Chapter 788: Wei Yan and Guan Ping

After having the idea of reinforcing only his arms, Zhang Fei could no longer contain his excitement. After all, for an Inner Qi Detached cultivator like him, as long as he wasn’t dead, he wouldn’t die easily. Therefore, experimenting on his own arms didn’t bring him any pressure at all.

The mobilization of troops from Mount Tai proceeded swiftly. On the very day the mobilization orders were issued, many soldiers from nearby regions, armed with standard weapons, had already arrived. As for armor, Chen Xi could only ensure that the core units had iron armor, while the regular troops were equipped with leather armor. Anything beyond that was out of his hands.

In terms of overall equipment and weaponry, the only force in the world that could compete with them was the Yuan brothers. As for the rest, they could only look on with envy—Mount Tai's wealth was no joke.

“The numbers were manageable at first, but now that the troops have gathered, it's truly impressive. The camps stretch as far as the eye can see, flags filling the sky. Truly, this is the formidable army Wen Ze trained for three long years!” Liu Bei commented, feeling deeply moved as he inspected the thirty thousand troops stationed outside Mount Tai two days later. “Moreover, this battle can truly be called a united effort!”

“Oh.” Chen Xi stood on the city wall, gazing out at the camp below. The Qingzhou troops were the true core of their army. These soldiers not only possessed the fierce valor of the historical Qingzhou forces but also had none of the shortcomings in weapons and equipment. In addition, their discipline had been greatly strengthened, making them Liu Bei's most presentable military force. Of course, this unit had yet to experience real combat.

“Talking to you is like talking to a brick wall sometimes,” Liu Bei said, exasperated. “Such a magnificent army, and all you can say is ‘oh’? How am I supposed to respond to that? Tan Zhi, what do you think?” Liu Bei turned to his nephew Guan Ping for support.

“The Qingzhou army is unmatched in valor and, with the equipment provided by the strategist, our northern campaign is certain to succeed!” Guan Ping, now dressed in scholar’s robes after removing his armor, leaned over the city wall, watching the army below with great excitement.

“Not bad,” Chen Xi muttered with a hint of weariness. “However, the strongest force in Mount Tai should be the crossbow troops. Unfortunately, when He Jin conscripted elite soldiers from Mount Tai, it caused a major disruption in the development of that formidable unit.”

“Hahaha! Zi Chuan, I think this Qingzhou army is no less formidable than those crossbowmen!” Liu Bei laughed heartily, then patted Wei Yan on the shoulder. “Wen Chang, come take a look. What do you think of these troops?”

“They have form but lack killing intent! Among the thirty thousand troops stationed outside the city, only the squad leaders can be considered elite soldiers. Those squad leaders are true battle-hardened veterans, but the rest of the soldiers, though trained, are barely more than commoners. At best, they qualify as basic troops!” Wei Yan replied bluntly. In situations like this, most people with political savvy would agree with Liu Bei’s assessment, but unfortunately, Wei Yan lacked such sensibilities.

“Hahaha~” Before Liu Bei could laugh, Chen Xi had already burst out laughing. “See, Lord Xuande? I told you before, these soldiers need a real battlefield experience. While everything else is in place, they still lack the test of life and death.”

“Wen Chang, you’ve earned the right to command your own army,” Liu Bei said, patting Wei Yan’s shoulder. He, too, was a veteran of the battlefield and could easily see what the army was missing. “Tan Zhi, you still need more tempering.”

Guan Ping’s excitement deflated instantly. He had been promised a position upon his return, and now, with one sentence, that promise seemed to vanish.

However, Guan Ping didn’t harbor much jealousy. He greatly admired Wei Yan’s abilities, especially during the battles between Qingzhou and Jizhou, where Wei Yan had taken the lead. Guan Ping had mostly benefited from Wei Yan’s leadership.

“What unit would Wen Chang like to command?” Chen Xi asked with a smile. They had already planned these assignments ahead of time. Guan Ping still had some ways to go, while Wei Yan had already proven himself beyond expectations.

“Any unit is fine?” Wei Yan was momentarily surprised by his good fortune, but when he thought of Guan Yu, he understood everything.

Although Guan Yu wasn’t one to say much, he treated his subordinates extremely well. He would often handle matters for them without them even asking, as long as it didn’t conflict with loyalty, filial piety, or righteousness.

“You can choose any unit without a commander in Mount Tai, and you can even select your own soldiers first,” Liu Bei said with a smile.

This was a generous offer to Wei Yan. Whether it was an illusion or not, Liu Bei always felt that Wei Yan’s appearance bore a striking resemblance to Guan Yu. The way he spoke and his demeanor were also uncannily similar.

“The city management unit,” Wei Yan said immediately after exchanging a glance with Guan Ping. This unit had been frequently visible after their return, and its ferocity had made both of them salivate.

“That unit already has a commander,” Chen Xi replied with a chuckle. “But I can allocate one hundred men to you as a foundation for training. Is there another unit you’d like?”

“Then I’d rather select my own soldiers and train an army myself!” Wei Yan declared decisively, showing no interest in Chen Xi’s suggestion. Chen Xi wasn’t offended by this; after all, a general’s primary job was to fight.

“Alright, that works too. Here’s a recruitment order. You can recruit your own soldiers—four thousand eight hundred, no more. Four thousand will be your troops, five hundred will be your direct subordinates, and three hundred will be your personal guards,” Chen Xi said with a smile, handing him a token.

Wei Yan was overjoyed to receive the recruitment order. This meant he would have his own banner and his own army. He would no longer be subordinate to anyone but would lead his own force. As long as his unit wasn’t destroyed, he would always be a commander.

“Alright, you and Tan Zhi can go select your troops now. It’s time for you to lead your own forces,” Liu Bei said, waving his hand dismissively. It was clear that Liu Bei treated Wei Yan and Guan Ping differently from the younger generation of generals.

After Wei Yan and Guan Ping left, Liu Bei’s expression became more serious. “Isn’t it too soon to give Wen Chang command of his own troops?”

“We already discussed this. Besides, we’ve given him the recruitment order. Do you want to take it back, Lord Xuande?” Chen Xi replied casually, understanding that Liu Bei’s concerns stemmed from a protective instinct towards his subordinates.

“Perhaps I should assign him an experienced deputy,” Liu Bei suggested.

“No, if you want to develop an outstanding general, don’t hold him back. Generals with talent thrive on their gifts; those without rely on experience. But how many experienced generals ever become truly great?” Chen Xi rolled his eyes as he glanced at the Qingzhou troops below, who were diligently training. He didn’t want to see Wei Yan’s potential stifled.

“Sigh, I just worry that they’ll cause trouble,” Liu Bei said with a sigh.

“Then just find someone reliable to keep an eye on them,” Chen Xi suggested offhandedly.

“If I have someone I trust to oversee them, they won’t be the commanders anymore,” Liu Bei said, glancing at Chen Xi with a helpless expression. The people he trusted were all highly capable veterans who had been with him for a long time.

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