The leader was a man in his fifties with a burly build.
His face was resolute, as if carved by a knife and axe, his weathered face etched with deep wrinkles, and his eyes were sharp.
Wearing a dark, gleaming armor and a black fox fur cloak, he was none other than Yuan Zhen, the military governor of the Xuanwu Army and the general who guarded the north.
From him:
Su Mu, Deputy General, Deputy Military Governor of Xuanwu Army, and General Dingyuan;
Sun Wence, who served as a military advisor and Zhaowu Colonel, was appointed to the army.
Vanguard, Left Wing Commander, General Xuanwei, Li Hua;
Logistics Commander: Zhou Yuan, Right Wing Commander and General of Huaihua.
The Imperial Guard captain beside Qin Zhaoqiong said in a deep voice, "Generals, you should now address him as His Highness Prince Chen."
A knowing look flashed in the eyes of those inside the tent. Without pausing their movements, they said in unison again, "We, your humble servants, greet Your Highness Prince Chen!"
Qin Zhaoqiong returned the greeting with a clasped fist salute, her movements crisp and decisive. "Generals, you may rise."
She took out a bright yellow imperial edict from a gilded box held by her personal guards.
Upon seeing this, the general inside the tent immediately knelt on one knee and listened attentively with his head bowed.
The imperial edict was concise and to the point, conveying two main messages:
One measure was the appointment of a military supervisor, with Prince Qin Zhaoqiong appointed as the military supervisor of Xuanwu Northern Route to oversee military affairs.
Secondly, the government ordered the recruitment of soldiers and the establishment of a female cavalry battalion of 3,000 men, to be recruited locally in the Xuanwu North Road.
Named the "Phoenix Feather Battalion," it was directly under the command of Prince Chen and had the right to participate in battles as needed.
After the imperial edict was read, a brief silence fell over the tent.
Women in the military? Established as military households? Given the power to make decisions on the spot? This…
This is absolutely unprecedented!
General Yuan Zhen could not hide his astonishment; his Adam's apple bobbed.
"What, General Yuan, do you have any objections to my supervising duties, or to the Phoenix Feather Camp?"
Qin Zhaoqiong's voice was calm and even, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority, and her gaze fell upon Yuan Zhen as if it were a tangible object.
Yuan Zhen's heart skipped a beat. He immediately suppressed his turbulent thoughts, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said in a deep voice:
"This humble general dares not, but I immediately ordered people to write recruitment notices and post them everywhere."
"Alright." Qin Zhaoqiong handed the imperial edict to him.
"I, the king, must personally select soldiers, with priority given to those skilled in riding and archery."
We request that General Yuan designate a camp near the main military camp for the Phoenix Feather Battalion to station and train.
"Your Highness, I obey," Yuan Zhen replied, then looked troubled. "But Your Highness, what about the horses and military equipment..."
"General, you need not worry. The horses and military equipment you need will be transported here from the Northwest Frontier Court later."
“Yes,” Yuan Zhen had nothing more to say. “Your Highness has had a long and tiring journey. I have prepared a residence in the city for Your Highness to stay and rest.”
"Good, General Yuan, you are very kind."
After Qin Zhaoqiong and his entourage left, the atmosphere in the central command tent became even more tense.
The crackling charcoal brazier reflected the varied expressions on the faces of the generals.
To assemble three thousand cavalry, those skilled in riding or archery are required...
This clearly indicates that the goal is to train a light cavalry force, emphasizing swift movement and raiding tactics.
That's alright. The north has no shortage of good horses or people who can ride and shoot arrows. But we need to recruit women!
Women in the North are known for their fiery tempers; they drink wine from large bowls, eat meat in large chunks, and often grab weapons to fight with men.
There are many more who can ride horses, so once the notice is posted, there will be a huge response, and it won't be difficult to gather three thousand people.
Even though it's light armor, with proper training, its mobility might not be bad.
These are not the problem. The key is the formation of a women's army, and the significance of this is... extraordinary!
The imperial edict stated that horses were being sent to the northwestern border, and even light armor was prepared, clearly indicating that they were well-prepared and determined to go.
Sun Wence stroked his beard, his brows furrowed. "The imperial edict only states that His Highness is the military supervisor, but what are the powers of a military supervisor..."
He didn't finish speaking, but everyone in the central command tent understood what he had left unsaid.
Ordinary military supervisors only check the organization, equipment, and pay.
But Your Highness commands a completely independent new army, composed of three thousand women—a first in history—and they will undoubtedly follow her lead.
Crucially, they also had the power to act at their own discretion, which was completely outside the command of the Xuanwu Army.
Moreover, in the past, when His Highness came to the northern border for training, he always ate and lived with the soldiers and enjoyed training and sparring with them.
But this time, he agreed to stay at the mansion without even thinking about it.
Yuan Zhen remained silent, his eyes deep and thoughtful.
After a long while, he waved his hand to summon his personal guards.
He was ordered to immediately write recruitment notices and post them everywhere.
In addition, a training ground and horse track were designated on the east side of the military camp for use in establishing the camp and training troops.
After giving his instructions, he glanced at the generals in the tent, his tone flat and even.
"No need to overthink it. His Highness Prince Chen is knowledgeable about military affairs and familiar with our northern border."
"His Majesty's will is made; we will obey his decree and cooperate fully."
"yes!"
The generals solemnly agreed.
Qin Zhaoqiong and her entourage moved into a mansion in the city.
The thousand elite Imperial Guards who accompanied the journey did not return. They were not only escorts, but would also be stationed permanently in the northern border, serving as the backbone of Prince Chen's personal guards and the Phoenix Feather Camp.
This means that once the Phoenix Feather Battalion is fully staffed, she will have a light cavalry force of four thousand men, one thousand of whom will be veterans.
After settling into the back hall of the mansion, Qin Zhaoqiong immediately gave instructions.
The backyard was heavily guarded by her personal guards, and the rest of the mansion was divided into defense zones according to military regulations, with two shifts taking turns to rest.
He ordered the Imperial Guard Captains to select the most skilled archers and horsemen with teaching abilities from among the thousand Imperial Guards accompanying him to form a training team.
Once recruitment begins, they will be responsible for assisting in the selection of recruits and undertaking training tasks.
The captain accepted the order and left, and the guards in the rear courtyard silently and efficiently completed their deployment.
All along the way, I've been doing things I'm used to.
Qin Zhaoqiong ate a simple meal and took a rare hot bath to wash away the dust of her journey, but she did not use any perfume.
Perhaps exhausted from her journey, she needed to quickly recover her energy and soon turned off the lights.
In the darkness, a figure silently slipped into the bed and buried his face deep in the soft quilt.
Almost at the same time, Qin Zhaoqiong's figure vanished silently like a ghost.
Without alerting any guards, it seemed to blend into the boundless night.
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