The news of Nian Gengyao being stripped of his military power spread like a biting north wind throughout the entire Northwest Camp.

The five hundred elite cavalrymen he left behind were taken over by Yue Zhongqi, and the Northwest Camp immediately erupted in chaos.

"Yue Zhongqi? That greenhorn is not fit to command us?" Deputy General Zhao Hu slammed his fist on the table, making the teacup rattle.

He surveyed the generals in the tent, his eyes blazing with anger. "General Nian has fought for the country for many years, and now he is being treated like this by the court. This is simply outrageous!"

The generals in the tent echoed his sentiments, and some even suggested leading the troops back to the capital to demand an explanation.

Although Zhao Hu was indignant, he knew that this matter was of utmost importance, so he had to suppress his anger and said in a deep voice, "Now that there is no news of the general, we cannot act rashly."

Let's see what Yue Zhongqi is capable of first!

---

Yue Zhongqi led five hundred cavalrymen and a baggage train, traveling at full speed.

The biting wind and the horses' hooves crushed the ice and snow as they finally arrived at the Northwest Camp on the twentieth day of the first lunar month.

From afar, the camp's banners fluttered in the wind, yet they exuded a chilling aura.

"General, it seems they don't welcome us," a guard whispered a reminder.

The camp gates were tightly shut, and the guards claimed they had not received any orders to transfer the troops and refused to let anyone pass.

Yue Zhongqi's personal guards were so angry they stomped their feet, but he raised his hand to stop them and said calmly, "In that case, we will set up camp outside the camp."

That night, several generals of the Northwest Army were drinking in their tents, sneering, "That kid is nothing special. He can't even get through the camp gates, yet he wants to take command of the army?"

To everyone's surprise, the next morning, smoke rose from Yue Zhongqi's campsite, filling the air with a delicious aroma.

He ordered his men to set up large pots and cook several pots full of mutton, and also brought out several jars of strong liquor, the aroma of which wafted into the Northwest military camp.

The soldiers smelled the aroma, their stomachs rumbled, and they gazed longingly outside the camp.

At noon, Yue Zhongqi sent men to bring steaming hot mutton and wine to the camp gate, and said loudly, "It's freezing cold, brothers, you've worked hard! I've prepared some simple wine, please join me!"

The soldiers of the Northwest Army could no longer contain themselves and poured out of the camp gates.

The generals couldn't stop them; they could only watch helplessly as the soldiers fraternized with Yue Zhongqi's men and feasted heartily.

Zhao Hu was so angry that his face turned ashen, but there was nothing he could do.

While everyone was enjoying their meal, Yue Zhongqi announced loudly, "Brothers, you've worked hard guarding the border. Today I brought provisions and warm clothing, which will be distributed later."

Everyone cheered again: General Yue is magnanimous, General Yue is generous!

In the following days, Yue Zhongqi began to fulfill his promise. Truckloads of grain and cotton clothing were transported into the camp, and the soldiers lined up to receive them. The frost on the faces of many soldiers who hadn't gone to grab meat the day before gradually melted away.

Especially when Yue Zhongqi ordered his men to open the five hundred brand-new flintlock muskets, the entire military camp erupted in excitement.

"This musket is much better than our old matchlock guns!" A young soldier stared at the musket with longing and couldn't resist reaching out to touch it.

"I heard it loads quickly, has a long range, and isn't afraid of wind or rain!" another person chimed in.

Zhao Hu watched coldly, feeling resentful but also understanding that Yue Zhongqi's move was indeed brilliant.

He walked up to Yue Zhongqi and tentatively asked, "General Yue, when will these muskets be distributed?"

Yue Zhongqi glanced at him and said calmly, "The most capable in the army will be given this gun. In half a month, the entire army will hold a martial arts competition, and the five hundred who win will receive this gun."

The news caused an uproar throughout the army. Soldiers were eager to get started and began to intensify their training; who wouldn't want to own such a fine musket?

On the day of the martial arts competition, the training ground was bustling with noise. Yue Zhongqi sat high on the general's platform, his gaze piercing.

The competition included events such as horseback archery, hand-to-hand combat, and marching with loads, each of which tested the soldiers' physical fitness and willpower.

Zhao Hu originally intended to take this opportunity to dampen Yue Zhongqi's spirits, but he did not expect that his elite troops would suffer repeated defeats in the competition.

In particular, in the archery event, a young soldier named Li Tiezhu won first place with ten arrows hitting the target, drawing cheers from the entire audience.

Yue Zhongqi personally handed the flintlock musket to Li Tiezhu and announced loudly, "From this day forward, Li Tiezhu will be the captain of the musket battalion! The other winners will all join the musket battalion and be under his command!"

Li Tiezhu was so excited that his face turned red, and he knelt on one knee: "This humble general will certainly live up to the general's expectations!"

Zhao Hu stood aside, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

He had to admit that Yue Zhongqi's methods were indeed impressive—in just half a month, he had won over the hearts of the troops and even cultivated an elite force.

As night fell, Yue Zhongqi was studying military texts alone in his tent. Suddenly, he heard light footsteps outside. Without looking up, he said calmly, "General Zhao, since you're here, why not come in and have a chat?"

The tent flap was lifted, and Zhao Hu strode in, cupping his fists and saying, "General Yue, I have a question and have come to ask you about it."

Yue Zhongqi closed the military book and gestured for him to sit down: "Speak freely."

Zhao Hu looked directly at Yue Zhongqi and said in a deep voice, "General, have you come here to recruit us for the imperial court, or do you have other plans?"

Yue Zhongqi smiled slightly, his gaze deep: "General Zhao is overthinking it. I, Yue Zhongqi, have come here only to defend the border and protect the country. The court will make a fair judgment on the matter of Nian Gengyao. We soldiers should take it as our duty to protect our homes and country."

Zhao Hu remained silent for a moment, then finally sighed, "General Yue is magnanimous, and I admire him greatly. From now on, I am willing to obey your orders!"

Yue Zhongqi stood up and patted him on the shoulder: "With General Zhao's help, the Northwest will surely be impregnable."

The following morning, Yue Zhongqi summoned the entire army and announced a new training plan.

The soldiers were in high spirits, especially the members of the musket battalion, who all stood tall and proud, as if they had been reborn.

On the training ground, the roar of flintlock muskets rose and fell, and amidst the billowing smoke, a new, iron-blooded army was rising.