Late December, Yan Province
Wuyan, Dongping Kingdom
Inside the prefectural hall, Cheng Yu, Dian Wei, as well as Guan Hai from Taishan and Sima Ju from Kangfu, among others, had all been summoned back.
“We pay our respects to our lord!”
As Zhang Jing entered, the assembled civil and military officials respectfully cupped their fists in salute.
“Rise.”
Zhang Jing waved his hand and strode toward the main seat with an imposing bearing.
A faint smile appeared on his face as he said:
“I have summoned everyone here today because it concerns the future of our army.”
“After today, opportunities for all of us to gather like this may become rare.”
“Let us first discuss the results of the military reorganization.”
“Thank you, my lord!” The officials returned the salute and rose.
“My lord.” Cheng Yu stepped forward and respectfully reported:
“Our forces originally numbered over four hundred thousand troops, including the armies under Generals Guan Hai, Yu Du, Sui Gu, and Bai Rao.”
“After this round of reductions and reorganization, the registered strength of the army stands at 189,527 men.”
“Excellent.” Zhang Jing nodded slightly.
“How many soldiers have been equipped with armor? Are our weapons sufficient?”
In truth, he and Cheng Yu had already discussed these matters privately.
The reason for bringing them up in the council chamber was naturally to boost morale and allow the generals to understand the strength they now possessed.
“My lord,” Cheng Yu continued, “Following our great victory in Yan Province, we captured more than ten Han military armories of various sizes.”
“Among our 190,000 troops, approximately half are now armored.”
“As for military equipment such as sabers and spears, we possess enough to arm the entire army.”
“In addition, we have nearly 2,000 powerful crossbows, over 10,000 crossbow bolts, 20,000 bows, and nearly 300,000 arrows.”
“Furthermore, after this campaign, our army now possesses more than 900 warhorses and 8,000 draft horses.”
Most of these horses had come from the noble and wealthy clans of Yan Province.
Now they had all become Zhang Jing’s spoils of war.
Even Zhang Jing himself found the harvest astonishing.
When he had first taken command of the Yellow Turbans, all the warhorses under his command combined numbered fewer than fifty.
There were several hundred draft horses, but true warhorses were incredibly precious.
In his previous life, even Cao Cao, after securing three commanderies in the Central Plains, had only managed to assemble three thousand cavalrymen for the famed Tiger and Leopard Cavalry.
Most other soldiers rode draft horses instead.
Thinking about this, Zhang Jing once again felt the painful memory of a familiar problem attacking him: a shortage of grain.
Gasp—
Gulp!
Sounds of swallowed saliva and sharp breaths echoed throughout the hall.
The generals stared wide-eyed.
Powerful.
Far too powerful.
That was the feeling shared by everyone present.
Not only did they still command nearly 190,000 troops after the reductions, with an armor rate of fifty percent and sufficient weaponry for the entire army, but the 900 warhorses and 8,000 draft horses had genuinely shocked them.
As for how much grain all this required?
None of them particularly cared.
“Since the army has now been reorganized,” Zhang Jing said seriously, “we shall now discuss the most important matter.”
“How do we strengthen the army?”
“All of you are veterans who have experienced countless battles.”
“Tell me—what must I do to build a truly powerful army?”
“My lord!” Yu Du immediately stepped forward.
“With your permission, I believe that to strengthen an army, military discipline must be strict and military law must be rigorously enforced.”
“Very good. What else?”
Zhang Jing gave Yu Du an approving look before turning to the other generals.
“My lord!” As the generals began discussing among themselves, Yu Jin stepped forward and saluted.
“In my opinion, strict discipline alone is insufficient.”
“A truly formidable army must obey orders without hesitation.”
“Regardless of what unexpected circumstances arise on the battlefield, the army must remain as immovable as a mountain.”
“Absolute obedience to orders…” Zhang Jing nodded.
“That makes sense.”
He agreed with Yu Jin’s assessment and continued: “Does anyone else have a different view?”
The generals exchanged glances.
Many lowered their heads in embarrassment and remained silent.
“In truth, both of them are correct.” Zhang Jing spoke firmly.
“Strict discipline.”
“Military law as unyielding as a mountain.”
“Absolute obedience to orders.”
“Remaining calm in the face of danger.”
“These are all essential requirements of a strong army.”
“Any army capable of achieving those four qualities can already be called elite.”
“However, I believe those four qualities are still not enough.”
The generals—and even Cheng Yu—turned their eyes toward Zhang Jing.
Their hearts were filled with curiosity and anticipation.
“I believe that a truly strong army” Zhang Jing rose to his feet, his expression solemn.
“Must also possess faith.”
“It must have a mission.”
“It must have a sense of responsibility.”
“And it must understand what it is fighting for.”
“I ask all of you to question yourselves.”
“What are you fighting for?”
“Once you’ve found the answer, speak it plainly.”
“Do not hold back.”
The assembled officers looked at one another.
The question felt fresh and thought-provoking.
“My lord.” Xu He stepped forward and saluted.
“I follow the Commander in order to resist corrupt officials. And so that my family can survive.”
“So do I!” Guan Hai, Sima Ju, Geng Ling, and others stepped forward one after another.
“Yes.” Zhang Jing nodded.
“To fight for survival.”
“That is precisely how our Qihuo Army came into being.”
“My lord, I fight for the ideal of Great Peace.” Wang Du stepped forward respectfully.
“Though I once served as an official of the Han court, I could not bear to witness the suffering of the common people.”
“It was through the teachings of the Way of Great Peace that I discovered the purpose of my life.”
“General Wang speaks with great righteousness.”
Hearing this, Zhang Jing wore an expression of admiration.
Back when the Great Worthy Teacher first rose up, those willing to follow him were not only the common people, but also many sons of noble families.
Even among the Ten Attendants, There were those willing to devote their lives to the Way of Great Peace.
“My lord!” Dian Wei said with a serious face, “I just can’t stand those corrupt officials. And my lord’s wisdom and benevolence make me feel that following you, even if it means death, is ten thousand times better than serving those dog officials!”
“My lord, I…!”“…” As these few began to speak, the other generals followed suit one after another.
Some spoke of seeking to distinguish themselves, some of their families, and others of their commitment to the cause of the Way of Great Peace.
“What you all have said is exactly why we fight!” Zhang Jing’s expression turned solemn.
“It is also the reason we are fearless of death and strive bravely to be first. In it lies a man’s sense of duty, and a true man’s blood and spirit.”
“Only when the officers and soldiers of every unit hold firm to their conviction, And understand why they fight, Can this great army become an iron-blooded force that cannot be broken up, cannot be routed, and remains unyielding through a hundred trials!”
“My lord is wise!” Cheng Yu and all the generals were utterly convinced.
They cupped their fists respectfully and shouted in unison.
Next, Zhang Jing, together with Cheng Yu and the other generals, drew up the military law.
And named it: The Seven Prohibitions and Fifty-Four Executions.
The Seven Prohibitions are: treating the army lightly, acting slowly in military matters, stealing from the army, deceiving the army, betraying the army, causing disorder in the army, and misleading the army.
The Fifty-Four Executions Include: execute those officers who are cowardly; execute those who desert in battle; execute those who disobey orders; execute those who delay provisions; execute those who fail to halt when the banners signal; execute those who do not advance at the sound of the drum; execute those who do not retreat at the sound of the gong, and so forth.
This session of establishing military law left all the generals breaking out in a cold sweat.
But since these laws had been drafted by themselves, they could only accept them, however reluctantly.
— The end of the Chapter–
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