Chapter 299: The Concept of the Wagon Camp

"Your Highness's considerations are indeed far-reaching." Chang Wei nodded repeatedly after listening.

Wei Qun's face revealed a look of contemplation, and in the end, he also nodded.

"His Highness is right. What is most hateful are those who are Song People but fawn upon Xiliang. Whenever I encounter such people, I will kill every one I find," said Wei Qun.

Then he turned and returned to the captured Turncoat Soldiers soldiers, saying, "Are you willing to surrender to Yanzhou?"

The Turncoat Soldiers soldier was stunned for a moment, then slowly shook his head. "My wife, children, and elderly parents are all in Xiliang. I cannot let them go."

Wei Qun nodded. "Someone, give him one tael of Silver for travel expenses and let him go."

Upon hearing this, the Turncoat Soldiers soldier froze completely.

After a long while, he asked in disbelief, "You said you would let me go back and even give me travel expenses?"

"You heard correctly." Wei Qun glanced at him and turned to leave.

Zhao Xu and Chang Wei watched Wei Qun's retreating back.

Chang Wei said, "Wei Qun still understands the big picture."

Zhao Xu nodded slowly.

Ordering Chang Wei to handle the matter of the prisoners, Zhao Xu walked around the camp under the protection of Xu Lie.

Through the dead Xiliang soldiers and siege equipment in the camp, he gained some understanding of Xiliang's military equipment.

The soldiers killed by Artillery included both Xiliang soldiers and Turncoat Soldiers.

The Xiliang soldiers wore silver Scale Armor inside.

Three red feathers were inserted into their Helmets.

The inner lining of their military uniforms was also red.

This point was actually somewhat similar to the soldiers of the Great Song Imperial Guard.

After all, Xiliang broke away from Great Song; no matter what, some things were learned from Great Song.

As for the Armor of the Turncoat Soldiers, it was much cruder, being nothing more than some old Lamellar Armor.

The plates of the Lamellar Armor were not very complete, and the gaps between the plates were also quite large.

Lying on the ground were also the carcasses of camels.

On the back of one camel, Zhao Xu saw a miniature Stone Thrower.

The Stone Bullets fired by the Stone Thrower were only the size of a fist.

He knew this was a unique military branch of Xiliang.

These small Stone Throwers on camels had high mobility.

When encountering battle, they could continuously fire Stone Bullets, which was like throwing stones into the army.

Although these stones were not as sharp as Arrows, the damage to the enemy mainly relied on the shock generated by the stones striking the Armor.

Even soldiers wearing Plate Armor would find it quite unbearable if struck.

Finally, soldiers found a set of special Armor in a tent.

It was estimated that it was unintentionally left behind in the panic when the Xiliang soldiers retreated.

This set of Armor included horse tack, the soldier's full-body Armor, and Iron Chains.

The Armor was still Scale Armor, but the plates were large and thick, and there was also an Iron Mask.

Once a soldier put it on, it could be said to cover the entire body.

The horse's Armor was also in the style of Scale Armor, but the plates were even larger.

Without a doubt, this was the equipment of Xiliang's Heavy Cavalry, the Iron Harrier.

And the Iron Chains were used by the Iron Harrier Cavalry to bind themselves to their horses.

It is said that even if they died on the horse, they would not fall off and would continue to charge into the enemy formation.

Xiliang had eight thousand such Iron Harrier Heavy Cavalry.

In wartime, they were often organized into units of three hundred, used to charge enemy Infantry.

After disrupting the enemy formation, the Xiliang Infantry would follow up to slaughter them.

Simply put, this was somewhat similar to modern tank-infantry coordination.

And it was precisely by relying on this tactic that Xiliang was able to trade blows with Great Song despite its weak national strength.

That was how the Xiliang Cavalry gained a reputation second only to the Northern Di.

After making this round.

It basically confirmed Zhao Xu's understanding of Xiliang's military equipment.

The Bubazi Infantry Infantry Infantry, Iron Harrier Heavy Cavalry, Camel Catapult, and Turncoat Soldiers—all four military branches had appeared.

Added to the Shengqin Army, Light Infantry, and others, the full picture of the Xiliang Army took shape in his mind.

Clearly, in the struggle and partition between Xiliang, Northern Di, and Great Song.

Great Song prioritized Infantry, while Northern Di prioritized Cavalry.

Xiliang, however, combined the two, valuing both Infantry and Cavalry.

He was just thinking about this.

Chang Wei returned and reported to him, "Your Highness, this time 1,800 Turncoat Soldiers soldiers surrendered. The die-hards all died in battle, 600 of the surrendering ones are willing to join us, over 1,000 want to go back, and there are 100 stubborn ones; just as Your Highness said, I am preparing to shackle them with Iron Chains and send them to mine."

The soldiers on the battlefield were basically young and strong.

Being able to have 600 join was a good start.

And for the 1,000 returning, he did not lose out either.

Taking one tael of Silver and becoming his human walking propaganda machine was also a good thing.

However, whether this strategy of his could be effective still depended on the subsequent results.

If it did not work, he would have to change his strategy in time.

"From now on, treat any soldiers who run into my son in this manner," Zhao Xu said.

As for the real Xiliang Cavalry, he would not grant them such treatment.

He kept the lessons of the An Lushan Rebellion firmly in his mind at all times.

He then ordered the Xiliang camp to be dismantled and the mountain path at Feihu Pass to be cleared.

Zhao Xu returned to Feihu Pass.

Now, the war had only just begun.

With Feihu Pass at their backs, they could fight without any worries.

But once they penetrated deep into Jinzhou territory, the struggle for logistics and supply lines would begin.

Evening.

Zhao Xu, Chang Wei, Qin Shan, Guan Tong, Zhong Li, Chen Hu, and others sat around a long table.

With the Xiliang camp removed, there were no more obstacles on the road into Jinzhou.

They needed to discuss the next offensive route once more.

"The deeper we go into Jinzhou, the more disadvantageous it becomes for the Prince's Personal Army, so I believe we should advance step by step, fighting steadily and surely, and must not be greedy for merit or advance rashly," Zhao Xu said.

He then pointed to the map on the table, "Next, we strike here, and then use this as a springboard to take Xinjun and Xin City."

Jincheng is located in the central part of Jinzhou, with Xinjun, Changping Prefecture, and Yang Prefecture to the east.

Among them, Feihu Pass faces Xinjun to the north.

Chang Wei and the others looked in the direction Zhao Xu was pointing.

That was a county seat in Xinjun, Hengshan County.

This county faces Feihu Pass directly, at a distance of about eighty li.

The mountain path outside Feihu Pass is about thirty li long.

Once out of the mountain path, it is an endless Pingyuan.

Here, the Xiliang Cavalry will be able to exert their greatest advantage.

Chang Wei and the others nodded; this was also one of the plans from their deductions.

It was also the most secure plan.

Chang Wei then said, "Your Highness, regarding the security of the grain supply lines, the Imperial Army often uses a method."

"Speak." Zhao Xu had just been about to speak, but seeing Chang Wei open his mouth, he showed an interested expression.

"The strength of the Cavalry lies in their ability to come and go like the wind; if they encounter obstacles that prevent them from using their horses to charge, they are nothing special," Chang Wei pondered, "Therefore, the Imperial Army often forms a camp with five hundred carts of grain-transporting laborers, equipped with Archers, Long Spears, and Shield-bearers."

"If they encounter a Cavalry surprise attack, they form a square formation with the grain carts and fire Arrows; if the Cavalry dismounts, then the Long Spear and Shield-bearer units defend against them."

Zhao Xu nodded slightly upon hearing this.

In the long-term wars against Xiliang and the Northern Di, the Great Song still had some things worth using.

The method he wanted to mention was exactly the same as what Chang Wei had said.

This was the prototype of the Chariot Battalion.

Using carts to form a formation achieves the same effect as Caltrops, preventing the Cavalry from breaking into the formation and forcing them to dismount for infantry combat.

In future battles, he wanted to strengthen this method, not only using it to protect grain supply lines.

He also wanted to form a Chariot Battalion specifically for dealing with Cavalry, to offset the advantage that the Xiliang Cavalry and Northern Di Cavalry held over Yanzhou.

However, although this method is better than transporting grain without preparation.

It does not mean that there are no worries once this method is used.

It still depends on the contest between the soldiers of both sides.