Chapter 114

The suspicion and scrutiny brought by the imperial envoy delegation are like a stone tossed into a calm lake.

Translation: The suspicion and scrutiny brought by the imperial court envoy delegation were like a stone tossed into a calm lake.

Although it caused ripples, it could not impede Chan Prefecture.

Although it caused ripples, it could not impede Chan Prefecture.

Especially the advance of the newly established Tranquil Peace Defense Zone.

Especially the steps forward of the newly established Jing'an Defense Zone.

Especially the advance of the newly established Tranquil Peace Defense Zone.

On the contrary, this external pressure is even more like a catalyst.

On the contrary, this external pressure acted more like a catalyst.

It urged Chen Wen to invest himself with greater determination and speed into the training and expansion of the Tranquil Peace Army.

It prompted Chen Wen to devote himself with greater determination and speed to the training and expansion of the Jing'an Army.

North of Chan Prefecture City.

North of Chan Prefecture City.

The original new recruits' camp has now been expanded into the Tranquil Peace Army's main camp.

The original barracks of the new recruits have now been expanded into the Jing'an Army's main camp.

Banners flutter, the encampments stretch continuously.

Banners fluttered, the encampments stretched continuously.

A stern and vigorous atmosphere pervades the place.

A stern and vigorous aura permeated the area.

Being officially assigned a designation and defense zone means that Chen Wen can finally, with proper justification, build an army wholly his own, stamped with his own style.

Being officially bestowed a designation and defense zone meant that Chen Wen could finally, with proper justification, build an army wholly his own, stamped with his own style.

Inside the main commander's tent.

Inside the commander's grand tent.

On the large sand table, the terrain of Near River, Peaceful, and Luo River counties—mountains, rivers, passes, villages, and towns—is clearly marked.

On the huge sand table, the terrain of Linhe, Thus entries: Thus entries: Anping, and Luo Chuan counties was clearly marked, along with strategic passes and towns.

Chen Wen, Zhang Cheng, Shi Dun, Qian Gui, Zhao Lao Nian, and other core cadres gather around, the atmosphere fervent yet focused.

Chen Wen, Zhang Cheng, Shi Dun, Qian Gui, and Zhao Lao Nian, the core cadres, gathered around, the atmosphere fervent and focused.

"Gentlemen, though the imperial envoys have departed, the worries of the northern border have not lessened, and doubts about Bian Bridge remain."

"Everyone, although the imperial court envoys have departed, the worries of the Northern Frontier have not diminished, and doubts about Bian Liang remain."

Chen Wen swept his gaze over the crowd, his voice steady and powerful.

Chen Wen's gaze swept over the crowd, his voice calm and powerful.

"The Tranquil Peace Army has just been founded; its foundations are not yet solid. The urgent task is to quickly form combat capability."

"The Jing'an Army has just been founded; its foundation is not yet solid. The urgent priority is to quickly form combat capability."

"Only by making it truly the strength of 'Tranquil Peace' can we live up to the lord's trust and face future changes."

"Only by making it a true 'Jing'an' force can we live up to the lord's heavy trust and face future changes."

He pointed his finger at the 'Mute Valley' area northeast of Near River County on the sand table:

He pointed his finger at the "Mute Valley" area in the northeast of Linhe County on the sand table:

"The leads of the Iron Crow Army are not cut off; this place still needs strict surveillance. Qian Gui, your people must not relax."

"The Iron Crow Army's leads are not cut off; this place still needs strict surveillance. Qian Gui, your men must not relax."

"Commander, rest assured: within a twenty-li radius of Mute Valley, not even a bird can fly past without being seen by us."

"Commander, rest assured: within a twenty-li radius of Mute Valley, not even a bird's flight can escape our eyes."

Qian Gui replied confidently.

Qian Gui replied confidently.

"Peaceful and Luo River counties, though they have not experienced the great chaos of Near River,"

"Thus entries: Thus entries: Anping and Luo Chuan counties, though they have not experienced the great turmoil like Linhe,"

"but their administration is weary and small bands of bandits still remain."

"but their administration is enfeebled and small bandit troubles still linger."

"Zhang Cheng, you must quickly select capable personnel, follow the Near River model, organize administration, and eradicate the remaining bandits."

"Zhang Cheng, you must promptly select capable personnel, refer to the Linhe model, sort out administration, and eradicate the remaining bandits."

"You must ensure that orders flow smoothly through the three counties, as if moving one's arm with one's fingers."

"You must ensure that orders flow smoothly through the three counties, as if the arm commands the fingers."

"Understood; I have already drafted a preliminary list of personnel. Please review it, Commander, and then we can dispatch them."

"Understood; I have preliminarily drafted the personnel list. Please, Commander, review it, and then we can dispatch them."

Zhang Cheng handed over a list.

Zhang Cheng handed over a list.

"The construction of the camp, the forging of weapons, and the storage of grain and fodder are the foundation."

"Camp construction, weapon forging, and grain and fodder storage are the foundation."

"Zhao Lao Nian, the artificers' workshop must operate at full capacity. I want to see sturdy barracks and sufficient armor before winter arrives."

"Zhao Lao Nian, the artificers' camp must operate at full capacity; I want to see sturdy barracks and ample armor before winter arrives!"

"Leave it to the old man!"

"Leave it to the old man!"

Zhao Lao Nian spoke briefly but his gaze was firm.

Zhao Lao Nian spoke briefly but with resolute eyes.

After assigning all duties, Chen Wen focused his attention on the most essential training.

After assigning all miscellaneous tasks, Chen Wen focused his attention on the most core drill training.

He looked toward Shi Dun and Li Yan

He looked toward Shi Dun and Li Yan

——The division of troops allocated by Han Tong has now been formally incorporated into the Tranquil Peace Army, and at this moment Li Yan serves as the camp commander.

——the division of troops allocated by Han Tong has now been formally incorporated into the Jing'an Army, and at present Li Yan serves as the battalion commander.

"Quality over quantity in troops."

"In troops, quality matters more than quantity."

"Although our army's provisional strength is set at fifteen hundred, what I want are elite soldiers who can each match ten."

"Although our army's provisional strength is set at fifteen hundred, what I want are elite soldiers capable of facing ten opponents each!"

"From today onward, the entire army will drill according to regulations I personally devised; Shi Dun and Li Yan, you two are responsible for strict enforcement."

"Starting today, the entire army will drill according to regulations personally devised by me; Shi Dun and Li Yan, you two are responsible for strict enforcement!"

"Received!" Shi Dun and Li Yan shouted in agreement.

"Received!" Shi Dun and Li Yan responded in unison.

Chen Wen incorporated the lessons learned from the bloody battle at Scorched Earth Town.

Chen Wen integrated the lessons learned from the bloody battle at Jiao Tu Zhen.

and the unique possibilities brought by the Ox-Horse System.

and the unique possibilities brought by the Cow Horse System.

He devised a training method that is extremely strict yet highly effective.

He devised a set of training methods that were extremely strict yet highly effective.

Every dawn, the camp echoes with thunderous training drills.

At dawn each day, the camp resounded with earth-shaking drill noises.

No longer mere basic formations.

No longer mere simple formations.

Instead, it incorporates extensive physical limit training, small-unit cooperative combat, mountain and forest adaptability drills, and infantry tactics to counter cavalry.

But incorporated extensive physical limit training, small-unit coordinated combat, mountain and forest adaptability drills, and infantry counter-tactics against cavalry.

Chen Wen especially emphasizes officer training, regularly organizing squad leaders, platoon commanders and above to conduct sand-table simulations and tactical seminars to enhance their command abilities.

Chen Wen especially emphasized officer training, regularly organizing squad leaders, captains and above officers for sand table exercises and tactical seminars to enhance their command ability.

The 'force multiplier' of all this training is Chen Wen's seemingly divine 'ability bestowal'.

And the "force multiplier" of all this training is Chen Wen's miraculous "Ability Granting."

He no longer merely bestows fourfold ability on a few elite troops at critical moments.

He no longer, as before, only used fourfold granting on a few elites at critical moments.

Now he more often applies 'widespread twofold bestowal,' covering the entire drill field.

Now he more often employs "broad twofold granting," covering the entire drill ground.

or a formation currently undergoing high-intensity training.

Or a specific formation undergoing high-intensity training.

When that invisible force descends silently, soldiers feel their exhaustion vanish instantly.

When that invisible force descends silently, the soldiers feel their exhaustion swept away entirely.

Their minds become exceptionally focused, muscular strength surges, and movements grow more coordinated and precise.

Their spirits become extraordinarily focused, muscular strength surges, and movements become more coordinated and precise.

The speed at which they understand and memorize tactical essentials also greatly increases.

The speed of understanding and memorizing tactical essentials also greatly increases.

A recruit named Sun Dogsheng, originally a frail farmer's son,

A recruit named Sun Dog Sheng was originally a frail farmer's son.

Upon entering the camp, even running in leather armor was a struggle for him.

Upon just entering the camp, even running in leather armor was strenuous for him.

After continuous training with widespread twofold bestowal, his stamina grew at an astonishing rate.

Under continuous reception of broad twofold granting training, his physical strength grew at an astonishing speed.

Within a little over a month, he could complete a twenty-mile cross-country run fully equipped.

After little more than a month, he could complete a twenty-li cross-country run fully equipped.

What surprised him even more was that the once obscure flag signals and basic formation changes,

What surprised him even more was that the originally obscure flag signals and basic formation changes,

now he could grasp quickly; indeed, in a small-unit confrontation drill, relying on a flash of inspiration in his positioning, he helped his team win.

now he could grasp quickly, and even in a small-unit opposition drill, relying on a flash of inspiration in his positioning, he helped his team secure victory.

"I… I feel like I've been enlightened?"

"Eh… eh… I feel like I've opened my aperture?"

Sun Gou Sheng scratched his head, his honest face full of disbelief.

The veteran beside him patted his shoulder and said with a smile,

"You idiot, this isn't Opening Aperture; it's our military envoy's skill! Follow the military envoy's training, and even stones can turn into golden nuggets!"

Such examples are commonplace in the Jing'an Army.

The army's combat power, like being simmered over a low fire and occasionally having a strong flame added, surges at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The soldiers' reverence and awe for Chen Wen also deepened, in this day-after-day 'miracle,' into a loyalty bordering on faith.

Chen Wen himself was not idle either.

By day he supervised drills and handled military affairs; by night he often trained his martial arts and sensed the Fortune Momentum.

He could feel that, as the Jing'an Army took shape, and as the land of the three counties grew more stable under his governance.

In his Sea of Consciousness, that pale golden vortex of Fortune Momentum not only grew in scale,

Its rotation also became more profound and orderly, as if subtly linked to the fortune of this army and this land, feeding back to nourish his spirit and body.

That day, on the training field, the entire army assembled.

Chen Wen intended to conduct a large-scale practical combat drill to test the recent training results.

Under the sunlight, thousands of soldiers shone in bright armor, swords and spears like a forest, standing solemnly, a vigorous spirit shooting straight to the heavens.

Without extra words, Chen Wen gave the order, and the red and blue armies, like two steel torrents, collided violently in the preset complex terrain.

The sounds of slaughter, clashing metal, officers' commands, and the whistle signaling 'casualties' withdrawing from the drill echoed across the training field.

The soldiers moved swiftly, cooperated seamlessly, and executed tactics decisively.

They had truly become an elite force tempered by the fires of war.

Chai Rong, accompanied by Wang Pu, Han Tong, and others, quietly ascended the high platform beside the training field to watch.

Seeing the scene below of dragons soaring and tigers leaping, killing intent filling the sky, and seeing the army that had undergone a complete transformation in just a few months,

Even Chai Rong, accustomed to strong soldiers and brave generals, saw his eyes blaze with astonishing vigor.

"What a formidable tiger-wolf army!"

Han Tong couldn't help but praise, his tone devoid of any doubt, filled only with sincere admiration.

"Wen Zhong's training is truly godlike!"

Wang Pu stroked his beard and smiled, a gleam of light flashing in his eyes,

"The army's heart is reliable, morale like a rainbow. My lord, with such a strong army at our side, the Northern Frontier will be secure, and great undertakings can be anticipated!"

Chai Rong stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze firmly following the steady commander's figure in the ranks, nodding slowly as a look of immense relief and satisfaction spread across his face.

He knew he had made the right move.

Chen Wen and his Jing'an Army had become the sharpest, most reliable blade in his hand.

The drill ended, with the red side winning by a slight margin.

The whole army re-formed its ranks, awaiting inspection.

Chen Wen stepped forward.

His gaze swept over faces flushed from intense exertion, yet etched with determination and pride, his voice carrying across the entire training field through inner energy,

"Today's drill, your performance, is excellent!"

"But this is not the end! The true battlefield is a hundred times more brutal than the drill!"

"We, as the Jing'an Army, bear the duty to defend the land and pacify the people, and to fulfill the lord's great expectations!"

"In the future, we must be more diligent and more arduous!"

"The Jing'an Army I want is not just a strong army of Chan Prefecture, but must become the strongest army under heaven! Can it be done?!"

"Can! Can! Can!"

A response like mountains echoing and seas roaring shook the heavens and earth, morale soaring to its peak.

Chen Wen drew a deep breath, feeling the soaring fighting spirit of his troops under his command.

Feeling the progress bar in his Sea of Consciousness jump forward a little notch, he knew this new army had just taken shape!

The sword has been forged, only awaiting the moment to be drawn and drink blood.

Yet on the horizon of the Northern Frontier, the clouds of war are quietly gathering.