Wang Ding did not embarrass Chen Hu, but after leaving with Dong Cheng, Wang Ding himself ran to Zhuye Prison every now and then.
Every time I would smile and ask Chen Hu if there was any progress in improving the crossbow machine.
As a result, Chen Hu, who originally respected Wang Ding, changed his view within three to five days, and now he is afraid that Wang Ding will come to him.
Although Wang Ding was very calm every time he talked to him and was not as majestic as other ministers, he was really not able to improve the crossbow machine so quickly.
This thing can be improved by improving it.
Chen Hu has also long ago asked his craftsmen to seize the time to study, especially those craftsmen who are good at making crossbows. Now they don't have to do anything else, just study the improvement of crossbow machines.
However, most of these craftsmen are skilled in practice, and their intelligence and talents cannot be compared with that of Yang Xiu.
They want to improve the crossbow machine, but they have no clue just based on Wang Ding's two sentences.
Wang Ding still wants them to try more and not succeed overnight.
Today I will slightly improve the speed of loading crossbows, which is also progress.
Maybe one day, some craftsman will have a flash of inspiration and actually create a ten-arrow crossbow machine.
Wang Ding doesn't know how to do these things, but he can provide ideas.
Every time he came to Zhuye Prison, Wang Ding would just say hello to Chen Hu. He would rather stay with the craftsmen.
See how those craftsmen improve, and occasionally add a sentence.
The five hundred personal guards usually train in bows and arrows.
Yang Xiu also sent back news from Luoyang.
Nowadays, the cultivated land in Luoyang is also flourishing. Under Yang Xiu's control, some of the unowned fields were redistributed to the people and the army took part.
There were only more than 9,000 soldiers and horses left in the original unit, and now they are all following Yang Xiu to cultivate the fields.
Time flies.
A month has passed by in a hurry.
Whether it is the cavalry trained by Zhang Liao or the trapped camp trained by Gao Shun, their performance is getting better and better.
Zhang Liao has already led his cavalry to sweep through Guanzhong and Guandong, mopping up all the several thieves who appeared.
Fan Chou came back from Hetao and brought back his latest map.
The location of the Qiang tribe is clearly marked with marks. There is also a general introduction.
The Tanlang tribe has a population of 12,000, and there are 5,000 adult men in the tribe.
The Fire Tribe has a population of 10,000 and 4,000 adult men.
Rooster tribe, Niuli tribe...
Wang Ding looked at the information brought back by Fan Chou, and his mind flew to the Hetao again.
The location of these tribes is further away than the previous Iron Burning Tribe.
Some are still on the north side of the Yellow River and need to cross the Yellow River first.
Wang Ding once again summoned the generals and Jia Xu.
After four months of training, he wanted to attack the Qiang people in Hetao again.
This time, it’s no longer a small fight.
This time, Wang is determined to completely solve the Qiang problem.
Spring plowing is almost over, and farmers are not so busy for the time being.
Wang Ding first recruited five thousand civilians to transport grain and grass.
The people who received the news, as long as they still had the strength at home, rushed to sign up.
Without him, because the conditions given by Wang Ding are too good.
As long as the civilian men are recruited this time, the taxes for this year's autumn harvest will be reduced by half.
This time, instead of just cavalry, Wang Ding also brought an infantry.
He didn't want to encounter the situation where he was attacked by Iron Burner last time.
Mobilize more troops and win the Loop in one battle.
Then build a city to the north of the Yellow River and completely control the area from the Yellow River to Chang'an.
This time, except for Gao Shun, Xu Rong, and Duan Xuan, the three of them stayed behind in Chang'an.
Wang Ding took Xu Huang, Zhang Liao, Li Su, Fan Chou and Jia Xu, and all 6,000 cavalry were dispatched, as well as 10,000 infantry and archers.
Including five thousand civilians transporting grain and grass, the army numbered 20,000.
Before the soldiers and horses move, food and grass go first.
Five thousand civilians first transported grain and grass to Feng Yi County.
Then they continued north, escorted by Zhang Liao's cavalry along the way.
For the first time, Wang Ding was still a little excited when he led 20,000 troops on a long journey.
It feels completely different from when I attacked Hu Zhen.
It’s different from leading three thousand cavalry before.
The issue of food and grass, the dispatch of troops and horses, route selection, and camping sites must all be planned in advance. If there is an accident during the march, you must be able to make timely adjustments.
The most important thing is the issue of food and grass. Five thousand civilians, how much food and grass they need to transport each time, how long it takes, and how many soldiers and horses are needed to escort them.
Spies along the way, how often they report, the route of exploration, distance, etc.
Nothing is set in stone.
If it weren't for Xu Huang, Zhang Liao and others, Wang Ding would have been unable to pay attention to all aspects.
Omissions are inevitable.
Such a big movement from the Han army cannot be hidden from the Qiang people.
During this period, the Qiang people had been preparing for the sudden attack of the Han army.
The original Shaoke tribe has now become a small tribe and is now dependent on the Agni tribe.
The old patriarch has always wanted to take revenge, but he has always asked his tribe to keep an eye on the Han people secretly.
When Wang Ding set out, the Qiang tribe in Hetao also began to gather.
Among the 20,000 Han troops and Qiang people, no tribe can face it alone.
If they want to resist the Han army, they must unite and face Wang Ding together.
The army is still advancing along the Luo River. In summer, the water level of the Luo River rises and the river is turbulent.
With infantry and civilians, the army was not moving very fast, only a hundred miles a day.
Set up camp before dark.
Before setting up a camp, trenches must be dug and fences erected to prevent sneak attacks.
With so many people, Wang Ding decided to listen to Jia Xu's words, play it slow and don't rush.
The army walked for more than half a month before arriving at the south bank of the Yellow River.
During this period, Zhang Liao led the cavalry to investigate the points marked by Fan Chou on the map.
Many tribes have already received the news and have all moved away in advance.
However, there were also several tribes that had no time to move and were surrounded by Zhang Liao and his cavalry. After killing some of the strongest men in the tribe, the rest all surrendered.
Wang Ding took away their weapons and incorporated them into the civilian population to transport grain and grass together.
As for the cattle and sheep in their tribe, they were all taken away by Wang Ding and used as livestock for transporting grain and grass, or as rations for army sergeants.
The army set up camp on the south bank of the Yellow River.
At Jia Xu's suggestion, the cavalry and infantry were separated and became rivals.
In addition, all the grain and grass transported will be stored in Yulin.
Five thousand civilians, as well as the Qiang people who surrendered along the way, built a granary in Yulin and ordered Fan Chou to guard the granary.
Yulin is only more than a hundred miles away from the camp of Wang Ding's army.
Every three days, a batch of grain and grass is transported from Yulin to the frontline camp.
Of the five thousand civilians, three thousand returned to Fengyi County first, and then transported grain and grass to Yulin.
On the north bank of the Yellow River, the Qiang army has gathered and is facing Wang Ding's army across the river.