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This is Gao Shun of the Formation Breaker!
This is the so-called "Seven Hundred Warriors" of the Three Kingdoms period, akin to the Spartans!
Fei Qian quickly asked someone to fetch paper and brush. Lü Bu and Zhang Liao seemed to enjoy the scene, both urging the somewhat bewildered Gao Shun to quickly sign his name...
After Gao Shun finished signing and sat down, he asked about what had just happened. Lü Bu cheerfully recounted the story, his joy evident.
Upon hearing this, Gao Shun was also very intrigued. Unfortunately, having just met Fei Qian, he didn't know how to broach the subject and could only cast a glance at Zhang Liao.
Zhang Liao and Gao Shun had fought side by side for a long time, so when Zhang Liao saw Gao Shun's look, he immediately understood what he meant. After a moment of thought, Zhang Liao picked up a bowl of wine and said to Fei Qian, "I have long been in the military and have suffered greatly from the complexities of accounting. Previously, the soldiers were all from my hometown, and even if there were minor discrepancies, they could be overlooked. But now, with a more diverse group of soldiers, any mistake in the accounting of provisions could lead to serious consequences, such as soldiers going without food..."
Lü Bu, who had also experienced hunger during his time in Bingzhou, chimed in, "Brother Fei's method not only prevents corruption among the military clerks but also allows the commanding officers to clearly understand the status of provisions and equipment, enabling better planning. This is truly a rare and excellent method."
Hearing this, Gao Shun became even more eager. However, being a man of few words, he didn't know how to express his desire and could only sigh softly, picking up a bowl of wine to drink by himself.
Seeing this, Zhang Liao deliberately raised his voice and asked Gao Shun, "Bo Ping, why are you sighing? Has corruption also appeared in your camp?" As he spoke, he subtly signaled with his eyes.
At first, Gao Shun didn't catch on, but after seeing Zhang Liao blinking furiously, he finally understood and said, "Ah... yes, yes, I am also troubled by this..." He then looked expectantly at Fei Qian.
Fei Qian thought to himself, since he had already offered the method as a favor, there was no need to hold back from Gao Shun. Without hesitation, he said, "In that case, Wenyuan, please pass the method on to Bo Ping as well."
Gao Shun was overjoyed and quickly stood up to bow in thanks.
Fei Qian quickly stepped aside to avoid the formal gesture and helped Gao Shun up.
Lü Bu and Zhang Liao were also pleased and admired Fei Qian's generosity.
Once everyone was seated again, the atmosphere became even more lively. Meat was being sliced, dishes were being served, and wine was being poured. Fei Qian barely had to lift a finger, as his table was soon piled high with food and drink.
Zhang Liao, who had already mastered the method, didn't need to be mentioned. For Lü Bu and Gao Shun, once they learned the Four-Pillar Accounting Method, they could essentially prevent corruption in the military and keep track of provisions and equipment. For military commanders of that time, this would be like adding ten points to their command stat.
Seeing the lively atmosphere, Fei Qian picked up a bowl of wine, first toasted Lü Bu, and then said, "During my travels, there is one matter that weighs on my mind, and I would like to ask for your help, brothers."
Without hesitation, Lü Bu thumped his chest and said, "Brother, just say the word, and I'll take care of it for you!" — This wasn't an empty boast, as Lü Bu, now titled Marquis of Wen and holding the position of Commandant of the Capital, wielded significant power and could handle most matters with ease.
Fei Qian said, "The only thing I worry about now is my master."
"Cai Yong, the Palace Attendant?"
"Exactly. My master is getting on in years, and he only has a daughter by his side, with no male heirs in the family. If any emergency arises, I'm afraid he won't know who to turn to for help..."
Lü Bu laughed, "I thought it was something difficult. Don't worry, brother. Your master is my master. I'll send a few soldiers to stand guard at your master's residence tomorrow. If there's any trouble, just come to me!"
Fei Qian couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Lü Bu really had no filter — "Your master is my master"? Even if Lü Bu was willing, Cai Yong might not be. And sending soldiers to stand guard — was that help or house arrest?
So Fei Qian quickly said, "There's no need for such trouble. I just ask that you three brothers keep an eye out and lend a hand if anything happens."
Zhang Liao also realized that no one would want fierce-looking soldiers stationed at their door for no reason. He nodded and said, "Cai Yong comes from a scholarly family. Our military aura might not be suitable. Let's just do as Ziyuan suggested and keep an eye out, offering help when needed."
Lü Bu scratched his head, realizing that his earlier suggestion might not have been appropriate, and laughed heartily, "Alright, let's do as Brother Fei suggests! As long as I'm around, I'll ensure Cai Yong's safety!"
Zhang Liao and Gao Shun also assured Fei Qian that they would help Cai Yong if anything happened.
Seeing that all three had agreed, Fei Qian felt somewhat relieved. For Cai Yong, at least until Dong Zhuo's death, his safety wouldn't be an issue.
As for after Dong Zhuo's death, if history followed its course, there would still be two or three years. Fei Qian could use that time to come up with more solutions.
Fei Qian then expressed his gratitude and offered more wine to the three, solidifying the agreement. Feeling more at ease, he suddenly remembered hearing that Gao Shun was training troops outside the city. Could it be the famous Formation Breaker? Curious, he turned to Gao Shun and asked, "Brother Bo Ping, what are the selection criteria for the Formation Breaker soldiers?"
Fei Qian thought to himself, I'm not asking about the specific training methods or how the Formation Breaker operates in battle. Just asking about the selection criteria shouldn't be a secret, right?
In Fei Qian's impression, if the White Horse Cavalry was the best archer cavalry, then the Formation Breaker must be the best heavy infantry unit...
Historically, Gao Shun and his Formation Breaker had even defeated Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei — although it might have been a case of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei being caught off guard, it still proved that Gao Shun's "ditch" was deep enough...
To his surprise, Gao Shun asked curiously, "Ziyuan, why are you asking me? What is the Formation Breaker? I've never heard of it."
Fei Qian was taken aback. Could it be that Gao Shun wasn't leading the Formation Breaker? Or was it just not established yet? He needed to steer the conversation away from this topic.
So Fei Qian said, "I've heard that you, Brother Bo Ping, are skilled at training soldiers, leading from the front, and maintaining strict discipline. The troops you train are said to be invincible in battle, hence the name 'Formation Breaker.' I didn't realize you weren't aware of this."
"Really? I had no idea, but..." Gao Shun murmured thoughtfully, "...invincible in battle, leading the charge... charging... breaking through..."
"Breaking through, breaking through!" Gao Shun slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Marquis Wen, Wenyuan, if I were to select strong men, equip them with black armor, long spears, and large shields, and form them into a unit, they would be invincible!"
"Black armor?" Zhang Liao clicked his tongue, "Black armor is expensive. With that setup, you probably wouldn't be able to field many soldiers, right?"
Lü Bu said, "If such a unit existed, a thousand men would be enough. On the battlefield, charging straight into the enemy's center would surely cause chaos and be unstoppable... However, with black armor and large shields, long marches would be exhausting..."
Fei Qian casually interjected, "They could ride horses—" Suddenly, he noticed the gazes of Lü Bu, Zhang Liao, and Gao Shun turning toward him. "Ah, I was just speaking off the cuff..."
Lü Bu nodded, "Ziyuan makes a good point. While they might not be able to fight on horseback, they could dismount and form up before battle. This would allow for faster movement and conserve stamina... Brother, you're quite something. I didn't expect you to understand military tactics..."
I really was just speaking off the cuff, Fei Qian thought gloomily. Could this be the origin of the Formation Breaker?
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A/N: Gao Shun likely hadn't formed the Formation Breaker before 192... However, historically, the Formation Breaker didn't last long, disappearing after Gao Shun's death at the White Gate Tower.