Chapter Seventy: Intimidation, Exclusion, and Murder!

  The military strength of the Qin state is recognized as the best in the world, and more than half of it was achieved through cavalry. Although in the past twenty years, the rising hundred-victory cavalry of Eastern Qi has stolen the limelight, even the proud Hundred-Victory Duke Zhao Wujie had to admit that the great Qin cavalry has an unbeatable advantage in both quantity and quality.

  The Baisui Army, although known as the invincible army of the world and touted as a hundred thousand strong, actually only has twenty thousand elite cavalry. It's not that the Emperor of Qi is suspicious or that the Prime Minister Shang is being difficult. The truth is that it's just too hard to train a qualified Baisui Army. Even veteran cavalrymen from other units can't necessarily make it into the Baisui Army's reserve camp. The Baisui Army has been constantly at war, and it's already difficult to maintain its current strength of twenty thousand with the entire nation's resources; wanting to increase this number further is simply impossible.

  The Qin state had 500,000 elite cavalrymen. Not counting the navy, they made up one-third of the country's military strength.

  It is said that the state of Qi has only 200,000 cavalry, while Chu, due to its location in the south with numerous rivers and lakes, as well as a lack of good horses, has a total of 100,000 cavalry throughout the country, and their combat effectiveness is even more questionable.

  Five hundred thousand versus three hundred thousand, this is the difference in military strength between Qin and the two states of Qi and Chu.

  Maintaining such a large cavalry force requires the mobilization of the entire country's resources. This can be seen from the nine major pastures that Qin has set up all over Xiguoer and Xiliang grasslands. All herdsmen in Xiguoer have been incorporated into these pastures, those who refuse to obey are either eliminated by the Great Qin or flee Xiguoer.

  These nine pastures can provide twenty thousand excellent war horses for the Qin army every year, and even transport thirty thousand mules used for transportation and farming to inland areas.

  This is not all, there is another pasture that is not among the nine major ones but is in no way inferior to them. This is the Royal North Mountain Pasture located in the Hetao region.

  Qin Lei rode his horse into the camp of this pasture. The Han people were not used to living in tents after all, so they built a two-zhang-high earth wall as their residence.

  As soon as Qin Lei entered the city, he saw 5,000 soldiers lined up in neat rows on both sides of the road, filling the entire street of the small town, leaving only a one-meter-wide passage.

  When Qin Lei entered the city, 5,000 people suddenly knelt down and shouted loudly: "Welcome to the palace." The sound shook the sky and echoed on the grassland after rushing out of the earthen city.

  Qin Lei was a seasoned veteran, he slightly nodded his head, without looking sideways, and lightly clapped the horse's belly, and the warhorse started to trot along the main road.

  It wasn't until he saw Zhong Likan kneeling in the middle of the road along with several unfamiliar officials that he calmly said, "All of you get up."

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Half an hour later, after a brief rest and changing into casual attire, Qin Lei sat in the main hall of the scene, receiving the officials from the pasture.

  He looked at Zhong Lichuan, who seemed a bit worn out, and said lightly: "Zhong Li, why don't you introduce the people in this palace to me?"

  Zhong Likan bowed his fist and said, "Yes, sir." He pointed to a middle-aged general in armor and introduced him as "This is General Huangfu Zhanwen, the commander of the Prince's Guard." General Huangfu Zhanwen saluted Qin Lei with military courtesy. Qin Lei smiled and asked, "When I returned to the capital last time, there was a captain of the Imperial Forest who escorted me for a thousand miles, named Huangfu Shengwen. Is he related to General Huangfu?"

  Huang Pu Zhan nodded and said: "That's right, it's my younger brother. I've caused trouble for Your Highness."

  Qin Lei smiled and said: "I was very close to Huangfu Xiao Wei, and I still think of him often."

  Huangfu Zhanwen smiled and said: "That is my younger brother's honor." After thinking for a moment, he added: "I also have the honor of being with him."

  Qin Lei nodded and motioned for him to sit down.

  Zhong Likan pointed to a middle-aged man with a black face and a five-product official attire, saying: "This is Qin Qi, the supervisor of Beishan Pasture." Qin Qi bowed his head and saluted Qin Lei.

  Qin Lei comforted him with a few words and also asked him to sit down.

  There were two more officials who had met Qin Lei before.

  After the meeting was over, those who were not of sufficient rank withdrew. There were only five people left in the room: Qin Lei, Huangfu Zhanwen, Qin Qi, Zhong Likan and Shen Qing. Shen Qing had also wanted to withdraw, but was detained by Qin Lei.

  Qin Lei saw the house quiet down, and then to Huangfu Zhanwen and Qin Qi these two first meeting straightforwardly said: "I received my brother Taizi Dianxia's entrustment, went north to the imperial pasture to form an army. Everyone knows that a military force wants to go from nothing to something, from weak to strong, without several years of hard work is not possible."

  Huang Pu and Zhong Li nodded in agreement. Huang Pu spent five years creating the Twelve Guards of the Crown Prince, which finally became a force to be reckoned with. Zhong Li spent five years creating the Blood Shadow of the Crown Prince but still couldn't satisfy the Crown Prince.

  Qin Lei said in a deep voice: "But I only have at most half a year's time. In half a year, wanting to conjure up a strong army out of thin air, using conventional methods is definitely not feasible."

  Huangfu Zhanwen thought for a moment and cupped his hands: "If there is war training, the end will try to form an army in half a year."

  Qin Lei waved his hand and said: "General Huangfu is talking about regular troops, but what we are training now is a special force. We can't directly engage in the battlefield."

  Huangfu Zhan's face was gloomy and he didn't say a word.

  Qin Lei was displeased in his heart, but still smiled brightly on his face: "Generals, tomorrow at 3 o'clock in the morning, the entire team will gather at the school field. Any questions?"

  Shen Qing and Zhong Lai Kan didn't have any issues. Only Huang Fu Zhan Wen smiled and said, "Your Highness has never been in the military, so you don't know the rules of the army. In the army, we always start at the fourth watch, starting early will disrupt the rules, I'm afraid it will affect Your Highness's prestige."

  Qin Lei knew that this proper general's uniform was not something a young whippersnapper like him could wear just because of his status as a prince, and he didn't have any extravagant hopes either. Still smiling, he said: "When I set out, the Crown Prince granted me the power to decide life and death, I suppose all of you gentlemen have received the imperial edict?"

  Huang Pu Zhanwen and Qin Qi nodded in agreement. Qin Lei touched the waist sword of the crown prince and said with narrowed eyes: "I, the crown prince, am a gentle and kind person, never killing people arbitrarily. As long as you gentlemen restrain your subordinates and prohibit them from acting rashly, I will not use this crown prince's sword." After finishing speaking, he smiled at Huang Pu Zhanwen.

  Among those present, Shen Qing was Qin Lei's sworn brother, Zhong Likan owed Qin Lei a favor, and Qin Qi was just a civil official who had nothing to do with military affairs. So everyone's eyes turned to Huangfu Zhanwen.

  Huang Pu Zhanwen didn't expect that by slightly expressing his dissent, this prince would start yelling and shouting to kill him, inwardly cursing his bad luck. Unfortunately, the situation was stronger than a person, he was a royal son, holding the crown prince's sword, what else could he do? He had no choice but to stand up and pay respects, muttering: "Your subordinate understands."

  Qin Lei helped Huanfu Warwen up, beaming with a smile: "General Huanfu, please don't mind me. I'm still young and my temper is a bit hasty. I get angry easily. This is a big flaw of mine that needs to be changed."

  Huang Pu Zhan had never seen anyone change their expression so quickly. He smiled carefully and said, "Your Highness is a young hero, with a brilliant appearance."

  Qin Lei burst out laughing and, holding Huangfu Zhanwen's hand, said: "Brother Huangfu is really good at talking, come on, let's go to the back hall to drink. Lord Qin will also go." Huangfu Zhanwen completely lost his temper, with a bitter smile being pulled by Qin Lei towards the back hall. Qin Qi also followed up with an unusual expression.

  Zhong Li Kan grabbed Shen Qing's arm and asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, what's going on? You're not like this when you were with Zhong Du."

  Shen Qing thought for a moment and said seriously: "According to what Your Highness told us, he is currently in his youth."

  Zhong Li Kan was dumbfounded.

  Actually, Shen Qing was thinking of something else just now...

  Qin Lei asked Guantao on the way into the city, "How do you get along with others?" Guantao stared at him for a long time before suddenly shouting, "Your Highness, do you know what 'Your Highness' means?"

  Qin Lei shook his head. Guan Tao had a sigh of "a child who cannot be taught" and said in a strange tone: "Your Highness means that you are one of the greatest under His Majesty, so what do you think should be done?"

  Qin Lei was a bit stunned by his loud shout and asked foolishly: "How can we proceed?"

  "Whatever you say is wrong and must be unconditionally executed. No one is allowed to question it in person, no one is allowed to disobey it in person."

  Qin Lei let out an "ah" and in that moment, he felt his IQ had almost dropped to zero. This was vastly different from the democratic centralism he had always believed in. He asked foolishly: "What if there's disobedience?"

  His face revealed a fierce and sinister expression, and he said viciously: "Intimidation, exclusion, murder!"

  Qin Lei asked in a low voice: "Won't this be too dictatorial?"

  Gong Tao was dancing on horseback, if not for Qin Lei's royal identity, he would have slapped him on the back of his head. His head almost touched Qin Lei's face, and he whispered mysteriously: "That's why those in power must be cautious with their words and actions. Before making a decision, one should think repeatedly. Not after making the decision."

  Qin Lei nodded, feeling his IQ slowly returning to his brain. He stretched out his hand and pushed away the old face of Guan Tao, who had a thick beard, and said irritably: "If you have something to say, say it properly. Why do you need to stick your face so close? You're spitting water all over my face! Damn, why don't you treat me like a noble?"

  Guan Tao knew he had come back to his senses, so he smiled strangely and urged his horse on.

  Qin Lei looked at this madman, shaking his head and sighing. Guantao understood everything, but had no way to restrain his untamed heart. It was no wonder that San Shi Lang was still a bachelor at the age of thirty.

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