As a young marshal, it's reasonable for me to have 300,000 private troops, right?

After the appointment order was issued, Qi Fan slowly walked to the high platform at the front of the formation, his eyes sharp as he swept over the silent guard brigade soldiers below.

"Listen up, everyone here! You're wearing military uniforms, carrying military flags, you're soldiers protecting our country, not bandits harming the people!"

He paused, his tone becoming increasingly solemn.

"I can't control other brigades, but from today onwards, our Guard Brigade has ironclad rules: anyone who dares to bully civilians under the guise of military uniform should not blame me for being ruthless!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Qi Fan stepped down from the platform and walked straight to a soldier standing at the front of the line, where he stopped.

"What's your name?"

The shock of the execution of the two regimental commanders had not yet dissipated. Facing the new brigade commander's gaze, the soldier was clearly somewhat frightened, his body trembling slightly, and he even stuttered as he spoke.

"Reporting... Reporting to the brigade commander, my name is Wang Jianguo!"

"Wang Jianguo," Qi Fan repeated the name before continuing to ask.

"Tell me, what's the gun you're holding for?"

"Yes, it's for fighting!" Wang Jianguo took a deep breath, tried to steady his voice, and responded loudly.

After listening, Qi Fan raised his hand and gently patted his shoulder, then turned around and looked at all the soldiers again, his voice suddenly rising.

"Well said! The guns in your hands are for fighting! For dealing with bandits and invading enemies! But they are absolutely not for you to use to show off your power and bully the common people!"

"You must remember, the mission of this rifle is to protect this land beneath our feet, and to protect the people who live on this land! Do you understand?"

"clear!"

This time, the soldiers responded without hesitation, shouting in unison, their voices resounding through the sky, their eyes filled with an unprecedented determination.

After finishing his speech, Qi Fan pressed his hand down, and the playground returned to silence.

His gaze swept across the room once more, and he cut to the chase: "As you all probably already know, I am about to lead troops to Jilin Province to suppress bandits. This time, I will only be taking three hundred men!"

He paused for a moment, then spoke clearly.

"Those who are willing to come with me to Jilin Province to wipe out the bandits, step forward now!"

These words immediately stirred the previously quiet playground, with hushed whispers rising and falling:

"Taking only three hundred men to Jilin Province? There are more bandits there than soldiers. What's the difference between that and sending them to their deaths?"

"That's right! I heard from my hometown that the bandits in Jilin Province are well-equipped and occupy the mountains. Even three thousand men would have to be careful, let alone three hundred!"

"You guys don't know yet, do you? I heard it's because Young Master Zhang and Yang Qinglin had a bet and were arguing. We don't want to get caught up in this mess and become cannon fodder!"

The murmurs weren't loud, but they were loud enough for those around to hear.

Qi Fan stood at the edge of the platform, hearing everything clearly, but his face showed no anger; he simply watched the procession quietly.

When the murmurs subsided, he spoke again, his tone firm and resolute.

"I know the anti-banditry mission in Jilin Province is arduous, with a high chance of death. But I'm making this clear: everyone who comes with me this time, whether you're a soldier or a junior officer, whether you have connections or not, will be rewarded for your service upon our return!"

He paused, then emphasized, "I, Zhang Xueliang, have always been a man of my word, and I never go back on my promises!"

These words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly changing the atmosphere on the field.

The Fengtian Army has never lacked capable and courageous soldiers at the grassroots level. They have worked hard for many years, but because they have no connections, they have never had the opportunity to be promoted.

Qi Fan's promise undoubtedly gave them an opportunity to change their fate.

After a brief silence, a loud voice broke the stillness: "I'm willing to go with the brigade commander!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a tall man walk out of the line and stand straight.

He was nearly two meters tall, with broad shoulders and a thick back, and sharp eyes. He looked like a trained fighter, but the rank insignia on his chest was only that of a second lieutenant, and his position was just a platoon leader.

Qi Fan looked at him, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes, and asked, "Well done! What's your name?"

"Reporting to the brigade commander, this is your subordinate, Xu Shan!"

"Xu Shan..." Qi Fan murmured to himself, then nodded and said, "Okay! Count you in!"

With Xu Shan taking the lead, the team quickly began to stir, and more and more people stepped out of the queue and stood beside Xu Shan.

Among these people, the highest-ranking official was only a company commander; most were junior officers and ordinary soldiers like Xu Shan.

This is exactly the result Qi Fan wanted. Those who dare to stand up are mostly people with courage and drive, but who are frustrated by their lack of background.

They yearned for military merit and were willing to risk everything to change their fate.

Those who didn't move were either cowards who feared death or those who relied on connections to get by. They knew they could live peacefully even without fighting the bandits, so they naturally didn't want to take the risk.

Before long, the number of people who stepped forward reached three hundred. Qi Fan finished counting and nodded in satisfaction.

Just then, Chu Shixin strode over to his side and said with a solemn expression.

"Hanqing, the bandit suppression in Jilin Province is too dangerous. You can't be without someone to look after you. Why don't I go with you and help you out?"

Qi Fan shook his head and patted Chu Shixin on the shoulder.

"Old Chu, the reorganization and training of the Guard Brigade cannot be separated from you. Just stay here and help me lead the troops well. When I come back, I want to see a Guard Brigade that is fierce and capable of fighting tough battles! As for the bandit suppression, I will personally lead the men."

"Yes! I guarantee I will complete the mission!" Seeing Qi Fan's resolute attitude, Chu Shixin stopped insisting and gave a solemn military salute.

Qi Fan turned to Xu Shan, who was the first to step forward, and asked, "Xu Shan, what is your current position?"

"Reporting to the brigade commander! I am currently the platoon leader of the second platoon, first company, second battalion, first regiment!"

"Good! From now on, you are promoted to company commander of this reinforced company of three hundred men, responsible for assembling the troops. You will depart with me for Jilin Province first thing tomorrow morning!"

After arranging things for Xu Shan, Qi Fan summoned the students he had brought from the martial arts academy and assigned them positions based on their individual strengths.

Some were responsible for communications, some were in charge of logistics and supplies, and others were appointed as platoon-level officers in the reinforced company to assist Chu Shixin in training the troops.

With everything arranged, Qi Fan looked at Xu Chengye in the crowd and said in a deep voice, "Xu Chengye!"

"Here!" Xu Chengye strode forward and stood at attention.

"From today onwards, you will serve as my adjutant and accompany me to Kedah Province, where you will be responsible for conveying instructions and coordinating various matters."

"Your subordinate obeys!" Xu Chengye replied solemnly, his eyes full of enthusiasm.

After all the job assignments were completed, Qi Fan instructed Xu Shan to hurry up and get the team in sync, then turned around and left the assembly point, heading straight back to his residence.

As night fell, Qi Fan had just opened the door when a slender figure rushed towards him, her warm touch colliding with his chest.

A familiar fragrance lingered around my nose, and I heard suppressed sobs in my ears—it was Yu Fengzhi.

She cried, tears streaming down her face, her shoulders trembling slightly, her tears soaking Qi Fan's clothes.

Qi Fan's heart tightened, and he felt extremely distressed. He quickly reached out and hugged her tightly, gently patting her back to comfort her.

"What's wrong? Why are you crying all of a sudden?"

Yu Fengzhi raised her tear-filled face, her eyes red-rimmed, and complained with a heavy nasal tone.

"What kind of father would do this? You just graduated from the military academy, your feet haven't even touched the ground yet, and you're already being sent to a dangerous place like Jilin Province to suppress bandits! That's Jilin Province, there are more bandits than soldiers, and you're only giving away three hundred men..."

"Silly girl, don't cry. This trip to Jilin Province is not just about suppressing bandits, but also about factional struggles. On one side is the old forces composed of my father's old brothers, and on the other side is the new faction led by Yang Yuting. The two factions are checking and balancing each other. Now that I have suddenly come in, naturally some people will not sit still."

"Even so, you can't gamble with your life!" Yu Fengzhi said, still worried, her brows furrowed.

"Three hundred men facing so many bandits, isn't that just asking for trouble?"

"You don't understand the intricacies of this," Qi Fan gently pinched her cheek and patiently explained.

"In this battle, fighting is secondary; the key is to fight with momentum and establish prestige. And don't underestimate those people just because they are bandits. Most of them are desperate civilians with no other options. They are armed and are also part of the armed forces of our China. I plan to prioritize persuading them to surrender. This will reduce casualties and expand our own power—a win-win situation."

As Yu Fengzhi listened to his clear and logical analysis, her worries lessened slightly, but she still couldn't help but complain.

"Look at Zhang Tingshu and Tang Yulin, they went back to their fathers right after graduation and lived a peaceful and stable life. And look at you, you finally managed to become the acting brigade commander of the guard brigade, but you still have to fight with others and go to such a dangerous place."

"It was my special arrangement that they were able to return to their biological father's side. Originally, they both wanted to stay by my side to help, but in the future, if I want to gain a foothold in the Fengtian Army, I will need to rely on the power of their father's side. Our Fengtian Army is like a hodgepodge right now, with factions deeply entrenched. To shut those people up, words alone are useless; we must have a strong military."

After hearing what Qi Fan had to say, Yu Fengzhi finally understood his deeper meaning, and her tense expression gradually relaxed.

She reached out and hugged Qi Fan's waist, buried her face in his chest, and whispered her words of advice.

"Then you must be careful in everything you do this time, and take good care of yourself. I'll be waiting for you to come back home."

Qi Fan felt a warmth in his heart and hugged the lovely girl in his arms even tighter, resting his chin on the top of her head.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."