I was living in the Five Dynasties period, just after crossing the Zhongdu Bridge.

This imperial decree from Luoyang was nothing short of an auspicious omen of sudden advancement for ordinary warriors.

To be transferred from this remote corner of Guanzhong to the capital, Daliang, by imperial decree, and to serve in the emperor's camp, was, in the eyes of the people of that time, an extraordinary stroke of good fortune.

However, this imperial decree did disrupt Shen Lie's own plans.

Having just arrived in Yaozhou, and with the situation still unstable, if Shen Lie were to leave now, handing Yaozhou back to Sun Ping, or any mediocre official sent by the imperial court...

Then this nail planted deep in the Guanzhong Plain is now useless.

Therefore, Magistrate Shen had to leave himself a backup plan.

But finding a replacement is an enormous problem.

Zhao Kuangyin, needless to say, his father had already been promoted to Commander of the Imperial Guard, so it was certainly impossible for him to stay in this poor and remote place and waste his time.

Yang Tingzhong was brave but lacked strategy, and as the commander of personal guards, he could not be separated from them.

Liu Qing is honest but not quick-witted. If he were left to guard the city, he would probably be sold out by Sun Ping with a few kind words.

The tent was full of warriors, and there was not a single person to entrust with the lonely city.

This is the awkwardness of a fledgling team: the framework is in place, but the flesh and blood are still a bit thin.

Shen Lie thought about it for a long time and finally decided to entrust this important task to an inconspicuous name.

Wang Shen.

······

Dust billowed across the drill ground.

At this moment, Wang Shen was shirtless, holding a long spear, aiming it at the straw man in front of him, which had already been stabbed to pieces.

Ever since Wang Shen was rescued by Shen Lie outside Danzhou City that day, he felt like he had been given a second chance at life.

The old Wang Shen is dead. The one who is alive now is a squad leader in the Sixth Command of the Fuwei Army, a Han soldier who dreams of stabbing the enemy in the throat with his spear.

In order to avoid having his legs broken by Zhao Kuangyin's merciless military baton, and also to do justice to the half-eaten flatbread that Shen Lie had given him.

For the past few months, Wang Shen has been training like his life depended on it.

While others practiced for two hours, he practiced for four. While others slept, he pondered how to draw his gun the fastest.

Wang Shen was terrified that when the knife was held to his neck, his still-developing spine would bend again.

Zhao Kuangyin appreciated his ruthlessness and promoted him to the rank of squad leader, in charge of about ten new recruits.

But Wang Shen felt it wasn't enough, far from enough. He wanted to follow the magistrate to kill more Khitans, or other enemies.

"Captain Wang."

A call interrupted his thoughts.

Wang Shen turned his head and saw that it was one of Shen Lie's personal guards. He quickly put away his gun, wiped his hands on his clothes, saluted, and asked, "What is it?"

"The magistrate summons you to the government office for a talk."

Wang Shen agreed, but his heart skipped a beat.

The news that the army was about to set off had already spread, so why was the commander summoning me alone at this time? Could it be that I have done something wrong?

With a bellyful of thoughts in his mind, Wang Shen entered the city and went into the back hall of the government office.

Shen Lie was standing by the window with his hands behind his back. He nodded when Wang Shen came in.

"They're here."

"Your subordinate greets Your Excellency!" Wang Shen knelt on one knee and gave a military salute.

Get up.

Shen Lie pointed to the chair next to him, "Sit."

Wang Shen didn't dare sit down, but stood to the side with his hands at his sides, saying, "This subordinate dares not."

"Sitting is fine, so please sit down!"

Shen Lie emphasized his words, and only spoke again after Wang Shen had half his bottom touched the edge of the chair.

"Wang Shen, how long have you been with my Fuwei Capital?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency, it has been more than two months."

"Two months..." Shen Lie sighed softly.

The time spent is a bit short, and the experience is also a bit limited.

But given the current situation, there's no time to worry about that now.

How have the past two months been?

Wang Shen raised his head, chuckled foolishly, and said, "Your Excellency, it's tough, but I feel at peace. Before, I was treated like livestock, but now... I feel like a human being again."

"Be like a human being."

Shen Lie repeated the three words softly, then nodded and said, "The army will set off for Daliang the day after tomorrow."

"Your subordinate is willing to lead the way! I will hold the reins and lead the horse for you, my lord! I have also had the brothers prepare the luggage, and we are ready to depart at any time," Wang Shen hurriedly declared.

"No." Shen Lie shook his head. "You're not going anywhere. You're staying in Yaozhou."

Wang Shen was taken aback.

Not required to go? Was he being looked down upon? Or was it because he had suffered the humiliation of crawling between the legs of the Khitans and was therefore unworthy to be a member of the emperor's personal guard?

In that instant, the light in Wang Shen's eyes dimmed.

He thought he had become a disliked burden again, just like when he was abandoned by the government army as a refugee.

"My lord..." Wang Shen gritted his teeth, then quickly knelt on one knee and pleaded, "Is it because my marksmanship is not good enough? Or is there something I did wrong?"

"If you find me a burden, I'm willing to go to the death camp as a vanguard; I would never bring shame upon myself by helping those in distress!"

Looking at the man in front of him, whose face was flushed with anxiety, Shen Lie sighed inwardly.

This is why he chose Wang Shen.

This person has no foundation, no background; his life was given to him by Shen Lie, and so was his dignity.

"Because I don't trust others." Shen Lie interrupted him, helping him up, just like that day outside Danzhou City.

"When I left, I took all the elite troops with me, leaving only a group of village militia who had just put down their hoes."

"I don't trust Sun Ping with these people; I only trust you with them."

Wang Shen swallowed hard, feeling a tightness in his throat. "My lord... are you going to hand these people over to me?"

"This isn't for you to enjoy yourself," Shen Lie smiled, then explained, "These people are poorly equipped and have a weak foundation, but I don't need them to conquer cities and fortresses. I just need you to lead them and stay here in Yaozhou."

"I need you to protect this family fortune for me."

"If one day in the future Guanzhong falls into chaos, I want you to lead these people to defend Yaozhou City and wait for my return."

This is actually a gamble on human nature. Shen Lie has no one else to rely on, so he has no choice but to entrust the important task to Wang Shen.

A person who has lost their dignity will have a stronger obsession with protecting what they have than anyone else once they stand up again.

Although Wang Shen did not understand military strategy or political maneuvering, he understood what it meant to have one's family destroyed and to suffer excruciating pain.

Such a person may not become a famous general, but he is definitely more than capable of maintaining the status quo.

"I've left you some provisions and the title of Registrar."

Shen Lie took out a token from his pocket.

"Keep an eye on these local militia. Don't cause trouble. If Sun Ping orders you to bully the common people, pretend you don't hear or hear. If anyone tries to seize your military power..."

"Just tell him that this unit belongs to me, Shen Lie, and anyone who dares to touch it will have their entire family killed."

"You are only responsible for me."

Wang Shen found it hard to believe.

He was just a farmer a few months ago, and now he is in charge of so many soldiers.

This is simply a fantasy.

"Your subordinate..."

Wang Shen felt a lump in his throat. He wanted to say that he couldn't do it, that he was afraid he couldn't shoulder this responsibility.

"Do you remember what I said?"

Shen Lie looked at him and said, "If you want to live like a human being, you need to have a knife in your hand. Now that I've given you so many knives, if you still can't hold your breath, then I'll consider myself blind to have saved a piece of trash."

This sentence stirred up Wang Shen's fighting spirit.

As the saying goes, a scholar will die for one who understands him!

He hadn't read the old saying, but he understood the principle behind it.

"Even if I have only one breath left, Yaozhou will still be your Yaozhou, my lord!"

The next morning, outside Yaozhou City, the elite troops of Fuwei were fully prepared to set off.

Zhao Kuangyin stood on his horse at the front of the battle formation, glanced back at the city, and finally his gaze fell on the figure on the city wall.

That's Wang Shen.

He wore ill-fitting armor, his hand on his waist sword, staring intently in the direction the army had departed.

"My lord, is this man... capable of handling this?" Zhao Kuangyin asked in a low voice.

Whether he succeeds or not is up to him.

Shen Lie flicked his whip and didn't look back.

"But in these chaotic times, there must be a way for those who want to stand up."