Chapter 002: Iron-Back Bow, Black Feather Arrows

In the past, Xu Xingxia often saw this iron-backed bow, but he never paid much attention to it. This was because he had once tried to draw the bowstring himself and found it impossible. Later, he learned that this was a two-stone hard bow. One stone in the Ming Dynasty is approximately equal to 188.8 jin, so two stones amount to over 370 jin. This means that it requires over 370 jin of force to fully draw the bowstring, which is not something an ordinary person can achieve

Kill the Tartars

Suddenly, Xu Xingxia let out a soft exclamation of surprise.

It turned out that he was able to easily draw the bowstring, and it was fully drawn.

What he remembers are all matters of state, yet now he is merely a soldier of the Ming dynasty struggling at the very bottom. Even if he recalls these significant national events, what use is it? Would it be of any benefit to rush to inform his superiors that Nurhaci is destined to destroy the Ming dynasty and that he must be eliminated beforehand? The likely consequence of such an action would be that he himself would be eliminated first.

Xu Xingxia closed his eyes and silently asked himself

In fact, since the establishment of Ningxia Town, battles of various scales have never ceased. Before the rise of Nurhaci of the Later Jin, the conflicts that erupted in Ningxia Town among the nine border strongholds were undoubtedly the most frequent. However, the battles that occurred here were generally not very large in scale. Each time the Tatar cavalry came to raid, their numbers would not exceed one thousand. Therefore, the battles here were easily overshadowed by conflicts in other regions. Each time the Tatar cavalry came to raid, their numbers would not exceed one thousand. Therefore, the battles here were easily overshadowed by conflicts in other regions

He lowered his head to look at the iron-backed bow in his hands, took a gentle breath, and drew the bowstring again. As a result, the bowstring was easily drawn back once more. Well, to be precise, it wasn't exactly easy; when he drew the bow, he felt that his strength, as described in the books, had basically reached its limit, with no surplus energy left. After retracting the bowstring, Xu Xingxia instinctively pinched his thigh. It hurt a lot; he was not dreaming, this was real. After retracting the bowstring, Xu Xingxia instinctively pinched his thigh. It hurt a lot; he was not dreaming, this was real.

Many people believe that only the army and tribesmen of Nurhaci, who wore wild boar skins, can be called "Dazi". However, this is not the case. The earliest reference to "Dazi" pertains to the Mongol Yuan Empire's influence, specifically the Mongols who invaded the Central Plains. During the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, "Dazi" specifically referred to the Tatar tribes of Mongolia, which were active north and south of the Yin Mountains, extending all the way to the Altai Mountains. They were the most greedy, violent, bloody, cold-blooded, and cunning group among all the Mongolian tribes. During the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, "Dazi" specifically referred to the Tatar tribes of Mongolia, which were active north and south of the Yin Mountains, extending all the way to the Altai Mountains. They were the most greedy, violent, bloody, cold-blooded, and cunning group among all the Mongolian tribes

Xu Xingxia gently blew away the dust on the iron-backed bow and tightened the bowstring with force

For a moment, Xu Xingxia was stunned. The bowstring, drawn to its full moon shape, remained unyielding. Xu Xingxia felt as if a multitude of information flashed through his mind, yet it also seemed like a blank slate. He seemed to grasp something, but it was as if he did not fully understand. After quite a while, he finally regained his composure and slowly relaxed the bowstring back to its original state

What should I do?

Upon taking hold of the iron-backed bow, Xu Xingxia immediately felt as if the blood coursing through his veins had solidified. He sensed that every pore and every vein in his body seemed to expand countless times. His strength also surged significantly in an instant. The once heavy iron-backed bow felt weightless in his hands, as if it bore no weight at all. He could manipulate the bow with the most skilled posture, freely toying with it in his hands. The once heavy iron-backed bow felt weightless in his hands, as if it bore no weight at all. He could manipulate the bow with the most skilled posture, freely toying with it in his hands

Author's Note: There are many theories regarding the weight of a stone during the Ming Dynasty. This book adopts the measurement that each "stone" is approximately equal to 188.8 jin in today's terms. This is taken from the book by Lao Bai Niu. Those who wish to delve deeper may discuss it with Lao Bai Niu, but please do not come to me. Hehe

To engage in battle, one must possess excellent skills. Fighting is a matter of life and death; without solid skills, one is destined to be slaughtered. However, skills are not innate; they are developed through rigorous training. There is no other way but to practice diligently. Therefore, let us begin to train hard from now on. As long as we can eliminate those detestable Tatar cavalry, the days of hardship will come to an end

Regarding the Ming Dynasty, Xu Xingxia is relatively familiar with it. At the very least, he has read "The Events of the Ming Dynasty" by the author Mingyue with great seriousness. He has also engaged in intense debates with others concerning the issue of Yuan Chonghuan. He remembers the main figures and significant events of the Ming Dynasty. However, for now, this knowledge is not particularly useful.

Thanks to the information explosion of later generations, the developed internet of later generations, and the debates on many forums in later generations, Xu Xingxia believes that he possesses a considerable amount of knowledge and numerous avenues for wealth. As long as there is an opportunity, he is certain he can stand out. However, all this knowledge and these avenues for wealth are currently of no use.

Xu Xingxia searched around, wondering what he could do. He saw the water tank in the yard and wanted to fetch water, but he found that Dongzi had already filled the tank. Next to the water tank, there was a small wooden bucket. Other families used large wooden buckets to fetch water, but only Dongzi made himself a small wooden bucket, using his free time to fetch water for the tank while reading books. To fill the tank with water, he had to make at least ten trips back and forth. Other families used large wooden buckets to fetch water, but only Dongzi made himself a small wooden bucket, using his free time to fetch water for the tank while reading books. To fill the tank with water, he had to make at least ten trips back and forth

There seemed to be a certain awareness as Xu Xingxia's gaze fell upon the iron-backed bow hanging on the innermost wall of the main room. This iron-backed bow could be considered a treasured heirloom of the Xu family. Since Xu Xingxia could remember, this iron-backed bow had always hung on the wall of the main room, serving as the family's prized possession.

Strangely, Xu Xingxia now seems to have a desire to draw a bow. He feels as if he can pull back this iron-backed bow. Xu Xingxia himself does not know where this feeling comes from. He only knows that his feeling is intense, intense enough to compel him to take the iron-backed bow from the wall. After placing the sleeping Niuniu onto the earthen bed, Xu Xingxia took the iron-backed bow down from the wall.

Due to being a treasured heirloom, engraved with the memories of each generation of ancestors, the Xu family never considered selling this iron-backed bow even during their most difficult times. In fact, this iron-backed bow had never caught the attention of creditors, likely because its appearance was indeed unremarkable. Accompanying the iron-backed bow are a total of thirty black-feathered arrows, which also appear equally inconspicuous

Meritorious achievements

Next, Xu Xingxia conducted several experiments and discovered that he was indeed not dreaming. He realized that he only needed to exert sufficient strength to draw this two-stone hard bow. His thoughts immediately became lively. With such a two-stone bow, the maximum range would be at least one hundred and fifty meters or more. If he used such a hard bow to deal with those damned Tartars, wouldn't it be a piece of cake

Eh?

Call!

Unfortunately, the combat effectiveness of the Ming army in the four towns of the Northwest was truly inadequate. Their equipment and supplies were not sufficiently prepared. After more than a month of harassing the interior, the Tatar cavalry easily retreated north. In a fit of anger, Emperor Wanli dismissed and investigated the then Minister of War, the Governor of the Three Borders, the General of Gansu, and the General of Guyuan, among others. The General of Ningxia was also held accountable and executed.

Gradually, Xu Xingxia finally began to piece together some clues. As a military household, fundamentally speaking, to achieve prosperity, one must find ways through warfare. To be precise, it is about earning military merits. Military merits, regardless of the dynasty, have always been highly valued. As long as one has sufficient military merits, one can rise in rank and wealth, and stand out. This was equally true in the Ming Dynasty. Those with military merits always managed to ascend to the highest echelons of power. As long as one has sufficient military merits, one can rise in rank and wealth, and stand out. This was equally true in the Ming Dynasty. Those with military merits always managed to ascend to the highest echelons of power

The military households living in Weizhen Fortress all desire to completely eradicate the Tatar cavalry and thoroughly eliminate their threat. However, regrettably, they are unable to do so. The Ming army in Ningxia Town lacks the capability to take the initiative in attacking. On the contrary, under the continuous harassment of the Tatar cavalry, the Ming army has no choice but to abandon multiple defensive lines and retreat consecutively

It is said that this iron-backed bow was brought by the ancestors of the Xu family when they migrated from afar to garrison Ningxia Town. It is said that at that time, the ancestors of the Xu family were high-ranking military officers. It is said that long ago, their ancestors used this iron-backed bow to kill many Tartars. ... It is said ... Xu Xingxia heard all of this, but whether it is true or false remains unknown.

In the 22nd year of the Wanli reign, the Tatar cavalry launched a large-scale southward advance, swiftly penetrating Ningxia Town and directing their military might straight towards Guyuan Town in Shaanxi, causing a stir in the court. The Wanli Emperor, who had not attended court for a long time, convened an unprecedented court session upon receiving the report. After a round of discussions, the court decided to mobilize troops from various nearby border towns to encircle and intercept the Tatar cavalry.

After taking a deep breath, Xu Xingxia assumed a stance with his legs spread apart, slightly leaning backward, and drew the bow with all his strength. This was the most standard posture for drawing a hard bow in the Ming army; even if one could not fully draw the bow, the damage to the body would not be too significant.

The yew wood bows generally used by the Ming army soldiers are approximately five dou, which is about ninety pounds. In fact, even with just five dou, there are still some Ming soldiers who are unable to draw them. The Ming soldiers stationed in Ningxia lack rigorous training and sufficient nutrition, resulting in noticeably poor physical fitness. For instance, the former Xu Xingxia was unable to draw a five dou bow. Among the entire garrison at Niujiaodun, there were fewer than five individuals capable of drawing a five dou bow. The Ming soldiers stationed in Ningxia lack rigorous training and sufficient nutrition, resulting in noticeably poor physical fitness. For instance, the former Xu Xingxia was unable to draw a five dou bow. Among the entire garrison at Niujiaodun, there were fewer than five individuals capable of drawing a five dou bow

However, for the people living in Ningxia Town, especially the military households, the Tatars represent their greatest nightmare and the most terrifying enemy. Each time the Tatar cavalry arrives, it causes significant losses to the local area. Weizhen Fortress is situated at the forefront of the fight against the Tatar cavalry, and the losses it suffers are the most severe among all of Ningxia Town.

In the late Wanli period, the Mongolian tribes north of Shanxi and Beizhili in the Ming Empire were relatively settled. They were under the rule of Lian Dan Khan, and their relationship with the Ming Empire was fairly amicable, with few conflicts arising between the two sides. However, the Tatars were different. The Tatars did not accept Lian Dan Khan's rule. In order to plunder people and resources, they frequently crossed the Yin Mountains to invade areas such as Shaanxi and Gansu. Among these, Ningxia Town was the most severely affected.