"Iron price doubled in Jizhou?"

For ordinary people, it may just be a matter of price fluctuations, but for Fei Qian and Pang Tong, this is indeed a military issue.

It is said to be Jizhou, but it is obviously near Yecheng, otherwise Jizhou is not that small, and no one specially traveled all over Jizhou to investigate.

Jizhou also has iron mines, and the output is not small, so most of the time the price of iron basically maintains a stable price, with little fluctuation. If it suddenly rises like this, there are only two reasons. One is that iron

There is a problem in the mine, and the other problem is that there is less iron on the market.

Iron is a strategic resource, so iron mines and other areas are basically areas of focus. They cannot be guarded by soldiers, so the possibility of problems is relatively small. After all, in this era, absenteeism is like livestock, even if there is a landslide.

, the worst case scenario is to change the hole and continue digging...

Therefore, Fei Qian and Pang Tong determined that the iron ore in the Jizhou market should be purchased on a large scale, which caused the price to rise. Why buy a large amount of iron? Of course it is not for eating, but obviously for casting weapons. So Cao Cao is ready to explode

Are you fighting? Youzhou is obviously unlikely, so will Cao Jun attack Huguan?

The closest place to Jizhou is undoubtedly the Shangdang area of ​​Taiyuan, and the mountains and rivers inside and outside the terrain are dangerous, with the river in the west and Taihang in the east. The whole thing is like a fruit wrapped in a hard shell, which cannot be easily broken open, especially Cao Cao's fortress.

Attacking from the southeast is even more difficult.

Historically, Cao Cao used superior troops to attack Huguan and spread the word, but it took him more than half a year to break through the hard shell.

So on the whole, when Bingzhou Taiyuan and Shangdang are together, they have always been in a state of defense instead of attack, because it is difficult to attack Huguan from Jizhou. Similarly, if Fei Qian wants to send troops from Huguan to attack Jizhou, it will be the same if he has to climb the Taihang Mountains.

The transportation was difficult, so Jia Qu served as a defense and containment in Huguan, and would not take the initiative to attack under normal circumstances.

This is somewhat interesting.

If it was just to attack Jingzhou, would Cao Cao need to make such a big move?

But if it weren't for Jingzhou, could Cao Cao afford to fight on both sides?

Fei Qian and Pang Tong discussed for a long time and felt that they could not rule out the possibility that Cao Cao suddenly became dizzy. However, this possibility was not high because Cao Cao would not send troops to fight Fei Qian until the Jingzhou issue was completely resolved.

So Fei Qian and Pang Tong finally decided to send people to Jizhou to spy on the news and find out what Cao Cao was doing...

However, no matter how Fei Qian deduced, what he never expected was that Cao Cao actually used these irons to create a uniform cavalry.

Equipped cavalry costs too much iron. Of course, iron is a waste of money. Well, it costs money...

Of course, Cao Cao plundered almost all the iron ingots in Jizhou not only to make weapons, but also for other purposes.

On this day, Cao Cao took some noble surnames from Jizhou and Yuan Xi to the southwest of Qinghe County.

After Yuan Xi defected to Cao Cao, he rarely showed up. As a result, some people spread rumors that Yuan Xi was killed by Cao Cao just like Yuan Tan. The rumors were even louder and louder, as if he was poisoned and cut into pieces.

Something like that, as if I was watching the whole process in person.

So Cao Cao simply took this opportunity to dry Yuan Xi in front of the Jizhou nobles. Although Yuan Xi was still slightly dressed up, his energy and spirit were obviously much worse, as if he was moldy.

It looks like half-eaten tofu skin, and even under the sun, it still has a rotten and stale smell.

After bypassing a hill that is not very high, there is a large piece of flat land behind the hill. On the flat land, bamboo and flags are used as fences to encircle a large open space, covering an area of ​​about the same size.

broad.

In the far distance of the open space, there are many archery targets and wooden stakes placed in hundreds or even thousands, neatly arranged and densely packed, standing as if they were a military formation. On this side of the open space, it is even more attractive.

It attracts people's attention because here there is a fully armed cavalry making preparations for the battle.

The Jizhou nobles put up awnings and looked at the cavalry. After seeing the equipment of these cavalry clearly, they couldn't help but take a breath and exchange glances.

It turns out that the price of iron on the market is so high these days, just for this reason...

Cao Cao walked in front with his head raised and his beard raised, his eyes slightly squinted, as if he didn't care about the arrogant movements of the Jizhou nobles behind him.

The Jizhou nobles and others clicked their tongues, then followed Cao Cao, staring intently. Yuan Xi was at the back, as if he was not interested in anything. After a few glances, he lowered his eyelids again.

.

However, Cao Cao had no intention of leaving Yuan Xi idle. Since he came out to bask in the sun, he had to bask in the sun thoroughly. How could he not turn it over and give it a good rub? So after getting on the general platform, he immediately called Yuan Xi to his side.

, and even stretched out his hand to hold Yuan Xi's arm, showing a harmonious atmosphere like a kind uncle and a well-behaved nephew.

Of course, if Yuan Xi's wife is still here, it's hard to say that Cao Cao likes her even more...

Ahem.

Cao Cao was actually forced to take such a move now.

The first reason is that the Hussar General is now firmly seated in Guanzhong and has soldiers from Bingzhou and Liangzhou. The most dominant force in Liangzhou is the cavalry. This has always made Cao Cao extremely worried and also made Cao Cao extremely worried.

The Jizhou gentry always felt that Cao Cao was not very reliable and were not willing to bet on Cao Cao.

Many Jizhou natives secretly have such considerations. When Boss Yuan was alive, they could not stop the Hussars. Now that Boss Cao is replaced, he may not be able to stop them either... After all, Boss Cao was in Xu County before.

The loss I suffered just passed not long ago, how could I just forget about it?

In order to calm the minds of the Jizhou nobles, and to enhance his own strength against the Fei Qian cavalry, Cao Cao almost sold the pot and created this batch of armored cavalry.

The iron in Yuzhou needs to be provided nearby to the soldiers who are preparing to attack Jingzhou. Naturally, it is impossible to transfer it to Jizhou. The desire to build a large amount of armor and equipment in a short period of time naturally causes a shortage of iron ingots on the market in Jizhou.

When the people and horses not far away gathered together, it seemed that the scene was very grand. However, Cao Cao would not tell these Jizhou natives that not all of the three or four thousand people in front of him were armored cavalry. At least four of them

Three-thirds are auxiliary personnel, and the actual armored cavalry is actually only six to seven hundred people.

In order to build these armors equipped with cavalry and horses, almost all the iron ingots on the market in Jizhou were collected. Even if Cao Cao wanted to expand the scale, it was almost impossible. Many things are easy to think of but easy to do.

It was difficult to get up. For a cavalry unit, not only the armor is a problem, but also the people and horses are all problems...

Fortunately, it finally looks a bit like it now.

Although these armored cavalry do not have the plate armor structure that is covered with iron armor and wears a can-like structure like that of later generations, they can still be considered to have relatively powerful protective armor today. First of all, the cavalry have all replaced iron pockets.

I know that a large part of Cao Cao's cavalry was similar to the Hu cavalry. They just wore leather bows on their heads. Some even wrapped their heads in scarves. Even generals often did this.

Although the leather turban is light and breathable, its defensive power is just better than nothing. Naturally, it cannot be compared with the iron turban.

Secondly, all the original double-dang armors were replaced by enhanced versions of zhao armor with neck guards, arm guards and skirts. The double-dang armor is the most common armor for big men nowadays. It is very convenient to make and wear. It was made by

Two pieces of body armor cover the chest and back, on the shoulders, and are tied with leather strips on the sides, making it easier to put on and take off. However, the two pieces of armor also have great shortcomings, such as the neck, arms, ribs, and waist and legs.

The places are almost exposed to the outside. If they are cut, slashed or stabbed in these areas, it is easy for the soldiers to be injured and unable to fight. This is of course a painful lesson learned after the battle between Cao's cavalry and the hussars some time ago.

Nowadays, the improved armor has much better protective capabilities. The iron pockets and the towering neck guards on both sides can protect the fragile head and neck. The additional shoulder armor can block the hands and arms. There are two pieces under the body armor.

The long armor skirt can cover the entire thigh and most of the calf, and underneath are leather boots.

As for the mounts, they were all specially selected tall horses, otherwise they would not be able to carry such a heavy cavalry. They were then covered with felt, leaving only four legs exposed, so ordinary arrows would basically be unable to damage the horse's belly.

In addition, on the front of the horse, there is a face curtain, a chicken neck and a breast, all made of leather and decorated with iron nails.

The most important thing is that all these war horses are equipped with metal shoes.

Of course, it can be said that improvements in armor, horseshoes, etc. were actually learned by Cao Cao from Fei Qian, but Cao Cao definitely refused to admit this.

How can this be said to be piracy? Does your Qiaoqi own the copyright?

Learning and growing from opponents has always been something Cao Cao is good at...

When Cao Cao and others boarded the general commanding platform, the retinues equipped with cavalry were assisting the knights in putting on armor, arranging the armor of the war horses, and finally helping the cavalry mount their horses. Of course, the equipment of these retinues was relatively simple, basically only

Just leather ben and leather body armor.

But no one paid attention to the retinue. Most people's eyes were attracted by the majestic-looking uniformed cavalry...

"Isn't this full body armor very light?"

"How do you think it's over a hundred kilograms?"

"What a brave man!"

Cao Cao listened to the chattering sounds behind him. Although there was no smile on his face, the original solemnity in his eyes relaxed a lot.

Look at those cavalrymen in formation, then hold the reins with their left hand to control their mounts, and raise their right horses' reins diagonally upward at a 45-degree angle. There are three rows in front and back, thirty steps apart, forming a neat queue.

One of the first people raised his horse high and shouted loudly: "Everything is ready, Sikong!"

Cao Cao waved his sleeves and said, "Go to war!"

The rumble of war drums sounded, not too urgently at first, and the cavalrymen also moved forward slowly. Then the sound of heavy horses' hooves gradually accelerated with the sound of the drums, and finally became more intense, with countless mud specks and dust turning under the horses' hooves.

Flying, the long horse's shaft shone with an icy cold light. The iron hooves of the war horse landed on the ground, and the sound almost drowned out the drums. Even if Cao Cao and others were standing on the general platform, they seemed to be able to feel the wooden platform under their feet.

Stopped and trembled...

In the blink of an eye, the first row of armored cavalry had already rushed close to the "enemy position". Hundreds of horses were stabbed, and the targets and wooden stakes in front of them were knocked down one after another, raising large amounts of smoke and dust. Behind Cao Cao, in Jizhou,

The nobles and nobles all stretched their necks to watch. Seeing this, they couldn't help but cheer loudly. The atmosphere was full for a while.

The armored cavalry in the second and third columns rushed over and soon completely broke through the "enemy formation". The straw piles and targets that were originally neatly arranged were almost all turned into a mess. By the time these armored cavalry had passed,

Once that area was cleared, all that was left was a mess...

After watching the exercise, Cao Cao turned to Yuan Xi and asked, "What do you think of the combat power of this cavalry?"

Yuan Xi couldn't help but shiver slightly, then lowered his head and raised his hands and said: "You are so strong that you can be worthy of thousands of troops!"

Cao Cao was obviously very satisfied with Yuan Xi's cooperative attitude, so he turned around and asked the noble nobles in Jizhou. Then these noble nobles in Jizhou also expressed that they were more confident after seeing Cao Cao's performance of the cavalry.

Five tablets or something, climbing on beds, ladders, and walls without taking a breath...

Cao Cao waved over a few more uniformed cavalry, and then asked these Jizhou nobles to observe them closely to make sure that these horses and armors were not made of bamboo and wood, and finally smiled.
To be continued...