Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 211 Anbei Army

For two consecutive days, the huge training ground west of Shicheng was filled with shouts of men and neighing of horses, and the clash of weapons.

The two-day senior colonel training session came to a close, and the military officers of each unit held thick rosters, which were densely filled with records of the performance of the soldiers of each battalion in various assessments over the past two days, including archery, infantry combat, carrying heavy loads, and formation.

Zhang Xian did not leave the parade ground.

He stood in the cold wind, wrapped in a dark cloak, with Guo Jia and A Shan standing behind him.

Below the stage, the military commanders and officers of various departments stood solemnly.

The military judge's voice echoed clearly across the empty drill ground.

"Wang Meng, captain of the Left Battalion of the Youyi Army, fought five men in a row, demonstrating first-class strength. He is hereby awarded the highest merit!"

"Li Er, squad leader of the Vanguard Battalion of the Youyi Army, shot an arrow through a willow leaf at a hundred paces with a strong bow, his archery skills are first-class, and he is hereby commended!"

"Sun Shan, the scout, tracked the enemy for thirty miles in the snow without getting lost. His scout skills are first-class, and he is hereby commended!"

"Zhang Fei, the newly appointed garrison commander of the Youyi Army, fought seven men on foot and defeated three cavalrymen on horseback. His bravery and strength are first-class. However... he offended his superior. His merits and demerits cancel each other out, and he is hereby awarded a middle merit!"

"."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Feibao, standing in the ranks below the stage, widened his eyes and his thick beard trembled, clearly extremely dissatisfied with the comment about offending his superior. However, upon glancing at the figure on the command platform, he merely pursed his lips and dared not utter a sound.

One by one, the merit and demerit lists were presented on the reviewing stand.

Guo Jia quickly flipped through the pages, making notes with his red brush.

Zhang Xian's gaze swept across the audience, his voice deep and resonant.

"Those who have rendered meritorious service shall be rewarded! Those who have performed meritorious service today shall, in addition to the usual rewards of money, silk, wine and meat, be awarded a newly minted silver medal inscribed with 'Courage and Perseverance' to commemorate their bravery!"

"Thank you for your gracious reward, my lord!!!"

The soldiers whose names were called, along with their comrades, erupted in thunderous cheers, their faces beaming with excitement and pride.

"But! Those who have committed offenses will be punished! Those who have been negligent, cheated, or disobeyed orders in the past two days will be severely punished according to military law! Twenty lashes, a two-month salary deduction, and demotion with continued service! A second offense will result in execution without mercy!"

Zhang Xian's voice suddenly turned stern.

"Military law is as imposing as a mountain, not a child's game! Those who are punished today, I hope you will feel ashamed and then rise up with courage, washing away this humiliation with your blood!"

"Yes, sir!" The soldiers whose names were called turned pale, but dared not complain in the slightest. They answered in unison, their voices trembling.

These are people who want to be discovered through their cleverness; such people exist everywhere, and military law officers naturally show no mercy.

In the military, rewards and punishments are clearly defined, and both kindness and severity are applied.

The thousands of soldiers looked towards the command platform with a mixture of awe and fervent loyalty.

As night fell, inside the council hall of the Shishi City garrison.

The hall was brightly lit, and the charcoal brazier burned brightly, dispelling the bitter cold of the north.

A huge map of Bingzhou hung on the wall of the main hall. On the rough sheepskin, ink lines outlined mountains, rivers, towns, and passes.

The northern border counties such as Xihe County, Yanmen County, and Qiangyin County are highlighted with cinnabar, and a winding red line symbolically extends along the border, appearing fragile and thin.

Zhang Xian sat in the main seat, his cloak still on, the candlelight casting shadows on his angular face.

To the left and right of the lower seat sat Guo Jia, Zhao Yun, Zhang Liao, Lü Bu, Gao Shun, Zhao Gou, and Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, who had recently joined the army and were seated at the very end.

The commander of the personal guards, Ashan, stood behind Zhang Xian with his hand on his sword, like a silent iron tower.

"Everyone."

Zhang Xian's voice broke the silence as he tapped his fingers heavily on the location of Xihe County on the map.

"After the Xihe region was first pacified, the areas of Qiangyin and others were sparsely populated. North of this line, the lands that had not yet been recovered were nomadic lands for generations. We recovered Xihe and then the north, sweeping away the neighboring tribes, cutting off their path to plunder southward, and also severing one of their claws that was reaching towards Bingzhou."

Do you think these wolf cubs will willingly swallow this insult, cowering in the freezing snow gnawing on frozen jerky, waiting for the cattle and sheep to starve to death in the spring?

His eyes swept over the crowd like lightning.

Lu Bu was the first to snort coldly, his eyes flashing with ferocity: "What can they do if they're unwilling? A bunch of chickens and dogs! When spring comes, I'm willing to lead the Wolf Cavalry and sweep them away a few more times, killing them until they tremble with fear!"

Zhao Yun frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "General Fengxian is unparalleled in bravery, but the Northern barbarians are not without wisdom. In the Battle of Xihe, they have already witnessed the sharpness of our army."

Their tribes are scattered, and news transmission may be delayed, but small groups have been making increasingly frequent southward raids and plundering attempts before winter.

He pointed to a mark on the map north of Lishi: "A few days ago, a message came from the northern beacon tower that more than a hundred Hu cavalry scouts had been spotted. Although they were repelled by the garrison soldiers, they were clearly scouting for information. They are waiting!"

"Wait for what?" Zhang Fei couldn't help but interject, his voice booming.

"Wait for the snow to melt," Zhang Liao replied, his voice steady yet tinged with worry. He pointed to the long red line on the map, symbolizing the defensive line.

"Xihe, Qiangyin and Yanmen are places with sparse population and dilapidated city walls. Our main force, the Youyi and Jiaqi armies, plus General Fengxian's Bingzhou wolf cavalry, totals no more than 18,000 combat-ready soldiers."

To defend this thousand-mile-long border wall and control every strategic pass, our forces are stretched thin, like drops of water in a river! Once spring arrives and the snow melts, the roads will be clear, and the various barbarian tribes, seeking survival, will inevitably swarm south! At that time, if they concentrate their elite troops, it will be manageable; but if they disperse and invade, our army will likely be unable to defend one side at a time…”

Zhang Liao didn't finish his sentence, but everyone understood the consequences: flames of war would rage along the border for thousands of miles, potentially even threatening the heartland of Bingzhou! The newly stabilized situation would likely be severely damaged!

"My lord, is the treasury adequately stocked?" Guo Jia asked, turning his gaze to Zhang Xian.

Zhang Xian raised his eyes slightly: "Last autumn harvest was quite bountiful, but we resettled hundreds of thousands of refugees at once. We have enough resources, but not enough manpower. If we expand the army, it will probably take half a year to form combat capability."

"Six months?" Zhang Fei's eyes widened. "The barbarians will attack in the spring! How can we wait six months?!"

Silence fell over the council chamber, broken only by the crackling of burning charcoal in the brazier.

Sitting at the end of the table, Liu Bei looked at the fragile red line on the map and the solemn expressions of the generals in the hall, his heart churning with turmoil.

He had experienced the Yellow Turban Rebellion and knew the destructive power of displaced people and rebel soldiers. He had also witnessed the brutality of the nomadic cavalry in the border regions.

He thought for a moment, then stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "General, conventional recruitment and expansion of the army do not allow for it due to time constraints or the availability of funds and supplies."

"But we are not without people."

A hint of approval flashed in Zhang Xian's eyes. He understood the meaning behind Liu Bei's words, which was exactly what he had been thinking.

"You mean those hundreds of thousands of newly arrived refugees, former members of the Yellow Turban Rebellion?"

Liu Bei bowed and said, "Indeed."

These words came out like a thunderclap from a clear sky!

Lu Bu suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with astonishment and undisguised contempt: "General! Those refugees? Yellow Turban surrendered soldiers? A bunch of emaciated, unarmed rabble! Take them to the battlefield? Isn't that like herding sheep to feed the wolves! Sending them to their deaths in vain, and wasting food!"

Gao Shun frowned. He was the strictest in disciplining his troops and had extremely high requirements for the quality of his soldiers.

"General, the refugees are weak and untrained, and their discipline is lax. If they are suddenly formed into an army, they may not be able to shoulder great responsibilities, and they may even collapse in battle, disrupting our army's formation."

Moreover, the group is a mixed bag, with various motives. If someone harbors resentment and defectes on the battlefield, the consequences would be unimaginable!

Even the usually composed Zhao Yun and Zhang Liao showed serious expressions. Guo Jia, however, had a hint of approval in his eyes. He put down his wine jug, leaned forward slightly, and watched the scene with great interest.

Liu Bei seemed to have anticipated everyone's reaction, and his expression remained unchanged.

"A rabble? Sending them to their deaths?"

He looked at Lü Bu, his gaze sharp as a knife: "General Fengxian, do you know how the Yellow Turban Army, wrapped in rags and wielding wooden sticks and bamboo spears, fought against the arrows and swords of the imperial army's elite northern forces at Julu City this year, advancing wave after wave, fighting to the death without retreating? Do you know that in Guangzong City, those people you regard as sheep fought to the death under Zhang Jiao's orders for almost a year!"

Liu Bei took a few steps: "Among them are farmers whose families have been destroyed by powerful clans! There are artisans who have been exploited by corrupt officials to the point of being unable to survive! And there are many more who were originally outlaws who gathered in the mountains and forests, licking blood from the edge of a knife!"
They were starving and emaciated, that's a fact! But their inherent bravery and the blood and fire they had endured are also facts!

His gaze fell on Zhang Xian: "General, you must have seen it with your own eyes in Guangzong. The fierce and desperate fighting spirit of those Yellow Turban warriors and veteran leaders cannot be faked."

“That’s right!” Zhang Xian nodded and looked at the generals.

"They are even more ferocious! What they lack is guidance to unite their fierce spirit into a cohesive force! It's military discipline and organizational strength!"

He slowly rose to his feet: "Xuande's intention is the same as mine! I intend to select the strongest and bravest among the hundreds of thousands of newly arrived refugees, those who have served as leaders of the Yellow Turbans at the rank of squad leader or above, or those with sufficient courage and strength, so as to quickly build a new army!"

"Name! 'Anbei'!"

"Anbei New Army." The crowd pondered the name.

"The initial quota for soldiers is 10,000!"

"The army must be formed before the snow melts in spring! They don't need to go deep into the grasslands to fight against the main force of the barbarians! Their task is to guard the passes and fortresses in various parts of the newly restored border areas! To wipe out the small groups of barbarian cavalry scouts that have infiltrated southward! To suppress the local forces and stabilize the rear!"

"Knock the barbarian claws firmly to the outside of the border! Free our guerrilla and armored main forces from their heavy defensive duties, unite them as one, and be ready to strike the barbarian main force at any time!"

"Ten thousand garrison troops?" A glint flashed in Gao Shun's eyes as he pondered something.

If it were merely a matter of guarding passes and wiping out small groups of enemies, these brave refugees and surrendered soldiers might actually be able to handle the task, relying on the terrain and fortified villages and with rigorous training!

"Form an army before spring..." Guo Jia quickly calculated.

"Time is of the essence, but if we only seek to strengthen our defenses, the training can be simplified... However, the shortages of money, provisions, weapons, armor, and horses remain enormous! Reassuring the people is of paramount importance!"

Zhang Xian sat back down and nodded slightly: "These matters depend on Wenruo's abilities. With him here, there will be no shortage of supplies and provisions. The only problem is still the junior officers."

“Boping.” Zhang Xian looked at Gao Shun and Lü Bu.

Gao Shun stood up, stepped forward, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "I will obey the general's orders."

Zhang Xian did not answer immediately, but looked at Lü Bu: "Fengxian, would you be willing to part with it?"

"Hahaha, how could I possibly stop Boping from having such an opportunity, General! Just give the order, and I'm willing to vouch for Boping!"

"Good!" Zhang Xian laughed loudly, it seemed that the hearts of Lü Bu and the others had been won over.

He waved: "Gao Shun, listen to my command!"

"The general is here!"

"In recognition of your meritorious service in defending the border and killing the enemy this year, you are hereby promoted to Colonel of Anbei and given command of the entire Anbei Army!"

"Later, come with me back to Jinyang to recruit soldiers."

"Although the soldiers are recruited from the Yellow Turban Rebellion, remember this!"

"All those who join the Anbei New Army will be pardoned for their past actions! Regardless of their previous status as Yellow Turbans, they will all be pardoned! From the day they join the army, they will be soldiers under my command, just like the soldiers of Bingzhou!"

"All those who have rendered meritorious service in the Anbei New Army, regardless of their merit, will be rewarded according to the military merit system of Bingzhou! Merits such as beheadings, defending cities, and scouting can all be accumulated, and promotions and transfers will be based on the military merit record."

"As the commander-in-chief, you must prioritize everything!"

"This subordinate will remember it!"

Gao Shun knelt on one knee and clasped his hands in response.

"Good!" A hint of appreciation flashed in Zhang Xian's eyes, and then he turned to Zhao Yun, Zhang Liao, and Lü Bu.

“Fengxian will select thirty Bingzhou wolf cavalry to serve as the backbone with Boping. Zilong and Wenyuan will each transfer one hundred and fifty from your troops, totaling three hundred, and hand them over to Boping.”

"Those who are transferred will be promoted two ranks: those who were platoon leaders will be promoted to garrison commanders, and those who were squad leaders will be appointed as battalion commanders or lieutenants. Those who are appointed as lieutenants will be removed from the ranks!"

"promise!"

The three of them did not hesitate at all.

Although Lü Bu only brought two hundred Bingzhou wolf cavalry with him, he didn't care how many men he sent out.

Staying in Yanmen and sitting at a desk all day is nothing compared to the exhilaration of galloping across the grasslands right now.

Besides, the general has never wronged him.

Sure enough, no sooner had he agreed to split up the manpower than his next arrangement came.

"Fengxian".

"The general is here!"

"The name of the Flying General shakes the grasslands. Your unit has the fewest men, so you can recruit skilled archers and horsemen from the surrendered herdsmen to raise as your troops. Although you are on temporary assignment, the provisions and military supplies of your unit will be provided by the roving army. Your unit has a quota of 1,600 men, so you are promoted to Colonel of the Vanquishing Army!"

"But how to subdue those wolf cubs on the grasslands depends on your skills, Fengxian!"

"The last general takes command!"

Lu Bu's teeth gleamed with fire, and his arrogant demeanor reappeared.

“Xuande.” Zhang Xian looked at the person who had come up with the plan.

Liu Bei bowed respectfully, but his face did not show much expectation; he was a smart man.

"Xuande has rendered meritorious service, but the three of you are newcomers and unfamiliar with many things, so you will remain in the army to await orders. The barbarians are about to invade from the south, and we need to make contributions. The three of you are quite capable, so I look forward to promoting you!"

"promise!"

Liu Bei clasped his hands in a fist salute, and only then did a look of anticipation appear on his face.

As Zhang Xian said, he knew that since his three brothers had only just arrived in Bingzhou, he could not directly hand over military power to them. However, he assured them that as long as they achieved some merit, promotion would be easy.

After arranging a series of important matters in Lishi City, Zhang Xian rode back to Jinyang the next day.

His companions included Gao Shun and the 330 core members assigned to him.

The recruitment of surrendered Yellow Turban soldiers still required the help of a few people, so after returning to Jinyang, Zhang Xian went to find Zhang Ning.

"Effective immediately, Zhang Ning is appointed as the General of the Vanguard's Office, with a rank equivalent to 600 shi (a unit of grain). He will be in charge of recruiting new soldiers, pacifying the people, and settling the families of soldiers!"

"Effective immediately, Zhang Bailu is appointed Military Law Officer of the Anbei Army, to assist General Gao Shun in commanding the troops!"

"Zhang Ning, Zhang Bailu obeys!"

(End of this chapter)