The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 401 The Eight Garrisons' Iron Cavalry: The Qin Dynasty's Eastern Expedition's Combat Strength Upgraded Again
The atmosphere in the council hall of the Prince of Longcheng's Mansion was solemn.

Li Xiao, dressed in a black cotton robe with dragon patterns, sat upright in the main seat.

Standing on either side below were Li Dongjiang, Li Dongshan, Da Hu, An Meng, and other core generals in Longcheng, as well as Li clan generals who had not been able to return to their troops for the funeral.

Everyone wore a solemn expression, clearly aware that today's discussion concerned a major adjustment to the Qin Dynasty's military strategy.

"I have gathered you all here today to announce the second major event concerning the military reform of my Qin state."

Li Xiao's voice was calm and steady as he swept his gaze over the generals: "The Qin territory has expanded by tens of thousands of miles, and the war against the Jin on the eastern front is imminent."

"Previously, although the Jin state suffered a setback in the Guanzhong War, it was still the hegemon of the Central Plains, and its military strength was far superior to that of the Western Regions countries."

He paused, then emphasized, "They claim to have a million troops stationed nationwide. While there is certainly some exaggeration involved, used to intimidate surrounding forces, we cannot underestimate them because of this."

"According to the Jinyiwei's investigation, the Jin Kingdom currently has at least 400,000 troops that can be mobilized at any time."

In the historical Battle of Yefuling, the Jin Dynasty mobilized 400,000 troops on the northern front alone to fight against the Mongols. Although they were ultimately defeated, it demonstrated their formidable military strength.

Even so, the Jin Dynasty did not collapse. Instead, it recuperated in the Central Plains, went through several wars, and survived for more than 20 years before being destroyed.

Now, although the Qin state's previous eastern expedition had wiped out 100,000 elite Jin troops in the Battle of Guanzhong, these 100,000 troops were only a crippling blow to the Jin state.

The Central Plains are densely populated and agriculturally developed. If the Jin Dynasty disregards the consequences, it would not be difficult to conscript a million young men into the army. However, the newly conscripted soldiers would lack training and their combat effectiveness would be far inferior to that of the elite troops.

But even if it was just a "rabble", if the number was large, it would be enough to pose a great threat to the Qin army.

After summarizing, Li Xiao said in a deep voice, "Therefore, I have decided that the Great Qin shall formally establish the Eighth Garrison Army to enhance our military strength."

As soon as the words were spoken, a look of understanding flashed in the eyes of all the generals. Although there had been rumors beforehand, the official announcement still marked another expansion of the Qin military power.

Of course, the formation of the Eighth Garrison also had another purpose: to implement the Qin state's rules of promotion based on military merit.

During the previous Eastern Expedition, a large number of meritorious soldiers emerged, and the Seventh Division was formed around them.

The same applies today; the newly formed Eighth Division will certainly be built around the meritorious soldiers of this western expedition.

Li Xiao continued, "The Eighth Garrison's flag is designated as a blue flag with a red border and a sun and moon symbolizing the protection of the East and the glory of the Great Qin."

In Li Xiao's plan, the Eighth Division was prepared for the Jin Dynasty. The most likely direction for future military operations would be the Northeast, to strike directly at the heart of the Jurchens, destroy their homeland, and cut off their retreat.

The most important matter at this meeting was the appointment of the commander of the Eighth Division.

The next second, Li Xiao turned his gaze to the generals lined up in formation and shouted in a deep voice, "Li Xiang!"

"The general is here!"

Inside the hall, Da Hu, dressed in white cloth armor, strode out of the ranks, his fist slamming heavily into his chest, the armor plates rattling loudly.

Yesterday, Li Xiao had a detailed talk with him and learned that he would be transferred to the position of Commander of the Eighth Division. However, when the call for the official appointment sounded, he still felt an overwhelming excitement.

"You are relieved of your post as Deputy Commander of the Sixth Division and appointed Commander of the Eighth Division. The 170,000th Household Office of the Sixth Division, which you originally commanded, will be incorporated into the Eighth Division as its core fighting force."

Li Xiao spoke solemnly, each word clear and forceful: "I hope that after you take office, you will train the army and be ready for battle. In the future, when you launch an eastern expedition against the Jin Kingdom, you must achieve the greatest merit for Great Qin."

"I will obey my orders."

Da Hu suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with fervor, and shouted in response: "I swear to serve Your Majesty to the death, to expand the territory of Great Qin, and never fail in my mission."

After saying that, he bowed his head to Li Xiao and slammed his fist heavily into his chest.

The other generals nodded slightly in agreement, without any objection.

Da Hu is Li Xiao's cousin. He has followed Li Xiao since the uprising in Hexi Fort. Whether it was pacifying the desert or conquering the Jin Kingdom in the east, he always charged ahead and made great achievements.

When attacking the Naiman people, he personally led his troops in a charge, and despite suffering three serious wounds, he persisted in fighting. His achievements and courage were evident to the entire army.

His promotion to Commander of the Eighth Garrison is both an affirmation of his abilities and a well-deserved advancement, which everyone accepts wholeheartedly.

Standing in the queue, Li Dongjiang looked at his son's upright figure and felt a surge of pride.

Although he had stepped down as the Second Garrison Commander and could no longer personally lead troops into battle, he inevitably felt regret.

But now his eldest son has gone even further, becoming the commander-in-chief of a town. This honor not only made up for his regrets, but also made the foundation of the second branch of the Li family in the army more solid.

He secretly sighed, realizing that Li Xiao's arrangement was both a way of making good use of talent and a way of appeasing him. He kept this sentiment in mind.

After Da Hu returned to his ranks, Li Xiao's gaze swept over the generals again, and he continued to shout, "Su Daqiang!"

"The general is here!"

A burly, dark-skinned general stepped forward in response.

He was born into the Han Chinese tribe in the desert. When Li Xiao followed Xiao Simo to conquer the Naiman people, he was one of the three thousand warriors personally selected by Li Xiao.

Later, Li Xiao pacified the desert and established two chiliarchies, one of which was Su Daqiang. At that time, Li Xiao only had thirteen chiliarchies under his command.

Over the years, Su Daqiang has repeatedly distinguished himself on the battlefield and is recognized as a "fierce general" in the army, as well as Li Xiao's confidant.

"You are hereby appointed as the Deputy Commander of the Eighth Garrison. The 240,000-household prefecture under your jurisdiction will be incorporated into the Eighth Garrison to assist Commander Li Xiang in training the army and coordinating defense."

"This humble general thanks Your Majesty for your trust."

Su Daqiang's voice was firm and resounding: "I will do my utmost to assist the Commander-in-Chief, live up to the King's trust, and make the Eighth Division a strong shield and sharp blade on the eastern front of the Great Qin."

He knew that his promotion from commander of ten thousand households to deputy commander was not only due to his military achievements, but also because of Li Xiao's trust.

As a general from the inner circle, he needed to play a balancing and supporting role in the Eighth Division to ensure that the new division always obeyed the central command.

"I believe your words."

Li Xiao raised his hand to signal, and continued to deploy: "To fill the troop shortage, and at the same time to reward the soldiers who made meritorious contributions in the western expedition."

"Now, soldiers who made meritorious contributions during the Western Expedition from the First, Third, and Fifth Garrisons will be selected to form the Thirtieth, Thirty-first, Thirty-second, and Thirty-third Ten Thousand Household Offices."

The generals and key personnel of these four Wanhu Offices were all selected from those who had made meritorious contributions. The framework was established first, and then new soldiers were recruited.

Da Hu and Su Daqiang left their original units with their respective commanders, so the 30th and 31st commanderies will fill their troop vacancies.

The 32nd and 33rd Wanhu Prefectures will be incorporated into the 8th Garrison to bolster the new garrison's fighting strength.

The generals listened carefully and quickly grasped the principle of balance.

Of the four candidates for the new Wanhu (household registration), one came from the Third Town, one from the Fifth Town, and the remaining two were both from the First Town.

In this way, all the meritorious officials who participated in the western expedition to the three towns were settled, and no one was neglected because of their faction. It is obvious that Li Xiao took into account the feelings of all parties.

Immediately afterwards, Li Xiao announced a series of personnel adjustments: "Luo Meng, the deputy commander of the Fourth Division, is relieved of his post and appointed as the commander of the Second Division."

"Wang Tietou will take over the position of deputy commander of the former Fourth Garrison; Wang Dagui, deputy commander of the First Garrison, will take over the position of the former 100,000th household of the former Fourth Garrison."

As soon as the words were spoken, only Wang Dagui stepped forward and solemnly accepted the order, while Luo Meng and Wang Tietou were not allowed by Li Xiao to return to Longcheng for the funeral and remained stationed in Longxi and the Hexi Corridor.

Their appointments will be delivered directly to the army by fast horse.

Luo Meng is Li Xiao's brother-in-law. He has followed Li Xiao since the Hexi Fort period and made great contributions in both pacifying the northern desert and conquering the Jin Dynasty.

Previously, he served as the deputy commander of the Fourth Garrison, which, although not the official position, actually gave him real power.

The Fourth Garrison, along with the First Garrison, was Li Xiao's personal army, belonging to the Qin Imperial Guard. They were stationed in the Hexi Corridor, controlling the eastern gateway between Longxi and the northern frontier, making their strategic location extremely important.

The position of Commander-in-Chief has always been held by Li Xiao himself, while the Deputy Commander-in-Chief is the actual person in charge.

Although his transfer to the Second Garrison Commander meant he was no longer part of the Imperial Guard, he became the commander of a separate garrison, receiving not only a promotion in rank but also greater authority to command troops.

Wang Tietou, who succeeded Li Xiao as deputy commander, was an absolute confidant of Li Xiao.

He was born in Hexibao and grew up with Li Xiao. He was initially Li Xiao's personal guard and worked his way up to become a commander of the Wuwei Army. He was then transferred to the Fourth Division as a commander of ten thousand men. His loyalty and ability were impeccable.

Appointing him as the deputy commander of the Fourth Division was tantamount to firmly grasping the core power of the Imperial Guard in the hands of his loyal followers.

As for Wang Dagui, he also came from the Wuwei Army and later served as the deputy commander of the Third Ten Thousand Household Office of the First Town.

During the western expedition, he led his troops to conquer three cities in Khwarazm and made outstanding military achievements. He was transferred to the position of commander of the Fourth Garrison, which not only conformed to the principle of "awarding positions based on merit" but also further strengthened the influence of Li Xiao's direct subordinates in the army.

Finally, Li Xiao mentioned the personnel arrangements for the Third Garrison: "After General Li Dongshan stepped down as the commander of the Third Garrison, he was succeeded by Chen Erqiang, the former deputy commander of the Third Garrison."

Chen Erqiang was a native of Hexibao and a sworn brother of Li Dongshan.

He fought alongside Li Xiao to conquer the world back then, and was not only a veteran of the imperial clan but also held Li Dongshan in absolute esteem.

His appointment was the result of Li Dongshan's personal recommendation, and Li Xiao's agreement was clearly a way of appeasing Li Dongshan.

Just as promoting Da Hu appeased Li Dongjiang, it prevented the two veterans from feeling neglected after handing over power.

But anyone with a discerning eye can see that Li Xiao's plan goes far beyond that.

As expected, Li Xiao then added: "Appoint Wu Zhong as the 70,000th Household."

The 70,000th Household was originally Li Dongshan's directly subordinate 10,000-household army, but Wu Zhong's background was not simple. He was the first 1,000-household commander when Li Xiao established the Shenji Battalion. He was proficient in firearms tactics, and his command was indispensable in the Shenji Battalion's several key victories, whether in the eastern expedition against the Jin Kingdom or the western expedition against the Western Regions. He had made outstanding military achievements.

Sending him to the Third Town to take over the core command of the ten thousand households is tantamount to directly bringing the core military power of the Third Town under the control of his own faction.

Even though Chen Erqiang was the commander recommended by Li Dongshan, he could not completely control the entire town. In fact, Li Dongshan's influence over the Third Town had gradually declined.

In this personnel reshuffle, there are quite a few arrangements similar to Wu Zhong's.

Many of the newly established ten-thousand-household offices, the ten-thousand-household positions left by Luo Meng, and even some mid-level general appointments in other towns, were from the First Town.

The First Garrison was the only army of the Qin Dynasty that fought the entire war, from its initial uprising at Hexi Fortress to the pacification of the desert, the eastern expedition against the Xia Kingdom, the conquest of the Jin Kingdom, and then the western expedition against the Western Regions.

The First Town was present in every war, never absent.

With military achievements on full display, a general's promotion is perfectly legitimate and no one can refute it.

More importantly, these generals who came from the First Division were almost all Li Xiao's own trusted subordinates, including Lin Dazhuang, Wang Tietou, Shouhou, Mo Jun, Zhang Sheng (Zhang Dawa), Su Daqiang, and so on.

Each of them was a capable general who could stand alone, and they were loyal to Li Xiao.

After this adjustment, the First Town faction's power increased significantly. Although it was still not as deeply rooted as the royal faction, it was now fully capable of standing on equal footing with other factions.

With this, the Eighth Division of the Great Qin was officially established, and the factional structure within the military became clear.

The imperial clan faction was undoubtedly the largest, with prominent figures including Da Hu (Commander of the Eighth Garrison), Er Hu (Commander of the Fifth Garrison), Li Donghe (Commander of the Third Garrison), Li Dongshui (Wanhu of the First Garrison), and other members of the Li family clan.

Nearly half of the commanders-in-chief were members of the imperial family, whose influence extended throughout the various armies, making them the most firmly established.

The First Division faction (also known as the Imperial Way faction) is Li Xiao's core direct subordinates, represented by Lin Dazhuang (Deputy Commander of the Seventh Division), Wang Tietou (Deputy Commander of the Fourth Division), Mo Jun (Commander of the Fourth Division), Zhang Sheng (Commander of the Third Division), and Su Daqiang (Deputy Commander of the Eighth Division).

He controlled the majority of the Imperial Guard forces in the First and Fourth Garrisons, and also had generals of the ten-thousand-household level serving in other garrisons.

Although their official rank was lower than that of the imperial family, they became the most trusted faction because they controlled the core combat forces and were absolutely loyal to Li Xiao.

The power of the maternal relatives was centered around Luo Meng, the commander of the Second Garrison, and included Li Xiao's cousin Qin Xiong (commander of the Second Garrison), Zhao Dabao (commander of the Seventh Garrison), and his brother-in-law Wei Xuan (who succeeded Da Hu as the deputy commander of the Sixth Garrison).

The influence of relatives of the Qin state, such as Zhao Luo and Wei, also held an extremely important position in the Qin army.

Although their overall strength is great, it is relatively scattered, relying on the Li family or even Li Xiao, and cannot be united as one.

The Queen's faction (also known as the Khitan faction) was a relatively independent and powerful faction, represented by figures such as Bali'ala, the commander of the Seventh Garrison; Xiao Chilu, the deputy commander of the Fifth Garrison; and An Meng, the commander of the First Garrison.

They were all former subordinates of Xiao Simo, scattered and incorporated into various towns, but connected by Xiao Yanyan's presence, and still belonged to a powerful faction in the Qin army.

In addition, there are small factions in the army divided by region, such as the Northern Desert faction, which is composed of generals who have surrendered from the Kereit and Merkit tribes, as well as generals from the Northern Desert such as Jebe.

Although the number of people is considerable, they lack a core general to oversee the overall situation, making it difficult to form a cohesive force.

The Uyghur and Tangut factions were even smaller, consisting mostly of junior officers who could only play a role in certain areas and were far from being on par with the four major factions.

Li Xiao's arrangements this time, seemingly showing consideration for family ties and appeasing veteran officials, are in fact strengthening the royal power's control over military power at every step.

Although the imperial clan faction remained the strongest, it was checked and balanced by the direct line, maternal relatives, and the Khitan faction.

The First Division's direct line infiltrated various armies, becoming a "stabilizing force" for the monarchy; the various factions checked and balanced each other, and could also unite their fighting power due to common goals. Such a layout was far more stable than simply relying on the royal family or direct line.

After all the personnel arrangements were announced, Li Xiao glanced at the generals and said solemnly, "Today's adjustments are not only to reward meritorious officials, but also to consolidate military strength in preparation for the eastern expedition against the Jin Kingdom."

"You are all pillars of the Great Qin Dynasty. You should prioritize the overall situation, set aside your preconceived notions, and work together to help the Great Qin Dynasty unify the world."

"We, your humble servants, will certainly not fail Your Majesty's trust," the generals responded in unison, their voices resounding throughout the council hall.

Subsequently, they began to discuss the specifics of the formation of the Eighth Division, the preparation of orders for the transfer of various generals, and so on.

……

Inside the Qin army camp in Longxi, sandstorms swept through the camp, carrying withered grass. Soldiers from the Fourth Garrison were busy cleaning their weapons and practicing formations, and the camp was filled with a tense atmosphere of preparation for war.

Although the Fourth Garrison was mainly stationed in the Hexi Corridor, during the last Eastern Expedition, in order to coordinate with the offensive in the Guanzhong battlefield, the army had already advanced the battle line to Longyou.

Now they are sharpening their swords, just waiting to formally declare war on the Jin Kingdom so they can directly take Qin Prefecture, then march on Chang'an City, and open up a key passage for the eastern expedition.

Inside the central command tent, Luo Meng, clad in armor, stood bent over in front of a huge topographical map, his finger slowly moving along the route from Longyou to Qinzhou.

Just then, a guard lifted the curtain and entered, bowing and reporting, "General, someone from Longcheng has arrived, saying they have important orders."

Luo Meng's heart skipped a beat, and he straightened up: "Please come in quickly."

A moment later, two burly men wearing yellow-based, red-trimmed cloth armor strode into the tent.

The two men were covered in dust. The one walking in front was Zhang Xiong, a commander of the Wuwei Army. He had been a personal guard commander under Li Xiao and was deeply trusted by him.

Following closely behind was a general with a resolute face, none other than Wang Dagui.

"Your humble servants Zhang Xiong and Wang Dagui greet General Luo." The two men bowed to Luo Meng with their hands on their chests, their voices loud and clear.

Luo Meng quickly waved his hand: "No need for formalities, you must be tired from your journey, please have a seat."

He secretly guessed that Longcheng must have sent someone here for important military matters, perhaps related to the deployment of the eastern expedition against the Jin Kingdom.

Zhang Xiong did not sit down, but said solemnly, "General Luo, I have come here on the orders of His Majesty to convey military orders."

"I request that the general summon all officers of the Fourth Division with a commander of a thousand or above to receive orders."

Luo Meng felt a chill run down his spine and dared not delay. He immediately sent someone to summon the commanders of the various ten-thousand-household and thousand-household units.

Before long, the core generals of the Fourth Division gathered in the central command tent. Zhang Xiong, holding the military order, stood in the center of the tent, his gaze sweeping over the generals, and said in a deep voice.

"The King decrees: Luo Meng is relieved of his post as Deputy Commander of the Fourth Garrison and relieved of his post as the Ten Thousandth Household Commander; Luo Meng is appointed Commander of the Second Garrison, concurrently serving as the Forty Thousandth Household Commander, and appointed General of Xianyang, in charge of the defense of Guanzhong."

As soon as he finished speaking, the tent fell silent. All the generals looked surprised, and Luo Meng's eyes were filled with disbelief.

Unable to resist asking, "Commander Zhang, the Second Garrison Commander and the Forty Ten Thousandth Household Commander, wasn't that Uncle Li's previous position? Uncle Li, he..."

Zhang Xiong had anticipated this question and calmly replied, "His Majesty has issued an edict to establish the Five Armies Commandery. General Li Dongjiang will remain in Longcheng as the Left Army Commander, overseeing the eastern front. His position is above that of the Commander-in-Chief."

"This transfer is an arrangement made by His Majesty for the overall situation of the Eastern Expedition."

Luo Meng finally understood, and a complex emotion welled up in his heart. He had served as the deputy commander of the Fourth Garrison for many years, and it was inevitable that he would feel reluctant to be transferred to the Second Garrison.

But then he thought about it again. The Second Garrison Commander was the main general in charge of a garrison, and he also served as a commander of ten thousand men and was in charge of the defense of Guanzhong. This was a real promotion, and his reluctance was quickly replaced by joy.

"This humble general, Luo Meng, thanks Your Majesty for your grace."

"I will certainly live up to Your Majesty's trust, guard Guanzhong well, and pave the way for the eastern expedition." Luo Meng patted his chest heavily, his voice resounding.

Zhang Xiong continued reading the military orders: "Wang Tietou is appointed as the deputy commander of the Fourth Division; Wang Dagui is appointed as the 100,000th Commander."

Upon hearing the appointment, Wang Tietou, who had been standing to the side, instantly broke into a smile.

He had been in the Fourth Division for many years, always being suppressed by Luo Meng, but now he had finally made it to the position of Deputy Commander.

Although he was called "Deputy," the Fourth Garrison Commander was always personally led by the King, and the Deputy Commander was the one in actual power, with almost the same authority as the Commander.

Wang Tietou immediately knelt down to accept the order: "This humble general, Wang Tietou, thanks Your Majesty for your trust! I will certainly manage the Fourth Garrison well and live up to Your Majesty's expectations."

Wang Dagui also stepped forward to receive the order, and the Fourth Town was officially transferred from the First Town.

After the personnel appointments and removals were announced, the generals congratulated Luo Meng, Wang Tietou, and Wang Dagui, and the atmosphere in the tent gradually became more enthusiastic.

At noon, a banquet was held in the Fourth Town, both to send off Luo Meng and to welcome the newly appointed Wang Tietou and Wang Dagui.

Not long after, a report came from outside the tent: "General, news has come from the border that the Song envoy has arrived at the Longyou border. He says he wants to pay respects to the old king and has important matters to discuss with the king in person."

Upon hearing this, all the generals looked puzzled.

Luo Meng put down his wine bowl, his brows furrowed: "The old prince has been buried for many days. It is far too late for the people of Song to come and pay their respects now."

Everyone nodded in agreement, but they were still unsure how to proceed.

After all, the State of Song was a potential ally of the State of Qin. If the envoy was neglected, it might affect the relationship between the two countries. However, since the envoy wanted to see the king, they had no right to make decisions on their own.

Ultimately, all eyes fell on Luo Meng, who was still the highest-ranking general present in the Fourth Division.

Even though he was about to be transferred to the Second Division, he would still be the nominal supreme commander of the Guanzhong War Zone. Once war broke out, Wang Tietou would have to obey his orders.

Luo Meng pondered for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "Our army is now preparing to go to war with the Jin Kingdom. The Song Kingdom is a potential ally, and strengthening ties with them would be beneficial to us."

"In this way, we will welcome the envoy from the State of Song and make proper accommodations for him."

"When Commander Zhang Xiong returned, he reported this matter to the King, who will then decide whether to receive the envoy."

"Yes, sir!" the generals responded in unison.

(End of this chapter)