Chapter 97

Chapter 98: The Personal Guard

On the third day of the tenth month, a group of young men entered the Northern Mansion. Now, all the people who used to take care of the courtyard had been replaced by a dozen experienced eunuchs sent from the Southern Mansion. However, to their surprise, they were left in the outer courtyard and given strict orders not to step inside no matter what happened, and not to spread any information they heard or saw.

Some of the young men were visiting the place for the first time, curiously looking around. The courtyard was slightly smaller than the Southern Mansion but still covered 150 acres, divided into front and back sections. As they passed through the front courtyard, the door leading to the back was locked by the eunuch guiding them. In front of them was a training ground 150 paces long and 100 paces wide, surrounded by tall locust trees. On one side of the field were weapon racks and some oddly shaped frames.

The vast training ground was eerily quiet, and apart from their group, no one else was in sight. A cold wind blew, and everyone involuntarily shivered. They looked at each other with puzzled and uneasy expressions, unsure of what they were supposed to do here or why they were left alone. The emptiness of the square made them feel even smaller and more timid. Some people, whether from the cold or fear, kept huddling together, perhaps feeling safer in the crowd. If there were fewer people and they were not all men, they might have cried.

However, there were also those who couldn't stay still. Seeing no one paying attention, they ran into the training ground, swinging large swords or climbing up and down the frames, playing to their heart's content as if they were not worried about their current situation. Some even loudly called out to their companions to join in the fun.

"Who told you to run around? Get back in line!" After about half an hour, a man appeared from somewhere and shouted at them.

"Hey, isn't that Brother Yong? Where did you get those clothes? They look great!" The group was surprised for a moment, but someone quickly recognized him as Zhao Yong, who had led them to work every day a few days ago.

"Hehe, they look good, right? I think so too!" Zhao Yong laughed, hands in his pockets, showing off his new outfit. The clothes were a unique style for this era: a black fine wool suit with a fitted waist, a small collar, four close-fitting pockets, and brass buttons, making him look sharp. The trousers were loose at the hips and tight below the knees, paired with mid-calf boots and a wide belt. He also wore a long-brimmed, high-cylinder, flat-topped wool hat, making him look very handsome. Modern military enthusiasts would recognize the influence of German SS uniforms in his outfit, while the hat resembled a French one. This was another creation by Zhao Cheng.

"Zhao Yong, why did you take so long to get here? We've been waiting for a while!" Zhao Zhong, who had been standing in the cold for a long time, said不满地说道.

"Brother Yi, you think we were playing around? I've been working my back off these past few days to prepare for your arrival!" Zhao Yong looked at Zhao Yi as if he had seen a relative and said with a sad face.

"Alright, stop pretending. Take us to where we need to go!" Zhao Yi coldly said, dodging Zhao Yong's attempt to hug him.

"Alright, alright, I'll take you there!" Zhao Yong shrugged and made a helpless face to Zhao Chi, who was laughing behind him, then said indifferently, "Brothers, if you want new clothes, follow me!" He then led the group to a courtyard on the east side of the training ground.

When the young men entered the courtyard, they found Zhao Ren and a few others waiting there. They had been missing for about ten days and were dressed the same as Zhao Yong, smiling warmly to welcome everyone. "Everyone, thank you for your hard work. I represent the Prince in welcoming you!" Zhao Ren, who had been working with the chief steward Zheng Lu for years, greeted them with a bow.

"Today, we have gathered here for a good cause and a challenging task. We will serve as the Prince's personal guards, a position many people dream of. Not only will you receive a high salary, but you might also earn an official position, bringing honor to your family and descendants." As Zhao Ren spoke, the young men became excited. Being the Prince's personal guard meant being close to him, with high pay and the potential for a bright future.

"The current political situation is unstable, and bandits are rampant. The Prince is often in danger when he is out alone. We need to be skilled to protect him. Do you all agree?" Zhao Ren asked loudly.

"Yes, Brother Zhao is right!"

"Brother Ren is right!"

"Exactly, exactly..." The young men responded enthusiastically, their emotions rising. Now that their indentures were in the mansion, the Prince was their provider, and they were bound to him in both good and bad times.

"Good, brothers, from today on, we are the Prince's personal guards. Whatever we do, we must think of the Prince first, be loyal to him, and be willing to die for him!" Zhao Ren said with passion, genuinely meaning every word. Over the years, the Prince had treated them as friends rather than subordinates, and many of the young men shared his sentiments. Their simple minds were easily stirred, and they were now filled with enthusiasm.

"Today, we are here to train and become skilled to protect the Prince. We will eliminate anyone who threatens him. I also have some good news to share..." Zhao Ren paused, looking at everyone with a smile, then continued, "In the coming days, the Prince will live and train with you and serve as your captain!" The young men cheered, as seeing a county magistrate was already a big deal, and now they would be living and training with the Prince, which was a thrilling prospect for them.

Next, Zhao Ren organized the fifty new arrivals into five groups—Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, and Wu—each with ten members, and appointed group leaders. Each group then went to the warehouse to collect their uniforms, bedding, and daily necessities and moved into their respective dormitories.

"Hmph, it's a waste for Zhao Ren to be just a clerk. If he were in the past, he would make an excellent political instructor. He talks as if he's been teaching for years!" Zhao Cheng chuckled, closing the slightly open door and ending his 'snooping.'

"Unfortunately, there are only about fifty people now. In my past life, that would be a reinforced platoon. As the Prince's captain, I only have fifty soldiers. When will I have a full battalion, and only then will I have the power to dominate a region?" Zhao Cheng sighed, sitting in a chair and counting on his fingers.

According to the Song army's organizational structure, it was divided into four levels: Xiang, Jun, Ying, and Du. A Xiang had ten Juns, a Jun had five Yings, and a Ying had five Dus. Each Du had 100 people, and each Ying had two Dus, each with 50 people, and ten people formed a group. The commanding officers at each level were: Xiang Commander, Jun Commander, Jun Deputy Commander, Ying Commander, and Du Commander (for cavalry, it was Du Commander and Deputy Du Commander). He currently had only half a Du, and the highest commander was a captain, far from his goal. No wonder he felt discouraged. However, Zhao Cheng quickly recovered from his disappointment. After all, the framework for the personal guard was in place, and this was the first step in building his army.

Zhao Cheng's decision to form the personal guard was not a sudden whim. He had been considering this since he arrived in this world. As a person from the future, he was well aware of the weaknesses of the Song army. Since the founding of the Song Dynasty, the army had often lost to the nomadic tribes of the Liao and Western Xia. Apart from political reasons, the main issue was that the Song army was primarily composed of infantry, making it difficult to match the enemy's cavalry.

During the Northern Song period, the main military defense zones in the north were Hebei and Hedong. These regions had historically been crucial for defending against northern invasions. The Han Dynasty fought the Xiongnu, the Northern Wei fought the Rouran, the Sui and Tang Dynasties fought the Turks, and the Five Dynasties and Song fought the Khitans, all in these areas. Hebei was particularly important, as Fu Bi said, "Hebei is the foundation of the empire!" Since the Song capital was not in the well-fortified Guanzhong region or the heavily fortified Yiluo Basin, but in the convenient yet vulnerable Kaifeng, Hebei and Hedong became the last line of defense for the capital.

At the same time, the Khitans controlled the strategic regions of Youyun, posing a constant threat to the Song. As Lu Shi said, "If Yan and Ji are not recovered, Hebei will not be secure. If Hebei is not secure, Henan will not be safe." The flat plains east of the Taihang Mountains were the best route for nomadic tribes to invade the south, and the Khitans often used this route during their invasions of the Song. The Song's final downfall was due to the Jin army breaking through this area, leaving no natural barriers except the Yellow River. Despite the large number of Song troops, they were mostly infantry and had been at peace for a long time, making it difficult to resist the overwhelming cavalry, leading to the fall of the dynasty.

In the history of warfare, there are examples of infantry defeating cavalry, but these often relied on strong infantry formations or specific geographical conditions. Infantry could truly match cavalry only after the invention of firearms, especially repeating rifles and artillery. This was why Zhao Cheng was determined to create firearms in this era, no matter the difficulties.

Zhao Cheng's decision to form the personal guard was also influenced by the training of the local militia. These people trained with cold weapons and used tactics suitable for such weapons. Establishing an army based on firearms would require a completely different mindset, philosophy, and tactics. Making such changes would require a team effort, not just his own. He wanted to plant the seed of his personal guard, let it grow and take root, and eventually become a strong force. Achieving this would require his continuous efforts and struggle!