Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

As the hustle and bustle of spring plowing gradually subsided, the new green seedlings in the fields changed every day, growing vigorously under the abundant rain and sunshine of early summer. Xinghuobao temporarily eased off the wartime state of total manpower being mobilized, but a new, more systematic and lasting sense of tension began to permeate the barracks and drill grounds—the gears of military reform began to slowly turn.

Over the past year, Xinghuo Fort's armed forces were hastily assembled and built up under near-extreme survival pressure. Initially, it consisted of a limited number of elite soldiers, each with absolute loyalty and formidable fighting power, under Chen Wei's command; then came the garrison, composed of young and strong refugees primarily for defending the fortress; next came the organized Hu cavalry brought by Murong Mingyue; and finally, scattered recruits of experienced defeated soldiers or chivalrous heroes. Under Chen Xing's command and the leadership of Chen Wei and Murong Mingyue, these forces, bound together by the initial constraints of the "Military Regulations," the incentives of the "Meritorious Service Order," and several victories in actual combat, achieved a synergistic effect where "one plus one is greater than two."

But Chen Xing was well aware that this cohesion was more of a stopgap measure driven by crisis and a combination of personal prestige. The unit's organization was chaotic, training standards were inconsistent, tactical coordination was crude, and systems for logistics, wounded care, and intelligence transmission were rudimentary. With population growth, expansion of the controlled area, and the ever-increasing threat of the clearly formidable enemy, Heishan Shuai, without systematic military reforms, the unit's combat effectiveness would soon hit its ceiling, and it might even collapse in future large-scale, high-intensity confrontations.

Inside the council chamber, a meeting on military reform had been going on for nearly two hours. Piles of bamboo slips and rough drawings lay around the sand table, the air thick with the aroma of tea and the lingering warmth of the debate.

Chen Xing drew a circle around the model of Xinghuo Fort on the sand table with his finger: "In the past, we defended our forts and waited for opportunities to attack. Our troop composition and tactics revolved around 'defense' and 'rapid response.' But in the future, whether it's taking out outposts like Woniugang, dealing with the possible invasion of Heishan Commander's large army, or even expanding our living space, we may need to move away from forts and engage in field battles and siege warfare. The structure of the army must adapt to this change."

He looked at Chen Wei and Murong Mingyue: "My idea is to break down the existing rough division of elite soldiers, garrison troops, and cavalry, and reorganize them into two major systems, 'combat troops' and 'auxiliary troops,' according to their combat functions."

"The main force of the soldiers is the field troops for attacking fortified positions. Quality is more important than quantity. They can be divided into: Infantry Battalion, composed of the core members of the original elite troops and the bravest and best-trained soldiers in the garrison, wearing armor and wielding weapons, specializing in formation battles and attacking cities and fortresses; Mounted Archery Battalion, based on the elite troops under General Murong, absorbing those skilled in mounted archery from the fortress, specializing in reconnaissance, harassment, flanking attacks, and pursuit; Crossbow Team, selected from those with good eyesight, steady arm strength, and calm temperament, specializing in powerful crossbow sniping and suppressing enemy formations."

"Auxiliary troops are responsible for all tasks supporting the main force in combat. They can be divided into: supply corps, which manages the transportation and storage of food and military equipment; engineering corps, which is responsible for setting up camps, digging trenches, building bridges, and manufacturing siege equipment; medical corps, which specializes in battlefield medical care and treatment of the wounded; and reconnaissance corps, which is responsible for long-range reconnaissance, intelligence transmission, and infiltration behind enemy lines."

Chen Wei's gaze was intense, clearly attracted by this clear division of responsibilities. He continued, "In this way, each person can perform their duties and specialize in one area, making their cooperation in battle much smoother. However, the infantry battalion, the cavalry archer battalion, and the crossbow unit all require long-term and rigorous training, which cannot be achieved overnight. Moreover, the treatment and equipment of combat soldiers must be superior to those of auxiliary soldiers in order to boost morale and attract talent."

"Naturally." Chen Xing nodded. "The Merit Order needs to be detailed for each type of soldier. Basic merits for combat soldiers are higher than those for auxiliary soldiers, and the rewards for achievements such as capturing enemy units and breaking through enemy lines are even greater. Equipment should be prioritized for combat soldiers, especially the armor of the infantry battalion, the warhorses of the cavalry archers battalion, and the powerful crossbows of the crossbowmen team. Auxiliary soldiers also have their merits; if they provide effective support, perform meritorious medical care, or provide accurate intelligence, they will also be richly rewarded."

Murong Mingyue pondered and said, "It is a good idea to establish the Cavalry Archery Battalion as an independent army with its own drivers. However, grassland cavalry warfare has always emphasized individual bravery and on-the-spot decision-making. If they are fully incorporated into such a detailed division of labor system, some of the young men may find it difficult to adapt at the beginning or feel restricted."

"It's not about restricting, but about 'strict discipline and unified coordination,'" Chen Xing explained. "Individual bravery is fundamental, but in large-scale warfare, especially against an enemy like the Black Mountain Commander who may have superior numbers, relying solely on individual bravery and scattered charges makes one vulnerable to being picked off one by one. The cavalry archery battalion needs to train not only in individual archery skills, but also in tactical coordination between squads and even the entire battalion: how to coordinate with the infantry battalion, when to flank, when to outflank, when to pursue, and when to disengage; how to obtain supplies, transmit information, and take cover in the field. All of these require new training."

He turned to Wu Xuejiu and Li Shu: "Mr. Wu, Li Shu, I would like to ask you two, together with Commander Chen, General Murong and their capable officers, to draft the organization, duties, daily drills and meritorious service details of each branch of the armed forces into a written document, forming the 'Draft Military System of the Xinghuo Battalion' and the 'Outline of Drills for Each Branch of the Armed Forces.' It must be specific and feasible."

Wu Xuejiu and Li Shu solemnly accepted the order.

"Reform is not something that can be accomplished overnight," Chen Xing concluded. "Now that spring planting is complete, it's the perfect time for summer training. Starting tomorrow, the entire army, except for necessary guard duty and production work, will enter a two-month summer training program. Chen Wei will oversee this, with General Murong assisting. We will begin with the existing personnel, conducting simulated grouping, basic drills, and tactical exercises according to the new organization. Any problems discovered during this process will be adjusted accordingly. After two months, based on the training results and personnel performance, formal selection and finalization will take place."

With the military reform strategy finalized, the entire military machinery of Xinghuobao began trial operation according to the new blueprint.

The scene on the drill ground changed dramatically. The previous mixed training was broken up and divided into several areas. In the eastern area, the infantry soldiers, led by Chen Wei and several veteran elite soldiers, practiced more disciplined formations, more complex formation changes, and coordinated thrusting with shields and spears. The requirements were no longer simply "standing in line" and "thrusting," but emphasized that the entire formation should act as a whole, raising shields, moving, thrusting, and withdrawing, with movements that were perfectly synchronized and the force concentrated in one place.

In the western district, the mounted archery battalion's training incorporated new elements. In addition to the established mounted archery, horsemanship, and saber techniques, Murong Mingyue and Helan Sou began teaching them small-team maneuvers: how to conduct alternating cover charges, flanking maneuvers, and simple battlefield reconnaissance and information relay missions in groups of three or five. They also designated several simulated target areas, requiring cavalry squads to complete reconnaissance and report back within a limited time, honing their field survival and mission execution capabilities.

At the newly established shooting range in the North District, the crossbow team, with Wang Jian's assistance, began their monotonous daily training: cocking the crossbow, aiming, and firing. Chen Xing even personally designed several simple aiming and calibration methods and a formula for estimating the impact of wind, requiring crossbowmen not only to shoot accurately but also to know how to adjust their aiming point at different distances and in different environments. The training targets also gradually expanded from fixed targets to include moving targets and concealed targets.

The construction of the auxiliary troop system was also progressing simultaneously. Zhou Dashan was appointed to temporarily lead the supply train, where he began to inventory and classify all military equipment and provisions, and to formulate procedures for their entry, exit, and transportation. The engineering corps, led by several veteran carpenters and bricklayers, along with a group of nimble young men, began learning to build models of flying bridges, ladders, and shield vehicles, and practiced quickly digging trenches and setting up barricades. The medical corps, under the direct guidance of Wang Jian, expanded its size and learned more standardized wound cleaning, bandaging, immobilization, and prevention of common battlefield diseases. The reconnaissance team was trained by alert and loyal veterans jointly selected by Chen Wei and Murong Mingyue, with training including covert movement, terrain identification, intelligence recording, and rapid reporting.

At the beginning of the reform, chaos and discomfort were inevitable. In the infantry battalion, some soldiers who had originally guarded the capital were used to relatively relaxed training and complained bitterly about the strict formation requirements that now included finger placement and stride spacing. In the mounted archery battalion, some warriors from the Murong tribe privately complained that the new tactics were too "cumbersome" and that it was not as enjoyable as charging into battle on horseback. The selection of the crossbow team placed more emphasis on patience and meticulousness, and some brave but impetuous men were eliminated, which inevitably made them resentful.

Chen Xing's attitude towards this was clear and resolute. He personally inspected the various training grounds, praising and rewarding those who met the standards, while issuing warnings for the first offense, forfeiting merits for the second, and removing those who openly defied him from the combat ranks for the third, demoting them to auxiliary troops or labor in the naturalized camp. At the same time, he had Chen Wei, Murong Mingyue, and the outstanding performers selected from each team share their experiences, explaining the significance of the new training and demonstrating the power of coordinated combat.

One day, the infantry and mounted archers held their first joint combat exercise on the drill ground. The infantry formed a tight square, their spears like a forest and their shields like a wall. The mounted archers were divided into two teams: one feigned an attack from the front to harass and draw the infantry's attention, while the other flanked them, attempting to find weaknesses in the square for a surprise attack. In the initial few attempts, the cavalry easily found gaps in the infantry's formation due to their mobility, "breaking" parts of the formation. However, under Chen Wei's command and the instincts honed by rigorous training, the infantry's response speed increased, their flank defense became more solid, and the crossbowmen's "long-range firepower" inflicted considerable damage on the flanking cavalry. At the end of the exercise, both sides, though exhausted, excitedly discussed their gains and losses. The cavalry began to realize that mindless charges against well-trained, well-formed infantry were indeed costly; the infantry, in turn, saw the possibility of countering cavalry charges through close cooperation.

Similar drills are conducted weekly, with constantly changing troop combinations. Real combat is the best teacher; through repeated confrontations and refinements, complaints have gradually decreased, while the atmosphere of discussing tactics and studying coordination has intensified. The frequent joint exercises have also fostered a greater sense of common ground and tacit understanding among the various troop types.

One summer night, Chen Xing and Murong Mingyue returned to the fortress after inspecting the night training of the cavalry archery camp.

"It seems that the general's men are getting better and better at the new laws," Chen Xing said, gazing at the faint lights of the western camp.

Murong Mingyue smiled slightly: "At first, they were a little unaccustomed to it and felt restricted. But after several combat drills, especially seeing the resilience of the infantry battalion after they formed ranks and the long-range threat of the crossbowmen, they realized that relying solely on the advantage of mounted archery is not a panacea. Now, they are starting to think about how to better coordinate with the infantry and how to use the terrain for cover and maneuvering."

"This is progress." Chen Xing nodded. "The way of military affairs lies in the mind, and it is also achieved through the collective will. Individual bravery is the blade, discipline and cooperation are the handle, and strategy and tactics are the person who holds the handle. Only when the three are combined can it become a sharp sword."

He stopped and looked up at the deep night sky to the north: "The breathing time given by Commander Black Mountain won't be much longer. We must use this time to sharpen this sword and hold it more firmly."

Murong Mingyue followed his gaze, her eyes equally sharp: "The sword is almost finished, just waiting to be unsheathed and tested."

The early summer breeze, carrying the scent of grass and earth, brushes past the traces of daytime training on the drill ground, and also past the increasingly vibrant battle flags on the fortress walls. The military forces of Xinghuo Fortress are undergoing a silent yet profound transformation, shedding their initial roughness and chaos, steadily evolving towards greater professionalism, coordination, and strength.