Chapter 1545: The Heir Apparent Reviews the Troops

Another clear morning. On the open plain outside Jinzhou City, a wave of noise rose with the spring breeze.

Called forth by the spring breeze, Liaodong had been renewed from surface to core. The accumulated snow had slowly melted, gathering into streams that raced toward the sea, while the distant mountain ranges, rolling and undulating, had turned from snowy white to lush green. On the nearby hillsides, blades of grass quietly poked through the soil — a patch here, a tuft there — dotting the steep slopes with fresh green.

This plain had always been profoundly quiet, but today it was filled with clamor. Company after company of Great Han infantry in their red uniforms massed together, then swept across the grassland sheet by sheet. This flame-like color made the original green of the grass pale into insignificance.

Thousands of feet, along with banners fluttering in the wind, moved slowly forward. Obeying the officers' low commands to halt or wheel, they maintained a constant formation, kept their intervals with the other soldiers and filed into ranks, then passed one already-deployed infantry square after another.

Perhaps it was the result of many years of rigorous training — besides their identical uniforms, the expressions on their faces had also become uniform. They bore both the detachment and composure that came from years of campaigning, and the excitement of being reviewed jointly by the Heir Apparent of the Great Han and the Commander-in-Chief.

These soldiers belonged to the infantry of the Great Han Liaodong Army's Third Brigade. Most had served for many years and had taken part in the vast majority of the campaigns to pacify Liaodong. Their battle record was illustrious; they were an elite force of the Great Han. Their previous Brigade Commander was none other than Zhao Song, who had just been transferred back to the capital a short while ago. And one regiment within this brigade would, after the Crown Prince's inspection was complete, follow the Crown Prince and Zhao Song onto transport ships, sail for Goryeo, and then join the punitive expedition against Japan, winning even greater victories for the Great Han.

And not far from these infantrymen, the rhythmically even sound of hoofbeats and the clinking of spurs could be heard everywhere. These tall cavalrymen in uniforms and armor, mounted on equally tall and straight-backed warhorses, were interspersed among the infantry squares. Every man seemed full of heroic spirit and fierce pride, yet also seethed with killing intent. Between the infantry squares and the cavalry ranks, military musicians in conspicuous uniforms stood within the formations, changing their drumbeats in response to the officers' shouts, using this method to direct each square amid the sea of men and dust.

In the gaps between some infantry squares, artillery units pushed their cannons forward. Row after row of cannons, polished to a gleaming shine, trembled on their carriages. The rattle of shaking carriage parts could be heard, and one could even seem to smell the gunpowder drifting from them. The artillerymen crawled forward between the infantry and cavalry, then, following prior arrangements, pulled apart to halt at designated spots.

The Great Han army placed the greatest emphasis on firepower, and the Liaodong Army had previously been the Great Han's most principal field army, so every artillery unit was equipped with the best cannons, and the artillerymen had undergone the most rigorous training. Next, a reinforced artillery unit would be transferred to Goryeo and take part in the great campaign against Japan. They firmly believed that with the gunnery skills they had painstakingly drilled to mastery, they could make the Japanese shogunate army taste the full bitterness that the Liaodong Army's previous enemies had tasted.

Before the ranks of soldiers stood their leading officers, and these officers all wore brand-new dress uniforms for the review, every one of them standing ramrod straight. On their chests they wore various medals — bronze, iron, or silver — which testified to the campaigns they had fought north and south along the way, and testified to their own brave and meritorious deeds.

In every square array poised for action, these battle-hardened soldiers who had always fought and conquered had raised their firelocks and long spears. Clusters of gleaming spear-points reflected a dazzling light under the clear sky, and the flash from several dozen squares was almost blinding. Every cavalryman, too, had polished his saddle, armor, and equipment to a bright shine. Every warhorse had been carefully groomed, its coat glossy and gleaming with a luster like satin. Because the soldiers' marching and formation movements were uniform from years of training, it was as if the individual had vanished within their ranks — thousands of men molded into a single whole. The martial might of the Great Han was displayed without reserve in these formations.

To welcome this rare military review personally attended by the Crown Prince, the officers had all dressed with extreme fastidiousness, wishing they could polish every button on their uniforms until it shone. And every soldier was also full of vigor, deathly afraid of losing his unit's honor in front of the Crown Prince. Thanks to their extremely high degree of organizational discipline, they marched in the formations used during daily drill and, without spending too much time, arranged their ranks at the pre-designated positions just as arranged from above. Every man stood at his assigned place, waiting nervously. If today were not a review but a real battle, they, already fully assembled, seemed as if they could plunge into war at once — and in Liaodong, no enemy could withstand their assault.

Now they were ready, only waiting for the reviewers to come quickly and survey their might and glory.

As time passed, the sun climbed higher and higher in the sky, and the original morning chill slowly faded away. Just then, on the main road leading from Jinzhou City to this place, a thunderous roar suddenly erupted.

The officers and soldiers at the edge of the formation, hearing this roar, turned their heads to look in the direction the sound came from. As far as their eyes could see, dust swirled everywhere, hiding most things beneath a gray haze. But soon, a convoy of large carriages painted fiery red, pulled by galloping horses, burst out of the yellow fog and rapidly approached. Around the carriages, escort cavalrymen in special uniforms rode carefully selected tall horses, surrounding these carriages and escorting them forward.

These carriages were broad and rode smoothly. They had been made by specialized workshops inside the Pass, then bestowed upon the senior officers of the Liaodong Army for their use. Specially improved by Western craftsmen, the jolting on the road had been reduced to a minimum. Because the axles and carriage bodies were not easy to produce, the workshops beyond the Pass had so far been unable to copy them. Precisely because of this special background, in Shenyang City and the entire region, these carriages themselves proclaimed status and rank.

And today, the people riding inside the carriages were surely the Crown Prince, come to review the great army, and the senior officers of the Liaodong Army.

"His Highness is coming!"

"The Crown Prince is here!"

Whispered murmurs passed like ocean waves from the edge of the ranks to the other side, stirring a slight commotion, but they were quickly suppressed by the officers.

Under the officers' shouts, the ranks fell silent again. Everyone craned their necks in anticipation, watching the rapidly approaching convoy, waiting with hearts full of excitement.

When they had advanced to within a short distance of the great army's formations, the carriages slowed, then stopped at the edge of the ranks.

Then, the door of one carriage in the middle opened, and several people stepped out one after another.

The first wore a red-based military dress uniform, with a silver orchid medal pinned to his chest. Most officers recognized him — it was Ning Zeguang, Military Staff Advisor and the man Marshal Chen trusted most.

The second to descend wore a military dress uniform trimmed with fringe, and on his chest he wore a gold plum blossom medal, especially dazzling under the sunlight. Every single officer and soldier knew this man — he was the Commander-in-Chief of the Liaodong Army, the imperially enfeoffed Duke of Ji, Marshal Chen Sheng.

He had led the Liaodong Army for many years, and in the hearts of the troops, his prestige was second only to His Majesty's. So the moment they saw him, the officers and men grew somewhat emotional, and even the formations loosened a little.

Very soon, the third person also descended. This was a youth, dressed in an ordinary military uniform without any decorations or medals. His height did not even reach the marshal's shoulder. Apart from a mild manner and a lack of stage fright, when seen from a distance, he did not appear particularly remarkable.

Yet, when they made out this youth clearly, the great army's formations wavered even more severely. Some people unconsciously tried to press forward, wanting to see the reigning dynasty's Heir Apparent more clearly.

For thousands of years, the thought of loyalty to the sovereign had circulated in the hearts of the people. The imperial house had always been revered, so whenever it appeared before the populace, it would always provoke a certain commotion. But at this moment, this commotion was even more intense, because in the eyes of these Great Han soldiers, the Emperor — who had led them from their start in Xuzhou, swept across the realm in a hundred victorious battles, and restored peace to the world — was akin to a god.

Many veterans had personally witnessed His Majesty's reviews, and although the recruits who enlisted later had no such chance, through the veterans' word-of-mouth accounts, they likewise regarded His Majesty the Emperor as an inviolable deity. This feeling, mingling gratitude and worship, came from the heart, and was the same for generals and soldiers alike.

Now that the imperial Crown Prince had personally arrived to review them, how could their hearts not surge with emotion?

"The officers and men of the Liaodong Army can truly be called loyal and brave!" Seeing the troops so stirred, the Crown Prince was also very pleased.

"The Liaodong Army's officers and men are the personal troops who followed His Majesty to fight the Jianzhou rebels — how can the words 'loyal and brave' suffice to describe them!" Chen Sheng was also somewhat emotional. "However, that a commotion could arise during a review is my failure in commanding the troops. I beg Your Highness's forgiveness."

As he spoke, he waved his hand. The officers beside him understood and loudly issued orders to the officers in the formations, and the officers in the formations immediately carried out the commands, using shouts to quell the soldiers' commotion, making them fall silent again and stand neatly back in their ranks.

The Crown Prince looked out. Row upon row of soldiers stood in neat lines, all standing straight and looking ahead, like a wall of bronze and iron.

Next, Chen Sheng waved his hand, and then, very quickly, the other officers who had been watching this side also loudly shouted commands. The entire space seemed to resume its normal flow of time from a paused state.