EWRN - Chapter 18
Chapter 18: Recruiting Soldiers and Horses (II)
To facilitate the Brocade Guard Army's future recruitment, Huo Jinyu devised a method. She planned to hold a series of selection contests to choose a "General," "Vice Generals," "Military Advisor," and other key figures to serve as her deputies in managing the army. At the same time, she could use military ranks and titles to stir the passions of the Brocade Guard Army, letting them know they were destined for great things and that following her, Huo Jinyu, would bring them rewards!
The prizes for the selection contests were so generous that the competitions took more than half a month to conclude.
In total, one "General," Jian Wei, was selected, along with two "Vice Generals," Yan Liang and Wei Long, and a number of captains and lieutenants. A military knowledge examination was also held, and the top scorer was named "Military Advisor."
Huo Jinyu established annual salaries based on rank. The "General" would receive ten thousand taels of silver per year, while the "Vice Generals" and "Military Advisor" would each receive five thousand. "Captains" would get one thousand taels a year, and "Lieutenants" five hundred, with salaries decreasing for lower ranks.
Huo Jinyu decreed that the selection contests would be held once every three years. This meant that if the general didn't work hard, anyone could potentially replace him! For the Brocade Guard Army, who currently had no opportunities for battlefield promotions, the contests were a powerful stimulant. After all, great rewards bring forth brave men.
Of course, behind the generous rewards lay punishments. A mix of reward and punishment, a carrot and a stick, was the only way to secure people's loyalty. Though the rewards were handsome, the army had its discipline. Anyone who violated the rules would not be tolerated. Minor infractions would result in a deduction of salary, while serious ones could lead to being stripped of one's rank and publicly flogged. The most severe punishment was to be beaten to death with a staff in front of everyone.
After the military discipline was established, a couple of ruffians were eager to test the limits. Huo Jinyu kicked them to the ground and gave them a sound thrashing, beating them into submission. Two other scoundrels, who swaggered around the camp causing trouble and harassing their comrades, were flogged to death after refusing to change their ways. This served as a harsh deterrent for the greenhorns of the Brocade Guard Army. The tactic of killing the chicken to scare the monkey was used to brilliant effect.
After morning court, Huo Jinyu would ride swiftly to Baili Mountain and return on horseback at dusk. This continued for over half a month. To stabilize morale, Huo Jinyu set up a fighting ring with herself as the champion, accepting three challenges each day. She defended her title for ten straight days. General Jian Wei, intending to test her true abilities, also stepped onto the platform on the tenth day. Several thousand people gathered to watch. The two of them went back and forth, neither using their full strength nor any weapons. They fought with bare fists, grappling on the stage for a full hour. As a woman, Huo Jinyu's physique was not as robust as Jian Wei's burly frame. As her breathing grew ragged, both began to use their real skills. On the surface, Jian Wei started to suppress Huo Jinyu, his every move sealing her off. Huo Jinyu began to retreat, step by step, toward the edge of the ring. Jian Wei's attacks grew fiercer, all his power concentrated in his fists, which whistled through the air. Huo Jinyu's arms grew numb from blocking. Finally, she was near the edge.
Jian Wei threw a punch, intending to knock Huo Jinyu off the platform in one blow. But Huo Jinyu saw her chance, suddenly ducked down, and kicked hard at Jian Wei's ankle. She then rolled on the ground, escaping his attack range. Jian Wei, who had focused all his attention on his fists, had an unstable stance. Kicked like that by Huo Jinyu, his body swayed instantly, and he was about to pitch forward—right toward the edge of the ring! The crowd held its breath, watching Jian Wei struggle to maintain his balance on the verge.
Huo Jinyu immediately executed a carp flip, leaping to her feet. She kicked Jian Wei in the back, and with a thud, he fell off. Before the crowd could even react, Huo Jinyu had turned defeat into victory.
Jian Wei climbed up, covered in dust. He knew that in a prolonged fight, Huo Jinyu would not have been his match. However, throughout the entire bout, she had perfectly integrated strategy, causing him to lower his guard and ultimately defeating him. The leader of an army didn't necessarily need to be the strongest, but they absolutely had to have a sharp mind and a fearless heart. This leader, regardless of their identity, was someone he, Jian Wei, would follow! Moreover, seeing that Huo Jinyu, despite her youth, possessed the bearing of a great figure—powerful, imposing, and extraordinary—it was clear she was destined for great things. Following her couldn't be wrong!
After the tournament, Huo Jinyu handed over management of the fighting ring to General Jian Wei. She also gave full command over recruiting soldiers and expanding their forces to General Jian and Military Advisor Sun.
Below the rear of Baili Mountain lay an ore vein, which two small stockades had occupied. Huo Jinyu thought to herself that now that Zhai Yao was one of her own, all she lacked was a sufficiently large smeltery. The land at the back of the mountain was perfect. Two small stockades, she mused, were no big deal and could be taken easily. But smelting iron also required manpower. If the people from these two stockades were willing to submit to the Brocade Guard Army, keeping them on to smelt iron would be a good idea.
So, Huo Jinyu dispatched a team to the two nameless little stockades. The two were brother stockades and had long ago seen large numbers of troops passing the foot of the rear mountain to ascend Baili Mountain. This had left them in a state of constant panic, fearing that the forces from the large fortress on Baili Mountain would attack and raze their homes to the ground. Now, hearing the intentions of the troops sent by Huo Jinyu, they nodded and agreed repeatedly. Thus, the two stockades were merged into the Baili Mountain forces. The stockades remained where they were, and a smeltery was built. With all preparations complete, they just needed Zhai Yao to arrive and direct the smelting operations.
Huo Jinyu took her two vice generals back to the imperial city, heading straight for the Emerald Fragrance House to find Zhai Yao.
On the third floor of the Emerald Fragrance House, in a private room, Zhai Yao sat across from Huo Jinyu, drinking. Huo Jinyu said, "Zhai Yao, this Young Master will give you a choice. First, you can choose to leave. This Young Master will escort you back to Yuan'an City, but from then on, you will have to rely on yourself. Second, you can go with my men to the Baili Mountain fortress. You will receive an annual salary of ten thousand taels of silver, and you will have one of the finest smelteries in the Great Yuan Kingdom and a team of men at your disposal. You will only need to forge armor for this Young Master's Brocade Guard Army." Huo Jinyu tapped her fingers on the table, awaiting Zhai Yao's decision.
"Thank you, Young Master, for saving me and for your hospitality these past days. You are my savior. You also know that what I truly want is to smelt iron, and you have even built a smeltery for me. I am endlessly grateful and will pledge my life to follow you! As for Yuan'an City, I will not go back!" Zhai Yao put down his wine cup and knelt on one knee, speaking with solemnity. This time, he thought, he might finally have a chance to bring honor to his ancestors.
A flicker of joy passed through Huo Jinyu's eyes, but her face remained impassive. She called in the two vice generals waiting outside and introduced them. "These are my vice generals, Yan Liang and Wei Long. They will take you to the Baili Mountain fortress shortly. They will handle familiarizing you with the fortress's affairs. Then they will take you to the smeltery at the rear mountain. If you need anything, just tell them. The men at the rear mountain are all under your command. Do not disappoint me."
After all instructions were given, she watched Zhai Yao leave with the vice generals. Only then did a great weight lift from Huo Jinyu's heart.
It was time to return to the palace.
Upon returning to the palace, Huo Jinyu did not go to the Hall of the Slumbering Dragon to rest, nor did she go to the study. Instead, she went to the Third Prince's Xianxi Palace. She hadn't had time to play with the Third Prince for two months and wondered if the ungrateful little brat had forgotten her.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!" The palace maids and eunuchs at the entrance to Xianxi Palace immediately knelt in salute upon seeing Huo Jinyu. She stepped into Xianxi Palace and saw Huo Jincheng lying on a deck chair with his eyes closed, basking in the sun. She wondered how such a little kid could be so lazy, and who he had learned it from.
"Jincheng," Huo Jinyu called out.
The Third Prince opened his eyes with a dazed look. Recognizing Huo Jinyu, he was startled and immediately jumped up, bowing. "Jincheng greets Your Majesty." Every time Huo Jinyu saw this little imp perform such a formal salute, she wanted to laugh.
Suppressing her laughter, Huo Jinyu asked, "It's the middle of the day. Why aren't you studying? Why are you out here sunbathing in the courtyard?"
Huo Jincheng replied, "Because I see that trees grow so tall. They must sunbathe every day to grow tall! So Jincheng wants to grow tall quickly too!"
"Flowers also sunbathe every day. How come they don't grow so tall?" Huo Jinyu teased him.
"Because flowers are beautiful," Huo Jincheng said with a serious little face.
Huo Jinyu: …That makes a lot of sense.
Huo Jinyu pressed on, "Then what about grass? It's neither tall nor beautiful."
Huo Jincheng: …
"Because… because it, it's green," Huo Jincheng finally realized something was amiss. "Imperial Brother, you're teasing me!"
"How could you say that? Imperial Brother missed you," Huo Jinyu said, ruffling the Third Prince's little head.
"Imperial Brother misses Jincheng too? I thought only Jincheng missed Imperial Brother," the Third Prince said, clutching the corner of Huo Jinyu's robe.
"Who told you that?" A shadow of gloom crossed Huo Jinyu's eyes.
"Second Imperial Brother said it. He said that because Imperial Brother sent him to escort Princess Yan, his right hand was crippled. He said Imperial Brother doesn't like us at all and is worried we'll steal the throne. Is that true, Imperial Brother?" Huo Jincheng's small eyes were filled with hope.
"Of course not." Huo Jinyu lifted Huo Jincheng up. "Imperial Brother likes both of you, my two adorable younger brothers. Imperial Brother is also heartbroken about Jinye's injury. I have already ordered the best imperial physicians in the entire Great Yuan Kingdom to treat him. Jinye is not crippled. If he is willing to try, there is no reason he cannot wield a sword with his left hand. Imperial Brother can wield a sword with my left hand too! Look, Imperial Brother even brought you pastries from outside the palace." Huo Jinyu set the Third Prince down and took out a box of crystal cakes she had packed at the Emerald Fragrance House.
The Third Prince's attention was immediately diverted. See, Imperial Brother did like him! He even brought him special treats. Second Imperial Brother's words were clearly unreliable. Second Imperial Brother must have been badmouthing Imperial Brother because he didn't get to eat any of the delicious things Imperial Brother brought! That must be it! What a petty person Second Imperial Brother was!
Having reached this conclusion in his heart, the Third Prince began to eat happily. Huo Jinyu said a few more words, and seeing that Huo Jincheng was no longer concerned, she slowly left Xianxi Palace.
She had been exhausted lately. It was time to go back to the Hall of the Slumbering Dragon and catch up on sleep.
The Second Prince, was it? It was about time to have a little chat with him.
Comments
Post a Comment