Chapter 9 Establishing Prestige in the Army

  Today is sunny with clear sky everywhere.

  Yuan Fang rode a white horse, wore silver armor, and had a sword hanging from his waist. He held his head high and led the horse out of Ye City.

  Behind him followed his trusted servant Yuan Gui, his personal maid Xiao Cha, and seven or eight loyal attendants.

  As he took a last look at Ye City, Yuan Fang's heart suddenly surged with the exhilarating feeling of a bird flying out of its cage.

  "Finally I can leave this city that looks down on me, one day I will come back, with dignity, with the fear you have for me..."

  Yuan Fang secretly vowed, turned around and whipped his horse, proudly leaving with his head held high.

  Ten thousand miles of clear sky, let me soar freely.

  After leaving the city for several miles, Yuan Fang passed through his own private villa and also mixed the million dollars into his luggage, heading to Pingyang City twenty miles away.

  In the afternoon, Yuan's party arrived at Pingyang City and entered the Pingyang military camp.

  The two thousand cavalry stationed here will be taken over by him and led to conquer Qingzhou.

  Presenting the military token, he entered the camp smoothly and stepped into the main tent of the central army. Yuan Fang sat in the commander's position and ordered four military candidates and two clerks to come and see him.

  Yuan Shao gave Yuan Fang the official position of Metropolitan Commandant, with control over two battalions of troops.

  In the military system, 500 people form a qu (曲), with a military candidate (军候) in charge. Two qu form a bu (部), with a marshal (司马) in charge.

  Below the military marquis, there are successive positions of Túnzhǎng, Duìshuài, Shízhǎng and Wǔzhǎng, which are divided into levels to command troops.

  Sima Hejun and Hun were considered high-ranking officers in Yuan's army. When Yuan took over the two thousand soldiers, he naturally had to start by understanding these few high-ranking officers.

  Half an hour passed and only one person came.

  Yuan Fang was somewhat angry and asked the orderly soldier: "Where did the other four people go? Why didn't they come to see me?"

  "Reporting to young master, those three military marquises and two administrators have fallen ill and are on leave, unable to attend the morning roll call." The messenger said.

  "This is where it starts to get disobedient, mostly because of being incited by someone, this is going to give me a warning shot."

  Yuan Fang slightly pondered in his heart and guessed that this was probably a trick played on him by Yuan Xi and others. The day before, he had just taken office, and five high-ranking military officers under him claimed to be ill and did not come. How could they deploy troops and fight battles like this?

  Yuan Fang's eyes flashed, and he pulled out the command arrow from the case, shouting: "Yuan Gui, take a few men with you, bring my command arrow, and capture those five guys for me."

  Before long, Yuan Gui had all three army officers and two administrators arrested.

  "Master, when I brought the servants here, these five scoundrels were actually gathering to gamble, and they didn't have any illness at all." Yuan Gui said indignantly.

  These five men feigned illness, and Yuan Fang had no way to punish them. Now they are gathering to gamble, which is just giving Yuan Fang a handle to use against them.

  "As an officer, he actually led the way in gambling and openly violated military discipline. It's really hateful! Come on, take him away and wait for military punishment!" Yuan Fang angrily ordered.

  Yuan Guide ordered his trusted subordinates to drag the five men out, not allowing them to explain themselves. They were beaten with large sticks without being heard.

  Bang bang bang......

  The dull thud of clubs striking flesh, accompanied by anguished cries of "Ah!" and furious roars, sent shockwaves throughout the entire barracks.

  Anyone familiar with military discipline knows this is a punishment of being hit on the buttocks with a rifle.

  The soldiers of Pingyang Camp were all nervous and trembling today, their legs cramping as they stood at attention with knives and guns.

  None of them had expected that the second son of the Yuan family, who was rumored to be a good-for-nothing, would have such great power and prestige. On his first day in office, he actually beat up their superiors.

  Five military officers who were once majestic and powerful, ordering their subordinates around with a flick of their fingers, are now having their pants pulled down and being beaten with large wooden clubs until they scream like pigs being slaughtered, their majesty completely gone.

  A moment later, the flogging ended.

  Yuan Guibou entered the tent and cupped his hands, saying: "Young master, they have all confessed. Yesterday evening, each of them received 10,000 coins, which were meant to be used to kill off the prestige of the newly arrived commander, so that you would not be able to set out."

  In times of peace, a soldier's annual expenses were no more than 6,000 coins. Just buying these five people would cost 50,000 coins, which is not a small sum.

  "Yuan Tan and Yuan Xi, these two guys are really wealthy, spending so much money just to prevent me from commanding the army at will. Hmph, I'll make sure your plans don't come true."

  Yuan Fang showed no mercy and immediately ordered that the five officers be stripped of their military ranks and expelled from the camp on the spot.

  Yuan Fang had long known that Yuan Tan and the others would cause trouble, now it's just right to get rid of these five people, so he can promote new people and cultivate his own faction.

  This contingent of soldiers and horses would be the foundation for his future endeavors, so Yuan naturally wanted to ensure that they were completely loyal to him, becoming his private army.

  However, Yuan Fang was leading troops for the first time and was still unfamiliar with military affairs. He had to find someone familiar with this army to understand the situation.

  At this time, Yuan Fang's gaze turned to the front of the account, and the solemnly standing military candidate.

  Among the four military officers, he was the only one who did not report illness and came to see him before being summoned.

  That military officer was over twenty years old, wearing fish-scale armor, with a ring-headed knife at his waist. The tight and solid muscles under his military uniform bulged out, looking full of energy.

  Moreover, this person's expression remained unchanged, listening to the sound of being beaten outside, yet calm and composed, with a hint of courage.

  "Why didn't you take the money and run, but instead came here obediently?" Yuan Fang asked curiously.

  "Military law is like a mountain, and subordinates dare not violate it." The military candidate replied calmly.

  Yuan Fang nodded slightly, and he was quite appreciative of the military situation in front of him.

  Yuan Tan and Yuan Xi's power was extremely great, while he himself was an illegitimate son who wasn't even worthy of being seen. As a "clever" person, he should have known which side to offend.

  Although he knew this, he still took the risk of offending Tan and Yuan Xi, adhering to military discipline, a truly upright and unyielding person.

  Yuan Fang needs people like this.

  "Not bad, you have some dignity." Yuan Fang nodded in approval and asked: "What's your name? Where are you from?"

  "Returning to the young master, I am Hao Zhao, styled Boda, a native of Taiyuan in Bing Province." The military officer loudly replied.

  Hao Zhao!

  Although this name may not be as well-known as thunder, it is enough to stir up a few ripples in Yuan Fang's mind.

  Hao Zhao of history, relying on several thousand soldiers and horses, blocked Zhuge Liang's 100,000-strong army's fierce attack in Chen Cang, which is enough to be considered a top general.

  Yuan Fang is also a history enthusiast, vaguely remembering that Hao Zhao was indeed from Taiyuan, so the Hao Zhao in front of him must be the real one without a doubt.

  "I was worried that I didn't have any capable personnel under me, and now this Hao Zhao has appeared before me, it's like a timely snowfall bringing charcoal..."

  Yuan Fang nodded: "Looking at you, you're also a talented person. I'll give you an opportunity. Tell me the general situation of the army in just a few sentences. If you do well, I'll promote you to be my aide-de-camp."

  Hao Zhao became famous for opposing Zhuge Liang at Chen Cang. Now, this young Hao Zhao, how much strength does he really have? Yuan Fang still needs to test him thoroughly.

  Hao Zhao looked at Yuan Fang in surprise, seemingly not expecting that the Yuan San Gongzi in front of him was not only not as weak as rumored, but also wanted to promote himself.

  "Our Pingyang Camp is not the elite of Jizhou, but only a second-rate army, with 200 archers, 1,500 swordsmen, and 300 logistics soldiers. We train every three days and have meat once every seven days..."

  Hao Zhao spoke without stopping, and in just a few words, he clearly explained the situation of Pingyang Camp.

  Yuan Fang asked him again about the names of lower-ranking military officers in his army, and he was able to answer them all, even remembering the names of ordinary soldiers clearly.

  Yuan Fang couldn't help but marvel: "There are so many people in the army, yet you remember all their names. This memory is truly extraordinary."

  "Returning to Master, I have a good memory since childhood. Anyone I've met before can recall their name." Hao Zhao now showed a few points of self-confidence.

  "Good!" Yuan Fang nodded in satisfaction, "From now on, you are the Sima."

  Hao Zhao was a straightforward and upright person. He had a thorough understanding of the military situation, and Yuan's side had already seen that he was worthy of use, so they naturally did not hesitate to promote him.

  Hao Zhao was overjoyed and thanked him with a bow: "Thank you, young master, for your support. I will definitely repay you with my loyalty."

  Hao Zhao had been in the position of Jun Hou for many years, and was slow to be promoted, precisely because of his straightforward and unyielding nature. Now he has been recognized by Yuan Fang as a talented individual and promoted to Sima, how could he not feel grateful?

  Yuan Fangbian ordered him to gather all the soldiers from both divisions in the training ground.

  Before long, the two thousand Pingyang camp soldiers all gathered at the eastern drill ground, each and every one of them filled with great curiosity, wanting to take a look at their new commander, the lowly second son of the Yuan family.

  Under the gaze of the soldiers, Yuan Fang stepped up to the platform, with Yuan Gui directing a few personal guards behind him, carrying several large chests.

  "They say that Young Master Yuan is a cripple, but how come he doesn't seem crippled at all and instead looks quite majestic?"

  "It's different from what I heard, this Yuan Second Master must be a real person who doesn't show his face, no wonder as soon as he took office, he dared to beat several military officers."

  The soldiers all secretly admired Yuan's majestic bearing and were too intimidated to look him straight in the eye.

  Yuan Fang waved his hand, and the guards opened the box. The glittering copper coins immediately caught the eyes of the two thousand soldiers present.

  "Listen up, everyone! I, Yuan Fang, lead the army to fight for merit and achievement. As long as you train day and night, bravely kill the enemy, you will naturally have your benefits! Money, I have plenty of it. From today on, I set this rule: even if you die in battle, I will take care of your family's affairs!"

  Yuan Fang picked up a handful of coins and threw them back into the box, the clinking of the coins producing a crisp sound that made one's heart itch.

  His words, combined with those boxes of money, so stirred up the soldiers present that their faces flushed with excitement.