Chapter 171: A First Test of the Blade

Supervisor Wei Jun paced back and forth in the room of the Luo Chuan Relay Station.

The fine blue‑brick floor was almost being stamped with his footprints.

The overt inspection yielded nothing; under Chen Wen's rule it was as solid as a single iron plate.

This left the Imperial Envoy from Bian Liang feeling doubly frustrated, with a surge of angry fire in his chest that had no outlet.

"What a slippery fellow Chen Wenzhong is!"

Wei Jun's thin, piercing voice sounded especially grating in the quiet room.

He was already scheming more covert methods.

— planting spies, bribing key clerks.

He even… fabricated evidence of supposed "unintentional" discoveries.

He had to find a breakthrough; otherwise, how could he demonstrate his presence as supervisor?

How could he explain himself to the emperor and the Imperial Court officials?

Just as he was plotting with a sinister mind, a hurried voice came from outside the door from his trusted attendant.

"Lord Wei, urgent military news!"

Wei Jun's steps halted, he turned sharply: "Come in and speak!"

As the door was pushed open, he spoke in a low voice.

"Just received news: outside the northwestern Gray Wolf Pass, Khitan elite cavalry—about two hundred horsemen—have been spotted raiding the surrendered tribal settlements."

"The Defense Commissioner's office has already received the emergency report; it looks like they'll be mobilizing troops."

"Khitan people?"

Wei Jun first stared, then a fleeting, inscrutable glint flashed in his eyes.

Border troubles are a top‑priority matter; if he now clung to the internal investigation, it would be unjustifiable both emotionally and rationally.

But this sudden turn of events might not be without opportunity.

— an opportunity to personally observe Chen Wen's on‑the‑spot decision making and gauge the true strength of his forces.

It could even be an excellent chance to find his flaws in the hasty deployment of troops!

He quickly straightened his attire and put on an expression of concern for the nation and the people.

"Let's go, to the Defense Commissioner's office! As a supervisor, how could we stay out of this!"

At that moment, the Defense Commissioner's office had a solemn and efficient atmosphere.

Chen Wen stood before a huge map, with Zhang Cheng and Wang Ru standing on either side.

Shi Dun, clad in military garb, was like a tiger about to pounce, his eyes blazing as he fixed his gaze on the Gray Wolf Pass.

"My lord, let me go!"

Shi Dun's voice rang like a great bell as he clasped his fists and requested to go into battle.

"The newly trained lads have been itching for a fight; this is the perfect occasion to use those two hundred Khitan dog‑pups as a flag‑offering!"

Chen Wen's gaze was calm; his finger lightly traced the map as his mind swiftly calculated distances and the balance of forces.

Before he could speak, Wei Jun's distinctive voice came from outside the door.

"Defense Commissioner Chen, the military situation is urgent; I have heard that northern barbarians have invaded the border, so I have come specially to discuss it with you!"

Wei Jun strode in, his gaze quickly sweeping over those present before finally settling on Chen Wen.

"I wonder what fine plan the Defense Commissioner has to repel the enemy?"

Chen Wen turned, clasped his hands with a calm expression.

"Thank you for your concern, Supervisor. However, these two hundred horsemen are a mere scabies‑like affliction; I have already decided to dispatch troops to drive them away."

Wei Jun raised his brows slightly, his concern tinged with probing.

"Oh? I wonder how many troops the Defense Commissioner intends to send, and which general will command them?"

"The Khitan cavalry come and go like the wind, brave and skilled archers; they must not be taken lightly."

His words seemed a reminder, but in fact he was probing Chen Wen's hidden cards while implying a desire to restrain him.

Chen Wen's mind was like a clear mirror; he replied calmly.

"Quality matters more than quantity. I have decided to send General Shi Dun with the five hundred newly trained horsemen; that will be enough."

"Five hundred?"

Wei Jun's volume rose involuntarily a bit, his face full of disbelief.

"Defense Commissioner Chen, isn't this too risky? Two hundred elite Khitan cavalry are no small force!"

"If we meet them with five hundred raw troops, any mishap would be a minor loss of men, but it would damage our army's prestige and embolden the northern barbarians—this responsibility…"

He deliberately paused, leaving room for threat.

Shi Dun's eyes widened in anger upon hearing this.

He was about to shout a rebuttal, but Chen Wen's glance stopped him.

Chen Wen's tone remained steady, yet carried an unquestionable firmness.

"Supervisor, you worry too much. The soldiers of the Peaceful Army, whether new or veteran, are all brave fighters."

"General Shi Dun's troops are even better trained and superbly equipped."

"I believe they will surely be equal to this task and bring glory to our army."

He turned his gaze toward Shi Dun.

"General Shi Dun, I order you to muster your troops at once, march to the Gray Wolf Pass, and be sure to annihilate this band of barbarian horsemen and rescue the captured civilians!"

"I will obey your orders!"

Shi Dun's voice thundered like a clap of thunder as he clasped his fists in salute, gave Wei Jun a fierce glare, then strode away with great purpose.

Wei Jun was rebuked by Chen Wen's words that would not yield to either soft or hard tactics; he felt resentful inside but could not show it, so he gave a dry laugh twice.

"Since Commander Chen is so confident, we shall… await good news."

"I hope General Shi will not disappoint the commander's trust."

He especially emphasized the words "await good news," a flicker of coldness flashing in the depths of his gaze.

If victorious, he will have his say;

if defeated… that will be a heaven‑sent opportunity!

Chen Wen no longer paid him any heed, gave Zhang Cheng and Wang Ru a few low‑voiced instructions, then strode straight toward the drill field.

On the drill field, the five hundred cavalry had already assembled.

Autumn wind swept past the field banners, making them rustle loudly.

The soldiers were deathly silent; only the occasional snort of the warhorses could be heard, a solemn killing intent spreading through the air.

Chen Wen ascended the appointing‑general platform, his gaze sweeping over the young, resolute faces below.

Without any rousing rally, Chen Wen merely spoke in a low voice.

"The Khitan have invaded, plundering our people. What shall we do on this expedition?"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

The five hundred men roared in unison, the sound wave surging to the heavens, shaking the appointing‑general platform as if it trembled slightly.

"Good!"

Chen Wen nodded, his thoughts stirring; the profoundly mysterious "Extensive Bestowal 8×" effect instantly enveloped the entire cavalry formation.

In that instant, Shi Dun felt a mighty surge of power welling up from within his body.

His limbs and bones were filled with explosive strength, his hearing and vision sharpened.

Even the trajectories of dust motes drifting in the distant wind became clearly discernible.

He glanced left and right, seeing all the soldiers' eyes sharp as hawks and falcons, their breathing long and steady.

Man and horse seemed to fuse as one, an unprecedented confidence filling their chests.

"Forward!"

Shi Dun drew his long blade, pointing it northwest.

The five hundred cavalry burst forth like wild beasts breaking free of their shackles, moving at a speed far surpassing that of ordinary cavalry?

Carrying a violent momentum that could crush everything, they charged out of the camp gate.

Raising clouds of dust that blotted out the sky, they raced madly toward the Gray Wolf Pass.

Wei Jun stood on the city wall, watching the cavalry torrent quickly vanish into the dust, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

Five hundred against two hundred? Or are they raw recruits?

Chen Wen Zhong, you are far too arrogant!

He had already calculated in his mind how, once news of defeat arrived, he would submit an impeachment…

Yet he did not know.

What he was about to receive was certainly not the "defeat" he imagined.

At the riverbank on the frontier, the battle ended far more swiftly than anyone had anticipated.

When Shi Dun led the Jing'an Army cavalry, appearing like heavenly soldiers, into the sight of the Khitan Cavalry.

The Khitan, contemptuous of the enemy, had not even finished mustering completely.

What followed was entirely a one‑sided, terrifyingly efficient slaughter.

Under the effect of "Extensive Bestowal 8×," the Jing'an Army cavalry displayed combat power transcending this era.

Their arrows were swift and precise, with tremendous force; often a single arrow could pierce leather armor.

Even pinning a man to the ground.

Their sabers were heavy and powerful; with each chop, the Khitan's curved blades snapped with a ringing sound.

Their speed and coordination reached an astonishing level.

Like a precise killing machine, they weaved through the enemy formation, unstoppable wherever they went.

The Khitan's famed horse archery and ferocity, before this absolute disparity in strength, appeared feeble and pale.

They horrifiedly realized that what they faced was not a human army at all.

But a group of tireless, infinitely strong, perfectly coordinated monsters!

The battle lost its suspense almost the moment contact was made.

Shi Dun led the charge, his long blade dancing like a blood‑colored whirlwind; wherever he passed, men and horses were overturned, with no equal opponent.

In less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the riverbank was already littered with Khitan corpses.

The remaining handful of Khitan cavalry, their souls scattered, abandoned all looted goods and livestock, fleeing northward in a frenzy.

Shi Dun led his troops in pursuit for over twenty li, cutting down more than half of the fleeing soldiers before finally recalling the army.

The setting sun cast its light upon the battlefield strewn with corpses.

In this battle, Shi Dun, with five hundred raw recruits against two hundred elite Khitan cavalry, slew over 180 enemies in formation, nearly annihilating the enemy force.

Countless spoils were seized, all captured civilians rescued.

On our side, only three suffered minor wounds, none fell in battle.

A personal guard brought the victory report, racing back to Luo Chuan on a whipped horse.

When he presented this near‑mythic battle result to Chen Wen, who awaited in the mansion.

Chen Wen, who had been sitting steadily, finally revealed a faint smile at the corner of his mouth—everything was under his control.

And when this battle report was deliberately and swiftly delivered into the hands of the Supervisor Wei Jun.

This very supervisor, who had been pondering how to impeach him.

Upon seeing the words "over 180 enemy slain in formation, our side suffered no deaths," his hand trembled, and the thin sheet of paper fluttered to the ground.

His face turned deathly white, and he opened his mouth.

Yet he could not utter a sound; only a bone‑deep chill rose from his soles straight to the crown of his head.

This Chen Wen… this Jing'an Army… just what kind of existence are they?!