Chapter Seventeen: Forming a New Army

  With a loud "slap", Pei Hongzhe's palm heavily landed on Chen Yingliang's face, leaving a bright red handprint on his small white face. Suddenly, Pei Hongzhe's expression changed and he furiously roared at Chen Yingliang, "You little beast! What are you talking nonsense about?! Half a month's time! You think you can train an elite army in half a month? Are you dreaming or having a high fever and spouting rubbish?!"

  Chen Yingliang knelt down in front of Pei Hongce, saying respectfully: "Uncle, I know you are doing this for my own good, but I am willing to try it out. If it doesn't work out, I will accept the military punishment alone and will not implicate Uncle."

  "Damn it!" Pei Hongce, who was usually gentle and elegant, cursed and grabbed Chen Yingliang, dragging him out. "Come on, follow me to see Fan Liushou, I'll throw away my old face and beg him to take back his order!"

  "Uncle, it's too late now." Chen Yingliang replied with a bitter smile: "Your nephew has taken the risk and already signed a military order in front of Fan Zhongyan."

  "Slap" again, another slap landed on Chen Yingliang's face. Pei Hongce was no longer furious with a distorted face, but his whole body was shaking with rage. After a long while, he kicked Chen Yingliang to the ground and roared wildly: "You little lunatic! Military order? Do you know what a military order is? Not to mention that you are just a small record room clerk, even I, as a duke, if I sign a military order and fail to fulfill it, I will surely die!"

  Roaring, Pei Hongce kicked Chen Yingliang's chest again and shouted: "I don't care! Do whatever you want! When you die, I'll send someone to collect your body, that's how I'll repay the favor of saving my life!"

  Pei Hongce beat Chen Yingliang more severely than Chai Shao did, but Chen Yingliang still didn't hold any grudges against Pei Hongce. He slowly got up, bowed and said: "Uncle, I know you are truly concerned about me and care for me, that's why you scolded and beat me. I also know you are worried about me, but I really have the confidence to create an elite army within half a month, so I dared to make a military order in front of Fan. I still say the same thing: if I fail, all the blame will be on me alone, and I won't implicate Uncle."

  "I'm afraid of what you're getting me involved in. It was you who made a military order in front of Fan Zige, not me! What does it have to do with me?" Pei Hongce roared: "You think you can train an elite army in just half a month? You must be dreaming!"

  "Uncle, it's not about training a crack troop, but creating one." Chen Yingliang replied respectfully: "Training a crack troop in half a month is something even gods can't do. The soldiers of the Right Wuwei Guard stationed in Luoyang usually receive military training, although the intensity is definitely insufficient and not effective, they still have some military foundation, at least better than the civilians and boatmen brought by Yang Huangan. With this foundation, it's not difficult for my young nephew to create a crack troop within half a month. This crack troop may not be comparable to the emperor's elite troops that went to Liaodong, but in front of Yang Huangan's rebel army, they can still be considered a crack troop."

  "It's all just empty talk!" Pei Hongce said coldly, "With the likes of these useless Right Wuwei troops, if you can turn them into elite soldiers, I, your uncle, will kowtow to you!"

  "Uncle, please forgive me. In the world, there is no absolute." Chen Yingliang said sincerely: "When I was young, my family was still well-off, and I often read some foreign books. I knew that in the great Qin state far away in the West, there was a great general named Napoleon, who once said that a flock of lions led by a sheep cannot defeat a flock of sheep led by a lion. Previously, the Right Guard could not defeat Yang's rebel army because the leader was a sheep. Even if he led the Right Guard, this group of lions, they still couldn't defeat Yang's lion-led flock of sheep."

  "What do you mean by that?" Pei Hongce was even more furious, "Are you saying that I lost the entire army at Baishi Ma Slope because I'm a sheep?"

  "Uncle misunderstood." Chen Yingliang hastily shook his head and equivocated: "When the young nephew mentioned sheep, he was referring to the right-wing guards under Uncle's command. If among them there is one who can lead the troops well and bring victory, if there is one who can lead the army to fight bravely, would Uncle have suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Yang's rebel forces? As a mere civil official, Uncle was able to remain undaunted in defeat and repeatedly rally for battle, which is already quite remarkable."

  "Moreover." Chen Yingliang carefully added another sentence, "Please forgive me for speaking bluntly, Uncle. Compared to Yang Xuangan, who was born into a military family and has actual combat experience, might you not be superior to him in terms of military prowess?"

  Pei Hongce's face turned iron-green and he stopped talking. After a long while, he suddenly bellowed: "I don't care how you mess around, it's your business, I won't interfere anymore!"

  "Uncle, please forgive me again, I must ask for your help once more." Chen Yingliang said with a bitter smile: "General Fan has ordered you to arrange for Hu Ya Lang to assist Xia Zi Chong in selecting 400 soldiers from his troops and hand them over to me for training and command. So I have no choice but to ask for Uncle's continued assistance."

  "Damn it, I've recognized you as my nephew, what a terrible luck for eight lifetimes!" The noble-born Pei Hongce cursed more profanities today than he had in his entire life. After taking a few deep breaths, Pei Hongce helplessly bellowed: "Someone, go and summon Xie Zichong for me!"

  There was no need for Pei Hongce to send someone to pass on the order, as Xie Zichong, a Hu Ya Lang Jiang of the Right Wu Wei, had been eavesdropping outside the city gate and immediately walked in with an ill-intentioned smile, paying respects to Pei Hongce. Pei Hongce was still fuming and bellowed: "Did you all hear that? If you heard it, go and do it! Take him to select 400 men!"

  "Alright." Xie Zichong smiled and nodded, beckoning Chen Yingliang to follow him to select soldiers at the foot of the city. Just as they were about to leave the city gate, Pei Hongce called out to Xie Zichong again, saying in a tone of regret: "General Xie, although my nephew is unfilial, but for my sake, please help him out and let him choose freely. Where he doesn't understand, please give him some guidance. I will remember your kindness."

  The Minister of Construction, Pei Hongce, who always holds a large amount of public funds in his hands, said this. Xie Zichong, who has made a lot of money from construction projects, naturally did not dare to slack off and hurriedly clasped his fists, saying: "Please rest assured, sir. I understand. I will definitely let Chen choose the elite soldiers under my command and will not hide any for personal gain."

  Pei Hongce nodded, just about to express his gratitude, when Chen Yingliang suddenly said: "General Xie, I don't want seasoned veterans. Gather all the new recruits who have joined the Fubing for less than two years and let me select from them."

  "Chen brothers, are you recruiting new soldiers?" Xie Zichong slapped Zhang Da's mouth with good intentions but poor results.

  Chen Yingliang nodded heavily, but didn't explain the reason - Chen Yingliang couldn't possibly tell Xie Zichong to his face that he didn't want the old, useless soldier oil anymore. Xie Zichong continued to stutter, subconsciously turning his head to look at Pei Hongce, who was even more furious, bellowing: "Let him! Let him do whatever he wants! Anyway, I'm only helping him this once!"

  Seeing Pei Hongce's extremely bad mood, Xie Zichong didn't dare to ask more questions and quickly led Chen Yingliang down the city. He took Chen Yingliang directly to Jiaoye Fang, one of the garrisons of the Eastern Capital, and immediately ordered each school to select new recruits who had been in service for two years or less to gather at the school field, allowing Chen Yingliang to choose arbitrarily.

  Actually, Chen Yingliang didn't have much choice either. The total number of defenders led by Xie Zichong was only 3,500 people, and those who met Chen Yingliang's conditions were only over 400 people. Two battalions still had to be assigned with 22 grassroots officers, and the total number was almost the same. However, Chen Yingliang didn't mind, and soon he eliminated some soldiers who were too short or too weak, leaving 422 people. Chen Yingliang's first army was freshly baked.

  Next is the selection of officers, two battalions must have eight company commanders, eight deputy company commanders, four battalion commanders and two regimental lieutenants as grassroots officers. Among them, the eight company commanders and eight deputy company commanders are easy to say, Chen Yingliang's team has 25 incumbent company commanders and deputy company commanders, but there is not a single battalion commander or regimental lieutenant. In response, Chen Yingliang made another shocking decision on the spot, calling the 25 company commanders and deputy company commanders to his side, saying directly: "Our troops now need two regimental lieutenants, who are willing to be regimental lieutenants, speak up."

  Twenty-five captains and deputy captains were speechless, and Tiger Tooth Lang, who was beside Xie Zichong, was also speechless. None of them had ever heard of such a thing - letting soldiers choose whether or not to be promoted? It felt incredibly absurd, and the twenty-five captains all looked at each other in dismay, with no one daring to say another word.

  "How come nobody speaks up?" Chen Yingliang spoke again, "A soldier who doesn't want to be a general is not a good soldier. Is there really not one among you who wants to get promoted and become a lieutenant? I can now tell you clearly that although our team was temporarily formed, I have already obtained the consent of Fan Zigai and Huangfu Dashi. As long as our team exists for a day, all lieutenants in the army will enjoy the same treatment as the right guard, so even if you are temporary lieutenants, as long as our team is still here, you can get the same military pay and food treatment as other right guard lieutenants, wear lieutenant armor helmets!"

  "Is this good news?" The 25 deputy captains all had a skipped beat.

  "Is it true or false, you will know soon." Chen Yingliang smiled and said: "Alright, all team leaders and deputy team leaders, I give you one last chance. Who is willing to be the company commander, step out now. If none of you want to be the company commander and just want to stay in your current positions as team leaders and deputy team leaders for a lifetime, that's fine. I can ask the 397 soldiers present who among them wants to be the company commander."

  A crucial moment that determines the fate of the future has arrived. At this critical moment, where a difference of a single hair can lead to a loss of a thousand miles, it's not just Chen Yingliang who has sharp judgment and decisive decision-making. Before his words had even fallen, two Shu army soldiers almost simultaneously took a step forward, saying in unison: "I want to be the school lieutenant."

  "Very good." Chen Yingliang nodded in satisfaction, then casually pointed to the tall and sturdy team member on his right side and asked: "What's your name? Why do you want to be a school guard?"

  "I... I'm Guo Feng." The team leader hesitated for a moment, then replied: "I want to be a school officer, it's... I want to make some money and go home to marry my wife."

  "Very good." Chen Yingliang nodded again, then pointed his hand to a young-faced team leader on the right and asked: "What's your name? Why do you want to be a school lieutenant?"

  "My name is Chen Zhihong, and I also want to make money to go home and marry a wife." The young team leader, who looked a bit tense, added: "I also want my two younger brothers to get married, and for my little sister to have a dowry. When the emperor ascended to the throne, the military government allocated land to our family that was not good, often drought-stricken, with poor harvests. I want to make more money."

  "Reasonable and reasonable!" Chen Yingliang was satisfied with the applause, and said loudly: "Guo Feng, Chen Zhihong, from now on, you are the lieutenant of our temporary army, Lieutenant Guo, Lieutenant Chen, congratulations on your promotion!

  Chen Yingliang indeed bowed his hands to Guo Feng and Chen Zhihong, congratulating them. Guo Feng and Chen Zhihong were at a loss for words, unable to believe that they had become captains so easily, and for a moment suspected that it was not real.

  Just then, a team of imperial guards came in from outside the camp gate, led by a civil official, and escorted thirty or so horse-drawn carriages to the empty space inside the camp. Seeing the official, Xie Zichong, as the Tiger Tooth Lang Jiang, hastily rushed up, kneeling down and bowing his hands, with extremely respectful etiquette. Then he led the official to Chen Yingliang's presence and introduced him: "Chen Ji Shi, quickly pay your respects, this is Shangshu You Si Lang Lu Chulu, a renowned clean official in Luoyang City."

  Chen Yingliang had heard Pei Hongce say that this guy was in charge of supervising the officials' discipline in Dongdu, and he was a stubborn and upright person who was feared by the powerful people in Dongdu. He was also one of the accomplices of the old conservative Fan Zigai, and one of the few people in Dongdu city who made Pei Hongce wary. So Chen Yingliang hurriedly knelt down on one knee, clasped his fists and saluted, "Your humble servant Chen Yingliang pays respects to Lord Lu."

  "Chen... Chen Ji Shi, please rise." Lu Chu spoke with a stutter, just like the rumors said. He said obscurely: "Fan... Fan Liu Shou, ordered this official to assist Chen... Chen Ji Shi, you are to establish a new army. The things Chen Ji Shi wants, this official has all brought along. This official will supervise and oversee the distribution. Only... only the military flag, we have to wait a while... Fan Liu Shou wants to personally inscribe your military flag, so I didn't bring it."

  "Thank you, Lord Lu." Chen Yingliang hastily cupped his hands in gratitude and continued: "Lord Lu has arrived at just the right time. The other matters can be discussed later, please have someone bring out two sets of army helmets and two white robes immediately. My new deputy commander has already been chosen."

  Lu Chu no longer stuttered this time, and directly waved his hand to the attendants behind him. The attendants understood, immediately took out two sets of silver armor that only high-ranking generals were qualified to wear, as well as two white cloaks, and presented them in front of Chen Yingliang. Chen Yingliang thanked him with a bow, then picked up one set of equipment, turned to Guo Feng and shouted: "Guo Feng, Captain Guo, please come forward to receive the armor!"

  Seeing the shining armor in Chen Yingliang's hands, Guo Feng plucked up his courage and stepped forward, first stuttering, then suddenly flushing bright red, without saying a word. He walked up to Chen Yingliang with big strides, knelt down on one knee, raised both hands, and solemnly accepted the armor that Chen Yingliang handed over. Then, at Chen Yingliang's request, he put it on in front of everyone.

  "Chen Zhihong, Chen Xiao Wei, please come forward to receive the armor!" Chen Yingliang held up the second set of Ming Guang armor. Chen Zhihong was so excited that his heart was pounding, and he followed Guo Feng's example by coming to Chen Yingliang's front, kneeling down to receive the Ming Guang armor, and then putting it on in public.

  In an instant, Guo Feng and Chen Zhihong put on the Ming Guang armor carefully crafted by Jun Jianping one after another. Chen Yingliang personally helped them wear white cloaks, ordering them to turn around and stand at attention in front of everyone. The sunlight shone onto the school grounds, making the silver Ming Guang armor worn by Guo Feng and Chen Zhihong shine brightly, majestic and powerful. The twenty-three deputy captains who missed their chance and the remaining nearly four hundred new soldiers also couldn't help but feel envious. Chen Yingliang then shouted loudly: "From now on, they are your school lieutenants! Your 420 lives are in my hands and theirs. Pay respects, meet Guo Lieutenant, meet Chen Lieutenant!"

  Although it is still unclear what Chen Yingliang does, after seeing the examples of Guo Feng and Chen Zhihong, 420 new military officers still paid their respects one after another, shouting in unison: "We have seen Commander Guo, we have seen Commander Chen."

  "Didn't eat enough?" Chen Yingliang was somewhat dissatisfied with the performance of the new army officers, and loudly shouted: "Align your formations, unify your voices, speak loudly, start again!"

  "We've seen Commander Guo! We've seen Commander Chen!" The voices of the 420 new soldiers were indeed louder and more uniform, especially those of the 23 deputy captains.

  "Again!" Chen Yingliang was still dissatisfied, and he bellowed: "Anyone else who slacks off, doesn't salute to standard, or doesn't shout loudly, will be subject to military law!"

  "We have seen General Guo! We have seen General Chen!" The 420 new soldiers stood at attention again and responded in unison with the loudest voice.

  "Very good." Chen Yingliang nodded in satisfaction, then turned to the twenty-three deputy captains and said: "Two school lieutenants have been selected, now we need four travel marshals, who wants to be a travel marshal, speak up for yourself."

  "I want to be the captain!" The twenty-three deputy captains, who had already regretted their decision, took a step forward in unison and recommended themselves.

  "Alright, I finally see your eagerness to progress." Chen Yingliang smiled slightly and then said loudly: "We only need four marshals, so let's do this: you will compete with each other in a wrist-wrestling match, and the last four people standing will be the marshals. The marshal armor will be awarded on the spot, and you can also choose our 16 deputy captains at will. The remaining three will be demoted to partner."

  After that, Chen Yingliang asked Xie Zichong to order the soldiers to bring in four tables and place them among the new army officers. Then, he randomly made up a competition rule, letting the 23 deputy captains compete in strength to get promoted. The 23 deputy captains gave their all to compete with each other, not only for promotion but also to avoid being eliminated and becoming squad leaders. Chen Yingliang intentionally or unintentionally encouraged the soldiers to cheer them on, and soon the training ground was filled with noise and excitement.

  Upon seeing this scene, Lu Chu and Xie Zichong, as well as the other military officials present, couldn't help but shake their heads in dismay. They all thought that Chen Yingliang's actions were too childish and none of them could understand why Fan Zigai had agreed to let him behave so recklessly. At this time, Pei Hongce, who still cared about his nephew's situation, also arrived at the training grounds. Seeing the soldiers gathered in groups cheering, Pei Hongce was shocked and quickly asked Xie Zichong what was happening. Xie Zichong replied with a bitter smile: "Pei Gong, I've never seen anyone more reckless than your nephew. The camp lieutenant is letting the soldiers decide for themselves whether they want to be promoted or not, and the traveling marshal is deciding by arm-wrestling..."

  After listening to Xie Zichong's introduction, Pei Hongce unexpectedly did not erupt in anger, but instead revealed a look of surprise and contemplation. He asked Xie Zichong, who had been incessantly criticizing Chen Yingliang, "General Xie, if you were one of the two lieutenants, because of my unfilial nephew, you would have easily become a lieutenant and received excellent armor on the spot, what would you think?"

  "I...". Xie Zichong was taken aback for a moment, then also came to his senses and said: "If it were me, I would definitely be grateful to your great nephew Pei Gong, and do whatever he tells me to do."

  "That's right, if you were me, would you rather have two obedient lieutenants or two disobedient ones?" Pei Hongce continued to ask.

  Xie Zichong was at a loss for words this time, and Pei Hongce pointed to those cheering soldiers and asked: "Also, do you want these enthusiastic soldiers, or do you want me to take the dead and dull soldiers who don't even dare to speak loudly to Baishi Ma Slope to fight?"

  Xie Zichong was speechless again, and it wasn't until after a while that he came to his senses and said: "Lord Pei, this nephew of yours seems to have two hands when it comes to leading troops."

  This time it was Pei Hongzhe's turn to be speechless, and he thought to himself: "My nephew seems to make sense, the soldiers of the Right Wuwei are not bad at all, they are much stronger than those civilian workers in Yang Jiao's rebel army, and their equipment is even more so. The only thing that is not as good as Yang Jiao's rebel army is their morale and fighting spirit."