Chapter 88: Jiang Xuan

"Brother Liu, what is this? Isn't this just a blade?"

Du Biao's eyes shone brightly. Although he did not know what this was, he was certain he had never seen this thing before. But immediately, he wore a look of skepticism. Blade infantry against cavalry? Was this not a joke? Their Baiya Army's blade infantry were quite powerful, but when facing the Xiongnu iron cavalry, they were simply trash; they couldn't even get close.

Otherwise, why would he have run to Yinzhou to buy long spears from Liu Zheng?

Zheng Yueru also looked over with curiosity.

When had Liu Zheng secretly come up with these things again?

Regarding Du Biao's skepticism, Liu Zheng smiled faintly: "This is a Lu Mo Saber, made specifically to counter cavalry!"

"Just this?"

Du Biao looked uninterested and hurriedly said: "Brother Liu, I am not interested in this Lu Mo Saber. I just want your Yinzhou Long Spears. Name your price!"

Liu Zheng was left speechless.

Just kidding, just this?

This was a Mo Saber! A genuine crystallization of the wisdom of Chinese civilization! The Mo Saber was the pinnacle of long-handled blades in Chinese civilization! It began to become popular during the era of Emperor Gaozong of Tang. The invention of the Mo Saber was originally intended to deal with Turkic cavalry, and it later became popular when dealing with the "Four Barbarians" of the Tang, who were famous for their cavalry!

Volume 16 of the "Six Statutes of the Tang" records: "There are four styles of blades: first is the Ceremonial Saber, second is the Barrier Saber, third is the Horizontal Saber, and fourth is the Lu Mo Saber... The Lu Mo Saber is a long blade, held by infantry, likely the Slaying Horse Sword of ancient times."

The Lu Mo Saber was a long blade held by Tang infantry. It developed from the Slaying Horse Sword of the Western Han Dynasty and absorbed the shapes and smelting techniques of the Han Lu Mo Saber and the long blades of the Six Dynasties. There were specific departments for casting, storing, and managing them. The Lu Mo Saber was extremely sharp with excellent cutting effects. In war, it was mainly used to cut down enemy cavalry. Its tactical role was equivalent to today's anti-tank weapons, and because of its great deterrent power, it was also used for the ceremonial guards of high-ranking civil and military officials and regional governors.

Its operational principle was collective combat, emphasizing teamwork, and its attack point was clear: it was for dealing with cavalry!

After his Rhodok Spear, this was the weapon Liu Zheng used to reinforce his ability to deal with cavalry! Historically, the Lu Mo Saber equipped heavy infantry and performed great meritorious service for the prosperous Tang, playing a decisive role in major battles! For example, Pei Xingjian's Lu Mo Saber warriors and Li Siye's Lu Mo Saber unit were quite famous. The reason the Tang Dynasty was not harassed by Turkic cavalry for many years was precisely because of the existence of the Lu Mo Saber!

And now.

With Liu Zheng already possessing the Rhodok Spear, and now combined with the Lu Mo Saber, this kind of battle formation was simply perfect for dealing with cavalry! Liu Zheng's Yinyang was located in Liangzhou, with Chen Ping eyeing it covetously from the east, wanting to take down the Liu father and son at any time. To the north was the strong and well-equipped Baiya Army; although they were currently in a honeymoon period, they were still official bandits! If they wanted to head south, they could do so at any time. Naturally, the first thing Liu Zheng had to guard against was their cavalry!

"Brother, are you sure you don't want this Lu Mo Saber?"

Liu Zheng laughed heartily.

Du Biao shook his head: "Brother, I only want your Yinzhou Long Spears!"

Liu Zheng smiled amusedly: "Fine, then the price of the Refined Salt will be as Brother Du said! As for the price of the long spears, you can go negotiate with Yue Ru! But, Brother Du, I must say the ugly words first!"

"If you want our Lu Mo Sabers later, it won't be something you can settle with just silver!"

Only then was Du Biao overjoyed.

He paid no attention at all to the words Liu Zheng added at the end.

Liu Zheng smiled deliberately and looked at Wei Tiezhu: "Tiezhu, how many of these Lu Mo Sabers have been forged?"

Wei Tiezhu said: "Reporting to the Young Master, over a hundred!"

"Good, bring them all to the training ground for me!"

Liu Zheng was quite excited.

Du Biao and Zheng Yueru looked at each other; wasn't it just a long blade? Was there a need to be this excited? The two of them followed Liu Zheng over. Inside this Yintan City, there was a training ground of Liu Zheng's, and this training ground was different from ordinary ones! Liu Zheng intended to turn this place into a harsh training base... specifically used to train the group of young men Jiang Xuan was leading. This training ground was originally very confidential, but because construction hadn't started yet, Liu Zheng wasn't afraid of Du Biao coming to see it.

Liu Zheng had Wei Tiezhu find Qin Zhangfeng and Jiang Xuan respectively, then gave each side three hundred soldiers to conduct drills.

Zheng Yueru used her eyes to remind Liu Zheng that Du Biao was still here; how could the strength of the Yinzhou Army be leaked to others so easily?

Liu Zheng acted as if he didn't see it...

Just kidding, if he didn't let Du Biao see the power of the Lu Mo Saber, how could he extort him?

Qin Zhangfeng was all cavalry, looking majestic. Looking at Jiang Xuan from afar, he laughed loudly: "Little Xuanzi, let Master see how much you've improved recently!"

Jiang Xuan was furious upon hearing this. Recently, under Qin Zhangfeng's training, Jiang Xuan was no longer the weak scholar he once was; his skin had darkened quite a bit, and his physique was much sturdier, so he had the confidence to roar back at Qin Zhangfeng: "Do you think I'm afraid of you? Brothers, form the formation for me!"

Behind Jiang Xuan were the group of beggar boys he led. Like Jiang Xuan, these boys were no longer the petty thieves of Liangzhou they once were; each one had become a sturdy man with a resolute gaze. Liu Zheng had Qin Zhangfeng arrange Devil Training for them, and in less than two months, the effects were already beginning to show.

On Jiang Xuan's side, there was not a single cavalryman. What Wei Tiezhu had issued to them were Rhodok Spears and Lu Mo Sabers.

Jiang Xuan's expression changed as soon as he saw it: "Young Master, why is this? This is unfair!"

His group of brothers also looked at each other, cursing inwardly. There was no other reason; they knew about the Rhodok Spear battle formation, but that usually required outnumbering the enemy to counter cavalry! Yet today, it was three hundred men on each side?

How was this supposed to be fought?

Liu Zheng smiled without a word.

On Qin Zhangfeng's side, they were already laughing in a group, their eyes filled with arrogance. These three hundred heavy armored cavalry were enough to trample this group of young boys.

"Young Master, this, this..."

Jiang Xuan still wanted to say something.

Liu Zheng waved his hand, signaling for the drill to begin. Today, he not only wanted to see the power of the Lu Mo Saber, but also wanted to see if Jiang Xuan had made any progress recently.

"Brothers, take it easy, don't scare these little brats too much!"

"Stop at the point of contact!"

On Qin Zhangfeng's side, they had already started mocking and laughing, not putting Jiang Xuan and the others in their eyes at all. With men shouting and horses neighing, the momentum was earth-shaking.

"Liu Zheng..."

Zheng Yueru felt a bit of heartache looking at Jiang Xuan at this moment.

"Don't worry about him."

Liu Zheng said faintly.

Du Biao also laughed from the side: "Brother Liu, what is there to see here?"

"This little general is definitely going to lose this time!"

He shook his head. As the Third Commander of the Baiya Army, he believed he still had quite the analytical ability.

"Hahaha, Brother Du, dare to make a bet?"

Liu Zheng smiled.

Du Biao was stunned and laughed: "Bet on what?"

Liu Zheng's eyes narrowed slightly: "If this Jiang Xuan can win, Brother Du must agree to one condition of mine?"

"What condition?"

Du Biao chuckled and didn't take it to heart, because he felt that Jiang Xuan's side was weak and indeed not easy to win.

Liu Zheng said indifferently: "Brother Du also knows that my Yinzhou Chamber of Commerce is more interested in the spice business..."

Du Biao was startled and looked over in disbelief: "Brother Liu, but those spices come from the Western Regions! You want to... those people from the Western Regions are not easy to deal with!"

Liu Zheng laughed: "Brother, the Yinzhou Chamber of Commerce is poor. If we can have fewer middlemen, we can save a lot of money. What do you think?"

Du Biao laughed in spite of himself: "The Yinzhou Chamber of Commerce is poor? Hahahaha, that is truly the biggest joke under heaven! Fine, I do know a few spice merchants, I'll take the bet with you!"

"Good!"

Liu Zheng was overjoyed.

Looking at Jiang Xuan's side again, facing the three hundred Cavalry over there who were brimming with murderous intent, he instead calmed down. Over these past few days, his previous arrogance had completely vanished; now, when encountering a problem, his first reaction was to think about how to solve it.

Three hundred Cavalry?

Three hundred Infantry?

One hundred Spearman, one hundred Mo Dao Soldier, one hundred Crossbowman.

How to fight this?

He began to ponder and deliberate in his mind.

Just at this moment, Liu Zheng looked at Jiang Xuan and laughed: "Little Xuan, the Surprise Unit does not rely on numbers, ten thousand horses save Zhongyuan. Chatting and laughing without He Dong, the heart and liver serve the Supreme. The lonely cloud follows the murderous aura, flying birds avoid the carriage gate. All day long joy remains, the city walls do not yet feel the clamor!"

Zheng Yueru and Du Biao heard this and clicked their tongues in wonder, calling out their praise one after another.

This Young Master Liu could even compose a good poem while training troops?

"The Surprise Unit does not rely on numbers, the Surprise Unit does not rely on numbers..."

"Surprise Unit?"

Jiang Xuan recited it a few times, his eyes suddenly lighting up, an idea forming in his heart, and then he gathered everyone together again, first soothing the emotions of the crowd, and then issuing orders separately.

Liu Zheng watched with a gratified smile.

Qin Zhangfeng's side was still mocking: "Little Xuan, are you ready?"

"Your master is coming!"

"Haha, if you kneel and call me Master in a moment, I won't kick your butt!"

The Cavalry laughed loudly.

Jiang Xuan had made his arrangements and replied with a confident face: "Come on!"

Qin Zhangfeng was amused and shouted loudly, and the three hundred Cavalry moved at once, their momentum terrifying. Zheng Yueru even let out an "ah," somewhat worried for Jiang Xuan; although it was a drill, the man knew the severity, but the horses did not! With so many War Horse trampling through, how could Jiang Xuan's side withstand it?

Who would have thought that Jiang Xuan stood steadily in the middle of the battle formation, a smile on his face, already possessing the demeanor of a great general.

The two sides were originally five hundred paces apart, but just as Qin Zhangfeng's Cavalry reached one hundred and fifty paces, Jiang Xuan shouted, and the Crossbowman began to fire; the soldiers on Qin Zhangfeng's side were wearing Plate Armor, but they still suffered a few losses.

Jiang Xuan was not in a hurry, waiting quietly; when the Cavalry reached sixty paces, the Crossbowman retreated, and the Spearman charged to block the Cavalry.

In this drill, Jiang Xuan divided these three hundred people into Crossbowman, Stationary Unit, Vanguard Unit, Leaping Unit, and Surprise Unit. The Spearman acting as the Vanguard Unit were in front, while the Surprise Unit and Leaping Unit, primarily composed of the Mo Dao Soldier, remained still for the time being, waiting until the Vanguard Unit was at a disadvantage in the battle before the Leaping Unit and Surprise Unit began to counterattack.

When the Leaping Unit and Surprise Unit were at a disadvantage in their attack, the remaining heavy infantry would then truly coordinate to kill the enemy.

When Qin Zhangfeng's Cavalry entered the battle formation designed by Jiang Xuan, they had, in fact, already fallen into Jiang Xuan's trap.