Chapter 18: The Commander

If there’s a problem, look for my elder brother.

In the end, Li Xian fell into a trap and was seized by his eldest brother to serve as a conscript—“Brother Xian, you came here to be a Commander; how could you run off to do something else?”

In reality, Li Xian hadn’t forgotten his appointment but rather understood clearly that Wang Chuan had sent him here with no good intentions—if Li Xian had directly expressed his desire to take over military power, it would certainly lead to a falling out with Li Liang.

Military power is the most crucial authority, especially under the current precarious situation of the Great Xia Nation; it’s a sensitive issue among close brothers.

Therefore, under Xu Ren’s guidance, Li Xian resolutely avoided mentioning his role as Commander and devoted himself entirely to developing his factory.

As a result, Li Liang voluntarily relinquished military authority and explicitly stated: at this time when the Great Xia is on the brink of collapse, Li Xian must learn to lead troops and fight; otherwise, he cannot protect the Li family’s foundation. Li Liang’s meaning was clear—despite being brothers, in times of crisis, family unity is paramount.

Thus, Li Xian happily arrived at the military camp. As a Commander, Li Xian needed to oversee all aspects of the army, from politics to military operations, from daily life to salaries, almost like a combination of a general and a caretaker.

“Attention!” Song Xing delivered the command on behalf of Li Xian.

Tens of thousands of soldiers assembled, with all except those necessary for guarding the borders present.

“Wang Jian, Foundation Stage Late, responsible for the first division of ten thousand men, main assault force.”

“Chang Lin, Foundation Stage Late, responsible for the central army of ten thousand men, main defense and maneuver operations.”

“Cheng Jiming, Foundation Stage Late, responsible for the rear division of ten thousand men, main archery, and magic attacks.”

Li Xian looked around, feeling a surge of pride. As the saying goes, once you surpass ten thousand, it’s boundless and limitless; Li Xian truly experienced this feeling. Standing on the platform, he couldn’t see the edge, surrounded by fluttering banners and glistening swords and armor, exuding a chilling aura of slaughter.

A sea breeze blew, stirring the banners and brushing against the blades, seeming to carry a sense of impending doom.

Thirty thousand men, all truly elite and the main defensive force of An Yang City. The army includes many Foundation Stage experts, and nearly all the soldiers are above the fifth layer of Qi Refinement Stage.

Moreover, although this army is nominally the national army, it has effectively become the Li family’s private force.

Li Xian walked past the three generals with his hands behind his back, naturally and with a sense of grandeur, seemingly oblivious to the skeptical looks in their eyes.

Reaching the edge of the platform, Li Xian stopped and casually asked, “Gentlemen, why did you join the army?”

“Hmm?”

This question left not only the three generals but even Xu Ren, the great strategist, a bit puzzled. What exactly was the young master aiming to do?

To be honest, Li Xian’s leap here was quite unexpected!

Li Xian turned his gaze to the three generals, looking at them directly. His gaze was calm but carried a subtle pressure. Despite Li Xian’s relatively short time in this world, he already possessed a certain authority.

Under Li Xian’s gaze, the three generals involuntarily lowered their arrogance a bit.

“Answer me!” Li Xian’s voice rose significantly.

“I… I… Initially, it was just to earn a living,” Wang Jian said, somewhat embarrassed.

“For the cultivation resources provided by the military,” Chang Lin responded more straightforwardly.

“For both reasons,” Cheng Jiming answered succinctly.

Li Xian immediately followed up with, “And now?”

There was no answer.

Li Xian then turned to Xu Ren, “Sir, why did you initially decide to become a strategist?”

Xu Ren, a strategist who relies on his intellect, quickly understood Li Xian’s intention: “Two purposes. First, to prove my own value; second, to do something meaningful for the people of the world. Although these goals may seem distant, I will persist and strive continuously.”

Hearing Xu Ren’s words, the three generals suddenly felt a twinge of shame and lowered their heads.

Li Xian spoke at the right moment, “Gentlemen, I believe that as a true general, you must understand why you fight. Only with this understanding can you solidify your resolve, and only with a firm resolve can you become a renowned general in a hundred battles.

Whether it is for personal reasons, for your family, or even for the people of the world, these could be your pursuits.

Think about it, Generals. There’s no need to tell me; just understand it for yourselves.”

Li Xian then turned around, facing the thirty thousand soldiers below the platform. Channeling his Qi Refinement Stage Eight energy, his voice roared like thunder, “Warriors, do you want to become generals?”

Li Xian’s sudden, fervent shout left everyone stunned once again, unsure of how to respond.

Li Xian raised his hand and continued to shout, “I’ve heard that soldiers who don’t want to become generals are not good soldiers. Now, tell me loudly, do you want to become generals?”

Li Xian’s words brightened many young officers’ eyes. A few weak voices emerged.

“I can’t hear you clearly. Speak louder.”

“Yes.”

“Not enough; it sounds too weak. Louder!”

“Yes!”

“Still not enough!”

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” The thirty thousand soldiers roared, a surge of unyielding will rising into the sky.

Li Xian lowered his hands, the roaring gradually subsiding. At this moment, the soldiers had clearly undergone a transformation, each one seeming like a waking fierce tiger, unstoppable.

Once the noise settled, Li Xian shouted, “If you want it, you must work hard, train diligently, and learn persistently. Only those who are prepared can seize opportunities when they arise.

I am Li Xian, the new Commander. I won’t say any empty words; you’ll see the changes for yourselves. I’ll just say this: if you don’t want to be eliminated, you must work hard. Destiny is in your own hands!”

After delivering the passionate speech, Li Xian ignored Xu Ren’s astonished expression behind him and approached the three generals, “Gentlemen, I have a question. Do you know the mineral resources in this area? Not just iron ore or jade, but also limestone, copper ore, or even any unique places.”

Li Xian’s shift in focus was quite drastic, but the three generals quickly adapted. Chang Lin responded, “Commander, I know. I’ve marked the area for making maps and such. While I’m not sure about the exact minerals, I do know of several special locations. There are a few spots that might have iron and copper ores. The soldiers have also found malachite to play with.”

“Hmm…” Li Xian was momentarily unsure how to proceed. Directly demanding the information was not appropriate and would be disheartening. But should he offer money or other rewards? Li Xian was uncertain.

At this critical moment, the strategist stepped in. Xu Ren immediately spoke, “Young master, I once saw a military map trade where a map of ten li was valued at 5 taels of gold.”

Li Xian was overjoyed, not caring whether Xu Ren had genuinely seen this or not. If money could solve the problem, it was not a problem. “Generals, do you have any related maps? Don’t worry about duplicates; I’ll buy them at the rate of 5 taels of gold per 10 li.”

“Yes, yes,” the three generals were thrilled, as if receiving a windfall from the heavens.

Through this purchase, Li Xian thoroughly won over the three generals—they began to see that he was not a fool, despite the negative rumors.

Maps were soon delivered, and Li Xian paid 600 taels of gold on the spot, resulting in mutual satisfaction.

After obtaining the maps, Li Xian irresponsibly set the soldiers aside and focused on searching for mineral resources. Compared to the current military power, Li Xian valued technological advancement even more.

In his search, Li Xian was pleasantly surprised to find two significant iron ore deposits, one copper mine, one relatively barren silver mine, and several chromium and manganese mines.

The mineral resources in the Celestial Domain seemed exceptionally abundant. In just a county-sized area, he found so many resources. It truly was a land of plenty.

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