Chapter 35: Military Orders Are Like Mountains

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  In the imperial study, Li Shimin burst out laughing: "Jun Xian, you shouldn't have come to report this matter to me."

  "Your Majesty, why is this? The Hundred Riders, which was formed with great manpower, financial resources and dedication, can really be messed up by a young and inexperienced general like Qin Mubai?" Li Junxian was perplexed.

  Li Shimin smiled and said, "Qin Mubai is doing the right thing. I want a truly elite army, as for how he achieves it, that's his business. I use people without suspicion, and those who are suspicious of others will not be used. He should be given free rein to do things. Once the results are out, I'll make my evaluation. In the meantime, I won't interfere. Otherwise, why don't I just go and be a hundred horsemen myself? —— If I were to become a hundred horsemen, would I still need to be a prime minister, general, governor, or county magistrate?"

  "Hmm... Your Majesty is absolutely right." Li Junxian's old face turned red with shame, and he bowed his head to clasp his fists, "It was I who acted like a petty person. From today on, I will fully assist Qin Mubai and help him train the Hundred Riders."

  Li Shimin nodded meaningfully and smiled: "Jun Xian, focus on doing your job well."

  Li Junxian's expression changed slightly, and he bowed his head: "Your humble servant obeys your orders... Your humble servant takes his leave!"

  After Li Junxian retreated, Li Shimin chuckled and said: "Qin Mubai this kid, has a good hand...... This is great!"

  As he walked out of the imperial study, Li Junxuan shook his head and sighed, muttering to himself: "The Emperor actually told me to 'set my mind at ease and do a good job in my own position', which means I shouldn't interfere or make small reports from the side... Does this mean I should let Qin Mubai do whatever he wants? ...I'm an old minister who has followed the Emperor for decades, but I'm not as trusted as Qin Mubai, a newcomer who has only appeared in front of the Emperor a few times? This kid!"

  Qin Mubai was looking through the files of the soldiers in his study when Li Junxian walked in. Seeing his expression, Qin Mubai understood. He smiled and stood up, welcoming him with a bow: "General Li, does His Majesty have any orders?"

  "Your Majesty... I grant you that." Li Junxian's chest was stifling with a mouthful of air, and the words almost squeezed out from between his teeth.

  "It's all thanks to General Li's thorough assistance, I'm deeply grateful." Qin Mubai said with a sincere smile on his face, bowing his head in respect.

  "Ah..." Li Junxian smiled awkwardly, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, "Well said, well said. Mu Bai's young age belies a heart as vast as the ocean, I am truly inferior to him."

  "General Li, where are you from? As a senior general, you have crossed more bridges than the roads we've walked on. Your experience in military campaigns and training troops is unparalleled. I want to lead my hundred riders well, but I must always follow your teachings." Qin Mubai laughed heartily and pulled Li Junxian down to sit, personally pouring him tea and making Li feel a bit guilty and uneasy, yet also honored and nervous at the same time.

  He could only secretly marvel in his heart: Qin Mubai, this kid is really awesome... I came with a full stomach of doubts and depression, but in an instant, it was resolved by his magnanimity and broad-mindedness, and I had gratitude and admiration for him. At such a young age, he has such a temperament, breadth of vision, and skillful hands, if given time, his future is boundless!

  The two men drank tea and talked, discussing military affairs. Qin Mubai indeed had many things to ask Li Junxian about. The Tang army was vastly different from the armies of the 21st century after all. Every minor detail in the army was something Qin Mubai needed to understand. For example, how to set up camp, how to deploy troops, how to allocate barracks and how to stable horses and military equipment, all these things had to be learned from scratch.

  Before they knew it, the two of them had talked till deep into the night. Qin Mu Bai ordered the servants to add more dishes and prepare for a midnight snack, and then he let the servants clean up the room, inviting Li Jun Xian to stay in the government residence overnight. The two of them chatted through the night, almost till dawn. Qin Mu Bai carefully recorded everything valuable that Li Jun Xian said. In just one day and one night, he wrote down a thick stack of notes.

  When the sky was slightly bright, Li Junxun came out of the study room, took a deep breath in the morning mist and slowly exhaled, shaking his head and sighing: "Being sensitive and eager to learn is not ashamed to ask lower questions, being generous to others and strict with oneself, having both literary and military talents, being humble and cautious, respecting the virtuous and yielding to scholars... The demeanor of a great general! I am really inferior to this young man!"

  In the following days, Qin Mubai still didn't leave the barracks much. He invited craftsmen from the Arsenal and Military Equipment Department to study some designs he had drawn himself, and began building training facilities in the camp.

  These craftsmen were all the most skilled and ingenious in the world, and when they saw Qin Mu Bai's drawings, they couldn't help but be amazed. What are double bars, suspension rings, and barbells? Although simple, they had never heard of them before; iron wire mesh obstacles, single-branched balance beams, and they didn't know what to use them for. They even had to dig out water pits and mud pits on the site, set up many wooden walls for crossing, as well as strange and mysterious buttoned camouflage training suits and specially made leather boots, which left these craftsmen bewildered.

  Misty water returns to misty water, the tasks entrusted by the army cannot be delayed for a moment. In three or four days, a large number of craftsmen gathered in the Hundred Riders' Camp day and night to rush the work, and it is considered that all the props entrusted by Qin Mu Bai have been rushed out.

  The camp of a hundred riders suddenly became strange and wonderful, making everyone feel fresh and curious.

  The equipment has been sent.

  Qin Mubai had everyone take off their magnificent and heavy armor, and uniformly put on sturdy and durable camouflage uniforms. The soldiers were still playing with the strange buttons and boot laces when Qin Mubai announced that training was now beginning.

  The training project was announced, and everyone was confused and didn't know what to do. Qin Mubai personally demonstrated each one, from obstacle crossing to strength training, plus hiding and endurance, swimming and combat... There were more than ten items in total, and Qin Mubai took the lead in demonstrating each one.

  Six hundred generals and soldiers exclaimed loudly, sighing in amazement.

  This is probably the most peculiar training method under heaven!

  At the same time, all the generals also began to admire Qin Mu Bai - this person is really quite skilled! These things look simple, but are actually extremely difficult to do! Take this iron wire mesh crawling and crossing, if you're not careful, your buttocks will be scratched by the iron wire mesh. He slipped through like a mud eel! Free-fighting one move to defeat the enemy, that's even more impressive and practical real kung fu!

  In just seven short days, Qin Mu Bai used his own abilities and tactics to completely conquer the hearts of 600 soldiers, becoming their true commander in their eyes.

  The training had just begun when other centurions came forward to report.

  Three deputy envoys, Zhangsun Jian, Wei Chi Bao Yun and Cheng Huai Yi, plus more than a dozen other traveling generals, totaling twenty-one people. As soon as they stepped into the Hundred Riders' Camp, they were somewhat dazzled - where was this?

  What's with these people wearing all sorts of strange clothes and rolling around on the ground? Is that supposed to be fun?

  Chang Sun sneered, "Qin Mu Bai is only worthy of playing the pipa, indeed a material for a clever and cunning performer. A good imperial guard, turned into this ghostly appearance."

  "Longsun Gongzi, go and report to the Emperor! Impeach this unruly Bailiff of a hundred riders and let you take over. Only then will our brothers be convinced." said Wei Chi Baoyun.

  Several officers around him responded in unison: "Yes, yes, what virtue and ability does Qin Mu Bai have?"

  Cheng Huaiyi heard this, his anger was indescribable, but seeing that there were many people like Chang Sunyan and it wasn't good to make a scene, he ran into the military camp and first found Qin Mubai, telling him these words.

  Qin Mubai smiled slightly: "Huài, don't mind them. I have my own way to deal with these people. Now you go back and change your clothes first, then immediately join the training with these officers. Also, hurry up and memorize the military rules, I will test you in three days. Remember."

  "Qin Sange, rest assured, I won't disobey you. It's those guys like Chang Sunrui who are coming with ill intentions and will definitely make things difficult for you."

  "Don't worry, little brother, I have a way to deal with them. First, let me tell you the password, otherwise you won't be able to enter the yamen... You go ahead!" Qin Mu Bai patted Cheng Huai Yu's shoulder and smiled casually.

  "Just arrived, let's take a look at the situation first." Zhang Sun Ruan led a group of people to the training ground, without even greeting Qin Mu Bai, and strode straight towards the government office.

  Qin Mubai looked at this string of people from a distance, and couldn't help but smile: You're going to get into trouble and cause me more headaches, huh? Suffer then!

  Chang Sun Bian and others walked up to the gate of the government office, where two soldiers with cold faces stepped forward and raised their hands to block them: "Halt! Password!"

  "What?!" Wei Chi Bao Yun glared with a pair of bull-like eyes, "What bird password?"

  The soldier looked coldly at the group of young men wearing bright and shiny armor, saying in a low voice: "By order of General Qin of the Hundred Riders. Without the password, no one is allowed to enter the yamen privately!"

  "Blind your dog eyes!" Wei Chi Bao Yun was furious, "I am Wei Chi Bao Yun, the deputy envoy of the Hundred Riders, and this is Chang Sun Ruan, the young master of Chang Sun, also a deputy envoy of the Hundred Riders! We don't know what bird password you're talking about, get out of here!"

  "Anyone who breaks into the barracks without orders will be dealt with according to military law." The soldier remained unmoved, coldly scanning the group in front of him, one hand on his hip and the other gripping the hilt of his sword. "Please don't make things difficult for me, Your Excellencies. Otherwise, General Qin will have no choice but to cut off my head to uphold military law."

  "Do you believe me if I behead you right now?" Changsun Gan's eyes narrowed and he said in a low voice.

  "It's the general's affair if he wants to behead someone. It's my duty as a guard." The soldier stood firm, unmoved and resolute, "Unless I receive orders, I absolutely cannot let the generals in. Unless they step over my dead body to enter."

  "Damn it, are you out of your mind?!" Wei Chi Bao Yun's face turned red with rage as he jumped up, ready to throw a punch.

  "Hold on." Chang Sun Yan raised his hand and grabbed Wei Chi Bao Yun's wrist, stopping him. He furrowed his brow and said in a low voice, "It seems that Qin Mu Bai entered the camp a few days before us and has already taken control by setting the rules first. These people also obey him unconditionally. We are newcomers and cannot recklessly break military discipline and give others an excuse."

  "Hmph!..." Wei Chi Bao Yun angrily put down his fist, glaring at the soldier, "Bastard, remember this, from now on you're a soldier under my command, I'll make sure you don't get away with anything!"

  The soldier was unmoved, coldly scanning Wei Chi Bao Yun and the others before saying: "A hundred riders have always only acknowledged General Qin Mu Bai and military orders."

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