Chapter 722: Iron Hooves' First Trial

In the afternoon, the open ground on the east side of the riverbank was scorched by the sun.

Sixty-eight horses were led out and scattered in the fenced pasture.

Chang Yuchun was bare-chested, a sweat towel draped over his shoulder, checking each horse's condition one by one.

Behind him followed Xu Da, along with a few veteran soldiers who had previously been in charge of the horses at the camp.

"This horse, the left front horseshoe is unevenly worn; it needs to be re-nailed."

Chang Yuchun lifted the hoof of a chestnut horse and pointed it out to Xu Da.

"Also, this gray horse has tender teeth; its feed should be finer, otherwise it's prone to bloating."

He spoke quickly, but his thoughts were clear.

Xu Da listened while having the veteran soldier beside him take notes.

"Instructor Chang really knows horses." Xu Da's tone carried a hint of admiration.

"Just a skill to earn a living." Chang Yuchun wiped his sweat, "In my early years I followed caravans beyond the frontier, exchanging horses with Mongols and Semu people; I've seen a lot."

He walked up to an exceptionally thin black horse and felt its neck.

"This horse... was it originally from your camp?"

"Yes." Xu Da nodded, "It was taken from a Yuan scout; it was like this when we got it, and after two months of feeding it still hasn't gained weight."

Chang Yuchun pried open the horse's mouth to have a look, then ran his hand along its belly to the hind leg.

"It has worms in its stomach."

He straightened up.

"Go gather some chinaberry bark, crush it and mix it into the fodder, feed it for seven straight days. Don't let it do heavy work in the meantime."

"Can it be saved?"

"About seventy or eighty percent chance." Chang Yuchun said, "This horse has a good frame; if saved, it will be a fine steed."

Xu Da's eyes lit up.

"I'll have someone go pick it right away."

Just as they were speaking, a sudden urgent gong sounded from the south of the camp!

Two short, one long.

There is enemy activity, but the scale is not large.

Chang Yuchun and Xu Da turned their heads at the same time.

In the direction of the lookout post, a soldier waved a red flag, pointing toward the southern river bend.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) had already walked out of the barracks and was quickly climbing the south wall.

Tang He followed closely behind.

"What's the situation?" Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) asked the sentry on the wall.

"About twenty cavalry have appeared around three li to the south at the river bend." The sentry spoke quickly, "Judging by their attire, they look like Yuan reconnaissance cavalry, watering their horses by the river, and have not yet approached."

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) narrowed his eyes to look.

The afternoon sun glittered on the water, a bit dazzling.

Nevertheless, faintly one could see several black dots moving at the distant river bend.

They were indeed cavalry.

"Twenty cavalry..." he mused.

The camp now has sixty-eight horses, but only the forty-seven men brought by Chang Yuchun can be immediately deployed as cavalry.

Moreover, their weapons and armor are still sealed in the armory.

"Brother, should we send infantry forward to drive them off?" Tang He asked.

"Infantry can't catch cavalry." Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) shook his head, "Let them see our numbers, they'll turn and flee—just a waste of effort."

He paused.

"Go fetch Instructor Chang."

Moments later, Chang Yuchun climbed onto the south wall.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) pointed toward the river bend.

"Instructor Chang, do you see them?"

"I see them." Chang Yuchun's eyes were sharp, "Twenty cavalry, a standard Yuan scout formation—two per team, spread out, they're scouting the terrain."

"Are you confident you can wipe them out?"

Chang Yuchun fell silent for two breaths.

"Give me thirty cavalry, fully armed, and I'll settle them within two hours."

"Give me as many men as you need, I'll provide them." Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) said, "But the weapons and armor have just been stored; retrieving them takes time. Moreover—"

He stared at Chang Yuchun.

"Can your men obey orders immediately?"

Chang Yuchun grinned.

"Chief Zhu, the brothers I brought have all licked blood off the blade."

"Hearing the war drums, seeing the enemy, their hands get itchy."

"As long as you give the order, I guarantee they'll charge forward, each faster than the last."

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) nodded.

"Good."

He turned and issued the order.

"Tang He, take people to the armory, retrieve all weapons and armor for Instructor Chang's unit, and hurry them to the south wall."

Xu Da, issue orders to each squad: have the infantry assemble and stand ready, guard against enemy cavalry raiding the camp.

Chang Jiaoxi, go pick thirty men. Remember, I want them all wiped out—no survivors, and don't let a single one escape to report back.

"Understood!" Chang Yuchun clasped his fist, turned, and quickly descended the wall.

The camp instantly bustled with activity.

Tang He and his men opened the storehouse, bringing out bundles of stored leather armor, waist swords, spears, and bows and arrows.

Chang Yuchun had already returned to the shed area newly allotted for the cavalry's temporary lodging.

He stood there and let out a single shout.

Anyone who can breathe, get out here!

Forty-seven people, almost simultaneously, crawled out from the various sheds.

No one spoke, but everyone's gaze changed.

It was the look of wolves that have smelled blood.

"Twenty Yuan dog scout cavalry are at the southern river bend." Chang Yuchun spoke softly, but each word hit the ground: "Chief Zhu has given us a chance to hack them to pieces."

I'll pick thirty men myself.

The old rule: volunteer. If you're injured or didn't sleep well last night, go back and rest on your own.

As soon as his words fell, everyone stepped forward together.

Chang Yuchun swept his gaze over them.

"Zhang Wu, Li Liuzi, Wang Huzhi… you twenty, step out."

The twenty named men quickly stepped to the front.

"The remaining twenty-seven will draw lots."

Soon, ten marked tally sticks were drawn.

The thirty‑strong unit was now fully assembled.

At that moment, Tang He and his men brought the weapons and armor over.

Chang Yuchun was the first to put on leather armor, tighten the belt, and draw a waist sword to tuck at his waist.

He also picked up a bow and tested its string.

"Fetch the horses!"

The thirty men rushed to the horse stable, each leading out his own mount.

The moves were practiced, with no jostling.

Within half an hour, the thirty cavalry were fully armed and lined up inside the south wall.

Chang Yuchun mounted his horse and looked toward Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) on the walltop.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) nodded.

"Open the south gate."

The heavy wooden door was pulled open.

Chang Yuchun raised his right hand and swung it forward.

"Go!"

The thirty cavalry shot out of the camp like arrows from a bow.

Hooves kicked up dust as they galloped southward.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) remained on the walltop, watching them disappear into the distance.

Xu Da stood at his side and said quietly:

"Brother, are you really at ease letting them go?"

"Don't employ those you distrust." Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) said, "Since you've taken them in, you must use them."

"Moreover——

He gazed at the cavalry that had swiftly vanished into the riverbank reed thicket.

"I also want to see just how much they're worth."

At the river bend.

The Yuan army's scout cavalry had just finished watering their horses and were preparing to mount and continue scouting to the north.

The company captain in the lead suddenly pricked up his ears.

"What sound?"

In the distance, a muffled thunder‑like rumble could be heard.

And it was drawing ever closer.

"It's the sound of hooves!" a scout cried out.

"How many cavalry?"

"Can't make it out… at least twenty‑thirty!"

The company captain's face changed.

"Mount up! Form ranks!"

Twenty Yuan army scouts hastily scrambled onto their horses, barely managing to form two rows.

From the reed thicket ahead, a dark mass came charging out.

Thirty cavalry.

No shouting, no war cries.

Only a silent charge.

And a killing intent that hit them head‑on.

Chang Yuchun rushed to the front.

He lowered his body, left hand controlling the reins, right hand already drew his waist sword.

The blade reflected a cold light in the sunlight.

The distance between the two sides quickly closed.

Eighty paces.

Fifty paces.

Thirty paces.

The Yuan army commander of a hundred finally saw the enemy's attire—not official troops, not rebel forces, but a group wearing mismatched leather armor, yet with eyes like wolves' cavalry.

"Fire arrows!" he bellowed.

Sparse arrows were shot.

Chang Yuchun jerked the reins, the warhorse veered left, dodging two arrows.

The cavalry behind him simultaneously spread out, unfolding like a fan.

Most of the arrows missed.

Twenty paces.

Chang Yuchun suddenly straightened, left hand raising the bow, right hand already drew three arrows from the quiver.

The bowstring twanged repeatedly.

Three arrows in rapid succession.

The three Yuan army scouts in the front row fell from their horses at the sound.

"Kill!"

Only then did Chang Yuchun let out his first shout.

Thirty horsemen accelerated together, charging into the Yuan army formation like a wedge.

Blades flashed.

Flesh and blood flew.

The battle was without suspense.

Twenty scouts, facing an enemy superior in numbers, fiercer in strength, and prepared, held out for less than the time it takes to finish a cup of tea.

The last Yuan cavalryman tried to flee to the river, but Chang Yuchun caught up from behind and struck him with a blade to the back of the neck.

The corpse fell into the river, dyeing a stretch of water red.

Chang Yuchun reined in his horse and looked around.

The battle had ended.

Of the thirty horsemen, none were killed, only three suffered minor injuries.

"Clear the battlefield." He ordered, "Take the horses, weapons, and armor; all of it. Throw the corpses into the river."

The cavalry dismounted and quickly gathered the spoils.

Chang Yuchun lifted his head, gazing toward the direction of the northern camp.

He knew that someone must be watching from the walltop at this moment.

He wiped the blood splattered on his face.

He grinned.

Southern wall of the camp.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) lowered the monocular in his hand—a crude device he made himself from bamboo tubes and polished crystal sheets.

But it was enough to see the battle situation at the river bend clearly.

"Neat and clean." He commented.

Xu Da and Tang He also witnessed the entire process.

"Chang Yuchun... is a talent." Xu Da said.

"Not just him." Tang He added, "Those thirty horsemen are all fierce and well-coordinated. It would be a pity to break them up."

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) did not respond.

He looked into the distance; Chang Yuchun led his troops, leading over twenty captured horses, heading back.

On the horses' backs also lay the captured weapons and armor.

"Pass the order." He suddenly spoke.

"Tonight's extra meal, enough meat."

"The fallen warhorses, skin them for meat, and distribute to the entire camp."

"The captured horses will be incorporated into the cavalry unit. The weapons and armor will be logged into the storehouse."

He paused.

"Chang Yuchun's unit, starting tomorrow, will restore full organization and become independent as the first scout of the Knife Plow Camp cavalry unit."

"Chang Yuchun shall serve as Scout Chief, with authority to deploy troops as needed."

Xu Da and Tang He exchanged a glance.

"Elder brother, is this trust being given too quickly?"

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) turned and descended the wall.

"They earned it through their own ability."

"Moreover—"

He turned his head, glancing at the Knife Plow Flag fluttering in the wind.

"Our road is still long; we need more people capable of fighting tough battles."

Is Chang Yuchun sincere? Time will prove it.

But at least today, he let us see its value.

Footsteps faded away.

Xu Da and Tang He remained on the wall, gazing at the cavalry returning in the distance.

The sun set in the west.

Chang Yuchun led the way on horseback, walking at the very front of the troop.

He raised his head and saw a figure on the wall.

He then raised his blood‑stained waist blade and saluted in the direction of the camp.

On the wall, Tang He hesitated a moment, then also raised his hand and waved.

Xu Da smiled.

This Chang Huzi is rather interesting.

Yeah." Tang He nodded, "I just don't know whether he's seen the 'horrors' the refugees fleeing from the north have spoken of...

The two fell silent.

They looked farther south.

There, dusk was gradually rising.

And unknown shadows were gathering in the distance.

Xijing, underground of the Observation Platform.

Zhao Lao Nian stared at the complex array of copper instruments before him, his forehead beaded with sweat.

"My lord, the energy infusion has reached seventy percent," a young artisan reported in a trembling voice.

"Continue." Zhao Lao Nian's eyes were bloodshot, "Raise it to ninety percent."

"But… if we go higher, the copper tubes might not hold."

"Then switch to precision-steel tubes!" Zhao Lao Nian growled low, "The lord's order must be transmitted by noon tomorrow—no matter the cost!"

The artisan gritted his teeth, turned, and went to adjust the valve.

The copper instruments began to emit a strained hum.

Zhao Lao Nian wiped the sweat dripping into his eyes.

He looked toward the center of the array, at the floating crystal that was gradually lighting up.

Pinhole passage.

About to be forced open.

And the message to be sent this time…

is of utmost importance.

He recalled the two sets of simple codes the lord had entrusted him with, plus the added three concepts: 'North, Blue, Pillar'.

Zhu Yue, Zhu Yue…

Zhao Lao Nian muttered to himself.

You must… receive it.