The Great Song Dynasty's Soul-Forging in Progress

Wang Zhonghua paused briefly before continuing his speech in one breath.

Fifth, develop intelligence and enhance skills.

"Regularly, literate clerks or officers will read official documents and explain military orders and battle examples to the soldiers. Night schools will be established to encourage soldiers to learn to read. Soldiers who understand the principles will be more aware of the greater good. At the same time, practical skills such as battlefield first aid and civil engineering can be taught." At this point, Wang Zhonghua paused, seemingly casually adding, "By the way, we accidentally produced some highly purified 'alcohol' before, which seems to have a miraculous effect when used to clean wounds, significantly reducing the risk of wound ulceration. This can also be included in the medical battalion's manual."

"Alcohol?" A hint of curiosity flashed in Ouyang Xiu's eyes. Di Qing and the others also showed concern; the number of soldiers who died from infections following their injuries far exceeded those who died on the spot.

Wang Zhonghua's discourse was clear, logical, and interconnected, demonstrating both a high-level perspective and meticulous practical application. He even mentioned concrete "steel knives and crossbows" and the unheard-of "alcohol," which caused Zhang Biao and others, who had initially been dismissive, to become completely serious, their indifference replaced by surprise and deep thought.

After a long silence, Di Qing suddenly slapped his thigh, stood up abruptly, and his excitement was palpable: "Excellent! Excellent! To establish proper titles, clarify military discipline, guarantee provisions and pay, treat soldiers like sons... and even more valuable weapons and medicines! General Wang, what you have said are all the strategies that I have been thinking about but could not express in words! Especially the eight words 'Protect the homeland and defend our hometown,' if they can be deeply rooted in people's hearts, how can we not be concerned about the morale of the army and the elimination of the bandits?!" He seemed to see a completely transformed new army rising up.

Ouyang Xiu clapped his hands and sighed deeply, his eyes filled with admiration: "Excellent! Although I am not from a military background, I can tell that this is a sound strategy for practical application, deeply in line with the principles of military administration! Moreover, it demonstrates practical ability, not just empty talk! Your Majesty has a discerning eye, and I am also very pleased!"

Just then, a slight commotion and hushed arguments came from outside the tent. Du Ziteng moved silently to the side of the tent door, his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"What's all this commotion?" Di Qing frowned and asked in a deep voice.

The guards at the tent flap lifted the curtain and reported, "Reporting to the general, it's that newly recruited instructor named Qin Tiedan. He says... he says he wants to see General Wang. We couldn't stop him, and Instructor Qin is very agitated."

Upon hearing the name "Qin Tiedan," Wang Zhonghua's eyes flashed with surprise and warmth. He immediately said to Ouyang Xiu, "Lord Ouyang, General Di, this man is my childhood friend from the same village, like a brother. He must have heard that I have come to the military camp, which is why he has come here. Please allow him to come in and see me."

Ouyang Xiu smiled and nodded, and Di Qing also said, "Since he is General Wang's brother, there is no harm in meeting him."

"Let him in."

The tent flap was lifted again, and a figure stumbled in. Qin Tiedan was wearing a slightly oversized, faded old uniform, his face still stained with sweat and dust from training. He clearly hadn't expected so many important figures inside, especially Ouyang Xiu, who sat regally in the main seat, exuding an imposing aura. He froze instantly, completely at a loss, his honest face flushed crimson.

"Brother Tiedan!" Wang Zhonghua called out and quickly stepped forward.

Qin Tiedan looked up at the sound and saw Wang Zhonghua. His eyes, which had been filled with fear and anxiety, instantly flashed with an unbelievable, ecstatic light. His lips trembled, as if he wanted to say something, but he couldn't utter a single word. He just took a few steps forward, disregarding any military salute, and grabbed Wang Zhonghua's arm tightly with both hands, his knuckles turning white from the force.

"Zhonghua... no, General Wang... General Wang..." Qin Tiedan's voice choked with sobs, his words incoherent, "It really is you! They all said you became a high-ranking official and came to the military camp, I... I thought they were lying to me! You... you really came!"

Wang Zhonghua gripped his rough hand tightly, looking at his noticeably thinner yet more wiry face, his heart filled with mixed emotions. "It's me, Brother Tiedan. I'm here." Wang Zhonghua's voice was gentle yet firm as he patted his shoulder firmly. "How are you doing? Getting used to the military camp? Nobody's bullying you, is anyone?"

Sensing the unwavering concern in Wang Zhonghua's words, Qin Tiedan's eyes immediately reddened. He shook his head vigorously and wiped his face haphazardly with his sleeve: "No! With Commander Di's support, no one dares to bully me! It's just... I miss home, and I miss you too! Now that you're here, I... I feel at ease!" He smiled憨憨地, a smile that dispelled all the tension and unease on his face, leaving only pure, unreserved trust and joy.

Di Qing watched from the side, sighing inwardly.

Seeing Qin Tiedan, this tough soldier, genuinely express his brotherly affection, Zhang Biao and the others were deeply moved. These veterans, who had spent years in the military, were accustomed to life and death and had seen the coldness and warmth of human relationships. Wang Zhonghua's earlier discourse on "why civilians become bandits" and "protecting the homeland and safeguarding one's hometown" had struck a chord with them, like a heavy hammer striking their long-dormant blood. Seeing the genuine and profound friendship between him and his childhood friend, the initial distance and disdain caused by Qin's youth and sudden rise to power lessened, replaced by a mixture of admiration, expectation, and a lingering, critical gaze.

Captain Zhang Biao stroked his bushy beard and lowered his voice to Li Xin, the deputy captain beside him, saying, "I've been leading troops for over a decade, and this is the first time I've heard someone explain the principles of being a soldier and getting paid so clearly... damn thorough! 'Protecting one's hometown,' those words are inspiring! Much more practical than those flowery 'loyalty to the emperor and serving the country.' And his brother Tie Dan, he's a real man."

Li Xin nodded slightly, his gaze remaining steady, though his sharpness had softened somewhat: "General Wang's words are indeed wise advice for governing the army, hitting the nail on the head. He is also a man of principle, not the kind of opportunist who only talks big and is arrogant. However..." He changed the subject, his voice lower, "Words of military strategy are easy to utter, but the ability to defeat the enemy is hard to see. No matter how well he speaks, in the end, it all comes down to his actions. His 'reconnaissance battalion' and 'new training methods' sound novel, but their effectiveness still needs to be tested on the battlefield. After all... he is still too young."

Zhou An, a military advisor standing nearby, tapped the table lightly with his fingertip and thoughtfully interjected, "Gentlemen, don't forget, Wang brought his renowned 'Dark Arrows' to Chenzhou. It's said that each of them is a master fighter capable of taking on ten men, acting mysteriously and ruthlessly. Wang Zhonghua considers them his core group, and his training methods are likely quite different from what we are familiar with."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Biao raised an eyebrow, his military arrogance resurfacing: "'Hidden arrows'? Hmph, they might be good at some江湖 (jianghu) tricks, espionage, and assassinations, but in a battle between two armies, what matters is a righteous and honorable army, fighting in formation, and obeying orders without question! How much use can a few dozen elite soldiers be on a battlefield with thousands of troops? Does he really expect to rely on these few dozen men to break through thousands of Zoroastrian bandits?"

Li Xin pondered for a moment and said, "What Military Advisor Zhou said makes sense. General Wang's ideas are novel, but his 'Hidden Arrows' are not from the regular army. Whether his tactics can be integrated into the main army and whether his training methods can be applied to thousands of soldiers is still unknown. If we rely too much on tricks, it may not be the right way."

The generals exchanged glances, reaching a subtle consensus: this young General Wang was insightful, compassionate, and perhaps even possessed some formidable methods they were unaware of, but to truly win over these veteran soldiers, words and sentiment alone were far from sufficient. They acknowledged his potential as a "commander-in-chief," but harbored deep doubts about his and his mysterious "undercover" force's "military talent" and combat capabilities. Ultimately, the army is a place that most values ​​strength and results.

It's easy to talk about war on paper, but difficult to win over the hearts of the soldiers!

This deep-seated doubt, lurking beneath the initial acceptance, was like a thin layer of ice covering the fragile trust that had just been established. They all subconsciously anticipated, or rather, awaited an opportunity—an opportunity to truly test Wang Zhonghua and his methods, especially to test the true worth of that much-hyped "hidden arrow."

A warm feeling welled up in Wang Zhonghua's heart. He knew that a brother like Qin Tiedan would be one of his strongest foundations in this army. He solemnly said to Qin Tiedan, "Tiedan, remember, here we are not just brothers, but comrades-in-arms fighting side by side! From now on, you must abide by military discipline, train hard, and together we will lead this army well and protect our hometown!"

"Yes!" Qin Tiedan nodded emphatically, his chest puffed out high, as if he had been given a supreme mission. "Protecting our hometown, that sounds good, that's great! I'll listen to you! If you tell me to go east, I'll never go west!"