The Demon-Slaying Grandmaster

Chapter 179 Rectifying Military Discipline is a Troublesome Matter

If they offend the emperor too badly, the two female demons might not dare to attack him, but that wouldn't stop them from causing trouble on the border.

The Tatars of the north rose to power and, within a few decades, drove the once-powerful Oirat Mongols to the western edge of the grasslands.

This forced the 'Uriyangkhai' tribe to move to the even more harsh and cold regions to the east to compete with the Jurchens for pastures.

This is also why the Jurchens have been continuously moving south into Liaodong in recent decades, living in the border areas between the Zhou Dynasty and Goryeo, or in the mountains and forests.

The Jurchens of this period certainly had a tough time, but it was precisely because of the harsh living conditions that they developed their fierce fighting power.

It's not that they were born good at fighting, but that life forced them to compete with wild animals for food.

The Jurchens who migrated south were semi-agricultural and semi-pastoral, and their fighting strength was far inferior to that of the wild Jurchens.

To a certain extent, the Wild Jurchens were not as strong as the Solon soldiers composed of Evenks and Daur.

One thousand Sauron soldiers, clad in three layers of armor, dared to charge into enemy armies of tens of thousands, and often managed to rout them.

The Jurchens during the Ming Dynasty did not acknowledge that they were of the same ethnicity as the Wild Jurchens. They not only discriminated against them, but also frequently attacked them to seize more mountains, forests and pastures.

In other words, Li Jingxiao could have easily recruited the Wild Jurchens and the Solon tribe.

Unfortunately, he had no intention of rebelling, which is why he never sent anyone to Heilongjiang to recruit soldiers.

In the emperor's mind, the barbarian tribes of the north were the greatest enemy, given the rise of the Tatars.

To some extent, after Li Jingxiao's northern expedition, the retired emperor and the emperor father and son became more tolerant of him.

Fortunately, Li Jingxiao knew how to avoid suspicion, which made the emperor and his son value him even more.

Even if Li Jingxiao bullies men and women and is arrogant and domineering, no one will lay a hand on him, let alone stop him from going to work.

They would first try to persuade him, and only if he became increasingly unreasonable and the emperor and his son could no longer tolerate it would they actually take action against him.

However, they will definitely make thorough preparations before taking action.

It would be impossible to contact a Taoist master strong enough to suppress Li Jingxiao within a few years.

Therefore, as long as Li Jingxiao doesn't do anything reckless, the title of the number one noble of the Great Zhou will eventually belong to him.
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Li Jingxiao readily agreed to the emperor's request for him to pray for blessings at the Zhenwu Temple.

When inviting Xia Shouzhong to the reception room for tea, he casually gave him two large, lustrous pearls.

The term "Eastern Pearl" refers to pearls produced in the lower reaches of the Songhua River and its tributaries, which were extremely precious during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Xia Shouzhong looked down and immediately recognized that the two pearls were top-quality gems, costing at least three or four hundred taels of silver.

The smile on his face immediately brightened by three points.

After taking their seats according to rank, and watching Hu Xian'er and Liu Cuitong serving tea and water like maids, Li Jingxiao couldn't help but admire him immensely.

No matter how noble the empress or imperial concubine in the palace is, they are not as prestigious as two great demons who have lived for hundreds of years and are willing to serve as maids.

Seeing Xia Shouzhong staring at Hu Xian'er and Liu Cuitong, Li Jingxiao knew that the identities of these two female demons had long been known to the Emperor and the Retired Emperor.

Li Jingxiao coughed, and Xia Shouzhong finally came to his senses.

Seeing Hu Xian'er glaring at him fiercely, he was so frightened that his heart trembled.

Li Jingxiao waved his hand and said to Hu Xian'er and Liu Cuitong, "Alright, you don't need to serve me anymore. Go and invite Master Shi and his two fellow disciples over."

Assist me in performing the ritual.

Hu Xian'er immediately lowered her head, curtsied, and said "Yes."

After the two female demons left, Xia Shouzhong, still feeling a lingering fear, reached out and wiped the fine sweat that had just appeared on his forehead with his sleeve.

Li Jingxiao chuckled and teased, "I said, you've been His Majesty's trusted eunuch for many years, how come you still have such a strong curiosity?"

Xia Shouzhong gave an awkward smile and shook his head helplessly. He wanted to explain a few things, but then thought better of it.

Without being explicitly stated, it was revealed that these two powerful demons were actually Li Jingxiao's maids.

If we've said it outright, then we can't really treat them as just maids.

Moreover, many eunuchs and servants in the palace believed in immortals, although this unhealthy trend has been suppressed.

However, Xia Shouzhong knew some of the taboos to some extent.

The immortals are actually most afraid of someone revealing their true identities.

If someone were to name Hu Xian'er as a fox spirit, it might be detrimental to her.

At that time, this woman will definitely hate you to death.

Most fox spirits are not magnanimous people.

To put it nicely, it's about being clear about right and wrong; to put it bluntly, it's about being petty.

Once they start retaliating, it's never-ending.

Xia Shouzhong was just thinking of giving Li Jingxiao some instructions when he suddenly remembered that he always carried the exorcism talisman that Li Jingxiao had given him.

He hurriedly pulled a brocade pouch from his clothes, but the talisman inside, though intact, had no effect whatsoever.

Seeing this, Li Jingxiao knew exactly what the old eunuch was thinking.

Before he could speak, she said irritably, "I say, Eunuch Xia, they are immortals who have accumulated merit."

Not only does she never kill people, but she also won't harbor any ill will towards you unless you provoke her.

The exorcism talisman I gave you, though it's not something extraordinary, isn't meant to be used to kill every strange creature you encounter.

Xia Shouzhong was relieved and no longer so afraid of Hu Xian'er and Liu Cuitong.

Then he instructed, "Lord Duke, His Majesty understands your hardships on the northern expedition, but you must not delay the training and instruction of the 5,000 cavalrymen of the Palace Guards (front, rear, left, right, and center) and the 3,000 new soldiers of the Imperial Guards."

After all, among the 2 men of the front and rear armies of the Palace Guard, there were many Tatars, Jurchens, and Han Chinese refugees who had fled beyond the Great Wall.

These people are not like the people of my Great Zhou, who are loyal to the imperial court.

Li Jingxiao nodded. The 900 heavy cavalry, 1600 light cavalry, and 2000 mercenaries he brought back were personally named the 'Tiger Warriors' by the emperor.

Divided into front, rear, left, right, and central armies, and supplemented with several hundred more men, the Palace Guard now comprises five thousand-household units.

On their return journey, Niu Zhanpeng and Chen Hongsheng had hinted that they should be careful of the Tatars and Jurchens.

However, Li Jingxiao wanted to directly give a sum of money to disband the Jurchen and Tatar troops among the 2000 cavalrymen, but Niu Zhanpeng and Chen Hongsheng were unwilling to do so.

After more than a dozen major battles, at least half of the survivors were herdsmen or landless refugees recruited from the grasslands north of Jizhou.

After months of fighting, and with Li Jingxiao's clear system of rewards and punishments, they had long since truly won over the hearts of the people.

What we really need to pay attention to is what happens after the army leaves Saihanba and Duolun Lake, escaping the pursuit of the Tatars.

When the army attacked the 10,000 Tatar camp in Liaodong, several hundred Han Chinese, Jurchens, and Uriyangkhai were recruited and supplemented, and some were Mongols who were captured by the Tatars and enslaved.

Unlike the mercenaries before them, these people didn't have pockets filled with at least a hundred taels of silver, or even several hundred taels.

If you want someone to risk their life for you and obey you, you must first do them a favor, then discipline them with military discipline, and finally promise them a bright future before they will truly be loyal.

Li Jingxiao thought for a moment, then called out to the outside, "Erfu."

Lu Erfu rushed in and heard Li Jingxiao say, "Tomorrow, take a captain from the Left Garrison Command and go check if any of the Palace Guards have violated military discipline."

The problem isn't serious, but give me a beating.

If anyone dares to be so audacious, just chop them up.

Lu Erfu's heart tightened, and he quickly nodded and clasped his hands in acceptance of the order.

After Erfu left, Xia Shouzhong opened his mouth, wanting to ask if simply supervising the Palace Guards was enough.

But as the words were about to leave his lips, he suddenly realized that the Imperial Guards were not under Li Jingxiao's command. Letting him interfere with the Imperial Guards would only cause him trouble.

Moreover, upon closer examination, the news that Li Jingxiao had punished the Palace Guards would inevitably spread throughout the entire Palace Guards infantry and personal guards.

Those 3-plus logistics soldiers, who were transformed into the new imperial guards, would surely behave themselves if they knew that Li Jingxiao was strict with military discipline.

If someone is caught violating military discipline again, they're asking for death.

As for rebellion or disobeying military orders, as long as Li Jingxiao is still alive, the 5,000 cavalrymen of the Palace Guard will remain.

They wouldn't dare to act recklessly even if they had ten times the courage.

Li Jingxiao was truly formidable, leading them on a campaign that traversed thousands of miles, slaughtering countless people on the grasslands.

On the grasslands, several mounds of Jingguan, housing thousands or even tens of thousands of people, were built.

It's no exaggeration to say that he was infamous.

After seeing Xia Shouzhong off, Li Jingxiao was still a little worried, so he sent someone to call Niu Zhanpeng and Chen Hongsheng over.

The 2 men in the vanguard and rearguard were under their command.

These two thousand men were all former auxiliary soldiers.

Since Xia Shouzhong specifically brought this up, it must mean that someone has violated military discipline or there are other issues.

When Niu Zhanpeng and Chen Hongsheng arrived, they were given a severe scolding by Li Jingxiao.

When the two men saw Li Jingxiao get angry, they didn't dare to utter a single word.

On the grasslands, Li Jingxiao was truly ruthless enough to kill his own people.

He killed two of the officers, Yuhou and Baihu, otherwise, rewards alone wouldn't have been enough to keep these ruffians in check.

Especially when a large army is deep in enemy territory, facing an uncertain future, and not knowing when it will be wiped out.

The human heart is the easiest to change and the hardest to fathom.

Only by making an example of someone can we temporarily stabilize morale.

After Li Jingxiao led his army and won several battles, he wiped out several tribes.

And it was only after he actually gave out rewards, and even women, that the entire army truly began to believe in him.

When the army returned to Liaodong, Li Jingxiao's prestige reached its peak in the hearts of the soldiers.

That means whatever they say goes.

If there are any things you don't understand or don't comprehend, that's your problem.

The problem isn't about a commander who leads everyone to victory and also makes them rich.

Therefore, when Li Jingxiao got angry, Niu Zhanpeng and Chen Hongsheng not only didn't utter a single word of rebuttal, but they were also secretly furious with their subordinates.

He thought to himself, "When I get back, I'll see how I deal with you guys."

Niu Zhanpeng and Chen Hongsheng commanded the auxiliary troops all the way, and repeatedly took the lead in charging into battle.

Only the two of them were most suitable to be the commanders of the two thousand-man units, the vanguard and the rearguard.

Seeing that the two men didn't retaliate, Li Jingxiao could only laugh and say, "Alright, when you get back, be strict with military discipline. Anyone who makes a mistake should be punished with a cane."

If anyone is truly audacious, deal with them today.

"Otherwise, if Erfu brings the Imperial Guards from the Left Garrison to investigate military discipline tomorrow, you two won't escape responsibility either."

Niu Zhanpeng and Chen Hongsheng were immediately moved to tears, thinking to themselves that the commander-in-chief was indeed mindful of their comradeship. If he hadn't reminded them in advance today, they might have been in deep trouble tomorrow.

In fact, he might be demoted after only a few days in the position of a fourth-rank commander.

Not only will it embarrass you and your family, but it will also make it several times more difficult to improve your status.

There may be no hope for the rest of their lives.

After all, the Palace Guard was the emperor's personal army, and some mistakes, once made, could not be taken twice.

The two men hurriedly bowed deeply in thanks, then returned to their military camp with a vengeance.

The Palace Guard had a total of 8600 soldiers, and with the auxiliary troops, the total exceeded 1.

It's impossible for them all to be stationed in the palace, and people aren't made of iron.

If they were to take turns resting, they would have to build military camps both inside and outside the city.

In the afternoon, Li Jingxiao finished his cultivation and was preparing to go home for dinner when he stepped out of his room.

Then Zhao Junheng came over with a smile and said, "My lord, the vanguard and rear guard of the Palace Guard publicly flogged more than seventy people outside the palace this afternoon."

The most serious one, I heard, didn't make it through.

After being given seventy strokes of the cane, he was already dead when they carried him off the court.

Moreover, Commander Niu and Commander Chen themselves took off their clothes and received thirty lashes.

He claimed that he hadn't disciplined them properly, to the point that some dared to secretly gather and gamble while on duty in the palace.

Li Jingxiao didn't believe it at all and looked at Zhao Junheng, asking, "Are you sure it's really just gambling? And there are other gambling games..."

At this point, Li Jingxiao subconsciously looked around to make sure no one else was there.

He then asked in a low voice, "Among those gambling, are there any Jurchens or Tatars?"

Zhao Junheng hurriedly said, "Not only are there no Jurchens or Tatars, but I have also had people confirm this repeatedly. The Jurchens and Tatars are actually the most disciplined in military matters."

Li Jingxiao was taken aback, but after a moment's thought, he understood.

They knew they were not Han Chinese, but they had transformed from grassland slaves into the personal guard of the Great Zhou Emperor.

Not only did their status rise dramatically, but it was no exaggeration to say that they brought glory to their ancestors and received a second life.

The monthly salary is enough to allow the family to live a good life they never imagined before.

Moreover, quite a few of the Tatars and Jurchens who followed Li Jingxiao and fought more than a dozen major battles survived.

These people will spontaneously restrain their fellow tribesmen who join later.

Moreover, they have more opportunities to perform meritorious service and generally enjoy a higher status.

In the military, military achievements have always been used to determine status. As long as these people don't cause trouble, the morale of the army will be stable.

Li Jingxiao said with a smile, "Tell Rong-ge'er to reward those honest soldiers with a month's salary tomorrow."

Zhao Junheng nodded with a smile, but a few seconds later, Li Jingxiao changed his mind and said, "No, we have to have Rong-ge write to His Majesty so that His Majesty can issue the reward."

Zhao Junheng was taken aback. He thought about it for a long time before realizing that his master was actively asking His Majesty to bestow favors upon him.

Looking at Li Jingxiao's back, he thought to himself that it was no wonder his own Duke had been able to rise through the ranks to become the Duke.

If it were him, he wouldn't have imagined so many twists and turns.

When Li Jingxiao returned home, he had dinner with his two wives and chatted with them until after nine o'clock.

Seeing Yuan Chun's evasive gaze, Qin Keqing couldn't help but smile.

Yuan Chun was thinking that Li Jingxiao would sleep in her room later.

It was supposed to be a good thing, but Li Jingxiao had to run around to both places last night.

Qin Keqing had served Li Jingxiao alone for several months, so she naturally understood how capable her man was.

(End of this chapter)