Upon arrival at the border, discipline was restored.
The army marched north, and the closer they got to the border, the more desolate the scene became. Many villages along the official road had been burned down, with farm tools and bones scattered among the ruins. Occasionally, refugees could be seen, ragged and filled with fear. Shen Chengyou ordered the army to set up temporary relief points along the way, distributing rations and medicine. Seeing this, the soldiers felt even greater respect for this young deputy general.
Thirty li outside Shuozhou City, they were suddenly ambushed by a small group of Khitan cavalry. The enemy attacked fiercely, brandishing their scimitars and charging straight at the supply convoy. Shen Chengyou remained calm under pressure, immediately reining in his horse and deploying his troops: "The vanguard will meet them head-on, the left and right flanks will flank them, and the rearguard will protect the supplies!" Holding the long spear left to him by his grandfather, he was the first to charge into the enemy ranks. The spear tip gleamed coldly, and he felled several Khitan soldiers in succession. Seeing their commander leading the charge, the soldiers' morale soared, and they fought bravely against the enemy.
After half an hour of fierce fighting, the Khitan cavalry were routed and fled. While cleaning up the battlefield, Shen Chengyou discovered several soldiers looting abandoned enemy property. His face immediately darkened, and he ordered them arrested. "Military law is as firm as a mountain! How dare you take advantage of the chaos to plunder! What is your punishment?" Shen Chengyou's voice was icy. "This expedition is to protect the people and recover lost territory, not for personal gain! If you don't punish them severely today, how will you command respect in the future?" He immediately followed military law, giving the offending soldiers thirty lashes and demoting them to cooks, shocking the entire army.
Upon arriving at Shuozhou City, the city gates were wide open, and General Li, the garrison commander, led his troops out of the city to greet them. However, Shen Chengyou keenly sensed the disdain in the eyes of the generals, and some even whispered among themselves, "He's just a weak scholar who rose to power through family connections. Does he really think he can command us in battle?"
Upon entering the military camp, the scene before him enraged Shen Chengyou even more: the barracks were dilapidated, the soldiers were thinly dressed, and many huddled in corners for warmth; the granary ledgers were in disarray, with actual grain reserves less than 30% of what was recorded; on the training ground, some soldiers were listless, and some were even gambling and drinking heavily. General Li looked embarrassed: "Vice General, the border is harsh and cold, and food supplies are scarce, so it's understandable that the soldiers are somewhat lax..."
"Excuses!" Shen Chengyou interrupted him, his tone stern. "Does the shortage of food allow soldiers to plunder? Does the neglect of military equipment allow military discipline to deteriorate? If the enemy attacks the city now, how can we resist?" He immediately ordered the entire army to assemble on the training ground.
A biting wind howled, and the soldiers stood in formation, shivering from the cold in their thin clothes. Shen Chengyou stood on the high platform, his gaze sweeping over the entire area: "I know you are suffering, you are exhausted, but the people on the border are suffering even more than you! Their homes have been burned down, their loved ones slaughtered, and you, as soldiers of the Great Jing, should be protecting them, yet you are here indulging in leisure and pleasure!"
He threw down his military token and said in a deep voice, "From today onwards, the entire army will be reorganized! First, strictly investigate the granary accounts, recover the embezzled grain, and severely punish corrupt officials; second, reshape military discipline, formulate the 'Seventeen Military Regulations,' and those who indulge in drunkenness, gambling, or looting will be executed without mercy; third, strengthen drills, assemble daily at dawn, conduct combat training at noon, and study military strategy at dusk, and those who fail to meet the standards will be punished by being sent to build defensive fortifications; fourth, Wang Ruoxi, the pacification commissioner, will establish a military medical camp to treat wounded soldiers, while also improving the food in the barracks to ensure that the soldiers are well-fed and warmly clothed!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than a veteran general stepped forward to object: "Vice General, such harshness may cause discontent among the soldiers!"
"Dissatisfied?" Shen Chengyou sneered. "If soldiers are dissatisfied because of strictness, how can they go to the battlefield? How can they protect the country and its people?" He drew his imperial sword, pointing it at the sky. "His Majesty bestowed this imperial sword upon me so that I could rectify military discipline and restore military prestige! Today, anyone who dares to disobey military orders will face my merciless sword!"
Wang Ruoxi stepped forward and said loudly, "Soldiers, I have ordered an inventory of the military supplies. Within three days, we will provide you with thick armor and clothing. The military medical camp will officially open tomorrow, and all wounded soldiers can receive free medical treatment. But you must also remember that military discipline is paramount. Only by strictly abiding by discipline can we win battles and return home to reunite with our families as soon as possible!"
Upon hearing this, hope ignited in the soldiers' eyes. Shen Chengyou seized the opportunity, immediately ordering the granaries opened and ample provisions distributed to the entire army. He also instructed Wang Ruoxi to lead a team to inventory the wounded and sick soldiers and send them to the makeshift medical camp. That very evening, the camp resounded with the sounds of orderly drills, the previous dejection vanishing completely.
Shen Chengyou then spent the entire night in conversation with General Li and other veteran generals, humbly seeking their advice on the border battle situation and the combat characteristics of the Khitan army, while also deploying detailed defense plans. General Li, seeing that although he was young, he was brave, resourceful, fair, and selfless, gradually changed his initial contempt into respect, and voluntarily relinquished his military command to fully cooperate with the reorganization.
Three days later, the Shuozhou military camp was completely transformed. The soldiers, clad in brand-new armor, were in high spirits, and the drill ground resounded with battle cries; the granary accounts were clear, and provisions were plentiful; the medical battalion operated smoothly, and wounded soldiers received proper treatment. Shen Chengyou knew that simply restoring discipline was not enough to defeat the Khitan, but at this moment, this army, on the verge of collapse, had finally regrouped and was ready for the fierce battle to come.
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