Chapter 590: Consolidation! Newborn Tiger Wings

Mang Mountain, Wild Boar Ravine.

The allied army's flag-raising fervor still lingered, but the camp had swiftly shifted into tense, orderly consolidation.

On the open ground, Yue Fei, Zhang Xian, Wang Gui and other original Yue Family Army officers, together with Wu Yong and several mid-level officers of the Northward Aspiration Army, were reorganizing the troops.

"Break the existing battalion and company organization, mix them!"

Yue Fei's voice was decisive.

"The Northward Aspiration brothers excel at mountain raids and small‑scale guerrilla tactics; the Yue Family brothers are skilled in formation field warfare and assaulting fortifications. Mixing them allows us to compensate for each other's weaknesses."

"For every hundred men, appoint one regiment commander and two deputy regiment commanders, with at least one coming from the other side's original unit."

"Squad leaders and team leaders follow the same rule."

"Uniformly allocate weapons and armor, first securing frontline soldiers and scouts."

The reorganization process was not without discord.

Yue Family Army officers accustomed to grand‑army command found the Northward Aspiration Army's more flexible, grassroots‑initiative‑emphasizing system somewhat uncomfortable.

Meanwhile, the leaders of the Northward Aspiration Army also harbored reservations about the Yue Family Army's strict hierarchy and discipline.

But the core commanders of both sides fully understood that this was the necessary path.

Under the prestige of Yue Fei and Zhang Xian and Wu Yong's skillful mediation, the consolidation proceeded difficultly but resolutely.

Meanwhile.

Deep within the ravine, in a relatively quiet hollow naturally formed by a massive rock wall,

Chen Wen was carrying out a more central task.

Several oil lamps burned inside the cave, giving steady light.

On the stone platform lay several "medium embryos" urgently sent by Zhao Lao Nian through a secret channel.

They were no longer rough wooden plaques or jade pendants.

But were metal token embryos forged from a special alloy, subjected to complex quenching and You‑Energy–Fortune Momentum coupling treatment.

Uniform in shape, about palm‑length, two fingers wide, and half a finger thick.

The whole piece showed a dull blue‑gray hue; the surface was not smooth but bore extremely fine, natural grain like the annual rings of flowing water.

It felt warm and moist to the touch, yet retained the texture and weight of metal.

Chen Wen sat cross‑legged before the stone platform, eyes half‑closed, adjusting his breath and spirit.

He needed to imprint his own stable "Fortune Momentum Mark" inside these embryos.

This not only affected the "Limited Remote Endowment" effect; to some extent it was also an identity confirmation and power anchor for his core members.

Yue Fei, Lin Chong, Wu Yong, Zhang Xian, Wang Gui.

The first five.

He extended his right index finger and lightly touched the center of the first token embryo.

There was no light, no strange sound.

He "felt" the subtle conduits within the embryo that Zhao Lao Nian had treated, capable of bearing "momentum".

Guiding his own "Fortune Momentum Mark" like a trickle, it slowly and firmly extended, filled, and solidified along those conduits.

This was a painstaking process, extremely draining of mind and spirit.

Sweat gradually seeped from the corners of Chen Wen's temples.

Yet he remained focused, utterly still.

About half an hour later.

On the surface of the first token embryo, the natural grain seemed to faintly brighten, a barely perceptible warm luster flowing across it before receding inward.

Chen Wen slowly withdrew his finger and exhaled a long breath of turbid air.

Chen Wen slowly withdrew his fingers and exhaled a long breath of foul air.

He picked up the token; its feel in hand was now different.

It seemed to have a faint, blood‑linked sense with him.

He delayed no longer and began imprinting the second.

Time passed in silence.

Outside the cave, the commands of the reorganization, the footsteps of marching troops, and the hammering of artisans repairing the fortifications could be heard faintly.

Inside the cave, only Chen Wen's steady, prolonged breathing and the almost imperceptible process of "momentum" flowing and solidifying within the metal.

When the fourth token's imprinting was completed,

the light at the cave entrance dimmed.

Yue Fei's figure appeared there; he had evidently finished his urgent military duties.

"Mr. Chen," Yue Fei stepped forward lightly, saw the four completed tokens on the stone platform and Chen Wen's somewhat fatigued but bright‑eyed appearance, clasped his fists and said, "Thank you for your trouble."

"Mr. Chen." Yue Fei stepped in lightly, seeing the four completed tokens on the stone platform and Chen Wen's somewhat fatigued but bright-eyed appearance, he clasped his fists and said, "Thank you for your trouble."

Chen Wen pointed to the last embryo on the stone platform.

"Wait a moment; this one is yours."

Yue Fei said nothing more, sat quietly on a nearby stone stool, and his gaze swept over the tokens that looked ordinary yet instinctively felt extraordinary to him.

Yue Fei said little, quietly sitting on the Shi Dun beside, his gaze sweeping over the tokens that seemed ordinary yet instinctively made him feel extraordinary.

Chen Wen lifted his finger from the final token.

His face grew paler, but his spirit was still sound.

"I have not failed my mission."

He laid out the five tokens one by one.

He laid out the five tokens one by one.

At first glance, they are almost identical.

But upon closer inspection, the extremely faint "pattern" or "trend" formed by the natural grain on each token's surface seems subtly different, as if corresponding to different "images".

"This item is the new generation of 'token' developed by Zhao Lao Nian."

Chen Wen picked up the token belonging to Yue Fei and handed it to him.

It felt slightly heavy in hand, warm and smooth yet with a strange coolness that calmed the mind.

"Hold this token; when needed, silently recall your wish in your heart—whether to gather strength for a single strike, to evade danger in crisis, or to sustain stamina during a long march......"

"As long as the distance is not too great, I can sense it and perhaps lend a faint bit of aid from afar."

Chen Wen explained briefly and also very "pragmatically".

"He did not mention 'remote endowment,' only 'remote assistance'."

"Of course, this is an emergency measure, not to be relied upon as a norm. In actual combat, applying it face‑to‑face yields a stronger effect and longer duration."

Yue Fei gripped the token firmly and nodded heavily.

He could feel the token's extraordinariness and also understood what this "assistance" might mean at a critical moment.

"This item is precious; I will not betray Mr. Chen's trust."

"The tokens for Zhang Xian, Wang Gui, Mr. Wu Yong, and Instructor Lin—please have General Yue pass them along later," Chen Wen said. "Those who hold these tokens can also serve as proof of the allied army's core."

"Good." Yue Fei carefully put away the token and added, "Mr. Chen, the reorganization is basically complete; the newly formed five divisions all bear the designation 'Northward Aspiration'. Grain and forage supplies are being coordinated with Black Cloud Stronghold by Mr. Wu. However… the troops have just been united, their tactics need drilling, morale is high but foundations are shallow. What should we do next? Please advise."

Chen Wen did not answer directly, but instead asked:

"General Yue, what do you think the Imperial Court will do in the short term after this 'authenticity' turmoil?"

Yue Fei snorted: "They can barely look after themselves; their prestige is ruined. Even if they hate me to the bone, they cannot quickly muster a large army to come and besiege us. At most they'll issue proclamations for a war of words or put bounties on assassinations."

"And the Jin Kingdom?"

"Wanyan Zongbi uses troops cautiously; after the setback at Yancheng, he needs time to regroup. Moreover, the northern steppes seem to be stirring, so his focus may shift northward. For our Mang Mountain, we should mainly adopt a blockade and surveillance posture."

Chen Wen nodded.

"In that case, we have a rare window to catch our breath."

"This opportunity must not be wasted."

His gaze calm, he looked toward the faint training sounds drifting from outside the cave.

"First, refine internal energy."

"The mixed troops need to integrate quickly. We can organize small‑scale joint drills—hunting, scouting, ambush, even squad‑vs‑squad combat—so that soldiers of different origins become familiar with each other's tactics in practice and build trust."

"Second, consolidate the foundation."

"Mang Mountain is rugged but not a place for long stay. Black Cloud Stronghold is the foundation of the Northward Aspiration Army; we must keep communications open and supply routes safe. At the same time, we can select several hidden spots in and around Mang Mountain to establish outposts and supply points, expanding our operational and early‑warning range."

"Third, accumulate strength."

"The proclamations have been issued; all eyes are upon us. Surely brave volunteers, scattered government troops, and even destitute civilians will flock to us. We need to set up a procedure for screening, absorbing, and training—to discard the dross, keep the essence, and expand our forces."

"Fourth,"

Chen Wen paused, lowering his voice.

"Closely monitor the north. The disturbance on the steppes is unlikely to be coincidental. I have a premonition that the Iron Crow Army, after this setback, will not let it rest. The next wave they stir up may well…… be in the north."

Yue Fei's expression turned grave; he took careful note.

"What Mr. Chen said, every word is vital. Yue, go make the arrangements."

"As for the matter of 'assistance'……"

Chen Wen rose to his feet and stretched his somewhat stiff neck.

"Please have General Yue summon Zhang Xian, Wang Gui, Instructor Lin, Mr. Wu, and the heads of all the newly organized divisions; tomorrow at the chen hour, at this open space outside the cave."

"Some methods must be demonstrated in person for you all to feel assured."

Yue Fei's eyes flashed with sharp light as he clasped his fists again.

"Understood!"

He knew that this Mr. Chen was about to truly demonstrate the skill that could let the Northward Aspiration Army overcome the strong despite weakness, enable Lin Chong to rush a thousand miles to aid, and let him seize the battle opportunity at the critical moment in Yancheng.

This is not merely a boost in combat power.

It is also a crucial step in forging the core conviction of this newly formed allied army.

Night fell.

In Wild Boar Valley, campfires dotted the landscape.

Voices of different accents, laughter and curses, even arguments, intertwined in the night.

There were the growing pains of integration.

But there also emerged a fresh spirit, named 'Northward Aspiration-Yue', being forged bit by bit amid blood, fire, and hardship.

Just like the tokens freshly engraved in the recesses of the cliff.

Their appearance is plain.

Inside, a sharp and tenacious 'momentum' is quietly gestating.