Dream of the Red Chamber: Start by gaining Zhao Yun's martial prowess, and be ennobled in a sin

Hearing Jia Jing's words, Ma Guocheng felt relieved.

They were no longer worried that the layoffs would cause dissatisfaction among the soldiers, since they could still receive a monthly salary of five dou of grain when they were transferred to auxiliary soldiers, which was more than what the Marquis of Linchuan and the others had given them before!

In the past, the Ba Shang camp not only owed soldiers their pay, but often they could only receive three or four bushels of grain a month, barely enough to make a living.

Ma Guocheng knew that as long as there was a way to survive, the soldiers would not easily cause trouble. This arrangement was just right to encourage the soldiers' fighting spirit.

Soldiers and auxiliary soldiers receive twice the pay and rations. To earn more pay, soldiers must train hard to become soldiers.

Ma Guocheng and Zhuque bowed and accepted the order:

"Yes, Your Excellency!"

Jia Jing continued:

"The second thing is training. I've written a new training manual. Take it down, copy a few copies, and distribute them to the officers and soldiers of all the battalions. Make sure they all master it."

"From now on, all training in the barracks will be conducted according to the new drill manual, with the aim of reshaping military discipline, strengthening physique, and improving soldiers' ability to kill the enemy."

Jia Jing handed the newly written manual to the two men.

This book, written by Jia Jing, combines the training experience of Zhao Yun, Xiang Yu, and others with the military training methods of later generations. It is mainly divided into three aspects.

These are formation training, physical training, and tactical skills training.

Drill training primarily cultivates discipline and coordination, transforming individuals into a cohesive unit, fostering an iron-like discipline of unconditional obedience to military orders, and erasing past laxity.

Furthermore, uniformity is the foundation of any complex tactics or battle formations.

Throughout history, strong armies have always been characterized by strict military discipline, as exemplified by the Yue Family Army and the Qi Family Army.

It's not that the soldiers are particularly skilled, but rather that they have strong military discipline and can strictly obey orders on the battlefield. Wherever the command flag points, they will brave mountains of knives and seas of fire without hesitation.

Even in fierce battles, even when outnumbered, they can withstand the pressure and advance wave after wave.

The specific operations begin with standing at attention, lining up, aligning, counting off, stationary turning, and marching in step.

Physical training is forging the soldiers' physique, enhancing their endurance in combat, willpower, and courage to fight.

The specific operations involve weighted marches, strength training, and agility training.

Strength training mainly includes stone weightlifting, stone weightlifting, and wrestling.

Each training session will be progressively advanced and assessed weekly.

Tactical skills training naturally focuses on developing the ability to kill the enemy, with firearms battalions and infantry, cavalry, scouts, and other branches of the armed forces receiving targeted training.

For example, spearmen trained in thrusting and parrying, while swordsmen and shieldmen trained in charging and parrying. Cavalrymen trained in mounted slashing and other techniques.

In addition to the three main training programs, there are also advanced tactical coordination training, night combat and severe weather training, as well as regular psychological and military law lectures.

Ma Guocheng and Zhuque took the training manual, and after reading it, they looked at each other in bewilderment. This was quite different from the current training methods of the Han Dynasty, but it had to be said that it had its own unique features.

Jia Jing said in a deep voice:

"Everyone must attend the upcoming training sessions, including myself. No one may be absent or asked for leave."

"Generals and military officers must set an example, and their standards must be set even higher. Training and assessment results should be directly linked to their pay and promotion."

"My plan is to replace at least half of the junior and mid-level officers during this training exercise, and let the results speak for themselves. In the military, the strong rule, and there's no room for pretense."

"Do you understand everything?"

"Yes, Your Excellency!" Zhuque and Ma Guocheng accepted the order.

"Yes, tomorrow we will officially begin purging soldiers and recruiting new ones, and training will officially begin three days later. Go and prepare!" Jia Jing said to the two men.

Upon hearing this, Ma Guocheng immediately left the military tent and went off to attend to his duties.

Zhuque stood motionless in the camp, looking as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Jia Jing frowned and said:

"What? Is there anything else?"

Zhuque saw Ma Guocheng walk a long way:

"Nothing serious, just some commotion within the manor. Jia Zhen from the East Mansion came to the Rongguo Mansion today..."

Zhuque then recounted what had happened in Rongqing Hall of the Jia family that day, describing the scene as if she had witnessed it herself, with no detail being wrong.

"Do you think we should deal with this? Jia Zhen harbors resentment towards the Marquis, spreading rumors and repeatedly slandering and insulting him. Although he hasn't caused any real harm, he's still quite annoying."

After listening, Jia Jing's gaze deepened, and he slowly said:

"A spineless coward, surely he's holding a grudge after I reprimanded him at the ancestral hall, jumping around like a clown. He's just a laughingstock!"

Jia Jing disliked Jia Zhen even more than Jia She, but since there had been no conflict of interest before, Jia Jing didn't bother with him.

Jia She only drank and played with his concubines, but Jia Zhen was an incestuous man who committed adultery with his father and son, which was utterly shameless.

In addition, he has done many bad things on a regular basis, such as oppressing the people and violating laws and regulations. He is truly a scoundrel who is so evil that he is oozing pus.

Now that they dare to mess with me, I have no choice but to teach them a lesson.

A fierce glint flashed in Zhuque's eyes as he coldly said:

"My lord, should we treat him the same way we treated Jia She, and give him...?"

Jia Jing glanced at him, shook his head, and said:

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard has been making frequent moves recently, and they've been gathering evidence too quickly in the case of Ba Shang. It's inevitable that some people with ulterior motives will notice. It's no longer advisable to take action. In the short term, let them lie low and develop their strength, and don't make any more moves."

"Besides, with Jia She and Jia Zhen both in trouble, it's too conspicuous! We can't use the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

The Embroidered Uniform Guard was one of Jia Jing's biggest trump cards. The fact that he was able to obtain evidence of the crimes committed by the Marquis of Linchuan and others so quickly was entirely due to the Embroidered Uniform Guard's covert investigation.

Therefore, Jia Jing would not risk exposing the Embroidered Uniform Guard for the sake of a mere Jia Zhen.

Zhuque said:

"What should we do then? We can't just let him slander the Marquis!"

Jia Jing laughed and said:

"With my current status and prestige within the clan, there's no need for me to hide anything when dealing with Jia Zhen."

"Take a squad of your personal guards back and beat his filthy mouth until it's shattered. Then take him to the ancestral hall and make him kneel there to reflect on his actions for a few days."

Jia Jing no longer cared so much about the affairs of the Jia family.

Since he became friendly with the clan, coupled with his power and influence, he could easily defeat anyone in the Jia family without having to worry about them.

Now he is more like the patriarch of the Jia clan than Jia Zhen, and he can handle clan affairs on his own.

"By the way! Send some of the troops and Jinyiwei from Liaodong to the Ba Shang camp. Let them serve as low- to mid-level military officers in the camp to help us better control the military power in Ba Shang."

Jia Jing then gave instructions, saying that he intended to make the Ba Shang camp a sharp sword in his hands.

As long as these 100,000 troops are well trained and well controlled, they will be enough for him to dominate the world. This is the most urgent matter!

"Yes, Lord Marquis!" Zhuque bowed and accepted the order, then withdrew.

……

The main hall of Ningguo Prefecture.