Chapter Twenty-Three: My Wise Brother’s Cunning Borders on the Supernatural

"The blade is sharp and the bow is strong; they certainly offer advantages. Yet on the battlefield, everything changes in an instant. The barbarians of the steppe, with their abundant warhorses, charge like an avalanche, and the so-called superiority of arms and armor becomes negligible!"

For days now, Song Ying'an had developed a new hobby—debating with Zhao Hengyi. Yet, bound by the limits of his era, Song Ying'an was always outmatched by Zhao Hengyi, whose experience from the information-rich internet age of his previous life gave him an overwhelming edge.

At times, Song Ying'an wondered at his younger brother Zhao's apparent omniscience. Even when faced with unfamiliar topics, Zhao could spin plausible arguments, his eloquence unmatched. Each time Zhao Hengyi fabricated his reasoning, he managed just enough logic and structure for Song Ying'an, the elder, to be left without a rebuttal.

Yes, after days of close companionship, these two men of vastly different backgrounds now addressed each other as brothers, sharing a bond of trust and candor.

During their debates, Song Ying'an even felt that Zhao Hengyi possessed a unique theory capable of explaining most problems in the world. Still young and competitive, Song Ying'an sought to win an argument and deliberately brought up the subject of military formations.

He attributed his usual defeat in debate to the unfamiliarity of most topics they discussed. But on the matter of warfare, surely his clever younger brother could not be entirely self-taught.

"Cavalry is indeed formidable on the battlefield. On flat terrain, infantry is likely doomed to slaughter," Zhao Hengyi replied, as if awakened to his invincible rhetorical prowess. "But if preparations are made, and one merely defends, defeat is not inevitable."

"You have not witnessed the brutal chaos of battle, so your perspective is naturally limited," Song Ying'an sighed, recalling the barbarian cavalry. The urge to compete vanished from his heart as he continued, "The barbarians raid our borders every year. For more than half the time, they rely on their fierce cavalry to penetrate deep, killing countless civilians, destroying villages, plundering people and wealth... Alas, it is a stain carved into the faces of our soldiers!"

"If only defense is required, surely more preparations can be made against cavalry. Victory would still be difficult, but there is no need for utter helplessness," Zhao Hengyi insisted.

In another time and space, the history of the Chinese people was filled with entanglements with the steppe tribes—sometimes the east wind prevailed, sometimes the west. Yet in Zhao Hengyi's memory, the agrarian civilization of China was never completely powerless against barbarian cavalry.

Song Ying'an took Zhao Hengyi's words as stubbornness and smiled, unwilling to say more, but Zhao Hengyi pressed on, asking further questions.

---

With these questions, Zhao Hengyi, who had never heard anyone speak of battlefield tactics before, realized that the people of this world still understood warfare at a rudimentary level.

The methods he remembered—horse-tripping ropes, pit traps, caltrops, barricades—none of them were known to Song Ying'an, who was hailed in Great Yan as a rising star among generals!

Something was amiss; the timeline of this world had diverged in subtle ways.

Drawing on his memories, Zhao Hengyi explained in detail the tools used against cavalry: horse-tripping ropes, pit traps, iron caltrops, spiked barricades, and more. Song Ying'an listened raptly, and in the end, the commander of the Xuan Battalion, ennobled for his military achievements, pressed Zhao with questions until Zhao had nothing left to say.

After all, even with memories from his past life, Zhao Hengyi had never actually witnessed a battlefield of the cold steel era, and much of what he knew was conjecture.

Even so, Song Ying'an, now calm, let out a deep breath, stood, and solemnly bowed to Zhao Hengyi.

"You are truly gifted, my brother. On behalf of the soldiers who risk their lives, I thank you!"

His gratitude was sincere, not mere formality. To Song Ying'an, if half of Zhao Hengyi's suggestions were true, the border troops could finally resist the barbarian cavalry rather than suffer passively.

This could even reverse the tide of defeat that Great Yan had suffered against the steppe tribes!

It would not only save countless soldiers’ lives, but also spare the innocent people of Great Yan from abduction and ruin—a merit rivaling the salvation of ten thousand families.

Looking at Song Ying'an’s shining eyes, Zhao Hengyi felt somewhat uneasy.

Little did he know, his suggestions for countering cavalry had never been mentioned in this world. To Song Ying'an, these were all inventions of his ingenious younger brother.

A mind bordering on the supernatural! Though not a compliment, Song Ying'an could find no better words for Zhao Hengyi’s formidable intellect.

---

Unsurprisingly, Song Ying'an dragged Zhao Hengyi to the blacksmith’s workshop.

When the implements Zhao had described were forged, Song Ying'an and his guards tested them in secret. All were overcome with wild joy!

No one understood better than these battle-hardened men what it would mean for the army of Great Yan to possess methods to counter cavalry.

Under Song Ying'an's insistence, Zhao Hengyi had to stand tall and accept the military salute of the lord of Dangyang and his guards.

This salute was not for him, but for all their comrades in the army.

"In truth, there is an even more convenient and effective method, though it requires many craftsmen," Zhao Hengyi said, startled by their enthusiasm. He racked his brains and recalled another remarkable invention, one widely used even in the Second World War—barbed wire!

Barbed wire could impede even armored vehicles, let alone cavalry of the cold steel era.

When the power of barbed wire was tested and the proud warhorses, incapacitated and whimpering, could no longer serve as mounts, Song Ying'an exclaimed in heartfelt awe, "Truly a divine tool!"

"My younger brother once said, the world never lacks ways to change one's fate—what it lacks are eyes to discover them... Now, the means to change our fate are right before me, embodied by my brilliant brother!"

The gloom that had weighed on Song Ying'an since returning from the army finally lifted.

"Zhang Can, pass my order: have the steward gather every blacksmith he can find and forge barbed wire with all their might!"