Commanding troops?
Chen Sanshi wasn't too surprised.
Even Horsemanship had its own proficiency. It wasn't strange that Commanding Troops would too.
Before, it probably hadn't appeared because he was just a small Flag Officer. The number of men under him had been too few to meet the activation requirement for that skill.
Looked like there was now one more thing to keep him busy in the days ahead.
Archery, Horsemanship, Martial Training, Reading, and now Commanding Troops…
It was starting to get a bit overwhelming.
But the more skills, the better.
Since he had chosen the path of the military, he had to learn how to lead soldiers into battle—he couldn't just be another pawn thrown into the charge to die.
Chen Sanshi stood on the training field and counted his men carefully.
There were 115 in total—slightly more than the full complement under a Hundred-Household Officer's command.
Most of them were young men.
For example, Wu Da was only 16.
There were a few middle-aged ones like Zhao Qiao, but not many.
With his perfect memory, Chen Sanshi memorized every face and matched each one to a name in his mind.
He cupped his fists and spoke clearly.
"Everyone, I'm grateful for your trust in me. From now on, we're brothers of one family. Take some time to get to know each other. Then go home, pack up, and be ready. Starting tomorrow, I'll personally teach you martial arts."
In the central command tent—
"My lord, this cannot be done."
Luo Dongquan stood at a distance, looking toward the training field. "These people only joined because of that boy. Now they're all gathered under his command. Isn't that the same as letting him form his own private faction within the Thousand-Household Division?"
"Old Luo, do you think I'm being too lenient with Chen Sanshi?"
Thousand-Household Xiang Tingchun poured himself tea from a purple clay pot, his voice calm as still water. "Think carefully—why do you think I'm doing this?"
"My lord values talent," Luo Dongquan admitted. "That boy truly has extraordinary potential. His future prospects are limitless."
"Value talent?" Xiang Tingchun chuckled softly. "What's the use of that? Once spring ends, he'll spread his wings and become a phoenix. What does that have to do with me then?"
Luo Dongquan lowered his head respectfully. "Please enlighten me, my lord."
"You just said you're worried he's building his own faction?"
Xiang Tingchun looked out toward the training ground, where those villagers were still struggling to form a proper line. "Tell me—after a few months, how many of them do you think will still be standing here?"
"I understand," Luo Dongquan said at once, realization dawning. "My lord is trying to win their hearts."
"That way," he continued, "they'll willingly march to their deaths."
He hesitated before adding, "Even if that boy earns a spot in the Elite Selection, with the Grand Commander's Office's strict ways, they'll never let him leave the battlefield before the war. He might very well die out there."
Xiang Tingchun's tone deepened. "As long as you understand."
"So there's no need for you to hold grudges over that Elite Selection matter anymore. If he's still alive after next year's campaign, then as long as you've got the guts, do whatever you want. I won't interfere."
"But for now," he continued, his voice turning grave, "we've got bigger matters to deal with."
"I've received word that the new county magistrate was personally recommended by Grand Secretary Yan Liang—and appointed directly by His Majesty."
"Appointed by the Emperor?" Luo Dongquan frowned. He instantly understood the implication.
For an insignificant seventh-rank county magistrate to be personally appointed by the emperor—there could only be one reason.
Something big was about to happen in this region.
Xiang Tingchun sneered. "And coming along with the magistrate is the new prefect."
"They're coming for the Song family?" Luo Dongquan asked. "Will that cause trouble for us?"
"We're all men of His Highness's faction," Xiang Tingchun said coolly. "What can he do to me? At worst, he'll just throw a tantrum."
Luo Dongquan sighed quietly. "His Majesty, His Highness, and the Grand Commander's Office—three great powers converging right here in our small Poyang County. Even I have no idea what's going to happen next."
He looked up, concern flickering in his eyes. "My lord, you'll need all the support you can get. You can count on me."
Xiang Tingchun smiled faintly. "Good. I'll hold you to that."
An old road stretched under the setting sun. Crimson light filled the western sky as two red-maned horses galloped swiftly along the endless official path.
Riding in front was a young woman, and following close behind was a fair-faced young man. Both looked about seventeen or eighteen years old.
The young woman wore a tight red riding outfit. Her jade-like hands held the reins lightly, a single saber hung at her slender waist. Her brows were shaped like willow leaves under a halo of soft hair, her face bright as jade and flawless as spring flowers. Though her features were delicate, her gaze carried a heroic spirit that shone through her beauty.
"Sis."
The youth behind her, equally handsome, yawned while speaking. A long spear and a bow hung across his back. "Why are we even getting involved with this Elite Selection thing? It's just some tiny Poyang County. Do we really need to ride all the way here for that?"
"As personal disciples of the family head, how can we not take it seriously?"
The woman's tone was calm and cold. "Besides, we have another mission."
"You mean the troop deployment?"
The young man sighed. "It's obviously the Crown Prince's doing. No one can stop it.
"Father promised that once the barbarian war ended, he'd retire from the army and live in peace. Yet they won't even wait.
"These past few years, they've been planting their own people everywhere, sending a provincial inspector to Liangzhou, and even stuffing men loyal to them inside the Eight Garrisons.
"The worst of all is Senior Brother…"
His tone darkened. "Sis, for the sake of the Cao family's throne, how many from our Sun family have died over the years? Eldest Brother, Second Brother, and…"
"It's not just about the Elite Selection."
Sun Li's eyes glimmered with a deep, unreadable light. "There's something else we need to investigate."
"Investigate what? Why didn't Father tell me anything?"
"What's the point of telling you?"
"…?"
The silence behind her made Sun Li frown. She slowed her horse and turned to look.
At some point, the youth had reined in his horse. He now stood quietly by the road, raising a three-stone bow and aiming toward a grove of poplars off the side of the official path.
About 70 paces away, on an open patch of grass, a wild rabbit was nibbling on weeds.
He drew the bowstring fully until it formed a perfect arc like a crescent moon. His eyes focused, his stance precise. After a long aim, he finally found the moment and released.
The arrow hissed through the air with great force.
A loud thunk! followed—but the arrow skewed off course, slamming into a poplar trunk half a meter away from the rabbit.
The rabbit looked at the arrow, then at him, and went right back to eating.
"...?"
The young man's face darkened. Furious, he drew another arrow and shot again.
This time, the arrow vanished completely, no one could tell where it flew—an even worse miss.
"You dare mock me!"
He threw his bow aside, grabbed his spear, and kicked his horse forward, charging straight into the trees.
The rabbit finally realized danger was near, but it was already too late.
"Pssht—!"
The young man's spear pierced clean through the rabbit, lifting it high into the air. He grinned with satisfaction. "Got it!"
"Sun Buqi!"
The woman in red closed her eyes and ground her teeth. "If you really don't want to go, then go back to Liangzhou yourself!"
"Sis, don't be mad. I just got itchy hands when I saw prey. Alright, alright, I'm done."
Sun Buqi chuckled, stuffed the rabbit into his pack, and rode back onto the main road beside her.
"All you ever do is hunt and fool around. How can you behave like this?"
Sun Li scolded sharply. "If you keep this up, what's going to happen to the Eight Garrisons in the future?"
"Sis, I never wanted to take over the Eight Garrisons in the first place!"
Sun Buqi hurriedly protested. "Once Father retires, why can't we just go back home together? Are you really planning to keep serving that old emperor?"
Sun Li didn't answer. Her heart sank with unease.
Retire and lay down arms?
Anyone could retire. But their family could not.
If no one from the Sun family remained in command, did anyone truly believe that old emperor would let them live peacefully?
Too naive…
The siblings rode on in silence.
By the time the sky darkened, a small city finally appeared at the edge of their vision.
Poyang County—arrived.