CHAPTER 403: CHAPTER 38 DEATH WITHOUT LIFE! _4

The Zu family army always adhered to two traditions: one was its emphasis on military formations, and the other, its focus on military equipment.

Various armaments, such as repeating crossbows, mobile artillery, and war chariots, often presented a novel and effective sight on the battlefield.

Pirates ran rampant in the southeast region of the Qian State, even forming alliances with large coastal clans. They once severely disrupted the situation in the southeast. The Zu family army came into being during this time and, over a ten-year period, gradually calmed the coastal upheaval.

Behind Zhong Mao and Zu Dongcheng stood another young general in silver armor. His name was Dou Guoming. The Dou Family was a prestigious military family dating back to the founding of the Qian State, wielding significant influence within the Royal Guards. He led the 10,000 Royal Guards dispatched to the north.

Behind Dou Guoming, on his left, stood a man in his thirties with a long beard who possessed an ape-like physique and was renowned for his exceptional horsemanship. His surname was Han, he was ranked fifth in his family, and was commonly called Han Laowu.

On Dou Guoming’s right was a square-faced general, slightly older than the other young nobles present but younger than Han Wu. Named Yue Huan, he was renowned for his mastery of the spear.

Han Laowu had originally come from the West Army Division, but he hadn’t made much progress there. He was even suppressed to the point of having to leave the West Army Division and join the auxiliary troops of the Beihe region. It was akin to being moved from a front-line combat unit to the reserves.

It was precisely due to these developments, with the northern frontier in a state of emergency, that the Military Governor of Beihe Commandery realized how inadequate its auxiliary forces were. Consequently, they began to screen the auxiliary forces for capable soldiers. It was through this process that Han Laowu was promoted and caught the eye of the Military Governor.

Perhaps by a stroke of luck, the Military Governor of Beihe Commandery seemed to take a particular liking to him. Disregarding the strict distinctions between civil and military posts, he even married his daughter to Han Laowu. Thus, Han Laowu transformed from an ordinary soldier into the esteemed son-in-law of the Military Governor, a prime example of how a change in circumstances can bring new opportunities.

He now commanded the newly formed unit of 5,000 elite volunteer soldiers.

As for Yue Huan, his mentor was Wong Beishan, whose adopted son he was. Wong Beishan was a renowned scholar-general. After the unfortunate demise of the Tattoo-faced Master, the Southwest region had shown signs of renewed instability. Wong Beishan, vested with imperial authority as a special commissioner, assumed command of both military and civil affairs in the Southwest, successfully stabilizing the region within seven years.

Wong Beishan had long since retired, and the majority of the political legacy he left behind was invested in his adopted son, Yue Huan, who was subsequently appointed as a Commander in the Royal Guards.

It could be said that this was an army composed entirely of ’second-generation’ scions from prominent families with military backgrounds.

They had congregated from all corners of the land—southeast, northwest—and then set out together. To call this a mere coincidence would be stretching credulity too far.

It could only be said that, with the three border regions now in peril, this critical juncture saw the various military-affiliated factions tacitly making their own moves. For too long had Qian suppressed its military through civil authority, and these military men yearned to break free from their constraints and achieve greater standing.

Thus, after the main forces had already been dispatched and stationed at the three border regions, these young scions led the follow-up contingents. They journeyed in fits and starts, gathering together along the way. What seemed like chance encounters was, in reality, more akin to a strategic gathering of the younger generation from the major military powers—an opportunity to cultivate relationships beforehand.

Indeed, the downfall of the Tattoo-faced Master served as a stark lesson, and since then, military men had come to understand the importance of solidarity.

However, when this group of young scions assembled, there was no sign of the bickering, jealousy, or mutual dissatisfaction one might expect. They were, after all, the refined younger generation, not common rabble likely to engage in such foolishness.

While the soldiers of the Royal Guards were undeniably somewhat arrogant, Dou Guoming, Yue Huan, and the other scions of military families accompanying them from the Royal Guards displayed considerable humility.

They were well aware of their own circumstances. The 800,000-strong Royal Guards were not only nearly at half-strength, but the remaining half were often found toiling as laborers at the Imperial Capital’s wharves just to earn their keep.

In matters of social grace and networking, the descendants of Royal Guard families were undoubtedly top-tier. But when it came to leading troops into battle, while Dou Guoming and Yue Huan possessed some inherited aptitude from their lineage or tutelage, the other young men from military families within the Royal Guards had a very sober understanding of their own limitations.

Although Han Laowu was the Military Governor’s favored son-in-law, in terms of lineage and standing, he naturally couldn’t compare to these young men from truly established noble houses.

Among them, Zhong Mao of the Zhong Family and Zu Dongcheng of the Zu family held the highest status. While the might of the West Army Division vastly overshadowed that of the up-and-coming Zu family, had Zhong Tianlang himself been present, he would have undoubtedly been preeminent. However, as Zhong Mao hailed from a collateral branch of the Zhong Family, Zu Dongcheng was tacitly acknowledged as the most distinguished in their current assembly.

Furthermore, Zu Dongcheng was genuinely skilled. He had been campaigning with his father in the Southeast since the age of fifteen. This was no longer a case of merely relying on family inheritance; if one were to disregard his youth, he could already be deemed a seasoned commander.

These young scions, ostensibly following the wishes of their families or mentors, had coincidentally gathered and were now heading north together. Along the journey, beyond merely strengthening their bonds, these young men, still in their idealistic years, harbored their own dreams and aspirations.

Yue Huan and Han Laowu possessed the most outstanding horsemanship. However, when it came to the art of leading soldiers, Zu Dongcheng was considered supreme.

Indeed, throughout their journey, the young scions went so far as to entrust their own troops to Zu Dongcheng for training. They collectively studied and explored techniques for drilling soldiers and deploying battle formations.

The Zu family’s methods of training soldiers were renowned throughout Qian. From its very inception, the Zu family army began with Zu Zhuming personally recruiting and drilling his men; there were no pre-existing forces to command or easy victories to claim.

In less than half a month, these young scions observed a marked improvement in the discipline and morale of their respective troops. Considering Zu Dongcheng’s preeminent status and demonstrable capabilities, they were all thoroughly impressed and convinced of his prowess.

This also explained why, when the Yan Army cavalry suddenly appeared, this ’joint contingent’ was able to rapidly form up into a defensive posture.