Upon arriving at the military camp, morale was low.
After half a month of wind and frost, the Zhenbei Army's camp finally came into view. The gray-brown fortifications were built against the mountain, stretching for miles. Banners fluttered in the north wind, but could not conceal the somber atmosphere within the camp. In the distance, the patrolling soldiers walked wearily, their armor covered with dust and rust, their eyes filled with exhaustion and numbness—clearly, the successive defeats had greatly diminished the army's morale.
Shen Qingci and Su Yunqing dismounted and presented the emperor's edict. After verifying the credentials, the gatekeeper, though not daring to be negligent, could not hide his disdain: "Supervisor Shen has come from afar and must be tired. However, the military camp is not as good as the capital, and the conditions are simple. I hope the supervisor will forgive him." The implication of "a weak scholar just to make up the numbers" in his tone was clear to everyone present.
Stepping into the military camp, the scene was even more shocking. On the training ground, a few soldiers were practicing perfunctorily, their movements sluggish; outside the mess hall, several soldiers were arguing over half a basket of moldy rations, their resentment palpable; even worse, some were gambling in a corner of the camp, completely lacking any military discipline. Su Yunqing frowned slightly and quietly tugged at Shen Qingci's sleeve—how could such an army withstand the iron cavalry of the Xiongnu?
The news had already spread throughout the military camp. The new supervisor was a top scholar who had never been on the battlefield, and he had even brought his wife along. The soldiers were all resentful. When Shen Qingci arrived at the central command tent to meet with the generals, several deputy generals spoke bluntly: "Supervisor Shen, forgive our bluntness, but on the battlefield, swords and spears have no eyes. What matters is real fighting, not military strategies from books. You should return to the capital as soon as possible and not delay important military and national affairs here."
Shen Qingci was not angry. He calmly swept his gaze over the people in the tent and slowly stood up: "Generals, you have guarded the border for a long time and have made great achievements. I admire you very much. But the art of war says, 'Those who are united in purpose will prevail.' Now the discipline of the army is lax and the soldiers are disloyal. If we do not reorganize, even if we have sufficient troops, we will not be able to defeat the Xiongnu."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a burst of sneer came from outside the tent. Shen Qingci followed the sound and walked out of the tent, where he saw a burly captain standing with his arms crossed on the training ground, speaking sarcastically: "Supervisor, you make it sound so easy! Show us your 'military strategy' if you're so capable, don't just talk the talk!"
Upon hearing this, the surrounding soldiers echoed him, and a chorus of jeers rose and fell. Shen Qingci's gaze sharpened as he noticed the archery target not far away, and he said to the captain, "Do you dare to compete with me in archery? If I win, you will all be under my command in matters of the military camp; if I lose, I will request to return to the capital and will never interfere in military affairs."
The captain was taken aback, then burst into laughter: "Fine! Since you, the supervising officer, have brought this upon yourself, I will grant your wish!"
Shen Qingci remained calm and took a longbow from the soldier. The bow was incredibly strong; an ordinary civil official couldn't possibly draw it. The captain's eyes were full of mockery. But Shen Qingci focused intently, holding the bow in his left hand, nocking an arrow in his right, and with a powerful pull, the bowstring was drawn taut like a full moon. A gust of wind swept by, and his gaze locked onto the bullseye a hundred meters away. With a flick of his finger, the arrow shot out like a meteor, whistling as it struck the bullseye!
The military camp fell silent instantly, everyone staring in shock. Before they could recover, Shen Qingci drew three more arrows and fired them in quick succession, each hitting the bullseye. The arrow fletching trembled slightly in the wind, eliciting a few gasps of surprise.
The captain's face flushed red, and he was momentarily speechless. Shen Qingci lowered his longbow, his gaze sweeping across the entire field, his voice resounding: "My lords, I know you do not believe me. But I, Shen Qingci, have come here not for fame or glory, but to fight alongside you against the Xiongnu and protect our homeland! From this day forward, I will eat, live, train, and fight alongside you. If there is even the slightest hesitation, you may punish me as you see fit!"
Su Yunqing stood behind him and spoke at the opportune moment: "Soldiers, although I am a woman, I have some medical knowledge. In the future, if there are any injuries or illnesses in the camp, I will do my best to treat them and help you overcome difficulties together." Her voice was gentle yet firm, which stirred the hearts of many soldiers.
The generals inside the tent exchanged glances, their initial disdain gradually turning into seriousness. Shen Qingci's archery skills were enough to prove that he was no weak scholar, and the sincerity and determination in his eyes made it impossible for them to underestimate him any longer.
The north wind still fluttered the banners of the military camp, but the oppressive atmosphere in the air had subsided somewhat. Shen Qingci knew this was only the first step in gaining trust. Next, he would face countless challenges: rectifying military discipline, replenishing supplies, boosting morale, and more. But as long as he could unite the army, he could overcome any obstacle.
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