Chapter 11: Promotion to Chief Standard Bearer

The group walked into the camp gate.

Before them lay a main road paved with bluestone, thirty feet wide. Tall arrow towers loomed on both sides, and the gazes of sentries clutching crossbows swept over the group.

"Stop gawking!" Corporal Hu scolded in a low voice, leading them toward a side path on the left.

After passing through two sets of anti-cavalry barricades, the view suddenly opened up. What appeared first was not a drill ground, but rows of barracks—rammed-earth walls topped with thatched roofs. The barracks were arranged in neat rows, with small wooden plaques hanging before every door. A few auxiliary soldiers who were drying clothes hurriedly retreated to the side of the path to salute as they passed.

The cart creaked its way through the barracks. Ahead stood a massive building made of blue brick.

"This is the armory," Corporal Hu said, pointing at the building. "All the weapons you'll need for inspection later must be requisitioned from here."

Lin Chuan nodded. So this was what an ancient military camp looked like. Compared to the iron-clad discipline of the people's army from his past life, this camp, while orderly on the surface, felt perpetually dingy and chaotic. The barracks were arranged neatly, but the debris piled in corners and the trash scattered everywhere significantly diminished the overall impression. A few soldiers were hiding behind the barracks, smoking from tobacco pouches; when they saw the group pass, they hurriedly tucked the pouches away. This superficial level of discipline made him shake his head.

In the distance, the sound of battle cries erupted from the drill ground, but a careful listen revealed that the rhythm was uneven.

"Far from good enough..." Lin Chuan sighed to himself. One had to realize that this was the Northern Defense Army of the Great Qian Dynasty. If the main camp of the Northern Frontier’s elite was like this, one could only imagine how pathetic the other troops must be.

Just as he was thinking this, they reached the edge of the drill ground. At the camp gate, two guards crossed their halberds to block the path.

"Identification badge!"

Corporal Hu quickly unhooked his badge and handed it over.

The guard took it and frowned. "From Ironwood Fort? What are you doing at the central army drill ground?"

"We're here to report military merits. Commander Chen gave the order yesterday..."

"Wait here!" The guard turned and ran into the gate.

Before long, a scarred officer strode over. It was Pang Dabiao, who had been present the day before.

"Lin Chuan, the General is waiting for you." Pang Dabiao noticed Corporal Hu and paused. "Big Head, why are you here?"

Corporal Hu leaned in and whispered a few words. Pang Dabiao’s gaze grew cold and fierce as he glanced at the captives.

"Follow me."

Passing through the open gate, one could see hundreds of soldiers practicing in two groups. To the east, a forest of spears; to the west, the clashing of blades and shields. Pang Dabiao ran onto the command platform and whispered to General Chen. Corporal Hu knelt on one knee before the platform.

"Reporting to the General! Hu Dayong, patrol corporal of Ironwood Fort, brings the new recruit Lin Chuan to report!"

"Hu Big Head, if you aren't patrolling properly, what are you reporting for?"

"Reporting to the General," Corporal Hu replied loudly, "Corporal Zhang intended to embezzle military merits and murder Lin Chuan, but was killed by Lin Chuan in self-defense."

General Chen frowned and waved a hand. The drilling soldiers stopped, and the drill ground fell into a deathly silence.

"Killing a superior officer as soon as you've joined the army?!" General Chen sneered. "Lin Chuan, you’ve got some nerve!"

Lin Chuan remained calm and cupped his hands. "Reporting to the General, Corporal Zhang was guilty and deserved to die!"

"Guilty? Tell me why."

"First, embezzlement of military merit, attempting to claim the six enemy heads from Willow Creek for himself. Second, slaughtering comrades, ordering his men to kill us. Third, passive resistance; yesterday, when the smoke signal alarm was received, he refused to move his troops."

Lin Chuan’s voice echoed across the drill ground, every word as heavy as iron. "Though I am a new recruit, I know that if we tolerate such scum, how is the frontier army any different from bandits? Who would be willing to defend the land for the people? Who would be willing to die for the Imperial Court?"

General Chen narrowed his eyes, his fingers tapping lightly on the hilt of his sword.

"Good! Well said!" He roared, "Zhang Mazi embezzled merit, harmed his comrades, and delayed military operations; he truly deserved to die!" He turned and pointed at the bound captives. "Did you lot participate in this as well?"

The captives turned ashen, knocking their heads against the ground and begging for mercy. General Chen snorted coldly and raised his voice. "Pass on my order!"

Every soldier on the drill ground stood at attention.

"Zhang Mazi is to be beheaded and his head displayed for three days! His cronies are to be sent to the hard labor camp!"

General Chen’s voice was like thunder, his gaze sweeping over the crowd like lightning. The hundreds of soldiers stood in trembling silence. The captives collapsed to the ground, looking like corpses.

He paused, the corners of his mouth twitching as he revealed a playful smile. "As for you, Lin Chuan—" He intentionally drew out the tone, and everyone’s heart leaped into their throats. "I promote you to Garrison Commander of Ironwood Fort, in command of five sub-units!"

The announcement caused an uproar on the drill ground. The veterans under Corporal Hu looked at each other, unable to believe their ears. General Chen raised a hand, and the field went silent instantly.

He narrowed his eyes and added, "Ironwood Fort is upgraded to a Defense Station; all rewards will be distributed according to the old customs! However..." His gaze, sharp as a blade, pierced into Lin Chuan, "You must recruit the soldiers yourself!"

Lin Chuan’s expression did not change as he cupped his hands and spoke in a deep voice, "This subordinate will not fail the General's trust!"

Pang Dabiao couldn't help but step forward and whisper, "General, this Lin Chuan just joined the army and already killed a superior. Such a heavy reward might..."

General Chen waved his hand to interrupt, his gaze shifting toward Corporal Hu.

"Hu Dayong!"

Corporal Hu gave a start and quickly cupped his hands. "This subordinate is here!"

"Your penalty period... is it over yet?"

Corporal Hu’s expression stiffened, and he replied sheepishly, "Reporting to the General! There is still half a year left..."

"Then continue serving as your corporal," General Chen chuckled. "It just so happens you can assist Garrison Commander Lin."

Corporal Hu’s mouth twitched, but he dared not refuse. He had no choice but to bite the bullet and cup his hands. "As you command!"

Behind him, the veterans stifled their laughter, their shoulders shaking. General Chen nodded with satisfaction and turned to leave, leaving behind only one meaningful remark:

"Garrison Commander Lin, I look forward to seeing your troops!"

...

The sun set in the west.

Lin Chuan stood on the earthen wall of Ironwood Fort, looking at the rolling mountains in the distance, still feeling somewhat dazed. In just two days, he had gone from a scholar to a sub-unit leader, and then promoted again to Garrison Commander. Ironwood Fort itself had been upgraded from a patrol outpost to a Defense Station. It all felt too fast to be real.

"Garrison Commander Lin!" Hu Dayong walked over, carrying a stack of documents. "These are the military register, grain ledger, and armory records of Ironwood Fort. Please have a look."

Lin Chuan took the documents and flipped through them, a flash of surprise in his eyes. On the military register, every soldier's name, place of origin, date of enlistment, and record of merit were clearly listed. In the grain ledger, the movement of every peck of rice and every gallon of flour was meticulously noted. The armory records were even more detailed, down to the wear and tear on every single blade and bow.

"Corporal Hu, did you... organize all of this?"

Hu Dayong scratched his head and smiled awkwardly. "Ahem, I served as a personal guard under the General for a few years back in the day."

Lin Chuan was stunned. "A personal guard?"

Hu Dayong sighed and finally confessed, "Three years ago, when General Chen ambushed the Black Wolf Tribe’s camp, I was drunk and botched the mission. In his anger, the General punished me with two years as a corporal, with no chance for promotion. There is still half a year left on the term..."

Lin Chuan realized the truth. No wonder Hu Dayong was so well-versed in military affairs and carried himself with much more rigor than the average frontier soldier.

"Have you calculated the silver?" Lin Chuan asked, closing the documents.

"I have." Hu Dayong pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. "According to the quota for a Defense Station, we can receive two hundred taels of silver every month. To recruit fifty men, with two taels of relocation money each, plus weapons, armor, and rations... what's left will probably only be enough to add ten more bows."

"We can't even fully equip the soldiers?" Lin Chuan was taken aback.

"There just isn't enough silver..." Hu Dayong chuckled. "The General trusts you, Commander, and wants you to figure it out yourself..."

"Figure it out myself?" Lin Chuan was between laughter and tears. He stared at the data.

They were starting from absolute scratch!