Chapter Twenty-Two: Taking a Concubine
Jinmen, located more than 200 li east of the capital of the Great Xia Empire, is the eastern gateway to the capital. Hangu Port, which is under the jurisdiction of Jinmen, is located by the sea. Qin Mo's fleet planned to enter the Gu River (the Gu River was renamed Hai River in the Ming Dynasty) from Hangu and go upstream to Tongxian.
It was autumn, and the river was quite deep, allowing large ships to pass unimpeded. Qin Mo's fleet consisted of over twenty large ships, attracting countless gazes from both banks as they sailed on the river. A yellow banner with a qilin (a mythical creature) raised by the galleon indicated that it belonged to a royal prince, and other ships on the river quickly moved ashore to let it pass first.
Three days later, Qin Mo arrived at Tongxian Wharf. He was informed by a fast horse that the veteran general Wu Shengze, who had arrived earlier, was to prepare for the arrangements made by the Japanese.
Rows of short, stocky Japanese soldiers disembarked from the large ship, then fell to the ground in rows, making the onlookers double with laughter. After nearly a month of continuous life on the ship, they had become accustomed to the rocking motion, and suddenly stepping onto solid ground caught them off guard. Their bodies couldn't coordinate properly, so falling down was perfectly normal.
Looking at the sea of people around her, Kaihime felt a strange fear. She had seen many grand scenes and had been on the battlefield many times, but she had never seen so many people crammed onto a narrow dock. Just how big was the Great Xia Empire? How many people did it have?
Qin Mo glanced at the Japanese female warrior closely following her, smiled, and didn't stop her. Even the toughest women, in an unfamiliar environment, will instinctively seek out a strong arm to lean on.
Wu Shengze was the most senior general in this northward expedition. Lin Bo needed to stay in a high-ranking official's residence, so he had no choice but to let Wu Shengze, who had also fought his way up on the battlefield, assist Qin Mo in leading the army. Qin Mo had no experience in leading troops and was completely ignorant of the ins and outs of the Great Xia army. Without the help of a veteran general, who knows how many embarrassing mistakes he would have made.
“Young Master, I have arranged all the tents and equipment for the march. The three thousand Japanese who arrived earlier have already set up camp in the capital, Fengtai. We will follow them and will not miss the court’s deadline.”
"Has my Tongzhou outpost been completed yet?"
"Young Master, I have rented several courtyards at this dock, and I have also bought a river bend about five miles away. Once the cement arrives, I will gradually build a dock for my own use. It will be very convenient."
Qin Mo nodded approvingly. Wu Shengze's decades of experience leading troops hadn't been for nothing; he was experienced in dealing with people and affairs and was a true military talent.
"How are the horses ready?"
Qin Mo's biggest dilemma right now is the horses. Too few horses will limit mobility, while too many will be a huge problem just to feed them. Warhorses aren't donkeys that can just eat grass; without concentrated feed, they won't get fat. And you think you can do long-distance mobile warfare without fat? Haha... that's a common-sense mistake. A horse without fat is like a car without gas; it won't be able to run far before it gets exhausted and dies.
"This... is probably a bit troublesome. The horse traders gathered in the capital this time have all been recruited by several powerful families. The price of the horses is ridiculously high. It seems that they are targeting several noble families who have been recruited, and we are one of them."
"Which families are they?" Qin Mo had considered this. His princely title had not been promoted as usual, so someone must have been interfering. He just didn't know who it was. Now it seemed that the truth would soon come out.
"The Wang family, the Li family, and the Wang family of Chenliu control the warhorse business, while the Marquis of Kaiyang, the Duke of Liang, the Prince of Hejian, and we are being targeted and can hardly buy enough horses. We can only rely on some old connections to reserve some horses, and then hand them over to the grasslands after we go north." Wu Shengze's mood dropped. This was the first time he had worked for Qin Mo, but he was being obstructed and there was nothing he could do about it. He was very frustrated.
"Uncle Wu, there's no need to blame yourself. Since it wasn't targeted at our family, we can figure out a solution once we get to the capital. How many warhorses do we have now?"
"Including the warhorses purchased in Jiangnan, there are more than two thousand in total. Draft horses were easy to buy; I bought seven or eight hundred." Wu Shengze spoke somewhat guiltily. Qin Mo had asked him to buy five thousand warhorses. He had the money, but he couldn't buy them. These things had turned his hair gray.
"Then we'll have to buy some more draft horses and use the heavy armored knights as heavy infantry." Qin Mo was also helpless. He had originally planned to build two thousand European-style knights, but now it seemed that five hundred would be good enough. After all, scouts and light cavalry were necessary, and only last would it be time for the luxurious heavy armored knights.
Scouts are essential for reconnaissance and vigilance, and are a crucial component of any large army. Light cavalry are the best choice for protecting supply lines and disrupting enemy formations. While heavily armored knights are indeed formidable, they weigh over 200 pounds with their armor and manpower alone. In addition, they need two horses to carry them, including their main and secondary weapons and supplies. Moreover, one of the horses must be an exceptionally fine and powerful steed.
Before the new emperor ascended the throne, the Great Xia Kingdom primarily adopted a defensive posture towards the orcs. The empire built a long wall in the northern grasslands, keeping the orcs confined to the harsh northern lands. However, since the new emperor's ascension three years ago, the Great Xia's strategy has undergone a fundamental change. In the autumn, new troops are dispatched to guard the long wall, and in the spring, they immediately enter the northern wilderness to attack the orcs, even if it results in mutual destruction.
For two consecutive years, the Great Xia Dynasty indeed achieved remarkable victories, destroying several major cities of the Orcs. Because the war took place on Orc territory, the Orcs' survival and reproduction were greatly affected. The Great Xia Dynasty shifted from a strategic defensive posture to a strategic offensive posture. For a time, the court and the public praised the new emperor for his foresight, and the new emperor's prestige reached its peak.
However, many insightful people, including Qin Mo, knew that these achievements were all illusions. The northern wilderness was not a barren land, and it was not far from it. Taking a city or a piece of land was better than nothing for the Great Xia, but the price paid was incalculable.
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