Chapter 13: People can wear shoes, but can’t horses?

"Riding battle is like walking on flat ground?"

Ying Yuan's words made many generals want to glue their eyes to the brocade.

Wang Ben lost his composure even more. He stood up and walked quickly forward.

If it weren't for his status as Marquis Tongwu, coupled with his reputation as the most reckless man in the Qin Dynasty, he would probably have been charged with "improper conduct".

"Dad, this. This."

After Wang Ben saw the image of the stirrup clearly, his eyes trembled and he even spoke incoherently.

"Hanging on the saddle, with both feet looped in, the whole body can be made of wood or bronze. The power comes from the ground, and with both feet suspended in the air, how can one exert power?"

"Stirrups, your little helper in cavalry warfare, deserve it."

Ying Yuan smiled and used very seductive words to introduce the function of the stirrup.

Just these words shocked everyone.

On flat ground, whether wielding a weapon or exerting force from the waist, it is much more powerful than on horseback. This is common sense for people who practice martial arts, or even for people who move their bodies a little.

Now the 'stirrup' that Ying Yuan took out made up for all the disadvantages in horse-riding combat power.

With the addition of the fixed saddle, cavalry warfare will reach a new peak.

Even many generals began to think, if it is really promoted on a large scale, will it have a huge impact on the entire combat system!

Zhao Gao's eyes were filled with a sinister green glow as he stared at Ying Yuan.

He is regretting!

Regret for my carelessness.

I should not ignore this Young Master Yuan. If I get these things first and then let the Eighteenth Young Master present them in the court, it will definitely improve Hu Hai's status in the hearts of many generals in an instant.

Although he would not immediately compete with Fusu, as long as he could get the support of the military generals, or even as long as the generals would not firmly support Fusu, Hu Hai would have a chance to ascend to the position of crown prince!
What a pity that such a good opportunity was lost!

This Young Master Yuan is actually not a useless person as rumored by the outside world and as has been shown over the years.

"Your Majesty, the saddle and stirrup complement each other. They are indeed divine objects!"

"Young Master Yuan is very intelligent. Although I am an inner official, I must praise him impartially in the court!"

Zhao Gao's eyes rolled, and he began to praise Ying Yuan in his own voice.

Showing goodwill now is just laying the groundwork for whatever you want to do in the future, or to win over others.

The struggle in the court is sometimes like this.

An unintentional act may be the key to success or failure.

Ying Yuan raised his eyebrows slightly and took a look at this bastard who had lost his country.

For the first time in his life, he felt so disgusted when being praised.

You still want to win me over. I am a scholar who has read "Spring and Autumn Annals" and "Records of the Grand Historian". Wasn't it you, a hermaphrodite, who instigated Hu Hai to do the final strife among brothers in the Qin Dynasty?

His Majesty the First Emperor glanced at Zhao Gao calmly without any response to his words. Instead, he turned his gaze back to Ying Yuan:
"Yuan'er, since you said that this warhorse suit has three pieces, now the saddle and stirrups are all effective."

"What is this third item?"

After these words were spoken, all the ministers looked at Ying Yuan.

Different from the previous contempt, disdain and ridicule.

This time, his gaze was obviously much more passionate!

With saddles and stirrups as precious as pearls, how could they not be excited?
However.
They stared at the brocade with wide eyes, but there was no image of the third object at all, not even any words!

Could it be that Gongzi Yuan hasn't thought about the third thing yet?
"Everyone, the third item is this."

Ying Yuan chuckled and took out a small iron bar from his arms.

When this thing was taken out, everyone was dumbfounded? Iron bars? It was also part of the warhorse suit?

The saddle and stirrup are so stunning. This iron bar is just an ordinary iron bar no matter how you look at it!
You can't expect to kill the enemy on the spot with this iron bar that's only the length of your forearm, right?

"Marquis Tongwu, could you please give me some strength?"

Ying Yuan handed the iron bar to Wang Ben, made a 'U' gesture in the air with his fingers, and spoke with a smile.

Why didn't he draw? It's simple, he's lazy!

Drawing and writing annotations are also very tiring!

"nature."

"How dare I refuse your wish, sir?"

Although Wang Ben didn't understand what was going on, he was a straightforward man after all. He took the iron bar directly and exerted a little force on it.

The iron bar was instantly bent into a 'U' shape.

At this moment, everyone in the Qilin Hall was even more confused!

The short iron stick could at least be used to hit people, but now it's bent into this shape, making it inconvenient to even hit people!

Could it be a hidden weapon?
But who would use this thing as a hidden weapon?
"Sir, is this the last piece of the warhorse suit you mentioned?"

Wang Jian frowned slightly and spoke slowly.

Even a veteran like him who had been through many battles could not see any clues.

On the contrary, Feng Quji looked at Ying Yuan with a slight smile on his face, without saying a word.

There are only four people in the court who have enough qualifications and can be considered top ministers: Li Si, him, Yang Ye, and Wang Jian!

Apart from old man Yang Ye, whose eyes were only focused on the money in the national treasury, there was constant secret fighting between the three.

Now that Feng Quji saw that even Wang Jian couldn't guess Gongzi Yuan's intention, how could he not be happy?
Of course, if you want to see Wang Jian act rashly and get slapped in the face by Gongzi Yuan, it's unlikely to happen.

"Not bad!"

Ying Yuan nodded, took the bent iron bar, then stretched out his finger and pointed downwards.

Everyone followed his gaze and looked, thinking there was some treasure on the ground, but there was nothing.

"Everyone, there has always been a problem with the war horses of our Great Qin, and it is a problem that is difficult to solve."

“That’s the quantity!”

"War horses carry people and run wildly in battle formations. Their lifespans are extremely short. However, most war horses have to retire before they even become weak and become inferior horses that carry other animals. Do you know why?"

When the question was asked, Wang Ben replied without hesitation: "Sir, that is a very profound question."

"Most of the horses retired from the army were not damaged in battle, but were worn out by exhaustion and their hooves were worn thin, even to the point of bleeding."

"A war horse's strength starts at the age of three and continues until the age of fifteen."

"But due to the constant flow of troops, most war horses' hooves would be worn out after three years of service."

"So even though we have many pastures for our Great Qin war horses, it is still not enough."

As a military marquis who actually fought on the front line, Wang Ben was truly familiar with war horses.

"Yes, this thing can protect war horses from the trouble of hoof wear and tear, and it can also enhance their running ability!"

Ying Yuan raised the U-shaped iron bar in his hand and said loudly: "Everyone, people can wear shoes without hurting their feet, so why can't horses?"

"This thing is called a horseshoe. When it is nailed onto a horse's hoof, it is like putting a boot on the horse! It will increase the service period by at least three times out of thin air!"

"Everyone, with sufficient war horses, can the combat power of our Great Qin be improved?"

(End of this chapter)