Chapter 0009: The Drum and the Golden Hammer

The hammers used by regular cavalry, although varied in types such as the six-faced hammer, the eight-petal hammer, the meteor hammer, and the breaking gold hammer, generally share a common characteristic: they have short handles. Typically, the length of these hammers ranges from 2 to 3 feet, unlike whips or cudgels which can reach lengths of 4 to 5 feet

"Training in the heat of summer and the cold of winter, those who practice martial arts cannot afford to waste a single day. I have long been accustomed to this; as soon as dawn breaks, I wake up on my own."

The mace is a blunt weapon, typically assigned to cavalry in the military. This type of blunt weapon is specifically designed to penetrate the armor of enemy cavalry. Since the Southern and Northern Dynasties, cavalry has favored heavy armor, such as the renowned armored cavalry, where both horse and rider are clad in armor, sometimes even with more than one layer of armor, making them generally impervious to swords and blades

You come and go, with a clanging sound of back-and-forth exchanges

You possess great strength; I see that you handle this golden hammer with ease. I believe you could wield a heavier hammer, even one weighing five to six pounds. At times, great strength is indeed a talent and an advantage, as the saying goes, "One force can overcome ten skills," and a single strike can defeat countless foes.

At this time, using blunt weapons such as clubs, whips, and hammers often proves to be more lethal than knives and arrows. Blunt instruments do not need to penetrate; instead, they deliver a shock to the enemy's internal organs

Moreover, although the hammer is heavy, it is not excessively so, primarily weighing around 3 to 4 pounds

Even a hammer weighing four to five pounds is not something that many people can truly wield effectively, as this type of hammer is a weapon, not a tool for fitness

He lifted the thin blanket off his body, rubbed his face, and then got out of bed.

Such an easy demeanor indeed surprised Qin Qiong greatly; each of his paired cudgels weighed four and a half pounds, making a total of nine pounds when combined.

Indeed, my cousin has never learned martial arts, but he possesses great strength. You could wield this golden mace for half a day without any issue, and your reflexes are quite agile. Unfortunately, he missed the prime age for learning martial arts. If he had started in elementary school, with his innate strength, he would certainly surpass me in skill.

"Little Five, have you ever learned any martial arts?" Qin Qiong asked

"Then you are indeed suited for a type of immediate weapon," Qin Qiong said with a smile

As I pushed open the door, a wave of cold air rushed in from outside

As he spoke, Qin Qiong swung another mace and charged forward, while Luo Feng hurriedly raised his mace to block.

"This spear technique is a family heirloom. I practiced with a knife at the age of 3, trained with a mace at 5, drew a bow at 7, rode a horse at 9, and began learning the spear at 12..." When it comes to martial arts, Qin Qiong is very confident

Before long, Luo Feng was already struggling on both sides, yet Qin Qiong remained calm and composed. In fact, he was merely testing his cousin's strength and reaction, without truly exerting himself.

He initially thought that such a heavy weapon would be difficult for him to handle, but when he took it in his hands, Luo Feng felt that it was not too heavy. He even thought that it was less strenuous than the large iron hammer he used to wield while helping his father with blacksmithing.

Luo Feng shook his head

This conversation continued until just before dawn before we finally went to sleep

"The way Second Brother wields that weapon is truly impressive." Luo Feng did not understand martial arts, but he could still see that Qin Qiong's every move was quite stylish

What weapon?

In the cold wind of the morning mist, my cousin Qin Qiong was already there practicing martial arts

Luo Feng started learning blacksmithing at a young age and has not studied any martial arts, yet he possesses considerable strength

I said you are suitable for using a hammer

Hearing Qin Qiong say that, Luo Feng felt somewhat tempted; perhaps he could practice with the hammer during his free time

Luo Feng felt a bit cold, opened his eyes to wake up, and found that Qin Qiong had already gotten up, while several fellow villagers from Nanshan Village were still sound asleep.

He casually waved a few times, performing several swordplay moves. These were not learned from anyone, but rather drawn from the chaotic dances seen in later martial arts films, and they did bear a certain resemblance.

The mace is four feet long, with a smooth shaft, a blunt end, a square face, and grooves, capable of striking down enemies through armor.

Qin Qiong's ancestors had served as officials in the Northern Dynasties for several generations. Although they primarily held civil positions, since the Wei and Jin dynasties, the world has been in turmoil, especially in the north where wars were frequent. Even the sons of prominent families were well-versed in both literature and martial arts. In particular, the sons of well-off and distinguished families were almost all skilled in horseback riding and archery, often riding out on horseback with a knife at their side

Hammer

Where I developed this brute strength was actually from practicing blacksmithing alongside my father since I was young

The master wields a small hammer to direct, while the apprentice lifts a large hammer to forge. Through years of gripping the hammer and forging, one can cultivate immense strength.

The iron hammer that Luo Feng used to wield was much heavier than this one. Although his hammer was a two-handed grip, I truly do not feel that this bronze club is difficult to handle.

The blacksmith apprentice begins forging with a large hammer; the larger and heavier the hammer, the more it is wielded by the novice apprentice, while the more experienced master uses a smaller hammer. It is said that the small hammer is used with care, while the large hammer relies on physical strength

Has the second brother gotten up so early to practice martial arts?

Cavalry indeed finds the hammer useful; however, like the flail, it is merely a secondary weapon for cavalry, typically employed in close combat or hand-to-hand fighting while mounted

Luo Feng initially thought that Qin Qiong was joking with him, but upon seeing his serious demeanor, he realized that he was not joking.

His father was merely a blacksmith from Zhangqiu, a family that had been forging iron for generations. It is unclear how he managed to marry a woman from the Qin family of Licheng, but his father was indeed just an ordinary blacksmith. In his memory, Luo the blacksmith did not possess any martial skills, but he was exceptionally strong.

He attributed it to Luo Feng's innate intelligence, or perhaps to the personal guidance he received from his aunt since childhood, having learned to read and write, thus not being inferior to the average rural person. Consequently, he grew increasingly fond of this cousin.

Natural strength, good

Some exceptionally strong generals may use hammers that are heavier, but generally, they do not exceed 6 or 7 pounds, and in fact, the vast majority do not surpass 4 or 5 pounds

The golden mace feels heavy in hand; it is a gold-plated mace with a surface of gold and an interior made of fine copper. Its four-edged design gives it significant lethality, as it not only possesses great weight and force, but its four edges also have a strong capability to penetrate armor and inflict injury.

However, such blunt weapons have higher requirements for the wielder, generally necessitating considerable strength. This is because typical swords and knives weigh around 2 to 3 pounds, while blunt weapons such as whips, clubs, and hammers are often heavier, frequently reaching 4 to 5 pounds. Wielding a 4 to 5-pound blunt weapon in combat with one hand is not something everyone can accomplish

Did Xiao Wu wake up

Qin Qiong handed a club to Luo Feng, saying, "Let me see what you are made of"

I will look for a set of techniques for using a hammer for you, which you can practice when you have time. If you achieve proficiency in your practice, once you turn twenty-one and come of age, I will find a way to recommend you to the handsome commander to join his ranks as a soldier, so that you may have a chance to make a name for yourself in the future

Qin Qiong held a pair of mace, each move executed with great strength, and even mist had begun to form above his head from his practice

Moreover, due to the forward center of gravity, it requires a significant amount of force to use the hammer

Good morning

What?

Compared to the flail, the hammer actually requires more strength, as the flail is somewhat similar to swords, but heavier than swords. However, the hammer has its center of gravity positioned very far forward, making it difficult to swing back and forth. Generally, a single strike with the hammer can determine life and death, commonly referred to as a "one-hit deal," where there is an output but no return.

On this night, Luo Feng and Qin Qiong chatted until midnight, seemingly enjoying a great rapport. Although the two cousins had never met before, they felt a strong sense of closeness during their conversation. Especially when Qin Qiong discovered that his younger cousin, despite being quite young, was not like the rural boys Luo Xiaoqi and Luo Xiaojiu; he had an extraordinary demeanor and offered insightful perspectives on many matters.