Chapter 19: Equipping Tactics

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In the dimly lit barracks, Zhao Ji’s bunk was piled higher with thicker bundles of straw. He lay down lazily, feeling quite comfortable. Raising his hands, he recalled that after winning the daytime competition, he had broken through to level five, with a damage increase of up to 40%. Adjusting his breath, emptying his mind, he confirmed that the skill he had acquired was the Ranger’s ability, the storyline version of “Breaking Through Thorns,” capped at 64%. The online version seemed to offer a damage boost of 100%, or possibly even a bit more.

His melee weapon was “Breaking Through Thorns,” and he also had a skill for using bow and crossbow, with a similar damage increase ratio. However, these two skills appeared to be integrated, and there were additional Ranger traits such as forging, Qi control, and Qi recovery skills. There were other status buffs and techniques as well, but Zhao Ji felt these skills alone were insignificant and would very likely merge into a single ability.

More than these skills, what concerned him was “Qi.” In this game, there were sorcerers, low-level spells, and strange beasts from mountains and seas. He had little interest in riding or consuming these beasts; he simply wanted to practice “Qi cultivation.” Only through cultivating Qi could he gain a measure of security.

Reflecting on all that had happened today, should the external situation change drastically, they would only be swept along by the currents. The so-called garrison commander had no real security. What good was being appointed a general by the court? Even the emperor was constantly on the move, and Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Ce all fought fiercely on the front lines.

This world was fraught with peril; no official title could guarantee one’s safety. Many years later, even the emperor would be stabbed in the street. Only by cultivating Qi—only by cultivating Qi—could he feel even a little secure.

With this faint hope for Qi cultivation, Zhao Ji quickly fell asleep. Maintaining good condition was essential to face each day’s challenges.

In the barracks opposite, Pei Xiu was restless, his emotions fluctuating wildly, making sleep difficult. Today, by joining forces with Wei Gu, they had forced Jia Kui and Wang Zhi to yield, gaining control over the situation without bloodshed or internal strife. But tomorrow would bring the real test: to block and defeat a military attack was the key to their next move.

Previously, he had only suspected a bandit raid—perhaps from the Jishan bandits, maybe the Xiongnu, or even Xu Huang’s group. Through Zhao Ji’s reaction, he had ruled out the Jishan bandits; Jia Kui was willing to vouch for Xu Huang. This strongly suggested the attackers would be the Xiongnu.

Currently, the camp had over two hundred horses. Counting the Tiger Guards arriving tomorrow, by dusk the camp would have more than three hundred horses—a force impossible to ignore.

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The garrison at Jiangyi numbered a thousand men, with just over a hundred horses. Only a real battle could prove each man’s worth, and the enlisted Tiger Guards could demonstrate their value to the court and strengthen the emperor’s resolve.

But swords and blades show no mercy—anyone might perish when battle erupts.

If they severely wounded the Xiongnu attackers, wouldn’t that alert the White Wave veterans? It might even provoke the White Wave veterans to reunite and fight among themselves.

One must not overestimate Yang Feng’s morality—this man was utterly unscrupulous, more shameless than Li Jue or Guo Si.

Li Jue and Guo Si were merely brutal and violent, but Yang Feng was shameless.

When the emperor moved east, countless court officials, Tiger Guards, imperial guards, and soldiers were killed. Li Jue and Guo Si repeatedly battled, while various officers looted indiscriminately, causing untold suffering to the common people.

It was Yang Feng who thoroughly disrupted what was once a controllable situation, indirectly causing so many disasters.

Otherwise, with Guanzhong stable for years and people yearning for peace, the court officials could have calmly orchestrated the assassination of Li Jue and Guo Si during their negligence.

Instead, there was chaotic slaughter and turmoil, costing many future pillars of the court their lives in the disorder.

Thinking of all this, Pei Xiu was furious, clenching his fists repeatedly. Silently brooding, he eventually fell asleep without realizing it.

When he awoke, the smell of cooking smoke filled the air. Feeling somewhat listless and yawning, he stepped out and saw Zhao Ji practicing swordplay.

Zhao Ji wielded a two-handed longsword in his right hand, while his left hand held a branch shaped like a hook, inverted. A dozen or so early-rising Tiger Guards stood at the edge watching. Pei Xiu did not disturb them but stood at the doorway, breathing in the fresh air to awaken himself.

He observed Zhao Ji’s slow, deliberate sword movements, which seemed to practice various coordinated hook sword techniques. Coming late, Pei Xiu quickly understood: Zhao Ji intended to use the hook held in his left hand to block and restrict opponents, enabling his right hand sword to strike decisively.

After finishing practice, Zhao Ji tossed the branch-hook near the campfire. Wei Xing at his side asked, “Commander, no longer using the hook?”

“No. If one sword can kill, the hook is unnecessary. If the hook can limit the enemy, I can kill with two swords. As for those who can’t be caught by the hook, why use it at all?”

Zhao Ji’s explanation was somewhat roundabout, but Wei Xing, skilled in martial arts and naturally talented, nodded in agreement.

“That’s right. Those with weak innate strength use hooks. For a garrison commander with strong vigor, the hook is somewhat beneath him.”

“No, you’re thinking of ordinary iron hooks,” Zhao Ji said, raising the longsword and gesturing near the tip. “If it’s a heavy sword with a hook, the center of gravity is forward, making slashes swift and fierce. Against an equally strong opponent, it offers a great advantage.”

Wei Xing studied the sword tip, imagining it for a moment. “Then it shouldn’t be altered from a sword. Swords are suited for stabbing. The commander’s technique emphasizes heavy slashes, so a long knife modified with a hook would be better.”

“Yes, but time is short. There’s no chance for that now.”

Zhao Ji wiped the longsword, took the scabbard from Yang Ji, and sheathed his sword.

At that moment, Pei Xiu stepped forward. Zhao Ji and Wei Xing saluted respectfully. “Brother Qi.”

Pei Xiu asked Wei Xing, “Zi'ang, where is A Xing?”

“He’s still sleeping.”

“No need to bother him. Come with me to the quarters to discuss matters.”

“Understood.”

Zhao Ji and Wei Xing followed Pei Xiu to Hu Ban’s quarters. Hu Ban was carefully copying bamboo slips with a brush, only nodding briefly to the group before resuming his work.

These bamboo slips recorded the identities of the Tiger Guards from this county—one slip per person, being recopied under their new identities. Later, these would be bound into volumes as military rosters.

Once everyone was seated, Pei Xiu asked, “Across the four counties, there are 142 men. You, A Ji, are named garrison commander, but I can only assign you three squads. What type of men do you want?”

“Ten crossbowmen: three with heavy crossbows, seven with bows, each paired with two large shields.”

This was from their preliminary discussion last night; Pei Xiu had given him the night to consider.

Zhao Ji had to protect a few close countrymen—if he couldn’t protect even his own people, who else could he safeguard? He also understood that heavy crossbows were the real hard currency, more valuable than regular half-armor.

With the chaos in Luoyang and the Three Border regions, the court’s technology for manufacturing heavy crossbows had been severely lost.

In other words, the court and various forces had temporarily lost the capacity for mass production of heavy crossbows.

The reason Li Jue and Guo Si’s Guanzhong troops were so formidable was that they inherited the armory intact.

Weapons could be damaged, but they had ample reserves.

Even if those reserves were nearly depleted, the number of heavy crossbows actually equipped in their army still overwhelmingly surpassed neighboring forces.

In the heat of battle, no army could withstand their volleys.

Li Jue and Guo Si’s troops were not only armed with heavy crossbows but also had armor, tactics, and extensive combat experience.

But Li Jue and Guo Si’s forces were not the enemy to worry about now. The biggest threat was a ragtag group of Xiongnu clad in leather studded, sewn, and adorned with iron, copper, bone, or even wooden fragments.

Among these Xiongnu, it was possible not everyone had an iron spear; slave infantry using bone-tipped spears were also conceivable.

After finishing, Zhao Ji added, “We also need ten sword-and-shield men without heavy armor; and another ten spear-and-halberd soldiers, all requiring heavy armor. If armor is insufficient, they should wear leather coats with wooden fragments hanging and wooden face guards. The spear-and-halberd men will use their weapons to stop the Xiongnu cavalry’s charge, while the sword-and-shield men will follow me in close combat.”

“These spears and halberds must be modified by binding a torch with hemp rope as a crosspiece. When lit in battle, swinging these weapons will scare horses and disrupt the Xiongnu’s loose cavalry charge.”

Pei Xiu listened quietly and could already tell that during Zhao Ji’s seclusion in Jishan, he must have participated in real combat; otherwise, he wouldn’t have such targeted equipment knowledge.

Such wisdom could not be gained merely by hearsay.

Pei Xiu reviewed the arsenal data and knew Zhao Ji’s requested equipment was not excessive, with the most difficult being ten sets of heavy armor.

Currently, the county-issued weapons naturally lacked heavy armor, but among the enlisted Tiger Guards, dozens of heavy armor sets could be gathered.