Chapter 318: The New Army's First Cry

The news of the friction at Longzhou's border, like having grown wings, was transmitted back to Bian Liang Huangcheng via an 800-li urgent delivery.

Inside the Hall of Martial Virtue, Chen Wen finished reading the military report, his expression calm, yet his fingertips lightly tapped the imperial desk, producing a rhythmic sound.

The palace attendants standing in the hall held their breath and focused, daring not to make the slightest sound, fearing to disturb His Majesty's thoughts.

"Yin Energy Arrows… temporary passage…" Chen Wen muttered under his breath, a cold glint flashing in his eyes and then gone.

"As expected, they could no longer restrain themselves and began to test with these small means."

He was not surprised.

The False Song was founded, driven by Zhao Kuangyin's hatred, and with remnants of the Iron Crow Army supporting them from behind; if everything had remained peaceful, that would be strange.

However, the strange effect of the Yin Energy armaments, and the enemy's limited ability to pierce the light curtain, indeed require serious attention.

We must absolutely prevent it from forming a scale, and must not let it harass the border without restraint.

We must respond with force, display our strength, and conduct strategic deterrence.

Thinking this through, he had already made a decision in his heart.

"Summon the Vice Commissioner of the Privy Council, Qian Gui, and the General Who Pacifies the North, Shi Dun."

Not long after, Qian Gui and Shi Dun were summoned and entered the hall.

Qian Gui still looked capable, though a hint of fatigue from the heavy workload of the Bureau of Peace and Stability showed in his brow.

Shi Dun, meanwhile, was even more stalwart and robust, exuding a fierce vigor from long years on the battlefield; his eyes flashed with sharp light as they opened and closed.

Chen Wen handed the Longzhou military report to the two for them to read.

After reading, both of their faces grew solemn.

Shi Dun spoke in a deep, resonant voice:

"Your Majesty, the False Song has gone too far! They dare to take the initiative to cross the border and kill our border troops, even using such heretical weapons! This subordinate begs for orders, wishing to lead a force of elite troops to the border, find an opportunity to strike them hard, and repay blood with blood!"

His voice was loud, brimming with restrained anger.

Qian Gui, however, was much calmer, pondering before speaking:

"Commander Shi, please calm down and do not act rashly. Their move is highly provocative, but their ability to briefly open a passage shows their understanding of the light curtain far exceeds ours."

"If we rashly press our army to the border, and the enemy avoids battle or uses the passage to harass us, our forces would instead be put on the defensive."

"Moreover, although their new-style arrows are unstable, their power is strange and cannot be neglected."

Chen Wen gave a slight nod, looking toward Qian Gui.

"What is the Bureau of Peace and Stability's assessment of this?"

Qian Gui bowed and replied:

"Your Majesty, based on the fragmented testimonies of captured spies and this incident, the method by which the remnants of the Iron Crow Army temporarily open a passage inevitably consumes enormous resources, is extremely unstable, and cannot support the passage of a large army."

"Its purpose is likely small-scale infiltration, information transmission, or, as this time, conducting tactical harassment and probing to strike our morale and test their new armaments."

"As for those Yin Energy Arrows, they likely share the same source as the Nether Bone and Yin Shadow encountered in the battle at Jizhou; their energy is violent, hard to control, with a high risk of backlash, making large-scale deployment unlikely in the short term."

Chen Wen listened, then turned his gaze to Shi Dun.

"Shi Aiqing, how is the training of your Northern Frontier new troops going?"

Shi Dun's spirit lifted, and he spoke loudly:

"Your Majesty! The 30,000 new troops of the Northern Frontier have been equipped with newly produced arms and armor from the Hebei Workshop, have drilled the new battle formation for several months, morale is high, and they are ready to fight at any time!"

"This is just the chance to let those demons and monsters of the False Song see how formidable the sons of Great Chen are!"

"Good." Chen Wen rose, walked to the huge hanging map, and pointed his finger at the area north of Longzhou that borders the False Song's "mirror Northern Han".

"I do not want you to seek an opportunity for a decisive battle."

"I want you to draw five thousand elite new troops, bring the latest equipment, go to this place, and conduct a live-troop, live-equipment deterrence exercise."

"The scale must be large, the momentum sufficient, so that Zhao Kuangyin and the black hand behind him, opposite the light curtain, can see clearly and unmistakably!"

"I want them to know that the blade of Great Chen remains sharp! Any provocation will exact a price!"

Shi Dun's eyes blazed with fervent light, he clasped his fists in acceptance of the order, and his voice shook the hall.

"This subordinate will obey the decree! I will surely not disappoint Your Majesty's trust!"

Qian Gui also understood the emperor's intention: to demonstrate great strength, conduct strategic deterrence, and force the False Song not to dare to easily undertake such adventurous cross-border actions.

"I will order the border Bureau of Peace and Stability to fully cooperate with Commander Shi, closely monitor any changes in the light curtain, and guard against enemy interference or further infiltration."

Chen Wen nodded, then added:

"The specifics of the exercise, Shi Aiqing may decide on his own. I, will be watching."

His words were plain, yet carried an undeniable force.

Shi Dun and Qian Gui exchanged a glance, each seeing excitement and solemnity in the other's eyes.

They knew that His Majesty's "watching" was far from simply literal.

Several days later, the Chen Dynasty's Northern Frontier selected the exercise area.

The five thousand elite new troops, their armor bright, banners unfurled, like a steel torrent, marched in great numbers to the vicinity of the border line, and set up camp in an open expanse several li beyond the light curtain.

The military formation was strict, the killing spirit soaring to the heavens.

Opposite the light curtain, the False Song's scouts obviously also detected this side's abnormal movements; gazes of doubtful suspicion, through the distorted light and shadow, were cast over.

On the first day of the exercise, the focus was on formation drills and equipment display.

The five thousand soldiers, under Commander Shi Dun's direction, moved like extensions of his arms, shifting into various complex offensive and defensive formations.

Their steps rang out, movements uniform and neat, a stern killing aura spreading, causing onlookers to tremble.

Even more striking was their equipment's new-style devices.

Strong bows and powerful crossbows had ranges far exceeding the ordinary, with astonishing armor-piercing capability;

Fine armor gleamed with a cold metallic luster in the sunlight, its protection tight;

Also, a small number of trial-produced, larger and more complex heavy crossbow carts were rolled out, live-fire tested, the giant crossbow bolts emitting a shrill tearing sound as they smashed the distant wooden targets to pieces!

All of this was seen by the False Song scouts opposite, as well as by some envoys from neighboring affiliated forces who had been "invited" to come observe the ceremony.

It caused a considerable commotion and murmured whispers.

However, this was only the beginning.

On the second day of the exercise, the content shifted to small-unit mountain maneuvers and tactical coordinated opposition.

A vanguard battalion of about five hundred men was selected to carry out a high-difficulty mission—within a set time, to traverse a complex terrain of hills and forests and launch a surprise attack on a simulated enemy stronghold twenty li away.

This mission is extremely demanding, a severe test of the soldiers' physical strength, endurance, squad coordination, and the commander's on-the-spot decision-making.

Not long after this vanguard battalion set out,

Far away, in the Martial Virtue Hall of Bian Liang, Chen Wen slowly closed his eyes.

His mind sank into his body, and the thick vortex of Fortune Momentum within sped up slightly.

He locked onto a unit a thousand li away, arduously marching through the lofty mountains and rugged ridges.

Then, with a thought,

【Ability Granting—Eightfold Effect!】

An invisible, mighty yet gentle force instantly crossed the spatial barrier, like sweet rain, silently enveloping the five hundred vanguard soldiers.

No dazzling light, no awe-inspiring presence.

Yet every soldier within it, at that moment, clearly felt his own change!

The originally heavy armor and weapons seemed to become much lighter all at once;

The fatigue from the long march, as if washed away by a clear spring, quickly faded, replaced by an endless surge of energy;

Breathing became deeper and stronger, steps lighter and steadier;

Vision also became notably clearer; the birds startled into flight in the distant forest, the faint movements among the rocks and stones, all became distinctly sharp;

Moreover, a glance or a gesture between comrades was instantly understood, their coordination becoming as seamless as if they were one person!

"Huh? How do I feel… I'm bursting with strength!"

"Yeah, this mountain road doesn't feel as tiring to walk!"

"Cut the chatter! Keep formation and pick up the pace!" the squad leader, a Colonel, although also astonished in his heart, remembered his duty and barked a low warning, yet he himself could feel that commanding had become much more effortless.

The entire unit's marching speed suddenly jumped up a notch!

Like an agile leopard, they moved through the complex terrain with ease.

The target destination, originally estimated to take two shichen to reach, they arrived in just a little over one shichen, silently reaching the outskirts of the stronghold without anyone noticing.

The ensuing assault was even more clean and decisive.

Under the eightfold effect, the soldiers' explosive power, speed, and precision far exceeded the norm.

The hundred-man unit defending the stronghold, though also elite, completely failed to react before being obliterated by an overwhelming force—all its fortifications were "destroyed," and even the "Chief Commander" was captured alive.

The whole exercise was fast, accurate, and ruthless!

The displayed extraordinary mobility and formidable tactical execution moved Shi Dun and the gathered commanders watching from above.

"How... when did this vanguard battalion become so formidable?" a deputy general couldn't help but exclaim.

Shi Dun gazed intensely at the unit below, which seemed reborn, and already understood in his heart.

This is the Emperor's power!

This is the true foundation of Great Chen!

He drew a deep breath and spoke in a low voice:

"Pass the order down: the exercise results were excellent; all units return to camp to rest and continue tomorrow!"

His voice carried an uncontainable excitement and pride.

Opposite the light curtain, those False Song scouts took in the entire process of the Chen dynasty's new army exercise, especially the vanguard battalion's uncanny performance.

The news was quickly reported up the chain.

One can imagine the shock and apprehension when this intelligence is presented before Zhao Kuangyin and the remnants of the Iron Crow Army.

Chen Wen slowly opened his eyes in the Huangcheng of Bian Liang.

A bead of fine sweat appeared on his brow, his spirit slightly fatigued, yet the corner of his mouth curled with a hint of satisfaction.

The effect was not bad.

This 【Ability Granting 8x】 consumption was somewhat less than the previous remote support of the Hebei workshops, perhaps because the target was more concentrated and the duration shorter.

The fluctuation of the Fortune Momentum vortex was minuscule, and it did not trigger any noticeable "cost".

Through this exercise, he not only successfully displayed strength to the False Song, achieving the goal of strategic deterrence,

and in practical application, he further familiarized himself with and mastered the consumption and effects of 【Ability Granting】 under various circumstances.

This accumulated valuable experience for him to better grasp the "balance of Fortune Momentum" in the future.

"It seems this 'balance' is not without trace," Chen Wen murmured to himself, his gaze once again turning westward, toward the direction of the light curtain.

Deterrence achieved; now we just wait to see how the other side responds.

And this remote contest of technique and national strength has only just begun.