Xuanqing Guard

The narrow and winding Bamboo Path is a natural barrier to the south, and Zhuo Huo Pass holds the narrowest point, allowing the blockade to function as a grinder of flesh, wearing down the Barbarian Race within the bamboo corridor until they can advance no further.

But in truth, the Jingjiu Dynasty relied not only on these formidable natural passes but equally on their own ruthless soldiers, no less savage than the Barbarians, and on a variety of battle arrays that could fully unleash the power of the collective.

This is the foundation of their repeated victories in great wars against the Barbarian Race. Whether on the defense or on the attack, the soldiers of the Jingjiu Dynasty have never once faltered before the Barbarians.

This time, however, is different from previous campaigns against the Barbarian Race. The Jingjiu Dynasty had already detected unusual movements before the outbreak of war, and utilizing the advantage gained from their last victory and their persistent population raids, they boldly pushed the frontlines far beyond Zhuo Huo Pass, even deep into the mid-reaches of Barbarian Territory.

Jianchuan, White Head Gorge, Hu Zhu Yuan—this line grants terrain advantage and can restrain the enemy’s salient positions, but its flaw is the sheer length of the front. Without the Teleportation Array, logistics and personnel transport become huge, perhaps even the most critical, problems.

The long trek—more than half a month’s forced march—became both a period of integration and a strenuous exercise. From the moment they entered the Bamboo Path, all those like Wu Kai, who had been shuffled into the main fighting units from mixed regiments, would endure the dual test of forced marches and heavy training.

The details of strategy were unknown to Wu Kai. On the second day after crossing the pass to the south, he was summoned before the Assistant General in charge and met with two other Deputy Generals under the same officer. The main topic was the training and integration plan during the march and the requirements handed down by the Military Marshal.

"Some among you are not originally of the Jingnan Army, but according to reports, your training and ability are first-rate in your domains. I hope these are not empty words. If anyone underperforms or can’t keep up with the collective integration, he’s to be relegated to auxiliary duties in the rear. I will report their situation to the Marshal and have them assigned to road and bridge building along the way—they need not enter the battle array."

"Understood, sir! I will not bring shame upon you!"

Wu Kai understood that these words, though spoken obliquely, were directed at him and another ’outsider’ from the garrison army—this was the first test he must pass to fit into his new unit.

In terms of individual quality, perhaps Wu Kai dared not claim his soldiers could rival those of the Four-direction Army, but as for proficiency in various battle arrays and endurance, he would pit his men against any with confidence.

Indeed, Wu Kai was grateful that during his days in the garrison army he had not let isolation or deliberate marginalization by superiors drag him down, nor did he ever join in with the idlers of Beach Stone and Hai Xia’s garrison. He stuck rigorously to the border army’s code, strict with himself and his men. Though some scoffed at his stubbornness, now it was all proved worthwhile.

The more sweat shed in daily training, the less blood is lost on the battlefield.

Just look at those Jingnan Army soldiers who had newly come to the border. Each of them pushed through the grueling combination of forced marches and extra drills. Exhausted they all were, but none fell behind nor shirked. So too with Wu Kai’s men—if anything, their stamina even surpassed that of the Jingnan Army!

"Vice General Wu, I never thought there would be such well-trained soldiers in your garrison. They’re unlike the loafers I’ve met before. This is excellent."

"Merely my duty, sir. Such praise is more than I deserve."

"Train on, then. Strive to achieve initial integration before we exit the Bamboo Path."

"Yes, I will give my utmost!"

No issues between question and answer—for the sake of urgency, some hardship is only to be expected. Once close to the frontlines, a day or two’s rest will suffice—such things are not rare in the army.

But as soon as they finished speaking, a man whose Warrior Robe differed slightly from that of the border army sidled over, his expression faintly arrogant, his eyes toward the Assistant General and Wu Kai touched with a hint of disdain.

"This is improper!"

Anyone daring to openly challenge a military order like this could only be one of those Military Supervisors, hated throughout the chain of command.

Wu Kai had long heard of the Supervisors’ power, but saw little of them in his marginal garrison days. He had heard Supervisors would stick to the Chief Officer during campaigns, and now it seemed so—they started from the rank of Assistant General upward.

"Oh? Supervisor Wang, do you have a different opinion on my order just now?"

"Assistant General Li. According to the orders from the Daoxing Chief’s Office, there is a one-month window; aside from the march itself, there’s ample time for slow integration. Your impatience may exhaust the soldiers or, worse, cause injuries—wouldn’t that be counterproductive? So I do not approve your order."

Assistant General Li frowned, about to explain, but someone else had already stepped up. This man too followed Assistant General Li—but no, he followed Supervisor Wang. He wore the Black Robe of an Inspector.

Compared to Supervisor Wang’s reasoning, the Inspector was much more direct: "All things military are like fire—the sooner the troops integrate, the sooner they become a true fighting force. The battlefield is ever-changing; is there any such thing as ’slowing down’? As for injuries—these are all elite troops, chosen exactly for hardship and victory. If they can’t bear this much, it’s laughable. Supervisor Wang, I ask you not to make a fuss over trifles."

"You!"

The Supervisor’s face turned livid, but the Black Robe Inspector paid him no heed, instead cupping his hands to Assistant General Li: "Assistant General Li need not mind Supervisor Wang’s remarks just now. I have already overruled him." With that, he nodded to Wu Kai, who stood behind.

In these few brief words, Wu Kai saw clearly the army’s current pattern: supervisors made the officers’ lives harder, while Inspectors made things hard for the supervisors—one restraining the other. The Inspector’s friendly nod toward him brought Wu Kai secret delight.

"Such recklessness—how can this be allowed! Losing combat strength before even reaching the battlefield is absurd! I will not argue further—I will appeal to Lord Liu to report on you!" Shouting at the Inspector, the Supervisor then stormed off, threatening to tattle to "Lord Liu," the chief Military Supervisor for this mixed army unit—clearly, he meant to file a complaint.

The Inspector, however, looked unbothered. He simply bowed to Assistant General Li and Wu Kai and departed as well. Inspectors do not oversee the troops directly; their task is to keep an eye on the Supervisors, so wherever the Supervisors go, they follow—allowing the Supervisors to taste a dose of their own medicine.

Once the two had left, Assistant General Li’s expression relaxed with a faint smile. Turning to Wu Kai, he asked, "I’ve heard you and Chief Officer Shen Hao from the Inspectorate go way back?"