Chapter 404

"Intimidation?"

Zhang Fangyan nodded and said: "Not to mention thousands of troops and horses, Fifth Young Master, have you ever experienced the feeling of hundreds of cavalry charging toward you?"

Xu Zaijing recalled for a moment and shook his head: "That I haven't; since arriving at the front line, I have mostly followed scouts in action."

Zhang Fangyan sighed with a look of reminiscence in his eyes and said: "When I was young and serving as a foot soldier squad leader under my father, the Duke of Ying, I experienced it."

Looking at Xu Zaijing's curious eyes, Zhang Fangyan said: "It wasn't Bai Gao cavalry, but the cavalry of the Northern Liao Pishi Army."

"At that time, less than five hundred Northern Liao cavalry charged toward the military formation I was in; the momentum of that group of horses galloping made the ground beneath my feet tremble."

"Under such momentum, there were also cavalry with extremely superb mounted archery skills shooting arrows into the formation, causing casualties; anyone with even a little less courage would be frightened into collapsing."

Xu Zaijing helped Zhang Fangyan fill his wine cup and replied: "Once the infantry formation scatters, the enemy cavalry is like hungry wolves smelling blood; groups of cavalry will drill into the military formation to bite and drive them! When the infantry is terrified and fleeing, the casualties from trampling each other might be even greater than those killed by the enemy!"

Zhang Fangyan looked at Xu Zaijing with admiration: "Not bad! This is the role of intimidation! How did Fifth Young Master know these things?"

Xu Zaijing smiled: "Several of my cousins on my maternal grandfather's side are infantry captains."

"Is the surname... Sun?"

Zhang Fangyan asked.

Xu Zaijing nodded.

"Even if the enemy formation doesn't scatter, opportunities for battle will appear during their maneuvers. If the formation is tight, they will be surrounded by cavalry on the spot, and there is a risk of the grain supply route being cut."

"I won't say much about the role of cavalry in shielding the battlefield and blinding the enemy's eyes and ears; Fifth Young Master did this while under the Marquis of Yongyi."

"You did very well!"

Hearing this praise, Xu Zaijing happily scratched his head and then pushed his wine cup over.

After the two toasted, Xu Zaijing filled the wine for Zhang Fangyan and himself, and even used public chopsticks to put a piece of good meat into Zhang Fangyan's bowl.

Zhang Fangyan was not polite and ate it in large mouthfuls.

Under the fairly bright candlelight,

several chicken bones soon appeared on the simple wooden table in front of them.

"Fifth Young Master, what do you think is the most important thing in cavalry warfare?"

Xu Zaijing thought while chewing the chicken meat, and Zhang Fangyan did not urge him, just watching him quietly.

Suddenly,

"Hiss!"

Xu Zaijing let out a cry of pain, covered his cheek, and said to Zhang Fangyan: "I bit my meat."

"Hahahaha, hurry, drink some wine to soothe it."

After drinking the wine and swallowing the chicken meat, Xu Zaijing said uncertainly: "Brother Zhang, I actually think terrain is the most important."

"Did Fifth Young Master hear that from your elder brother?"

"I also heard some things about cavalry from Cousin Zhu."

Zhang Fangyan nodded and said: "Infantry benefits from dangerous obstacles, cavalry benefits from flat and open ground! Only if the terrain is flat and open can cavalry charge! Cavalry that cannot charge is just a target for infantry bows and crossbows."

Watching Xu Zaijing nod in instruction, Zhang Fangyan said with a smile on his lips: "But, the Hengsai Army under the Marquis of Tuoxi and the Jingsai Army under my father are not in this category."

Xu Zaijing looked at Zhang Fangyan in confusion, his eyes full of thought. After glancing at Zhang Fangyan's armor in the tent, his eyes soon filled with realization as he said: "Brother Zhang, do you mean that elite heavy cavalry like the Hengsai and Jingsai are elite infantry even if they dismount..."

"Correct!"

Xu Zaijing didn't speak; after his eyes rolled around, he said: "Brother Zhang, then if elite infantry could have horses to ride, wouldn't that also be very powerful?"

"Hahahaha! Fifth Young Master, your mind turns extremely fast! Come, have another cup!"

"I heard from my third and fourth brothers that you play polo very well; some principles on the battlefield are indeed similar to playing polo."

Xu Zaijing nodded: "Then I will think about it more when I play polo!"

At this moment, the voice of Zhang Fangyan's personal guard came from outside the tent:

"General, there is an official from Bianjing outside the camp, saying he was sent by the Ministry of Works to pick up the Bai Gao craftsmen!"

"Let him come over!"

"Yes!"

Zhang Fangyan glanced at Xu Zaijing and said: "Why is it so urgent?"

After speaking, the two walked toward the outside of the tent.

Less than a quarter of an hour later,

an official wearing official robes was led to the outside of the tent by the personal guard.

Zhang Fangyan asked while checking the official seal handed over: "Why is the Ministry of Works so urgent that they actually came here to pick up people?"

"Replying to the General, this subordinate does not know the reason."

Zhang Fangyan lowered his head to check the official seal.

Xu Zaijing stared at this official.

At this time, the sky had already turned dark,

and one could see a general idea by the torchlight.

The official raised his eyes to look at Xu Zaijing, bowed, and said to Zhang Fangyan: "When this subordinate came, I did hear a colleague say that it was the Chai family who exerted effort, which is why they urged us to come so urgently."

Zhang Fangyan nodded and said to the personal guard on the side: "Take one Bai Gao iron-smelting craftsman, along with his family, and hand them over to this... Magistrate Zhen."

"Yes, General."

"Many thanks, General."

Watching the Ministry of Works official leave while bowing, Xu Zaijing exhaled a breath of wine and followed Zhang Fangyan back into the tent.

Time flies,

it has reached the tenth month,

and the weather is getting colder and colder.

On this day,

before the Start of Winter solar term,

around the time of the Wei hour (2:00 PM),

in Bianjing City,

west of Xinzheng Gate,

at Wu Lou near Jinming Pool,

looking from the third floor of Wu Lou, one could see chrysanthemums still in bloom beside the polo field not far away.

The chrysanthemum branches trembled gently from time to time under the blowing north wind.

On the third floor of Wu Lou,

(-Listen! "Prince Qin Breaks the Battle Formation" - Liu Qingyao - humming after the sixth minute of the piece-)

"Zeng, zeng, zeng~"

"Ah~~~~ ah~"

After the noisy pipa sound, there was a melodious female humming.

While humming,

a gust of north wind happened to blow in from the open window,

and a noble young lady wearing a white fox cloak stood by the window.

The incoming north wind

blew the white fur on the cloak on the young lady's shoulders, making it sway slightly,

the earrings under her delicate earlobes moved,

and it also blew the hair in front of the young lady's forehead and the light-colored hair ribbon between her hair buns; her autumn-water-like eyes blinked under her long eyelashes.

The withered and desolate autumn scenery in the distance outside the window set off the young girl's vibrant and beautiful face, making it look even more fair and beautiful.

After the female humming finished, the sound of the pipa started again, followed by instruments like drums and zithers.

A maid walked to the window and said: "Da Niangzi, don't keep staying by the window; the north wind is cold!"

The maid said this while helping the girl tighten the collar of her cloak.

Hearing the maid's advice,

the noble young lady looked at the official road leading to Bianjing in the west, which still showed no movement, pursed her lips, and said to the maid on the side: "Seeing Xi Bu, I know."

"Da Niangzi, let's go over and continue listening to Head Musician Wei's pipa."

The noble young lady smiled and walked toward the others sitting on the third floor.

On the third floor,

"Zheng~"

Wei Fangzhi, wearing a veil, deftly brushed the pipa,

and after finishing the piece, she stood up with her chest heaving, held the pipa, and bowed to the noble young ladies who were standing up behind the tables around her and applauding.

"Zhengzheng, this female musician of yours plays really beautifully!"

Watching Rong Feiyan walking over from the window, Chai Zhengzheng smiled and tucked the amazement and appreciation in her eyes into her heart.

Afterward, Chai Zhengzheng smiled at Gu Tingyi, who was speaking.

Another young lady spoke up: "Sister, I'm hosting a banquet in my home in two days; you must leave this female musician of yours for me!"

"Okay! I must leave her for you, Fifth Da Niangzi."

The Li family's Fifth Da Niangzi, who seemed to have more severe nearsightedness, squinted her eyes, smiled, and squatted toward Chai Zhengzheng: "Thank you, Sister Zhengzheng."

In the middle of the room,

Wei Fangzhi held the pipa and walked to the side,

and a little girl holding a drum walked to the position she had just occupied and began to tap lightly.

The drum sound was neither loud nor soft, and the rhythm was brisk.

The noble young ladies left their seats and each found someone to talk to.

Zheng Ni, the daughter of Zheng Jun, the eldest son of the old General Zheng, walked to Chai Zhengzheng's side, followed Chai Zhengzheng's line of sight to look at Rong Feiyan, and said: "I should have brought a paintbrush today."

Chai Zhengzheng looked over with a puzzled smile in her eyes.

Zheng Ni met Chai Zhengzheng's eyes and said: "Zhengzheng, didn't you also see the beautiful scenery just now?"

Chai Zhengzheng was stunned for a moment, then glanced at Rong Feiyan and nodded in agreement.

"I don't know how you two were raised; even I, a woman, like her so much."

Saying this, Zheng Ni affectionately took Chai Zhengzheng's palm.

A head wearing jewelry appeared beside Zheng Ni: "Sister Zheng Ni, what are you looking at?"

The Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi said this while stretching out her own beautiful palm: "Sister, let me see too."

Zheng Ni looked at the two beautiful palms in front of her and said: "Fifth Da Niangzi, why are there several blood spots on your fingertips?"

"Ah? Are there?"

The Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi hurriedly leaned in and said: "This... this is what I left behind when I was practicing needlework... by accident."

Zheng Ni pretended to suddenly realize: "Oh... needlework..."

The Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi seemed not to know where to put her eyes; after withdrawing her hand, she saw Gu Tingyi talking to someone not far away and said: "Tingyi is looking for me, you guys chat."

Chai Zhengzheng looked at the Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi, who seemed to be fleeing in a panic, and asked: "What's wrong with her?"

Zheng Ni curled her lips and didn't say much.

"By the way, Sister Zheng Ni, I heard that your wedding date with the Shen family's young master has been moved up?"

Zheng Ni heard this, looked around with shyness in her eyes, nodded, and said: "Hmm, Magistrate Shen said that the north is currently turbulent, with Northern Liao and the Jin Kingdom fighting back and forth, and I don't know if there will be any changes next year, so he wanted to hold the wedding at the end of the year while Magistrate Shen returns to the capital to report on his duties."

"I've seen the Shen family's young master twice; he is truly a man of great talent!"

As soon as Chai Zhengzheng said this, Zheng Ni couldn't help but curl her lips: "Not at all..."

Zheng Ni looked around, and seeing that no one was paying attention to the two, continued: "Mother said that although the overall situation of the war in the Northwest has been settled, the north looks very unstable, and regardless, the status of military nobles like my family in the court is rising."

"Old Magistrate Shen's idea is also to... settle for safety."

Chai Zhengzheng teased with a smile: "The Great Madam Zheng comes from a noble background and is famous in the capital for being virtuous and upright! The Zheng family also has a very upright family style, and Old Magistrate Shen is also afraid that you will be snatched away."

Zheng Ni patted Chai Zhengzheng somewhat embarrassedly.

"I heard that Magistrate Shen's family also has a young daughter who hasn't been married off yet? How old is this future sister-in-law of yours?"

Zheng Ni thought for a moment and said: "Yes, I heard her name is Zhen'er. Her age is about the same as the little Duke of the Qi Ling Ling Guo Gong's mansion."

Chai Zhengzheng nodded.

"What about you? When I came this time, I heard that my maternal grandfather's family entrusted Madam Wu to go to your house to act as a matchmaker!"

Zheng Ni looked at Chai Zhengzheng with exploration in her eyes.

Chai Zhengzheng looked at the window on the third floor facing west, as if looking at the sky in the west, and said: "Marriage is a major event; how can I decide? It's all decided by my parents!"

"By the way, Sister Zheng Ni, I haven't had a chance to ask during the several gatherings before; if Fifth Da Niangzi marries into the Zheng family in the future, wouldn't you have to call her little aunt?"

Zheng Ni sighed helplessly, looked at the Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi not far away, and nodded.

At this moment,

at the stairs on the third floor, the managing Mama of Wu Lou walked up in a hurry.

This managing Mama with a smile on her face bowed to the noble young ladies who were looking at her and said in a very festive tone: "Noble young ladies, post horses are shouting and passing messages along the road, saying that the Bai Gao surrendered King has arrived at Zhongmu, sixty miles away, and cannot enter Bianjing today!"

Hearing this, some noble young ladies walked to the window again, looked past the polo field toward the west.

"Ah? Then didn't we wait in vain? We won't be able to see my elder brother today!"

The Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi shouted softly in disappointment.

Gu Tingyi smiled: "Didn't we listen to quite a few good pieces?"

The Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi nodded.

"This Mama, has it been decided which gate the Bai Gao surrendered King will enter the capital from tomorrow?"

"Replying to this noble young lady, I don't know about this matter."

The Li family's Fifth Da Niangzi, who was beside everyone, squinted and said: "Grandfather didn't tell me either, but I think it should be Mingde Gate, the south gate of the inner city; books record that the surrender was accepted at Mingde Gate before!"

Hearing this, everyone looked at the Li family's Fifth Da Niangzi.

The Li family's Fifth Da Niangzi, who was the center of attention, hurriedly smiled and nodded at the blurry figures in front of her.

"But I heard from my elder brother that it seems to be at Jinglong Gate!"

Rong Feiyan, on the side, said.

"Let's hurry and ask; otherwise, the good spots along the street will all be taken."

Gu Tingyi looked at everyone and said.

Zheng Ni listened to the words of the few and looked at Chai Zhengzheng on the side: "Zhengzheng, why aren't you anxious? If there's no good spot, you won't be able to see the excitement."

Chai Zhengzheng smiled and said: "No need to be anxious, we will definitely have good spots!"

After all, the Chai family had properties on several main streets in Bianjing.

"If it doesn't work, we'll find a ladder and go up to the roof to watch!"

Hearing this, Zheng Ni covered her mouth and laughed.

"Okay, then it's settled; tomorrow I'll go to the Chai family first!"

Other noble young ladies on the side also came over one after another, some saying that if it really was Mingde Gate, they would go directly to their family's restaurant, and if it wasn't, they would go find Chai Zhengzheng.

Chai Zhengzheng said okay while laughing.

Afterward,

the noble young ladies went down Wu Lou,

got into their own family carriages at the entrance, and returned to their respective homes.

The setting sun was half-hanging,

in the Rong family,

when Rong Feiyan arrived home and went to her mother's courtyard, she saw her elder brother, Rong Xian, stroking a set of armor on his body.

Seeing Rong Feiyan enter,

Rong Xian waved the red cloak on his armor and said: "Little sister, how is it? Does this set of armor on your brother look good?"

When Rong Xian spoke, the Marquis of Marquis Fu Chang and the Rong family's Great Madam, who were sitting behind him, nodded in agreement.

Rong Feiyan scanned Rong Xian from top to bottom and said: "Brother, it looks good, but can you take off the chrysanthemum pinned to the helmet?"

Hearing this, Rong Xian raised his eyes to look up and said: "I think pinning this chrysanthemum looks very good!"

Rong Feiyan shook her head and stopped paying attention to her elder brother, and said to the Marquis of Marquis Fu Chang: "Father, has it been decided where His Majesty will accept the surrender?"

The Marquis of Marquis Fu Chang nodded and said: "It's decided; a Great Minister suggested Mingde Gate, but His Majesty said he wants to accept the surrender at Jinglong Gate."

Rong Feiyan nodded: "Does Father know why?"

The Rong Great Madam interjected: "Your sister sent someone to pass the word; it seems His Majesty said the ancestors accepted the surrender in the south, and this time His Majesty wants to accept the surrender in the north of the inner city."

Hearing this, Rong Feiyan's eyes were full of thought.

(End of chapter)