Usurping the Mongols: My Father-in-Law is Genghis Khan

Over a thousand and two hundred Xia Kingdom swords, a thousand Shenbi crossbows, and five hundred sets of Xixia mail armor.

Even the vast Xixia kingdom would feel a sting parting with this equipment.

Now, it's all benefiting Zhao Shuo.

Of course, Zhao Shuo wasn't one to hoard everything. He planned to invite Muqali for drinks privately and gift him a few Shenbi crossbows and Xia Kingdom swords.

However, before he could even mention it to Muqali, Surchatai beat him to it.

"A-Shuo, slow down, wait for me!"

As soon as the post-battle debriefing ended, Zhao Shuo had barely left the golden tent when Surchatai shouted from behind.

Zhao Shuo stopped and said, "Surchatai, what's the matter?"

Surchatai hurried forward, catching up in a few steps, and explained, "I want to invite you for drinks to thank you for saving my life."

"Then you certainly owe me a good treat," Zhao Shuo said with a faint smile, continuing, "But is it just the two of us?"

"No. I've also invited Muqali and Jebe. It's been a while since the four of us got together. Let's take this opportunity to have a good drink."

Surchatai wasn't a bad person.

In fact, he admired capable people the most. Jebe's archery skills surpassed Surchatai's, and the two were close friends, almost like brothers.

A significant portion of Zhao Shuo's archery skills came from Jebe's instruction.

Back when Muqali and Zhao Shuo were just rising in prominence, Surchatai's position was far above theirs, and he had taken care of them both.

Thus, although the four of them had a considerable age gap, they had a good relationship and often drank together, chatting about everything and nothing.

If not for this friendship, Zhao Shuo and Muqali wouldn't have offered to support him in battle.

It was only because Zhao Shuo rose too quickly that Surchatai felt competitive, leading to his mistakes. Now, Surchatai had completely calmed down and sincerely wanted to invite the three for drinks.

The steppe warriors didn't prioritize luxury. Well-roasted mutton, sprinkled with some of Zhao Shuo's invented refined salt, paired with mare's milk wine, was a rare delicacy during wartime.

The four of them drank and ate meat while reminiscing about the past years of the Mongol's rise, and the atmosphere gradually warmed up.

During the drinks, Surchatai once again sincerely apologized to Zhao Shuo and Muqali, admitting that he had been headstrong this time.

After expressing his regret, Surchatai took a big gulp of wine and exhaled, saying, "I heard that besides the Xia Kingdom swords, Xixia mail armor, and Shenbi crossbows, the Xixia army also has something called the 'Po Xi Army' and 'Iron Falcons.'"

"The Po Xi Army is very small, only about two hundred men. They miniaturized trebuchets and mounted them on the backs of Bactrian camels. In battle, they launch fist-sized stones, delivering fatal blows to the enemy."

"But I just can't figure it out. Trebuchets are launched by people pulling ropes. Even if they're miniaturized, there's no way to launch them from the back of a camel, right?"

He had already obtained a lot of information about Xixia by questioning Xixia prisoners.

"That's right!" Jebe was also very curious, saying, "If this Po Xi Army is useful, why are there only two hundred of them? If they're useless, why would Xixia maintain such a small-scale Po Xi Army? Is there another explanation for the trebuchets on the camels' backs?"

"I do have an idea," Muqali said. "The Shenbi crossbow is called a 'bow,' but it's actually a type of heavy crossbow. Although the Po Xi Army launches stones, they might not be using trebuchets to launch them, right? Perhaps it's also a type of heavy crossbow?"

"Smart!"

Zhao Shuo glanced at Muqali, giving him a thumbs up.

Later generations have two guesses about the Xixia Po Xi Army's trebuchets. First, these things are not the common Chinese manpower trebuchets, but torsion trebuchets. Second, these things are actually miniaturized Song Dynasty bed crossbows, used to launch fist-sized stones.

However, torsion trebuchets only appear in Western historical materials, and there are no clear records in Eastern historical materials. In that case, the Po Xi Army's trebuchets are most likely the second possibility: miniaturized bed crossbows.

Because the miniaturization technology of this bed crossbow is too high and the cost is extremely expensive, the Po Xi Army only maintained a force of two hundred men.

Later, everyone talked about Xixia's Iron Falcons.

"It is said that Xixia's Iron Falcons number as many as three thousand. And what we Mongols lack most is heavy cavalry. A-Shuo's Black Riders are only five hundred strong. It seems that we can only find a way to trap them, and then slowly grind them down," Jebe said with some worry.

As Temujin unified the grasslands, the Ongud tribe became more and more daring. They also bribed Jin Dynasty officials with heavy money to get two hundred and eighty sets of armored equipment for Zhao Shuo, making up five hundred sets.

However, five hundred heavy cavalry is still far less than the three thousand Iron Falcons.

Jebe suggested temporarily avoiding the Iron Falcons' vanguard.

Muqali shook his head slightly, saying, "I'm afraid that won't work. The purpose of our dispatch this time is not to destroy Xixia, but to completely break Xixia's spine, so that they dare not make trouble when we attack the Jin Dynasty.

If we slowly grind down the three thousand Iron Falcons, the Xixia people will think that our hard power is not much stronger than theirs.

Moreover, what if the three thousand Iron Falcons go straight for Genghis Khan's central army? After Genghis Khan ascended the throne, if his first personal expedition is forced to move camp by the Xixia Iron Falcons, I'm afraid it won't look good on his face either."

Surchatai said, "Then what should we do? We can't let our light cavalry fight the Xixia heavy cavalry head-on, can we?"

After suffering this big loss, he no longer dared to underestimate the Xixia people.

"Of course, we can't fight head-on either."

Suddenly, Zhao Shuo smiled slightly and said, "Who said light cavalry can't beat heavy cavalry? Coincidentally, I recently formed a light cavalry unit called the 'Flying Eagle Army.' This Flying Eagle Army is designed for Xixia's Iron Falcons."

"Really?!"

"Light cavalry can counter heavy cavalry?"

"Tell us quickly, what exactly is this Flying Eagle Army? I'll study it carefully," Surchatai said.

The more ashamed and depressed he was this time, the stronger his hatred for the Xixia people became. Now, among the Mongol generals, no one wanted to kill the Xia dogs more than him.

Muqali and Jebe also looked at Zhao Shuo with curious expressions.

Zhao Shuo said, "Alright, you guys help me brainstorm..."

He briefly introduced the configuration of the Flying Eagle Army.

"Well, I don't see any problems," Jebe quickly made a judgment.

"As expected of A-Shuo, always anticipating the enemy's moves. With this Flying Eagle Army, I don't see how the Xixia Iron Falcons can still be so imposing?" Surchatai slapped his thigh.

Muqali thought about it carefully before saying, "I don't see any problems. However, to achieve the desired effect, the training of the soldiers and the on-the-spot command are very important. A-Shuo, are you ready?"

Zhao Shuo said, "I started preparing half a year ago. The commander of this Flying Eagle Army is called Hairige, and he's quite capable."

"If A-Shuo personally says he's quite capable, then he's a rare up-and-comer."

Muqali picked up a cup of mare's milk wine and said, "Xixia's Iron Falcons will definitely be taken care of by A-Shuo. Victory in this battle will definitely belong to the Mongols! Come, let's drink this cup to the full, to congratulate Genghis Khan! To congratulate the Mongols!"

"To congratulate Genghis Khan! To congratulate the Mongols!"

The four of them raised their cups together and drank the mare's milk wine in the cups in one gulp.

With a way to deal with the Xixia's three thousand Iron Falcons, the wine was drunk even more joyfully.