Great Wilderness Demon Lord

"This humble general, Xiao Yunlan, greets Vice Commander Han." Xiao Yunlan saluted with his fists clasped in military salute.

Han Zhong raised his hand in a gesture of support, his voice steady: "No need for formalities. Madam Liu's letter has arrived. It is an honor for the court that the Xiao family members are able to go to Shuofeng Plain." He gestured to the seat beside him, "Sit."

The two men sat down, and the guards served tea before leaving.

Han Chong cut to the chase: "I'm sure Chief Liu has already told you about the situation at Shuofeng Plain. Let me be frank with you—although Wangbei Fort has fallen, the imperial court has never given up on this place."

Shuofeng Plain guards the vital passage northward from Zhenhuang Pass. If the stronghold can be rebuilt and expanded into a military garrison, it will be able to observe the depths of the Great Wilderness to the north and support the Langrong defense line to the west. Its strategic value is extraordinary.

He paused, then looked directly at Xiao Yunlan: "The imperial court intends to reopen Shuofeng Plain, but the previous two groups of pioneers have both failed miserably. If you can establish a foothold, build a camp, and hold it for a year or two, the military government will report to the Ministry of War to allocate more funds, provisions, armor, and weapons, officially incorporating Shuofeng Plain into the northern border defense system. Do you understand the key points here?"

Xiao Yunlan nodded: "This subordinate understands. May I ask, Vice Commander, how much support can the military government provide?"

Han Zhong took a scroll of documents from the table and unfolded it. The edges of the papers were worn, indicating that it had been frequently read.

"According to the regulations of the 'Reclamation Order,' the Reclamation Captain can recruit five hundred soldiers." He turned the document to Xiao Yunlan, his fingertip pointing to the ink characters, "This commander has prepared fifty strong soldiers and one hundred recruits for you."

The elite soldiers are all veterans who have honed their skills in the army for many years. They have practiced physical training methods, seen blood on the battlefield, and are proficient in archery, horsemanship, swords, and spears.

The recruited soldiers have also undergone six months of training, and are now proficient in formations and movements, making them ready for use.

He pushed the document forward, "This is the roster. You can collect it at the West Camp in three days."

Xiao Yunlan took the roster with both hands, and after looking at it closely, his heart stirred slightly.

Fifty years of healthy life—this is indeed a generous gift.

Although Zhenhuang Pass has tens of thousands of troops, only a few thousand are truly veteran soldiers and elite troops. The fact that they were able to allocate fifty men to him, a newly arrived captain, shows how much the military government values ​​Shuofeng Plain. It also shows the weight of the letter between the Xiao family and the Liu family.

He carefully reviewed the roster, pondered for a moment, and then looked up with a troubled expression: "I am deeply grateful for the Vice Commander's kindness. However..." He paused, "Shuofeng Plain is now a wasteland, and rebuilding the camp will not be a task that can be accomplished in a day."

Fifty elite soldiers and one hundred recruits may be good at fighting, but if they are all devoted to building walls, digging trenches, and moving timber and stones, it may delay training and defense, and also diminish their morale.

"This humble general dares to ask, if the military government could... allocate some more convicts to serve as laborers?"

Han Chong raised an eyebrow, leaned back, and scrutinized him: "You want a convict?"

"Yes." Xiao Yunlan met his gaze frankly. "Although convicts are not good at fighting, they can be used for hard labor. I estimate that if we want to rebuild the camp on the ruins of Wangbei Fort and build walls and watchtowers, we will need at least three hundred people to work for more than a month."

If we use only combat troops, it would be a waste of the sharp blades bestowed upon us by the deputy commander.

Han Zhong stared at him for a moment, then suddenly a smile appeared on his lips: "You're quite the schemer."

He stroked his short beard, lost in thought. "There are indeed several hundred men in the convict camp, mostly prisoners exiled from various places. While there are a few skilled ones among them, most are unfit for combat and spend their days doing menial labor like carrying loads and repairing canals. How many do you want?"

"Two hundred men." Xiao Yunlan had already planned this out. "Also, please allocate the corresponding tools: one hundred pickaxes, fifty shovels, thirty axes and saws, and—" He paused slightly, "half a month's worth of rations."

"Rations?" Han Zhong smiled faintly. "You've got a clever plan. The military government usually provides rations for convicts, but now that you've taken command, you'll have to raise them yourself."

"I can provide you with half a month's worth of rations as a starting point. After that..."

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "Then it depends on your own abilities."

Xiao Yunlan understood; this was to see if he could gain a foothold in Shuofeng Plain.

He then asked, "May I ask, once the camp is initially established, how will the military government provide for its subsequent food and supplies?"

Han Chong put down his teacup and said seriously, "According to the 'Reclamation Order,' the provisions and salaries of the Reclamation Commandant's troops were initially allocated by the Ministry of War, leaving a gap that needed to be covered by the troops themselves. But—"

He then changed the subject, saying, "If you can establish a stable camp at Shuofeng Plain and hold out for three months, I can petition the Ministry of War to formally include your unit in the northern border defense order. At that time, you will be assigned a force of 500 soldiers, with provisions, armor, and weapons all provided by the imperial court, delivered every three months."

He paused, then added, "Of course, you'll have to rely on yourself for the first three months. The military government will allocate supplies to you at most once more, but only after your camp has taken shape."

These are the conditions: you'll be given manpower and tools, a ration of food, and a promise of future supplies. But the prerequisite is—you must first establish yourself in these ruins.

Xiao Yunlan remained silent for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "This subordinate understands. I humbly request that the Vice Commander allocate the two hundred convicts, their tools, and half a month's rations together."

Han Zhong pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded: "Alright. The convicts and tools will be collected together with the soldiers in three days. But there is one thing to say—" He said solemnly, "Convicts are not like recruits. Among them are many vicious and cunning individuals. Escape and mutiny are common occurrences."

Now that you have taken command of these men, you must discipline them strictly. If any misbehavior occurs, they will be executed according to military law, without exception.

"This humble general will keep that in mind."

Seeing that he seemed calm, Han Chong's expression softened slightly, and he added, "There are hidden talents among the convicts. If there are any with real skills, you might as well keep an eye on them and perhaps recruit them for your own use. But remember, you must use both kindness and severity. Too much leniency will lead to indulgence, and too much severity will lead to rebellion."

After finishing their business, Han Chong stood up and walked to the huge map on the north wall, pointing to the location of Shuofeng Plain: "Since you are a member of the Xiao family and have received a personal recommendation from Madam Liu, I, the commander, will say a few more words. In the place of Shuofeng Plain, having soldiers alone is not enough."

The Wolf Rong cavalry are elusive and unpredictable, and there are even more unforeseen dangers in the depths of the Great Wilderness.

When you first arrive, prioritize defense and avoid rashly advancing. Wait until your camp is stable and your defenses are initially established before attempting any further advance.

He paused, then lowered his voice: "There is another matter... Recently, there seem to be remnants of a cult active outside the pass. If you encounter a strange person in a blood-red robe, do not underestimate them; report to the military government immediately."

Xiao Yunlan's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained calm: "This subordinate will remember."

After the business was concluded, Han Chong rose to see his guest off. Reaching the entrance to the hall, he suddenly stopped, patted Xiao Yunlan's shoulder armor, and said, "Young man, the North Wind is both an opportunity and a pit of fire. If you seize it, your future is limitless; if you don't..."

He didn't finish his sentence, only shaking his head, "Take care of yourself."

"Thank you for the advice, Vice Commander."

As I stepped out of the military headquarters, the sun was already high in the sky.

The streets of Zhenhuang Pass remained bustling, with camel caravans and merchants weaving through the streets. Xiao Yunlan, however, paid no attention, his mind racing:

Fifty able-bodied soldiers, one hundred recruited soldiers, two hundred convicts, plus his own twenty veteran soldiers—a total of three hundred and seventy men. In addition, there were three artisan households, Manager Wu, and others. This force far exceeded his expectations when he left the capital.

But Han Zhong's words also served as a warning. The higher the strategic value of Shuofeng Plain, the greater the risks. The wolves, the cults, the desolate wilderness… each one a potential death trap.

He touched the roll of troop rosters in his arms, the rough texture of the paper catching his eye. Troops would be mustered in three days, and they would depart in five. Time was running out for him.

Upon returning to the Xiao Clan Chamber of Commerce, Xiao Yunlan immediately summoned Manager Wu and Tieshan.

"I will be assigning soldiers in three days. You two will come with me." He spread out paper and pen and began to write a list. "Steward Wu, starting today, prepare the following supplies: an extra 100 bolts of hemp cloth, 50 catties of iron nails, 30 coils of rope, and two doses of wound medicine. Also, purchase dried vegetables and beans within the pass, enough for at least two months."

"Tieshan, after the troops are mustered, you will temporarily lead the new recruits in training. The focus is not on battle formations, but on building camps, maintaining vigilance, and ensuring orders are obeyed. We will depart in five days. I want this army to at least be able to understand commands and distinguish left from right."

The two solemnly agreed.