Kays Translations

Chapter 107: Military Power

The atmosphere suddenly became heavy. Xia Qingqing frowned slightly as she looked at Xu Ren, Yan Zean, and the others. The few of them whispered among themselves, their true essence circulating and sealing off the surroundings.

Soon, Xia Qingqing came up with an idea. “You two, please return and inform Governor Shi Chengsong of Zhongshan County and Governor Zhao Guoshan of Lüliang County.

Li Xian was previously granted the title of ‘Eastern Governor of the Great Xia Kingdom’ by His Majesty, with the responsibility to maintain peace in the east of Great Xia . Since you cannot protect the peace of your region, starting today, we in Anyang will establish a patrol security team to assist with law enforcement in your counties.

Moreover, it reflects poorly on Governors Shi Chengsong and Zhao Guoshan that banditry has run rampant in their territories. They are ordered to enter the capital and report to His Majesty the details of the situation.

Everyone, please seal with the governor’s great seal.”

Afterward, Xia Qingqing swiftly drafted four orders, signing them along with Xu Ren, Yan Zean, Beichen Yuqing, Fang Shijing, and Yan Zhengqing, and finally sealing them with Li Xian’s Anyang seal and the seal of the Eastern Governor of Great Xia .

Four orders were prepared: one for the archives of Anyang, one sent to the capital, one sent to Zhongshan County, and one sent to Lüliang County.

Guo Xiaolin and Zhang Pengfei, the two envoys, were left dumbfounded—this was not what we wanted!

Xu Ren and Yan Zean exchanged glances, both seeing the amusement in each other’s eyes. Governors Shi Chengsong of Zhongshan County and Zhao Guoshan of Lüliang County were actually trying to use the trade route to threaten and extort wealth, and it would have been a significant sum.

However, these two had miscalculated and overestimated their own methods! They could never have imagined that even a small place like Anyang harbored hidden talents.

Xia Qingqing was a princess raised in the palace, who had lived a hard life since childhood; she was no ordinary spoiled girl from a wealthy merchant or official family but a phoenix. Xu Ren was undoubtedly remarkable, and Li Xian’s current situation in Anyang was largely due to Xu Ren’s efforts. As for Yan Zean, he was a capable official who had helped the State of Cai rise from a crisis and was certainly no less capable than Li Yulong.

Let alone Beichen Yuqing, Fang Shijing, and Yan Zhengqing, who were also not ordinary people. Anyone recommended by Xu Ren was at least exceptional.

Trying to play tricks in front of these individuals, Shi Chengsong and Zhao Guoshan were simply asking for trouble!

Now, they had failed to obtain wealth and ended up in a dire situation; with several seals stamped, the only two paths left for them were: first, to rebel; second, to obediently meet the Emperor.

Perhaps there was a third option, which was to drag their feet and do nothing. But under the watchful eyes of Xu Ren, Yan Zean, and the others, this third option would likely not be feasible.

Guo Xiaolin and Zhang Pengfei, feeling dazed, accepted the orders and were promptly dragged out of Anyang Prefecture by the guards, thrown directly onto the street.

Once Guo Xiaolin and Zhang Pengfei were thrown out, Xia Qingqing immediately turned to Yan Zhengqing. “Yan Zhengqing, hear my order.”

“Present!” Yan Zhengqing stood up.

“Immediately form a new army, temporarily named the Security Team, with a scale of ten thousand troops. Soldiers can be prioritized from the defected soldiers who have integrated into Anyang. As for the officers, they will be selected from the existing soldiers based on merit.

Tell all the soldiers who performed excellently in the war that they all have the opportunity to become generals; this is just the beginning!”

“Yes.”

Xia Qingqing then looked at Beichen Yuqing, “Mr. Beichen, General Yan has just arrived, so please assist him. Dispatch thirty thousand taels of gold from the treasury for military pay. For related weapons and equipment, you can purchase them directly from Qingyun Valley.”

“Yes.”

Then Xia Qingqing looked at Liu Leigang, “General Liu, expand the gun squad, form an artillery unit, and establish a mechanics team. All personnel should be drawn from reliable veterans.

The other generals should immediately supplement their troops and prepare for total war, in case Luliang County and Zhongshan County become enraged.”

The entire Anyang suddenly became lively, with recruitment points and propaganda everywhere. Recruitment in Anyang was completely different from other places. In other places, enlisting often involved coercive conscription; however, Anyang adopted a voluntary application approach. The official conditions were publicly stated, and qualified individuals could sign up freely.

Generous rewards and the opportunity to stand out were the biggest attractions.

“Fighting on the battlefield allows for faster cultivation! Look, brother, a month ago I was only at the fourth level of Qi Refinement, and now I’m at the seventh level! How about that? Come on! There’s a guarantee in cultivation, good food, good clothing, and good supplies; regular training is also cultivation, with military rewards personally guiding cultivation, and daily classes on cultivation.”

“Brother, just a month ago I was still a struggling little soldier, but now I’m a hundred-man leader! After these few battles, I’ve killed more than a dozen enemies, and the rewards I received amount to 200 taels of gold. How about that? Come on! I can’t speak for other places, but in An Yang, enlisting is definitely a way out.”

……

The recruitment office was overcrowded; not only the ordinary citizens of Anyang but also many who wanted to reach the peak of their cultivation rushed to sign up. In this era where cultivation methods are abundant but resources are extremely scarce, going to the battlefield to fight was indeed a good way to cultivate.

In the distance, Yan Ze’an and Yan Zhengqing quietly watched.

“How is it?” Yan Ze’an asked.

Yan Zhengqing looked for a long time, “They are rushing to join, not to be soldiers, but to cultivate. Such soldiers are formidable, but they also have weaknesses; once they suffer a crushing defeat, they can easily collapse.”

Yan Ze’an shook his head: “What you can think of, the princess and Mr. Xu would certainly not overlook. They already have the best solution, which is—standing out! Soldiers who do not wish to become generals are not good soldiers; this single statement has firmly captured their hearts.

As long as it is executed firmly, all the soldiers will gradually transform into an iron army, a true iron army.

Anyang, a place where hidden dragons and crouching tigers lie!

What astonishes me the most is still the princess. I never expected that a princess who seems gentle and refined on the surface would possess such superb means.

You felt the princess’s methods, didn’t you?”

“I felt it!” Yan Zhengqing said with a bitter smile, “They gave me military authority, but I lack the ability to command this army. For the time being, I’m just a nominal commander, while the real commander is Beichen Yuqing.

Hey, all the officers have been promoted from the veterans, giving the veterans hope, fulfilling Anyang’s promise, and setting an example for the new recruits, while firmly grasping military power in their hands. This princess is remarkable!”

Yan Ze’an also smiled lightly, “Hey, take it slow; after all, we are newcomers and still need some time to earn trust. It’s just that…”

Yan Ze’an’s expression darkened as he gazed to the north, unable to speak.

Seeing this, Yan Zhengqing immediately encouraged him, “Don’t think about it. We’ve done what we should; it’s Cai Guo that has wronged us! If it weren’t for Anyang’s rescue, our Yan family, all 176 of us, would have faced a fate worse than death! Thinking of the hateful and disdainful looks from the common people along the way, it… just breaks my heart!”

While Anyang was busy recruiting soldiers, Guo Xiaolin was the first to rush back to Luliang County. He lingered for a long time at the gate of the city lord’s mansion before finally gritting his teeth and entering the city to deliver orders to the Luliang County magistrate, Zhao Guoshan.

Needless to say, Zhao Guoshan was furious after reading the order, “How are you managing things!”

He had initially intended to seize the opportunity to obtain some gold; instead of getting the gold, he had inadvertently given others an excuse to mobilize troops! And this excuse was handed over by himself! It was a foolish move. But how could the noble and wise magistrate admit to his own mistake? Of course, he had to shift the blame to others. For instance, Guo Xiaolin’s incompetence!

Guo Xiaolin was terrified and trembling all over: “My lord, Her Highness the princess won’t allow us to refute…”

“Get out!” Zhao Guoshan roared, drawing his long sword and slashing wildly, ultimately feeling helpless.

Zhao Guoshan was not the only one; Shicheng County’s magistrate, Shi Chengsong, was the same. After seeing this order, Shi Chengsong became even more enraged, personally drawing his sword and intending to kill Zhang Pengfei; fortunately, the advisor Gu Songfeng intervened, allowing Zhang Pengfei to escape with his life. Even so, Zhang Pengfei was still slashed across the chest, blood flowing profusely, nearly being disemboweled.

In the end, Shi Chengsong pointed at Zhang Pengfei and raged for a long time before gradually calming down; he hastily wrote a letter, saying, “Go, deliver this letter to Luliang County magistrate Zhao Guoshan.”

Zhang Pengfei took the letter and fled the city lord’s mansion, tending to his wound only after leaving the city gate.

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