The Innocent Heart - Chapter 23

In the hall now, Liu Che sat in the head seat, while Wei Qing sat below with Huo Qubing and Guan Yueyao. Wei Zifu did not follow them in. Instead, she dismissed the palace maids attending the Emperor and tactfully withdrew herself.

This was no longer a topic she should participate in. She yielded this space to the men who were about to “show their skills.”

Before withdrawing, she almost imperceptibly looked up, glancing again at the youth sitting beside Huo Qubing from the corner of her eye.

In the end, she said nothing and quietly left.

“Zhongqing, tell Me, what have you thought of?” As soon as the people dispersed, Liu Che impatiently leaned forward slightly.

Currently, the Chancellor, Han Anguo, and others in the court still advocated for appeasement through marriage with the Xiongnu to calm the increasingly tense atmosphere of war between the two nations.

The previous campaign to Mayi failed due to leaked information, making it increasingly difficult for Liu Che himself to raise troops again.

This was the reason why he did not return to the Xuan Shi Hall, where court matters were typically discussed, but instead chose Wei Zifu’s palace to discuss these topics with Wei Qing today.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, these are merely some views Your subject has pondered privately. They are no comparison to the deep understanding of the Xiongnu held by veteran generals like Li Guang and Cheng Bushi…”

“Enough, enough. Zhongqing, get straight to the point. There’s no need for such formalities with Me.”

Before Wei Qing could finish speaking, Liu Che interrupted him impatiently, urging him to get to the main topic quickly.

Wei Qing paused, then cupped his hands and said, “Your subject has been studying the battle reports submitted from the border every year and has found that while these Xiongnu come to the northern border of our Great Han every winter, pillaging people, goods, cattle, and sheep without restraint, these Xiongnu act loosely and lack strict discipline. Regardless of the scale, they lack unified command. Moreover, whenever they encounter resistance from our army, they advance if advantageous and retreat if disadvantageous, not ashamed to flee. They seize advantage wherever it is found, with no regard for propriety or righteousness.”

“Your subject believes that to defeat the Xiongnu, it is most crucial to overwhelm the enemy in the initial stages of battle.”

Guan Yueyao didn’t quite understand what Wei Qing was saying and couldn’t help but secretly yawn. Looking around, she found Huo Qubing listening intently with a serious expression. Clearly, he understood everything Wei Qing was saying.

She secretly tugged at Huo Qubing’s sleeve under the table, wanting to play with him, just like when she was bored in class at school and secretly passed notes to classmates when the teacher wasn’t looking.

But Huo Qubing ignored her. His mind was entirely captivated by Wei Qing’s words.

Guan Yueyao was rebuffed. She secretly pouted, lowered her head, and played with her fingers under the table, content to entertain herself and pass the time.

Meanwhile, Liu Che, like Huo Qubing, found his thinking broadened by Wei Qing’s words.

“What Zhongqing says is good! Then, in your opinion, how should our Han cavalry secure the utmost advantage in the initial stage of battle?” Liu Che’s tone conveyed excitement, and he unconsciously sat up from his seat, leaning forward with his hands braced on the low table.

“Your subject believes that the Xiongnu’s advantage lies in mounted archery. Xiongnu men have been raised on horseback since childhood, and almost every man in the south of their territory is an expert in mounted archery. As for our Great Han, although we have tens of thousands of cavalry, frankly speaking, when considering mounted archery alone, most of our men are far inferior to the Xiongnu.”

“Your subject thinks, if this is the case, why should we use our weakness against their strength? The Xiongnu’s strength lies in the fact that their individual combat capability is superior to ours. Our army’s strength, however, lies in strict discipline, which can unite tens of thousands of men to form immense combat power.”

The hall was extremely quiet now; one could almost hear a pin drop.

Wei Qing’s gentle voice had an excellent hypnotic effect on Guan Yueyao. She felt her eyelids fighting fiercely to stay open.

“Then tell Me, how should we respond to the Xiongnu’s arrow formations?”

Liu Che’s majestic and powerful voice rang out then. Guan Yueyao’s drowsy head cleared for a moment. She blinked and looked sideways at Huo Qubing.

Huo Qubing maintained his posture, not moving at all.

“Is it really that interesting?” Guan Yueyao thought. Driven by curiosity, she cheered up and strained her ears, trying hard to digest the information contained within the exchange between the two adults.

“Your subject suggests abandoning archery and having the cavalry switch to using a saber formation to break through the Xiongnu’s offensive,” Wei Qing answered seriously. He felt some nervousness, as he had never truly been on a battlefield, and his understanding of the armies’ advantages and disadvantages came from written reports.

“The Xiongnu do not engage in production, and their battle armor is mostly leather, whereas the armor of our Great Han soldiers is made of refined iron. By using surprise cavalry charges to scatter the Xiongnu army at the start of battle, and then capitalizing on their habit of retreating when disadvantaged, our Han army can achieve victory.”

“Yesterday, when Your subject sparred with Yueyao at home, he described a type of long saber Your subject had never heard of. From his description, Your subject believes it could be a sharp weapon for the Han army to defeat the Xiongnu.”

Guan Yueyao was listening in a half-understanding state when the topic was suddenly shifted to herself.

She raised her head blankly, seeing three pairs of eyes looking directly at her.

“What saber? Quickly tell Us about it.”

Liu Che had already sensed the feasibility of Wei Qing’s proposed tactics and felt the desire to wage war against the Xiongnu ignite within him again.

Now, hearing Wei Qing highly recommend this youth named Guan Yueyao, coupled with the sheer brilliance he saw in her saber demonstration, Liu Che couldn’t help but feel expectation.

“Ah? The Miaodao?” Guan Yueyao still looked out of sorts. She scratched her head: “The Miaodao I used to use was three chi and seven cun long, but now even a five-chi saber, I can use.

The blade is slender, the last few cun of the tail are not sharpened. It can be held single-handedly or double-handedly. Long, it can be used like a spear for thrusting; short, it is a saber for horizontal and vertical cleaving.”

As Guan Yueyao spoke, she subconsciously gestured with her hands. Everyone present had seen her wield the saber, and the momentum of the thousand-pound force she exerted when swinging the saber instantly appeared in their minds.

“This Miaodao is precisely the sharp weapon Your subject believes can greatly defeat the Xiongnu. Although the Han’s ring-pommel saber is also sharp, wielding it single-handedly ultimately lacks sufficient power. Furthermore, a mounted charge requires greater grip strength.”

“The unsharpened tail of the Miaodao allows soldiers to hold the saber with both hands for cleaving. In battle, its length can bridge the distance, allowing both offense and defense. Since the Xiongnu mostly carry short blades, at close range, the Miaodao can greatly widen the advantage of our army over the Xiongnu. Moreover, the Miaodao is dual-purpose, which can reduce the marching load on our soldiers.”

As Wei Qing spoke with growing excitement, his eyes lit up. Even he seemed unable to stop himself from fantasizing about a future day when he would lead troops across the battlefield, wielding this Miaodao with both hands and routing the enemy for a thousand miles.

“If it is truly as you two say, this Miaodao is indeed a divine weapon. Guan Yueyao, do you have a drawing of it to present?” Liu Che was also excited upon hearing this. This time, he could no longer wait and walked down from his seat.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, due to the hurried timing, Your subject has not yet had time to have Yueyao draw the schematics of the Miaodao.”

Yesterday, Wei Qing had already witnessed Guan Yueyao’s “improper speech.” Fearing that she might commit a transgression in front of the Emperor and anger the Son of Heaven, he bowed and reported before Guan Yueyao could answer herself.

Liu Che smiled and waved his hand: “No matter. Draw it for Us right now!”

“But my drawing skills are poor,” Guan Yueyao finally seized an opportunity to speak, saying with some difficulty.

Liu Che was unconcerned. He simply nodded, quickly walked out of the hall, and instructed the attendant Wang He, who was waiting outside: “Go, summon Mao Yuan for Me!”

Mao Yuan was a court artist in the Weiyang Palace, specializing in painting for the royal family, with extremely exquisite skills.

Before long, the artist Mao Yuan rushed over with all his painting tools. Liu Che’s summons was urgent, and Mao Yuan dared not delay, jogging across most of the Weiyang Palace to reach the Qingliang Hall. He was breathless by the time he arrived.

Before he could finish his salutations, Liu Che stopped him: “No need for formalities. Guan Yueyao, come here and clearly describe the shape of your Miaodao. Mao Yuan, listen carefully and draw it for Me precisely, word for word.”

The group became engrossed inside the hall and showed no sign of emerging until lunchtime. Wei Zifu thoughtfully prepared a lavish meal and led the palace maids inside in an orderly fashion.

“Your Majesty, please have lunch first. What if you starve yourself and harm your health?” Her soft, gentle voice alleviated the slight displeasure Liu Che felt at having his thoughts interrupted.

“No matter. Leave it there. When I get hungry, I will eat,” Liu Che impatiently waved his hand and also stopped Wei Qing and the others from bowing: “No need to bow. Mao Yuan, hurry and draw.”

Having no other choice, everyone refocused their attention on the low tables before them.

At this moment, Guan Yueyao and Mao Yuan sat before the table, while Wei Qing, Huo Qubing, and Liu Che surrounded them, all intently staring at the silk surface spread out on the table.

“No, no, the curve of the back of the blade is still a bit too curved,” the voice of the youth named Guan Yueyao sounded again, and Wei Zifu couldn’t help but look sideways at him.

He truly is bold, Wei Zifu thought. Although curious, she ultimately did not dare to linger. Following Liu Che’s instructions, after having the palace maids set out the lunch, she silently withdrew once more.

And until she left the hall, the men inside never once looked up.

It continued this way until about two or three o’clock in the afternoon, when Guan Yueyao finally nodded: “This is the shape of the Miaodao I usually use.”

By now, the playful demeanor had faded from her face, replaced by the satisfaction and relief of having completed a major task.

Mao Yuan also wiped the sweat beading on his forehead and tossed his brush aside. A pile of discarded drafts had accumulated at his feet. These pieces of silk, which would be considered precious in the common world, lay scattered on the floor, untouched, as if they were the most worthless trash in the hall.

“Hahaha! This is the sharp weapon that will help My Great Han eliminate the Xiongnu!” Liu Che snatched the silk cloth with the Miaodao drawing from Mao Yuan’s hand, held it up to his eyes, and exclaimed with immense delight.

“Wang He! Immediately send this drawing to the Shangfang Commandery! Command them to forge this saber with the greatest speed!”