Chapter 653: Northward Vanguard

On the third day, at dawn.

Outside Zhenbei Pass, the drill field.

Fifty thousand troops formed ranks.

Dark armor stood like a forest, spears and halberds like thorns.

War horses neighed low, flags snapped in the morning wind.

Yue Fei stood beside the general's platform, gazing at the formation before him.

Unlike the Song army he knew—

The Chen dynasty's ranks had no splendid banners, no elaborate ceremonial guards.

Only black, gray, and deep blue were the main colors.

Soldiers' armor was uniform, weapons uniform, even their stances nearly identical.

Solemn.

Simple.

Efficient.

"This is the Chen dynasty's field army."

Shi Dun stood beside Yue Fei, whispering an introduction.

"Under the Bei Jing Regional Governor's Office, the First through Fifth Armies."

"Each army numbers ten thousand, each with its own focus: the First Army heavy-armored infantry, the Second light cavalry, the Third archers and crossbowmen, the Fourth engineers and artillery, the Fifth a mixed reserve."

"Engineers formed into an independent army?"

Wu Yong keenly caught the key point.

"In Chen dynasty warfare, equipment comes first."

Shi Dun pointed toward the rear of the formation.

There stood dozens of strange vehicles—large bolt‑throwers with armor plates, multi‑wheel catapults for hauling, and sealed wagons.

"The latest gadgets from the Heavenly Craft Institute are all being brought along."

The bugle sounded.

On the platform, Chen Wen ascended.

He wore no armor, only a deep blue cloth robe.

But when he stood firm, the drill field of fifty thousand fell silent instantly.

"The location of the Northern Yuan's mother nest has been confirmed."

Chen Wen spoke, his voice not loud yet clear enough to reach the front rank of every formation.

"In Black Stone Valley, four hundred li from here."

"The valley contains three nests, arranged in a triangle."

"What we must do is destroy the central main nest."

He paused.

"This journey is perilous."

"The enemy has shade‑shadow units, transformed beasts, and the Iron Crow Army giving direct support."

"We may lose many lives."

"We may be defeated."

Below the platform, silence.

"But we must go."

Chen Wen's voice grew solemn.

"If the mother nest is not destroyed, the Northern Yuan can endlessly produce strengthened soldiers."

"Even if we repel them this year, they will return next year."

"The year after that, and the year after that—"

He swept his gaze over the ranks.

"Our descendants will have to live forever under the blade."

The wind swept across the drill field.

"My grandfather once told me a saying."

Chen Wen said slowly.

"Peace is not begged for; it is won by fighting."

"Beat them until they hurt, fear, and submit—"

He clenched his fist.

"Only then can there be peace."

"Today's northern expedition is not to expand territory."

"Only to let the people of Bei Jing not worry about enemy hooves heading south for ten years."

"Only to let Chen dynasty soldiers avoid bleeding year after year here."

"Only—"

His voice suddenly rose.

"One effort, lasting peace!"

"One effort, lasting peace!"

Shi Dun was the first to raise his arms and shout.

"One effort, lasting ease!"

Fifty thousand people shouted in unison.

The sound wave was like thunder.

Yue Fei felt the ground beneath his feet trembling.

It was not fear.

It was some kind of... resonance.

Chen Wen raised his hand.

The sound wave gradually subsided.

"Set out."

There were no lengthy oaths.

There were no cumbersome rituals.

Three words.

The great army set out.

The first army's heavily armored infantry went first.

Iron boots trod the ground, making a rumbling sound.

Next came the engineering corps' convoy.

Those strange vehicles were pulled by oxen and horses, their axles squeaking.

Light cavalry guarded the flanks.

Yue Fei and the others were assigned to the central army, traveling with Chen Wen and Shi Dun.

After leaving the pass ten li, the terrain gradually widened.

Yue Fei noticed that the Chen dynasty's army's marching method was extremely special.

Every twenty li marched, they must rest for a quarter hour.

During rest, soldiers did not sit or lie down casually, but gathered by squad to check equipment, drinking water, and rations.

There was a dedicated supply convoy accompanying them, with two meals a day, one of which must be hot.

What surprised him even more was the communication system.

Every five li, there must be a scouting squad sent ahead.

Each squad was equipped with three fast horses, taking turns to go back and forth delivering information.

In complex terrain, there were also soldiers holding bronze mirrors stationed on high ground, using reflected signals to transmit simple messages to the rear.

"This is called 'mirror signal'."

Shi Dun saw Yue Fei staring and then explained.

"Simple, but effective."

"Within thirty li, message transmission does not exceed half a quarter hour."

"What about beyond thirty li?"

Yue Fei asked.

"Use this."

Shi Dun took out a bamboo tube from his bosom, about one chi long, with both ends sealed with wax.

"One-time resonance order."

"Break it, and all matching tallies within thirty li will vibrate."

"It can only transmit the single signal 'emergency', but that is enough."

Wu Yong listened carefully from the side.

"How are military orders transmitted over greater distances?"

"Rely on people."

Shi Dun put away the bamboo tube.

"Fast horses, relay."

"From Zhenbei Pass to Xijing, six hundred li, twelve relay stations, changing horses but not people, must arrive within six shichen."

He paused.

"The Chen dynasty has no mighty divine communication arts; they rely on clumsy methods."

"But clumsy methods are the most reliable."

In the afternoon, the great army entered the hilly region.

Yue Fei saw the engineering unit begin to demonstrate its ability.

Encountering a shallow river, they used the prefabricated wooden boards they carried to erect a simple bridge within half a quarter hour.

Encountering a steep slope, they used a winch and rope to slowly pull the equipment vehicles up.

The efficiency was astonishingly high.

"How long have these engineers been trained?"

Yue Fei couldn't help but ask.

"Three years."

Shi Dun said.

"The selection standards are stricter than for regular soldiers."

"Not only must they be able to build bridges and pave roads, but they must also understand equipment maintenance, gunpowder mixing, and simple fortification construction."

He pointed at the packs those engineers carried on their backs.

"Each person carries a load of forty catties, half of which are tools."

"Before sunset, the great army set up camp."

"The layout of the camp once again opened the eyes of Yue Fei and others."

"It was not a simple fence and tent."

"But rather, there were clearly defined zones: the Commander Zone, the Combat Soldier Zone, the Engineer Zone, the Medical Zone, and the Logistics Zone."

"Passages were left between the zones, with signs installed."

"A shallow moat was dug around the perimeter, and anti-cavalry barriers were set up."

"The sentry posts were distributed in three layers, with visible sentries, hidden sentries, and mobile sentries all present."

"\"This camp, could it be built in a single night? \""

"Lin Chong watched the gradually forming camp area, unable to believe it."

"\"Standard procedure. \""

"Shi Dun smiled."

"\"In the Chen Dynasty Jun Ying's field manual, setting up camp is a required subject. \""

"\"Any unqualified officer will be demoted. \""

"As night fell, the campfires dotted the landscape."

"Yue Fei sat in his tent, browsing the Chen Dynasty's Field Service Regulations by the light of an oil lamp."

"The book was very thick."

"From marching, setting up camp, scouting, to combat, retreat, and casualty care, nothing was too great or too small."

"Every page bore annotations, the handwriting varied, clearly the practical experiences of generations of officers."

"He turned to the chapter \"Encounter Battle\"."

"It read:"

"\"When ambushed, the primary concern is to steady the formation; never panic and retreat. \""

"\"The commander should immediately occupy high ground and observe the enemy's deployment. \""

"\"Engineers quickly erect a simple defensive line, while archers and crossbowmen provide cover. \""

"\"Light cavalry on both flanks probes to find the enemy's weak points. \""

"Beside it, a red ink annotation reads:"

"\"In the seventh year of the Qingli era, at Black Mountain Valley, when ambushed, following this manual's execution resulted in three-tenths casualties and breaking the encirclement; if one panicked and retreated, the entire army would surely be annihilated. —Shi Dun\""

"These are regulations proven in actual combat."

"Yue Fei closed the book."

"Footsteps sounded from outside the tent."

"\"General Yue. \""

"It was Chen Wen's voice."

"Yue Fei rose and lifted the curtain."

"\"Mr. Chen. \""

"Chen Wen stood outside the tent, holding a small ceramic jar."

"\"The night cold of Bei Jing; have a drink to warm up. \""

"He passed over the ceramic jar."

"\"It's a milky wine from the plains, not strong. \""

"The two sat on the ground before the tent."

"He took a sip."

"The taste was light, with a milky aroma."

"\"What are your impressions after observing the troops today? \""

"Chen Wen asked."

"\"Capable. \""

"Yue Fei spoke frankly."

"\"It differs from any army I have ever led. \""

"\"It's not just that the equipment is good; it's… the whole system that is different. \""

"\"System. \""

"Chen Wen repeated the word, nodding."

"\"This is the foundation accumulated over 180 years of the Chen Dynasty. \""

"\"Since the founding by the Taizu, it has been stipulated: the army must be professionalized, standardized, and institutionalized. \""

"\"It does not rely on the individual ability of famous generals, but on the entire system's ability to operate stably. \""

"He gazed at the distant campfires."

"\"Famous generals may die or grow old. \""

"\"But as long as the system remains, the army's soul remains. \""

"Yue Fei fell silent for a moment."

"\"Mr. Chen, I have a question. \""

"\"Speak. \""

"\"With such a strong army, why not destroy the Northern Yuan earlier? \""

"Yue Fei looked at him."

Do we have to wait for the nest to appear and the Iron Crow Army to intervene?

Chen Wen took a sip of wine.

Two reasons.

First, the Northern Yuan used to be just nomadic tribes; they would fight, then disperse, disperse and regroup, impossible to exterminate.

Second—

He paused.

I am waiting.

Waiting for what?

Waiting for them to be catalyzed by the Iron Crow Army into becoming a real threat.

Chen Wen's voice was very calm.

Only when the threat is great enough will the Chen Dynasty unite wholeheartedly, be willing to pay the price, and eradicate the menace.

Now, the moment has arrived.

Yue Fei understood.

It's not that we cannot.

It's that we are unwilling.

After long peace, the people grow weary of war.

Only with a sufficiently terrifying enemy can the whole nation be rallied, sparing no cost.

"A ruthless calculation," Yue Fei said.

"Governing a state is inherently a ruthless affair."

Chen Wen rose to his feet.

"Get some rest early."

"We will reach the outskirts of Black Stone Valley in five days."

"Then it will be a tough battle."

He turned and left.

Yue Fei remained seated, looking at the pottery jar in his hand.

The milk wine had grown cold.

Inside the tent, the oil lamp flickered.

He suddenly recalled that during the False Song, whenever he submitted memorials urging war, the Imperial Court always excused itself with "insufficient supplies" and "the people's war-weariness."

Now he understood.

It wasn't a lack of supplies.

It was a lack of resolve.

It wasn't that the people were weary of war.

It was that the Imperial Court dared not fight.

He tipped his head back and drained the last sip of wine.

He rose and returned to the tent.

Tomorrow they still have to march.

The Black Stone Valley is still four hundred li away.