My strength increases by one percent every day; I can destroy stars with my bare hands.

The story of Li Xuancang running around the government office to secure a stable job for his wounded comrades spread like wildfire throughout the entire camp in just half a day.

Not only were his soldiers deeply grateful, but ordinary soldiers and rank-and-file men from all other battalions and detachments also heard about this momentous event that shook the entire army.

The military camp has always been the most realistic place, and the place where people are most aware of the coldness and warmth of life.

In the battlefield, generals lead the way and soldiers follow behind. When generals achieve merit, they are rewarded, promoted, and given higher ranks. This is the norm.

However, once the battle becomes fierce and soldiers are wounded, the vast majority of generals turn a blind eye, focusing only on military merit and disregarding personal relationships.

Many veterans lost their hands and feet, their vital energy was ruined, and they were left with a body full of injuries and illnesses. In the end, they were expelled from the army with only a few taels of silver.

Returning home, he had no land; moving to the city, he had no job. The rest of his life was filled with wandering and meager survival, with no one to care for him.

This is the unspoken rule of military camps in chaotic times, and it has always been so. The Great Yan Dynasty's preservation of the privileges of its soldiers is already far better than that of other dynasties.

All the soldiers had long been accustomed to it and never dared to hope for any pity from their generals.

But today, Li Xuancang broke with his usual cold routine.

When this news spread, the atmosphere in the entire camp subtly changed.

On the training grounds, between barracks, inside and outside the kitchens, and during night patrols, soldiers from various battalions were whispering amongst themselves, each with a mix of emotions in their hearts.

There was envy, emotion, reflection, and above all, deep respect.

"I truly envy the brothers under Lord Li's command!"

"They both risked their lives on the battlefield, both lived on the edge of a knife, but if one of them was crippled or disabled, his commander would protect him, and he would live a life of comfort and security."

"If it were us, and we were wounded in this battle, we would probably be abandoned as soon as we left the camp, left to fend for ourselves."

"..."

Many veterans sat on the stone steps of the barracks, looking at the soldiers under Li Xuancang's command in the distance, their faces full of melancholy, and they couldn't help but compare the generals from different sides.

"Look at the commanders of other major camps. They are usually high and mighty. When they win, the credit goes to the generals, and when they lose, the blame goes to the soldiers."

"When soldiers are healthy, they are useful pieces; when they are wounded, they are useless burdens, and no mercy will be shown to them."

The soldiers whispered amongst themselves, discussing the matter amongst themselves.

"One of our battalion commanders lost 300 soldiers in a battle last year, and many of his brothers were crippled and retired. He didn't care at all, he only cared about reporting his merits and claiming his rewards, and didn't even say a word of comfort."

"There are also several generals from aristocratic families who have always looked down on the lower-ranking soldiers, treating them like dirt, beating and scolding them at will, and showing favoritism in rewards and punishments. Have they ever considered even the slightest possibility of leaving a way out for us lower-ranking soldiers?"

In comparison, Li Xuancang's actions appear all the more commendable and awe-inspiring.

"Lord Li is the youngest, has the most outstanding military achievements, and is the most courageous, yet he values ​​loyalty the most."

"When fighting the enemy, he charged into the fray alone, leading the charge and shielding the entire army from the most dangerous traps."

"Following such a commander, even if you die on the battlefield or are wounded, it's all worth it! At least someone remembers your blood and sweat, and someone will protect you for the rest of your life."

"..."

Countless soldiers sighed with emotion, their hearts completely tipped in accusation.

As fellow soldiers, facing life and death together, who wouldn't yearn to encounter a good general who is considerate of his subordinates, loyal and righteous, and willing to take responsibility for his soldiers?

In the past, people only admired Li Xuancang's bravery and his unparalleled fighting prowess in daring to fight and kill, and in repeatedly defeating evil spirits.

Some even laughed at him for being reckless, taking on any mission he could find, which only made his soldiers suffer, as they could only follow him to their deaths.

But from this day forward, everyone truly believed in and respected Li Xuancang from the bottom of their hearts.

The rumors spread far and wide, and even many generals who had been in command of the army for many years nodded in approval and admired them.

In a short time, Li Xuancang's reputation for treating his comrades well and not abandoning the wounded soldiers resounded throughout the entire Anzhou army.

Countless soldiers in each battalion longed for it, secretly sighing that if they could follow Li Xuancang in this life, it would be the greatest fortune in the army.

Good fortune may be a harbinger of misfortune.

Li Xuancang's actions earned him the support of the lower-ranking soldiers, who saw him as a righteous and capable general.

However, in the eyes of a group of veteran generals who have been in command of troops for many years and have a long history of experience, it was a blatant violation of rules, a usurpation of prestige, a slap in the face, and a jeopardy of their future.

Deep within the Anzhou border army camp, in several independent tents, the atmosphere was gloomy and oppressive, with anger simmering.

These men were all veteran centurions who had served in the military for many years, had fought bloody battles throughout their lives, and were highly experienced and deeply entrenched in the military.

In the past, there were unspoken rules in the military.

Generals hold the power of merit and fame, soldiers bear the weight of life and death, and the wounded soldiers are given care and relief as they see fit. There is no precedent for a general to personally go out of his way to seek lifelong official positions for the lowly and disabled soldiers.

Everyone went through this process, and all generals governed their armies in this way.

Everyone observes each other in silence, acts according to the rules, takes credit for their achievements, shoulders the blame for their mistakes, and leaves the wounded to fend for themselves – this has always been the way of things.

But Li Xuancang was unconventional and acted out of the ordinary.

He disregarded personal safety, personally visited government offices, and fought for the livelihood of disabled soldiers, winning the hearts of the army in one fell swoop.

This contrasts sharply with the other generals, who were indifferent, selfish, ruthless, and treated their soldiers like dirt.

The more the lower-ranking soldiers praised Li Xuancang, the more the faces of the generals were repeatedly slapped, burning with pain.

"Nonsense! Utter nonsense!"

An old centurion with graying temples, who had guarded the military camp for more than 20 years, slammed his fist on the table, making the teacup bounce, his face full of anger.

"This Li Xuancang is too flamboyant and too outrageous."

"What is he doing? Winning over the troops? Seeking fame and fortune?"

Another centurion, covered in old wounds, gritted his teeth and spoke in a low voice.

"The rules of the army have been followed throughout the ages. The court has established a fixed system for the compensation of wounded and disabled soldiers. This has been the case for many years. But he just wanted to make an exception."

"He's earned a reputation as a benevolent and virtuous general, but what about the rest of us?"

These words instantly struck at the deepest anger and fear in everyone's hearts.

Everyone spoke up angrily, their resentment completely erupting.

"Yes! His move has made the entire army compare."

"Now all the soldiers are talking about us in private, saying that we are cold-blooded and heartless, that we don't care about our soldiers, that we only know how to fight for credit, and that we don't know how to protect our soldiers."

"He gained a good reputation and won over the hearts of his soldiers, but he put us in a very difficult position."

"In the past, we were strict in commanding troops and upheld the orthodox principles, but now he alone makes us seem despicable, mean, and ungrateful."

"..."

The crowd's faces were ashen, filled with resentment towards Li Xuancang.

"His unconventional and unorthodox behavior makes us feel utterly ashamed. How can we possibly manage the army, establish authority, or gain a foothold in the military in the future?"

"From now on, every soldier under my command will have a standard in mind. If we continue to act according to military regulations and dismiss the wounded soldiers in accordance with regulations, we will be resented by the soldiers."

"If we follow his example, breaking the rules and favoritism, and everyone seeking official positions, the rules of the military camp will completely collapse, and military discipline will be in chaos."

The group was caught in a dilemma, unable to move forward or backward.

This is the real source of everyone's rage.

Li Xuancang won the hearts of the people, the prestige, and the support of the soldiers, but he also broke the tacit understanding and unspoken rules of interest maintained within the army.

He was upright and kind-hearted, yet he turned all the old-fashioned veterans, who were used to the old rules, into the enemy of the military.

"Young people who achieve early success become arrogant and ignorant of their own limitations!"

"Too sharp-tongued, only interested in empty fame!"

"If they dare to break the old rules on pensions today, they will dare to overstep their authority to govern the army and arbitrarily change the military system tomorrow."

"..."

The crowd was furious, and their anger grew with each word.

They could not openly criticize Li Xuancang because his actions left them with no fault to find.

This made them even more frustrated, furious, and wary.

"We will ask the captain to take action and teach Li Xuancang a lesson, so he will know his place."

Inside the secret tent, anger simmered, jealousy festered, and murderous intent lurked.

"That's very true. We'll go and ask Commandant Du to uphold justice."

The group immediately set off to seek an audience with Du Tianfeng.