Iron Dynasty Chapter 982

Qi Guangyi's eyes locked right onto the carbine Xiao Ming had mentioned.

Once Xiao Ming allowed it, Qi Guangyi picked up the carbine and inspected it thoroughly. The closer he examined it, the more thrilled he got. The weapon he held felt remarkably like the Han-style rifle, though it stood out as shorter overall and impressively light in weight.

By now, he possessed a solid understanding of guns. Such a carbine style proved ideal for firing while riding horseback, yet it came with the trade-off of a somewhat reduced shooting distance.

That said, its reach still outdid the barbarians' bows and arrows by far, especially since their clashes on the grasslands had long left them struggling with long-distance arms against the foes.

Armed with this carbine now, they stood ready to turn that weakness around entirely.

“Your Majesty, how many of these carbines do we have?” Qi Guangyi inquired with clear excitement.

“Not a huge number. The military factory turned out exactly 8,000 in total, plenty to cover this campaign. Armed with these, you can assemble a top-tier rifle cavalry unit to take on the barbarians.”

Xiao Ming guided Qi Guangyi over to the map. North beyond the Great Wall and west from Raozhou, the Golden Tent Khanate held firm control.

“Eight thousand sounds like quite the haul.” Qi Guangyi pressed hopefully, “Your Majesty, does it fire metal bullets just like the Han-style rifle?”

At those words, Xiao Ming offered a bitter grin. He explained, “Forget it. Crafting metal bullets poses a massive challenge, and with the carbine's 6.5-millimeter bore, the bullets differ in size too. That requires the military factory to set up an entirely fresh assembly line, dragging things out for ages. For the moment, stick to paper cartridges—they'll do the job.”

Disappointment flickered across Qi Guangyi's face at first, but then he realized it beat returning with nothing at all, and paper cartridges served merely as a stopgap. Soon enough, metal bullets might enter the picture.

With that in mind, he remarked, “I got a little too eager there. This carbine truly fits horseback firing and packs more than enough punch against the barbarian riders.”

Xiao Ming gave a nod. For simpler transport by cavalry, the carbine included a strap, letting riders sling it across their backs.

Thus, the cavalry gained the flexibility to shift seamlessly from melee fights to ranged volleys whenever needed.

Having displayed the carbine, Xiao Ming went on, “The weapon itself is key, yet fighting spirit matters just as much. That notion creeping into the ranks that ‘weapons decide all’ spells real trouble. It risks turning our troops dependent on gear alone, blinding them to the truth that soldiers themselves clinch the victory in battle.”

Over the last decade, superior arms had carried them to triumph in nearly every conflict, fostering a false belief among troops and officers alike that firepower alone sealed wars.

Yet Xiao Ming knew full well weapons ranked as just one element in combat. His modern nation's upset win over a power wielding far advanced tech stood as stark evidence.

Qi Guangyi's face grew grave upon hearing this. He replied, “I've kept that lesson close: ‘On a narrow path, brave warriors clash, and the bolder prevails’.”

“Yes, exactly.” Xiao Ming clapped Qi Guangyi on the shoulder. “For this push north, veterans Niu Ben and Luo Quan will lead the charge. Your cavalry needs to sync up fully. I'm counting on great results from you. The forces stand ready. Head out after five days' rest at home.”

“Understood, Your Majesty,” Qi Guangyi saluted with a deep bow.

April 9th.

Following months of buildup, the force aimed at toppling the Golden Tent Khanate gathered at Qingzhou's rail hub. Thanks to the mighty haul of steam engines, 80,000 troops zipped straight from Qingzhou to Raozhou.

Together with the men came heaps of arms, rounds, and preserved rations to Raozhou.

“General, this canned food assortment is impressive.”

After a full day and night on the rails, the initial wave of troops and gear reached Raozhou. Niu Ben, Luo Quan, and Qi Guangyi stepped off the lead locomotive.

As they reviewed the arriving canned supplies, Qi Guangyi found himself truly amazed.

Military preserves weren't new to him. Back in the North-South War, they had eased feeding troops deep in the field.

Still, he'd gone without seeing any since, sticking to regular meals during his Raozhou posting where cans proved unnecessary.

Which made this fresh shipment of army cans a genuine revelation for him.

“Ever since that initial cannery struck gold in the North-South War, Qingzhou's seen a boom in such plants, and to snag contracts from the Grand Council, they've innovated wildly with all sorts of varieties. That's led to our current bounty of military canned options.”

As he talked, Niu Ben gestured at various tins and noted, “Here's the pork variety, over there potatoes, fruit ones next, and biscuits in these…”

Niu Ben kept explaining, as Luo Quan grinned. He told Qi Guangyi, “Army rations keep improving these days. Nothing like this back when we were in the thick of it.”

Qi Guangyi stood there stunned. Today's lessons had broadened his horizons.

Once they'd inspected portions of the provisions, the trio lingered until the vanguard troops formed up, then entered the city.

Reaching the Raozhou base, Niu Ben declared, “Supply lines for this fight are solid. Battle setup far outshines past efforts. Losing now would leave us too ashamed to face His Majesty again.”

After a brief silence, he turned to Qi Guangyi, “Alright, update me on the barbarians' exact status.”

With a firm acknowledgment, Qi Guangyi approached the grassland chart. Pausing briefly to gather his thoughts, he began, “After we shoved the barbarians onto the steppes, they've taken heavy hits. But even a weakened beast outmatches a dead one. Though fading, the barbarians retain mighty power, boasting around 260,000 horsemen.”

“Losing Guandong cost the barbarians few riders. Their biggest casualties were in slaves.” Luo Quan added, “260,000 makes a formidable force—nearly double our count.”

Niu Ben dipped his head in subtle agreement.

Qi Guangyi pressed on, “That 260,000 horsemen spread out instead of bunching up, scattered over the endless plains. To dodge our strikes, the Golden Tent Khanate's central hub shifted here, a spot distant indeed from our lines.”

“Ili, yes—quite the trek away.” Niu Ben's gaze sharpened. The map Qi Guangyi used already plotted the barbarians' spread across the grasslands.

Across the boundless plains, barbarian clans claimed varied grazing lands, each varying in might. They appeared divided, yet Niu Ben understood that war's call would rally them into a unified threat.

Qi Guangyi's briefing sharpened their grasp of the barbarians' layout. Luo Quan followed up, “Our foot soldiers carry Han-style rifles and Imperial Guard cannons. Holding the hollow square should render the barbarians helpless. No cause for deep concern. We'll advance onto the steppes and wipe out every barbarian clan to end all threats for good!”