Chapter 18: A Gratitude as Heavy as a Mountain – Xiao Xie's Self-Conquest Begins…

The southern outskirts of the city.

Under the warm spring sun, the area along the Wei River is ablaze with color, and the training ground is full of vitality.

After the Xie family's funeral, Xie Qianli's mourning period was not yet over, but due to ongoing warfare within the territory, his mourning period was interrupted.

These days, the question of what will become of the British army has stirred up a new undercurrent within the military.

Most of the sergeants held a negative attitude.

Not to mention the issue of compensation after the restructuring.

If the emperor truly intended to dismantle the Duke of England's power, these former members of the Duke of England would inevitably face deliberate exclusion when they were relocated to other camps.

However, despite these thoughts, before the reform, the military's daily drills could not be neglected.

The soldiers were divided into two groups on the training ground: one group held rifles, and the other group took away rifles.

Soldiers must sidestep to a safe position when the opponent draws their gun, grab the gun barrel, and take the weapon. Being disarmed several times is considered a failure, and they will have to undergo additional training.

This is one of the daily training routines in the military.

The training ground was filled with noise.

Aisles were left between the soldiers' groups, and the gun barrels gleamed with a dazzling cold light under the sun.

As the soldiers diligently practiced their drills, they approached the general, Xie Qianli, who was clad in silver armor, along the passageway. Xie Qianli stood in the center, with his deputies Feng Ze and Lian Qing standing on either side.

The vibrant spring blossoms contrasted beautifully with the generals' plain silver armor, creating a striking interplay of warm and cool colors.

Upon seeing their commander on inspection, the soldiers immediately mustered even greater enthusiasm.

One soldier, unable to overpower his opponent while trying to seize a gun, was thrown off. He fell straight into the aisle right in front of Xie Qianli, looking up covered in dust.

His disheveled appearance was honestly reflected on the smooth, mirror-like surface of the spearhead.

The dragon-shaped halberd weighed 108 jin and was wielded with ease by the Duke of England.

He himself couldn't even snatch the wooden training spear. The soldier's face was already flushed red, then he sprang to his feet and leaped forward to begin a new round of struggle.

Xie Qianli took in this situation.

The soldier snatched back his gun and said, "General! You see! I didn't disgrace you and your husband!"

During the campaign to quell the Qingniu rebels, the Xie family recruited soldiers along the way, including refugees, and employed people without regard to social norms.

They completely broke the shackles that the Imperial Guards of the capital were all sons of noble and respectable families.

There are at least several hundred soldiers in the army who came from poor backgrounds and had been saved by the Xie family.

The Xie family father and son were very skilled at selecting soldiers: they listened to their voices, giving priority to those with a strong and resonant voice; they looked at their faces, noting that those with a straight nose and full lower lip were mostly honest and kind; and they observed their behavior, selecting those who were not frivolous, whose eyes did not wander, and who had no bad habits.

Xie Ji loved his soldiers like his own children, and Xie Qianli always led from the front.

Both British dukes possessed a charisma that could command the respect of their soldiers even in silence.

After the troops are incorporated into the Imperial Guard, will they still be able to encounter a general like the Duke of England?

Even as the soldiers practiced diligently, they remained worried, glancing at Xie Qianli from time to time. His dark tan skin was covered by silver armor, and his eyes were as black as lacquer.

Despite his outward sharpness, Xie Qianli remained composed and mature, and no one could discern whether he was pleased or worried by the rumors of the reform.

This is something rarely seen in any soldier of his age.

Lian Qing kicked a pebble, which just barely blocked his toes. The pebble rolled and tumbled to the right and slightly in front of him.

Xie Qianli turned his head to look back, while Lian Qing lowered his head.

Lian Qing blushed, unable to hide his thoughts. "This humble general thought... thought..." Lian Qing bowed and whispered, "When the emperor attended the marshal's funeral, this humble general thought he was a good emperor. But the emperor turned around and wanted to reorganize the army. His true colors were revealed, making one really doubt his original intentions! He couldn't keep up the act anymore!"

The training ground was vast and noisy, with only the three of them around.

Xie Qianli's cold expression was like a layer of even more solid frost, and he didn't respond at all.

But it was enough to frighten Lian Qing into admitting his mistake: "This humble general knows his crime. He has spoken out of turn and violated military law. This humble general will now receive the punishment of military flogging."

The military under Xie's rule was strictly disciplined, especially in the crowded and chaotic training grounds. He deserved to be taught a lesson, and Xie Qianli showed no mercy.

Xie Qianli had two deputy generals, Feng Ze, who was meticulous, and Lian Qing, who was straightforward. Based on their personalities, the two were in charge of logistics and served as the vanguard. They and their fathers had always followed the Xie family through thick and thin.

Before accepting his punishment, Lian Qing choked up and said, "This humble general would like to take another twenty lashes to say one more thing, reminding the general to consider carefully. If the young emperor reorganizes these tens of thousands of people, the commander-in-chief's revenge will not be avenged, and you will also be controlled by the young emperor from now on..."

Some people would rather be beaten more than admit that their words carry more weight.

Xie Qianli's brows furrowed.

Recently, rumors have been circulating at the training grounds in the south of the city that the expeditionary force had only 30,000 men when it went there, but had grown to 50,000 on the return journey. The more they fought, the more they grew, and they were all well-trained.

Therefore, the Imperial Secretariat drafted a plan to reorganize the army, intending to disperse the expeditionary force into various branches of the Imperial Guard to improve the overall combat strength of the Qin royal army.

But in reality, this is also a reduction of power.

To speculate even more maliciously, it might be a case of taking advantage of the recent death of Xie Ji, the former Duke of Ying, to discard the bow after the birds are gone.

This rumor also stirred up a sensitive thorn in Xie Qianli's heart.

However, given Xie Qianli's current status, it was not appropriate for him to discuss this matter with anyone, and he even held back some things from Feng Ze and Lian Qing.

His suspicion and hatred for Ying Xi rekindled, a connection the situation forced him to make, and it worked perfectly for him.

He suppressed his feelings as he recalled Ying Xi's past actions, each one weighing heavily on his heart like a stone.

You Long'e hadn't seen blood since Ying Xi cleaned him up, and the black linen robe he wore at the funeral was still vivid in his mind's eye.

Ying Xi is skilled at acting; she lied to him more than once or twice during his childhood.

Xie Qianli secretly curled up a cold smile.

Feng Ze and Xie Qianli continued to patrol the training ground, but without Lian Qing to liven up the atmosphere, their walk was rather somber. They could hear shouts of battle, the sound of the spring breeze rustling through the leaves, and the subtle friction of armor plates.

Suddenly a strong gust of wind blew by.

The wind blew through the trees, scattering several petals from the magnolia tree, which obstructed the view of two soldiers who were training under the tree, thus slowing down their tactical movements.

Being distracted by external things is a major taboo on the battlefield!

Therefore, before Xie Qianli could speak, Feng Ze took the lead in reprimanding him, turning to one of the soldiers: "You, start over!"

The soldier was covered in cold sweat, his hand holding the gun trembled, and after a moment's hesitation, he thrust the gun at Fengze.

The wind was still blowing hard, and fallen petals filled the view. Feng Ze stood still, until the tip of the gun was about to touch his body. Suddenly, he turned to the side, without even looking, and instinctively reached out his hand, grabbing the middle of the gun shaft like an iron clamp!

Feng Ze, who was left-handed, twisted his hand forcefully and snatched the gun from his opponent.

The soldiers around them, though wanting to stop observing the tactical maneuvers, were deterred by the fact that the group of soldiers had been punished for being distracted, and so they all continued to focus.

Feng Ze handed the spear back to the soldier, who looked ashamed after having his spear taken from him and offered to do extra training.

The two punished soldiers are ready to get back on their feet.

Xie Qianli then said, "Losing your weapon on the battlefield is a life-or-death situation. Getting this gun back is like saving your life. No one can joke with their own life!"

The two sergeants nodded emphatically.

Xie Qianli has already gone elsewhere.

Feng Ze followed closely behind, and Xie Qianli said, "Starting tomorrow, the training methods will be adjusted. Soldiers who have their weapons taken away for the first time will be punished, and the rest will continue training in groups."

Feng Ze said, "Wouldn't there be too many people being punished?"

“If a soldier seizes a rifle, returns it to his comrade, and they switch sides to continue training, the consequences would be unimaginable if he were to develop a memory of it and return the weapon to the enemy on the battlefield. It is better to punish him severely,” Xie Qianli said.

Feng Ze then agreed wholeheartedly and bowed his head in response, "Yes."

Despite the decline of the nation, Xie Qianli, the youngest Duke of Ying in the family to date, still has a youthful appearance. True to his name, he embodies the hopes of Xie Ji and Princess Huining for their family and country. He is a promising talent of the Xie family, and no one can deny his abilities.

The former emperor was licentious and dissolute, while the current emperor is still wet behind the ears.

No matter how strong an army is trained, once it is dismantled by the emperor, it is still like pulling out the claws and fangs of Xie Qianli, this fierce tiger.

If the emperor is still not satisfied after stripping the emperor of his power, he may then target the descendants of meritorious officials... Feng Ze's Adam's apple trembled slightly.

Feng Ze's face turned pale. After the death of the former Duke of Ying, the pillar supporting the country collapsed, and the young master was forced to mature again by the situation. The emperor made moves to pressure him from time to time, and Feng Ze's figure became thinner and thinner.

Feng Ze clenched his teeth, his cheek muscles trembling.

Feng Ze brushed away the magnolia petals that had fallen on his shoulder armor, and his gaze returned from his shoulder to the training ground passageway. Xie Qianli stopped, knelt down on one knee, and picked something up from the ground.

Feng Ze followed and saw that Xie Qianli had a fledgling bird with just grown down feathers lying in his palm, which had been blown out of the nest by the strong wind.

The hands were large, covered with gauntlets, and devoid of warmth.

Xie Qianli was encased in a plain silver armor, which, to the fledgling bird, was of course a colossal beast it had never faced before.

The fledgling bird trembled in despair, opening its tender yellow beak and chirping pitifully, as if begging for mercy.

Xie Qianli gently lifted the fledgling in his palm and examined it slowly. His gaze softened, and he showed no intention of attacking it. Instead, he used the smooth metal pads of his fingernails to gently stroke its fluffy head.

The fledgling felt the friendliness and gradually became less afraid, spreading its wings in Xie Qianli's palm and rubbing its head against his metal-covered fingers.

Feng Ze's eyes were moist.

General Xie was only twenty-two years old.

He not only possessed the ambition to annihilate his enemies, but also the integrity and kindness he had been taught by the former Duke of Ying and the Grand Princess Huining.

Feng Ze was so overwhelmed with sorrow that he could hardly pull himself out of it.

A dark shadow streaked across the sky, and a black falcon landed on Xie Qianli's shoulder. The falcon tilted its head and stared disapprovingly at the little creature in its master's hand, ready to snatch it up and eat it at any moment.

The little sparrow trembled with fear again.

Feng Ze quickly took the sparrow and handed it to the soldiers cleaning the drill ground to release. When he returned to face Xie Qianli, the current Duke of Yingguo had already regained his dignified, aloof, and imposing demeanor.

Xie Qianli frowned.

If reform is inevitable, then whether for self-preservation or for the military strength of the Qin Dynasty, he must consider which camps can be immediately incorporated into the Imperial Guard and which must be left behind.

We can't wait!

His father's body was still warm, and his injustice remained unaddressed; he could not sit idly by and wait for death.

Xie Qianli ordered Feng Ze to retrieve the military register. Feng Ze obeyed and was about to take action.

Another strong wind blew in from the direction of Chang'an, swirling up petals and dust. All the willow branches swayed in the same direction. The sound of horses' hooves grew louder as they approached. The one giving the order on horseback was not a soldier, but a eunuch dressed in the robes of an imperial official.

Upon closer inspection, the eunuch, with his rosy lips and white teeth, was none other than Yu Jing, the Grand Eunuch serving the Emperor. Behind Yu Jing were several of the Emperor's guards, a formidable entourage that sent a chill down the spines of everyone present.

Yu Jing dismounted and took out an imperial edict from his sleeve:

"The imperial edict has arrived! Your Excellency, Lord of England, receive the decree!"

Xie Qianli and the others knelt to welcome them, and at the same time, the drill ground seemed to churn up a silvery-white wave.

The bright yellow embroidered brocade was slowly unfurled. Before anyone could even make proper preparations, the young emperor was already eager to take away the fruits of the Xie family's years of accumulation!

Xie Qianli's throat tightened, and his brow twitched uncontrollably beneath the edge of his helmet.

The imperial decree was uttered from the jade mirror's mouth:

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The Xie family is known for its loyalty and integrity. Xie Qianli has recently lost his father, and I cannot bear to have him hastily leave his former troops. Therefore, I hereby order Xie Qianli to establish the Longwu Army, with the Weihe River South Camp as his garrison, to continue training and defense, hoping that he will remember the days when father and son fought side by side and live up to my expectations. This decree is hereby issued."

Xie Qianli's twitching brow suddenly stopped, and then he raised his eyes.

Who could have imagined that urging him to be incorporated into the Imperial Guard would turn into a complete separation from the Imperial Guard, with a new organization being established for him—the Dragon Martial Army.

He was incredulous, instantly filled with complex emotions, his chest pounding with a mixture of shock and doubt. Little did he know that the imperial edict had already spread throughout Chang'an.

Yu Jing smiled and handed over the imperial edict: "Duke of Yingguo, this is a unique favor from His Majesty. His Majesty overruled the objections of the Ministry of Personnel and disrespected countless ministers. Why don't you accept the edict and express your gratitude?"

Xie Qianli's breathing became erratic when he received the imperial decree. He tried his best to control himself: "Your subject thanks Your Majesty."

Feng Ze was also full of surprise.

After finishing his errand, Yu Jing dared not linger in the military camp for even a moment longer. Who knew whether the establishment of the Dragon Martial Army was a good thing or a bad thing? He could never guess what His Majesty was thinking.

As Yu Jing set off, Xie Qianli stood up to stop her: "Father-in-law."

Yu Jing turned back and reined in his horse: "Does the Duke of Ying have anything else to say?"

Xie Qianli adjusted his somewhat unnatural voice, his thoughts of self-preservation slightly shifting because of this imperial edict.

Xie Qianli said, "I have a memorial to present to His Majesty. Please wait a moment, and I will pass it on to His Majesty."