Chapter 30

Luo Shixin was not surprised by the enthusiastic welcome from the soldiers. In the army, what most convinced the soldiers was not wisdom, not leadership, nor even amiability, but absolute strength. Especially in a warlike and daring army, strength was the most convincing key.

The strong are always respected in the army.

The soldiers of the Twelve Guards were responsible for guarding the imperial city. Most of them were veterans who had retired from the front lines, possessing extraordinary strength and pride. To put it bluntly, they were a bunch of ruffians. They were excellent in battle, but if someone who couldn't command their respect tried to lead them, they would be more unruly than thugs. If mishandled, there was even a possibility of a mutiny.

The previous Right General of the Xiangwei was a second-generation official who relied on family connections. Because he lacked the necessary abilities, he was led around by the nose by these ruffians, causing many embarrassing situations. Eventually, he could no longer bear the pressure and resigned.

Luo Shixin was very different from this second-generation official. His martial prowess had been widely known since he was fourteen, and after joining the Tang army, he became one of the top generals, active on the front lines.

Many of the veterans in the Right Xiangwei had personally witnessed Luo Shixin's performance on the battlefield, and even those who hadn't had heard of him. When they learned that Luo Shixin would be their new commander, they privately discussed it, all agreeing to be more restrained to avoid being disciplined by the new commander.

The veterans' confidence came from their strength. When they encountered someone even stronger, they couldn't act as ruffians.

Luo Shixin had the confidence to earn their respect. Of course, he also prepared his "three fires" and was not averse to using them if anyone was unreasonable.

However, it was clear that the Right Xiangwei soldiers were quite friendly, welcoming him with their actions.

One doesn't hit a smiling face, so there was no need to light those fires.

Luo Shixin said loudly, "There's no need to say that the key to an army is its combat capability. Only an army with combat capability can be entrusted with important tasks and survive on the battlefield by stepping on the enemy's corpses. You are all veterans who have seen many battles, and I have no doubt about your combat capability."

The soldiers on the parade ground all raised their heads proudly. Being a veteran was indeed a title to be proud of.

Only those who understood the cruelty of the battlefield knew how difficult it was to become a veteran. Only those who had commanded an army knew how important veterans were on the battlefield. It was no exaggeration to say that one veteran was worth ten new recruits.

Luo Shixin continued, "But what I want to say is: if you are content with the status quo, the next person to die might be you. Don't think that just because the Tang Dynasty is about to unify the world, you can live in peace. The Turks, our eternal enemies, are always coveting our homeland. You should have heard of their strength and cruelty. Sooner or later, we will face them. If we lose, not only will we die, but our families will also suffer terrible massacres."

As Luo Shixin spoke, many soldiers' eyes turned red, their faces filled with sorrow.

Luo Shixin chose to talk about the Turks because most of the Tang soldiers came from Jin Yang, Taiyuan, Guanzhong, and Western Qin, all of which were areas frequently raided by the Turks. The people in these regions had deep-seated hatred for the Turks.

Someone in the crowd shouted, "It's better if the Turk dogs come. I can avenge my brother."

After he shouted, the parade ground became noisy, with a sense of shared enmity.

Luo Shixin said loudly, "The Turks are very strong, and we must admit that. To defeat them, you must become stronger. I will arrange rigorous training for you to make you stronger. Only by becoming stronger can you ensure a better life for your families and make your descendants proud, rather than having them cry over your corpses."

Luo Shixin detailed the training methods to Xue Yong, who then arranged them.

Xue Yong was also a discerning person. After hearing Luo Shixin's reasonable and detailed training methods, his eyes lit up, and he nodded continuously.

Luo Shixin's training methods were not his own creation. Although he had read many military books and spent time learning military strategy and tactics, he was still a beginner, and the results were not ideal. He couldn't come up with a reasonable training method in a short time, and the training methods from modern military training might not be applicable in ancient times. However, he was good at taking shortcuts. The strongest soldiers in the early Tang Dynasty were the Black Armor Soldiers under Li Shimin, led by Qin Qiong, Cheng Yaojin, Yu Chi Jingde, and Zhai Changsun.

Qin Qiong and Cheng Yaojin were close friends of Luo Shixin, and he had already learned the training methods of the Black Armor Soldiers from them. Based on these methods, Luo Shixin made some adjustments, reducing the intensity slightly and adding some of his own ideas, creating a new training method.

While the soldiers trained according to the new system, Luo Shixin did not idle. He trained alongside them, with a higher intensity than anyone else.

At mealtime, according to the rules, Luo Shixin was entitled to a special meal, but he closed the special kitchen and ate with the soldiers.

By training and eating together, Luo Shixin quickly bonded with his soldiers. The Right Xiangwei soldiers' initial respect for Luo Shixin gradually turned into admiration and affection.

Interpersonal relationships are like this: you get what you give.

Luo Shixin had already won the hearts of the soldiers.

Understanding the mechanisms of the Right Xiangwei, Luo Shixin also placed Mo Huer in the camp as a junior officer.

He worked like a madman, handling affairs in the Right Xiangwei headquarters day and night, eating, living, and sleeping there.

This situation made Yin A Shu very anxious.

The incident where Luo Shixin disciplined someone seemed to have spread throughout Chang'an. In the places he often visited, people were secretly discussing it.

Yin A Shu, who was already insecure and easily provoked, felt that these discussions were full of ridicule for his incompetence. He was so ashamed and angry that he didn't dare to leave his house, repeatedly urging Feng De.

Feng De was also helpless. Since Luo Shixin ate and lived in the Right Xiangwei headquarters, what could he do? According to Tang law, the Right Xiangwei headquarters was equivalent to a military camp, and entering it without permission was the same as entering a military camp without permission. Even if Feng De had ten lives, he wouldn't dare to force his way in. He could only endure the pressure and have people watch the area around the Right Xiangwei headquarters.

"General, there are three or four suspicious people outside!" Mo Huer reported mysteriously.

Luo Shixin stretched widely and said, "Really? Alright! It's time to go home and sleep. Such a luxurious house, it's a waste to leave it empty."