Chapter Forty-Two: Qin Cheng’s Schemes

"Cavalry against cavalry," Li Guang said calmly.

Wei Qing's body stiffened for a moment. "Cavalry against cavalry? General Li, are you serious?"

"There is no jest in military matters. General Wei, do you still doubt me?" Li Guang replied solemnly.

Wei Qing pondered for a moment, then finally spoke. "As far as I know, General Li's camp has only about two thousand cavalry left. If these cavalry are to be split into opposing sides and the exercise is to be realistic, will they suffice?"

"There's no need for General Wei to worry about that. I have my own arrangements, and I guarantee you will be satisfied," Li Guang said with pride.

Wei Qing struck his hand against his knee, his expression unusually animated. He exclaimed loudly, "Very well! Then all shall be arranged by the general!"

Li Guang nodded and turned to the attendant at his side. "Send word to Minor Captain Qin—prepare the exercise at Old Horse Plain!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Minor Captain Qin?" Wei Qing paused slightly at the name and asked Li Guang, "The Minor Captain Qin you speak of—is it Qin Cheng?"

"Indeed, it is Qin Cheng, Minor Captain Qin." Li Guang glanced at Wei Qing, his smile meaningful, a hint of pride and seniority in his demeanor.

"I see," Wei Qing withdrew his gaze and bowed his head in deep thought.

Wei Qing's arrival in Qiansang City and his meticulous inspection of the camp had always puzzled Qin Cheng. Only after Le Yi's remarks two days earlier—that Wei Qing's departure would not truly benefit Qiansang City—did Qin Cheng finally grasp the truth.

Wei Qing’s purpose in coming to Qiansang City, to reward the generals who had distinguished themselves in the battle against the Xiongnu, was only a secondary matter. With his current status, Wei Qing’s visit must be motivated by deeper military reasons. Qin Cheng had previously assumed that Wei Qing sought to understand the reason behind Qiansang City's victory over the Xiongnu cavalry. But later, Qin Cheng realized this was not entirely accurate, though Wei Qing’s actions seemed to point toward that answer.

After careful thought, Qin Cheng recognized a crucial issue: if Wei Qing's ultimate goal was merely to uncover the reason for Qiansang City's triumph over the Xiongnu, then it was enough to directly ask Li Guang about the army's morale, equipment, and tactics, as Le Yi had said. But the true question Wei Qing sought to answer was this: to defeat Xiongnu cavalry, must one use cavalry, or could a mixed force suffice?

If Emperor Wu had previously believed that only cavalry could defeat Xiongnu cavalry, then Li Guang’s recent victory using mixed forces had begun to shake that conviction. If, through proper tactics and advantageous use of border terrain, a mixed force could annihilate invading Xiongnu, then there would be no need to pay the costly price to train a powerful cavalry army of tens of thousands.

Liu Che’s wavering may seem incredible, but when faced with undeniable facts, one cannot ignore them—especially since Qiansang City’s victory was so overwhelming.

Thus, after arriving in Qiansang City, Wei Qing sought to understand every detail of the army—not missing a single aspect. His aim was to determine whether Qiansang City’s forces could serve as the standard for the entire Han army, as the template for confronting the Xiongnu. This included morale, tactics, deployment of troop types, and battlefield maneuvering.

Wei Qing’s suggestion that Li Guang reenact the tactics used in the great victory over the Xiongnu was precisely for this purpose. When Qin Cheng considered how to convince Wei Qing that only cavalry could counter cavalry, he realized this was the key. Thus, after parting from Le Yi that day, he sought out Li Guang and explained the stakes. Li Guang agreed with Qin Cheng’s analysis, especially upon realizing that Wei Qing’s judgment would affect the future development of cavalry in Qiansang City. The two deliberated in secret, anticipating that Wei Qing would request a military exercise. Qin Cheng told Li Guang that Wei Qing would surely ask him to use mixed troops against cavalry, employing the previous tactics, so Wei Qing could observe the results.

Together, Qin Cheng and Li Guang decided to play along, then propose cavalry against cavalry. Liu Che and Wei Qing had drilled cavalry for so long in Chang'an, surely intending to use cavalry against the Xiongnu. Thus, they resolved that this exercise would be cavalry versus cavalry, and in so doing, ensure that Wei Qing recognized that only cavalry could match cavalry, while mixed forces, without the advantage of terrain, could never contend with cavalry.

Only if Liu Che and Wei Qing acknowledged that defeating the Xiongnu required cavalry could Qiansang City propose developing its own cavalry. Otherwise, the army would revert to its former state.

Qin Cheng and Li Guang discussed into the night, hammering out the details. Qin Cheng then suggested that he should command the exercise, having attained the rank of Minor Captain—a senior officer now, fully qualified to take command. Li Guang agreed, for even without Qin Cheng’s suggestion, he would have preferred Qin Cheng to direct the drill. Had it been anyone else, Li Guang would have worried about their attention to detail. As for Li Guang himself, he would observe alongside Wei Qing.

Of course, Li Guang had yet to discern Qin Cheng’s private ambitions.

By commanding the exercise, Qin Cheng hoped to leave a lasting impression on Wei Qing—a personal motive.

...

That day, the autumn air was crisp and clear—a rare and beautiful weather.

Old Horse Plain, along the border of Shanggu, was a vast semi-prairie, with gentle, rolling hills and lush green grass. At the edges of the plain, shrubs and poplars grew in tangled profusion. It was an ideal training ground, and had long served as the site for military exercises by the Shanggu garrison.

When Li Guang and Wei Qing arrived at Old Horse Plain with their attendants, the six thousand soldiers of Qiansang City, save those on guard duty, had already assembled according to prior instructions, each at their designated position.

Their horses halted atop a high hill, the widest vantage point on Old Horse Plain. Wei Qing gazed out, taking in the entire landscape.

"The northern frontier is indeed distinctive! Such a perfect place to train cavalry; even the imperial hunting grounds cannot compare," Wei Qing exclaimed.

"General Wei, it’s natural to feel so on your first visit to the border. But if you stay here long, you won’t think so anymore," Li Guang replied, in good spirits, chatting amiably.

"What do you mean, General Li?" Wei Qing asked.

"On the northern border, wolves lurk and tigers lie in wait. Danger is ever-present, and the Xiongnu cavalry often rides south to graze their horses. If not for our numbers and strong mounts, no one would wish to linger here," Li Guang explained.

"I see," Wei Qing nodded.

"Report! General, Minor Captain Qin is ready and requests permission to begin the exercise!" A signal flag waved nearby, and a messenger rode up to Li Guang.

"Send word to Minor Captain Qin—the exercise begins immediately," Li Guang ordered.

"Yes, sir!"

Soon after, the heavy sound of horns echoed across Old Horse Plain.

"General Li, I have a question, though I am unsure if I should ask," Wei Qing said, listening to the horns.

"General Wei, speak freely," Li Guang replied.

"As I understand it, Minor Captain Qin has never commanded troops before, and his previous command was heavy infantry. Why have you put him in charge of this cavalry exercise? Forgive me if I speak out of turn, but I seek your guidance," Wei Qing asked seriously.

Li Guang laughed, glancing at Wei Qing with a look of hidden meaning. "General Wei, the answer lies in this exercise. When you have seen it, you will understand."

Wei Qing paused. "Then I shall wait and see."

—