Chapter 173: Zhao Kuangyin's Rise

The great victory outside Luo River City that shook heaven and earth, like icy water in the twelfth lunar month, poured over Zhao Kuangyin, chilling him to the bone.

Five hundred routed two hundred, with his own forces suffering almost no loss.

This battle result could no longer be described as merely 'brave and fierce'; it was almost monstrous.

An unprecedented sense of crisis, like a venomous snake gnawing at his heart.

Before, he could still hope to catch up to them; now he couldn't even see the dust they kicked up.

This desperate gap almost drove him mad.

Inside the military camp's study, the lamplight cast his restless shadow on the wall, flickering like a ghost.

Wang Yansheng stood at attention with hands lowered, his breath barely audible, fearing to disturb the commander's anger that was on the verge of exploding.

"Investigate! Find out everything for me!"

Zhao Kuangyin whirled around, his eyes bloodshot.

"What exactly are Chen Wen's five hundred cavalry eating, what armor are they wearing, and what bows are they using?!"

"And what about Shi Dun—could he possibly be a rebirth of Xiang Yu?!"

Wang Yansheng's face showed difficulty.

"General, the situation over at Luo River is tightly sealed; our people can hardly reach the core."

"All we know is that their equipment seems superior to ours and their training extremely rigorous, but the details…"

"Rigorous? Which soldier isn't rigorous?!"

Zhao Kuangyin rudely cut him off, his voice hoarse.

"Just being rigorous—could it produce such monsters?!"

"Chen Wen must be hiding something! What about the Iron Crow Army over there?"

"Aren't they claiming to perceive everything? Don't they have anything to say?!"

Seeing Zhao Kuangyin voluntarily bring up the Iron Crow Army, Wang Yansheng's spirits lifted; he hurried a step forward and whispered.

"General, just now we received news from there."

"They agree to increase their support; besides the previously promised intelligence and some supplies,"

"they can also provide three instructors well-versed in the art of training troops, as well as a set… they call the 'Tempering' method."

"Tempering?"

Zhao Kuangyin furrowed his brows, sensing an unusual meaning behind that word.

"Yes!"

Wang Yansheng explained.

"Not the tempering of iron. According to the envoy, it is an extremely efficient but also extremely harsh method of training for combat."

"Its aim is, in a short time, through loads beyond limits and simulating the bloody combat of a real battlefield,"

"supplemented with their specially formulated tonic that quickly restores strength and lifts spirit, turning ordinary soldiers into fearless elites. But…"

"But what?"

Zhao Kuangyin pressed for details, his heartbeat unconsciously quickening.

"But this method is too domineering, causing great harm to soldiers' bodies and minds."

"Casualties in training are unavoidable; even those who survive may undergo a drastic change in disposition, becoming… ruthless and bloodthirsty, hard to control."

"It can be called a double-edged sword that harms both self and others."

Wang Yansheng's voice carried a barely perceptible tremor.

The study fell into dead silence.

Only the occasional crackle of the lampflower bursting.

Zhao Kuangyin turned his back to Wang Yansheng, gazing at the crude map of Hebei on the wall.

His gaze finally locked tightly onto the spot marked 'Luo River'.

The cost is enormous.

This is drawing on soldiers' lives and humanity to exchange for power.

This runs contrary to his long-held creed of 'loving his soldiers as one's own children' and 'binding them with kindness and righteousness' in leading troops.

But… without this method, what does he have to chase after Chen Wen?

What can he use to gain a foothold in this ever-intensifying competition?

Must he really watch Chen Wen soar to the heavens while he himself becomes an overlooked supporting character?

"In extraordinary times, one must take extraordinary measures…"

Zhao Kuangyin slowly turned around; all hesitation and struggle on his face had faded, leaving only the resolve to stake everything.

"Tell them, I want the instructors and the Tempering method!"

"Also demand from them fifty sets of fine iron armor, a hundred strong bows, and five thousand arrow bundles!"

"Tell them, this is my last patience!"

"Yes! I, the subordinate, will see to it at once!"

Wang Yansheng felt the icy chill in the commander's words, his heart tightened, and he hurriedly departed to carry out the order.

Several days later, three men dressed in black, with cold expressions and eyes like ice shards,

carrying a batch of equipment and several sheets of parchment covered in strange symbols and figures, silently entered Zhao Kuangyin's camp.

At the same time, a batch of exceptionally high-quality iron armor and crossbows were secretly delivered.

Zhao Kuangyin selected from his troops three hundred men of the most robust build, who still had brothers, sons, or nephews at home

—this was the bottom line he drew from the last shred of reluctance in his heart.

The training ground was tightly sealed off, guarded by his absolute personal troops; outsiders could not possibly peek inside.

However, even though separated by the camp fence?

Occasionally transmitted were the roars like wounded beasts and the fierce clashing of weapons.

And the three Iron Crow Army instructors' icy rebukes and whip lashes, devoid of any humanity.

All of this made the ordinary soldiers on the outskirts feel a chill despite the warmth.

The so-called 'tempering' training could be called hell.

The soldiers were required to carry weights far beyond reason on long-distance marches.

Upon exhaustion, they were immediately thrown into all-out life-and-death combat.

Although the weapons used in training were unbladed, the striking force was merciless, and broken bones and torn tendons often occurred.

That specially formulated 'nutritional supplement' had a strange taste, but after consumption it could quickly restore some stamina.

It left the spirit aroused, yet also brought an inexplicable heat and urge to attack.

The effect was obvious and rapid.

In just half a month, the demeanor of these three hundred soldiers underwent an earth-shaking change.

The fear and confusion in their eyes vanished, replaced by an almost numb ferocity.

Their physiques became more robust, and their movements carried a wolf-pack-like cooperation and viciousness.

In a small-scale confrontation drill, they actually possessed an overwhelming advantage.

They routed a unit of veteran soldiers equal in number and seasoned in battle.

Zhao Kuangyin personally inspected this newly revitalized unit.

Gazing at those pairs of eyes lacking warmth, holding only pure combat will.

He felt no joy, only a heavy pressure.

They were war beasts deliberately bred, peerless in sharpness yet hard to control.

"General, although this method yields quick results, its foundation is hollow, the soldiers' vital energy is greatly damaged, and it is unlikely to be a long-term plan."

An old medical officer, after examining several soldiers who had vomited blood from excessive training, earnestly advised against it.

How could Zhao Kuangyin not know?

But he was already riding a tiger, unable to dismount.

He waved his hand, letting the old medical officer retreat.

Alone, he stood at the edge of the drill ground, gazing toward the southern Luoyang River, clutching his fists.

"Chen Wenzhong, I will not accept defeat like this…"

He muttered softly, as if cheering himself up, yet also as if issuing a declaration against this unfair world.

Almost at the same time, Luoyang River, the Defense Commissioner's residence.

Qian Gui's figure emerged from the shadows, reporting to Chen Wen.

"My lord, our people planted near Zhao Kuangyin's camp report that there has indeed been recent movement in his barracks."

"Three unidentified black-clad men have taken up residence in his core camp, after which the area was completely sealed off, with unusually intense training cries and… screams echoing day and night."

"Furthermore, according to border hidden posts, a small group of unidentified porters once transported supplies to his camp under cover of night; judging from the load traces, they appear to have been armor and bows."

Chen Wen set down the document in his hand, his gaze calm and unwavering, as if he had long anticipated this.

"It seems our Commander Zhao has made up his mind to take this 'shortcut'."

His tone was indifferent, revealing neither joy nor anger.

"Let him have it. External forces remain external; things artificially bred must have flaws."

"Issue the orders: all units continue drilling and land reclamation as planned—our foundation."

"Not in frivolous tricks, but in the daily sweat shed and the solidified earth."

He looked out the window; there, the soldiers of the Peace and Stability Army were conducting today's final drill in the sunset.

The cries of orders, footsteps, and clashing armor blended into a solid, vibrant movement.

Zhao Kuangyin struggled in the darkness, trying to grasp every vine that might help him climb, even if those vines were covered in thorns.

And Chen Wen, meanwhile, continued at his own pace, step by step, solidifying the road to the future.

Two utterly different paths are destined to collide in this chaotic age, sparking unpredictable flames.