To the First Emperor of Qin: The state has decreed this!

Chapter 457 My Lords, Follow Me Outside the Palace

Upon hearing this, many civil officials nodded slightly in agreement.

In their view, killing a thousand enemies while losing eight hundred of one's own is by no means the strategy of a great general.

However, no sooner had Zong Yu finished speaking than a cold snort came from the ranks of the military officers.

"Nonsense!"

Marquis Wang Ben of Tongwu strode out from the ranks, his tiger-like eyes wide open.

He pointed his official tablet directly at Zong Yu and angrily rebuked him, "Lord Zong, do you, a pedantic scholar who only knows how to talk about war on paper all day long, know anything about fighting?"

Wang Ben turned to Ying Zheng, clasped his hands in a fist and said loudly, "Your Majesty! Outside Gaoque Pass, Immortal Master Zhang Fan is facing the Xiongnu's most elite force of 60,000 iron cavalry!"

In open field battles on plains, it is extremely difficult for infantry to fight against cavalry.

Immortal Master Zhang Fan not only defended Gaoque, but also annihilated tens of thousands of enemy troops with only 50,000 soldiers. Looking across history, how many could achieve such a feat?

"In war, there are always casualties! The sacrifice of 30,000 soldiers is certainly heartbreaking, but they gave their lives to ensure peace on the northern border of Qin and to achieve a strategic victory that broke the backbone of the Xiongnu!"

Wang Ben's voice was firm and resolute: "Moreover, Meng Tian's army is currently deep in the heart of the grasslands, facing an imminent major battle. Changing generals on the eve of battle is a cardinal sin in military strategy!"

Wang Ben took a deep breath and concluded: "In my opinion, Immortal Master's previous breakthrough into the Royal Court was an unparalleled achievement! Although there were losses, this transgression cannot outweigh the great merit; the merit absolutely outweighs the transgression! I humbly request Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!"

"General Wang, you are mistaken. If the commander's strategy was sound, how could the casualties have been so heavy..." Zong Yu retorted immediately, not to be outdone.

"You're talking nonsense! If you were in my shoes, you wouldn't even last a day!" Wang Ben cursed angrily.

Zong Yu's face immediately turned red.

How could a mere civil official like myself lead troops into battle?

For a moment, the civil officials and military generals in the imperial court were arguing fiercely. The hall seemed to have exploded, with spittle flying and neither side willing to give in.

Ying Zheng sat high on the dragon throne, looking down at his ministers who were arguing endlessly.

He suppressed his earlier elation, sat upright with a blank expression, and did not immediately try to stop him, but simply listened quietly.

The two groups argued until their faces turned red and their voices gradually subsided.

Ying Zheng then slowly raised his hand and rolled up the blueprint.

"Are you done arguing?"

The voice wasn't loud, but it carried an imposing aura that instantly drowned out the clamor in the entire hall.

All the civil and military officials immediately fell silent, bowed their heads respectfully, and the hall returned to deathly silence.

Ying Zheng glanced at Eunuch Li beside him, handed him the blueprint, and casually instructed, "Let all my ministers circulate this document for a look."

"promise."

Eunuch Li carefully carried the blueprints down the jade steps and approached the officials.

The first to greet them were the civil officials, led by Li Si and Zong Yu.

They huddled together, staring wide-eyed at the blueprint that had just been delivered from the border.

"What...what is this drawing?" Zong Yu looked at the little figures and warhorses on the drawing, his face full of confusion.

Li Si stroked his beard, examined it for a moment, and said thoughtfully, "Looking at the direction of the lines and the brushstrokes, it is gentle yet disciplined, much like the painting style of the eldest son, Fusu!"

But... why would the eldest young master choose this time to draw such a strange-looking horseback riding picture?

"Yes, yes, it seems your painting skills have declined, young master. What is that protrusion on the horse's back in the painting? And why are there two semi-circular iron rings hanging on either side of the horse's belly?"

The civil officials whispered amongst themselves, completely oblivious to the hidden meaning behind the painting.

Their doubts reached a fever pitch:

How could such a crude painting make His Majesty, who usually keeps his emotions hidden, so happy?

Seeing that the civil officials couldn't figure it out even after looking at it for a long time, the military officers became anxious.

Wang Ben, relying on his burly build, shoved aside several civil officials blocking his way and strode to the blueprints.

Just one glance!

Wang Ben's pupils suddenly contracted, and he stood there frozen in place.

Wang Ben's judgment was incredibly sharp!

He didn't even glance at the painter; his gaze was fixed on the iron rings at the little man's feet and the towering saddle fixed to the horse's back.

"This...this horse is different from ordinary warhorses!"

Looking at the figure in the painting with its feet on iron rings and its body firmly on the horse's back, Wang Ben's breathing suddenly became rapid.

I felt a rush of heat to my head.

"This item is probably no ordinary thing!"

Wang Ben suddenly raised his head. "Your Majesty! I feel that this thing is extraordinary!"

If the components depicted in these blueprints could truly be equipped on warhorses, the cavalry of my Great Qin would undergo a radical transformation!

Wang Ben suddenly knelt on one knee and loudly pleaded, "Your Majesty, I humbly request that you immediately issue an edict ordering the royal blacksmiths to forge one of these items so that I may personally mount a horse and test it!"

Seeing Wang Ben's outburst, the other generals also gathered around.

After Wang Ben's reminder, how could these generals, who had been leading troops in battle for many years, not understand the mystery?

"I see! With those footrests, your legs have support, so you can walk on horseback as if it were flat ground!"

"And that high saddle, it traps the rider in the middle, so even if the horse charges at full speed, the rider won't fall backward!"

"My dear Qin people, if this can truly be accomplished, then our Qin soldiers will be able to free their hands to draw bows and shoot arrows from horseback!"

The civil officials then realized that, although they did not go to the battlefield, they also felt that this item was of great use.

Zong Yu opened his mouth, but the words he wanted to use to impeach Zhang Fan were stuck in his throat, and he couldn't utter another word.

Ying Zheng looked at the excited generals below, a slight smile playing on his lips, and waved his hand.

"Granted!"

"Minister of the Imperial Household, heed my decree! Immediately summon the finest royal blacksmiths from the palace, right here within the palace walls, and forge the object depicted in these blueprints for me! There must be no mistakes!"

"Yes, sir!" Zong Yu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and scrambled off to make the arrangements.

Inside the royal blacksmith's workshop, the furnace fire instantly reached its blazing height.

Dozens of the Qin Dynasty's top blacksmiths, shirtless, wielded their hammers, sparks flying everywhere.

Under the emperor's strict orders and urging, the blacksmiths worked themselves to the bone.

Less than an hour later.

A set of cast iron stirrups, along with four U-shaped horseshoes to protect the horses' hooves, were respectfully presented on a tray by the blacksmiths, who were covered in sweat.

"Your Majesty, it's complete!"

"good!"

Ying Zheng abruptly stood up, flicked his sleeves, and declared, "My ministers, follow me outside the palace!"

The civil and military officials of the Qin Dynasty followed Ying Zheng in a grand procession to the spacious white jade square outside the palace.

A black warhorse had been led to the center of the square.

With the help of several grooms, the tack was quickly installed on the warhorse.