Chapter 10: Wu Ji Trains His Troops (Part 1)

  According to Wu Ji's expectations, he was promoted to the position of Camp Commander, and at most, it would be a corresponding official who should have allowed it. Unexpectedly, however, it was Vice Envoy Wang Shao himself who came to inquire about it, which was too high a standard.

  Who is Wang Shao?

  Wang Shao was a trusted general of Song Emperor Shenzong. His "Ping Rong Ce" was adopted by the emperor, and he led the Song army to victory in the largest battle won during the 100-year war between the Song Dynasty and Western Xia, the Battle of Xili River!

  Expanded territory by over two thousand li and forced the surrender of several hundred thousand Western Xia people!

  This thing happened just a few years ago, when Wang Shao's luck was flourishing. Wu Ji's promotion was personally approved by him, which meant that Wu Ji's future was bright and his prospects were promising.

  "Wu Zhihui, this is the Emperor's decree!" Zheng Tai's smile grew even thicker, and she laughed: "If there was no imperial decree, General Wang Shao would not have taken action! Wu Zhihui, you must not disappoint the Emperor's expectations!"

  "Imperial... imperial decree?" Wu Ji was even more shocked.

  It was already a big deal that Wang Shao personally asked about it, but unexpectedly it was the will of Emperor Song Zong, which really exceeded Wu Ji's imagination. Wu Ji absolutely did not think that his promotion would even shock Emperor Song Zong.

  But this is a good thing!

  This means that Wu Jie has entered the line of sight of Song Shenzong, and Song Shenzong began to pay attention to him. As long as he caught the attention of Song Shenzong, Wu Jie's future would be bright and boundless.

  "I want to sell the thunderbolt shells to the Song army, the more attention from Emperor Song Taizong the better! If I use the thunderbolt shells in a big battle against the Liao army, I believe there will be no problem with their use at all! This is a border area where two countries are at war, and fighting against the Liao army is not a problem, as long as I train my troops well!" Wu Ji became more and more excited as he thought about it.

  "Wu Zhihui, this is the border area, the Liao bandits often invade the border, it's a place for men to show their bravery. You must seize the opportunity and don't let the Emperor down!" Zheng Tai encouraged: "The border area is where men show their bravery, this belongs to you!"

  "Thanks, Lord Zheng!" Wu Ji looked at Zheng Taiyi and saw that he was very pleased. He smiled and said: "I'm sure Lord Zheng didn't spare any effort in my promotion?"

  This Zheng Ta is absolutely not simple, he can actually bring Wu Ke's promotion to Song Shen Zong, this person's background is extremely large.

  "Wu Zhihui has spoken heavily, this is what the official should do!" Zheng Tai slightly shook her head and said: "Wu Zhihui can be promoted to camp commander, this is a great imperial favor! The emperor is a great and powerful ruler, with grand ambitions and fierce passion, wanting to destroy Liao and Xixia, unify China, and he needs talents like you! Wu Daren can manufacture thunderbolt shells and use troops, this is exactly the kind of talent the emperor has been dreaming of!"

  The ambition of Emperor Song Zong, Zheng Tai has mentioned before, Wu Ji only truly felt it today. Emperor Song Zong is indeed a diligent and enterprising emperor, otherwise, he would not have issued an edict for the sake of a camp commander.

  Zheng Tai did not hurry to leave, but instead had a long conversation with Wu Ji. The two of them talked endlessly, discussing everything under the sun, and didn't stop until the next morning.

  That night, the two of them slept on the same bed, just like old friends, arguing and exchanging views, each expressing their own opinions. When they were happy, they laughed loudly; when they disagreed, they argued until their faces turned red. No matter how much they argued, they didn't mind, but instead appreciated each other's views even more.

  After this conversation, Wu Kui gained a more comprehensive understanding of the situation in the Song Dynasty. He understood that Emperor Shenzong had ambitions and wanted to make achievements by implementing reforms with Wang Anshi. However, the opposition faction led by Sima Guang, Lü Gongzhu, Fu Bi, and Han Qi tried every means to obstruct the new laws, making it difficult for them to be implemented, just like in history.

  If at this time, the border can win a big victory or two, it will be of great benefit to Song Shen's implementation of new laws and can shut up the opposition.

  "This is the border, who knows when we'll start fighting. If I really have this opportunity, I must grasp it firmly and fight a good battle! The Song Dynasty must reform, not to mention anything else, just saying that military administration needs to be thoroughly reformed, let alone my support for the new law!" Wu Ji secretly made up his mind.

  Next, Wu Ji began to think about how to train the garrison troops of Gui Xin. The garrison troops of Gui Xin could not be called an army and were not much different from refugees. Their combat effectiveness was extremely low, and it was impossible to use such an army to resist the Liao army. They had to be trained before the Liao army invaded.

  This task was heavy because the Liao army could invade at any time.

  Before he knew it, the day of formal military training had arrived. That day, Wu Ji got up very early, dressed neatly and hurried to the army camp.

  In front of the barracks, there were many soldiers and civilians. Gao Fuyuan stood with the civilian who had beaten him up, his face full of respect: "Big brother, big brother, please do me a favor, when Commander Wu arrives later, you must say some good words for me, don't say anything bad!"

  That villager puffed out his chest, held up his head, and seemed quite pleased with himself. He looked at Gao Fu Yuan with a puzzled expression and asked: "Why are you so afraid of Wu Ji Hui? Has he punished you?"

  "That's not true!" Gao Fu Yuan said with a mixture of admiration and fear, "Big brother, you don't know how formidable Commander Wu is. He's like this!" He raised his thumb so high it almost pierced the sky.

  "He's a man of his word! He said he'd give us our full military pay, and that's exactly what he did! He said he'd enforce military law, and sure enough, he had the corporal flog him. I wouldn't dare touch his whiskers! Big brother, please, I'm begging you." Gao Fuyuan repeatedly bowed to the villager, making a fist and apologizing: "Big brother, I was wrong about the chicken thing, I apologize! I apologize!"

  "Alas! You soldiers, it's not easy for you either, and your days are hard to pass!" The civilian sighed and said: "Now that Commander Wu has arrived, you will go from suffering to happiness, and you won't have to worry about not getting your military pay anymore!"

  "Brother, lend me your golden mouth! Commander Wu is a good man! Commander Wu has arrived!" As soon as Gao Fuyuan saw Wu Ji come forward, he couldn't help but stand up straight, his eyes shining brightly, as if he had seen a close relative, and was particularly excited.

  Not just him, but also those soldiers who were waiting in front of the barracks, which one was not like that?

  "We have seen Commander Wu!" The soldiers all bowed in unison, extremely respectfully.

  "Excused!" Wu Jie waved his hand and asked in surprise: "Today is our military training day, how did the old man come?"

  "Wu Zhihui, you are unaware, we have come to thank Wu Zhihui."

  That villager who had beaten Gao Fu Yuan stepped forward and said, "In the past, the soldiers liked to steal our dogs and take our things. But since Commander Wu arrived, they didn't dare anymore, and even returned the money they owed us! This brother Gao, the price he gave is even higher than the market price! Commander Wu, please don't blame brother Gao, he was also forced into it!"

  Wu Ji looked at this commoner with a mixture of surprise and incredulity, wondering how could he dare to speak up for Gao Fuyuan like that?

  Gao Fu Yuan was both delighted and grateful, secretly giving the commoner a thumbs up, silently praising him for speaking well.

  "Yes! Commander Wu, don't blame the soldiers, they have to make a living, what can they do?!" Before Wu Ji even spoke, many civilians gathered around, pleading for the soldiers in unison.

  Wu Ji looked at the civilians, each with a happy face, accompanied by one or several soldiers, surrounding them like stars. They spoke sincerely, without pretending, Wu Ji's words must have taken effect, and the soldiers should have followed orders to repay their debts.

  "Wu, you're in command! This is an order that must be obeyed! From now on, your commands will not be disobeyed!" Huang Fu exclaimed beside Wu Ji, loudly praising: "This is the style of a famous general!"

  "'Famous General's Style?' Wu Ji was taken aback, Huang Fu's praise was a bit too high. At present, the eight characters were not even complete, and he hadn't even started training his troops yet, so it was still too early to be called a famous general."

  However, this is a very good thing. Wu Ji's orders were regarded as sacred decrees by the soldiers, and his commands were not dared to be disobeyed. This military training has not yet begun, but it has already had a good start!

  Wu Ji talked with the civilians for a while and verified that the soldiers did not threaten them before sending them back.

  "Beat the drum!" Wu Ji entered the military camp and gave a loud order.

  The drummer picked up his drumsticks and began to beat the war drums.

  "Bang! Bang!"

  The earth-shaking drumbeat sounded, shaking the ground so much that the skin was trembling.

  Listening to the thunderous drumbeat, Wu Ji's blood was boiling with excitement. His mood was extremely good: "Today's military training has started well, the commands are being followed, this formation is definitely correct!"

  Wu Ji couldn't help but feel a little detached from reality, until a group of Song soldiers arrived, and Wu Ji's enthusiasm suddenly turned to nothing, as if a basin of cold water had been poured over him. His passion disappeared in an instant, his eyes wide with incredulity as he stared at the soldiers before him!