Chapter 544: If anyone takes less, don

Night.

Chang'an.

The cold wind cuts like an ice blade, swirling residual snow fragments across the ground of the Left Martial Guard Xiaochang, raising a fine whimper.

Torches around the Xiaochang burn brightly.

The orange‑red flames sway violently in the howling north wind, casting the silhouettes of two thousand imperial soldiers onto the ground.

The armor, dense as a forest, reflects the chilling light, and the whole Xiaochang is permeated with a grim, murderous atmosphere.

All two thousand imperial soldiers wear Xuan Armor, have Horizontal Blades at their waists, carry long bows on their backs, and their saddle‑side quivers are bulging.

Their figures stand tall as pines; even in the biting cold wind they remain unmoving, exuding seasoned battlefield bravery and a sharp fighting spirit.

Their gazes, sharp as hawks, lock tightly onto the two figures ahead of the Xiaochang.

Chen Yan and Yuwen Ze stand side by side, their dark Xuan Armor glowing faintly in the firelight, outlining their upright postures.

Chen Yan's eyes are as deep as night as he scans the soldiers on the Xiaochang, a hint of approval curling at his mouth.

Steady footsteps sound, and General of Left Martial Guard Dong Xuqing strides in like a meteor.

He also wears Xuan Armor, with a trace of dust clinging to it.

Arriving before Chen Yan, he bows respectfully, fists clasped, and loudly reports: "Grand General, our Left Martial Guard's two thousand fine cavalrymen are fully equipped and ready!"

"Awaiting your orders!"

His voice booms like a bell, echoing across the open Xiaochang.

"Very good!"

Chen Yan's gaze slowly sweeps over the brave imperial soldiers on the Xiaochang, seeing the resolve and determination in their eyes, and he nods approvingly, praising: "Old Dong, you handle matters swiftly!"

Dong Xuqing bows even lower, his tone becoming more reverent: "To serve the Grand General, how could I dare not give my all?"

Chen Yan lifts his hand and pats Dong Xuqing's shoulder, the armor clanking with a crisp sound.

Then, stepping forward a few paces, he raises the simple megaphone in his hand.

He inhales deeply and shouts loudly: "My valiant soldiers of the Left Martial Guard, the time for you to achieve glory has arrived!"

As soon as the words fall, the two thousand imperial soldiers become as if injected with adrenaline, their previously tense bodies standing even taller.

Their gazes instantly blaze intensely, revealing an uncontainable yearning to follow Grand General Chen Yan and achieve fame.

They shout in unison: "May we follow the Grand General onto the battlefield to slay enemies!"

"May we follow the Grand General onto the battlefield to slay enemies!"

"May we follow the Grand General onto the battlefield to slay enemies!"

The sound is deafening, piercing the night, soaring to the heavens, drowning out the howling cold wind.

The soldiers' hands gripping their weapons show bulging veins, their chests heaving violently, clearly unable to restrain the fighting spirit within.

Awaiting a single command, they will rush to the battlefield, fighting in a blood‑soaked blaze.

On the cold night at the Left Martial Guard Xiaochang, torchlight flickers in the north wind, reflecting the two thousand soldiers standing tall as pines.

Chen Yan's gaze, sharp as a hawk, sweeps slowly from the left side of the formation to the right; each time it passes a soldier, the warrior instinctively lifts his chest, his eyes' fighting spirit burning hotter.

"My regulations, I presume you have all heard of them," Chen Yan's voice projects through the megaphone.

As soon as the words fall, the Xiaochang, which had just calmed, instantly boils over again.

"Yes!"

The soldiers' eyes flash, faces radiating excitement and anticipation, and they roar in unison: "Seize a full pot and a full bowl!"

"Full pot, full bowl!"

The sound shakes the ground as if it were trembling, and the cold wind seems driven away by this frenzy.

At the front of the formation stands soldier Jiang Pei, tall and robust, a shallow scar across his face adding to his fierceness.

He trembles with excitement, ripping his throat to shout: "Under the Grand General's lead, we will seize a hearty plunder in the Qi lands!"

That shout, like a spark dropped into hot oil, instantly ignites all the soldiers' emotions.

The two thousand soldiers present seem already placed within the Qi cities, visions of mountains of gold, silver, and luxurious silks appearing before them.

And the noble rewards symbolizing honor and status.

Each person's breathing grows heavy, fingers whitening from gripping weapons, the yearning in their eyes nearly spilling over.

Hearing this, Chen Yan's mouth curves into an approving smile, nodding toward Jiang Pei: "Well said!"

He then raises his voice, loudly praising: "Well spoken!"

Before the words finish, his tone suddenly rises, bearing a sharp momentum, and through the megaphone reaches every corner of the Xiaochang: "If anyone takes less, don't say it's my soldiers under Chen Yan!"

"I, the Duke, cannot afford this man!"

The sentence thunders like sudden lightning in the soldiers' ears, fully igniting their blood.

The two thousand soldiers can no longer restrain their fervor, shouting in unison: "May we serve the Grand General unto death!"

"May we serve the Grand General unto death!"

"May we serve the Grand General unto death!"

The shouts rise wave after wave, soaring to the heavens, shaking the cold stars in the night sky as if they dim.

General of Left Martial Guard Dong Xuqing, standing aside, takes in the whole scene.

He looks at his own Grand General's back, admiration and respect filling his peripheral vision, and silently praises in his heart: "The Grand General truly is impressive!"

"Just a few words, and they can make the lads howl!"

"No wonder they can win battle after battle, never suffering defeat!"

These few words are more effective than any pre‑battle briefing.

At this moment, the Xiaochang's fighting spirit has reached its peak.

The two thousand soldiers are like tigers poised to strike.

They wait only for a single command, then will charge swiftly, fighting bravely on the battlefield, for the wealth and glory that can make them stand out, and also to follow this great general who can lead them to invincibility, sparing no sacrifice of heads or shedding of hot blood.

The cold wind still howls, but before this scorching battle fervor, it seems so insignificant.

Chen Yan's gaze was like a torch, slowly sweeping over the front of the formation, the sharp sight seeming able to pierce the night, landing on each soldier's face.

When his gaze fixed on the core position at the front of the formation, Chen Yan suddenly shouted in a deep voice: "Cavalry Staff Officer Lu Ming, where is General of the Middle Peng Chong!"

As soon as the words fell, two figures stepped out of the formation like arrows released from a bow.

On the left, Lu Ming stood nearly two meters tall, his massive frame like an iron tower; the Xuan Armor on him added heft, and as he moved the armor plates clanged with a dull sound.

His face was sharply angular, his eyes resolute, exuding an intimidating aura.

On the right, Peng Chong, though not as tall as Lu Ming, was lithe and steady in step; the hilt of his Horizontal Blade at his waist glimmered faintly in the firelight, his face austere, showing the seasoned competence of a veteran of the battlefield.

The two stood side by side, fists clasped, and shouted in unison: "Subordinate General present!"

Chen Yan nodded, his gaze bearing expectation and authority, and said in a deep voice: "I, the Duke, command you both to be the vanguard!"

Lu Ming and Peng Chong's eyes flashed with ecstatic joy; being given this vanguard duty was not only trust but also a prime chance to achieve great deeds.

The two bowed again, their tone firm: "Subordinate General receives the order!"

Chen Yan immediately turned, his gaze sweeping the group of commanders beside the formation, and loudly called: "General of Left Martial Guard Feng Muye, where are you!"

"Subordinate General present!" a steady reply rang out, Feng Muye stepped forward briskly, respectfully clasped his fists, and waited for orders.

Chen Yan gave him a glance, his tone stern: "I, the Duke, command you to be the deputy, overseeing the logistics and transport of provisions!"

"When the great army marches out, provisions are fundamental; you must coordinate orderly, with no slightest delay!"

"Subordinate General receives the order!" Feng Muye bowed to receive the command, his tone respectful and firm.

Having arranged the vanguard and logistics, Chen Yan's voice rang again: "General of Left Martial Guard Dong Xuqing, where are you!"

"Subordinate General present!" Dong Xuqing had already prepared, and upon hearing the words stepped forward a pace, his posture upright as a pine, fists clasped in salute, his gaze burning at Chen Yan, awaiting orders.

Chen Yan said in a deep voice: "I, the Duke, entrust you to temporarily assume the authority of the Great General, overseeing the Left Martial Guard!"

Dong Xuqing felt a surge in his heart; this was great trust and responsibility. He solemnly bowed, his voice resonant and strong: "Subordinate General receives the order! I shall not disappoint the Great General's trust!"

Chen Yan's gaze fell on Dong Xuqing, he nodded slowly, and in a deep voice entrusted: "The Left Martial Guard is now yours!"

Dong Xuqing heard the words, his heart chilled, and immediately solemnly clasped his fists, his back straight, his tone resonant: "Great General, rest assured!"

"Subordinate General will certainly do everything possible, not failing the trust!"

Chen Yan gave a slight nod, then raised his hand and waved, his voice loud as he instructed the present commanders: "Everyone go prepare!"

"Tomorrow at dawn we set out, heading for Yinzhou!"

"Understood!" the commanders answered in unison, their voices echoing through the night sky.

Afterward, the commanders each turned and left, throwing themselves into the preparations before the expedition.

The two thousand troops on the training ground also dispersed in order, the clatter of armor, footfalls, and the howl of the cold wind interweaving, gradually fading, leaving only Chen Yan and others in the center of the training ground.

When the troops and commanders had all left, a figure slowly stepped out from behind the training ground.

The newcomer was You Xian, dressed in dark embroidered robes, hurrying to Chen Yan's side, slightly bowing, respectfully lowering his voice to report: "Pillar of the State, the gold, silver and jewels you requested have all been counted..."

Chen Yan heard this, a satisfied smile appearing on his face, he nodded slowly and replied: "Good!"

Then, shifting his tone, his gaze deepened, and he meaningfully ordered: "Dispatch the embroidered-cloth envoy as per the original plan, to transport north at once!"

"Understood!" You Xian respectfully accepted the command, daring not a moment's delay, turned and hurried away, his figure quickly vanishing into the night.

This scene was seen by Yuwen Ze standing nearby; his brows slightly furrowed, a cloud of confusion over him, his mind full of doubts: "A Xiong, this expedition is to fight the Qi State, so why were so many gold, silver and jewels prepared in advance?"

"And to transport them north so covertly?"

"What else is intended?"

At this moment, Chen Yan stood with his hands behind his back, head held high, gazing at the boundless night.

The night sky was as deep as ink, a few sparse stars dotted it. His peripheral glance unintentionally fell toward the northeast, where lay the territory of the Qi State.

In his eyes flickered a complex light, full of anticipation and ferocity.

His lips moved slightly, murmuring low: "The first time clashing on the battlefield with the Qi State, truly something to look forward to!"

'The Qi Emperor is depraved, tyrannical to the common people. Taxes and labor are burdensome, prices soar, the people of Qi are displaced, famine stalks the fields, the populace cannot survive. Moreover, the emperor dotes on treacherous courtiers, harming the loyal and good; the court is chaotic, order has collapsed.'

The Lu clan of Fanyang, a venerable lineage of loyalty and righteousness, was framed by the Qi court, left in peril, and forced to seek refuge by returning to Zhou, offering the land of Shuozhou to escape disaster.

At that time, Grand Preceptor Yuwen Hu of Great Zhou, bearing the Mandate of Heaven and in accord with the people's will, heard the Lu clan sought to join, was greatly pleased, and ordered the Founding Emperor to lead troops to greet them. He issued a decree granting the Founding Emperor authority over the military and civil affairs of the three states Yin, Sui, and Yan, stating that for any military or civil matters, if undecided, no petition was needed, and one could act with Convenient Action.

The Founding Emperor received the decree, and that day selected two thousand Elite Cavalry of the Left Martial Guard, departing from the Capital northward. Iron Cavalry thundered, dust and smoke blotted the sun, heading straight for Shuozhou, to welcome the Lu clan, to secure the frontier, and to strengthen Great Zhou's power.

—'Records of Wei', Chronicle of the Founding Emperor Wen Emperor.