The Three Kingdoms: The Oath of the Peach Garden, the Rise of the Han Dynasty

Li Chang pointed to the winding Taihang Mountains on the map:

"The Black Mountain bandits' advantage is their familiarity with the terrain and their swift movement. You don't need to rush to annihilate them, nor do you need to chase after them."

The five thousand men were divided into fifty teams of one hundred men each, and the mopping-up operations were carried out in every mountain and valley, with each team organized by hamlet.

What do we train for? We train for mountain marches, nighttime mountain searches, squad coordination, and counterattacks when ambushed.

It's okay to lose, as long as no one dies. We can come back, learn from our mistakes, and fight again.

"I'm giving you three months to train these five thousand farmers into mountain soldiers who can roam freely in the Taihang Mountains."

Xu Huang and Qian Zhao exchanged a glance, then clasped their hands in unison, saying, "Your subordinates obey!"

After the provisions were delivered, the five thousand new recruits, carrying their rations and weapons, marched into the Taihang Mountains in a grand procession.

Just as Li Chang had predicted, the Black Mountain bandits were as slippery as eels.

As soon as the Han army entered the valley, they disappeared into the woods and could not be seen in a single person.

The new recruits were flustered on their first battlefield experience and were ambushed by small groups of bandits several times, resulting in the loss of more than a dozen men.

Xu Huang wasn't angry. Every day after the troops had finished fighting, he would call the garrison leaders together and review the day's battles using a map. He would point out where they had moved too slowly, where their vigilance had been neglected, and where their coordination had gone wrong, and then punish them by making them train all night.

Qian Zhao, accompanied by his personal guards, specifically chose the most dangerous mountain paths to teach the new recruits how to climb cliffs, how to navigate through dense forests, and how to use stones and traps to deal with enemies hiding in the shadows.

They didn't care about the number of enemies killed; they just used the Black Mountain bandits as their best sparring partners.

Today we'll practice searching the mountains, tomorrow we'll practice night raids, and the day after tomorrow we'll practice encirclement.

The prisoners captured who were young, strong, and clean were directly added to the recruit camp; those whose hands were stained with the blood of innocent civilians were sent to the mines to work; the old, weak, women, and children were all sent to Yanmen to cultivate land.

The Black Mountain bandits were tormented to the point of no return.

In the past, when government troops came to suppress them, they would either fight one battle and leave, or be lured into the mountains and ambushed and annihilated.

But this time the Han army was different. They didn't rob money or grain, they just chased after them and fought. When they couldn't win, they ran away, but they came back after running far away. They were like a dog skin plaster that they couldn't get rid of!

At this time, Cheng Yu and Zhao Yun arrived from Shangdang.

"My lord, it is wise." Cheng Yu bowed.

"We two recommend someone to you. This man is strict in disciplining his troops and is the bravest in the army. If we can get him to give us an important position, he will surely add another ace to our army."

"Oh?" Li Chang's interest was piqued. "Who is it?"

"Gao Shun, courtesy name Gongxiao, is from Bingzhou," Zhao Yun introduced.

"This man was originally a military officer in Shangdang. Because of his upright character, he offended the prefect and was neglected."

I discovered him when I was in Shangdang, and later learned that the local militia he trained were far more disciplined than ordinary government troops.

Mr. Zhongde also sent someone to investigate his background. He was an honest man, averse to alcohol and women, extremely kind to his soldiers, and fearless in battle.

Li Chang's heart stirred.

Gao Shun!

Commander of the Trapped Camp!

The strongest heavy infantry commander during the Three Kingdoms period!

Unexpectedly, Cheng Yu and Zhao Yun had already discovered it.

"Where is he now?" Li Chang asked immediately.

"Wait outside the mansion."

"Please come quickly!"

A moment later, a tall, cold-faced man walked in.

Upon entering the main hall, he bowed respectfully and said, "Your subordinate, Gao Shun, greets General Liu and Prefect Li."

Liu Bei immediately initiated a trip together.

When he returned, Gao Shun was already calling him "Lord"!

Li Chang looked him up and down and got straight to the point: "Gao Shun, I've heard that you are good at military affairs, especially training heavy infantry."

I am now giving you an opportunity: you can freely choose anyone from the entire army of 25,000 men to form a brand new force.

Food, weapons, and salaries were all supplied with priority.

I have only one requirement: this force must be able to break through any enemy formation on the front lines.

Can you do it?

Gao Shun suddenly looked up, his eyes flashing with disbelief!

He served under the Bingzhou commander for five years, rising from an ordinary soldier to a military commander, but he had no opportunity to use his skills and was constantly ostracized!

He thought his life would end like this, but he never expected that Li Chang would give him such great power as soon as they met!

The entire army can freely select personnel! Priority will be given to supplying them with ordnance and provisions!

What incredible trust!

He even knew that he was skilled in fighting heavily armored soldiers! He hadn't even revealed this to Zhao Yun and Cheng Yu!

Gao Shun took a deep breath and knelt on one knee:

"If you cannot train the best elite force in the world, I, Shunyuan, will offer my head!"

Li Chang stepped forward and personally helped him up: "Gongxiao, there's no need for such formalities. I believe in your abilities."

From this day forward, you are a captain in battle.

The unit you're training will be called the "Trap Camp"!

"The Trapped Camp!"

Gao Shun silently recited these three words, his eyes blazing with fury!

They're such kindred spirits! That's the name he envisioned too!

When the news spread, the entire army was in an uproar.

No one expected that a little-known military commander would be promoted to the rank of colonel right from the start, and even be given a title? And be able to freely select people from the entire army?

Many veterans were unconvinced, especially Guan Yu and Zhang Fei's personal guards, all of whom were battle-hardened elites and were unwilling to listen to the orders of an outsider.

Gao Shun did not argue, but simply erected a large flag in the training ground with the words "Trapped in the Enemy's Formation" written on it.

Then three rules were established:

First, only those who are not fond of alcohol, women, or greedy for wealth can be selected;

Secondly, only those who can wear 30 jin of heavy armor and travel 100 li a day can be selected;

Third, only those who obey orders without fear and are willing to die for their cause can be selected.

In the first three days, only a little over 3,000 people were selected out of 20,000!

Gao Shun stood under the banner, whip in hand, without uttering a word.

First, everyone was made to run ten miles in heavy armor, and after that, two thousand people were eliminated.

The remaining thousand men will then be tested on their martial arts skills, military discipline, and courage.

Those who fail to meet the standards will be expelled on the spot.

Even the two guards Zhang Fei sent to test him were kicked out by Gao Shun without any mercy because they were drinking and missed the appointed time.

After three more days, out of more than 3,000 applicants, only 721 remained.

Each and every one of them was a strong, healthy, and determined elite.

Looking at the more than 700 people, Gao Shun finally showed a rare smile.

His smile was awkward, yet reassuring.

Instead of starting training, he led his men to the armory first.

Li Chang had already prepared the best things for him. Ever since he found the unwanted craftsman, he had started to make these heavy armors. Originally, he intended to give them to Zhang Fei, but now he could leave them to Gao Shun!

These armors were equipped with tube sleeve armor or bowl-necked iron armor.

Made of a large number of iron plates, it can cover the chest, back, shoulders and upper arms, and the protective area is much larger than that of the "Liangdang Armor" which only protects the front of the chest!

At the same time, an iron helmet is also required, along with a neck guard!

It can effectively protect the vulnerable neck, greatly improving the survival rate in close combat.

Thanks to the craftsmanship resources found by Liu Bei's group, their armor plates were processed using the steel-making method or the hundred-refining process, making them superior in hardness and toughness to ordinary leather armor or bronze armor made entirely of iron lamellar armor!

But it was also two pounds heavier than ordinary infantry armor, making it almost impervious to swords and spears!

Li Chang had prepared a long-handled broadsword, which was extremely sharp and could easily cleave through the enemy's shields!

In close combat, they have a ring-pommel sword, a hand halberd, and a massive, indestructible shield as tall as a person!

When all 721 people were fully armed and standing on the training ground, the entire Yinguan City fell silent.

Sunlight shone on the cold iron armor, reflecting a chilling light.

No one spoke, and no one moved.

The entire team was like a single piece of steel!

Just by looking at it from afar, you can feel the power of this army!

Gao Shun stepped forward and said, "These people have such a solid foundation!"

As he spoke, his expression, which had remained unchanged for so long, began to change.

"Strict discipline and unwavering obedience to orders! Although we are currently only in the shadow of a fully-fledged army, give me two months, and I will definitely train a world-class military!"

He raised his head and asked again:

"General, Prefect, I would like to know who came up with these basic training methods for soldiers?"

These formations, military postures, and so on, may seem ordinary, but they are the foundation upon which a strong army is most needed!