Han Ji

The following day, Lu Zhi issued new military orders. These orders strictly regulated pay disbursement and established clear rewards. He also mandated that all officers, including Lu Zhi himself, must conduct daily drills alongside their soldiers!

The order caused an uproar in the military camp.

The soldiers were skeptical, while the officers looked at each other in bewilderment, especially those who had been holding their positions without doing any work, who were now complaining bitterly.

When the drill began, Lu Zhi, as expected, was dressed in military attire and stood at the very front of the formation. Although he was a scholar, he was skilled in archery and horsemanship, and his movements were meticulous.

Liu Bei also arrived. Although his left arm was no longer in a sling and its movement was mostly unimpeded, he still felt some discomfort when exerting force. He stood in the ranks of soldiers, practicing holding the spear and parrying. His movements looked no different from ordinary people, except that fine beads of sweat occasionally seeped from his forehead.

Seeing that both the prefect and the recently recovered "Mr. Liu" had personally intervened, the soldiers' resentment and indignation gradually subsided. Even important figures acted this way; what else could they say?

Seeing that Lu Zhi was serious, the officers dared not pretend any longer and had no choice but to bite the bullet and follow.

After a day of training, everyone was exhausted. But the atmosphere seemed a little different.

When Liu Bei returned to his residence, he felt a slight soreness and swelling in the wound on his left arm. After examining him, the doctor advised him to be careful and not to exert himself excessively.

"Nothing's wrong." Liu Bei stretched his shoulders. "If we don't get serious, we can't keep things under control."

He knew this was just the beginning. There was still a long way to go to transform this rabble into soldiers capable of fighting.

After a few days, Liu Bei's discomfort in his left arm gradually subsided. He began to participate more deeply in the training, even personally demonstrating some blocking and thrusting movements.

The atmosphere in the military camp is quietly changing. Although it is still tough, there is more vitality and less stagnation.

Looking at the soldiers shouting slogans and sweating profusely on the training ground, Liu Bei breathed a slight sigh of relief.

They're soldiers, they look like soldiers. But whether they can fight or not, we'll have to take them out and let them bleed.

The barbarians, however, clearly wouldn't give them much time.

As autumn deepens, the weather in Lujiang remains hot and humid.

On the barbarian side, things were quiet for a while after the Black Hand was removed. But scouts reported that Black Wind Cave in the mountains was very active, seemingly gathering strength.

Lu Zhi judged that after losing their spies in the city, the barbarians would either lie low for a while or look for an opportunity to carry out a large-scale retaliatory raid to obtain supplies for the winter.

Can't sit still.

Lu Zhi decided to promote land reclamation while reorganizing the army. He organized displaced people and established settlements around Shuxian County, especially in the border areas near the mountains, to cultivate the land and serve as early warning outposts.

This matter was entrusted to Liu Bei.

Liu Bei, leading a squad of newly trained county soldiers and several hundred recruited refugees, arrived at a river valley thirty miles east of the city.

The land here is fertile and close to water sources, but it was also one of the routes that barbarians used to take when they came down from the mountains to raid.

"Let's build the stronghold right here," Liu Bei said, pointing to a slightly elevated spot at the entrance to the valley.

The refugees looked at the distant, vast mountains, their faces filled with fear.

"Mr. Liu... this is too close to the mountain. What if the barbarians come?" an old farmer asked in a trembling voice.

Liu Bei glanced at the two hundred-odd county soldiers behind him, who, though tense, maintained a fairly orderly formation, and shouted, "What are you afraid of! We have soldiers! Besides, this fortress wasn't built for nothing. See those logs? We're building a fortified village! With walls and watchtowers! Even if the barbarians come, they'll have to knock their teeth out!"

He directed soldiers and able-bodied refugees to cut down trees, dig trenches, and build walls. He himself was not idle either; using his right arm as the main force, he also helped carry some light stones and measure the terrain.

Progress was slow. The displaced people were suspicious and didn't put in much effort. The county soldiers, who had to keep watch and do the work, were also exhausted.

After several days, they managed to erect only a wooden fence.

That evening, Liu Bei was discussing irrigation with several old farmers when the sentry on guard suddenly blew a horn!

"Barbarians! The barbarians are coming!"

Chaos erupted in the valley! The refugees cried and ran towards the unfinished village.

Liu Bei's heart tightened. He grabbed the long sword beside him and rushed up the makeshift watchtower that had just been erected.

In the distance, dust billowed as twenty or thirty barbarian soldiers, brandishing scimitars and maces, roared and charged toward the settlement! Judging by their attire, they were indeed from Black Wind Cave!

"Form ranks! Spearmen in front! Archers, prepare!" Liu Bei shouted sternly.

Upon hearing the order, the county officers below quickly blew their whistles to urge the panicked soldiers to assemble. But the recruits had never seen such a sight before; some of their legs went weak, and the ranks crookedly formed.

The barbarian cavalry were incredibly fast, closing in within a hundred paces in the blink of an eye! They saw the makeshift wooden palisade and the chaotic crowd, and with cruel smiles on their faces, they accelerated their charge!

"Fire the arrows!" Liu Bei ordered.

A few dozen arrows were fired sparsely, most of them missing their mark. Only two or three hit the barbarian soldiers charging ahead, but the effect was minimal.

The barbarian soldiers were about to crash into the enemy formation!

"Hold on!" Liu Bei drew his sword, preparing to jump down from the watchtower to personally oversee the battle.

Just then, a series of rapid clanging sounds suddenly rang out from the barbarian soldiers' flank and rear! Immediately afterward, a volley of arrows shot out from a grove of trees on the side, accurately covering the barbarian soldiers' rear!

Seven or eight barbarian soldiers fell from their horses in response!

The barbarian soldiers' charge suddenly halted, and they looked back in alarm.

At the edge of the woods, a large banner bearing the character "Lu" was erected! Under the banner stood a general named Lu Zhi! He had personally led three hundred of his personal guards in an ambush!

"Kill!" Lu Zhi pointed his longsword.

The guards, like tigers released from their cages, crashed fiercely into the barbarian army from the flank!

These personal guards were all elite troops from the north, and their combat strength was far superior to that of the barbarian soldiers. In an instant, they routed the barbarian soldiers.

On the front, the soldiers were greatly encouraged by the arrival of reinforcements. Under the command of their officers, they raised their spears and advanced.

Caught in a pincer movement, the barbarian soldiers were instantly trapped.

The battle ended quickly. Of the thirty-odd barbarian soldiers, most were annihilated, except for a few clever ones who ran away at the beginning. Five were captured alive.

Liu Bei descended from the watchtower, walked to Lu Zhi's horse, and said with shame, "Teacher, your student is incompetent, I almost..."

Lu Zhi waved his hand, looking at the county soldiers and refugees who were still in shock, but whose eyes held a different light. "Seeing blood is a good thing. From now on, they'll know that this fortified village is a lifesaver, not a burden."

He kicked the corpse of a barbarian soldier at his feet: "Black Wind Cave's revenge has come. This is just the beginning."

After this battle, the reclamation sites actually progressed faster. The refugees, having witnessed firsthand that the government troops could drive away the barbarians, felt much more at ease and worked even harder.

Although the soldiers were still inexperienced after this battle, they finally gained some confidence.

Liu Bei's shoulder had completely healed from the busy work and occasional minor frictions, though a faint discomfort would still linger deep within his left shoulder when he exerted too much force. He was also becoming increasingly adept at dealing with these soldiers and refugees.