Chapter 192: Fate

Regarding the equipment of the various Company Commanders under his command: ordinary soldiers naturally use sabers, spears, and firelocks; the logistics troops are likewise equipped with firelocks and waist sabers.

From the seventh month of the ninth year of Chongzhen to the seventh month of the tenth year, the craftsmen of Shunxiang Fort produced over twelve hundred more firelocks. Starting from the seventh month of the tenth year, with the addition of water-powered drilling machines, monthly firelock production increased to over four hundred. Adding the original eight hundred-plus firelocks, Wang Dou's forces now possess over four thousand firelocks in total, including those stored in the armory. Even though Wang Dou has expanded his forces to a full battalion of several thousand men, these firelocks are still more than sufficient.

However, there is a considerable shortage in armor. In the seventh month of the ninth year of Chongzhen, Shunxiang Fort had over two hundred and fifty sets of fine iron armor of its own manufacture. By the end of last year, over three hundred and fifty more sets of fine iron armor had been acquired. Shunxiang Fort has set up ten water-powered forging beds, and starting this year, over sixty sets of fine iron armor will be produced each month. Finally, there are the original armors from the prefectural city and Shunxiang Fort, plus over five hundred sets of captured Qing army armor that can be used. Thus, Wang Dou possesses over a thousand sets of armor in total, allowing one in every five soldiers to be armored. This ratio of armored soldiers is considered very high among Ming forces.

Even so, Wang Dou is still not satisfied. He can continuously train cheap troop types, but that does not mean he does not wish to provide his subordinates with excellent weapons and equipment. Constrained by reality, he can only accumulate bit by bit.

There remain over six hundred troop slots. Wang Dou has decided to organize and train a cavalry unit of four or five hundred men. The remaining men can only serve as the logistics support unit for this cavalry force.

Wang Dou does have over a thousand mules and horses on hand, but all the warhorses have already been selected for use by the Night Scout unit. The Squad Commanders and Company Commanders have assigned mounts, and the logistics and artillery units of the three companies use over two hundred of Wang Dou's horses. The battalion headquarters' logistics and artillery units also use over one hundred and fifty of Wang Dou's mules and horses. Calculating this way, Wang Dou has only over six hundred mules and horses left available, and it is unknown how many of those are warhorses.

Training cavalry — a horse unit of four hundred men costs as much in money and provisions as three thousand infantry, and more importantly, cavalry is difficult to train. Cavalrymen must possess superb riding skills and must be very familiar with the nature of horses, especially knowing the habits of their own mounts like the back of their hand. Perhaps after half a year of bitter training, one can ride proficiently, but to use them in formation charges and assaults, three years are likely necessary. Therefore, this cavalry unit can only be used as mounted infantry, to enhance the army's mobility.

Thinking of the campaigns in the latter half of this year, Wang Dou looked toward Li Guangheng. He had heard that this Li Guangheng loved cavalry the most and was himself skilled in riding and archery. His understanding of cavalry training even surpassed that of Han Chao. His ancestors came from the Qi Family Army, giving him some distant ties of origin with Wang Dou.

Moreover, he is Han Zhong's father-in-law. As long as he has talent, what harm is there in Wang Dou promoting him? Of course, first he must test him.

Seeing Wang Dou look his way, Li Guangheng hurriedly sat up straight. Since arriving at Shunxiang Fort, he had felt how difficult it was to stand out. Although he had achieved some merit in suppressing bandits last year, it was not conspicuous. Today, the Garrison Commander had summoned all officers for a council, and Li Guangheng was among those invited. Both surprised and delighted, he sat upright, not daring to move in the slightest.

After the Garrison Commander's gaze swept past, as he straightened up, his eyes were also full of expectation.

Wang Dou smiled faintly: "I have heard that Company Commander Li possesses considerable insight into drilling cavalry troops. Why not share your thoughts?"

Everyone present turned their eyes to Li Guangheng. Li Guangheng was overjoyed in his heart. He knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If his answer satisfied the Garrison Commander, this newly established cavalry unit would be his. He stood up, clasped his fists, and said in a loud voice: "Since the Garrison Commander inquires, your humble subordinate will be so bold as to speak frankly."

He said: "It is commonly said that to train cavalrymen, one must select recruits from the Han people or barbarian youths of the frontier who are skilled riders, thus achieving twice the result with half the effort. Your humble subordinate believes this saying is mistaken."

He said: "Your humble subordinate believes that cavalry drilling has nothing special about it, only the four words: single-minded, bitter training. Even if a man has never ridden a horse, within two years, your humble subordinate can drill a qualified cavalry unit."

The men below whispered among themselves. Some were skeptical, thinking Li Guangheng was speaking empty boasts. Han Zhong also looked somewhat worriedly at his father-in-law. Father-in-law, please do not blow this boast and cause me, old Han, to lose face.

"Specialization has its own mastery. Does riding horses from childhood automatically make one a formidable cavalryman? Your humble subordinate thinks not. It is like boiling water and pouring tea — we may pour tea our whole lives, yet still not match those who have studied the tea ceremony for a few months. Training cavalry is the same."

Wang Dou was very interested; this was the first time he had heard such an argument. He said: "In Company Commander Li's view, how would you go about drilling the cavalry?"

Li Guangheng said: "If the Garrison Commander allows your humble subordinate to train the cavalry, he must first permit your humble subordinate to select men of tall stature and long arms from each unit as cavalry candidates."

Wang Dou nodded. Li Guangheng continued: "Once the troop strength is complete, your humble subordinate's method of drilling cavalry is this: on the first day, drill the soldiers in infantry skills; on the next day, teach riding techniques. Your humble subordinate's method is that when drilling riding skills, the soldiers are not given saddles or stirrups. After falling for three months in this manner, they will be able to stand upside down on horseback with ease. Once fitted with saddle and stirrups, galloping like the wind will naturally be no issue. Of course, during these three months, each cavalry soldier must also spend every day in close contact with his own horse — grooming, bathing, feeding — to become familiar with the horse's nature."

Wang Dou listened, entranced. This novel method of training cavalry was something he was hearing for the first time. Wen Fangliang laughed: "Old Master Li, with this method of drilling cavalrymen, the soldiers under you will suffer eight lifetimes of bad luck. A bruised nose and swollen face would be minor matters; I fear broken hands and feet would also be common."

Li Guangheng disagreed: "In drilling soldiers, some injuries are unavoidable. This cannot be helped."

Wang Dou said: "Company Commander Li, continue."

Li Guangheng respectfully said: "Yes."

He said: "In the following months, your humble subordinate will drill the cavalrymen in mounted combat techniques and battle formation coordination — how to use the cavalry lance and cavalry saber on horseback, how to shoot arrows. By the second year, the soldiers will be even more familiar with the nature of horses. Thus, with man and horse united as one, they will be able to control their warhorses to charge enemy formations."

The men below broke into discussion. Some agreed with Li Guangheng's training method; others disagreed, arguing until their faces were red and necks thick. Wang Dou did not fully understand the method Li Guangheng described, but hearing him speak so clearly and logically, he assumed his words were not empty. He smiled faintly: "Good. Company Commander Li, I entrust this cavalry unit to you. However, as for shooting arrows on horseback, I think we can dispense with that. The cavalry, like the infantry, shall use firelocks."

Li Guangheng was first delighted, then somewhat astonished. No need to teach mounted archery? He stared blankly for a moment, then still clasped his fists and accepted the order.

Wang Dou said to Han Chao: "Brother Han, starting this year, the Night Scouts under your Intelligence Division will primarily shift to gathering intelligence and surveying maps across Baoding Prefecture and Zhending Prefecture. For the following locations — Mashuikou, Zijing Pass, Yizhou, Zhuozhou, Laishui, Baoding Prefectural City, Julu, Jize — collect map records and intelligence in as much detail as possible. Whatever funds and provisions are needed, report to me directly."

For this year's campaign, preparations must begin. To prevent himself and Lu Xiangsheng from dying in battle, he must now take precautions before the rain falls.

Hearing Wang Dou's words, the expressions of everyone present varied. The Garrison Commander's gaze was set so far — had he already turned his attention a thousand li away? Following this audaciously bold superior, everyone's hearts beat faster. Then their blood boiled. If their superior had such drive and boldness, and they followed closely, when territory expanded in the future, then they themselves...

Han Chao loudly accepted the order. His thoughts differed from the others; he suspected Wang Dou harbored deeper intentions. But the campaign of the ninth year of Chongzhen had already proven the Garrison Commander's foresight and sagacity. Whatever he commanded, he would simply carry it out.

Wang Dou looked at the assembly and smiled: "Our Baoan Prefecture has developed smoothly. Given another two years, our granaries will surely be full. But for now, the population of our Baoan Prefecture is still small — thirty to forty thousand people, a few thousand able-bodied men — it is insufficient. After the spring plowing, everyone will move out. Let those new recruits see blood, and incidentally, seize some livestock and grain to bring back."

He pondered and said: "I have decided that this time we must not only seize livestock and grain, but also seize population. No matter what methods you all use, before the autumn sowing, Baoan Prefecture must increase by at least fifty thousand people and over ten thousand able-bodied men."

Everyone present cheered and whooped strangely. Watching the crowd's jubilant expressions, Wang Dou suddenly felt somewhat dejected.

There was a sentence he could not easily speak aloud. In this battle this year, if he went to war, how many of the soldiers under his command would die? A thousand? Two thousand? Or three thousand? How many of these familiar faces here would vanish forever? Yet, born into the chaotic times of the Great Ming, there is no land of peach blossoms. He had no choice. Perhaps this was his fate, and the fate of everyone in Baoan Prefecture.

No matter how many troops he lost in the future, he would need population to replenish them. Therefore, seizing population was inevitable. Then he would train more troops, then replenish again...

After much difficulty waiting for Wang Dou and the others to finish discussing all manner of military affairs, Lin Daofu and Zhang Gui seized the opportunity. Lin Daofu said: "My lord, all the able-bodied men of the military households across Baoan Prefecture have been fully organized and trained into the army. They can only drill during idle times; during busy seasons, they must return home to labor in their own fields. These soldiers cannot be sent on distant campaigns. In light of this, this humble official and Lord Zhang have discussed and devised a method. Would my lord see if it is feasible?"

The troops under Wang Dou were all part-time soldiers who had not left agricultural production. Every busy farming season, he had to grant the soldiers leave to return home and work. To send troops out on campaign, he also had to choose the right season. Wang Dou had thought it over repeatedly and felt there was no way to solve this problem. The soldiers under his command were all the able-bodied laborers of each household. Without them, how would their families' fields be cultivated?

This worry had constantly troubled Wang Dou. Hearing that Lin Daofu had a solution, he hurriedly said: "What method do you have? Speak and let me hear it."

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Old White Ox: Everyone's discussion has been very spirited; I am very pleased to see it. If opinions differ, I ask book friends to restrain yourselves and respect each other's differing views. Regarding the fates of the characters in the book, I cannot say. But one point: the protagonist will not suffer losses.

Also: Writing this chapter today, my mood was somewhat heavy. War is inevitably cruel. In the campaign of the ninth year of Chongzhen, many people were originally going to die, including some people familiar to the protagonist, some officers and generals, etc. In the end, that campaign was shortened considerably, and many characters' fates were changed, causing my outline to change along with it, increasing the difficulty of writing. I think the joys and sorrows, partings and reunions of characters are very normal, as long as they are reasonable and not jarring. Of course, in web novels, the protagonist's women cannot die, cannot do certain things to the protagonist — this point I am aware of.