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

The deafening sounds of battle shattered the mountains. The bandits were thrown into chaos, and the soldiers pursued them relentlessly, determined to wipe them out.

The battle lasted for several hours before it gradually came to an end.

Of the thousands of bandits, only a little over two hundred escaped into the deep mountains and forests. Some soldiers wanted to pursue them while they were ahead, but Zhou Xiong stopped them.

"Don't pursue a defeated enemy; quickly take the supplies back."

The bandits fled into the mountains and forests. The soldiers were unfamiliar with the environment, and chasing after them might result in losses of manpower.

The most urgent task is to quickly transport the supplies back to Yuyang City and report the situation here to Zhou Xingzhan.

The group stormed into Huangfeng Village's lair and quickly found the stolen supplies.

"Lord Zhou, bandits have abducted over a hundred women. What should we do?"

The group ransacked the bandits' hideout, finding not only the stolen supplies but also rescuing over a hundred women who had been kidnapped by the bandits.

These women were gathered together; most of them had blank expressions and empty eyes, like walking corpses.

Facing the border troops, they felt no sense of peace, but rather even more fear.

In the eyes of the common people, government officials and soldiers were not much different from bandits.

Incidents of government officials and soldiers killing innocent people and claiming credit for their crimes occurred frequently, and the people's fear of government officials and soldiers was deeply ingrained.

After looking at the group of trembling, pitiful women, Zhou Xiong thought for a moment and then made a decision.

"Take them all back to Yuyang City."

These women were from nearby villages. Their villages had been destroyed by Huangfeng Village, leaving them homeless. Bringing them back to Yuyang City would allow local officials to make appropriate arrangements for them.

Li Xuancang looked at the hundreds of women in front of him. Although he remained outwardly calm, he was unable to calm down.

He wasn't heartless. Even though he repeatedly told himself that this was a world where people preyed on each other, he still couldn't remain calm after witnessing these human tragedies firsthand.

He would feel anger, sympathy, and a burning desire to tear the bandits to pieces.

The women were all terrified and dared not speak. They cooperated fully with whatever they were asked to do.

Having survived in the bandits' den, they had forgotten what resistance was; those who resisted had long been brutally murdered by the bandits.

Three days later, the group returned to Yuyang City.

"Go and rest! I will report to the captain and reward those who have rendered meritorious service."

Everyone was exhausted from running back and forth and fighting, so Zhou Xiong told them to go and rest.

"Thank you, sir..."

Everyone was very tired and went their separate ways.

"Thump, thump thump thump..."

The day after the army returned to camp, the drums for gathering the generals sounded.

On the drill ground, the entire army lined up and assembled. Zhou Xingzhan personally presided over the award ceremony, recognizing and rewarding those who had rendered meritorious service.

Zhou Xingzhan stood on the high platform, holding military orders in his hand. His gaze swept across the entire scene, finally settling on Li Xuancang at the front of the line, and he announced loudly.

"Squad Leader Li Xuancang was the bravest soldier in the bandit suppression campaign. He made decisive decisions to break the enemy's ambush and made outstanding contributions. He was specially promoted to centurion and commanded one hundred elite soldiers under the command of centurion Zhou Xiong."

As soon as he finished speaking, the whole place erupted in uproar, and the soldiers around him looked on with envy and admiration.

From squad leader to centurion, though only one rank apart, the difference is like heaven and earth.

The squad leader only manages ten men; he's just a lowly soldier.

The centurion was a regular low-ranking military officer who held real power and commanded a hundred elite soldiers, thus truly entering the ranks of military officers.

In this campaign to suppress the bandits, Li Xuancang was instrumental in breaking through the ambush, launching a surprise attack on the flank, and turning the tide of the battle. He deserves the greatest credit.

He had already made enough contributions in Cangyun Ridge, and with the annihilation of the Huangfeng Mountain bandits this time, he was more than qualified to be promoted to a hundred-man general.

Li Xuancang quickly stepped forward, clasped his hands in a salute to Zhou Xingzhan, and solemnly accepted the order: "This subordinate obeys!"

Li Xuancang was puzzled. He had expected that the promotion of a hundred people would be expected, but he was somewhat surprised that they would be under Zhou Xiong's command afterward.

Amidst his confusion, Zhou Xingzhan personally stepped forward and handed him the brand-new armor, military tally, and waist token of a centurion.

"From this day forward, you will enjoy the salary of a hundred men, be provided with your own tent, and be able to select your own soldiers, train them, and deploy them at your disposal."

After the conferment of ranks, the stark differences in treatment became fully apparent.

"Thank you, Captain."

Li Xuancang responded with a loud thank you.

Zhou Xingzhan's gaze lingered on Li Xuancang for a moment.

After Zhou Xiong returned from suppressing the bandits, he told him everything that had happened in the Huangfeng Mountains. When he mentioned Li Xuancang, he was full of praise and even asked Li Xuancang to join his ranks.

Zhou Xiong was Zhou Xingzhan's right-hand man, and they were from the same clan. It was inevitable that Zhou Xingzhan would be interested in people whom Zhou Xiong admired.

"At such a young age, he is already a commander of a hundred men. This boy's future is limitless."

"Perhaps becoming a centurion is not his final goal; he may become a battalion commander in the future."

"I know him. He comes from the lakeside post station and has always been a brave warrior."

"..."

Countless envious, jealous, and admiring glances were cast around him.

They were all somewhat surprised to see that Li Xuancang, at such a young age, was already a centurion, a position that countless people dreamed of.

"Zhao Dashan, a brave and fierce fighter, slays the enemy..."

After announcing Li Xuancang's promotion to centurion, Zhou Xingzhan continued to reward those who had rendered meritorious service.

Two hours later, the grand ceremony of bestowing rewards finally came to an end.

Most soldiers were only rewarded with some silver and supplies, and only a small number were promoted.

The crowd on the training ground looked at those who had received rewards with eager eyes, wishing they could take their place.

Looking at everyone's expressions, Zhou Xingzhan's lips curled up slightly.

He deliberately used this award to boost the low morale, and everything was developing in his control.

After the awards ceremony, Li Xuancang changed out of his squad leader's armor and into the heavy armor of a hundred-man general, which was entirely black and engraved with patterns.

His posture was upright, and his aura changed, shedding the naivety of a low-ranking soldier and gaining more of the composure and authority of a commanding general.

He was promoted to centurion and had a more spacious tent, complete with tables, chairs, armories, and bedding.

Their daily salary increased several times over, to fifteen taels of silver per month.

Their daily meals consisted of ample amounts of fine rice and meat, and their weapons were replaced with high-quality military spears and protective soft armor. They were also assigned a personal guard to take care of their daily needs and relay orders, giving them a completely different level of authority.

After changing out of his armor, Li Xuancang went to the military roster office and selected one hundred elite soldiers.

Among them were veterans who survived the bloody battle of Cangyun Ridge, as well as strong and vigorous young recruits, who formally formed their own regiment.

He stood before his troops, holding the tally of a hundred soldiers, his gaze sharp.

"Wang Xiaoniu, promoted to corporal; Wu Dadao, leading the first squad..."

He calmly reorganized the troops, divided them into squads, and clarified the training rules and military discipline. Every word and action of him was in the style of a general.

Wang Xiaoniu, standing in the crowd, was flushed with excitement.

He never dreamed that his act of kindness would bring him such a rich reward.

If it weren't for Li Xuancang's repeated rescues, he would have already died on the battlefield and become a skeleton.

He not only survived, but was also promoted to corporal, which he could hardly believe.

"Your subordinate will certainly serve Lord Li to the death."

Wang Xiaoniu's eyes were filled with unwavering determination; he was willing to give his life for Li Xuancang, even at the cost of his life.

Li Xuancang quickly completed the reorganization of his troops, and a hundred soldiers lined up neatly and responded in unison.

"I will obey General Bai's orders."

The voices were clear and loud, conveying a sense of awe.

Looking at the hundred people before him, Li Xuancang could hardly contain his excitement.

From this day forward, he will no longer be an ordinary soldier charging into battle, but a general commanding a hundred men and capable of leading an army independently.

He had complete control over the lives, training, and battles of his soldiers, and was responsible for the lives of these hundred men. This gave him real power to establish himself in the chaotic world.

He gripped the military tally in his hand, his belief in becoming stronger growing ever stronger.