Chapter 9, Promotion

Very well, young man, your courage is commendable. I will give you three months' time. If by then you can lead a team as strong as tempered steel, I will formally recommend you for the position of deputy general. However, if your team proves to be weak and ineffective, then you shall step down to serve as a captain of a hundred.

Xu Haifeng finally came to his senses, took a step forward, and knelt down on both knees: "Thank you, Commander, for your grace. I will forever remember your kindness and will never dare to forget it."

"Uncle, is it not rather hasty of you to appoint him as the regiment commander?" Cheng Ming stepped forward and saluted, saying

The humble general requests that all troops be converted into slave soldiers, and that no one interfere during the general's training period

"Well, in your opinion, how long do you estimate it will take for the Fifth Column to develop combat capability?" Gu Daoran continued to inquire.

As you command, General, I have one more request.

The Sky Eagle Legion is one of the five major legions of the Empire, boasting an armored force of one hundred thousand soldiers, with numerous military achievements, making it arguably the foremost army of the present age. Cheng Ming wore a proud expression, acknowledging that such a formidable military force is indeed rare in the world

Xu Haifeng furrowed his brow; this question was not easy to answer. The standards for forming combat effectiveness vary greatly. Elite troops and local forces both possess combat capability, but they are certainly not on the same level. Moreover, it is exceedingly difficult for a group of new recruits, some demobilized soldiers, and slave soldiers to form effective combat power. For an average person, training would require at least six months or even longer. However, since General Gu raised the question on the spot, it was clearly a test. If the standard he had in mind was not met, it was likely that this acting regiment commander would indeed continue in that role indefinitely. The combination of new recruits, some demobilized soldiers, and slave soldiers attempting to form combat effectiveness is particularly challenging, and for an average person, training would take at least six months or longer. Yet, since General Gu posed the question right there, it was evidently a test; if the standard he envisioned was not achieved, this acting regiment commander might very well remain in that position for a long time.

Neither Xu Haifeng nor the direction of Ming at https://m.hetushu.com.com could have imagined that Gu Dao Ran would be so bold as to appoint someone with only six months of military experience to the position of a deputy general. They originally thought that being promoted to a formal position of a thousand-man commander would be the limit, but the current situation has taken a leap beyond expectations, leaving people momentarily at a loss. This is why Xu Haifeng would react so out of character.

The military organization of the Han Empire is fundamentally divided into squads of ten, companies of one hundred, and battalions of one thousand. The leaders of these units, whether primary or secondary, are all mid- to lower-ranking officers. Units exceeding one thousand are referred to as columns, with each column varying in size, ranging from a minimum of three thousand to a maximum of ten thousand. The rank of a column leader is at least that of a minor general. Although a minor general is the lowest rank among generals, it nonetheless signifies entry into the ranks of generals. Every soldier's greatest aspiration is to one day become a general, yet those who achieve this dream are exceedingly rare. Many heroes and outstanding individuals find themselves halted at the rank of a thousand-man leader; without connections or recognition from high-ranking officials, even the most capable individuals may only serve as a thousand-man leader throughout their lives. It can be said that once this threshold is crossed, the future is bright and promising.

The old man shook his head and said: "It is not merely a matter of being slightly inferior; if those defectors do not boast, the comparison is simply worlds apart. I truly wish to see if such strong troops exist in this world. Today, I appoint him as the acting regiment commander. If he truly has the capability, in order to secure a permanent position, he will undoubtedly give his all and will not dare to hide his shortcomings. In three months, the results will be evident."

This time, Cheng Ming did not immediately engage in conversation; after a considerable while, he reluctantly remarked: "If they have not exaggerated, it is likely that they are somewhat inferior."

The official play has begun at www.hetushu.com. If one can confidently develop combat capability within such a short period, they must possess unique training methods. Therefore, I inquired amicably, "What are your requirements? Please feel free to state them."

After Xu Haifeng and Fang Xiangming left, a person emerged from the back hall, who was none other than the aide Cheng Ming, who had previously led the way. The ease with which he moved in and out of the front and back halls indicated that his status was not ordinary.

Xu Haifeng, your achievements have also been reported to the court. After His Majesty became aware of this, he specifically issued an edict to commend you with a reward of ten thousand taels of silver. As for your official position...

The last type is the slave soldier, who possesses no freedom in life. The sources of slave soldiers are diverse; most are captured soldiers from various regions, as well as death row inmates from within the empire. Once they enter the slave soldier camp, it is as if they have already set one foot into the gates of hell. On the battlefield, slave soldiers are practically synonymous with cannon fodder. Consequently, their morale is the lowest among all military units, and nearly every day, someone attempts to escape.

The old man with a beard has experienced countless events in his life; to easily let this topic pass is to harbor secrets within his heart, untroubled by the thought that the sea breeze may not take the bait

"Based on what you see tomorrow, how would you assess the strength of my subordinate, the Sky Eagle Legion?" Gu Dao Ran did not answer directly, but instead posed a question.

"Yes, young man... I shall obey your orders." Upon seeing Fang Xiangming slightly shake his head at him, he immediately realized and quickly changed his words

Secondly, there are the new recruits, who have only spent a few months in the training camp and have not experienced the battlefield; their combat effectiveness is significantly inferior to that of the veterans.

The old man scrutinized him for a long time, until beads of sweat covered his forehead, and then he laughed heartily: "Young man, while it is certainly good to be neither arrogant nor impatient, there is no need to be overly modest. You must understand that youth is also a form of wealth, and being proactive and enterprising is what you should strive for."

"Respected Commander, the ability to hold our ground until that day is entirely due to the selfless dedication of the soldiers. I have truly contributed nothing of significance." Xu Haifeng decided to retreat by advancing, preferring to forgo any rewards rather than continue this topic. In fact, ever since he was struck by an arrow, he had been hiding behind the parapet and had not set foot on the city wall before the arrival of the reinforcements led by Fang Xiangming. Moreover, he had specifically arranged for ten men to protect him. If this fact were to be known, it would undoubtedly cause an even greater sensation than before. In fact, ever since he was struck by an arrow, he had been hiding behind the parapet and had not set foot on the city wall before the arrival of the reinforcements led by Fang Xiangming. Moreover, he had specifically arranged for ten men to protect him. If this fact were to be known, it would undoubtedly cause an even greater sensation than before.

However, since he had already made plans in his heart, he would not change them at this moment. He then said to Xu Haifeng: "In the last battle, only 124 out of the more than 5,000 survivors of the Fifth Column of the Western Camp remained, which is almost a total annihilation of the army. According to convention, the unit should be disbanded. However, the Fifth Column displayed unparalleled bravery and courage on the battlefield, earning a reputation that surpassed the entire army. In order to recognize and encourage them, we have decided to make an exception and re-establish the Fifth Column, granting it the designation 'Black Flag Army,' and you will temporarily serve as the commander of the Fifth Column."

Yes, the nephew understands. Then let us observe the changes quietly

Since he is already in our army, the truth will eventually come to light. There is no need to be so impatient now; if he becomes aware of it, it may lead to adverse consequences

Six months ago, Xu Haifeng was merely a farmer with his back to the yellow earth. Two months ago, he was just a small rookie fresh out of training camp. However, today, he is about to ascend to the ranks of generals. Although Gu Daoran mentioned that he would only temporarily hold the position of brigade commander, as long as he holds real power, it is only a matter of time before he establishes merit and is formally promoted.

"I see, Uncle is indeed wise." Cheng Ming continued, "Then should we send a few people to disguise themselves as slaves and infiltrate their army? This way, we may uncover the intricacies within."

Seeing Xu Haifeng's joyful demeanor, Gu Daoran found it difficult to grasp what kind of person he truly was. If one were to say that he was not covetous of wealth and fame, then his current behavior clearly indicated that he was someone enthusiastic about reputation and profit. However, when he previously recounted his achievements, he displayed an attitude of selflessness and indifference to fame and fortune, without resorting to the usual tactics of embellishing his accomplishments or claiming undue credit. Such starkly contrasting behaviors left Gu Daoran in a state of profound confusion. Yet, when he had recounted his achievements, he had indeed shown a selfless demeanor, devoid of any embellishment or the typical means of claiming credit. This starkly different and contradictory display left him utterly perplexed.

The remaining generals selected troops by first requesting demobilized soldiers and then new recruits, while slave soldiers were generally overlooked. Today, Xu Haifeng took a different approach, opting not to recruit any demobilized or new soldiers, but instead directly selecting slave soldiers. This naturally surprised the seasoned veteran Gu Daoran, who even speculated in his mind whether Xu Haifeng's training methods were too domineering, potentially leading to significant casualties, which might explain his choice of the overlooked slave soldiers.

What? Replace everything with slave soldiers? Are you sure? This time, Gu Dao Ran is truly acting bizarrely. If he wants to maintain the secrecy and efficiency of his training methods, then the second stipulation of no interference is somewhat understandable. However, the first stipulation of using only slave soldiers is simply the behavior of a madman

However, to put it bluntly, the current situation is that there is a shortage of troops, and the Fifth Column can only temporarily assemble three thousand personnel. Moreover, I can only provide you with two thousand new recruits, five hundred demobilized soldiers, and you will need to select another five hundred from the slave camp. Gu Daoran was not surprised to see him behave this way; if it were him personally handling this matter, he would likely not fare any better than Xu Haifeng.

"Three months is sufficient." Xu Haifeng pondered for a moment and finally made a decision

"Not bad, you shall issue the order that all the supplies and personnel required by Xu Haifeng be provided to him. No department is allowed to create any difficulties for him under any pretext, otherwise military law will be enforced." The last sentence of Gu Daoran was suddenly emphasized, and a fierce aura of dominance spread far and wide, causing Cheng Ming, who was nearby, to shudder greatly. Indeed, a great hero has a terrifying side to their history.

You have also seen the testimony of the fallen soldiers, so how do you think the combat capability of the Sky Eagle Legion compares to that of Xu Haifeng and his subordinates

Xu Haifeng's heart was suddenly stirred. To say that he did not desire promotion and wealth would be self-deception. Ten thousand taels of silver was already a vast fortune he had never dared to imagine before. From the tone of the ancient scholar, it seemed that there were great prospects in his official career as well. His heart instantly became fervent.

Please rest assured, my lord, that I will certainly not let you down

Xu Haifeng let out a sigh in secret, as he discerned that Gu Daoran had indicated he did not intend to pursue the matter further. He quickly took over the conversation: "Yes, I have learned my lesson, and in the future, I will certainly adhere to the General's teachings and will not dare to make any mistakes"

The reserve military personnel can generally be divided into three categories, with the most sought-after being the demobilized soldiers. They were injured in the previous battle, but their injuries were not fatal and did not result in permanent disability. Once they have completed their treatment, they can return to the battlefield. Such soldiers do not require training and can directly integrate into most military units

Xu Haifeng was left dumbfounded, momentarily unable to believe his ears. Seeing this, his companion, Fang Ming, quickly nudged him and whispered, "Aren't you going to express your gratitude?"

Alright, everything as you wish, but in three months, I want to see results