Chapter 1227: A Joint Hunt

"Father!" As Liu Fang stepped into the imperial camp, Emperor Liu was still eating.

Green food, nutritionally balanced meals, focused on health. Seeing Liu Fang, Emperor Liu swallowed the piece of duck egg in his hand, took a sip of soup, and asked: "Have you eaten? Want some?"

"I've already eaten!" Liu Fang replied.

His gaze swept over Liu Fang several times—a suit of gleaming armor, a war saber at his waist, spirited and full of heroic bearing. Seeing this, Emperor Liu couldn't help but smile: "Why are you dressed up so handsomely?"

Liu Fang smiled back: "Aren't you going hunting with the Liao sovereign today? As your son, I can't let our prestige fall!"

"Prestige isn't something you cultivate with a flashy outfit alone!" Emperor Liu said in a tone of admonishment.

Liu Fang wasn't without his flaws—such as his occasional flair for ostentation in temperament and conduct. Hearing this, Liu Fang said: "I understand! But when leading troops into battle, orders must be strictly obeyed, which requires bright banners and gleaming armor. On the battlefield, this suit of armor of mine can serve as the most conspicuous standard for the entire army..."

"It's certainly conspicuous enough, but it also makes you an easy target for the enemy!" Emperor Liu turned serious, almost scolding: "If the commander suffers a loss, the danger extends to the entire army!"

Sensing the concern in Emperor Liu's words, Liu Fang thought for a moment, then clasped his hands and said: "Then I'll go change my armor!"

"No need!" Emperor Liu reverted to warmth, circling him with satisfaction: "This outfit does look spirited!"

Emperor Liu was projecting his own habits onto others—he only wore eye-catching, attention-grabbing armor on important formal occasions; on ordinary days, he preferred more common attire. Especially when leading troops in battle, even when constantly surrounded by guards, he would never make himself too conspicuous...

Generals inevitably die on the battlefield. Emperor Liu both hoped to cultivate Liu Fang into a commander capable of galloping across the battlefield, yet as a father, he couldn't help worrying about his safety. On matters where risk could be reduced, he couldn't help but issue warnings.

"How are the arrangements for the joint hunt coming along?" Setting the matter aside, wiping his mouth, Emperor Liu asked.

"The Liao sovereign's side has already sent people to discuss the hunting arrangements. Commander-in-Chief Luo has received the edict and made contact to coordinate, sending men to jointly enclose the hunting grounds. The soldiers selected to participate in the hunt have also been chosen—five hundred riders in total, all elite troops skilled in both riding and archery, and they've already been assembled!" Mentioning this, Liu Fang grew somewhat excited, an eager look surfacing on his face.

"Oh! Let's go take a look!" Emperor Liu rose and gave the order. Liu Fang hurriedly led the way and personally lifted the tent flap for his imperial father.

In the imperial camp, the five hundred elite riders stood ready in full array, mounted on their horses, chests out and backs straight, awaiting Emperor Liu's inspection with their most spirited bearing.

When Emperor Liu rode over on horseback, they all fixed their eyes on him in salute, and led by their officers, erupted in a fervent chorus of "Long live!"

To put it dramatically, five hundred men produced the volume of five thousand, full of imposing momentum. Emperor Liu didn't object to such ceremonial displays, calmly reviewing this troop about to "set out on campaign." Over all these years, how had Emperor Liu's prestige in the military been consolidated and elevated? Without question, such inspections had played a tremendous role in it.

Emperor Liu's motivation was simple and blunt—he directly issued an edict that those who distinguished themselves in the joint hunt would receive generous rewards. Of course, how to judge and how to reward—the right of interpretation rested with Emperor Liu.

"Your Majesty!" Luo Yangui rode forward to report: "Per the agreement, we and the Liao army will each lead five thousand riders to the Western Mountain hunting grounds. I have already made all arrangements, and the escort matters are fully prepared. The Liao army shows no unusual movements—we may set out!"

"Then let's depart!" Hearing this, Emperor Liu directly gave the order. He had always trusted Luo Yangui's ability to get things done.

And so, the iron cavalry rode out of camp heading west, with Emperor Liu personally leading his men toward the prepared hunting grounds. When they arrived, Yelu Jing, that hunting fanatic, had long since been unable to contain himself and had arrived first.

While the two emperors met for the second time, Luo Yangui summoned the officers responsible for guarding the hunting grounds and sternly admonished them to maintain a high state of alert and keep a close watch on the Khitan's movements.

For Luo Yangui, when the two emperors hunted together, he cared nothing for the spectacle, the proceedings, or the outcome—he only focused on Emperor Liu's safety. Everything else, he couldn't care less about.

Likewise, at the imperial camp, under Liu Tinghan's command, the troops remained armed at all times, swords never leaving their hands, standing in grave readiness, prepared to strike out at any moment against unforeseen contingencies.

Thus, compared to yesterday's bristling confrontation and sharp-edged rivalry, today's hunting atmosphere was somewhat more relaxed, but behind the "friendly" exchange flashed barely concealed blades and swords.

Against such a backdrop, no one could hold much hope for peaceful friendship from this "meeting of emperors"...

The two sides' forces of roughly a thousand men each galloped across the thirty-li-square grassland, chasing and competing in marksmanship. Yelu Jing had also brought the most elite warriors of his personal guard. In terms of mounted skills, the Hu barbarians had their innate advantages—after all, they were a people born on horseback. When it came to raw strength, even without being self-deprecating, one had to admit that the Great Han's riders could not surpass them on this point.

During the northern expedition years ago, in several frontal cavalry engagements at Youzhou, the Han army's casualties were clearly heavier than the Liao army's. If they had wanted to defeat the Liao army with cavalry alone, the Han army of that time was no match. In the end, victory in the war against Liao came through sound strategy and overall superiority, preventing the Liao cavalry's advantages from being fully brought to bear.

Of course, ten years have passed since then, and the Great Han's cavalry has made great strides in every aspect. If it came to mounted combat and desperate fighting, there would be many factors to consider, and the Han cavalry's equipment advantages were also evident. As for victory or defeat, one would only know after actually fighting.

While Yelu Jing charged about with abandon, leading the Khitan riders on wild pursuits, Emperor Liu knew his own limits and acted quite passively. To avoid embarrassment, he didn't try to show off—he simply rode his horse strolling through the hunting grounds, leisurely and at ease.

"Minister Zhao, you saw that just now, didn't you? Where their mounted skills surpass ours, we must acknowledge it and learn humbly!" Emperor Liu conversed with Zhao Kuangyin, and the topic inevitably circled back to the militaries of both nations.

"Your Majesty speaks truly! No matter how sharp the weapons, they still require the soldiers' valor to be effective. Training of the cavalry must continue to be strengthened!" Zhao Kuangyin naturally followed Emperor Liu's lead: "And I observe that Liao's armor and weapons are not as crude as one might imagine!"

"Minister Zhao may not know this, but in recent years, Liao has developed considerable skill in smelting and forging. They have never been lax in military production!" Emperor Liu said in a low, measured tone, revealing some inside information: "Over the past few decades, the Khitan's accumulation of Han craftsmen and various skills has visibly enhanced their military equipment and national strength!"

The Han army did hold an advantage over the Liao army in military equipment, but claiming an overwhelming superiority would be bragging. The Great Han's greater advantage was reflected in quality, but even more so in scale.

"I hear Liao has re-equipped an armored Iron Falcon corps, reputed to be the peak of Liao military strength. Unfortunately, it didn't accompany the Liao sovereign this time, so I couldn't get a look at it!" Zhao Kuangyin said: "When we fight them in the future, we must be on guard!"

"According to our spies within Liao, that new Iron Falcon corps numbers a full five thousand!" Emperor Liu's expression turned somewhat grave: "If he had brought them, then I would have to add several measures of caution and suspect his intentions!"

Heavy cavalry may have its flaws and weaknesses, but that doesn't diminish its formidable offensive power—in a frontal confrontation, it's a great killing instrument. Therefore, both Han and Liao had invested enormous resources in cultivating heavy cavalry.

On the Great Han's side, after experiencing the power of that Iron Falcon corps of the Liao army back then, they had also increased their investment in this area. However, constrained by warhorses, to this day they only had seven thousand riders.

"Our heavy cavalry still needs to be strengthened—at least ten thousand men!" Emperor Liu said.