After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 716 - 706: Dividing the Horses

The sound of the qin was soft and gentle; Zhao Hanzhang didn’t sing out loud, but Fu Tinghan still heard the distant realm of high mountains and long rivers.

He quietly leaned against the door frame watching her, his inner restlessness calmed, even his fatigue quieted down, his body relaxed and comfortable.

After Zhao Hanzhang finished playing a piece, she felt assured and lifted her head to look at Fu Tinghan, finding him smiling lightly at her. She couldn’t help but smile as well, proudly asking, "How did I play?"

Fu Tinghan nodded and said, "It sounded great."

Having received his approval, Zhao Hanzhang decided to gift this score to Liu Kun.

Three days before the winter solstice, Wu Erlang’s caravan, along with the Jinyang Army, escorted the goods back to Luoyang.

This time, they not only brought back a large number of horses but also quite a few furs and medicinal materials.

Upon hearing the news, Beigong Chun rushed into action, leading his soldiers and urging Zhao Erlang, running back to the city overnight seeking horses.

Upon entering Zhao Mansion, Zeng Yue was already waiting. He was now Zhao Hanzhang’s deputy general, equally eager to secure some warhorses for the Zhao Family Army.

The Qihu Army received the news a bit later and only arrived in Luoyang the next day. Upon entering Zhao Mansion and seeing Beigong Chun and others were already there, their hearts sank.

Li couldn’t help but pull Chen Wu aside and whisper, "General, this won’t do. We’re merely mercenaries, not under Lord Zhao, and always receive news a step behind. Even if we arrive at the same time, would she really give the best resources to us mercenaries instead of her own troops?"

This brought Chen Wu to ponder issues he’d been considering for months. He pursed his lips, "You’re suggesting we join her."

Li said softly, "If Lord Zhao is willing to accept us, why don’t we join?"

Chen Wu lowered his head in thought; if Zhao Hanzhang could ensure they no longer had to wander, he would naturally be willing to pledge allegiance.

Guy City’s harvest was barely sufficient this year. The land distributed by Zhao Hanzhang yielded quite a bit, and many houses were built as well. Though nobody said it aloud, the troops indeed had thoughts of settling in Guy City.

The elderly and weak traveling with them have stabilized, and Zhao Hanzhang even established a school in Guy City where children from the Qihu Army could attend, regardless of having parents or family.

They could study and work simultaneously, and Chen Wu saw their loyalty to Zhao Hanzhang, even though he was still their main leader, Zhao Hanzhang’s position in their hearts was not insignificant.

Before the tax announcement was out, the leftover nobility in Guy City privately cursed Zhao Hanzhang quite a bit. Even after its release, there were some voices of dissent. The Qihu Army’s children argued with these gentry several times, even ended up fighting.

This showed their loyalty to Zhao Hanzhang.

Two years later, even if the Qihu Army was still his army, it would bear Zhao Hanzhang’s mark.

In such circumstances, it would be better to pledge loyalty early on and also gain some advantages.

After all, he no longer wished to lead his people wandering and begging.

Did he really think a military unit was easy to maintain?

Chen Wu said softly, "Then shall we pledge today?"

Li nodded repeatedly, "Let’s pledge today."

Chen Wu made up his mind and immediately turned toward the garden.

Sitting in the garden waiting, Beigong Chun and others had already seen him; they just didn’t know what he’d been whispering about with his deputy outside the door for so long before coming in.

Upon entering, Chen Wu clasped his hands, laughing heartily while greeting them.

Beigong Chun nodded while sitting, a form of greeting, and Xie Shi also slightly bowed his head, but Zhao Erlang was joyfully rising to greet him with clasped hands, "General Chen, when can we spar again? Last time we ended in a draw, but Mr. Xie said you deliberately let me win, not dispatching your elite troops. This time, let’s have elite versus elite, no holding back."

Chen Wu’s eyes flashed, smiling as he said, "Little General, my men are all mud-leg soldiers, not good at much but running fast with strong legs."

"Our Qihu Army previously wandered barefoot, running a hundred miles with thick soles tougher than shoe soles. You’re at a disadvantage in infantry against me, so you shouldn’t attack my strength with your weakness," Chen Wu said. "I heard the Zhao Family Army’s cavalry is quite formidable; the Zhao Family Army under Lord Zhao is unmatched by most. Little General’s Zhao Family Army should be impressive, too. Why don’t we compete in cavalry?"

Beigong Chun snorted upon hearing this, realizing Chen Wu wanted horses.

The Zhao Family Army’s cavalry was good, but Chen Wu’s words were overemphasized.

In Great Jin, the most formidable cavalry belonged to the Xiliang Army under his command, even Gou Xi’s cavalry had greater prowess than the Zhao Family Army.

Everyone present understood Chen Wu was seeking horses from Zhao Hanzhang, except Zhao Erlang.

Zhao Erlang didn’t catch Chen Wu’s implied meaning, but the young man had his own determination and understanding. He said, "Sister said that issues of strengths and weaknesses are for generals to consider. I don’t yet have the ability to lead, so I focus on being a pioneer first."

He continued, "Now we’re training on our own. Since infantry is my weakness, I must practice hard. From my observation, in terms of cavalry ferocity, none can compare to General Beigong’s Xiliang Army. But for infantry fierceness, no one surpasses General Chen’s Qihu Army. Now, armies lack horses, so while cavalry needs practice, infantry needs even more. Let’s compete again with your elite against mine, shall we?"

Chen Wu hesitated, "This..."

He hadn’t expected Zhao Erlang to say such things.

"Ah, General Chen wouldn’t be afraid of this young lad, would he?" Zhao Hanzhang laughed as she stepped out of the house, followed by Ji Yuan, Ming Yu, Fan Ying, and others, teasing with a smile, "Or worried about hurting him?"

Chen Wu quickly stepped forward to salute, and Beigong Chun and several others rose to greet as well.

Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand, granting them permission to sit, then took her seat at the head, "Sit and let’s talk."

She said to Chen Wu, "General, go ahead and challenge him, also help me train him. This youngster has learned some military tactics and is quite excited, but they’re just theories compared to your war experience. When it comes to infantry daring, none of our armies compare to your Qihu Army."

Chen Wu hurriedly replied, "It’s all out of necessity, using lives to fight, nowhere near Lord Zhao’s strategic mastery and divine use of troops."

"Alright, let’s skip the mutual praise," Zhao Hanzhang turned to Beigong Chun and Xie Shi, saying, "I understand your purpose. As for the horses sent from Jinyang, I’ll let Wei Matou select them. After removing the young horses not ready for battle, the rest will be divided among the armies as warhorses. Take good care of them; this batch of horses wasn’t easy to obtain."

On the way back, Wu Erlang and his team were robbed by the Xiongnu Army. Fortunately, most of the horses were saved, but the escorting Jinyang Army suffered numerous casualties, costing quite a bit of money as well, causing Zhao Hanzhang some heartache.

The public treasury that just gained some wealth from taxes was emptied significantly because of these horses.

Beigong Chun and Xie Shi excitedly agreed, but Chen Wu was anxious, rushing to speak before Zhao Hanzhang announced the allocation plan, "Lord Zhao, I have a matter to discuss with you."

Zhao Hanzhang was about to assign horses when she paused upon hearing this, asking, "Is it urgent?"

Chen Wu said seriously, "Extremely urgent."

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at Ji Yuan, then rose to lead Chen Wu to the study for discussion.