Chapter 546
Chapter 546
The next step was to test the armor. In the 17th century, the heaviest Western plate armor weighed around forty kilograms. The heavy armor used during China's Song Dynasty was approximately twenty-nine kilograms. So, how much did the armor of Shen Lang's elite army weigh? About fifty kilograms. This was an immense weight; ordinary soldiers wouldn't even be able to walk in such armor. However, Shen Lang's elite army had trained for over two months, carrying weights of three hundred and fifty *jin* every day and force-marching over a hundred *li* in seven hours. Therefore, to be honest, when they wore the fifty-kilogram steel armor, they felt as light as swallows.
To forge steel armor for over two thousand men, one hundred thousand kilograms of the finest steel were required. This was the highest quality steel in the State of Yue, incredibly expensive, and all of it was produced at the Jin Clan's Gold Mountain Island steelworks. It was full-body plate armor that covered them from head to toe, leaving only their two eyes exposed.
“Strike! Strike!”
A war saber weighing over ten *jin* struck the heavy armor with frenzied force, sending sparks flying in all directions. However, it only left a few marks on the armor, not even qualifying as damage. This army had no need for shields, for their entire bodies were like shields themselves. Gao Duhuan imagined with anticipation what a spectacular sight these two thousand elite, heavily armored broadsword troops would be on the battlefield. They would be a force of such imposing might that they could slay gods if they met gods, and slay buddhas if they met buddhas.
Moreover, this army was like a Great Wall of steel, impervious to blades and spears. The very thought made Gao Duhuan's blood boil with excitement. The only downside was that creating such an elite force was akin to pouring out mountains of gold. Gao Duhuan didn't know exactly how much gold Shen Lang had spent on this army, but he knew that the same amount could have equipped an ordinary army of fifty thousand men.
* * *
Tomorrow, they would depart for the decisive battle on the border. Any other army would have required a stirring pre-war speech or a bonus payout to boost morale, but this army needed none of that.
“Everyone, come forward, turn in your weapons and armor, and take the rest of the afternoon for free activity.”
Gao Duhuan gave the final order. At this, everyone was dumbfounded.
*Free activity? But… what should I do? We train every day, why not today? We're leaving tomorrow, shouldn't we be training today?*
Wang Da thought for three minutes but couldn't think of anything else he wanted to do.
*Since it's free activity, I suppose it's fine if I just train.*
Soon, he picked up his training broadsword, weighing over two hundred *jin*, and began to practice again.
*One slash, two pieces! One slash, two pieces! I've practiced this over a million times, but I still find it fun.*
Perhaps he was what later generations would call a study addict.
*Oh god. I've finished all the practice questions from the god of studying, I've finished all the reference books at home, and I've finished all the workbooks I could buy at the bookstore. What do I do now? There are no more problems to solve. I think I'm going to die!*
Before long, all two thousand men had picked up their broadswords and begun to train with mad intensity.
* * *
Meanwhile, the ten Lan brothers were ecstatic upon hearing the order for free time. It had not been easy to get this break. After months of grueling training, they finally had half a day to rest.
“Come on, come on, let’s play dominoes. I’m Lan Yi, the eldest brother, so I’ll go first. Or how about we roll dice? We have to bet money. No credit. We all get paid a decent salary, after all.”
For an hour, the ten of them were engrossed in gambling. But after about an hour, the air suddenly went quiet. Gao Duhuan had entered. Lan Yi spoke in a trembling voice.
“Sir… sir, it’s free time, so we were just…”
Gao Duhuan didn't say a word and took out his whip.
Crack, crack, crack, crack, crack, crack.
He beat them one by one as if to kill them.
“Free time, free time! I gave you free time, not time to gamble. You’re all as stupid as pigs. In this state, are you even qualified to be White Tigers? Have you mastered your saber techniques? Have you memorized the art of war? Have you learned your arithmetic? You haven’t even perfected those things, and you’re gambling? With money, no less?”
Each of the ten Lan brothers received over a hundred lashes. Gao Duhuan broke ten whips beating them, and the ten Lan brothers couldn't even cry or scream. They wanted to weep, but no tears would come.
*We've endured such hard days. The commander clearly told us to take some free time.*
This was similar to how high school seniors on modern Earth were treated.
*You think vacation is for you to play? How naive. Vacation is just for studying in a different location.*
After flogging the ten geniuses, Gao Duhuan began to crush their spirits.
“Do you think you’re geniuses just because you have special bloodlines? Do you think you’re so great now that you’ve become White Tigers? Look! Look at the soldiers under your command. They are the true elite. They are the true pride of myself and Young Master Shen. For the world’s finest soldiers like them to have White Tigers like you is an insult to them!
Let me be frank with you. I could beat all ten of you to death, and it wouldn't matter. A dog could do the job of a White Tiger. With an elite army this superior, anyone could lead them to victory in every battle. And you still think you’re geniuses?! What a joke!”
The ten Lan brothers were beaten so badly their faces were ashen, and they swayed as if about to collapse. Soon, they were whipped back to the training grounds to continue their arduous training. The sun set in the west, painting the sky with the colors of dusk. Gao Duhuan returned to the two thousand men with transformed bloodlines, his expression incomparably gentle, and said in an impassioned voice,
“That’s enough for today. Stop training! You are absolutely forbidden from training tonight. Do you understand? Rest well, and if you get bored, go look at the large map! Wang Da, you set the example. That’s enough!”
* * *
The next morning, the King summoned Crown Prince Ning Yi.
“Royal Father, are you truly going to the decisive battle on the border? Didn’t you entrust that matter to my fifth brother?”
Ning Yuanxian said,
“The King of Chu is going. How can I be absent?”
He was wrapped in a thick cotton quilt, making him look hunched over as if his back was bent, appearing even older and more frail.
Crown Prince Ning Yi tried to dissuade him.
“But Royal Father, your health…”
“It’s not so bad that it will affect the war effort. I am fine. You’ve served as regent more than once, so I am at ease. I have nothing particular to instruct you on.”
The Crown Prince bowed his head and said,
“Your son is humbled.”
Ning Yuanxian waved his hand dismissively and said,
“Yue Jun, let’s depart!”
The Grand Eunuch Yue Jun came forward, lifted Ning Yuanxian onto his back, and carried the King into the massive carriage.
“Let’s go!”
At the command, five thousand of the Royal Guard escorted Ning Yuanxian, departing from the palace in a grand procession. Outside the palace, Ning Zheng, clad in armor and a helmet, knelt on one knee in greeting.
“Your son greets Royal Father. May you live ten thousand years.”
Ning Yuanxian did not reply, nor did he show his face outside the carriage. The Grand Eunuch Yue Jun said,
“Marquis of Changping, please rise.”
Ning Zheng rose and bowed at the waist, saying,
“Royal Father, the two thousand men of the New Army participating in the border battle have all assembled. Would you care to inspect them?”
“There’s no need.”
The King replied, sounding completely uninterested. He still did not show his face, as if he had no desire to even glance at the two thousand men of the New Army. All the civil and military officials of the court saw the King off, but only about fifty officials departed with Ning Yuanxian. Most were from the Ministry of Rites. Although Ning Yuanxian didn't spare them a glance, many of the ministers stared intently at the two thousand men of the New Army.
*Aren't these two thousand men of the New Army all sacrificial lambs rounded up by Shen Lang? They've trained for over three months, yet they still look as scrawny as ever? And they're all wearing coarse cotton clothes, with no armor? Is Shen Lang afraid they won't be able to walk if they wear armor? And where are your weapons? You're an army, yet you carry no weapons? And look at their eyes. Are those the eyes of soldiers? There's not a hint of killing intent, just a dullness. They say they've spent three months practicing a single slash, but I wonder if they've even mastered that.*
“Enough. Let’s go…”
the King said listlessly, and the Grand Eunuch Yue Jun shouted loudly,
“Depart!”
The scene that followed left everyone stunned. The two thousand men of the New Army under Shen Lang and Ning Zheng all boarded carriages.
*This… isn't this too much? Just because the King is in a carriage, you soldiers think you can ride in carriages too? Can't you walk? This is outrageous! I can accept that you're not wearing armor, not carrying weapons, and don't know how to ride horses, but you won't even walk? Soldiers riding in carriages to a decisive border battle?*
For a moment, a censor was about to step forward and denounce them, but someone next to him quickly stopped him.
*Don't. They're sacrificial lambs going to their deaths. Don't ask too much of men who are about to die. Besides, they're imbeciles; they might not actually be able to walk such a long distance.*
Ning Zheng, Gao Duhuan, and the ten Lan brothers mounted their warhorses, while Shen Lang climbed into a luxurious and comfortable carriage.
“Move out!”
At Gao Duhuan's command, the hundred carriages carrying the two thousand men of the New Army majestically followed the King's Royal Guard, proceeding down the Vermilion Bird Avenue and out of the capital, heading straight west toward the border between the States of Yue and Chu. Another hundred carriages followed behind them. They were loaded with the New Army's top-quality broadswords, heavy armor, and large quantities of meat and dry rations. However, there was no wine to bolster their spirits, nor did the court officials offer any blessings for their journey.
This was because everyone believed this decisive border battle was nothing more than a staged event to appease the State of Chu and concede benefits to them. It was a battle they were certain to lose, so what was the point of a few rousing words? It would only be an embarrassment to the King. The common people all rushed out to point and watch.
“Are those the soldiers going to the border battle? They don't look like they've changed at all in the last few months. That fool who used to be my neighbor still looks just as skinny and stupid.”
“How pitiful. They’re going to their deaths. They’re about to die, yet they don’t even know to cry.”
Among the spectating crowd was Wang Da's younger brother, Wang Er. His broken legs had healed, but not properly, so he still relied on a cane. He spotted his older brother, Wang Da, at a glance and cursed him inwardly with anger and resentment.
*That idiot still isn't dead? It's all his fault my legs were broken. But this time, he'll finally die. Serves him right!*
The people watching the procession had mixed feelings. As citizens of the State of Yue, it was unsettling to watch their own king march off to be humiliated. If only the King hadn't suffered a stroke on top of a woman, they wouldn't have to appease the State of Chu and suffer this loss of face. Such a king was no different from a foolish ruler.
The Royal Guard escorting the King inwardly looked down on the New Army and cursed them.
*We, the Royal Guard, are walking, while you trash from the New Army get to ride in carriages! Is there any justice in this world? Because of you, even we are being scorned by the people!*
A powerful army exuded a palpable killing intent. But from Shen Lang's New Army, the Royal Guard could sense no killing intent at all—only awkwardness and dullness.