Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 426 What are you being careful of? These are my subordinates.
"His Majesty once said that the method of training a hundred cavalrymen is too wasteful and not suitable for large-scale implementation in the various guards."

Qin Qiong spoke first, his voice tinged with helplessness.

"I inquired before, and the monthly expenses of a hundred cavalrymen are equivalent to half a year's military pay for the Left Guard. Even His Majesty would not dare to easily expand such a money-devouring scheme."

Wen He nodded immediately upon hearing this.

He personally designed all the training for the Hundred Cavalry, and he knew the rations for each soldier better than anyone else.

The 100 cavalrymen had meat at every meal to replenish their strength.

This alone is something that ordinary guards cannot afford.

However, if the nutrition is not up to standard, it can kill you from training.

The reason why the Hundred Cavalry could produce so much was because Li Shimin didn't keep a single penny of the profits from soap and glass production; he gave it all to the Hundred Cavalry.

Therefore, the people in the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of War had no objections.

It is important to know that one of the biggest characteristics of the Tang Dynasty's military system was that soldiers were responsible for their own weapons, rations, and even tents.

In a way, it is quite similar to a certain major power in later generations.

However, the Tang Dynasty did not mistreat these soldiers in the early period. At least in terms of military pay and rewards for military merit, Li Shimin was never stingy.

In addition, regular training is also subsidized.

"But I want to follow the example of the Hundred Cavalry and build an elite squad of 100 men in the Left Guard."

Qin Qiong abruptly changed the subject, a sharp glint flashing in his cloudy eyes.

"Forehead……"

Wen He paused, a hint of surprise rising in her heart.

Special forces?

The thought had barely crossed his mind when he suppressed it.

Special forces?

In the era of cold weapons, special forces were not very useful.

Without the aid of firearms, even if they infiltrate behind enemy lines, they can at most serve a reconnaissance purpose.

And these hundred riders could do that.

Wen He hesitated for a moment, but she still admired Qin Qiong's vision.

He could see the difference simply from the training of the Hundred Riders.

He truly deserves to be one of Li Er's most valued generals.

He carefully considered his words, stepped forward, and whispered.

"Duke Yi, please forgive my bluntness, but if it is to scout the enemy, scouts will suffice. If it is to launch a surprise attack, then we can use a hundred cavalry."

"In my opinion, as the main force of the Tang Dynasty, the Left Guard should ultimately focus on direct combat on the battlefield."

Song Yao, standing behind Qin Qiong, suddenly turned pale.

Yesterday, this captain confidently assured his men that he could persuade the Earl of Gaoyang County to pass on his training methods for a hundred cavalrymen.

Hearing Wen He's words now, they could only assume that she had been completely rejected.

Qin Qiong, however, didn't care at all and instead laughed loudly.

He walked up and patted Wen He on the shoulder.

"If Father and Mother have it, it's better to have it myself! I submitted this idea to the Emperor a long time ago, and His Majesty summoned me to the palace the other day and gave his approval."

Huh, Li Er actually agreed?
But that's not surprising.

Qin Qiong would specifically tell me about this, so he must have spoken to Li Shimin first.

Otherwise, given his cautious nature, he would never have made a decision on his own.

Otherwise, there will definitely be big trouble in the future.

"Moreover, what I want is not just the body-refining method for the Hundred Riders. The training can also be simplified. For example, the 'one hundred men as one' coordination technique that you promoted in the Hundred Riders can be used by infantry, and even more so by cavalry!"

No sooner had the words been spoken than a deafening sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from the east side of the drill ground.

A cavalry unit was conducting a charge drill under orders. Their black armor gleamed coldly in the sunlight, and their iron hooves kicked up clouds of dust. Although the unit was imposing, one could vaguely see that there was some disarray in the ranks.

The horses of the riders in the front row were going a little faster and almost collided.

Qin Qiong pointed at the cavalry, his tone suddenly becoming heroic.

"The other day, I was discussing matters with the Duke of Dai at the Ministry of War. We talked about the military formations of the world. He said that if all the troops of the Tang Dynasty could be uniform and remain calm in the face of danger..."

"If you combine this with the crossbows and hot air balloons you've created, along with grenades and catapults, you can overwhelm the enemy lines with overwhelming force and become invincible!"

Saying he's invincible is a bit of an exaggeration.

But it seems about the same.

But what surprised Wen He even more was Qin Qiong's idea.

This is hardly an ancient battlefield concept; it's clearly a simplified version of combined arms warfare involving infantry, tanks, artillery, and air power!

Hot air balloon aerial reconnaissance combined with high-altitude strikes.

The crossbow and catapult together provided long-range fire support.

With the addition of artillery later on, the Tang Dynasty could be described as having a completely devastating advantage.

Finally, the cavalry launched the charge, followed by the infantry.

Urban warfare uses grenades and crossbows.

Isn't this just the synthetic brigade of later generations?!

Looking at Qin Qiong, he suddenly had an absurd illusion.

Who is actually from the future?
How could the strategic vision of the ancients be so far ahead of their time?
In any case, Wen He felt that if Qin Qiong hadn't explained it to him like this, he wouldn't have thought of any of this at all.

"In addition, His Majesty has decided to reform the cavalry training methods, and to incorporate the iron cavalry charging techniques used by Tuoba Tao of the Northern Wei Dynasty when he defeated the Rouran."

As Qin Qiong spoke, he suddenly stopped, turned around, looked steadily at Wen He, and smiled.

"Do you know how His Majesty, with fewer troops, defeated Dou Jiande's 100,000-strong army in the Battle of Wulao Pass?"

Wen He shook his head honestly.

The only record he had read before was that "In the fourth year of the Wude era, Prince Qin Shimin defeated Dou Jiande at Wulao Pass, captured him, and then forced Wang Shichong to surrender, capturing two kings in one battle."

He did not study the specific tactical deployments in detail.

Li Yifu, standing nearby, also pricked up his ears. Although he was well-read, he knew very little about battlefield warfare, and Jiang Li held his breath.

Only someone like Qin Qiong, who personally experienced these founding events, could clearly recount them.

A look of reminiscence appeared in Qin Qiong's eyes, as if he had returned to those days.

He spoke slowly.

"That year, Dou Jiande personally led an army of 100,000 to aid Luoyang. His camps stretched for dozens of miles, and his banners covered the sky. His Majesty personally led 3,000 Xuanjia soldiers as the vanguard and stationed them at Wulao Pass to resist them."

"On the day of the decisive battle, His Majesty ordered the Xuanjia Army heavy cavalry to form a horizontal line like a wall and advance. He also ordered Cheng Zhijie and Yuchi Jingde to each lead more than a thousand light cavalry to protect the two flanks."

Before Dou Jiande's army could form ranks, His Majesty personally beat the war drums, and the Xuanjia Army charged like thunder, heading straight for the central camp. Light cavalry flanked the army from both sides, and the 100,000-strong army was instantly routed. Dou Jiande himself was captured alive in the midst of the battle.

Li Yifu and Jiang Li listened intently.

But Wen He felt that Qin Qiong was telling him something else, even though he seemed to be talking about the past.

"Battle formation?!" Wen He exclaimed in surprise.

Upon hearing this, Qin Qiong smiled but remained silent as he looked at him.

This tactic...

Wen He suddenly thought of a Western tactic.

Wall formation.

A cavalry tactic that was touted as miraculous by the West allowed Prussia to almost sweep across Europe in the 18th century.

However, the arrogant Westerners probably never imagined that such tactics already existed in the East in the sixth and seventh centuries.

Even later, during the Ming Dynasty, this cavalry tactic was used in conjunction with firearms on the battlefield.

It's a pity that a certain dynasty, which thought itself invincible in horse archery, abolished this tactic.

Moreover, the Tang Dynasty's cavalry line formation was more flexible than the wall formation.

However, the two have something in common: discipline.

Seeing Wen He deep in thought, Qin Qiong did not disturb him.

"This method works."

Wen He pondered for a long time before finally nodding, then frowning again.

"But with only a few months left until the autumn harvest, there probably isn't enough time to rehearse new tactics."

Upon hearing this, Qin Qiong burst into laughter, the sound echoing across the empty training ground.

"Do you think His Majesty has been supporting cavalry all these years for nothing?"

"Since the ninth year of the Wude era, His Majesty has paid special attention to cavalry training. After the great victory over Jieli in the Battle of Huizhou, he selected strong and capable men from all over the country to strengthen the cavalry force."

"The cavalry of the Left and Right Martial Guards are now elite troops skilled in archery and horsemanship, but what they lack is your 'strict command and discipline, and unity of purpose' coordination technique!"

Wen He finally understood, and was both amused and exasperated.

No wonder Li Jing specifically sent him to inspect the Left and Right Martial Guards.

These two guards were the elite forces of the Tang Dynasty, always serving as the vanguard in major battles. Last year, the Left Guard attacked the puppet Liang regime and captured thousands of fine horses from the Western Regions, making its cavalry strength far superior to that of other guards.

Li Shimin appointed him as the Chief Secretary of the Left Guard Army, which was by no means a sinecure.

It was clearly a premeditated plan to have him train the cavalry!
Having him train the troops was to add the finishing touch, allowing the Tang Dynasty's cavalry tactics to achieve further breakthroughs.

But this is also his fault.
Who told him to paint an unattainable pie in the sky for Li Shimin?

This made Li Shimin constantly feel that the Tang Dynasty's army was not strong enough.

That world map is still kept in Li Shimin's study.

But he didn't dare to take it out to look at it.

Sometimes setting goals that are too ambitious can actually make people feel discouraged.

Qin Qiong raised an eyebrow noncommittally, his tone suddenly becoming serious.

"Tomorrow I will accompany you to the Right Guard to see Cheng Zhijie. From today until the autumn harvest, all the cavalry of the Left and Right Guards will be trained by you. Cheng Zhijie and I will be there to support you."

"all?!"

Wen He was so startled that she raised her voice.

It wasn't because Qin Qiong said he had full authority over him, but because of the word "all".

The Tang Dynasty implemented the Fubing system, where soldiers farmed on weekdays and only gathered for training during the off-season.

Even among the cavalry, only the core members were permanently stationed in the barracks, while the rest were scattered across farms in various places.

All personnel will only be mobilized during wartime.

Recalling all the cavalry from both guards for training is no small feat.

Qin Qiong noticed his confusion and explained with a smile.

"Spring plowing is over, and the soldiers can now focus on their training."

"His Majesty issued a special decree that military pay during the training period would be distributed according to wartime standards, and each person would also be given an extra two dou of millet per month."

Wen He couldn't help but sigh.

Li Shimin was always willing to invest in military affairs, never withholding or delaying military pay, and even giving rewards during festivals. This was the foundation of the Tang Dynasty's strong fighting power.

During the reign of Emperor Gaozong (Li Zhi), military pay began to be distributed at a discount. When Empress Wu Zetian came to power, the situation became even worse. During training, soldiers not only received no pay, but they also had to provide their own rations.

I work my ass off for you, but in the end I can't even get enough to eat. Who would be willing to put in the effort then?
The army's combat effectiveness naturally plummeted.

It wasn't until Li Longji ascended the throne and reorganized the military that the army was able to recover some of its strength.

"What, you don't want to?"

Qin Qiong was puzzled when he saw that he was slow to express his opinion.

This is a coveted position that many people would kill for, as it allows one to oversee the training of the two guards' cavalry and establish prestige.

The benefits to his future career would be immeasurable, so why did Wen He hesitate?
"Duke Yi, it's not that I'm unwilling, but I simply lack the confidence."

Wen He bowed with a bitter expression, her tone full of helplessness.

"I have just turned twelve this year. Although I have merits in the Battle of Huizhou, you know the details."

In that battle, to put it in terms of emotional intelligence, he was half a step ahead of Li Jing.

If you have low emotional intelligence, it means Li Jing took him away to gain military merits.

Wen He continued, her face contorted in a grimace.

"My achievements were not earned through real fighting. My previous accomplishments in the Hundred Cavalry were all miscellaneous tasks of investigating cases and apprehending criminals, which had nothing to do with battlefield combat."

"The military respects military achievements the most. Those cavalry captains and brigade commanders are all people who have crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood. I'm afraid I'm just a greenhorn and I can't keep them in check."

What he said was true.

The reason why the Hundred Riders respected him was twofold: firstly, he was the one who built the Hundred Riders, and secondly, he had fought for all the benefits they received.

Wen He led them to achieve several merits.

However, the cavalry of the Left and Right Guards were different; most of them were veterans of the founding of the nation.

Having fought alongside Qin Qiong and Cheng Zhijie, he was arrogant and would not easily submit to a young junior.

Upon hearing this, Qin Qiong laughed loudly and stepped forward to gently pat Wen He's shoulder.

"Don't worry! With Yizhen and I backing you up, who would dare to disobey?"

"Besides, I've seen your abilities firsthand. Not to mention anything else, just look at the case of embezzlement of military funds in the ninth year of the Wude era—many people still remember your kindness!"

Having said all that, Wen He had no reason to refuse and could only bite the bullet and agree.

"Since the Duke of Yi trusts me, I will do my best. If there are any mistakes, I hope the Duke will give me some guidance."

Seeing that he agreed, Qin Qiong smiled with relief. Just as he was about to say something more, he suddenly seemed to remember something and raised his eyebrows to ask.

"By the way, I heard that Duan Zhixuan gave you a horse spear?"

"Ah, that is indeed the case."

How did the news of Duan Zhixuan giving him the horse spear spread so quickly?

It was one thing for Li Shimin to know, but even Qin Qiong knew.

and many more!

Wen He suddenly had a bad feeling.

Qin Qiong smiled knowingly and said.

"His Majesty summoned me to the palace for a meeting the other day and specifically mentioned that although you hold the title of Chief Military Advisor, you are not even proficient in wielding a horse spear, which would be a disgrace to the Left Guard if word got out."

“He has been busy with affairs lately, so he entrusted me to personally teach you. Tomorrow, go to the Right Guard and let Cheng Zhijie be your sparring partner.”

Wen He's lips twitched as she listened, silently cursing Li Shimin a thousand times over in her heart.

He knew that Li Shimin must have orchestrated this.

Previously, Li Shimin had him come to the palace every day to teach Li Chengqian and practice horse spear with him.

Fortunately, something happened recently and Li Shimin didn't have time to deal with him.

He thought the matter was over, but he didn't expect that Li Shimin had a backup plan.

"What, you're not happy?"

Seeing his strange expression, Qin Qiong deliberately teased him.

"Back in the day, I followed His Majesty in conquering the world. Even Yuchi Jingde had to give me some respect in horse spear technique. So many people begged me to teach them, but I never got the chance."

"No, no, it is my honor to receive guidance from the Duke."

Wen He quickly cupped his hands in greeting, puzzled.

Wasn't Qin Qiong's specialty the double maces?

The thought had barely crossed her mind when Wen He couldn't help but ask it.

"Duke Yi, it is said that you once traversed both banks of the Yellow River on horseback, conquered three prefectures and six counties with your mace, and defeated the generals of eighteen rebel kings. Is this true?"

Qin Qiong was taken aback upon hearing this. He looked down at Wen He's curious expression and was initially stunned.

"Who fabricated this story about me? When did I ever have such a reputation?"

He has some sense of shame.

If those old guys from before heard these words...

Aren't you going to laugh at him for his shameless boasting?!
"Oh, it's just something I heard secondhand."

Wen He quickly tried to smooth things over.

"I heard it from a scholar named Chu Renhuo. He wrote a storybook in which you are portrayed as a god. However, I think he understated you. Your abilities are much greater than those in the book."

He was telling the truth; in "Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties," Qin Qiong's martial arts prowess was ranked quite low.

Little did people know that the real Qin Qiong in history was a fierce general, and even Yuchi Jingde was once his defeated opponent.

"By the way, it's true that you captured the Duke of Wu back then, right?" Wen He blinked.

Qin Qiong stroked his beautiful beard, coughed twice, and said with a hint of pride.

"Naturally, when Jingde passed through Meiliangchuan, I and the late Duke of Yun intercepted him from both sides. Jingde was thrown into disarray and tried to charge, but I knocked him off his horse."

He was beaming as he told this story.

Wen He didn't know whether there were any fictional elements in it.

Judging from Yuchi Gong's attitude towards Qin Qiong, it's highly likely that Qin Qiong was indeed captured.

"By the way, about that thing you were talking about earlier."

A hint of curiosity flashed in his eyes, and he moved closer to Wen He and lowered his voice.

"How did you describe me? I happen to have some free time today, so tell me all about it when we get to the central command tent."

"Ah, this..."

Wen He froze on the spot, wishing she could slap herself.

Wen He couldn't help but want to slap her own mouth.

You should have improved your speech a lot in the past two years, so why are you being so slippery again?

He wanted to refuse, but Qin Qiong didn't give him the chance.

As the saying goes: "Prosperity fades like light clouds, but immortality requires great achievements."

With a grand ambition to save the setting sun, how could my heroic heart be confined to the ranks of the common soldiers…

"The Romance of the Late Sui Dynasty?"

The following day, in the Lizheng Hall of Chang'an, Li Shimin was looking through the news that had come in.

"I ordered him to train the cavalry, but instead, he went and started talking to Qin Qiong!"

Li Shimin snorted coldly.

Li Shimin remembered that Wen He had mentioned it to him before.

However, when he asked how to describe Xuanwu Gate, that brat immediately changed his tune.

Oh, no, Wen He was referring to the Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties.

So he simply removed all the content related to the Tang Dynasty?
"Your Majesty, calm down."

Standing to the side, Gao Yue quickly bowed and offered her advice cautiously.

"When the Earl of Gaoyang County first arrived at Zuowuwei, he was trying to get closer to the Duke of Yi, which would make it easier to train the cavalry later. It seems that he did not intend to neglect his official duties."

Li Shimin's expression softened slightly, and he then spoke in a deep voice.

"Issue my decree that Wen He must immediately cease his sermon. This book is largely fictional and may mislead the soldiers; it must not be circulated! If he dares to slack off again, I will not let him off lightly!"

"Here."

Gao Yue quickly agreed, took the imperial edict, and hurried out of the palace, heading straight for the Right Guard.

At this moment, Wen He was being pestered by Cheng Zhijie near the Right Guard Training Ground.

Standing there with a helpless expression, Qin Qiong sat on a stone bench to the side, holding a teacup and watching the commotion with a smile.

"Jiaying, could you tell me another story? Tell me about Yang Lin setting up the One-Character Long Snake Formation. Brother Qin said that this formation never existed back then. I want to hear how that scholar made it up."

Cheng Zhijie rubbed his hands together, his face full of anticipation.

Yesterday, he heard Wen He tell a story about Qin Qiong "selling his horse to use as a mace," and he laughed so hard he almost fell over.

This morning, she held onto Wen He tightly and wouldn't let go.

"Duke Su, we really can't say any more. If His Majesty finds out, I'll be in deep trouble."

Wen He waved his hands repeatedly. He had told a story on a whim yesterday, but he didn't expect Cheng Zhijie to get so engrossed in it that he waited for him at the camp gate this morning.

Just then, Gao Yue appeared at the camp gate and shouted.

"His Majesty's decree: Bowen He of Gaoyang County is hereby summoned to receive the imperial edict!"

Wen He's heart skipped a beat, realizing something was wrong, and he quickly straightened his official robes and stepped forward to receive the imperial decree.

When he heard Gao Yue relay Li Shimin's imperial edict, he secretly glanced at Cheng Zhijie and saw that the Duke's eyes were wide open and his face was full of displeasure. He couldn't help but smile bitterly to himself.

"His Majesty forbids us to say it?"

After Gao Yue finished reading the imperial edict, Cheng Zhijie and others immediately started making a fuss.

"Lord Su, His Majesty means that this must not be spread," Gao Yue explained with a dry laugh.

Cheng Zhijie, that reckless fellow, is he going to do something foolish?

However, Cheng Zhijie did not press the matter, but instead smiled.

"That's right. That scholar's writing is a mess and should be banned. Your Majesty is wise."

This guy may be described as reckless, but he's definitely not a hothead.

The future veteran minister of four dynasties, do you really think he's a fool?

"This matter was just a spur-of-the-moment thing for me, and has nothing to do with the Earl of Gaoyang County."

Upon seeing this, Qin Qiong quickly stood up and bowed to Gao Yue. "I would like to trouble you, Senior Official Gao, to inform His Majesty that I was momentarily confused and disturbed Wen Du's official business. I am willing to accept the punishment."

Gao Yue was so frightened that she quickly stepped aside and did not dare to accept Qin Qiong's courtesy.

This Duke of Yi is a trusted minister of His Majesty. Although he is only the General of the Left Guard, he holds the power of the palace guards.

This favor was unique in the entire Tang Dynasty.

"You flatter me, Duke Yi. His Majesty has always respected you, so how could he punish you?"

Gao Yue quickly said, then turned to Wen He and solemnly instructed her.

“Lord of Gaoyang County, please remember His Majesty’s words: you must never divulge the contents of this book again.”

"Don't worry, officer. The story I told you before will not leave this camp."

Wen He bowed in agreement, and watching Gao Yue's departing figure, she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Li Er suddenly came to give this reminder.

It certainly wasn't because he mentioned anything about the Romance of the Late Sui Dynasty.

Perhaps she specifically sent Gao Yue to check if she had been slacking off.

As for the historical events at the end of the Sui Dynasty, Emperor Taizong of Tang (Li Er) wouldn't care about that at all.

When he gets old, he might still care about some things.

"Hehe, Jia Ying, we're not allowed to talk about the end of the Sui Dynasty, but what about your Three Kingdoms? You haven't done it in a long time."

Cheng Zhijie pursed his lips, then suddenly seemed to remember something, stepped forward and slapped Wen He on the shoulder with such force that Wen He almost stumbled.

"hiss!"

Wen He gasped, rubbing her shoulder and wincing in pain. "Duke Su, what grudge do you have against me? Are you trying to hurt me?"

Wen He rubbed her shoulder; it hurt terribly.

He felt it must be swollen.

That bastard was so strong he almost broke him apart.

"Yi-jeong, do not be reckless!"

Qin Qiong frowned and scolded. He could tell from Wen He's expression that Cheng Zhijie hadn't held back.

"Jiaying is frail and can't withstand this kind of torment."

Cheng Zhijie awkwardly withdrew his hand and coughed lightly.

"I just got carried away for a moment. Jiaying, you really need to work on your physique. Otherwise, when you go north with us to fight, you might not even be able to sit still on horseback."

"By the way, didn't Duan Zhixuan give you a lance? How about I teach you how to use it?"

Not much!
Wen He was depressed; he had previously been quite grateful to Duan Zhixuan.

Those lances aren't cheap.

But now he suddenly had an urge to throw away that lance.

"Alright, stop fooling around. Almost everyone's here."

Qin Qiong coughed lightly and looked toward the entrance to the training ground, where a group of men in armor were leading horses.

"Let's get down to business."

Seeing this, Cheng Zhijie also stopped joking and followed Qin Qiong's gaze.

Not far from them, a group of men dressed in at least the armor of a brigade commander were leading their horses toward the training ground.

This was Wen He's idea.

The Left and Right Guards together have over ten thousand cavalrymen.

If training is scheduled in shifts, the training ground definitely won't be able to accommodate everyone.

Therefore, Wen He decided to train officers of brigade commander rank and above first, and then let them train their own troops after their training was completed.

Just like the Whampoa Military Academy in later generations.

Keep in mind that these people who came were already considered elites.

Wen He didn't need to teach them how to ride horses or use knives; the only thing he needed to teach them was to obey orders.

Moreover, it is a true case of orders being strictly enforced.

So, Wen He planned to use all the tricks from later generations, such as standing in formation, tidying up the house, and singing military songs.

In this way, a few months will be enough.

To ensure the training effect, Wen He specifically discussed with Su Dingfang and transferred a team of 100 cavalrymen, and also borrowed Zhang Wenxiao.

"The hundred riders have arrived, now everything is settled."

Wen He said in a low voice, feeling much more at ease.

"Go with peace of mind. With me and Brother Qin here to keep things in check, let's see who dares to give you a hard time."

Cheng Zhijie patted Wen He on the back, but this time he held back.

"If anyone dares to lose their temper, I'll be the first to deal with them!"

Wen He glanced gratefully at the two dukes, straightened his official robes, bowed to them, and then strode towards the general's platform.

Sunlight shone on his green official robe, highlighting the young man's tall and straight figure. Although he looked somewhat green, he also exuded an undeniable determination.

On the drill ground, officers from the two guards stood in twos and threes, discussing in hushed tones.

They received the message last night and rushed to the assembly point.

Aside from his armor, he didn't even bring a sword.

"What on earth is going to do? An emergency assembly so early in the morning, and they're not even allowed to bring weapons."

A bearded captain frowned; he had just returned from a farm outside the city, his horse's hooves still covered in mud.

"Who knows? Didn't you see Duke Yi and Duke Su over there? Something big must have happened."

A brigade commander nearby chimed in, his gaze unconsciously drifting towards Qin Qiong and Cheng Zhijie, his eyes filled with awe.

These two were founding fathers of the nation; anything that could warrant their personal attention was no small matter.

"Look, aren't those the Hundred Riders?"

"What are you doing here, 100 riders? Has any of you committed another crime?"

The previous case of embezzlement of military funds implicated many people.

Many commanders of military headquarters were captured by the Hundred Cavalry, and many other generals and captains were also implicated.

Later, the Commander's Office was reorganized and is now called the General's Office. Many of them were promoted because of this.

"Hey, who's that little kid?"

Some people noticed Wen He's figure on the high platform, but felt that she looked familiar but did not recognize her.

Those who knew Wen He's identity immediately changed their expressions.

"The Little Killer of a Hundred Riders!"

"Didn't the Earl of Gaoyang County leave the Hundred Cavalry? I remember he's now the Minister of War and concurrently the Chief Clerk of the Left Guard Army, right?" someone asked in surprise.

The generals of the Right Guard turned to look at the Left Guard.

Those Left Guards were also completely baffled.

On the high platform, Wen He waved to Zhang Wenxiao.

The latter then ran up behind him with a simple wooden horn.

After picking up the megaphone, Wen He raised her voice and shouted.

"Generals, I have gathered you all here today for an important matter."

"His Majesty has decreed that before the autumn harvest, all cavalry of the Left and Right Martial Guards shall be trained by me."

"I know that everyone here is an elite soldier who has fought alongside Duke Yi and Duke Su in numerous battles and has achieved great merit. Perhaps some of you think that I, a young junior, am not qualified to stand here and command you."

He paused, glanced down at the crowd, and seeing the expressions of agreement on many faces, continued.

"I won't preach to you; today we'll let our actions speak for themselves, Zhang Wenxiao!"

"Here!" Zhang Wenxiao stepped forward and responded loudly.

"Take your men and demonstrate the hundred-cavalry formation drill to all the generals!"

Wen He gave the order.

"Here!"

Zhang Wenxiao turned around and loudly gave orders to the hundred cavalrymen behind him.

"Attention! Right dress! Eyes forward! Forward march!"

At his command, the hundred soldiers moved in perfect unison, their steps synchronized, even the sound of their armor plates clashing was as if they were a single entity moving together.

They turned around and changed formations at times, switching between square and circular formations with fluid ease and without any disorder.

The drill ground fell silent immediately.

These officers were all seasoned veterans who had led troops for many years, so they naturally knew how difficult it was to maintain a neat and orderly formation, let alone to achieve such a level of uniformity among a hundred men.

"This...this formation is too orderly!"

Many people stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with disbelief.

His soldiers had been training for half a year, but their formation was still crooked and could not compare with the 100 cavalrymen.

"It's not just about being in sync; look at their steps, the distance between each step is exactly the same. How long must they have practiced to achieve that?"

The brigade commander beside him murmured, his eyes filled with admiration.

"stand at attention!"

At Wen He's command, the hundred riders stood at attention.

Although the generals were surprised, they were still puzzled.

Letting them see it, it couldn't have been just so they could watch a hundred cavalrymen drill, could it?

"I know you all have questions right now, but I don't intend to answer them. Today I'm only giving you two choices."

"First, stand here. You stand here for as long as the Hundred Riders stand."

"Second, come to me to write your resignation letter, and I will personally deliver it to His Majesty, after which you can leave."

His voice fell.

The generals present were immediately thrown into an uproar.

"What is this going to do?"

"Standing up against a hundred cavalrymen... wait, does His Majesty intend to have the Earl of Gaoyang County train us?"

"Isn't this absurd?"

"Still standing? What good will standing do? Are they trying to test our character?"

The generals immediately became restless.

Many of them were indeed grateful to Wen He.

Moreover, quite a few people have a favorable impression of Wen He.

After all, those crossbows and grenades were really useful.

But to let these little kids train them would be utterly ridiculous.

"Everyone be quiet!"

The roar nearly deafened Wen He.

Cheng Zhijie walked out, his eyes wide open, pointing at the people on the training ground.

"The Earl of Gaoyang County has made it very clear: either stand like the Hundred Cavalry, or write a letter of resignation. If anyone is still dissatisfied, they can go to His Majesty for help."

"These are the three choices!"

It has to be Cheng Zhijie.

As soon as he finished speaking, the training ground became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

I really should watch less TV dramas.

The Cheng Zhijie in the TV series and the person in front of me are completely different people.

Summer has arrived.

By noon, the temperature had become unbearably hot.

In particular, these generals were wearing armor.

They all looked like they had just been in a sauna.

But right in front of them stood a hundred soldiers, dressed in the same armor as them, standing as straight as pine trees.

'These hundred riders aren't human, are they?!'

Many people secretly complained.

Many people thought about giving up, but seeing those hundred riders still standing there like wooden stakes, they held back.

Giving up would be too shameful.

"Is there anyone who wants to give up? The pen and ink are right here. If you want to leave, you can leave now to avoid suffering later."

Right in front of the drill ground.

Under a shack.

Wen He, Qin Qiong, and Cheng Zhijie sat there, each holding a bowl of plum juice.

"Tsk tsk, there are actually such methods of training soldiers in this world. Interesting, really interesting."

Cheng Zhijie laughed loudly.

After Wen He finished speaking, he shouted to the generals.

"If you can't stand it, don't force yourself. Just admit that you're a woman, and I'll give you a bowl of plum juice."

"But Father doesn't keep women in his army. Drink this bowl of plum juice and get out of here!"

Those generals were so angry they were practically grinding their teeth.

You're the woman!

It's just standing, isn't it?
I'd rather die than drink it!
"Ah, that feels so good!"

A cheerful voice suddenly rang out.

Suddenly, a series of swallowing sounds echoed across the training ground.

They all knew who the voice belonged to.

A hundred riders, a demonic force!

You really are a jinx!
……

"Interesting. I knew it. This brat always has something new to come."

An hour later, Li Shimin received news about the training of the Left Guard.

He wasn't worried about any unexpected events.

If Wen He fails to control the situation, Qin Qiong and Cheng Zhijie will definitely step in.

"It is His Majesty's discerning eye that recognizes the talent of the Earl of Gaoyang County," Gao Yue said, offering a fitting compliment.

Li Shimin nodded, clearly pleased.

But then he changed the subject.

"However, if he wants to use the method of training a hundred cavalry to train the officers of the Left and Right Guards, I'm afraid it's still inappropriate."

"Besides, they will all be riding horses into battle in the future. In my opinion, we should train them in military formations more often."

Gao Yue was confused; he didn't know what Li Shimin was thinking.

But that doesn't stop him from praising it.

"Your Majesty is holy."

Li Shimin smiled calmly, then picked up a document that had been sent along with the news from the table.

"This is……"

"Your Majesty, this is a joint memorial submitted by the Duke of Yi, the Duke of Su, and the Earl of Gaoyang," Gaoyang replied.

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin couldn't help but feel curious.

These three people jointly submitted a memorial to the emperor…

He turned to a page, and his forehead twitched.

As he read the contents of the note, his expression grew increasingly somber.

Gao Yue, standing to the side, watched his face grow increasingly dark and felt a chill run down her spine.

"Good, good, good Wen Jiaying!"

Li Shimin slammed the memorial onto the table.

"A single day of training costs ten thousand coins, and you want me to allocate funds to build some training equipment? I have no money!"

He casually picked up the brush washer from the table, about to smash it, but found no one in front of him.

Gao Yue was looking at him with a calm expression.

Already used to it.

"Why didn't you stop me!" Li Shimin glared at him.

Gao Yue was stunned.

Coming to his senses, he immediately bowed and confessed his sins.

"The slave is guilty."

"That's it, that's all."

Li Shimin sighed helplessly and put down the brush washer.

It wasn't that he was reluctant to part with it; he was simply genuinely poor.

This year, in order to fight against the Turks, he did not even repair the Daxing Palace.

A few days ago, someone from Wanchun Palace reported that the side hall of the Empress's bedroom was leaking.

The palace of the empress of a nation is so dilapidated.

As for the several thousand catties of silver in the imperial treasury, he absolutely could not touch them at this moment.

That's for emergencies.

In case the war drags on, or a natural disaster strikes that place, this money can be used to tide things over.

Li Shimin sighed helplessly, looking at the document on the table.

After a long silence, he finally wrote the word "allowed" on it.

"Give it to Shubao and let him go find Dou Jing himself."

"promise."

Gao Yue carefully stepped forward and took it.

Training troops is an expensive endeavor.

Eating alone is a bottomless pit.

If you want to train strong soldiers, you have to ensure they have enough to eat.

Not to mention the others.

However... the effect was still quite good.

This expense caused Li Shimin considerable distress for a long time.

Finally, after more than a month, he could no longer wait and, without telling anyone, took Yuchi Gong to the training ground of the Left Guard.

"go ahead!"

"Tiger!"

Just as they stepped into the training ground, they heard a roar from ahead that sounded like a tiger's howl.

Li Shimin suddenly felt a vibration in his ears.

Before he could react, Yuchi Gong, who was standing beside him, suddenly drew his sword and shielded him behind him.

"Stop!"

"Snapped!"

Immediately afterwards, the sound of crisp footsteps could be heard.

There was only one sound, yet it made people feel a jolt under their feet.

"Mount!"

Another command was given.

Li Shimin's curiosity was immediately aroused. He pushed Yuchi Gong aside and strode towards the training ground.

Seeing this, Yuchi Gong quickly chased after him.

"Your Majesty, please be careful."

"What are you being careful of? These are my subordinates."

Without a moment's hesitation, Li Shimin quickly arrived near the training ground.

When he saw that scene on the training ground, he was startled to feel as if a high wall was standing not far away from him.

"Army attack!"

"Gale!"

"For the Tang Dynasty! Kill!"

(End of this chapter)