Finest Servant

Chapter 510 The Art of Forging Soldiers

It was rather peculiar. Ever since they had left the capital, an unrelenting spring rain had persisted, turning the roads into a muddy mess. The late spring chill, accompanied by cold winds and rain, made it feel as though they were back in the depths of winter. Marching in such weather was disheartening, not just for the common soldiers but also for the battle-hardened veterans. It seemed like an ominous sign sent by the heavens.

Lin Wanrong had led troops in Shandong, but that had been to suppress bandits. Back then, they had been well-supplied and vastly outnumbered the enemy, fighting with both psychological and numerical superiority. But the situation now was entirely different—they were up against the Turks, who were nothing like the outclassed opponents they had previously faced. One look at the solemn expression on General Li Tai's face was enough to understand the gravity of the situation.

However, General Lin had a steady hand and entrusted the entire training program to Hu Bugui and Du Xiuyuan, who were both well-versed in his methods. To sum it up, General Lin's approach involved a ruthless system of elimination combined with motivational rewards that stirred the soldiers' passions. Even the weakest of soldiers could be transformed into a fervent fighter under their guidance. This strategy had proven effective during their time in Shandong, so there was little cause for concern.

Among the Right Wing Camp, General Lin was the most laid-back. While his subordinates were busy training troops, he roamed the camp leisurely with his senior aides. His favorite activity was to engage in casual conversations with ordinary soldiers. Come mealtime, he'd join them, competing to grab the best portions. He was approachable, down-to-earth, and could easily mingle with everyone, from high-ranking officers to the lowest kitchen helpers. The camp was always lively.

Sometimes, on a whim, General Lin would gather everyone to sing folk songs, a mix of tunes from both north and south. These singing sessions left everyone both cheerful and sentimental.

Most unique of all was General Lin's invention—the "Reading Family Letters" competition. The Right Wing Camp consisted of fifty to sixty thousand soldiers, and each day brought countless letters from home. General Lin would assemble a group and encourage soldiers to read these letters aloud before their comrades. These were the moments when the troops were happiest.

Over time, these activities became routine. General Lin’s Right Wing Camp trained the hardest but laughed the loudest, creating a vibrant atmosphere in stark contrast to the unending spring rain.

After several days of marching north, the army changed course, moving from east to west along the southern foothills of the Great Wall. Gradually, the weather began to dry up.

"General, it's time for the army's central meeting. Will you be attending today, or shall I go in your stead?" Du Xiuyuan reported with a smile, only to find his superior scribbling on a piece of paper with an odd-looking pen.

Lin Wanrong put down his pen with finality before yawning lazily. "These daily meetings are always the same, aren’t they? A roll call for each camp, reports on training details. Then listening to General Li or Miss Xu give a speech. Ah, it's torture for a disabled man like me. It’s a journey of several miles, back and forth, you know."

The army continued its steady advance, the atmosphere growing increasingly tense. After the briefing from Li Tai, Xu Zhiqing convened daily military councils to discuss the enemy situation and marching routes, making it a routine practice. General Lin's right-wing army was positioned twenty miles away from Li Tai's command post. The back-and-forth journey took at least an hour, a taxing ordeal for General Lin, who pretended to be lame. Consequently, Du Xiuyuan had been his representative in these briefings for some time.

"People with disabilities, huh? Your injury healed up just fine. Just yesterday, you rode around on your prized horse, and even Hu Bugui couldn't catch up with you. Do you think we don't know?" Gao Qiu, who spent much of his time around General Lin, chuckled at the man's laziness.

Du Xiuyuan nodded, "Alright, I'll go then. But what should I tell Miss Xu if she asks again today? You haven't reported to the command post for several days, and she seemed rather annoyed last time."

"She gets annoyed quite often; it's not the first time." General Lin shook his head, putting on a troubled expression. "It's not that I don't want to go, but my injury hampers me. Every day I lead the troops through the pain of a 'broken leg,' so Miss Xu should be understanding of us 'disabled' people. I'll take a couple more days to rest and then report to her in person."

Du Xiuyuan and the others suspected something odd between him and Xu Zhiqing. Seeing him continue to make excuses only confirmed their suspicions. Du Xiuyuan bowed and laughed, "Understood, understood. If General Lin intends to personally report to Advisor Xu but is hindered by physical constraints, I'm sure Miss Xu will understand. I'll go and inform her now."

"Exactly, that's precisely the situation," Lin Wanrong chuckled, praising Du Xiuyuan's intelligence. Once Du Xiuyuan had ridden off, Lin Wanrong took the piece of paper in his hand and passed it to Hu Bugui, "Brother Hu, you're an expert on horses and military drills. What do you think of this idea? Is it feasible?"

Hu Bugui took the paper and his expression immediately changed, "General Lin, who came up with this idea?!"

Lin Wanrong waved his hand dismissively, "Never mind who thought of it. Just tell me if it's feasible or not."

Hu Bugui pondered for a moment before cautiously responding, "If soldiers are required to carry five-pound sandbags on their legs while marching seventy to eighty miles per day, in addition to training during camp, the intensity is too great. I fear the men won't be able to endure it."

"And what about you, Brother Hu? If you carried these sandbags while marching and training, would it be a problem?" Lin Wanrong asked sternly.

Hu Bugui burst into confident laughter, shaking his head, "What's the big deal? Years ago, I chased down a horse with my own two feet. Five pounds is nothing. Not just me, I'm confident that every brother in the battalion I brought from Shandong can handle this."

"That settles it then," Lin Wanrong snorted, "We're all human; there's no reason one should be inferior to another. Issue the orders, starting tonight—not tomorrow—everyone in my right-wing army, from officers to soldiers, whether from the cavalry, infantry, or artillery units, whether marching, eating, drinking, relieving themselves, or sleeping, must wear five-pound sandbags. Without my orders, nobody is allowed to remove them. Violators will be subject to military law!"

"Understood!" Hu Bugui barked out and immediately summoned the scribe to disseminate the announcement through the night.

"There's another matter," Lin Wanrong thought for a moment, stopping Hu Bugui who was about to step out of the tent. "Bind sandbags around the legs of each warhorse, whether they are used for carrying goods or riders."

"With such weight, the warhorses will increase in strength, but their lifespan will probably shorten by half a year."

"Better the horses live half a year less than men losing their entire lives," Lin Wanrong said with a bitter smile, noticing the stunned looks from Hu Bugui and Gao Qiu. "Brother Hu, Brother Gao, do you think I'm being cruel?"

Gao Qiu spoke earnestly, "General Lin, you've never made a mistake; we trust you."

"Actually, the idea occurred to me when I was riding that fine steed yesterday," Lin Wanrong sighed. "Whether we admit it or not, the Turks' horses are far superior to ours. Just on cavalry strength alone, we're at a disadvantage. So we must resort to unconventional methods. Even if it means sacrificing the horses."

Hu Bugui, a cavalryman by training with a great love for horses, could only sigh in silence.

Lin Wanrong pulled two sandbags from under his pillow and tied them tightly around his legs. "Brother Hu, go and gather the men; I'll speak with them."

By dinner time, the air was thick with the aroma of food as the cook pots were set up. The usually bustling camp was unusually quiet tonight.

When Lin Wanrong stepped out of his tent, he saw the setting sun casting a beautiful glow on the horizon, illuminating the young faces of tens of thousands of soldiers. They had finally seen the sun, yet it was setting—was their expedition to the north truly a doomed cause? Shaking off such thoughts, he ascended a makeshift wooden platform. Surveying the sea of warriors, he began to speak.

"Brothers," Lin Wanrong's voice echoed through the valleys, resonant and clear, "you've all received the order. Yes, it came from me. Starting now, regardless of your rank or position—whether cavalry, infantry, or archers—each man is to bind five pounds to each leg. Without my command, no one is to remove them. Defy this and you will be executed."

The word 'executed' reverberated through the valley, striking a chord in the hearts of the soldiers. The atmosphere became thick with tension.

"In truth, I've been stimulated," Lin Wanrong sighed heavily, and the crowd fell silent. "During our march, memories of farewells in the capital keep flashing before my eyes. I see our aging mothers, tear-streaked wives, and helpless children. I believe every one of you will remember such scenes for a lifetime."

"Whenever any of us brothers read letters from home, we all feel the same surge of emotion. Our loved ones wish for the simplest things. They don't seek wealth or luxury, only that we return safely. I hope every one of you will remember this: in the eyes of your family, you are not a mere wave or a blade of grass. What are you then? You are the majestic Helan Mountain, sheltering from wind and rain, as noble as the sky itself, unyielding forever!"

Tens of thousands of soldiers stood in formation, yet it was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. Countless young faces flushed red; fists clenched as if about to explode; and tears in eyes were surreptitiously wiped away.

Lin Wanrong took a deep breath, and his voice calmed again. "Please look at my legs. These are two sandbags, each weighing five pounds. It's something any of you can easily do. Xu Zhen, step forward—break the wooden stake."

"Here!" Xu Zhen, along with a dozen other robust soldiers, stepped out of the ranks. Their legs were already bound with heavy sandbags, each weighing far more than ten pounds.

"Strike!" At the shout, the group simultaneously lashed out at the vertical wooden stakes before them. With a loud crack, the sturdy stakes were broken into two pieces. Xu Zhen and his men appeared relaxed, as if they had barely exerted themselves.

"As you can see," Lin Wanrong shouted, "with hard work, you can also achieve this level of skill. All the hardships today are for the joyful reunions with our loved ones tomorrow. Brothers, what are you waiting for?"

He was indeed a born orator. His impassioned speech was both logical and emotionally stirring. Even Gao Qiu was convinced, let alone the soldiers who revered General Lin. Tens of thousands of troops eagerly began strapping on the sandbags, making the scene incredibly lively.

During the subsequent drills, the soldiers, weighed down by sandbags, naturally moved less agilely than usual, but this was a necessary discomfort. Lin Wanrong lowered his voice and asked Gao Qiu, "Brother Gao, how long will it take for this training to show results?"

Gao Qiu was an extraordinary martial artist, and in his eyes, the sandbags were child's play. "We'll see improvements every day. The legs will probably swell and ache for the first few days, but these are the elite soldiers of our great nation, strong and robust. I estimate that within ten days, they'll be walking as usual. Within a month at most, we'll see tangible results."

"A month? I hope that will be soon enough," Lin Wanrong said with a bitter smile. It was a bit late to think of this method, but it was better than not having thought of it at all.

"Huh, isn't that Du Xiuyuan?" A lone rider galloped toward them from a distance. Gao Qiu had keen eyes and recognized him as Du Xiuyuan, who had gone to the main camp on behalf of General Lin. He expressed his confusion, "Did today's meeting end so soon?"

Lin Wanrong was also puzzled. Had Miss Xu finished her briefing so early? Du Xiuyuan arrived, sweat still on his face. Lin Wanrong laughed and asked, "Brother Du, has the meeting ended? What did Advisor Xu say?"

Du Xiuyuan quickly shook his head, "No, when I arrived at the camp, I didn't even see a trace of Advisor Xu. I asked General Zuo Qiu of the Left Wing Army, and he said that Advisor Xu is inspecting the camp today."

"Inspecting the camp?" Lin Wanrong blinked his eyes and suddenly exclaimed, "Oh no, she must be coming to catch me out, and I might even face military discipline or corporal punishment. Brother Du, hold the fort here; I have something to attend to. Gao Qiu, prepare me the fastest Blood Sweat horse; I need to step out for a moment—"

"Shameless!" A delicate voice, tinged with a touch of anger, rang in his ears, making the hairs on Lin Wanrong's skin stand on end.

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