Chapter 99

Duan Zhihuan did not say much. After assigning tasks to the generals in the hall, he dismissed them. He then gave Xia Hongsheng a few words of caution, emphasizing the strict discipline in the army and the importance of completing the tasks assigned by the emperor. After that, he sent one of his personal soldiers to lead Xia Hongsheng to the military camp.

Upon arriving at the camp, they saw a young general waiting outside. When he spotted Xia Hongsheng on horseback, he spurred his horse forward and stopped abruptly in front of Xia Hongsheng, causing the horse's hooves to rise and stomp just in front of Xia Hongsheng's face. Then, the young general leaped off his horse, clasped his hands in a salute, and shouted loudly, "This is Lieutenant General Duan Zan! Greetings, Commander Xia! Please forgive me for being in armor and unable to bow!"

The young general deliberately reined his horse in front of Xia Hongsheng, shouting loudly and not bowing, with a hint of provocation in his expression. Behind Xia Hongsheng, Qi Yong and the other personal soldiers frowned and changed their expressions.

However, Xia Hongsheng remained calm, glancing at the lieutenant general with a nonchalant look and said coolly, "You're such a grown-up, yet you still find this amusing. How childish. Put away your act and follow me to inspect the soldiers."

With that, he continued walking forward.

"Sir, this man is the son of the Grand General of the Imperial Guard, Duan Lao," Qi Yong whispered in Xia Hongsheng's ear.

Xia Hongsheng nodded and continued into the camp.

Behind him, Duan Zan was stunned, staring at Xia Hongsheng's leisurely back. This shouldn't be the case; why isn't this move working on him? In the past, everyone was frightened by the horse's hooves and retreated quickly, and they all shouted in anger at his disrespectful attitude! Thinking of the indifferent look just now, Duan Zan felt a surge of anger. Just a little kid, daring to call me childish?! Hmph, we'll see who laughs last! A mere child, daring to think he can command us, the veterans of the battlefield? No way!

With this thought, Duan Zan hurriedly followed, walking beside Xia Hongsheng and glancing at him with a sneer. Just wait, kid! You'll be scared soon enough!

Xia Hongsheng entered the camp, where the soldiers were training. He walked around, stopping here and there, but the surrounding shouts did not faze him.

This camp was not large, with only a few hundred men. As a Commandant, it was normal for the camp to be small, which made it easier for Xia Hongsheng to manage.

Xia Hongsheng had not seen other armies of the Tang Dynasty, but from the few hundred men here, it was clear that they were not as disciplined as the soldiers of the future, and their training was quite basic. There were no complex drills like in the future, just weapon practice and running around. However, Qi Yong had already mentioned that these were Duan Zhihuan's troops, known for their strict discipline.

After a round of inspection, they returned to the parade ground. Duan Zan stepped forward, clasped his hands, and shouted, "Please, Commander, order us to perform a drill. The Imperial Guard is an elite force, and we want to show you our skills!"

"Approved!" Xia Hongsheng nodded and walked up to the platform.

Thump, thump, thump... The drumbeats were rapid, like a rising tsunami, gradually intensifying. Suddenly, they roared like thunder, striking the eardrums with force, as if the drums were resonating directly from the brain, trying to break through the body and explode.

This sensation was like having numerous subwoofers surrounding Xia Hongsheng, all sounding at once!

Qi Yong looked at Xia Hongsheng with concern, but saw him remain calm and smiling, which surprised him and made him admire the young man's courage.

After three rounds of drumbeats, the parade ground was filled with armored and spear-wielding Imperial Guards, their faces fierce and full of killing intent, creating a brutal and wild atmosphere.

"Please, Commander, inspect the troops!" Duan Zan, with a stern face, turned and shouted to Xia Hongsheng.

"Please, Commander, inspect the troops!" The hundreds of men on the parade ground shouted in unison, their voices shaking the heavens. If it were any other young man or someone unfamiliar with such scenes, they would likely be stunned. Xia Hongsheng, however, sneered. Unfortunately for them, they are dealing with me, Xia Hongsheng. A few hundred men can't intimidate me! After all, I have seen grand military parades multiple times!

Duan Zan looked at Xia Hongsheng with a smug glance, expecting to see him stunned by the military presence. He thought, "At your young age, you should just go back and live a life of luxury. Don't come here and cause trouble for us!" Duan Zan glanced over, but was stunned himself. He saw that Xia Hongsheng was not intimidated at all and was instead scanning the troops with interest.

The troops, unable to see Xia Hongsheng's expression, thought he was stunned and began to relax, some even started to act casually and laugh.

"Commander Duan," Xia Hongsheng called out calmly.

Duan Zan was taken aback, then stepped forward, "I am here, Commander!"

One rank higher means a lot of pressure. As a Lieutenant General, Duan Zan was Xia Hongsheng's deputy, and though he was不服 (unconvinced), he had to respond.

"Commander Duan is the son of the Grand General of the Imperial Guard and Duke of Bao. Your father is known for his strict discipline. I assume you won't tarnish your father's reputation by being lax, right?" Xia Hongsheng said, still looking at the troops below.

"Of course not!" Duan Zan lifted his head, his expression proud.

Xia Hongsheng nodded, "So, you must be very familiar with the military regulations, right?"

"My father is known for his strict discipline, praised by the emperor as 'even Zhou Yafu could not surpass him.' I cannot disgrace my father. I will not forget the military regulations!" Duan Zan said loudly.

"Ah, I see. Since you are so familiar, tell me, what is the punishment for disrespecting a superior officer, disobeying orders, and acting frivolously during a drill?"

"This..." Duan Zan hesitated.

Xia Hongsheng raised an eyebrow, a cold smile appearing on his face, "What? Have you forgotten, Commander Duan?"

"This... I dare not forget. Those who disobey orders in the army will be executed. Those who disrespect a superior officer will receive three hundred lashes. Those who make mistakes during a drill will receive one hundred lashes," Duan Zan answered loudly.

"Ah, I see. As a new commander, I am not yet familiar with these rules. Thank you, Commander Duan," Xia Hongsheng said with a smile.

As he spoke, his expression suddenly changed, becoming cold. He turned and pointed at a soldier below, shouting, "Bring him in!"

"Yes!" Qi Yong and the other personal soldiers shouted, jumping off the platform and quickly pinning the soldier to the ground.

The soldier struggled, but Qi Yong and the other personal soldiers, veterans of battle, were not ordinary soldiers. Qi Yong tapped the soldier's leg with his foot, and the soldier immediately lost his strength and fell to his knees.

"Commander Duan has already said that those who make mistakes during a drill will receive one hundred lashes, and those who disrespect a superior officer will receive three hundred lashes. This soldier did not cooperate during the drill, pushed other soldiers aside, and laughed frivolously before I had a chance to speak. He has committed two offenses, and shall be punished accordingly. Execute the punishment!" Xia Hongsheng shouted coldly.

Two other personal soldiers quickly stripped the soldier's upper body. As personal soldiers of Qu Tugong, they had done this many times. Qi Yong pulled out the whip Xia Hongsheng had prepared and began to lash the soldier.

"Commander, this..." Duan Zan was shocked, realizing that Xia Hongsheng was using this soldier to establish his authority.

As he spoke, Xia Hongsheng raised an eyebrow, "What? This soldier has violated the military regulations and deserves punishment. Are you trying to protect him, Commander Duan?"

Duan Zan sighed, knowing the soldier had indeed violated the regulations. He had no choice but to bow, "I dare not."

The soldier's screams echoed through the camp, and Xia Hongsheng continued, "I have observed you during the drill. If this is the best the Imperial Guard can do, I have little hope for the elite forces of the army."

This statement immediately made the soldiers' eyes blaze with anger, and even Duan Zan glared at Xia Hongsheng.

Xia Hongsheng ignored their reactions and continued, "As soldiers, do you know what the two most important things for a soldier are?"

No one responded.

"It seems you don't know," Xia Hongsheng smiled, "If you want to be an elite force, show me the attitude of an elite. Not knowing this, you are not even worthy of being soldiers."

"Commander, we are veterans of the battlefield. Your words are too..." Duan Zan was finally thoroughly angered by Xia Hongsheng's contemptuous tone and began to protest, but was cut off by Xia Hongsheng's raised hand.

"Since you don't know the two most important things for a soldier, do you deserve to be soldiers?" Xia Hongsheng said coolly, "If you want to be an elite force, starting tomorrow, I will train you with the methods of an elite force. I will show you what true elite soldiers are like!"