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After the fall of Jingzhou, Chen Qingwan stood amidst the ruins.
The joy of victory was overshadowed by the heavy casualties.
This also made her more clearly aware of the gap between herself and Lu Yan.
Chen Qingwan expanded the army by another 10,000, bringing the total strength of the Imperial Guard to 25,000.
After the recruitment of new soldiers was completed, Chen Qingwan ordered all the soldiers to be assembled at the drill ground outside Jingzhou City.
The 25,000-strong army filled the drill ground in a dense, dark mass, stretching as far as the eye could see.
The new recruits were ragged, poorly armed, and demoralized.
Many people couldn't even stand in a straight line, whispering and talking amongst themselves.
They resembled a mob in the marketplace, utterly undisciplined.
Riding her warhorse, accompanied by Li Mu and Qiao'er, Chen Qingwan slowly inspected this ragtag army.
As my gaze swept over the unfamiliar faces, a heavy sense of disappointment welled up in my heart.
Most of these new recruits were ragged, emaciated, and their eyes were filled with confusion and fear.
Some of them came from refugees suffering from war, while others came from mountain bandits who had gathered in the mountains.
Some were bandits who were coerced into coming.
They had never received formal military training, and their ranks were crooked and disorganized, like loose sand.
Not to mention loyalty to Datong and military discipline.
Her only concerns were the desire to survive and the uncertainty about the future, which caused her deep anxiety.
Gazing at the ragtag army before her, Chen Qingwan's thoughts involuntarily drifted towards Lu Yan.
And his renowned Shannan Army.
She could already picture the soldiers of the Shannan Army clad in their armor in her mind.
Holding sharp blades, their steps were perfectly synchronized, like an unstoppable torrent of steel.
That iron-fisted military discipline, that excellent equipment.
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