My older brother said I'm invincible.

Chapter 271 Captain Li

Dongyang Daxiao Field.

More than 10,000 soldiers were stationed at various locations on the training ground. These soldiers were recruited from Yingyang Prefectures in various places near Dongyang. They were all brave prefectural soldiers, unlike the half-baked local militia.

After Chen Leng arrived here with the Thousand Bull Guards, he dispersed them.

He first selected the most elite warriors and appointed them as captains to command eight hundred men. Once the captains were properly assigned, he then appointed the remaining men as brigade commanders and other officers to integrate the hastily assembled army.

These newly appointed officers are now leading their troops and conducting drills. The soldiers don't have any particular thoughts about these parachuted officers. This is how Eagle Banner has always done things; every time they go on a campaign, they will reshuffle the officers and not let the people who trained you become your commanders. This is to learn from past lessons and avoid major disasters like the emergence of military leaders.

Chen Leng was sitting in the main tent, with many strange maps on both sides.

He was holding a pen and slowly writing something.

Most of the soldiers had already been assigned military positions, but there were a few who were not so easy to assign, such as Li Xuanba.

Li Xuanba was forced upon him by the emperor, and Chen Leng dared not disobey. However, the emperor had ordered Chen Leng to bring these people over so that they could serve as military officers, but Chen Leng dared not let Li Xuanba, this little kid, become any kind of officer.

To let such a child command hundreds of soldiers is simply to disregard human life. Chen Leng would never do such a thing!
But if we don't let him become an officer and keep him by our side until we return, what will happen to the emperor?
Chen Leng felt a headache coming on. Thinking of Pei Yun, who had driven him to this point, he was even more furious. Over the years, because of his status as a surrendered general, he had always been careful in his actions and never offended anyone. Even when Sima Dekan, that pig butcher, humiliated him, he never held a grudge.

But this time, Pei Yun really angered Chen Leng, and Chen Leng kept this in mind.

Just as he was hesitating, a soldier entered and reported, "General! General Zhang requests an audience!"

"Oh? Let him in."

A moment later, Zhang Zhenzhou strode in. Chen Leng initially didn't like this person very much, thinking that he was too domineering. However, after spending some time with him, Chen Leng found that he wasn't as difficult to get along with as he seemed. He was cold on the outside but warm on the inside, and someone she could befriend.

"General Zhang has arrived, please have a seat."

Chen Leng had already hidden the appointment letter from earlier and smiled as he invited Zhang Zhenzhou to sit down.

After sitting down, Zhang Zhenzhou didn't exchange any pleasantries and went straight to the point: "General Chen, I've come to see you today because I need your help."

"Ah? General Zhang, just say it directly, why bother?"

Zhang Zhenzhou began by saying, "When I was in Luoyang, I had dealings with General Chai Shao and we were quite close. He sent me a letter urgently, asking me to take care of someone else."

Chen Leng gave a wry smile. "Could it be Li Xuanba?"

"That's him."

Chen Leng sighed deeply, "General Zhang, you don't know this, but when I led my men out, I mentioned this matter to the Emperor, but the Emperor..."

Zhang Zhenzhou remained calm and nodded. "I already know everything. General Chai said that the Duke does not blame General Chen, and they know who did it. My suggestion is that you bring Li Xuanba to my side. My vanguard is currently short of a captain, so let him take on the role."

“In this way, when we go to war, he will be by my side and I will be able to take care of him. When the sage learns that he has joined the vanguard, he will know that the general has not shown any favoritism and will not blame him.”

Chen Leng's eyes lit up. "If that's the case, then Brother Zhang has truly solved a troubling problem for me! To be honest, I was just worried about what to do with him!"

Zhang Zhenzhou laughed, "Then haven't I killed two birds with one stone, gaining three favors at once? Good, good, it seems I have a good chance of being promoted in the future!"

"Hahaha~~"

Chen Leng spoke to him for a few more minutes, then ordered his men to bring Li Xuanba here and told him to follow Zhang Zhenzhou and obey his orders. Li Xuanba agreed.

Zhang Zhenzhou quickly led Li Xuanba away from there, and the two walked one after the other on the road.

Zhang Zhenzhou would occasionally turn around and look at the little child behind him.

This little boy is about the same age as Zhang Zhenzhou's son, but he is much more capable than his son. Although he is young, he has a solemn expression and a firm look between his brows, showing no signs of timidity or immaturity.

"Xuanba".

“General.” “I am a good friend of General Chai Shaochai. He sent me a letter asking me to take good care of you.”

"However, this is in the military. I don't understand how someone as young as you can serve as a Thousand Bull Guard. But since you have already served as a Thousand Bull Guard and are now going on a military expedition, you must abide by the rules of the army."

"I will not make an exception for you because of General Chai's letter or your age. You must participate in training, and the same applies to battle. However, you can stay by my side and do not need to charge into battle."

Li Xuanba didn't say much, he just bowed his head and agreed.

Zhang Zhenzhou brought Li Xuanba to his residence.

Zhang Zhenzhou had already decided to serve as the vanguard, so he led an army of 1,600 men, commanded by two captains. These men did not train for anything else, but instead trained to seize the docks.

Then they saw them, all lightly armored and holding short spears, running back in a frenzy. They split into several columns, and the entire camp was filled with swirling dust. The soldiers were covered in sweat, practicing repeatedly.

When Zhang Zhenzhou brought Li Xuanba here, the soldiers were still training hard and no one stopped. Zhang Zhenzhou gathered his personal guards, a total of twenty men, each one taller than the last. The reason for this selection was not because Zhang Zhenzhou was afraid of death, but because he wanted to personally charge into battle. To charge into battle, he naturally needed such elites to protect him.

"General!!"

These strong men bowed in greeting. Zhang Zhenzhou pointed to Li Xuanba standing to the side and said, "His name is Li Xuanba. From now on, he will be your squad leader."

"Team leader??"

The guards all looked at Li Xuanba, who saluted them and said, "Greetings, comrades."

The guards exchanged glances, their expressions complicated. In fact, there were also young masters in the army who came to serve as officers to gain experience. Usually, when they encountered such guys, the soldiers would always teach them a lesson and make them understand the rules of Yingyang Prefecture. However, they had never seen anyone come to gain experience so openly and honestly.

Whose child is this? Is she even fifteen? Is she really being sent here to get some experience at such a young age? That's going too far!

They didn't even bother to mess with Li Xuanba; he's just a kid.

Zhang Zhenzhou cleared his throat. "I know what you're thinking. This child suffered an undeserved calamity and was sent here by order of the Emperor. Take good care of him from now on."

The guards understood immediately, and they ignored Li Xuanba, bowing their heads and agreeing with Zhang Zhenzhou.

Zhang Zhenzhou gave them a few instructions and then told them to leave.

Once outside, the guards dispersed, ignoring Li Xuanba. Only the man Zhang Zhenzhou had instructed showed Li Xuanba around, told him where to sleep and eat, and then told him not to wander off. It wasn't like he was reporting to the squad leader; it was more like he was taking care of a child. After giving him a few instructions, the man went to rest.

Li Xuanba remained alone here again.

He didn't complain, packed his things, and went out to start training.

Although the training ground here is small, it has everything you need.
At that moment, several guards were gathered together, drinking tea and whispering among themselves. "Such young children can be sent to fight. No wonder the age for conscription is getting lower and lower. Have you heard? They're going to build a canal in the south. I heard that anyone over fourteen has to go, even girls. They just finished digging it in Hebei, and now they're going to dig it in the south? This emperor..."

"Alright! Let's not talk about this anymore."

As they were talking, a guard rushed in.

"Quick! Quick! Get out here!"

The guards were shocked, thinking something had happened outside. They rushed out and found many soldiers gathered around something, all quiet and silent. The guards pushed through the crowd and squeezed to the very back.

When they reached the front, they saw their new team leader.

The group was holding a stone weight almost as big as themselves, repeatedly raising and lowering it.

The soldiers around stared wide-eyed, watching silently without uttering a sound.

When the guards saw it, they were so frightened they nearly lost their souls!

"Quick! Quick! Put it down! Put it down!!"

(End of this chapter)