Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

The scorching summer sun relentlessly baked the earth, even the wind carried a burning heat. However, on the newly built and specially widened and leveled "Drill Ground" on the west side of Xinghuo Fortress, an atmosphere more intense and more somber than the sun was permeating the air. Here, the largest and most formal military parade in the history of Xinghuo Fortress was about to take place.

The drill ground, nestled against a newly constructed section of the north wall, offered a wide view. The ground, a mixture of loess and fine sand, had been repeatedly compacted, resulting in a smooth, whetstone-like surface. On the newly built, over two-zhang-high earthen and stone viewing platform to the north, a sunshade was draped. Chen Xing, dressed in black military attire over light armor, with a long sword at his waist, stood solemnly in the center of the platform. To his left stood Murong Mingyue, also in military uniform, her hand on her sword, her red robes standing out even more against the dark armor; to his right was Chen Wei, with a stern face and upright posture. Key civil officials such as Wu Xuejiu, Zhao Tiezhu, Zhou Dashan, Li Shu, and Wang Jian, along with the main generals of each camp, stood solemnly on either side according to their rank. Behind the viewing platform, a special seating area had been set up for guests. Invited envoys from the Bailu tribe, respected elders from the fortress, representatives from the academy and craftsmen, and others awaited the grand ceremony with gazes filled with curiosity, excitement, or scrutiny.

Around the drill ground, the star-flame banner symbolizing Starfire Fortress and the identification flags of each battalion and unit fluttered in the hot wind atop the makeshift flagpoles. Thousands of fully armed Starfire Fortress soldiers had assembled in the designated area, completely silent. Only the occasional slight clinking of armor plates and the impatient snorting of warhorses broke the breathtaking silence.

This is not a simple show of force, but a comprehensive review of the achievements of Xinghuobao's military strength building after nearly a year of implementing the strategy of "building high walls, storing up grain, and delaying the declaration of kingship," especially after the great victory at Yelangpo and the surge in population. It is also a major political move to unite the people internally and demonstrate strength to the outside world.

"The time has come—!" Wu Xuejiu, the master of ceremonies, was dressed in formal dark attire today. He took a deep breath and, with all his might, made his booming voice resound throughout the training ground: "The grand review of the entire Xinghuo Fortress begins—!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!" Four heavy war drums resounded, shaking the surrounding fields and opening the prelude to the military parade.

First to enter the center of the drill ground for inspection was the foundation and backbone of the Xinghuobao army—the **heavy infantry squares**. Three entire thousand-man squads, three thousand elite infantrymen, marched in uniform, heavy, and resolute steps past the reviewing stand in neat hundred-man squares. They wore newly made helmets, lamellar or scale armor reinforced with leather and steel plates, and carried large, long shields, half a person's height, covered in cowhide and edged with iron, in their left hands gripping long infantry spears over ten feet long, their tips gleaming coldly. Ring-pommel swords were also at their waists. Their footsteps thundered, their armor clanged, shields formed a wall, and spears a forest. Sunlight shone on the polished armor and spear tips, reflecting a chilling gleam. There were no fancy shouts, only the uniform sound of footsteps and the metallic scraping of weapons against armor, yet it exuded an imposing, unshakeable, and awe-inspiring aura. This is the steel backbone that enabled Xinghuobao to withstand the Black Mountain Army's iron hooves at Wild Wolf Slope and protect the city walls and the people.

On the reviewing stand, a barely perceptible hint of satisfaction and pride flashed in Chen Wei's eyes. These soldiers, most of whom had experienced bloody battles, had shed the laxity and cowardice of their former militia under strict military regulations and systematic training, becoming true professional soldiers.

Following closely behind the infantry formations was a mixed column of archers and crossbowmen. Eight hundred archers and four hundred crossbowmen marched in units of a hundred. The archers carried longbows on their backs and quivers at their waists; the crossbowmen held their drawn crossbows, gleaming with a dark metallic sheen, level with the bowstring. Their steps were not as heavy as those of the heavy infantry, but they were equally orderly and swift. Particularly striking were the crossbows equipped by some of the crossbowmen, whose mechanisms were noticeably more robust and complex than ordinary crossbows, with more refined sights. These were the "jumping crossbows" and a few experimental "waist-drawn crossbows," which the craftsmen had attempted to improve under Chen Xing's guidance. Their range and power far exceeded that of ordinary hand crossbows. This long-range force was an indispensable sharp fang in the defense and offense of Starfire Fortress.

Then, the earth began to tremble slightly. The sound of hooves grew louder as it approached, like muffled thunder. Everyone's attention was involuntarily drawn to it.

The cavalry contingent, personally led by Murong Mingyue, entered in battle formation. At the forefront were the 150 most elite "Spearhead" knights, both rider and horse clad in light armor. The knights carried extended lances, composite bows on their backs, and scimitars at their waists; even their horses had leather armor protecting their faces and necks. Their horsemanship was superb; even at a relatively high speed, their formation remained exceptionally tight, like a moving steel arrowhead. Following them were nearly 500 "Winged Cavalry" cavalry, equally well-equipped and imposing. Bringing up the rear was the "Sharpening the Edge" battalion, still undergoing training. Nearly 700 cavalrymen, divided into several ranks, resembled a red, raging tide, or a pack of wolves poised to pounce, carrying the unique ferocity of steppe cavalry and the discipline instilled by Starfire Fortress, thundering past the reviewing stand. The dust kicked up by the horses' hooves shot into the air, and the sense of power and mobility of their galloping horses contrasted sharply with the steady and heavy infantry, yet they were strangely integrated, demonstrating the Xinghuo Fortress's current military structure that was both offensive and defensive.

The envoys from the White Deer tribe watched intently, especially the young leader Hasen, who stared at the fine horse tack, uniform equipment, and disciplined formations, his eyes filled with astonishment and a hint of barely perceptible apprehension. While their steppe tribes' cavalry were brave, they rarely possessed such systematic equipment and rigorous formation training.

Before the dust from the cavalry had completely settled, a peculiar procession of dozens of vehicles of various sizes, propelled and pulled by hundreds of auxiliary soldiers and craftsmen, slowly entered the training ground. This was a demonstration of craftsmanship and logistics. The vehicles were laden with newly forged battering rams, foldable flying bridge components, improved shield carts, bundles of standard arrows, neatly stacked spare armor plates and weapons, and—most strikingly and mysteriously—several flatbed wagons covered with thick tarpaulins and closely guarded by absolutely loyal veteran guards. Despite the tarpaulin covering, their distinctive square outlines and the vaguely visible, neither-metal-nor-wood support frames still sparked the imagination. These were the secret achievements of Chen Wei's "Firearms Research and Development Team"—several black powder application devices that had been preliminarily finalized after countless dangerous experiments: the "Sky-Shattering Thunder" for blasting, the "Flying Fire Canister" for fire attacks, and… a small number of experimental "Fire Spurs." Their emergence signifies that Starfire Fortress's military technology has begun to touch a new threshold, full of unknowns and dangers.

On the viewing platform, apart from a very few insiders such as Chen Xing and Chen Wei, even Wu Xuejiu and Murong Mingyue had never seen these "strange objects" in their entirety, and at this moment they couldn't help but hold their breath in awe. The invited external envoys and representatives looked at each other, their hearts filled with doubt and a vague unease.

"All troops assemble—!" Chen Wei took the command flag and waved it sharply.

The drumbeats changed again, becoming rapid and impassioned. The various units that had just marched in formation quickly regrouped in the designated large area in the center of the drill ground. Heavy infantry led the way, archers flanked them, cavalry were positioned on the left and right flanks, and supply wagons were placed in the center of the rear. In a short time, a well-organized and well-balanced military formation was formed. Under the blazing sun, more than five thousand armored soldiers stood at attention, their swords and spears gleaming, banners obscuring the sky, and an overwhelming aura of killing intent lingered, even the clouds in the sky seemed to be subdued by this imposing presence and quietly dispersed.

Chen Xing slowly descended from the reviewing stand, accompanied by Chen Wei and Murong Mingyue, and inspected the assembled troops on foot. He walked past rows of soldiers, his gaze sweeping over their faces—some young, some weathered, but all equally resolute and fervent. He occasionally stopped to straighten the helmet of a veteran with several plaques representing his battle merits hanging around his neck, or patted the shoulder of a new recruit whose face was pale with nervousness. There were no lengthy speeches, but every action he took, every glance he made, made the soldiers he was looking at stand taller, their eyes burning even brighter.

After the inspection, Chen Xing climbed back to the highest point of the reviewing stand, facing the thousands of eyes watching him on the parade ground, and the countless villagers who had come to watch from outside the cordon.

"Soldiers of Starfire Fortress!" Chen Xing's voice, amplified clearly through a simple loudspeaker, resounded throughout the entire area. "Today, your military bearing is so magnificent! This fortress lord is greatly pleased!"

He paused for a moment, letting the clamor subside slightly: "A year ago, we first gathered here, a mere hundred men, bewildered and surrounded by powerful enemies, our lives hanging by a thread! A year later, our Starfire Fortress boasts thousands of soldiers, gleaming armor, abundant provisions, and the hearts of the people are with us! This is not a gift from heaven, but rather something we, our soldiers, have fought and built, bit by bit, with our blood, sweat, loyalty, and iron discipline!"

"What are we fighting for?" Chen Xing's voice suddenly rose, filled with power, "For our parents, wives, and children, so they will no longer be slaughtered by the barbarian cavalry, no longer starve and fleece! For the fields we cultivated and the houses we built with our own hands, so they will no longer be destroyed by the flames of war! For the rules and laws we established, so that they may protect every diligent and kind person! For the spark in our hearts, so that it may illuminate more lives struggling in darkness!"

"Wild Wolf Slope, we've won! But an even greater test lies ahead!" He pointed north, "Black Mountain Commander's ambition to destroy us remains undiminished! Other wolves and tigers are also lurking in the shadows! They fear our strength, resent our established rules, and covet the grain in our granaries and the land beneath our feet!"

"Tell them!" Chen Xing shouted, raising his arms. "Aren't the walls of my Starfire Fortress high enough?!"

"High!" Thousands of soldiers roared in unison, their voices soaring into the sky.

"Is my Starfire Fortress's food supply sufficient?!"

"foot--!"

"Do the soldiers of Starfire Fortress dare to fight?!"

"Fight! Fight! Fight—!" The roars rose higher and higher, and the fortified villagers watching around the training ground couldn't help but shout along, their voices shaking the surrounding area and even causing the earth to tremble slightly. The fervent and determined atmosphere reached its peak.

"Good!" Chen Xing pressed his hands down, and after the shouts subsided, he said in a deep voice, "Remember today's military bearing, remember today's oath! Continue to hone your skills, strictly abide by military regulations, and cherish the people! When the enemy invades, that will be the day we use our swords and spears to defend our homeland, uphold our military might, and let the name of Xinghuo resound throughout the world!"

"We swear to serve our Lord to the death! We swear to defend Xinghuo to the death!" Under Chen Wei's leadership, the entire army struck their shields with swords and slammed their spears into the ground, producing a unified roar and shouts.

The parade concluded amidst thunderous slogans and stirring war drums. The troops then orderly withdrew and returned to their respective camps. But the high morale and overwhelming military might lingered long afterward.

On the viewing platform, Elder Wu En of the White Deer Tribe watched the receding torrent of steel, remaining silent for a long time before finally whispering to Wu Xuejiu, "Mr. Wu... the military might and discipline of your fortress are truly unprecedented in my life. Especially that... unseen item, which adds to its mystery. It is a great fortune for the White Deer Tribe to be friends with your fortress."

Wu Xuejiu smiled and returned the greeting: "Elder, you flatter me. My fort only seeks to protect itself and its people, and wishes to forever forge friendly relations with all trustworthy and trustworthy neighbors."

Meanwhile, the spies from Iron Rock Fortress and Gray Valley Fortress, who were mixed in with the onlookers, had already turned pale. Taking advantage of the crowd's excitement, they quietly slipped away, eager to report back to their masters what they had seen that day—the mountain of infantry, the tide of cavalry, the mysterious vehicles, and the overwhelming morale of the army.

Chen Xing and Murong Mingyue stood side by side on the viewing platform, gazing at the gradually emptying training ground and the setting sun in the distance.

"Five thousand armored soldiers, a formidable army," Murong Mingyue said softly. "However, behind this grand spectacle lies enormous daily attrition. Moreover, there are still many new recruits; those who have truly experienced the test of a major battle are still the veterans from Wild Wolf Slope."

"I know," Chen Xing nodded. "That's why we need to seize the time, use combat as training, and let as many people as possible see blood and become familiar with battle formations before the real decisive battle. Commander Heishan won't give us much time. This parade is not only to unite ourselves, but also to tell the enemy, and even more so... to tell those who are still wavering."

He turned to Murong Mingyue, his gaze deep: "Mingyue, it's time for our cavalry to conduct some real, small-scale combat drills. The targets could be... those disobedient vassals around the Black Mountain Commander, or certain bandits that pose a threat to our trade routes."

A sharp glint flashed in Murong Mingyue's eyes: "Understood. The Arrowhead Battalion and part of the Winged Cavalry Battalion have been itching to act for a while now."