Chapter 16

After the various officials of Youzhou left to perform their duties, Liu Yao encountered another issue.

"Liu Yuan, Gongyu, how should I allocate these 43,000 troops?" Liu Yao said, troubled.

"Your Excellency, Feng believes that the original 3,000 crossbowmen can become your personal guard, led by Shi A, and..."

"Wait, Liu Yuan, do I really need so many guards? Moreover, these 3,000 are currently our strongest combat force," Liu Yao disagreed somewhat.

"Your Excellency, your safety is the most important. Therefore, your safety must not be compromised," Ju Shou said firmly.

"That's right, we also agree," Huang Zhong and the other two concurred.

"Oh, my martial skills are not bad; how could anything happen to me?" Liu Yao said nonchalantly.

"Your Excellency, there is something Feng must say. If you cannot answer me, Feng will no longer be able to serve you," Tian Feng said with a serious expression.

"What?!" Liu Yao was startled. "Liu Yuan, please speak."

"Are you treating the current situation as a game?" Tian Feng's tone was entirely admonishing.

Liu Yao's heart was suddenly filled with turmoil. "Indeed, although I want to restore the Han dynasty, many of my actions have been impulsive, to put it bluntly, somewhat capricious."

"Liu Yuan, please continue," Liu Yao humbly asked.

"Your Excellency, you must understand that restoring the Han dynasty is not just a matter of words. If anything happens to you, all of us will lose our leader and scatter. Therefore, please take care of yourself," Tian Feng earnestly advised.

"Liu Yuan, I have learned my lesson," Liu Yao said humbly.

"Then let it be 3,000 personal guards," Liu Yao said with determination. From this moment on, Liu Yao slowly began to grow into a leader, a wise man does not stand under a crumbling wall.

"Thank you, Your Excellency, for your understanding. Please forgive Feng's rudeness just now."

"It is I who should apologize to Liu Yuan," Liu Yao bowed humbly to Tian Feng. Everyone was deeply moved; as a minister, they knew well that honest advice is often hard to hear, and to encounter a leader who can humbly accept the opinions of his subordinates is truly a blessing.

"Liu Yuan, please continue what you were saying," Liu Yao said.

"Yes, the 3,000 personal guards are necessary, and we should form a 10,000-strong cavalry led by Huang Zhong. With Your Excellency's stirrups, we can definitely train them successfully within half a year. The remaining 30,000 infantry will be led by Gao Shun and Taishi Ci," Tian Feng said slowly.

Liu Yao hesitated for a moment. "No, I do not plan to have Gao Shun lead the infantry. Let Ziyi lead them all for now."

Tian Feng looked puzzled, and Gao Shun was somewhat disappointed, thinking he had been abandoned by Liu Yao.

"Ha ha, Gao Shun, do not worry. I know you are best at training troops, so I plan to have you train a true elite force of about 1,000 men, to be called the Xian Army. How does that sound?" Liu Yao was very hopeful that the invincible heavy infantry of history could shine under his command.

"Thank you, Your Excellency," Gao Shun's face turned from sorrow to joy, filled with excitement.

"Liu Yuan, Gongyu, what do you think?" Liu Yao asked.

The two exchanged glances and said, "We will follow Your Excellency's orders."

"We will obey your command," Huang Zhong and the other two clenched their fists in response.

In the military camp of Youzhou's Jixian, Liu Yao stood on a high platform, looking down at the 43,000 soldiers below. Beside him stood Huang Zhong, Gao Shun, and Taishi Ci.

"Do you know who I am?" Liu Yao shouted loudly.

"His Highness the Crown Prince, Governor of Youzhou, His Highness the Crown Prince, Governor of Youzhou..." the soldiers shouted in unison.

Liu Yao was very satisfied. He raised his hands to stop the shouting. "Everyone, as you all know, the Wuhuan will soon invade our Youzhou. If they succeed, your homes will be destroyed, and your families will not survive. Do you want that?"

"No, no..."

"Then what should we do?" Liu Yao continued to rouse their fighting spirit.

"Kill them all, defend our homes..." their voices grew even louder.

"Good, since you all have this resolve, we must train hard from now on. Sweat more in peacetime, bleed less in war. Do you understand?"

"We understand!!!"

"Next, I will change the current military structure, which is too cumbersome," Liu Yao paused and continued, "Now, every ten men will form a squad, with one squad leader and one deputy squad leader. Ten squads will form a platoon, with one platoon leader and one deputy platoon leader. Ten platoons will form a company, with one company leader and one deputy company leader. Three companies will form a battalion, with one battalion leader and one deputy battalion leader. Do you understand?"

"We understand," they all shouted in unison.

"Wait, Governor, I have something to say," an out-of-place voice came from the crowd.

Liu Yao frowned and said, "Wait until I finish speaking, then you can speak."

"Yes," the voice disappeared into the crowd.

Liu Yao continued, "To ensure the combat effectiveness of our army, we will implement a substitution system. If a battalion leader is killed, the deputy battalion leader will take command. If the deputy battalion leader is killed, the company leader will take command, and so on, until the last soldier. I do not want to see any instability in my army. However, some people should not think of harming their superiors to gain a position. I will send people to check regularly, and if such a situation is found, the punishment will be death."

"We understand."

Huang Zhong and the others nodded in agreement. "I didn't expect such excellent military talent. This setup will definitely maximize the combat effectiveness of the army."

"Alright, who was the one who interrupted just now? Step forward," Liu Yao called out.

At this moment, a young man of about fifteen or sixteen stepped out of the ranks.

"State your name."

"This subordinate is Tian Chou, Tian Zitai, originally a captain in the army," the young man shouted loudly.

"Tian Chou?!" Liu Yao was startled. Although Tian Chou was not as famous as Huang Zhong and Gao Shun, he was a brilliant general, both literate and martial, who historically led the army to help Cao Cao defeat the Wuhuan. Although Tian Chou looked young now, he would surely become a capable general in the future.

"Tian Chou, what do you have to say?" Liu Yao's attitude softened.

"Your Excellency, this subordinate believes that the military structure should not be reformed!" Tian Chou said.

"Why?"

"The current military system has been passed down from the High Ancestor. If we arbitrarily change the ancestral rules, it may harm your reputation," Tian Chou explained.

"Ha ha ha ha. Good," Liu Yao was very satisfied with Tian Chou. He didn't expect that such a young man could think so deeply, which greatly pleased Liu Yao.

Tian Chou was completely baffled by Liu Yao's laughter, thinking he might have said something wrong.

"Tian Chou, what you said is very good, but I have the imperial sword Chixiao, granted by the emperor, which gives me the right to act first and report later. Therefore, I can make these decisions myself," Liu Yao said. In fact, the real reason was that Emperor Ling fully supported Liu Yao, so whatever he did was feasible.

"Apologies, Your Excellency, this subordinate overstepped," Tian Chou said, blushing.

"No problem, you were unaware. However, your courage to speak up and your thorough consideration are excellent. Tian Chou, would you be willing to serve as a colonel under me?" Liu Yao asked.

Tian Chou blushed again, this time from excitement, feeling as if he had suddenly risen to a high position. "Thank you, Your Excellency, for your promotion. This subordinate is willing to serve you."

Do not underestimate the position of colonel. Later, the title of general became common, but that was because many warlords arbitrarily granted titles during the chaos. In the current Eastern Han, a colonel was already a significant military position.

"Good, I will appoint you as a colonel, temporarily under Taishi Ci. Come over here."

"Yes," Tian Chou responded with joy.

Thus, Tian Chou walked to Liu Yao's side, amidst the 43,000 envious eyes below. Opportunities are often right in front of us; it's just that some people seize them, while others do not dare or do not think to act.

"Your respective commanders will take over and allocate you. Dismissed." With Liu Yao's order, everyone left in an orderly manner, and Huang Zhong and the others went to take charge of their respective units. Everything in Youzhou was now on track.