Liang Xiao personally welcomed Qin Feng, and as Qin Feng saw him again, his expression grew even more respectful.
"Your Majesty, five thousand flintlock guns and soldiers are en route. This is the current production limit. If we maintain this stalemate for a few more months, another five to ten thousand can be produced..."
Upon hearing Qin Feng's report, Liang Xiao was both surprised and delighted.
Including the artisans, the Ministry of Works' personnel count had increased tenfold since before Xiao Qing ascended the throne, yet they were still severely short-handed.
These individuals also needed to be allocated to other tasks, making the production of five thousand firearms in a few months a remarkable feat.
Most of the generals within Yumenguan were still unaware of the advantages of flintlock guns and couldn't help but inquire.
After Liang Xiao's detailed explanation, the generals were also overjoyed.
The battles of the previous period had already made them realize the limitations of bows and crossbows, even though the longbow and the Great Qian bow represented the pinnacle of archery.
The enemy's armor was becoming increasingly resistant, and they were supported by a large number of replica trebuchets for cover.
Furthermore, an excellent archer capable of drawing these bows required extensive training to ensure effective shooting, and archery consumed a tremendous amount of physical strength.
Once autumn and winter arrived, the severe cold in the Yumenguan region would further exacerbate the physical exertion for archers.
In contrast, flintlock gunners required relatively short training before they could be deployed, making them far more efficient in terms of "mass deployment" than archers.
The range of flintlock guns was not superior to the two top-tier bows, but their armor-piercing capability at close range surpassed that of the Great Qian bow, posing a greater threat.
Moreover, as long as there was sufficient ammunition and the gun barrels did not explode, the gunners only needed to load and pull the trigger. Their lethality efficiency in the Yumenguan area would undoubtedly far exceed that of bows and crossbows, especially during autumn and winter. Qin Feng's arrival with logistical and staff officers from the Ministry of War provided an influx of management power to Yumenguan, preventing everyone from being overwhelmed by the large-scale reinforcement.
After Liaodong resolved the threat from the Izumo Kingdom, their cavalry became available and was deployed by the court to the area south of the desert. The original cavalry led by Lü Changhe in the southern desert region was then redeployed to the western borders. The entire southern desert region was firmly under the control of Great Qian, and a large amount of mineral resources, especially coal, was being transported to Yanzhou. According to Liang Xiao's design plans for blast furnaces, the Great Qian court had already prepared various components for blast furnaces. As soon as the Ministry of Works developed a practical blast furnace iron smelting method, components could be sourced and assembled at any time. The threat from the Tianri tribe did not diminish with the stabilization of Great Qian; instead, it grew daily. From this year onward for the next decade, Great Qian would prioritize strengthening its military defenses with all its might, with all scientific research serving this purpose. Large numbers of troops were dispatched from Yizhou, Yanzhou, and Zhongzhou to the western territories, stretching for dozens of miles. Fortunately, the supply stations along the route had stored vast quantities of provisions, and coupled with the speed increase provided by a section of the Great Qian railway, resupply was sufficient.
In the Western Allied Forces' camp, everyone was tense. The Great Qian soldiers had suddenly launched a surprise attack from Yumenguan, capturing all the high ground to the north and south, catching them completely off guard. This situation prevented them from gaining a full understanding of Yumenguan and its rear, shifting them from an offensive to a defensive posture once again.
"The enemy has defended Yumenguan for many years. Why have they suddenly shifted from defense to offense? We must investigate carefully. If we can defeat their cavalry, our army might be able to advance step by step, and then use cavalry to outflank them from one direction, penetrating deep into the enemy's heartland!"
In the command tent, the commanders of the Western Allied Forces frowned, a sense of foreboding rising in their hearts.
"They have likely completed their strategic deployment and are preparing for a strategic counter-offensive. However, if it's cavalry against cavalry, fighting in two separate directions near Yumenguan, it might not be advantageous for us," Caesar said with a grave expression.
Attila's face was grim.
"Given Great Qian's retaliatory nature, they would never remain bottled up in Yumenguan for long. I fear they might have developed some new weapon, making them unpredictable, and we absolutely cannot allow them to continue this delay. With the current thickness of Yumenguan's city walls, they are no longer vulnerable to trebuchets. Trebuchets that could smash countless men and horses were fired at Yumenguan's walls, yet they didn't even budge?"
Everyone was lost in thought. Mars also appeared helpless and, with a stern face, explained.
"It's not that our Guishuang Dynasty didn't want to breach Yumenguan in the past. Firstly, west of Yumenguan is mostly desert, making resupply difficult. The procurement of salt and fodder alone would have strained us, especially as the Western world was fragmented, and we dared not commit our full strength eastward. Therefore, launching an expedition from Jiaozhou became the optimal choice. If your Xiongnu Empire had cooperated with us earlier, would we be in such a predicament today?"
Attila's advisor retorted, "Our Xiongnu Empire had not yet stabilized its position back then, so you cannot blame us! Our Emperor has always yearned to return to the East!"
Mars and Caesar remained silent, filled with regret. The Tianri tribe, having underestimated the remnants of the barbarians, had been too aggressive towards them.
John dismissed it, saying, "Developing new weapons is not that easy! Now our allied forces are equipped with fifty thousand longbows, a large number of trebuchets, and heavy steel armor. In a head-on confrontation, as long as they dare to sortie from the pass, they will surely be defeated. Why not continue the urgent assault!"
Mars stood up and said, "If we are to attack, we must concentrate our forces and avoid the enemy exploiting Yumenguan's advantages to defeat us piecemeal."
Attila nodded, "Then we must choose a secure direction. What do you all think?"
Mars stated, "I support attacking the area north of Yumenguan. If we fight south of Yumenguan, Great Qian's reinforcements are likely to arrive from Yizhou to support them, catching us in a pincer attack."
Caesar reminded, "I received intelligence from the northern desert upon my arrival that Great Qian has completely occupied the southern desert. Their cavalry might also arrive from the north to reinforce them, forming a pincer attack on us. Even if the troops from the northern desert are deployed to tie them down, it would take at least a month to pose a threat to the southern desert, which is too late to coordinate with our urgent assault."
Mars frowned, "Attila, you are most familiar with the desert and understand Great Qian's terrain. Why aren't you offering your opinion?"
Attila said in a deep voice, "I am considering whether Liang Xiao himself has arrived at Yumenguan, which is why the Great Qian forces have unhesitatingly shifted from defense to offense."
Everyone's hearts sank.
John refuted, "Impossible! According to intelligence, he has become the Emperor of Great Qian, on par with the Empress of Great Qian, with the empire in his hands. How could he be foolish enough to lead the expedition himself!"
Attila shot John a glare and said, "Regardless, we must act under the assumption that Liang Xiao has personally come to Yumenguan to command. Do you understand?"
John scoffed, "Overestimating the enemy will only lead to a waste of more manpower and resources, making military operations difficult to manage!"
Attila remained silent and signaled Mars with his eyes. Mars understood and entrusted John and his party to first inspect the infantry. Attila then asked, "Why allow such an imbecile to advise on military matters?"