On the 20th day of the sixth month, at the foot of Mang Mountain, the shouts of soldiers training rose and fell like waves.
By noon, Sima Yue arrived with his advisors, and the three thousand soldiers cheered in unison, bringing a hearty laugh to Sima Yue, who was preparing for war.
"The morale is high, the morale is high indeed!" Sima Yue exclaimed with satisfaction.
Mi Huang, Shao Xun, He Lun, and Wang Bing stood respectfully by Sima Yue's side.
Sima Yue's gaze swept over the four of them.
Mi Huang was skilled in leading troops and could be entrusted with important tasks.
He Lun was diligent and trustworthy.
Wang Bing, though unassuming, often practiced martial arts diligently, showing his ambition.
As for Shao Xun, he was a brave general who had repeatedly brought Sima Yue great surprises.
Sima Yue still remembered the dark expression on Sima Ying's face that day—it had been so satisfying.
These four were rare talents, and Sima Yue planned to make great use of them in the future.
"Someone, come here!" Sima Yue suddenly called out.
Dai Yuan, the military advisor, personally brought over a tray.
Sima Yue removed the silk covering it, revealing two seals.
He took one, examined it, and handed it to Mi Huang, saying, "From now on, you are the Commandant of the Donghai Kingdom."
"Thank you, Your Highness, for your trust," Mi Huang said respectfully, tightly gripping the seal.
Sima Yue nodded in satisfaction, then took the other seal and handed it to Shao Xun, saying, "You were recommended as a Filial and Incorrupt official last month. Now, your appointment as the Commandant's Adjutant has been approved. Keep this seal safe."
"Thank you, Your Highness, for your trust," Shao Xun replied steadily.
Out of the corner of his eye, Shao Xun glanced at the seal.
It read: "Commandant's Adjutant of the Donghai Kingdom"—its design was similar to the "Commandant's Adjutant of the Langya Kingdom" seal unearthed in Nanjing.
"You are now considered a scholar-official," Sima Yue said with a good mood, adding a few more words: "The world is in chaos, and there are many opportunities to prove yourself in battle. If you fight hard and accumulate enough merit to reach the rank of six hundred bushels, bringing glory to your ancestors will be a trivial matter."
"I will follow Your Highness's command," Shao Xun replied.
Strictly speaking, he wasn't yet a scholar-official.
In his case, being recommended as a Filial and Incorrupt official and becoming an official, if his sons or grandsons could also reach his level, the Shao family of Donghai could barely be considered a humble scholarly family.
But even that required an evaluation from the local officials—without it, they were just considered local strongmen.
This was the dilemma many local strongmen faced.
Some families had vast lands and private armies, surpassing smaller scholarly families, but they lacked political status and were merely called "powerful men" rather than "scholar-officials."
The Mi family of the late Eastern Han Dynasty had faced this dilemma, which was why they had heavily sponsored Liu Bei, hoping for a chance to rise.
Now, with the world in chaos, the influence of family status was waning, while hard power—land, population, and resources—was becoming more important.
For the many strongmen and wealthy merchants without noble backgrounds, this was a rare opportunity to rise.
Shao Xun vaguely remembered that in the later Northern and Southern Dynasties, many local strongmen became military commanders, leading their private armies to fight for various courts, likely to elevate their family status and seize local power.
Sima Yue probably hoped that Shao Xun would fight fiercely for his own future and family, risking his life for the Sima family.
Well, that's a good thought, but I'd rather see the Jin court collapse and break the ceiling of caste.
"Your Highness, the drill is about to begin," Wang Cheng, the Chief Clerk, came over and reported.
"Oh? I must take a good look," Sima Yue laughed, walking to the front of the platform and leaning on the railing to watch.
Wang Cheng followed a step behind, glancing at Shao Xun.
Shao Xun kept his gaze forward, seemingly unaware.
The Chief Clerk was a high-ranking advisor, even higher than a military advisor, with a salary equivalent to a six hundred bushel official.
Gou Xi had once been Sima Yi's Chief Clerk.
Shao Xun felt that Wang Cheng's gaze was complex, perhaps still remembering the punches he had received? He had probably never suffered such humiliation in his life.
Shao Xun chuckled inwardly.
He was now numb to it.
Sima Yue kept recruiting defectors—if he had the ability, he could recruit all those who had been punched by my men.
Let's see if I'm afraid.
Damn it!
In the howling wind, the three thousand soldiers of the upper and lower armies stood in formation, some holding bows, others spears, and some swords and shields.
They looked quite impressive.
But this was an illusion.
Once they started moving, they would fall into chaos, as a significant portion of them had only been training for less than five months.
Shao Xun remembered this well.
At the beginning, except for those with military experience, the new recruits couldn't even tell left from right, earning them many lashes from him.
Back then, during formation drills, almost every step resulted in someone getting hit.
After a month of training, they could walk twenty steps before falling into chaos.
After three months, they could walk fifty steps before falling into chaos.
Now, after five months, they could walk fifty steps without falling into chaos, but they still needed to stop and realign.
"Thud, thud, thud…" Suddenly, the sound of drums echoed, capturing everyone's attention.
Sima Yue stood against the wind, shielding his eyes with his hand.
Mi Huang, He Lun, Wang Bing, Wang Dao, Liu Qia, Dai Yuan, Wang Cheng, and the newly arrived Yu Liang stood behind him, straining their eyes to watch the battlefield.
He Lun's two thousand men formed a small square formation on the left, organized by regiment.
Wang Bing's one thousand men stood on the right.
There was a gap of two hundred paces between them.
As the drums sounded, the two armies began to march toward each other.
Neither side used bows or crossbows, and they carried spears without tips.
They started with a slow march, but after a few dozen paces, as the drum rhythm changed, they began to jog.
The officers leading each side shouted to boost morale.
The upper army's morale seemed low, with soldiers from Luoyang making a lot of noise.
The lower army, however, shouted in unison.
Regardless of their actual combat ability, their battle cries were loud and full of spirit.
"Thud, thud, thud…" The drum rhythm changed again.
Both sides instinctively quickened their pace.
The Donghai soldiers in the upper army accelerated their charge, while the Luoyang soldiers lagged, causing a slight disarray in their formation.
The lower army soldiers, on the other hand, looked fierce, as if facing their father's killer.
Closer, they were getting closer.
At the officers' commands, the lower army soldiers leveled their spears.
Amid the intense drumbeats, they quickened their pace, mustering all their strength to shout: "Kill!"
Their spears thrust forward.
The opposing formation immediately showed a noticeable dent.
The dent grew larger and deeper, eventually turning into a gaping hole.
The upper army collapsed…
The idle Luoyang soldiers were the first to panic and flee.
The Donghai soldiers tried to resist briefly but were soon overwhelmed and fled as well.
Two thousand men, just like that, routed.
A battle between amateurs, the outcome decided in an instant.
No dramatic back-and-forth, just a clean and decisive victory.
The north wind blew fiercely, and the banners fluttered.
Sima Yue was stunned.
He Lun's face turned red with shame.
Wang Bing's expression was complex, a sigh hidden within.
Mi Huang beamed with pride, sharing in the glory.
Wang Dao's face darkened, a hint of anger in his eyes.
Liu Qia was dumbfounded, at a loss for words.
Yu Liang, however, looked unsurprised.
The sixteen-year-old even gazed at Shao Xun with admiration.
A thousand faces, a thousand thoughts.
"Bang!" Sima Yue slammed the table, unsure whether he was excited or angry.
No one dared to speak, silently waiting.
"Each soldier of the lower army shall be rewarded with two bolts of silk," Sima Yue finally said after a long pause.
"Thank you, Your Highness, for your generosity," Wang Bing stepped forward and loudly responded.
"Zi Hui, can the upper army fight like this?" Sima Yue asked, his expression grim.
He Lun lowered his head, filled with worry, resentment, and fear, hoping the Grand Marshal wouldn't notice him.
"Your Highness, the upper army can still defend the city…" Mi Huang only said half of what he meant.
"What about field battles?" Sima Yue pressed, not waiting for Mi Huang to answer, and added himself: "They would likely collapse at the first encounter."
"No—" In his extreme disappointment, Sima Yue even began to imagine: "They might even collapse during the march."
He Lun's face turned as red as a monkey's rear, but he dared not say a word.
When you're being beaten, don't talk back—it only makes the beating worse.
"Losing to the Ye army is one thing—they've at least seen battle. But the lower army also has new recruits, and they're fewer in number. Yet you were utterly defeated at the first encounter. What more is there to say? Can I even take you to the battlefield?" Sima Yue fumed.
"Thud!" He Lun knelt down, saying, "I am incompetent. Please punish me, Grand Marshal."
Wang Bing sighed.
He couldn't describe the feeling in his heart.
Even though Shao Xun had brought him face, it felt like a nightmare.
You've humiliated He Lun, but haven't you also humiliated me?
"Your Highness, General He has worked hard and made great contributions. He should not be harshly punished."
"Your Highness, General He is utterly loyal. That is priceless."
"Your Highness, General He…"
The advisors all tried to placate Sima Yue, slightly easing his anger.
"Your Highness, the kingdom's army has only been formed for a short time. They still need extensive training," Yu Liang, the Eastern Pavilion Advisor, stepped forward after the senior advisors had spoken.
"Luoyang is crucial. If we don't have a trustworthy force to defend it, it will be hard to maintain stability, and the frontline soldiers will lose focus. The kingdom's army should stay in Luoyang to protect the heir, the consort, and the families of the imperial guards."
Sima Yue's anger gradually subsided.
Yes, Luoyang was his current stronghold, extremely important.
If it were lost, his wife and children would be captured by others—where would his face be? Especially the consort—he couldn't imagine what would happen if Lady Pei fell into Zhang Fang's hands.
And the families of the imperial guards—if they were harmed by Zhang Fang's men, would the soldiers on the frontlines mutiny upon hearing the news?
In short, Luoyang must not be lost.
A trustworthy general must be left to defend it.
After a moment of contemplation, he looked at Mi Huang.
The top general of the Yue faction could only be him.
The others were mostly new recruits, and he didn't trust them.
"Before the northern campaign, we must deal with Shi Chao. I'll say this now—anyone who hesitates or falters will be executed without mercy."
After saying this, he pulled Mi Huang aside and whispered, "Zi Hui, I appoint you as the 'Supervisor of Luoyang Defense.' Guard my rear."
According to the state's regulations, the highest military commanders sent to various regions had different titles.
"Commander of All Armies" was the highest, followed by "Supervisor of All Armies," and then "Supervisor of Defense."
"Bearer of the Imperial Seal" was the highest, followed by "Bearer of the Seal," and then "Bearer of the Token."
Mi Huang, as the "Supervisor of Luoyang Defense," without the seal, had no authority to execute officials or generals who defied him.
Generally, commanders, supervisors, and overseers could all be called "commanders," as they were responsible for a region's military.
But there were still differences.
Those without the rank of general (Four Expeditions, Four Defenses, Four Pacifications, and Four Stabilizations) could only be called "supervisor" or "overseer."
"Commander" was a local position, while "general" was a central position.
Appointing a general as a commander was a way for the central government to intervene in local affairs.
Mi Huang's official rank was too low—he wasn't even qualified to be an "Overseer of Luoyang Defense," only a "Supervisor."
He was essentially a weak commander.
But Mi Huang was still excited and immediately accepted.
The Grand Marshal has entrusted me with his rear—what immense trust! I must devote myself entirely, even unto death.
Just as Mi Huang was moved, Sima Yue sighed and whispered even lower: "Defend Luoyang if you can. If you can't, retreat with the consort and the heir to Donghai. If the situation is dire, abandon the consort and protect the heir."
"Understood," Mi Huang replied, his heart trembling.
The Grand Marshal is worried that Ye City won't fall quickly, and a prolonged stalemate will leave Luoyang unable to withstand Zhang Fang.
But if I leave, won't you also lose at the front?
This wasn't something to dwell on.
Just focus on doing your job well.
If there's a chance, it's best for everyone to sit down and discuss things.
"In ten days or so, I will make my move," Sima Yue said, his voice low, his expression hesitant and struggling, but ultimately hardening into determination.
He had been bowing his head for too long, and he was tired of it.
Life is short, and he didn't know if he would ever have the chance to hold his head high.
He didn't want to wait any longer.
(End of Chapter)