old. You don't understand these things."
"Only I... only I, Modu, can lead the Xiongnu to survive."
"I want to learn their techniques. I want to rob their craftsmen."
"One day, I will ride a horse faster than them and trample that road!"
Although the smoke of war in the north has been temporarily suppressed, a more dangerous seed has already sprouted in Modu's heart.
Meanwhile, far away in Xianyang, Ying Zheng held the first set of "stirrups" that Zhao Gao had made overnight, a hint of anticipation on his lips.
"They ran away?"
"Good riddance. Wolf cubs are more fun to play with when they grow up."
"The day my 'heavy cavalry' is fully trained will be the day you, wolf king... become my watchdog."