Chapter Twelve: Lu Meng, Song Xian, and Chen Wu

  Finally, when everyone calmed down.

  Sun Ce said: "Everyone is a veteran now, do you still remember our military rules back then?"

  Article 1: Those who refuse to obey orders from their superiors shall be put to death!

  Article 2: Those who burn, kill, plunder and harm the people shall be put to death!

  Article 3: Those who collude with the enemy and falsely report military information shall be executed!

  The above three items, Sun Ce would recite one item and the crowd would follow and recite it again.

  The military rules of the Jiangdong Army are not complicated, and it was initially thought that what's important is the establishment of morale. Too much content would also be inconvenient for everyone to remember. The three military rules can be recited quickly.

  Sun Ce said: "Now I want to add a clause to our military law. It will be the general outline of our military law."

  That's "Never Give Up." There are two aspects of never giving up.

  "One is our own brother. Two is an enemy target. Has everyone understood?"

  "I understand!" The voice was deafening and the momentum was overwhelming.

  "Alright! Let me see how you understand it."

  Sun Ce pointed at a tall and handsome man and shouted: "You come up and talk, what do you understand? What is never giving up."

  "Yes! Big brother, I'm not very good at reading, but as long as they're my brothers, whether dead or alive, I'll bring them home. And if they're my enemies, whether dead or alive, I'll take them down."

  "Great, you're not bad, haha, you're really a talented person! You understand very subtly. What's your name? How old are you this year?"

  "Returning to the Grand Duke, I am called Lü Meng, styled Ziming, this year..."

  He scratched his head with a bit of hesitation and said: "Heh heh! I'm 15 years old this year. I've been able to eat well since I was young, so I grew up quickly!"

  Sun Ce couldn't help but be taken aback: "15 years old, really? You look more like 25. I guess you're one of those people who age quickly on the surface."

  The people under the stage burst out laughing suddenly.

  Sun Ce thought to himself at the same time: "This Lü Meng, isn't he the one who designed and defeated Guan Yu? Hmm, Ziming, it must be him, a talented person with great prospects! How did he appear so early?! I remember he was later promoted by Sun Quan. It seems that Jiangdong is also full of talents! As the lord, I didn't make good use of them!"

  Sun Ce said to Lü Meng: "It seems that your mind is not bad, from today on, follow me and be my personal guard. Train with me for a period of time, let me see if you can become a capable person!"

  Lü Meng seemed hesitant, and Sun Ce couldn't help but feel a bit displeased: "What's wrong, you don't want to be my personal guard?"

  Lü Meng shook his head like a rattle drum: "No, no, no, of course not! The eldest son Wu is brave and has always been our most admired hero!"

  I am overjoyed to be able to follow the young master. If I have the opportunity to receive guidance from him, that would be a blessing accumulated over three lifetimes.

  "Just afraid of being envied to death (Song Qian's words). Only, I don't know if my brother-in-law agrees or not. I'm afraid he'll report to my mother, and my mother will scold me. This time, I sneaked out."

  Sun Ce's curiosity got the better of him as he thought to himself, "So that's how it is! But I don't care about his sister or his mother. Since this future high-ranking talent has fallen into my hands, there's no way I'll let him go without making use of him."

  Sun Ce asked: "Hehe, interesting! Tell me, who is your brother-in-law? Is he here?"

  At this time, the first centurion who recognized Sun Ce's arrival walked down from the platform.

  With cupped hands, he looked up and said: "The rear army school lieutenant Deng Dang pays his respects to the great prince! This little rascal is the younger brother of the commander's wife, and has been mischievous since childhood.

  Today, he trespassed into the military camp. I beg of you, young master, to consider his youth and spare him this one time. And please, great young master, punish me, your humble general, for my failure to discipline him properly!

  Sun Ce waved his hand indifferently and said, "General Deng, do not blame yourself. This is not wartime, and there are no military orders, so family members cannot come to the camp to visit relatives."

  Besides, he didn't cause any trouble in the camp. You go and tell your mother-in-law that I think Ziming is clever and decided to keep him by my side.

  Let him cultivate well in the future and become a man who stands tall and upright. Go build a great achievement! Also, to bring glory to our ancestors! Enfeoff his wife and children."

  Sun Ce thought to himself: "You don't know that he will be a famous figure in history. Guan Yu is a rising star!"

  He used the plan to capture and kill Guan Yu and his son, and seized Jingzhou. This is a great achievement in expanding territory. This achievement was the greatest one in the late Eastern Wu period. After that, it seemed that until the country was destroyed, Eastern Wu never expanded its national territory again.

  But it seems that he died of illness shortly after achieving this most brilliant victory. Is there going to be a problem with this?

  Sun Ce cut off what Deng Dang was about to say, and all he could do was smile wryly and nod: "Yes, young master. I'll go back and advise his mother. This little rascal needs someone to discipline him. But if this kid is too mischievous, please forgive him, young master. He's the treasured darling of the family, spoiled by everyone at home."

  After finishing speaking, he lowered his head and muttered to himself: "This little rascal is always getting me into trouble. This time the trouble is big. I don't know how I'll explain it to the two tigers at home!"

  It seems he's really a good person, both his wife and mother-in-law are afraid of him.

  Lü Meng heard Sun Ce speak on his behalf and finally spared him.

  He immediately bowed and said, "Thank you, Master! I will not disappoint your wishes. I must make great achievements to return home, my mother will definitely be happy. She has been working hard to raise me since childhood, hoping that I would have a bright future!"

  I've long told them I'm all grown up and can make a name for myself like a great general, but they just won't believe me. They keep saying I'm still young, still young. But didn't the great general start his military campaigns at the age of 15?!

  "Good! You have a filial heart! You are a good son! It seems that you are still a good kid. If one cannot be filial to their parents, then it is pointless for such a person to live in this world."

  It is said that among all the good deeds, filial piety comes first. If you can't even respect and love your parents who gave birth to you and raised you, it's really hard to imagine that you will treat others with sincerity.

  "Understood! As for me helping you plead your case, it's one thing, but whether or not you can achieve great things depends mainly on your own efforts to strive for them. Can you understand?"

  This somewhat reckless young man also needs to be warned, otherwise it will be too late if he is let go completely.

  Lü Meng smiled and replied, "Hehe, don't worry, young master! Ziming understands. Ziming will definitely listen carefully to your teachings, young master, and work hard to improve!"

  He paused for a moment and said, "Also, Young Master, I have a good friend in the army named Song Qian who is also a capable person. He and I have both admired your bravery for a long time, why not let him join me as your bodyguard?"

  Sun Ce smiled and nodded "Alright! You'll be the captain of my personal guard. As for the personnel, you can arrange them yourself! If you think someone is talented, you can go and ask General Han Dang to assign them."

  Lü Meng jumped up high "Woo-hoo! That's great, I can be with Yu Yi again! The young master is wise!"

  Sun Ce nodded with a smile: "This has nothing to do with whether I am wise or not, it's just related to the inevitability of history."

  Turned his head to look at everyone.

  Suddenly saw the big man who was knocked flying by himself earlier, standing far away in the back of the crowd. His face was full of awkwardness, neither advancing nor retreating.

  His body is tall and strong. Even standing at the back of a crowd that isn't very high on average, he still looks so conspicuous.

  It seems that this is also a person with some real ability. After hitting him, I couldn't forget to give him a sweet date either. It's also considered as taking revenge on him for showing off his power.

  Then Sun Ce beckoned with his hand and loudly called out to him: "That fellow! Called Chen Manzi. You also come forward."

  Chen Manzi heard Sun Ce's summons. He had no choice but to steel himself and walk forward, with everyone making way for him.

  All along the way, people would occasionally look at him and whisper: "Chen Manzi is going to be unlucky this time."

  "Who says it's not? Usually relying on his own strength, having some skills to bully us. Now that he's met the young master, let's see how the young master deals with him."

  "It's his own fault for being arrogant all along, and now he's finally getting what's coming to him."

  It seems this sturdy fellow isn't very popular!

  Chen Manzi walked up to Sun Ce and stopped in front of him, stiffly bowing his body: "Junior Colonel Chen Wu Chen Zili, pays respects to the Young Master. Not knowing that the Young Master had arrived, I have offended your mighty power, please forgive Chen Wu for his ignorance."

  "Chen Wu, Chen Zili!" Another great general! Sun Ce couldn't help but smile sincerely.

  Haha, with a smile, he walked forward and helped him up: "Zi Lie, no need to be too polite. One look at you and I know you're a bold and heroic person. From now on, we should get closer! After all, ignorance is bliss, right? Didn't hurt you just now, did it?"

  Chen Wu forced a wry smile: "Nothing serious. Just a bit of pain in the butt! The young master is indeed brave and fierce, I'm convinced!"

  It's not someone else's opponent, hurry up and explain!

  It seems that he was afraid of being thrown again, Sun Ce laughed and patted his shoulder: "Haha! Zi Lie, don't be angry, this is my punishment for your ignorance! Well, after the crowd disperses, come to my military account, we'll talk slowly!"

  In front of these people, the commander's face must be preserved, otherwise how can he lead his troops in the future.

  It seems that this place is indeed a land of hidden dragons and crouching tigers.

  "Just look at these few big men in front of us, each and every one of them is a heroic figure. And they are all going to be the main pillars of the Jiangdong army in the future! It's really surprising, one after another, Father has indeed left me a great gift."

  Sun Ce continued to address the crowd, "Let's not mention past events. Today, General Lu has returned everyone to me. From now on, we must start anew and once again become that invincible army. Do you all have confidence?" The crowd responded loudly, "We obey the Young Master's orders! Rebuild the strong army!"

  "Alright, for now let's follow the old rules of my father."

  Han Dang, still serving as a separate department's Sima and riding imperial guard, led the entire army in archery and horsemanship.

  Lv Fan, Zi Heng is in charge of supervising military discipline. If anyone commits a crime or violates the law, they will be severely punished without leniency!

  Sun He, Chen Wu and Deng Dang temporarily served as the commander of the training army, assisting Yigong in drilling the soldiers. Lü Meng was the captain of my personal troops, responsible for guarding and transmitting orders.

  "Alright, let's arrange it this way for now. If everyone has no objections, we'll move into the small camp in the afternoon and get ready. We'll start training at dawn tomorrow. Whoever doesn't train seriously will get their butt kicked by me."

  Everyone burst out laughing. Sun Ce waited quietly for a moment, saw no one objecting, and announced the dismissal.

  The troops dispersed to prepare for tomorrow. The remaining leaders walked into Han Dang's military account together.

  Discuss the training content for tomorrow. In addition to the original horseback riding, archery and military formation defense and other regular projects, not one can be less. Sun Ce made an additional request, running 5 kilometers cross-country every morning. And stipulated that the last five people do not eat breakfast!

  Joking apart, without strong physical strength guarantee, in this era without motor vehicles, the mobility of a large army is basically just physical strength.

  No choice, after all this is an ancient times that basically relies on walking for transportation! Can only wait for opportunities to slowly make improvements.

  In future battles, whether advancing or retreating, without robust physical strength, one might not even make it to the enemy's front line before collapsing. How can one then wield a weapon to fight?

  Not to mention that after being defeated or retreating strategically, there is no physical strength guarantee, and it's feared that one would be caught up by the enemy and killed in an instant.

  Forget about making achievements and contributions, just go directly to the Time-Space Management Office to report for duty.

  Everyone who heard it thought it made sense. After deciding to train the troops, no matter what, this one point cannot be changed. After talking for a while, everyone dispersed and went to make preparations before training.

  Only Sun Ce and Chen Wu were left in the military tent.

  Lü Meng naturally stood guard at the entrance of the military tent, beginning his duty as a loyal protector. Chen Wu did not know how Sun Ce would treat him and did not dare to speak first, but looked at the young commander in front of him with some trepidation.

  Sun Ce fell silent for a moment before speaking: "Zi Lie, I know you're a man of great ambition. But tell me, how do you think your relationship with the brothers in the camp is?"