(Note: Today, there are four more alliance leaders.
Thank you for your support, dear readers.
I originally planned to repay the debt of additional chapters tomorrow, but now I owe six more.
I’ll repay one today and slowly repay the remaining five starting tomorrow.
Thank you again.)
"Clang! Clang!" The sound of armor plates clashing was music to the ears.
"Not bad," Shao Xun said with a satisfied smile as he looked at the iron armor he was wearing.
This was a type of armor called the "Tongxiu Armor," the most popular iron armor of the time.
It first appeared in the late Eastern Han Dynasty and was later improved by Zhuge Liang during the Three Kingdoms period.
He ordered the armor to be made with five folds of steel and spears with ten folds.
As we all know, it was difficult to keep technological secrets in ancient times, so the improved version of Zhuge Liang’s Tongxiu Armor quickly spread and became popular during the Three Kingdoms and Jin Dynasties.
Even during the Southern Dynasties, it was still considered a treasure.
From unearthed artifacts, we can see that this iron armor was shaped like fish scales, with the chest and back connected, and sleeves that extended from the shoulders and tightened above the elbows.
Besides the Tongxiu Armor, there was also a leather version, shaped like a turtle shell.
So, when books mention "armored soldiers," they don’t necessarily mean soldiers wearing iron armor—they could also be wearing leather armor or other protective gear.
Armor and protective gear aren’t exactly the same.
Shao Xun was quite satisfied with the Tongxiu Armor he was wearing, but he felt like something was missing.
He remembered the items he had received the day before.
One of them was a bright red military uniform, which he had specifically designed and had the craftsmen in the manor make for him.
The uniform was called "Gaojian."
It had a red headband, boots, and trousers, with a sword on the left side and a place for a quiver and bow on the right.
In short, the uniform was practical, with a sword on the left, a quiver and bow on the right, a red headband tied around the forehead, trousers, and boots.
Wearing it, he looked like a general or military governor from the mid-to-late Tang Dynasty.
During the Wei and Jin Dynasties, there were separate units for archers and crossbowmen, but they didn’t have specialized combat uniforms.
In the Tang Dynasty, all soldiers were required to be proficient in archery, close combat, and the use of both long and short weapons.
As a result, the military uniforms were more complex, and the bow, which everyone had to carry, was a standard weapon.
By the mid-to-late Tang Dynasty, there were no specialized archer units because, in theory, every soldier was an archer.
Shao Xun somehow had a deep familiarity with the Gaojian uniform, though he couldn’t remember why.
But this combat uniform was truly useful.
On the left, he could draw his sword, and on the right, he could quickly string and calibrate his bow.
He could then nock an arrow, and his left arm had a place to strap a small round shield.
On his back, he could carry a long sword or a heavy blade.
When not using a bow, his right hand usually held a spear—if the spear felt too light, he could have a heavier one made for sweeping and striking enemy spears during combat.
In short, it was extremely convenient, giving him the feeling of being armed to the teeth.
"The squad leader looks truly heroic in that iron armor," said Huang Biao, the squad leader, grinning from ear to ear as he stood proudly beside Shao Xun, casting challenging glances at the other squads.
Those who met his gaze quickly lowered their heads.
Shao Xun also glanced around.
These soldiers were too docile.
Even if their superiors withheld their pay and rations, they wouldn’t dare to resist.
This was both an advantage and a disadvantage, but in the current chaotic times, the drawbacks were more apparent.
In war, courage is everything.
If soldiers lack spirit, how can you expect them to rise to the occasion? Facing the enemy’s blades, would they dare to strip off their armor and charge bare-chested into battle? Among the five hundred soldiers in the unit, Shao Xun didn’t see a single one who would dare to do that.
This was going to be tough.
"The battalion commander is here," someone suddenly shouted.
In the distance, a carriage rumbled into view and quickly stopped in front of the formation.
The battalion commander, Mi Huang, had apparently rushed over from some gathering.
He was dressed in a tall hat and wide robes, with his sleeves fluttering in the breeze.
He wore wooden clogs and carried himself with an air of elegance.
This was the kind of demeanor some people loved—it was the epitome of a scholar-official, standing tall in the wind, sleeves flowing, exuding a carefree and refined aura.
With hands clasped behind his back, he seemed to have everything under control, and with each step of his wooden clogs, enemies would fall before him.
It was the image of someone who could achieve great things with ease, as if they could destroy fleets with a wave of their hand.
But others disliked it.
Managing an army was a systematic and scientific endeavor.
It required meticulous work, dedication, and even living and eating alongside the soldiers, enduring the stench.
On the march, soldiers faced the elements—sun, rain, ice, and snow.
In battle, they tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Missing meals and developing stomach problems were common.
In winter, their hands would crack and fester from the cold.
Their skin would become rough and dark from the wind and sand.
And scars? They were unavoidable for anyone who had been in battle.
Mi Huang’s appearance was truly baffling and unprofessional.
But the sad truth was that there were many like him at the time.
It wasn’t that there were no aristocrats willing to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty, but they were few and far between.
Endless philosophical debates and lofty ideals were all well and good, but they were far removed from the gritty reality of military life.
Behind Mi Huang was Wang Dao, the military advisor from the Minister of Works’ office, who had visited before.
Wang Dao stood with his hands clasped behind his back, scanning the area briefly before looking away, clearly uninterested.
Mi Huang, standing before him, looked more like an attendant, smiling obsequiously and saying a few words that were hard to hear from a distance.
Wang Dao listened patiently for a moment before waving his hand dismissively and saying nothing more.
Mi Huang didn’t seem to mind.
He stepped forward in his wooden clogs to address the formation.
The five hundred soldiers had already assembled, including the hundred new recruits who had arrived a few days earlier.
Mi Huang’s gaze lingered on them for a moment.
After all, they were the ones he had sent for, and they were all strong, willing volunteers, far better in quality than the others.
The difference between willing soldiers and conscripts was immense.
In the past, Ma Long had recruited soldiers in Luoyang for an expedition to Liangzhou, setting strict standards for physical fitness, strength, archery, martial skills, and willpower.
From this, he selected 3,500 men.
These 3,500 were volunteers, eager to fight for wealth and glory.
They endured hardships, maintained high morale, and had strong mental fortitude.
Even when surrounded by enemy cavalry and cut off from reinforcements, they held their formation, marched over a thousand miles, inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy, and successfully broke through to Liangzhou.
If they had been conscripted farmers, they would never have been able to achieve this.
In a situation where they were completely surrounded and cut off, they would have panicked and been annihilated.
When facing cavalry, it was essential for infantry to remain calm and fight steadily—a basic requirement that over ninety percent of infantry failed to meet.
"The Wei Wu Infantry Combat Manual states: 'If a soldier in a squad does not advance, the squad leader shall kill him; if the squad leader does not advance, the platoon leader shall kill him; if the platoon leader does not advance, the battalion commander shall kill him.' Our dynasty follows this rule, so the battalion commander trains and disciplines the troops, serving as the right-hand man of the battalion leader," Mi Huang cleared his throat and said.
"I am busy with many affairs and cannot personally oversee military matters. This is manageable in the short term, but over time, it becomes problematic. Therefore, I have requested permission from the prince to appoint two battalion commanders..."
The battalion commander, also known as the "battle overseer," was not a standard position.
In some ways, it was more like a battlefield supervisor within a battalion, with significant authority.
By the Jin Dynasty, the position of battalion commander was becoming more common, with some overseeing a hundred men and others two hundred.
In a battalion of five hundred, the number of battalion commanders was no longer fixed.
Usually, there was one, but having two or three was not uncommon.
Over time, it was likely to become a permanent position between squad leader and battalion leader.
Mi Huang had initially requested only one battalion commander, but Wang Dao, upon hearing this, thought it inappropriate and suggested adding another to create a system of checks and balances.
Sima Yue, the prince, wasn’t particularly concerned with this battalion, but he wouldn’t refuse Wang Dao’s suggestion, so he agreed.
With two battalion commanders, each overseeing half the troops, they could supervise and compete with each other.
This was a good arrangement.
"The troops in this battalion are a mixed group, totaling 561 men, so they will be divided into twelve squads," Mi Huang continued.
In short, the first three squads were mostly children and teenagers, fully staffed and slightly over.
Squads four through seven were made up of older men, originally fully staffed but now short by over twenty.
Squads eight through ten were strong men, also understaffed.
Squads eleven and twelve were the new recruits, of relatively good quality and fully staffed.
"Squad leader Yang Bao, known for his loyalty and righteousness, is promoted to battalion commander."
"Squad leader Shao Xun, skilled in martial arts and effective in leading troops, is also promoted to battalion commander."
Mi Huang quickly read out the two names and then glanced at Wang Dao.
Wang Dao cleared his throat, stepped forward, and whispered a few words in Mi Huang’s ear.
Mi Huang frowned slightly and said in a low voice, "Yang Bao’s abilities are limited. I’m afraid he won’t be able to lead troops well. Military Advisor Wang, you’re giving him too much credit."
Wang Dao’s brow furrowed, seemingly displeased.
He had met both men.
Yang Bao hadn’t left much of an impression—just a meek warrior with some martial skills and leadership ability, nothing extraordinary.
He had seen many like him.
Shao Xun, on the other hand, was harder to read.
While he was polite, there was something about him that Wang Dao didn’t like.
At first, he couldn’t put his finger on it, but after some thought, he realized: Shao Xun didn’t grovel or try to curry favor.
He didn’t place himself in a subservient position.
Wang Dao came from the prestigious Wang family of Langya, one of the most renowned aristocratic families in the north.
In his daily life, he was used to lesser families and commoners fawning over him, and he was accustomed to the awe and inferiority complex people displayed in his presence.
To be fair, Shao Xun’s manners were impeccable.
But beyond that? He didn’t go out of his way to show admiration or flattery.
To Wang Dao, this was a sign of arrogance, and it made him dislike Shao Xun.
This was a subtle feeling, hard to put into words, but it was there.
So, when it came to the issue of battalion commanders, Wang Dao suggested adding another to create a system of checks and balances.
And when discussing the areas each battalion commander would oversee, he intervened again, intending to assign Shao Xun a group of old and weak soldiers.
To Wang Dao, these were trivial matters, easily decided.
But he knew that for someone like Shao Xun, such decisions could determine their fate—a grain of sand from above could feel like a mountain to those below, crushing them.
"Military Advisor Wang..."
Mi Huang hesitated for a moment, then said carefully, "Actually, many of the squads are not combat-ready. Perhaps we should reorganize them. For example, the older men—Emperor Wu once ordered them to return home. But now, with the need for manpower, we can’t do that. Instead, we could have them guard the forts and deal with minor bandits, no longer participating in training. Next year, we can send them back to their villages. It would be a good deed. As for the children, we can handle them similarly. What do you think?"
Wang Dao was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled and said, "Battalion Commander Mi, you do have some quick wit."
Mi Huang’s heart skipped a beat.
He felt that Wang Dao’s tone was sarcastic, but remembering the promise from Lady Pei, he pressed on: "I’ve heard that Military Advisor Wang is close friends with Prince Rui of Langya..."
At this, Wang Dao’s eyes narrowed.
He let out a cold laugh, then flicked his sleeve and said, "I have other matters to attend to. I’ll take my leave now. You can decide the rest, Battalion Commander Mi."
The Langya Wang family and the Langya royal family were closely connected, with many intermarriages.
In this generation, Sima Rui and Wang Dao were close friends.
But Sima Rui’s current allegiances were unclear—his uncle Sima Yao was aligned with Sima Ying in Ye City, while Wang Dao’s master, Sima Yue, was aligned with Sima Yi in Changsha.
Sima Ying and Sima Yi appeared to be on good terms, cooperating smoothly, but in reality, their relationship was strained, and they were bound to clash eventually—Sima Yi was deliberately courting the imperial guards in preparation for the eventual fallout.
By bringing this up, Mi Huang had already offended Wang Dao.
Deep down, he was a bit nervous.
The weight of the Langya Wang family pressed heavily on his heart.
But what could he do now that he had already offended Wang Dao?
With this in mind, he made a decision: he would assign the hundred new recruits to Shao Xun’s command and reorganize the rest as needed.
Life was all about making choices, after all.
(End of Chapter)