Chapter 4 The Inspection

As expected, Governor Ye, at Lu Dan's insistence, inspected the Xueqi Army (Blood Kirin Army) new recruit camp and the Jin Army (Imperial Guard) division amidst his busy schedule. Familiar faces were in charge of both forces.

The commander of the Xueqi Army's new recruit camp was Zou Shuangwen, the son of Zou Ying, the city guard of Danyang. Zou Ying was in charge of the most complex army in the country. According to the Dongping military system, Danyang's city defense army comprised soldiers from all over the country, with annual rotations. Although such an army would not pose a threat to Danyang or the royal family due to the dominance of any single faction, its combat effectiveness was not particularly reassuring. Zou Ying's ability to command the Danyang city defense army for as long as ten years, consistently maintaining its combat effectiveness at a relatively high level, demonstrated his extraordinary experience and ability in command, training, and coordinating diverse opinions. Growing up in such a family, Zou Shuangwen had admirable insights into how to transform the Xueqi Army's new recruit camp, filled with young men from aristocratic families and diverse backgrounds, into an army that met the Xueqi Army's requirements.

The commander of the Jin Army division was Zhuo Xianchen, a member of the Zhuo family. Zhuo Xianchen was a peculiar fellow whose mind contained little beyond loyalty to the royal family. When managing his three thousand Jin Army soldiers, he demanded strict adherence to rules. This Jin Army division displayed exceptional and consistent performance in every aspect mentioned in the Jin Army training regulations. Their military appearance and discipline were almost impeccable. However, this army lacked a certain spark. No one doubted that Zhuo Xianchen, leading such an army, would be the most reliable rearguard force in a crisis. However, entrusting such an army—even if they, like the three thousand Xueqi Army recruits, were cavalry—with technical tasks like reconnaissance, scouting, or raids would be unsettling.

To these young men who had lived in Danyang for years, the restaurants in Suifeng Town seemed insufficient, lacking their favorite foods. Therefore, the banquet for senior officers and the governor after the inspection was held in the military camp. Many Xueqi Army officers were from aristocratic families, and their respective camps had plenty of smuggled goods. Pooling them together resulted in a rather lavish banquet.

Throughout the day's inspection, both Zhuo Xianchen and Zou Shuangwen had moments of enlightenment, feeling that the other's army had much to learn. While preparing for the evening banquet, the two privately chatted and exchanged their views on army training.

Drinking and eating meat around a large bonfire, occasionally with officers adding local specialties to the table, created an atmosphere that was more relaxed than in a restaurant.

"General Zhuo, what are your thoughts after observing for a day?" Ye Tao asked.

Zhuo Xianchen stood up straight and said earnestly, "This humble officer has learned much from the Xueqi Army. The Xueqi Army deserves its reputation as the strongest army in Dongping. Many small details seem insignificant but are extremely crucial." Zhuo Xianchen mentioned the Xueqi Army's famous rule of not requiring salutes when ordered to rest unless otherwise commanded. With his years of experience in the Jin Army, he naturally understood the impact of this balance between strictness and leniency on the soldiers' rapid recovery of energy. However, he also mentioned that the Jin Army's hierarchy was much stricter than that of other armies, and this rule could only be implemented during wartime. Furthermore, the Xueqi Army had a wide variety of individual and group equipment, far more than the Jin Army. Jin Army cavalrymen were allowed to carry their favorite individual melee weapons during combat, but the Xueqi Army had integrated various opinions and developed a cavalry sword currently exclusive to the Xueqi Army. Zhuo Xianchen quickly recognized the value of this somewhat strange-looking cavalry sword with its many absolute ergonomic designs. What Zhuo Xianchen admired even more was the Xueqi Army's democratic process of briefing-discussion-decision-making and the resolute transition to unwavering and immediate execution of orders.

Zhuo Xianchen's praise made Zou Shuangwen a little embarrassed. All of the Xueqi Army's systems were the result of the collective efforts of the entire army. Although the Xueqi Army had idol-like and powerful military commanders like Dai Yun and Chi Lei, and a large number of backbone officers with their own characteristics, everyone had contributed to the formation of the Xueqi Army's numerous systems. The thinking methods of identifying problems, discussing problems, analyzing problems, and solving problems had become everyone's habit.

Zou Shuangwen smiled embarrassedly and said, "I'm ashamed, I'm ashamed. Your Excellency is too kind. The Xueqi Army still has many shortcomings compared to the Jin Army. We are far from being able to match the imposing power of General Zhuo's three thousand soldiers moving in perfect unison."

During today's inspection, the Jin Army's most impressive aspect was the uniformity of their tactical movements. One of the drills involved drawing bows five times in succession. With Zhuo Xianchen's loud command, the sound of bowstrings vibrating throughout the training ground was so consistent that everyone found it unbelievable.

"Since you have both seen each other's strengths, that's good. Different armies have different styles, different strengths, and different weaknesses. It's really hard to say who is stronger and who is weaker. Everyone says that the Xueqi Army is the strongest army in Dongping, and that's because the Xueqi Army has a proven track record of operating behind enemy lines and has been developing its strengths. When it comes to finding weaknesses and delivering a fatal blow to the enemy, perhaps few armies in all of Dongping, or even the world, can compare with the Xueqi Army. However, the Xueqi Army, at least for now, is not necessarily capable of handling large-scale decisive battles, nor is it necessarily able to withstand prolonged and arduous warfare. The Xueqi Army excels at attacking, but in terms of resilience and endurance, it may not be comparable to the Jin Army. It's true that others say the Xueqi Army is the strongest army, but the Xueqi Army can't take it too seriously, and neither can the Jin Army. Just to give you one example, the Xueqi Army's expenses, averaged per soldier, are more than three times that of the Jin Army. If the Xueqi Army didn't have some advantages over the Jin Army, then the person in charge of the Xueqi Army should be dragged out and beheaded." Ye Tao said seriously, "You have seen each other's strengths because the other party has done what you have not done, or…" Ye Tao said very tactfully, "…some things that you have not done temporarily. Do you have the confidence to learn from each other's strengths and make up for each other's weaknesses, and do what your respective colleagues have not been able to do?"

Zhuo Xianchen and Zou Shuangwen stood up at the same time and responded with a heroic posture, "We do!"

Ye Tao raised his eyebrows and said, "Sit down, sit down… I'm not giving you an order, nor am I making you sign a military pledge. I am first and foremost your peer… okay, I'm a few years younger than both of you… and secondly, I'm your superior."

Lu Dan said in a timely manner, "Then starting tomorrow, the competition between your two armies will begin. In addition to assessing each item according to the Ministry of War's drill regulations, you two have the right to propose competition items and challenge each other in your respective areas of expertise. The other party can only decide when to accept the challenge, either admit defeat or give themselves time to strengthen their training in a certain area. All competition items between the two armies will be scored and accumulated, with one item every three days and a monthly summary of the total score. There will be rewards for winning, and for losing, hehe, washing clothes for the winning side for a day… especially socks, they must be washed clean. What do you think?"

Although Zhuo Xianchen was sometimes a bit dull due to his fortitude, he was still very competitive. As for Zou Shuangwen, he had fallen in love with this atmosphere of competition permeating every detail from the day he joined the Xueqi Army and was even more excited. The two looked at each other and readily replied, "Okay."

Ye Tao raised his glass to the two and said, "Then it's settled. Starting tomorrow, your competition will officially begin. The competition will be arbitrated by Military Supervisor Lu. If you think Military Supervisor Lu is unfair in any way, feel free to come to me. Don't feel like you're offending your superior, and don't feel embarrassed. Changing referees is normal in a competition. General Zhuo, didn't you beat up the referee in the palace polo match back then? Bring that spirit. General Zou, you are a Xueqi Army general, so you must understand the rules for arbitration complaints in any competition. I won't say much more."

Lu Dan didn't feel any displeasure because of such topics. His understanding of the army was not as deep as that of Zhuo Xianchen and Zou Shuangwen. There would definitely be shortcomings in the arbitration standards for some items and in the allocation of score weights for some items. Ye Tao had already discussed this with him, and he himself felt that communicating and even arguing with two generals with different inclinations would definitely allow his military ability to improve significantly in a short period of time. Every time there was such a dispute, it meant that he was lacking in some aspect of knowledge and ability. For Lu Dan, who had set his future goals relatively high, this kind of dispute was something he couldn't ask for more, and it wouldn't make him feel offended.

"This military supervisor of mine was promoted from chief steward to military supervisor because the governor-general favored his relatives. That's what you call 'when a man achieves the Dao, all his relations ascend to heaven.' There are many things I still don't understand. The two generals should give me more guidance. Come, I'll toast everyone." Lu Dan said heartily.

"Don't let your uncle hear you say that, or he'll beat you to death." Zhuo Xianchen and the Lu family were quite familiar, and he laughed loudly. Lu Dan's words completely erased his image as the son of an official.

Suddenly, Zhang Xunyong, the commander of the five thousand city defense troops who hadn't said much all day, interjected, "The two generals are exceptionally bold, and this humble officer deeply admires them. I wonder if my men can also participate in such a competition."

Zhang Xunyong was over fifty years old and was one of the few veterans in Dongping who had risen from the ranks of a soldier to the position of general step by step. If he didn't have the opportunity to encounter battles and opportunities to earn merit, he, who had just been promoted to the position of commander of these five thousand city defense troops, might retire from such a position in a few years. However, Zhang Xunyong had a strong and resilient demeanor. Although he knew that the five thousand soldiers under his command came from three different regions, had limited coordination with each other, and had a training intensity and quality far inferior to the Jin Army and the Xueqi Army, he was unwilling to be inferior to others and even more unwilling for the five thousand people under his command to be regarded as second-rate troops and be marginalized by the governor-general.

Ye Tao understood Zhang Xunyong's meaning. When he looked at Lu Dan, it happened that Lu Dan also sent him an inquiring look. Ye Tao immediately decided, "It's best if General Zhang has such an idea. Do you need to undergo a period of training before participating in the competition?"

Zhang Xunyong laughed heartily and said, "No need, letting them wash socks will give them motivation. Besides, if we really go to the battlefield, can we tell the enemy that our troops are not well-trained, so let us go back and practice first? There's no such reason at all. If we're going to compete, we have to compete from the beginning. This old man believes that he can train another elite army for Your Excellency."

Ye Tao raised the wine glass in his hand and said sincerely, "Thank you, General. Please drink this cup to the fullest."

After drinking it all in one gulp, Ye Tao said calmly, "Military Supervisor Lu's burden is heavier now. The work of arbitrating three parties is not easy. However, no matter what the outcome, I believe that soon, we, this Grand Canal Governor-General's Office, the one that no one expects us to fight in, will have three strong armies. This is truly a blessing for Dongping. With you generals, I can implement the Grand Canal affairs as soon as possible. I am really an amateur when it comes to military matters, so I'll leave it to you. There are really too many messy, strange things in this Grand Canal Governor-General's Office. Hehe, the Governor-General, there are really always things to supervise, and there always has to be someone to supervise… the word 'Governor-General' is really too appropriate."

Ye Tao's humble self-mockery aroused another burst of laughter. Perhaps Ye Tao's governor-general was not dignified enough, but he also won everyone's respect.

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Today's fourth update actually climbed to fifth place. You guys are too strong! I'll release more free words to thank everyone for their support.