Chapter 35: The Art of Training Soldiers
“Isn’t this too valuable?” Yang Zhengshan exclaimed, shocked.
Zhou Lan laughed and said, “I’m from the Ning Country Duke’s Manor!”
Yang Zhengshan’s expression changed slightly. He didn’t know what the Ning Country Duke’s Manor was like in the Da Rong Imperial Dynasty, but he knew the meaning of “country duke.”
The noble titles in the Da Rong Imperial Dynasty were divided into three levels and nine ranks: one being the country duke, two being the marquis, and three being the earl. The noble titles were also divided into hereditary and non-hereditary titles, but the country duke was usually hereditary and the non-hereditary title could only be conferred up to the first-rank marquis.
Zhou Lan’s origins meant that she might be the daughter or granddaughter of the Ning Country Duke. Regardless of whether she was born to the main wife or a concubine, such a background was beyond Yang Zhengshan’s reach.
Zhou Lan didn’t mention her background to elevate her status but to explain that her gift wasn’t too valuable. Yang Zhengshan remained silent for a moment before saying, “Then I, a humble villager, will not refuse!”
A gold mountain had fallen from the sky, and he couldn’t refuse.
The answer was no.
A gentleman loves wealth and will take it in a dignified manner.
Zhou Lan’s gift wasn’t ill-gotten wealth, so why would he refuse?
The previous things Zhou Lan gave were spoils of war, but this time, it was a genuine gift. Seeing Yang Zhengshan accept it, Zhou Lan smiled.
She didn’t think Yang Zhengshan was a greedy person because she had investigated him beforehand, including how he handled the previous spoils of war. She knew that Yang Zhengshan wasn’t greedy from how he handled those spoils.
That’s why she prepared such a generous gift; otherwise, she wouldn’t have brought so many things.
“I have another matter to discuss with you, Brother Yang, besides thanking you for saving my life,” Zhou Lan said.
“Please speak, General Zhou!” Yang Zhengshan put down the gift list and took a sip of tea.
“I want to ask you to return to Chong Shan Guan!” Zhou Lan’s clear eyes looked at Yang Zhengshan, and she spoke sincerely.
Return!
Yang Zhengshan’s thoughts stirred, and he realized that Zhou Lan had fully investigated his background.
He looked up, and their gazes met in mid-air.
“Why?” Yang Zhengshan asked.
“Training soldiers!” Zhou Lan replied softly.
During the previous battle, she discovered that the young men from Yang Family Village were quite exceptional. Although their equipment was poor and their combat power wasn’t strong, they had the foundation to become elite soldiers.
Especially after learning that Yang Zhengshan had only trained them for a month, making them change from farmers to soldiers, she was even more shocked by Yang Zhengshan’s abilities.
Training soldiers wasn’t a simple task. How to turn a group of civilians into elite soldiers required a lot of knowledge.
The reason the Chong Shan Zhen’s Left Vanguard became elite was that the prefecture invested most of its resources into the Five Camps, spending years to train a single elite soldier.
But Yang Zhengshan?
He did it in just a month, training a group of farmers into soldiers.
So, after discovering Yang Zhengshan’s abilities, she wanted to establish a relationship with him, which was why she called him “Big Brother Yang” earlier, making Yang Zhengshan’s skin crawl.
“Training soldiers?” Yang Zhengshan’s eyebrows furrowed.
He didn’t think he was skilled in training soldiers.
His training method was simply a combination of his military experience from his previous life, not some extraordinary technique.
According to his memories, the military training also had corresponding training procedures.
“I think you’re mistaken. The Yang Family Village youngsters have all learned martial arts, although they didn’t become martial artists, they already had martial skills,” Yang Zhengshan said.
“No, martial skills aren’t the most important. I value their discipline! They’re as organized as one, advancing and retreating in unison, with clear commands,” Zhou Lan replied softly.
Yang Zhengshan was enlightened.
Indeed, when it came to discipline, the military from his previous life was much stronger than the current soldiers.
In fact, the military training projects were all about discipline, such as standing at attention, queuing, and internal affairs, all designed to improve the team’s discipline.
“I can’t guarantee I can train an elite army!” Yang Zhengshan said.
He didn’t mind going to Chong Shan Guan, as he had already wanted to leave Yang Family Village.
Moreover, if he went to Chong Shan Guan, they would at least give him an official position.
“As long as you’re willing to go, that’s enough!” Zhou Lan’s eyes lit up with excitement.
Actually, Yang Zhengshan was mistaken about one thing – the military in his memories was a 20-year military, and the current military was no longer as powerful as it once was.
The Left Vanguard was elite, but that was only a small part of the Chong Shan Zhen’s military.
Chong Shan Zhen had 100,000 soldiers, while the Left Vanguard only had around 15,000 soldiers.
Yang Zhengshan thought that all the soldiers in the military were like the Left Vanguard, which was a huge mistake.
“Previously, you also contributed to the war effort, and you were once a soldier in Chong Shan Guan, so it’s easy to let you return,” Zhou Lan said.
“However, you’ve been away from Chong Shan Guan for 20 years, and now you’re just a commoner. Returning to Chong Shan Guan won’t get you a high position. At most, I can try to get you the position of a Garrison Commander, handling the affairs of a single fort.”
Zhou Lan said apologetically.
Although she was from the Ning Country Duke’s Manor, in Chong Shan Guan, she was only a touring general in the Left Vanguard, and above her were many officials, including the Deputy Commander, Commander, and Prefect, all with lower birth and status.
Moreover, she was a woman in a military world, where men held more power, and even with her noble background, there were many limitations.
“But don’t worry, I’ll let you be the Garrison Commander, and you can train the soldiers within the fort. If you can train them into an elite army, I’ll definitely recommend you for a reward!” Zhou Lan guaranteed, fearing Yang Zhengshan would be dissatisfied with the position.
In fact, she had overestimated Yang Zhengshan, thinking the position of Garrison Commander was low, but in Yang Zhengshan’s eyes, it was already a high position.
The Garrison Commander was a sixth-rank official, and previously, Yang Zhengshan couldn’t even become a ninth-rank Magistrate. What qualifications did he have to refuse a sixth-rank position?
Of course, military officials had some virtual ranks, and the Garrison Commander was higher than the seventh-rank County Magistrate, but in terms of power, the Garrison Commander was far inferior to the County Magistrate.
Not to mention the County Magistrate, even a ninth-rank Patrol Officer had more power and benefits than the Garrison Commander.
The Garrison Commander was, after all, just an official managing a single fort, with only a hundred or so soldiers under their command.
Compared to that, the Patrol Officer had dozens or even hundreds of soldiers under their command, with many more powers and benefits.
But unfortunately, Yang Zhengshan didn’t have the qualifications to choose. He had to take what was given, and it was better than staying in Yang Family Village.
“I’m just a commoner, and it’s already an honor to be valued by the General!” Yang Zhengshan flattered.
Zhou Lan saw that he wasn’t dissatisfied and smiled, saying, “Good, when can you take office in Chong Shan Guan, Brother Yang?”
Yang Zhengshan thought for a moment and said, “I still have many things to handle at home, and it might take half a month.”
He had to settle his family matters before going to Chong Shan Guan.
It was currently the spring plowing season, and he had just recruited four tenant farmers. He needed to arrange all these carefully.
Moreover, he couldn’t go to Chong Shan Guan alone.
(End of Chapter)
Previous Chapter | TOC | Next Chapter