Chapter Ninety-Six: Another Regiment Joins

Before arriving at Yunfeng Grand Restaurant, Boss Huang had already decided to donate between three thousand and five thousand strings of cash, adjusting the amount depending on how things unfolded. However, upon seeing this group of proud and hardened veterans standing guard downstairs, showing the utmost respect to Feng Xiaobao, he immediately doubled the sum.

This was a classic tactic employed by powerful families: stationing active-duty soldiers—seasoned veterans—into newly formed units, placing them under the command of new leaders. With such men on the battlefield, victory was almost guaranteed. In the regular army, they were common soldiers, but within the new units, they could serve as officers, quickly expanding a small core into a formidable force.

But persuading meritorious veterans to leave the regular army came at a steep price—only the direct heirs of great families were worth such an investment.

Boss Huang knew well what kind of man Feng Xiaobao was. Even with the Thousand Gold Princess supporting him, it would be impossible for her alone to lure those veterans away from the regular army. Clearly, Feng Xiaobao had acquired extraordinary backing. Boss Huang promptly made a substantial investment, and the others, recognizing the situation, all raised their stakes as well.

Each of the three battalions consisted of two hundred men. Feng Xiaobao already had one hundred and fifty, with the remaining fifty supplied by Tang Tian to complete the first battalion. The other two battalions were less impressive: Yang Chengxian had only thirty-five men, though two elite veterans, Yang Debiao and Yang Deyong, had both retired from the army to join him. Cheng Boxi had a little over fifty men. To make up their numbers, both battalions were supplemented with local militia, which inevitably lowered the overall quality.

Once the troops were assembled, they received supplies. With abundant funding, everyone was equipped with half-armors, fine bows and arrows, and standard-issue ring-hilted sabers. Good equipment lifted everyone’s spirits.

Following Feng Xiaobao’s suggestion, each soldier received a silk garment to wear under their armor. He’d read on a forum that if one wore silk, arrows that didn’t penetrate fully could be more easily removed by pulling on the silk. It was worth a try.

This business naturally went to Boss Huang, whose family dealt in silk. Who else would they give it to? The tea business went to Gao Bawang; tea was included in the soldiers’ rations and was excellent for their health. Military medicines, of course, were supplied by Hu Shang Momo and the merchant Wang Yanliang, as well as Fang Shuozhi—everything from the famous “Zhuge Marching Powder” to medicated wine was handled by them. Feng Xiaobao managed to secure a modest deal himself: his family provided the dogskin plasters.

Weapons, tents, clothing, armor, grain—every item was parceled out among the sponsors and their web of associates. When people sponsor you, you must give back; that’s only fair. In the future, as your career grows, those who supported you generously from the start are bound to claim their share. There is no such thing as a free lunch.

...

A month after the Spring Festival, the breath of spring was already in the air.

On the training ground, cleared of snow, nearly six hundred men (fifty short of a full complement) formed a tight phalanx, sending waves of excitement through the three future commanders—Feng Xiaobao, Yang Chengxian, and Cheng Boxi.

This was their own army at last! Nearly six hundred men made for an impressive display. Watching them drill set the blood boiling.

The sturdy soldiers wielded their shining Tang sabers with speed and skill, moving from defense to offense in well-practiced formations. The packed earth of the parade ground rumbled under the impact of nearly six hundred stamping feet—a spectacular sight.

The first drill was simple: forming up, practicing basic moves and standard saber techniques. Yet, even in this first exercise, Feng Xiaobao perceived something crucial.

His own group of one hundred and fifty was the most elite, with fifty handpicked sons of Luoyang’s prominent families—including his “Thirteen Arhats,” the likes of Cao Ba and Zong Jiu, local heroes, and four inner and ten outer disciples sent by the Golden Saber School.

Of the three battalions, Feng Xiaobao’s had the highest combat prowess. Yet, watching these one hundred and fifty men, he felt something amiss.

He soon realized: this unit bore none of his personal imprint.

Think about it—over half of his men were seasoned veterans. Their habits were already ingrained. Even though they obeyed Feng Xiaobao’s every command, even the formidable Fan Wushang showed him deference... They had no choice; having laid down their arms to join the militia, their orders were to follow Feng Xiaobao in all things.

Fan Wushang’s family was large and well-established. Now that they’d been converted from officials to civilians, the court granted them hereditary titles, but only if Fan Wushang served Feng Xiaobao loyally, not merely in word but in deed.

These were not men raised by Feng Xiaobao himself; his will could not truly penetrate their ranks.

By contrast, Yang Chengxian and Cheng Boxi had already begun training their new recruits according to Feng Xiaobao’s methods. Though still clumsy, their men followed orders precisely and, with time, would undoubtedly become an extension of their commanders’ will.

Feng Xiaobao, on the other hand, even if he commanded with force for the moment, would inevitably find himself unable to sustain it in the future.

Realizing this, Feng Xiaobao went straight to the Thousand Gold Princess after the review, requesting that she assign him another battalion.

“Aren’t you already a Zhechongfu commander?” the princess asked with a smile.

A Zhechongfu—an established military command—was ranked: top level, 1,200 men; middle, 1,000; lower, 800. With three battalions already, an additional one would make Feng Xiaobao’s unit a lower-grade Zhechongfu.

A lower Zhechongfu was commanded by a Zhechong Captain, a fifth-rank officer.

“No need!” Feng Xiaobao waved his hand. “I don’t want a promotion—just give me the full quota of troops first!”

A rapid promotion wasn’t necessarily a good thing. The higher you rose, the harder you could fall, and being elevated too young only attracted resentment.

Only by collecting enemy heads—foreign enemy heads—could one earn truly solid rank.

“If you want another battalion, I won’t intervene,” the princess said softly.

Feng Xiaobao’s face fell, but the princess continued, “This afternoon, she’s coming for her beauty treatment. Tell her yourself.”

So that was it!

That afternoon, when she visited the Thousand Gold Princess’s residence, Feng Xiaobao, serving as her personal beautician, put forth his best effort.

Two hours later, her face bloomed like a peach blossom, radiant and alluring—his care truly showed results.

She was delighted, and Feng Xiaobao had scored a great achievement!

The next day, Feng Xiaobao received a new order from the Ministry of War. A command was established for him: the Zhechongfu of Songyang County, a lower-grade command of four battalions totaling eight hundred men, all under his sole authority. From that day onward, his small group formally acknowledged him as their leader.

Songyang County, where the Shaolin Monastery of Mount Song was located, would later be renamed Dengfeng County after Empress Wu Zetian performed the great sacrifice at Mount Song. For now, it remained Songyang County.

It was a small county, unqualified to host a Zhechongfu in principle. The Songyang Zhechongfu was not officially registered; it was a nominal command, not yet entered into the Ministry of War’s records.

Feng Xiaobao was now the leader, and both Yang Chengxian and Cheng Boxi accepted it willingly. First, neither could defeat him; second, when Feng Xiaobao said he wanted more troops, he got them—and the government had even granted him thirty thousand strings of military funds! With money comes power, and Feng Xiaobao was naturally in high spirits. Yet, before he could fully savor his triumph, Tang Tian came rushing in: “The herd of horses meant for you has been intercepted!”

Feng Xiaobao jumped to his feet. “Who dares to steal my horses? Who has such audacity?”