Volume 1: Kyoto Winds and Clouds Chapter 29: A Duel to Test Martial Skills with Yan Yu

  Yu Province officials were subdued like this. Of course, this was also due to the incompetence of Yu Province people. Relying solely on Wei You, it's really impossible to support the Yu Province Governor's Office, such a huge entity. However, if Wei You and others knew that the precious sword at Liu Zhang's waist was the beheading snake sword that could kill first and report later, they would probably be even more afraid!

  The Governor's Office of Youzhou, under Liu Yan's momentum, quickly got into operation. Pacifying the people, recruiting soldiers, and repairing city walls, step by step, led to the prosperity of Jicheng County. Liu Zhang fully played out his spoiled young master's habits, every day leading Shi Ah and a hundred imperial guards as a patrol team, whenever he discovered any bullying of the common folk, he would personally intervene to manage the situation. Some arrogant young masters from wealthy families were lucky if they only got a good beating from him. If they resisted, Huang Zhong and Yan Yan would lead newly recruited soldiers to "train" them.

  Within three months, Liu Zhang had annihilated three major families in Youzhou. The number of people who were beaten was countless. The Youzhou aristocratic families wanted to find a way to drive out Liu Yan and his son, so they sent someone to the capital city to lobby. However, when the aristocratic families in the capital heard that it was Liu Zhang's doing, their faces immediately changed, and no one dared to provoke this fierce god. When the Youzhou aristocratic families learned of Liu Zhang's actions in Luoyang, they quickly returned home and ordered their own sons to cooperate with Liu Yan's work. Otherwise, being beaten would be considered light punishment. With the emperor backing him, it didn't matter if he annihilated a few small aristocratic families; even if Liu Zhang exterminated all of the Youzhou aristocratic families, he wouldn't have any trouble. Compared to the Luoyang aristocratic families, the Youzhou aristocratic families were nothing.

  Liu Yan's work in Youzhou became increasingly easy, and with Liu Zhang's help, even government affairs decreased significantly. In fact, the government didn't have many major events to begin with, mostly just trivial matters. However, those who committed these offenses were often from wealthy families. Dealing with them would offend a large number of people, but not dealing with them wouldn't be good for facing the common people. Not every provincial governor or magistrate had the same background as Liu Yan and Liu Zhang. When those wealthy family members caused trouble, local governments often had to clean up after them, leading to busy government affairs in some areas, just like the case of the Luoyang Magistrate and the Jingzhao Yi. These two officials had similar positions, status, and salaries, but they were also responsible for similar matters, precisely because the wealthy family members caused too much trouble, and one Luoyang Magistrate or Jingzhao Yi couldn't handle it alone.

  Liu Yan's purpose in going to Youzhou was to recruit the Wuhuan people. After Liu Zhang gathered all the young men from the noble families in Jixian, he began to help Liu Yan train troops. However, with nearly 600 Yulin Army soldiers given by Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Zhang did not worry about the lack of basic soldiers, so he divided the new recruits into two parts, one led by Yan Yan and the other led by Huang Zhong. Unfortunately, Youzhou was remote and the people were impoverished. Liu Yan had to work hard to gather an army of 20,000 men, which was already the limit for Jixian to support troops.

  To be honest, Huang Zhong and Yan Yan were quite depressed. Although they used to be only a school lieutenant and a military captain, leading troops and training soldiers was just a routine for them. However, Liu Zhang's training method made them very puzzled. In Huang Zhong and Yan Yan's opinion, training soldiers was simply about issuing each person a weapon and teaching them how to kill the enemy. Gunmen were taught to thrust, knife men were taught to chop and use shields, and archers were taught shooting techniques. But Liu Zhang overturned their approach, making his soldiers learn how to walk and stand!

  "Han Sheng, you said the young master's method is effective?" Looking at the rows of soldiers standing on the school field facing the sun, Yan Yan asked with some confusion; "Can this stance also produce elite soldiers?"

  "I don't know!" Huang Zhong followed my order, whipping a soldier who was making a commotion, then said to Yan Yan: "Whatever the young master says, I will do! Do you remember what the young master said? A soldier's duty is to obey orders and follow commands! I am a soldier!"

  "Huh!" Yan Yan was shocked, he knew that Liu Zhang had saved Huang Zhong's son, but he did not expect Huang Zhong to be so blindly obedient to Liu Zhang. In Yan Yan's mind, soldiers were meant to go into battle and kill the enemy, he couldn't see the point of Liu Zhang's training methods, so he felt a bit resistant.

  "Han Sheng!" Yan Yan said with some displeasure: "The soldiers are going to go on the battlefield and kill the enemy, but instead of teaching them how to fight, they're doing such childish things. I'm going to find Governor Shi! This way of training is absolutely not acceptable!" After finishing speaking, Yan Yan galloped away, leaving only Huang Zhong alone on the drill ground to train the soldiers.

  Huang Zhong gazed at Yan Yan's back and muttered to himself, "Old Yan! It's not that I don't want to protect you! The young master specifically instructed that if you're not satisfied, he'll let you go find the governor. It seems the young master has seen through you long ago, but you still don't realize it. You never think about it, the young master is only eight years old, but when has he ever done anything useless? Alas..."

  Huang Zhong turned around and saw two soldiers whispering to each other, he cracked his whip twice and said: "What did I just say? Anyone who dares to disobey military orders again will be dealt with by military law!"

  The Governor of Youzhou Prefecture, Liu Yan sat in the first position, smiling at Liu Zhang and Yan Yan below.

  "Father, did you call me for something?" Liu Zhang was in the middle of scolding those arrogant young masters and local bullies on the street when someone summoned him to the Governor's mansion. But after such a long time, Liu Yan had him sit down with Yan Yu to drink tea instead.

  "My son, General Yan is quite puzzled by your military training methods. I'd like you to explain them to him!" Actually, Liu Yan also had some doubts about Liu Zhang's methods, but he had promised not to interfere with Liu Zhang's military training, so he took advantage of Yan Yan's puzzlement and asked Liu Zhang a question instead.

  "Huh?" Liu Zhang looked at Yan Yan and said: "General Yan, what don't you understand?"

  "Sir, in the heat of battle, you don't let the soldiers get familiar with their weapons, but instead, you have them stand at attention. Isn't this a bit misplaced?" Yan Yan had an opinion, but he still showed respect.

  Liu Zhang did not answer Yan Yan's question, but instead smiled and asked: "General Yan, are you familiar with the requirements for elite troops in Sun Tzu's Art of War?"

  "As swift as the wind, as gentle as a forest, as fierce as fire, as immovable as a mountain, as mysterious as a shadow, and as startling as a thunderclap." Yan's face broke into a smile: "It's easy to say these words, but it's extremely difficult to attain these states. If one can achieve even one or two of them, that would be considered an elite soldier!"

  "In my opinion, meeting those requirements is too easy, that sentence is just the basic requirement of the troops in my heart!" Liu Zhang looked at Yan Yan and smiled: "If General Yan doesn't believe it, we can try it out!"

  "How can this be?" Yan Yan, as a member of the Wu Xun family, had his own pride. Moreover, he didn't believe that he, who had been learning martial arts and military tactics since childhood, was actually inferior to an eight-year-old child. At that time, he became Liu Zhang's bodyguard due to pressure from Liu Yan. In Yan Yan's view, he was relying on Liu Yan, not Liu Zhang, which is also why Liu Zhang treated him and Huang Zhong differently.

  "You and Huang Zhong each have a 10,000-strong army. Your 10,000 troops will be trained according to your methods, while Huang Zhong's 10,000 troops will be trained according to my methods. Three months later, we'll each select 1,000 soldiers for a competition. Whoever loses will have to adopt the other's training method. What do you think?"

  Liu Zhang had long wanted to subdue Yan Yan because he could see that although Yan Yan appeared respectful, it was only out of consideration for Liu Yan. He came up with this plan in order to make Yan Yan submit both in heart and words. After all, Liu Yan was not just Liu Zhang's son. With the arrival of chaotic times, as Liu Yan's son, Liu Zhang naturally had to rely on him. Although Liu Zhang knew that Liu Yan would eventually pass on his position to him, he worried that if his actions were to change history, it would be beyond human control. Therefore, Liu Zhang had to grasp all of Liu Yan's power in his hands, and Yan Yan was an important part of this plan.

  After hearing Liu Zhang's words, Yan Yan hesitated. No matter how you put it, Liu Zhang was still the son of Liu Yan, and as a general under Liu Yan, he had already gone too far by competing with him, but Liu Zhang was only eight years old. A young man in his early twenties competing with an eight-year-old child to practice military tactics made Yan Yan feel that he really couldn't bear to do it.

  "General Yan, do you dare to compete with the young master?" Liu Yan looked at Yan Yan with a smile, but Yan Yan was somewhat flustered. He suddenly remembered his identity - as a house general, competing with his master was like asking for death! Even if he had the skills, he couldn't and didn't dare win!

  "Mo will be wrong!" Yan Mo knelt on the ground and said: "Mo dare not compare with the young master, please ask the adult to withdraw the order!"

  "Huh?" Liu Zhang and Liu Yan were both somewhat surprised, as Yan Yan had come in such a hurry, yet was acting so strangely, definitely having some problem. In fact, Yan Yan just wanted to let Liu Yan change Liu Zhang's military training method, but didn't think that Liu Zhang would propose a competition. Liu Yan asked doubtfully: "General Yan, you came in such a hurry, wasn't it to get Zhang'er to change his military training method? Now Zhang'er is giving you an opportunity, how can..."

  "Adult, Yan is just a guard, how can he compare with the young master! I..." Yan lowered his head, deeply hiding the despair and unwillingness in his eyes.

  "Huh?" Liu Zhang understood, in a feudal society with strict hierarchy, Yan's low status made him inferior. If he were to compete with Liu Zhang, it would be considered a subordinate offending his superior, which was a serious crime in ancient times. Suddenly, Liu Zhang burst out laughing: "Yan! You're still a military general, what's the point of thinking so much! Honestly, I'm not mocking you or trying to intimidate you by my status. I just want facts to speak for themselves. If you think my training methods are wrong, then use your own methods to prove me wrong! Isn't it great to admit mistakes and improve? Are my father and I the kind of people who refuse to admit their mistakes? Or do you think your abilities surpass ours, and we'll be intimidated by you? Remember, even if you become a great general in the future, you're still under my father's and my command. We are the imperial family of Han, and the whole world is our household. What about you? Speak! Dare to come out and prove yourself?"

  "Dare!" Yan Yan's mind was calmed by Liu Zhang's loud shout, and the proud air of a military general returned to his chest.

  Liu Yan burst out laughing: "Alright! Yan, if you can prove that you're right after three months, I'll let you train all the troops under my command. But if you lose, you must obediently listen to Young Master's orders and not have any more objections. I still need to rely on you to repel the Wuhuan people!"

  "I will obey orders!" Yan looked at Liu Zhang and Liu Yan with a fiery gaze, he could finally prove himself!