Chapter 005: The Newly Appointed General

Chen Kefu, clad in the armor personally bestowed by His Majesty, stood at the center of the main tent, his words resonating like a thunderous bell. If he wished to win over this group of officers to become his support in this chaotic era, he must begin, from this moment onward, to earn their recognition bit by bit, making them understand that he was qualified to be their commander

The king raises his troops, sharpening my spear and halberd. Let us work together.

Chen Kefu, a formidable figure whom Yang Guang referred to as the one who could brave the three armies, did not participate in the siege today; he was busy familiarizing himself with his three thousand assets. Fortunately, Yuwen took great care of Chen Kefu, assisting in assigning the nine individuals who had been with him from Chen Family Village to his command.

The king raises his troops, sharpening my spears and halberds. Let us share the same enmity.

It is estimated that it will be quite difficult for these battle-hardened junior officers to accept his command. Fortunately, these troops were drawn from various Eagle Wings, with a total of fifteen regiments coming from different places. This is a fortunate circumstance; if these three thousand men had originally been under a single general, Chen Kefu would not even know if he would have the confidence to subdue them.

Is it said that there are no garments? I share a robe with you

Esteemed colleagues, your hard work is appreciated. This time, having been appointed by His Majesty, I, as a young general, have been elevated to the position of Eagle General, commanding three thousand elite troops. This not only reflects His Majesty's trust in me but also in all of you. Everyone present here is a senior who has served in the military for many years, and each of you can be considered a predecessor worthy of respect. Today, as we unite as one army, it is also a continuation of the brotherhood we shared in our past lives. I will not indulge in excessive formalities, as you all know that my bravery in battle has caught His Majesty's attention, and you should also know that I am a man who dares to fight and kill. I have always admired those heroic figures who are fearless in the face of death. My method of military governance is quite simple: everyone is treated equally, with rewards for merit and penalties for mistakes. Currently, we are still in need of one Eagle General, which is also a fifth-rank position. I have brought along nine brothers, fellow cavalry lieutenants who have fought alongside me and have also been promoted. However, I will not assign this position to them at this moment. Among you fifteen cavalry lieutenants, whoever achieves the greatest military merit will be awarded this position, and the same applies to the officers below.

Mao Yi and Lu Shishen exchanged glances, and in each other's eyes, they saw deep confusion. Their general had grown up alongside them since childhood; he was nothing but a rough man, unable to recite even the Hundred Family Surnames or the Three Character Classic. Yet just now, he had recited a poem in front of so many people. Mao Yi, who had been forced by the old steward to memorize many texts since childhood, recognized it as a poem from the Book of Songs. However, this only deepened his bewilderment. Just moments ago, their general had flawlessly recited that poem, and he had done so so well that it evoked a sense of poignant sadness.

Although Yuwen Shu considered that Chen Kefu, newly appointed, might lack authority, the highest rank among the three thousand cavalry drawn this time was only that of a Cavalry Commandant, and they were all selected according to the organization of the provincial troops, rather than being allocated from the current military structure. Once the three thousand cavalry were assigned to Chen Kefu, how to reorganize them would be his own responsibility. However, when Li Chenxin met these sixth-rank generals, he realized that trouble was on the horizon.

Although Chen Kefu had previously been one of his soldiers, it was only yesterday that he recognized the value of this young soldier. Especially when the Emperor expressed such particular admiration for Chen Kefu, he set aside his own general's demeanor and treated Chen Kefu as if he were one of his own nephews.

The king raises an army, repairs my armor. March together with you

Standing in this silent tent, Chen Kefu, with his hand resting on his long sword, stood proudly within, yet recited a verse from the Book of Songs in a low, contemplative voice. Perhaps this could be considered one of the earliest military songs; in such a military setting, reciting such lyrics always resonates deeply with the heart. Many officers in the tent were somewhat surprised by their new superior, initially believing he had merely ascended to their ranks through personal valor and a stroke of luck. However, it now appeared that this was not entirely the case.

Is it said that there are no garments? I shall share my robe with you

However, after convening the leaders of the three thousand soldiers and above for a meeting, Chen Kefu realized that trouble had also arrived.

After the Sui Dynasty's army besieged Liaodong City, they immediately launched an assault. However, after a whole day of attacking, aside from depleting a considerable amount of Goguryeo's wooden siege weapons and rolling stones, all that remained were the numerous wounded soldiers on the ground

Although Yuwen Shu ranked among the Twelve Guards Generals and served in the Left Yiwai, a personal army that protected the emperor in the capital, his individual military talent could only be considered mediocre, far from the title of a renowned general. During the last campaign against Liao, the 300,000 troops he commanded advanced directly towards Pyongyang, only to be deliberately defeated seven times by the Goguryeo general Eulmun Jide, who lured him deeper into enemy territory, ultimately leading to the disastrous defeat at Sahu, where only over 2,000 of the 300,000 troops returned to Liaodong. However, as a trusted confidant of the emperor, he possessed his own skill, which was the ability to assess people.

All 3,000 cavalry are combat troops, still organized according to the system of the provincial soldiers, totaling 15 regiments, 30 brigades, 60 teams, and 300 squads. In addition to Chen Kefu, who serves as the Eagle-Soaring General, along with his nine subordinate cavalry lieutenants, there are also six sixth-rank cavalry lieutenants, thirty seventh-rank brigade commanders, sixty eighth-rank team leaders, and sixty eighth-rank deputy team leaders. Furthermore, there is one sixth-rank military advisor and two seventh-rank officials in charge of soldiers and supplies, respectively. These three individuals hold civilian positions, with the military advisor serving as a staff officer. The officials in charge of soldiers and supplies manage soldier records and training, while the other oversees the warehouse, acting as logistics officers.

The dozens of officers exuding a strong aura of bloodshed looked at the young man before them with disdain, especially his somewhat overly handsome face, which made them feel that such a person would be more suited to take the imperial examination rather than compete with them for the position of the fifth-rank Eagle-Soaring General in the military. Particularly, the six leading cavalry lieutenants viewed this pretty boy as someone who was encroaching upon their positions.

Is this still our own leader? After just one night, it feels as though the leader has changed, no longer the reckless man who only thought of becoming a hero. It seems as if he has suddenly become the old patriarch mentioned by my father. Could it be that the leader has learned that secret? Is this ultimately a good thing or a bad thing

In the face of Chen Kefu, who came to claim his troops, Yu Wenshu waved his hand grandly and allocated the most elite 3,000 cavalry from the Left Wing Guard to him. All of them were seasoned veterans who had fought for many years in the Left Wing Guard, with many having previously accompanied the late emperor on campaigns to the east and west, and numerous others having served in the current emperor's army. However, these soldiers were also quite unruly; when stationed in various camps, they were known to be difficult to manage. This time, they were all drawn out and handed over to Chen Kefu. Although such soldiers could be a headache to command, their toughness was undeniable. As long as they were not entrusted to a complete fool, they would serve as a guarantee for future victories.

When leading the troops, Chen Kefu looked at the dense mass of cavalry with great delight; these were his soldiers. It is said that in chaotic times, the one with soldiers becomes king. Those who possess troops and generals are the ones who live most freely in such turbulent times. Although the Sui Dynasty now appears to be a roaring tiger in the mountains, only Chen Kefu knows that this tiger is nearing its end. In a few years, this world will belong to these warriors. Having acquired such an elite force, Chen Kefu felt an overwhelming excitement; while he dared not claim he would conquer the world, his life was temporarily secured. Although the Sui Dynasty now appears to be a roaring tiger in the mountains, only Chen Kefu knows that this tiger is nearing its end. In a few years, this world will belong to these warriors. Having acquired such an elite force, Chen Kefu felt an overwhelming excitement; while he dared not claim he would conquer the world, his life was temporarily secured

Is it said that there are no garments? I share the same shade with you

Looking at the crowd of officers gathered here, Chen Kefu suddenly realized that his "boss" was a bit too young. Each of them was basically a veteran in their thirties or forties, and there were quite a few with graying hair. One officer, whom Chen Kefu glanced at, seemed to be about the same age as the old steward Mao Bo from his Chen family village; he looked as if he were nearly seventy years old.