Chapter 307

First Volume_Chapter 307 Heavy Cavalry

"This is my thought: these one thousand Heavy Cavalry will be stationed in Beixi County, solely to prevent Beidi invasion and reinforce Beixi County's city defense. Unless the Emperor grants special permission, they shall never approach the territory of the Thirty-Six Counties of Jingdu."

"If the Emperor grants special permission, in addition to these one thousand Heavy Cavalry, I will present the Emperor with five thousand more Heavy Cavalry, expanding the Imperial Capital Garrison's Heavy Cavalry to ten thousand."

In plain terms, Heavy Cavalry's open field combat capability is too strong.

The Liang Emperor would never easily agree to Qin Feng; the only solution is to give the Liang Emperor absolute military superiority.

Upon hearing Qin Feng's remarks,

not only did the Liang Emperor laugh bitterly, but the Civil and Military Officials also wore expressions of contempt.

Qin Tianhu frowned tightly and snapped: "You brat, you're shamelessly boastful."

"Heavy Cavalry and Light Cavalry are entirely different troop types; their requirements for warhorses are worlds apart. Any warhorse capable of serving as Heavy Cavalry must possess not only strength but also exceptional endurance. Such warhorses are produced only by a few Highland Small Countries along the Northern Border. Even the Beidi's own warhorses excel in Raiding Cavalry and Light Cavalry, not Heavy Cavalry."

"Never mind where you'd get so many fine steeds—do you even know how much each such warhorse costs?"

Qin Feng had already investigated thoroughly before deciding to form Heavy Cavalry.

Facing his father's question, Qin Feng replied without hesitation: "A civilian horse is worth thirty-five bolts of silk, totaling one hundred fifty taels of silver; since it's a civilian horse, its quality is naturally poor. Any qualified warhorse costs over two hundred taels of silver."

"Over the years, the Beidi warhorses we've seized have all been directly allocated to our armies, rarely entering civilian circulation, but roughly estimated, each Beidi warhorse is worth about three hundred taels of silver."

"A warhorse capable of serving as Heavy Cavalry—possessing both strength and endurance—is worth at least five hundred taels of silver."

In this era, cavalry is a silver-guzzling beast; forming a thousand-man cavalry unit—even a Light Cavalry Corps—costs enough to equip a ten-thousand-man infantry army.

Qin Feng's formation of one thousand Tianji Camp Heavy Cavalry requires fifty thousand li silver just to buy the warhorses.

Add the five thousand Heavy Cavalry promised to the Liang Emperor, and the total comes to three million taels of silver.

To Qin Feng right now, this is an astronomical sum.

Moreover, the most troublesome problem isn't the money—it's the horses. After all, such Heavy Cavalry warhorses can't be bought even if you have the silver.

Liang's Heavy Cavalry still originated from tributes sent by Highland Small Countries during its peak era.

Now, that source has vanished entirely.

Qin Tianhu wanted to kick Qin Feng out right then and there, to prevent him from blurting out more ridiculous nonsense: "Buying horses alone requires three million taels of silver—hasn't the Beixi campaign already bled you dry? Even thirty thousand taels, you can't produce now!"

"You brat, get back home immediately and stop talking about impossible things."

Facing his father's scolding, Qin Feng looked wounded and muttered softly: "Money is no problem—I'll gather it all within ten days. What I lack now is the Emperor's imperial word."

Hearing this, the Liang Emperor, who had been frowning in thought, felt a sudden stir in his heart.

If Qin Feng truly could perform the Technique of Turning Decay into Wonder and supply five thousand Heavy Cavalry for the Imperial Capital Garrison, it would be like adding wings to a tiger for Jingdu's defense.

The Liang Emperor, half-testing, asked casually: "Qin Feng, do you know the Crime of Deceiving the Emperor?"

Qin Feng nodded vigorously, unusually obedient: "Minor offense: beheading. Major offense: execution of the entire family."

The Liang Emperor raised an eyebrow: "If you know that, how dare you claim you can accomplish it?"

Qin Feng spread his hands, looking utterly innocent: "I can accomplish it."

The Liang Emperor snorted: "Fine. Give me a deadline. When will you procure six thousand Heavy Cavalry warhorses? Only then will I permit you to establish the Tianji Camp Heavy Cavalry. But I warn you beforehand: if even one of those one thousand Heavy Cavalry dares cross the border and approach the Thirty-Six Counties of Jingdu, I will charge you with the Crime of Treason!"

This matter was extremely serious.

Yet Qin Feng, as always, patted his chest and declared boldly: "My loyalty is evident to heaven and earth!"

The Liang Emperor had intended to order Qin Feng out immediately, but sensing the impatient gazes of the Civil and Military Officials, fearing another struggle over the Grand Commandant position, he asked offhandedly: "The Grand Commandant position is now vacant. What are your thoughts—who should hold it?"

Saying this, the Liang Emperor deliberately emphasized: "Don't answer hastily. Think carefully before you speak."

Qin Tianhu quickly signaled Qin Feng with his eyes, warning him not to step into the fire.

The sensitivity of the Three Dukes' positions ranks just below that of the Crown Prince succession.

Such matters should be avoided if possible.

But Qin Feng pretended not to see and stood with hands on hips, boldly declaring: "Do I even need to think? Though the Grand Commandant's military authority was stripped during the late Emperor's reign, he still wields strong influence within the military. With national war imminent, if we appoint an incompetent man as Grand Commandant and hinder preparations, wouldn't that be counterproductive?"

"Therefore, before the national war ends, it's inappropriate to appoint a Grand Commandant."

This remark struck exactly the right chord with the Liang Emperor.

Qin Feng, to form Heavy Cavalry, had abandoned all dignity, speaking only what the Liang Emperor wanted to hear.

The Civil and Military Officials were outraged and began pointing at Qin Feng.

"Unthinkable! The Grand Commandant position cannot remain vacant indefinitely—you're just a petty ten-house officer, what do you know?"

"Hmph! You were once an official, but now you're not even a County Magistrate. Ten-house officer? Since the founding of Liang, every ten-house officer has been a soldier who earned the title through merit!"

"We're selecting the Grand Commandant to ensure smooth preparation for national war—you're part of the Pro-War Faction, so why are you holding us back now?"

Facing the officials' accusations, Qin Feng scratched his ear, yawned, and wore an insolent expression.

Once the officials gradually quieted down, Qin Feng lazily replied: "Stop beating around the bush, Your Excellencies. Among the Six Ministries, Nine Courts, and Five Directorates, only two men are qualified to be Grand Commandant. My father is already the Supervisor of War; technically, he could hold one of the Three Dukes. But if he also holds the Ministry of War, isn't that a violation of Imperial Ancestral Precedent?"

"Therefore, besides my father, the only other qualified candidate is the Minister of Justice."

Saying this, Qin Feng scanned the Civil and Military Officials and grinned: "Your courage doesn't even match mine. If it were me, I'd directly petition the Emperor to appoint the Minister of Justice as Grand Commandant."

The Grand Hall, moments ago filled with heated debate, fell into absolute silence.

Even the Minister of Works, who had been most eager to nominate a Grand Commandant, fell silent.

Everyone knew the Minister of Justice was close to Lin Taibao.

If the Lin Family gained two of the Three Dukes, with the Emperor's ruthless decisiveness, the entire court would face a Great Purge.

Qin Feng's remarks struck straight at the heart of the matter.

This was precisely the Liang Emperor's taboo—only he dared not say it aloud.