Chapter 25 Reorganizing and Praying for Life
"Assemble! Form ranks, whole banner!"
Clad in imposing iron armor, the bold camp banner general Zhou Fugui, astride his horse, sat upright, hand on his saber, and roared the order.
Behind Zhou Fugui, a military banner flapped criscent in the wind.
After Zhou Fugui became a Yan army banner general, the army's Quartermaster Department, or the supply officer, issued him a set of iron armor. Zhou Fugui finally shed the ornamental yet useless leather armor.
The protective capability of iron armor far surpassed that of leather armor. Leather and beast hide armor were almost akin to cloth, offering virtually no protection.
When the Yan army's Quartermaster Department instructed Zhou Fugui to collect his iron armor, Zhou Fugui wheedled and cajoled, and with generous bribes, managed to procure several extra sets of iron breastplates, leather armor, and beast hide armor.
While Zhou Fugui himself possessed adequately protective iron armor, he couldn't let his brothers be exposed to arrows and stones. Otherwise, with Zhou Fugui as the sole survivor, it wouldn't look good.
However, Zhou Fugui's current capability and authority were limited. If the opportunity arose in the future, Zhou Fugui would definitely ensure his brothers were all clad in iron armor, which would greatly enhance their survival rate on the battlefield.
The iron armor on Zhou Fugui's body was not top-tier armor within the Yan army. Many parts were already rusted from rain exposure, thus losing much of their luster.
Each banner of the Yan army had its own insignia. Zhou Fugui's banner bore the insignia of a white tiger.
The white tiger on the banner was depicted with bared fangs and claws, its cavernous mouth wide open, revealing sharp teeth, giving an exceptionally majestic appearance.
"Roar! Roar! Roar!"
Within the Yan army camp, banner general Zhou Fugui ordered his subordinates to form ranks. One hundred and seventy-eight banner soldiers, under the command of five squad leaders, holding various weapons, let out guttural roars and formed five lines.
Everyone had completed their formation, but the ranks were formed crookedly and messily.
A Yan army banner typically consisted of one hundred to two hundred men, and could be expanded to several hundred under special circumstances, such as during intense conflict.
"Guard commanders Dian Meng, Xu Mancang, Suo Dacheng, Pan Guai, Feng Cheng, where are you?" After the banner soldiers had formed ranks, Zhou Fugui, mounted on a sturdy horse, called out loudly.
"Your subordinate is here!"
The squad leaders Dian Meng, Xu Mancang, Suo Dacheng, Pan Guai, and Feng Cheng stepped forward in unison and bowed to receive the order.
The appointment of Yan army squad leaders was generally decided by the banner lord. Of course, if a superior officer promoted someone above the banner lord's level, the banner lord had to comply. Just as Zhou Fugui was promoted to squad leader and then banner general, his position as banner general was personally ordered by Murong Bole, the commander of the Yan army's right flank army. Naturally, he had to obey.
Consequently, this made Zhou Fugui, the banner general, exceptionally unique, thus arousing jealousy from his banner. Camp general Albugu was particularly resentful, yet utterly powerless and dared not voice any dissent.
Rumors even began to circulate within the Yan army that Murong Bole had taken a liking to the fair-skinned Zhou Fugui and intended to take him as his son-in-law.
Zhou Fugui appointed Dian Meng, Xu Mancang, Suo Dacheng, Pan Guai, and Feng Cheng as guard commanders, Li Qing as the banner scribe and recorder, and Yi Jisheng, Wei Xiazi, and others to be responsible for the banner's weapons, armor, and medical supplies.
"Report absent!" Zhou Fugui ordered concisely.
"None absent!" Dian Meng replied loudly.
"None absent!" Suo Dacheng replied loudly.
"None absent!" Pan Guai replied loudly.
"None absent!" Feng Cheng replied loudly.
"Fu... Banner Lord..." Four squads had already arrived, only Xu Mancang stammered, "That fellow Li Hu... that fellow... took three or two others and left. That brute, when I meet this bunch of birds again, I'll give him a couple of punches!"
"Alright, stop talking. If the sky wants to rain, and a mother wants to marry, let it be," Li Hu had always been at odds with Zhou Fugui, so Zhou Fugui didn't insist.
"Are my brothers afraid of death?" Zhou Fugui then asked the banner soldiers loudly.
"We are afraid, everyone is afraid of death!"
"Yes, we are scared to death!"
"Only immortals aren't afraid of death."
"Hmph, cowardly!"
"If you aren't cowardly, then go and die."
"..."
Everyone was chattering amongst themselves, a cacophony of voices.
Zhou Fugui then signaled for everyone to quiet down, but even with waves of his hand and shouts, the crowd remained chaotic and noisy. It wasn't until the military order flag was raised and ten flag executioners appeared before them that things gradually calmed down.
"They are all country folk, Fugui, look at this..." Banner scribe and recorder Li Qing said to a furious Zhou Fugui with a face full of apology.
The banner scribe was the one in charge of military law within the banner.
Zhou Fugui waved his hand, indicating that he didn't mind.
Zhou Fugui knew very well that the hundred or so men under his command were all country folk, and mostly from his hometown. Just a few months ago, they were ordinary villagers. Now, as soldiers, they were naturally a mob.
"I am also afraid of death!" Zhou Fugui continued loudly after everyone had quieted down. "To say one is not afraid of death is utter lies and empty talk. As far as I can estimate, a great battle is imminent, and survival is uncertain. If I were to die before marrying a wife, having children, or even experiencing the fragrance of a woman, wouldn't that be a great loss?"
"Hahahaha!"
Everyone burst into laughter at this.
You haven't experienced the fragrance of a woman? Xiao Qing is always by your side, day in and day out. You say you haven't? It's probably because you've tried everything, right? Xu Mancang, Pan Guai, and others who were closest to Zhou Fugui thought to themselves with disdain.
Xiao Qing, who was huddled beside Yi Jisheng in a fur hat and robe, suddenly recalled Zhou Fugui's expression that day. She suddenly understood, felt a wave of shyness, and pulled her fur cap down low, almost covering her little face.
Xiao Qing also felt a hint of sweetness.
"Therefore!" Zhou Fugui paced slowly before everyone, sword across his horse, saying as he walked, "How to survive, how to return to our homeland, reunite with our families, marry and have children, and carry on the lineage, this is our top priority!"
Everyone nodded in agreement, feeling that Zhou Fugui was different from other banner lords.
Even if other banner lords wanted to lead their subordinates to survive, their slogans were loud: for the Great Yan, to repay the Emperor's grace, and so on.
"But how can we survive?" Zhou Fugui then asked loudly, then pointed at everyone with his whip and said, "Look at you all, are you dreaming of survival? A mob, rotten and withered, unable to withstand a single blow. How can you survive on the battlefield? You will die without a burial place! Only when brothers are united can we break gold, only when brothers are united can we be invincible!"
Everyone felt a sense of realization in their hearts. Unknowingly, they all quietly watched Zhou Fugui, listening intently and with awe.
"White Tiger Banner, form ranks!"
Zhou Fugui suddenly roared, his voice much louder.
"Quick, quick, stand properly!"
"You walking dead, stand straight, or face military law!"
"Roar! Roar! Roar!"
Under Zhou Fugui's roar, the fluttering of the order flag, and the shouts of the squad leaders, everyone reformed their ranks. At this moment, those with crooked spines straightened them, and those who were hunched arched their backs.
The formation looked somewhat presentable, barely passable.
"A country has its laws, a family has its rules, and an army has its discipline!" Zhou Fugui continued loudly. "What is military discipline? It is that if there are matters of arms and armor, the troops are equipped, formed into units, assigned their officers, and governed by military law! What is the purpose of this? It is for victory! Brothers, in the struggle of battle, it is either you die or I die. Only by defeating the enemy can you survive, and continue to exist in this world. It is like two wild beasts meeting on a narrow path; either it eats you, or you eat it. Do you brothers wish to be the lambs to be eaten, or the tigers that eat the lambs?"
Zhou Fugui had figured it out. What were the distinctions between Han and Hu, what were these "Han bandits," what were these notions of benevolence and righteousness? At this moment, only survival was the most realistic goal. Leading his fellow villagers to survive and return to their hometown was what he should do. Moreover, working together, their chances of survival were much greater than if they were alone.
"Tigers! Tigers! Tigers!"
Everyone waved their weapons and roared.
"Li Qing, read out the banner's military orders." Zhou Fugui then instructed.
Li Qing stepped forward and loudly announced the White Tiger Banner's military laws.
"Those who desert in the face of the enemy shall be beheaded!"
"Those who abandon their weapons in the face of the enemy shall be beheaded!"
"Those who kill civilians and claim merit shall be beheaded!"
"Those who disobey orders shall be beheaded!"
"..."
In total, there were sixty-four beheadings and other disciplinary regulations, mainly covering troop movements, combat orders, and other aspects. There were also regulations concerning deserters, such as if one person retreated during battle, they would be beheaded; if a whole squad retreated, the squad leader would be beheaded; and if the squad leader was killed and the whole squad retreated, the entire squad would be beheaded. Then there were prohibitions regarding setting up camp, such as once the army camp was established, it was like the courtyards of ordinary homes; one could not dig windows or climb over walls. Therefore, soldiers could only enter and exit through the camp gate. Whether generals or ordinary soldiers, they had to state the password and pass through the main gate. Only after the password matched would they be allowed to enter or exit, and wandering around the camp was strictly prohibited. Furthermore, when traveling, different armies or civilians must not mingle with one's own army. If they were enemy disguised as such, the formation could easily be disrupted.
This was the military law of the White Tiger Banner, meticulously formulated by Zhou Fugui. Some of it was similar to the Yan army's military laws, but Zhou Fugui had made some modifications, and its severity even far exceeded that of the Yan army's military laws.
In times of chaos, severe measures must be taken. In chaotic armies, strict laws must be employed. Otherwise, a messy mob would have a far greater chance of death than survival.
Upon hearing this, everyone was awestruck. They stood even straighter, their ranks even more orderly. Holding their spears and shields, they stood silently, not a single person clamoring anymore.
Some felt resentful, but thinking that Zhou Fugui's actions were to lead everyone to survive, they came to terms with it.
"Now that the military laws have been announced, they must be obeyed," Zhou Fugui said expressionlessly. "Military laws are inviolable; violation will be punished. If anyone does not believe this, they can try. From now on, whether fighting or fleeing, you must obey my orders!"
Everyone wanted to laugh at this, but no one dared to laugh out loud.