Chapter 004: Establishing the Military Camp

At the moment when Chen Kefu and other Sui troops lured the enemy to attack at the Liao River, they finally broke out and crossed the Liao River. The vanguard of the Sui army had already taken advantage of their victory to advance to the foot of Liaodong City, surrounding it with an army of 200,000. The 50,000 troops of Goguryeo remained in the city, refusing to respond to any provocations from the Sui soldiers, all retreating into their defenses.

Yuwen Shu finally finished reading the lengthy list of military achievements. Next, it was Yang Guang himself who would personally award the meritorious soldiers, which could be considered a way to win people's hearts. Essentially, the soldiers who had made contributions were promoted to varying degrees and received their share of gold and silver rewards. However, compared to the rewards that Chen Kefu heard about yesterday, this was significantly less. It seems that although Yang Guang is extravagant, he does not indiscriminately bestow lavish rewards upon everyone.

Mao Yi's father is the steward of Chen Family Village, Mao Bo. He usually manages all the affairs of Chen Family Village, and treats Chen Kefu with more affection than his own son

Chen Kefu did not turn his head at all, maintaining an upright posture while quietly saying: "Rest assured, it is wartime now, and the garrison troops need to be reorganized. I estimate that His Majesty the Emperor will arrange for me to command the united troops, so you will still be under my command."

Liaodong City is the first gateway to conquer Goguryeo. Once Liaodong City is captured, the Sui army will advance eastward, and the region of Liaodong will be pacified in a single battle. Moreover, Goguryeo will no longer have a buffer zone, and its hinterland will be directly confronted by the iron hooves of the Sui army.

"Zuo Yiwei's squad leader Chen Kefu, yesterday displayed unparalleled bravery in the army, leading the charge to break through the enemy's formation and defenses, killing thirty-one enemies, and obtaining the heads of two enemy lieutenants and one general, greatly enhancing the prestige of our Heavenly Dynasty's military. This is a significant achievement. Therefore, I generously bestow rewards, promoting him to the rank of Eagle-Soaring General, granting him two horses, forty bolts of silk, one hundred taels of gold, and ten servants. " Yang Guang, a young man in the military, spoke these words with conviction before the hundreds of thousands of troops, stirring their hearts. Therefore, I generously bestow rewards, promoting him to the rank of Eagle-Soaring General, granting him two horses, forty bolts of silk, one hundred taels of gold, and ten servants. " Yang Guang, a young man in the military, spoke these words with conviction before the hundreds of thousands of troops, stirring their hearts.

Chen Kefu hurriedly dismounted and, bending down, approached Yang Guang to kneel and express his gratitude. Yang Guang gently supported him, allowing Chen Kefu to rise, and patted his armor in front of the hundreds of thousands of troops. He said to the generals beside him, including Yuwen Shu, "This young man possesses the courage of ten thousand men and should be the pride of our young generation in the Sui Dynasty. In the past, Emperor Wu of Han had Huo Qubing; today, I have Chen Kefu, truly a gift from heaven. " As he spoke, he looked at Chen Kefu's armor and smiled, saying, "This armor resembles the bright silver qilin armor I wore when I was still Prince of Jin and the Grand Marshal of the army, but unfortunately, the materials are somewhat inferior, and the craftsman's skills are not quite up to par, so it cannot match your stature. Come, bring forth the bright silver qilin armor I wore back then to bestow upon my valiant warrior."

Your Majesty, I have faced calamities from marauding soldiers since childhood, and I alone among my family was fortunate enough to escape unharmed. Therefore, despite having grown up, I do not have a formal name.

Such matters have long ceased to be surprising over the years. Yang Guang consoled him with a few words and then said: "Today, I bestow upon you a courtesy name, Chen Kefu, Chen Kefu. How about the courtesy name 'Po Jun'? You are naturally a born warrior, and this 'Po Jun' is fitting for one who commands the main army in battle."

"Do you have any charts or illustrations, my dear minister?" Yang Guang held an immense fondness for the young general before him

According to the Sui military system, ten men form a group, with a group leader appointed. Five groups make up a team, which has a team leader and a deputy. Two teams constitute a brigade, led by a brigade commander and an assistant. Two brigades form a regiment, with the commanding officer being a school officer. The military offices vary in size: large offices have 1,200 men, medium offices have 1,000, and small offices have 800. In other words, a large office has six regiments, a medium office has five regiments, and a small office has four regiments. Chen Kefu speculated that since Yang Guang had promoted him to the rank of Langjiang, bypassing levels, it was very likely that he would be given command of troops. This means that a large office has six regiments, a medium office has five regiments, and a small office has four regiments. Chen Kefu speculated that since Yang Guang had promoted him to the rank of Langjiang, bypassing levels, it was very likely that he would be given command of troops. If luck is on his side and he can command six regiments, then there would be more than a dozen officers above the rank of school officer. Even if they are not all assigned together at that time, he could ask Yu Wenshu to arrange for a few of his brothers to be together, which should not pose any problem.

Your Majesty the Emperor bestows a title, what an immense honor this is. The hundreds of thousands of soldiers below are primarily farmers, serving as soldiers during wartime and returning to farming after the war ends. For them, even a mere audience with the Emperor is a tremendous honor, let alone receiving such a generous reward and a bestowed title.

Chen Kefu originally hailed from southern lineage, yet he grew up in the formidable Hebei region. With a handsome face complemented by sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, along with a robust physique developed through years of martial arts training, he donned a magnificent and imposing silver battle armor that made him resemble a jade-faced gentleman. Everyone appreciates beauty, and Yang Guang was no exception; he couldn't help but feel an increased fondness for Chen Kefu at that moment.

On the second day, as dawn broke, the mournful horn sounded. In the main camp of the Sui army, His Majesty summoned the generals to raise the tent. Today, all the troops will break camp and cross the river to besiege the city of Liaodong. In front of the main tent, centered around Emperor Yang Guang of Sui, a row of imperial generals stood in solemn formation. Their bright armor reflected the dazzling light of the morning sun, and the generals stood like rocks, silent and resolute. The wind from the Liao River rustled the banners on either side, creating a haunting sound.

"That being the case, I shall allow General Yuwen to command three thousand cavalry under your sole leadership; you must not disappoint my expectations." As soon as Yang Guang's words fell, an elderly general with a white beard immediately interjected, "Your Majesty, according to tradition, the Eagle General can only command a thousand troops. Moreover, although this General Pojun is renowned for his bravery across the three armies, he has never led troops before, so it is not quite appropriate to assign him three thousand men right away. I urge Your Majesty to reconsider."

However, each time the Sui army engaged in battle, the troops would be restructured. For this campaign, the entire Sui army was divided into two forces: one for land and one for water. The land army consisted of 24 divisions, with 12 divisions on the left and 12 on the right, each commanded by a general and a deputy general. There were 40 cavalry units, each comprising 100 men. The infantry was organized into 80 units, divided into four regiments

Chen Kefu was someone who enjoyed wielding weapons and was troubled by books, and with no elders in the family, he has yet to receive a formal courtesy name even to this day

Today, Yang Guang will reward the meritorious individuals from yesterday's battle in front of hundreds of thousands of troops, aiming to inspire the soldiers. Mao Yi stands beside Chen Kefu, watching as the Grand General of the Left Yiwai, on the high platform, announces the list of yesterday's distinguished soldiers with a voice as resonant as a great bell. This list is extensive, likely comprising several hundred individuals when accounting for both major and minor contributions, including a commendation for Yu Wen Shu, as the cavalry primarily responsible for the ambush yesterday was led by the Left Yiwai.

At Yang Guang's suggestion, Chen Ke Fu directly donned the magnificent and exquisite armor, which was clearly designed for strong defense, in front of hundreds of thousands of troops, with the assistance of several soldiers. It was indeed the battle armor that Yang Guang himself had once worn. Once the entire armor was put on, it stood approximately 1.85 meters tall, fitting Li Chen Xin's physique perfectly. The armor plates of the complete set were threaded together with gold and platinum wire, exuding opulence and grandeur. The forehead was adorned with a green jade that gathered the essence of heaven and earth, connecting man and deity; square and round-headed armor pieces were attached on the left, right, and back; the interior was lined with black cowhide and red suede. There were leather cheek guards on both sides, making it the king of armors in terms of strength. The front and back of the armor were riveted with yellow cowhide, lined with red suede. The front armor featured a golden belly beast modeled after a qilin, designed to protect the abdomen and secure the belt. Moreover, the entire set of armor was not heavy; Chen Ke Fu estimated it weighed around forty pounds.

"A hero cannot be without a steed worthy of him. Come here, bestow my fine steed, the Qingzhu, upon my beloved general." The Qingzhu is a prized horse from the Western Regions, entirely snow-white without a single blemish, robust and tall. Even the seasoned generals, who have fought for many years, now feel envy and jealousy towards Chen Kefu. A good warhorse is of utmost importance to a general who frequently finds himself on the battlefield. Although His Majesty the Emperor had just rewarded Chen Kefu with money and an official title, these generals had looked down upon it. However, at this moment, witnessing the Emperor not only bestowing his own armor upon Chen Kefu but also granting him such a magnificent steed, they could not help but feel a twinge of envy.

In those years, Huo Biao also led the youth in battle, achieving a great victory over the Xiongnu. There is no need for the old pillar of the state to elaborate; this matter is thus settled. Issue orders to the three armies to break camp immediately; I intend to capture Liaodong City before nightfall

Before long, several soldiers brought forth the armor mentioned by Yang Guang. After opening the sealed box and taking it out, the rising sun shone upon the well-maintained Mingguang armor, reflecting a dazzling silver light.

Beneath this temporarily erected massive platform lies an army of several hundred thousand led by His Majesty the Emperor of the Sui Dynasty. As far as the eye can see, there are only patches of iron-colored helmets, seemingly endless in their expanse

"Chief, do you think the emperor might transfer us away from your command? I heard that a certain eagle-winged general only has two cavalry lieutenants under him. If I really have to be assigned to another unit, what will I do? This time, we secretly left the village behind, which is already causing trouble. If we were to part ways with you again, we wouldn't be able to protect you anymore. If anything were to happen to you, my old man would probably eat me alive."

Chen Kefu still wore the flashy outfit from yesterday, leading his nine younger brothers at the forefront of the entire army. Although Yang Guang had generously rewarded them last night in his excitement, such a matter to invigorate the troops could not be concluded so hastily. Later, he realized that last night's events were at best a rehearsal, for today was the official performance