CHAPTER 453: CHAPTER 453: PREPARATION (PART 3)

Four days later, Jiang Shaohua appeared in the Personal Guard Camp.

Qin Zhan, Meng Dashan, and Liu Hengchang were all summoned to the military tent and, together with Song Yuan, they engaged in a long secret discussion with the Commandery Princess.

"I understand the Commandery Princess’s intentions," Liu Hengchang, known for his wisdom and martial prowess, was the first to grasp her meaning. "The Commandery Princess has brought eight Rouran horse slaves here, hoping we can use them to familiarize ourselves with the Rouran cavalry’s combat style, and train our troops accordingly in advance."

Jiang Shaohua looked at Liu Hengchang approvingly, "Exactly!"

Qin Zhan immediately said, "Only eight people, how can they be enough for the three Personal Guard Camps? How about letting them all go to the First Camp first, so our First Camp guards can train for two months."

Meng Dashan rolled his eyes, "No way! Who knows how many of these eight Rouran will be left after two months. Besides, why should it start from the First Camp; good things always get taken by the First Camp."

Unlike them, Liu Hengchang was thinking more deeply, "The Commandery Princess wants the guards to familiarize themselves with the Rouran cavalry’s combat, could it be with the intent of countering the Rouran cavalry and recovering Peng City in the future?"

Qin Zhan and Meng Dashan were reminded by this, and quickly exchanged a glance.

Jiang Shaohua was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "You are the people closest and most trusted by me; I don’t wish to hide from you. I do indeed have this intention."

"The Rouran cavalry launched a massive attack on the border, slaughtered Peng City, and looted gold, silver, jewels, grain, and tens of thousands of people. In contrast, the Da Liang Court is not thinking about revenge and justice and is instead embroiled in disputes over the selection of the Border Army Commander."

"The Left General was summoned back and questioned, and General Fan took over the border army. Although General Fan is a loyal and capable General, I am not optimistic about the court’s move. I fear that Rouran, having tasted the sweetness of plunder, will repeat their tactics in the future."

"Whether you call me prudent or anxious and uneasy, I have to do something."

"Of course, there’s not much we can do right now. Store more grain, stockpile more warhorses and weapons, expand the army and train more soldiers. That’s about it."

Is that not already a lot?

Historically, any Vassal King who took such actions was seen as rebellious... after all, recovering lost territory and fighting foreign clans is court business, and the Commandery Princess’s ’prudence’ is already overstepping.

Liu Hengchang couldn’t help but twitch at the corners of his mouth, remaining silent.

Song Yuan’s voice sounded, "The court is incompetent, and the Commandery Princess is responding early for the Jiang Family’s kingdom and the safety of the people."

Qin Zhan realized and chimed in, "Commander Song is right. Although everyone in our Personal Guard Camp can ride, in terms of horsemanship and combat, there’s certainly some gap compared to the Rouran knights. Training early is a good thing."

"Whatever the Commandery Princess asks us to do, I will do," Meng Dashan was more straightforward, "Please instruct us, Commandery Princess."

Then, the three of them directed their gaze towards Liu Hengchang.

Liu Hengchang looked at them somewhat bewildered, "Why are you looking at me? I just wanted to understand the Commandery Princess’s intentions, not to oppose."

Some years ago, he was already determined to follow the Commandery Princess.

Whether the Commandery Princess wanted to hold Nanyang County, expand her power, or had greater ambitions, he would follow her.

Song Yuan smiled lightly. Qin Zhan reached out and patted Liu Hengchang’s shoulder, "Old Liu, I used to think you were a gloomy person with too many thoughts. Now I realize I misunderstood you."

Meng Dashan grinned and said, "Starting today, we are true brothers."

Qin Zhan repeatedly nodded in agreement.

Liu Hengchang raised an eyebrow with a smile, "In that case, these eight Rouran people will stay in the Third Camp. I will carefully study horseback combat to see how we can counter the Rouran cavalry."

Qin Zhan: "..."

Meng Dashan: "..."

Jiang Shaohua nodded, "That’s also what I had in mind."

Alright! Liu Hengchang could take charge once.

Though Qin Zhan and Meng Dashan loved to put on a brave face, they both knew Liu Hengchang’s capabilities. In a one-on-one battle, Liu Hengchang couldn’t hold a candle to them. But when it came to training troops, even together, they couldn’t match Liu Hengchang. After a few complaints, they accepted it.

Jiang Shaohua said, "I’ve secretly ordered the Ma Family people to try to buy more Rouran horse slaves outside the border when purchasing horse slaves."

"Training soldiers is not a short-term task; Rouran has over a hundred thousand cavalry, dominating the grasslands outside the border. Commander Liu, no need to rush, take your time researching strategies against the enemy, and don’t train too harshly. These Rouran horse slaves were bought with silver and are skilled in horse care. Keep them alive."

Liu Hengchang cupped his hands in acknowledgment.

...

"Tsk, tsk! How tragic!"

In the injured soldiers’ tent lay an unconscious, gravely injured foreign man with a severed right arm, none other than Mani.

A few days prior, Mani had been personally punished by Jiang Shaohua, and his injuries were indeed severe. After being dragged to the Personal Guard Camp by cart, he was placed in the injured soldiers’ tent.

As Sun Guangbai tended to Mani’s wounds, he mumbled, "I heard it was the Commandery Princess herself who did this. This Mani guy’s pretty tough to not have died from that beating."

Next to him, Shanxing smiled as she handed over medicine and bandages.

Since their marriage in February, the two returned together to the Personal Guard Camp. Now they shared a military tent, worked together by day, sweet and affectionate. Even Sun Zelan didn’t want to be around the newlyweds too much to avoid being overly dazzled by their affection.

After dealing with Mani’s wounds, Sun Guangbai yawned, holding Shanxing’s hand, and returned to their tent.

Those severely injured can’t be left unattended. Lin Huiniang volunteered to stay and care for the wounded.

Having been in the military camp for a long time, and having seen many wounded soldiers with bare bodies, Lin Huiniang was unmoved by the sight of the bandaged, robust foreign man Mani.

In the middle of the night, Mani suddenly muttered in his sleep, mumbling in his dreams, his face contorted in pain.

Lin Huiniang wiped the sweat from his face with a warm towel.

Mani suddenly opened his eyes, moved his left hand, the pain piercing to the bone, and he bit his teeth hard, unwilling to cry out in pain.

Lin Huiniang paid no mind to his stubbornness, wiped his sweat, then brought over a bowl of warm water and fed it to him.

Mani resisted opening his mouth, but Lin Huiniang pinched his jaw, forcing him to open up and guzzle down a bowl of water.

"Drink up and sleep." Lin Huiniang had worked all day and now had to stay up taking care of the wounded, her face was naturally not kind, "You’re covered in injuries, don’t move around. If you dislocate your bones, you’ll only suffer more."

Regardless of whether Mani understood, Lin Huiniang finished speaking and went to the other side of the tent. There lay another seriously wounded, a trusted aide sent with the Tang Family to manage a grain shop who was heavily injured during an attack by a large group of starving refugees.

This was the soldier needing proper care, much more important than that strange and sinister-looking foreign horse slave.

Lin Huiniang carefully wiped the soldier, using a cotton cloth dipped in water, gently coating the soldier’s cracked lips.

Mani: "..."