Chapter 55

Xue Tong naturally did not know about Lu Yao's thoughts. He just asked curiously, "Why does Dao Ming need so many spearheads?"

Lu Yao shook his head, driving the ambition of a hundred thousand musketeers out of his mind, and replied, "In these days, I have observed the military equipment used by all the soldiers, and it is truly a mixed bag. There are six types of long spears, ranging from twelve to eighteen feet, and no less than ten types of swords, varying in length and weight. Other weapons such as shields, spears, halberds, swords, and axes are all of different types. Although the coordination of multiple units is the key to victory, it is not achieved this way! Moreover, the essence of military governance lies in unified command and strict discipline. If the equipment is not standardized, how can we talk about unity?"

Xue Tong listened intently. Lu Yao slowly rode his horse and continued, "Old Xue, I have thought it through carefully. From now on, our infantry will only have three types of soldiers: long spear soldiers, sword and shield soldiers, and archers, with the long spear soldiers being the most important. I plan to quickly eliminate all non-standard military equipment and train a batch of capable long spear soldiers. You, Gao Xiang, and Guo Huan will each lead 120 men."

Xue Tong nodded and said, "What you said makes sense. We should take advantage of this lull in the war to properly train our troops."

Lu Yao turned to Xue Tong, his eyes shining, and said, "Guo Huan is proficient in spear techniques and skilled in training soldiers. I know his abilities well, so I plan to have him take charge of the training. I will also appoint Fei Cen and Xu Mu as his deputies to specifically handle the training of the soldiers. Old Xue, who among your subordinates is suitable for this task? Or who deserves a promotion? Please recommend them to me."

Xue Tong thought for a moment and said, "There is indeed a suitable candidate. Xie Yuan from Jixian County in Henan is an old acquaintance of mine. He was originally a squad leader in the Bingzhou army and is now temporarily serving as a squad leader under me. He is not only brave in battle but also very capable in administrative affairs, and I often rely on him. Coincidentally, Xie Yuan is skilled with long spears, making him a perfect fit for this role."

Lu Yao smiled and said, "That's excellent. Tomorrow, I will inform the entire army of Guo Huan's responsibilities and the appointments of the three deputies. Old Xue, training the soldiers is no small matter, and I need your support."

Xue Tong clasped his hands and said, "Dao Ming, rest assured, I will do my best."

The two rode down a few streets, discussing some trivial matters. Although Xue Tong had a rough appearance, he was actually very meticulous and not just a brute. Suddenly, a light bulb went off in his head, and he understood the deeper meaning behind Lu Yao's actions.

Lu Yao's original unit had been almost completely wiped out in the previous battle. After the establishment of Jicheng, the new recruits like Shen Jin, Gao Xiang, and Deng Gang were either old friends or former colleagues of Lu Yao. They each had their own old subordinates and friends, forming small circles within the army. This made it difficult for Lu Yao to command the army effectively. The army seemed more like an alliance of former Bingzhou army officers, and Lu Yao could only control the entire force through those influential officers. For example, when Gao Xiang and Shen Jin openly violated Lu Yao's orders to massacre civilians and rape women, Lu Yao did not punish them, which was a clear example.

This time, by eliminating excess units and reorganizing the troops, Lu Yao was taking a legitimate and unassailable approach to military reform. By appointing Guo Huan as the overall supervisor for training the long spear soldiers, Lu Yao could control the hundreds of soldiers during the training period, deciding who would be promoted or demoted. Guo Huan, who had followed Lu Yao for many years, could be considered his confidant. Through Guo Huan, Lu Yao could firmly grasp these hundreds of soldiers, no longer needing to worry about others.

The appointments of the three deputies were also not simple. Fei Cen and Xu Mu were recent recruits who had joined with Guo Huan, and either of them serving as Gao Xiang's deputy would weaken Gao Xiang's control over his subordinates. Even if Gao Xiang were to violate orders again, he would not be able to pass the deputy's scrutiny. The appointment of Xie Yuan could be seen as a sign of Lu Yao's trust in Xue Tong, or as a trade-off: by promoting Xue Tong's subordinate, Lu Yao could gain Xue Tong's support for the other two appointments, thereby suppressing any potential dissatisfaction from Gao Xiang.

Since returning to Jinyang, Lu Yao had been working on reorganizing the army. Hei Yun, as the captain of the bodyguards, had privately colluded with others, which was a serious offense, so he was immediately demoted to a squad leader. Shen Jin, as an officer, had violated orders, so although he remained the leader of the cavalry, his unit was not expanded and only had fifty men. Lu Yao's direct subordinates, all cavalry, numbered a hundred.

Shen Jin's cavalry mostly did not participate in the battle against the Gu family stronghold, and the main culprits were Gao Xiang and his subordinates. Therefore, the punishment for Gao Xiang was the most severe, with a new deputy appointed to train 120 long spear soldiers, effectively reducing Gao Xiang's forces by two-thirds.

Xue Tong couldn't help but break out in a sweat. He suddenly pulled his horse to a stop and said with a bitter smile, "Dao Ming, you truly have a cunning mind and skillful hands!"

Lu Yao was momentarily taken aback, then leaned over and patted Xue Tong on the shoulder, saying seriously, "In these chaotic times, a man can only rely on a strong and capable army to survive. Whether we achieve success or perish, it all depends on this. Old Xue, I need your support."

Xue Tong sighed and, with a solemn expression, clasped his hands and said, "Dao Ming, rest assured, I will do my best."

Compared to their previous conversation when Lu Yao asked Xue Tong to focus on training the troops, the last two lines of their dialogue were the same, but the meaning was vastly different. Lu Yao, hearing Xue Tong's response, laughed heartily, extremely pleased. Xue Tong also laughed, and the two spurred their horses and rode off, leaving a trail of dust behind.

Lu Yao and Xue Tong returned to the camp with ten bags of spearheads and announced the upcoming training program the next day.

In fact, every experienced officer knew that this period of calm would not last long. The Xiongnu were cruel by nature, and they had previously allowed Yueshi Gong to occupy Jinyang due to the severe famine, which prevented them from organizing a large-scale military operation. Once the weather warmed, the Xiongnu's livestock would have grass to graze on and could breed, and their army could forage for wild wheat and fruits. Jinyang would soon become a battlefield.

Therefore, although some soldiers who were used to a relaxed life grumbled about Lu Yao's arrangements, every officer eventually threw themselves into the intense training that began in the first year of Yongjia.

For training to be effective, the methods must be practical and based on real combat. Additionally, the officers must enforce strict discipline and earn the soldiers' loyalty. Neither of these was a problem for Lu Yao.

Deng Gang was an excellent quartermaster. He and his subordinates made two trips into the mountains and collected hundreds of wooden poles, which they carefully processed and attached to the spearheads to create twelve-foot-long spears. The reason for not using eighteen-foot spears was mainly due to the mountainous terrain and dense forests in Bingzhou, where longer spears would be a hindrance.

The spear techniques taught by Guo Huan were not secret or advanced, but they were the most suitable for battlefield combat. By mastering basic thrusting, parrying, and blocking techniques and repeating them thousands of times daily, the soldiers could become proficient and react instinctively. In addition to the morning spear training, the afternoon and evening sessions focused on formation and cooperative combat skills, including two-man, three-man, squad, platoon, and company-level coordination, as well as the formation of a 300-man long spear unit.

The training was extremely strict and arduous. Within just a few days, over ten soldiers fell ill or were injured during the intense training. Many soldiers began to complain, and some even resisted the training or deserted.

This situation was well within Lu Yao's expectations. He devoted himself entirely to the camp, enforcing strict military law and making it clear that deserters would be executed. In just a few days, six deserters were caught and executed, which intimidated the entire army. He used this opportunity to strengthen military discipline, revising the existing military laws into a simpler set of a dozen rules that every soldier had to memorize. On the other hand, Lu Yao led by example, participating in the training and living with the ordinary soldiers, especially caring for the sick and injured.

He also mingled with the soldiers, constantly encouraging them and stirring up their hatred for the Xiongnu, painting a rosy picture of life after their defeat. Additionally, Lu Yao sent people to hunt wild animals in the forests outside Jinyang, providing the soldiers with a daily supply of venison, yellow sheep, wild boar, and rabbits to supplement their strength.

Throughout history, military governance has always been about setting goals and visions, organizing like-minded companions, enforcing military laws, and providing appropriate treatment. This naturally forms a united and strong group. Such a group, when given strict training and effective equipment, can quickly become a powerful force capable of victory.

While the training of the long spear soldiers was progressing positively, Lu Yao did not forget the other units. Ten days later, Han the blacksmith personally delivered newly made ring-pomelo swords and leather shields, and Lu Yao began organizing the sword and shield units.

Lu Yao remembered clearly that during his studies in Luoyang, there was a popular theory that a well-equipped and fearless long spear unit could conquer the world with a single type of soldier.

Initially, Lu Yao was also influenced by this theory, but after experiencing countless battles, he found it absurd. Without the protection of shields, a long spear unit would be easily defeated by archers. Without short weapons like swords and axes, a long spear unit would be helpless in close-quarters combat, urban warfare, and ambushes. As for using a long spear unit against cavalry, it was even more ridiculous. Light cavalry could easily outmaneuver a long spear unit, and the long spear unit would have no effective counter unless the enemy commander was insane enough to charge directly into the spear formation.

The four basic units—long spears, swords and shields, archers, and light cavalry—must be comprehensively configured and flexibly used to be effective in the age of cold weapons. For example, sword and shield units, when the two armies are lined up, are the primary defense against enemy arrows. During formation changes, they provide outer protection. They also eliminate enemy units that penetrate the formation, protecting the flanks of other units. In close combat, the sword and shield units' close-range combat capabilities are fully utilized.

Lu Yao's army had an officer who was particularly skilled with swords—Xue Tong. The training of the sword and shield units was entrusted to him.

After the weather warmed in the spring, the soldiers' workload eased somewhat. Based on the training results, Lu Yao promptly held several award ceremonies. Although the prizes were just leather armor and short swords, they greatly boosted morale and sparked competition among the soldiers, making the training progress even more smoothly.

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