Qiang Jin Jiu (Author : Tang Jiuqing 唐酒卿)

Chapter 117 : Favor & Intimidation

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Xiao Chiye’s loose outer robe was half-opened, revealing the unclosed collar of his inner garment. When he sat down, he blocked off much of the light. There was still moisture on his body, and he felt a little more comfortable after wiping his face with a clean handkerchief. He then rapped a bent finger thrice on the floor and said to Chen Yang, “What’s the matter? Sit up and talk.” 

Chen Yang promptly rubbed his face clean with his arm and sat straight up. He said, “We encountered some incidents during this return trip to Libei. I’m reporting to Master first, as I do not dare to make a decision arbitrarily.”  

Xiao Chiye picked up Shen Zechuan’s chopsticks and listened as Chen Yang recapped what happened. Shen Zechuan left the table midway to take a bath. Xiao Chiye finished the rice in his bowl and sat for a moment without showing any intent to ask for another helping. He asked, “How is Gu Jin’s injury?” 

“We called for a physician after we left Changzhu camp. Gu Jin’s fever subsided during the journey, but the wound on his back is festering badly. Ji Gang-shifu took a look at it last night and told Gu Jin to abstain from certain foods. He also gave him instructions on several matters and said that he would be able to recover if he recuperates for about a month.” At this point, Chen Yang paused for a moment before continuing. “Fortunately, his eyes and ears were not hurt.” 

Gu Jin’s eyesight and hearing far exceeded that of the average person. It was a one-of-a-kind natural talent among these guards. This matter would be a lot harder to resolve had he been wounded in his eyes and ears. If that happened, then even Xiao Chiye would not be able to swallow this injustice, let alone Chen Yang.  

“Tudalong Banner is a domain the Changzhu camp of the eastern mountain range would patrol daily. It’s originally quite a distance away from the Hanshe Tribe. To think Gu Jin’s vanguard squad actually retreated all the way there.” Xiao Chiye had gathered plenty from Chen Yang’s statements. He said astutely, “This shows that the Libei Armored Cavalry has been retreating. The battles Father and shifu are fighting aren’t going smoothly.” 

The insects’ cries on summer nights created quite the din as it drifted through the bamboo curtains, and it was so hot both inside and outside the room that it made one restless.

Xiao Chiye looked at the candle flame for a moment and said in a hushed tone, “Eldest brother’s incapability to lead the troops is a heavy blow to Libei Armored Cavalry. Father promptly came out of retirement to boost the troops’ plunging morale and soften the impact of the word ‘defeat’. But he has not been on the battlefield in person for nearly fifteen years. On the other hand, his opponent, Amu’er, has never left the front line of the Hanshe Tribe in these fifteen years. Times have changed. Relying blindly on Father is not the way to victory. I often say not to have a change of people right before the battle. Even the best general has to build up a rapport with his soldiers over time. All of Father’s troops fifteen years ago have been replaced, and those who can stage a comeback with him are few and far between. The ones he is leading now are a new school of military officers and soldiers who are already used to Eldest Brother’s style of handling matters. Both sides need to mutually adjust to each other during a critical battle, and this is not an easy thing to achieve.” 

When Xiao Fangxu established the Libei Armored Cavalry, the word “Armored Cavalry” was the best description of the Libei Army. At that time, Libei was unable to catch up with the Biansha Cavalry’s horses, so Xiao Fangxu adopted the measure of making them ‘heavier’—he not only had the soldiers all armored up, but even the horses of Libei too. Such an army was a terrifying force to behold in a frontal assault. Like the mighty torrents of the mountains, the impact of the collision was able to annihilate their foes in a blink of an eye. There was simply no time for the Biansha Cavalry to draw their machetes, and even if they did, they could not stab through those armors. Even the ferocious Hanshe Tribe was not willing to fight a drawn-out war with the Armored Cavalry. Their light and swift mobility was their only remaining advantage. And it was on this basis that Xiao Fangxu kept piling on more weight to armor up the Libei Armored Cavalry until he eventually forged the Libei Armored Cavalry into a real “wall of iron”.