Is This Still Cavalry?

The Eastern Palace court deliberations unified the central government's opinion with an iron-fisted stance.

Under the stimulation of Zhu Zhanjun's "tiger-and-wolf medicine," Zhu Gaochi unleashed astonishing political energy.

As the Regent Crown Prince, he forcibly suppressed all doubts and set the entire Great Ming Dynasty's War Machine into motion around Zhu Zhanjun's "Ruin the Barbarians Vanguard Camp."

However, issuing an order was one thing; carrying it out was another.

Early the next morning, the atmosphere inside the Ministry of War Yamen was stifling.

Minister of War Fang Bin had two enormous dark circles beneath his eyes. He had not slept all night.

After Zhu Zhanjun had publicly humiliated him yesterday and His Highness the Crown Prince had rebuked him, the more he thought about it after returning home, the angrier and more frightened he became.

He was not afraid that Zhu Zhanjun would take revenge on him. He was afraid that Zhu Zhanjun might actually win.

If Zhu Zhanjun successfully rescued the emperor, would the Minister of War who had led the calls for a southward evacuation have anything good waiting for him?

With Emperor Zhu Di's temper, not skinning him alive and stuffing him with straw would already count as imperial mercy.

Thus, the only thought in his mind now was for Zhu Zhanjun's army to be defeated.

Preferably, the entire army would be wiped out and die on the grasslands of Mobei.

A Ministry of War Director entered cautiously and reported, "Minister, the Ministry of Revenue has already transferred the grain and fodder."

"Lord Xia said this was His Highness the Crown Prince's death order. He wants our Ministry of War to formulate a logistical transport plan as quickly as possible and guarantee the supplies for Prince Zheng... Oh, no, for the 'Ruin the Barbarians Vanguard Camp.'"

"Supplies? How are we supposed to supply them?"

Fang Bin slammed a palm onto the table in exasperation. "Three thousand heavy cavalry in Horse and Rider Armor marching through ice and snow—have you calculated how much grain and fodder they'll consume in a day?"

"Even their horses eat better than the elite Imperial Guards!"

"What are we supposed to use to catch up with them?"

"Our legs?"

Pointing at the map on the wall, he sneered, "They set out yesterday. Where could they have reached at most today?"

"Changping? Huailai? That's the absolute limit!"

"From the capital to Xuanfu, it's five hundred li. Heavy cavalry like theirs will need at least seven or eight days to make the journey!"

"By the time they dawdle their way to the border, I'm afraid His Majesty's bones will already be cold!"

Though the words were vicious, they were also common military knowledge.

Heavy cavalry possessed tremendous power but poor mobility. Their logistical burden was even more terrifying. They had always been the trump card for decisive battles, never a weapon for long-distance raids.

Several vice directors and Directors of the Ministry of War were also frowning bitterly.

"The Minister is right. The logistics really are a tremendous problem. Our supply carts can't keep up with their speed at all."

"And with the heavy snow blocking the roads, carts and horses can't travel through many places. We can only rely on people carrying everything on their backs. This... this is a bottomless pit!"

Just as everyone was at their wits' end, a burst of hurried footsteps came from outside.

A courier responsible for military reports from the border stumbled and crawled inside, all color drained from his face.

"Report—! Report—!"

"What are you shouting about? Has the sky fallen?"

Fang Bin was already in a foul mood and snapped angrily.

"M... Minister..."

The courier panted heavily, unable to speak clearly. "Xuan... Xuanfu emergency report!"

"The Rui... Ruin the Barbarians Vanguard Camp reached Xuanfu this morning... at mao hour... They... they've already arrived!"

"What?!"

Fang Bin shot up from his chair and grabbed the courier by the collar. "Say that again! Where have they reached?"

"Xuanfu, Minister!"

"They set out from the capital yesterday evening. They traveled five hundred li through the night and reached Xuanfu City this morning!"

The courier practically shouted through his tears.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

Fang Bin's eyes nearly bulged from their sockets. Pointing at the map, he screamed hysterically, "Five hundred li in one night! In this damned weather!"

"Do you take them for immortals?"

"Or did they grow wings and learn to fly?"

"Falsely reporting military intelligence is punishable by death! Someone, drag him out and execute him!"

Everyone throughout the Ministry of War was stunned senseless by the news.

Five hundred li in one night, traveling a thousand li by day and eight hundred by night—those were merely exaggerated words from storytellers.

In reality, even the most elite light cavalry, changing mounts between two horses each and disregarding the damage done to their animals, could run three hundred li in a day at most.

Yet Zhu Zhanjun's troops were monsters clad in heavy armor from head to toe, horses and riders alike.

How could they possibly move so fast?

This completely violated the laws of physics and the principles of warfare.

"Minister! This humble one wouldn't dare falsify a report!"

The courier was so frightened that he nearly wet himself. "It was personally written by Xuanfu Grand General Yang Hong!"

"He also said... he said that after the Ruin the Barbarians Vanguard Camp entered the city, the horses and riders were spirited and showed no sign of fatigue. They only replenished some fresh water, didn't stop even for an hour, and went straight out through the pass, heading north!"

As he spoke, he pulled a military report soaked through with sweat from his robes and handed it up with trembling hands.

Fang Bin snatched the report, unfolded it, and saw that it indeed bore Yang Hong's personal signature and general's seal.

Every line of Yang Hong's letter conveyed indescribable shock and fear.

He described how that army marched in utter silence, accompanied only by the dull rumble of the trembling earth.

The breath blown from their warhorses' mouths and nostrils was not white vapor but a kind of hot air carrying a faint scent of wine.

At the end of the letter, Yang Hong had also attached a list. It was something Zhu Zhanjun had left for him, requesting that the Xuanfu garrison not prepare grain and fodder for them, but only prepare certain "special supplies" according to the requirements on the list.