Today was Gong Xiaohua's first day on the job as an official at the Xiyuan Army, and Li Zichen was with her.
The position of military advisor in the Xiyuan Army had been vacant for many years. Mainly because no one with connections wanted to go, and those who wanted to go had no connections.
Taking advantage of Qin Chuyuan’s relationship, Li Zichen was transferred to fill this vacancy.
Since the Qin residence was located in the Chongren District in the east, it took about half a shichen to get there on horseback from the Qin residence to the Xiyuan Army barracks in the eastern city.
It was understood that most of the aristocratic youths who served in the Xiyuan Army lived in Chongren District, and they commuted between home and the barracks morning and evening every day.
When Gong Xiaohua arrived at the Xiyuan Army, Li Zichen was already waiting at the gate of the barracks.
It was still early, and the barracks were quiet. There were still sentries guarding the various exits of the barracks, but they were all fast asleep. There was also no one patrolling the perimeter outside the barracks.
No one came to greet them outside the barracks either, so they had to enter the barracks themselves, and made their way unhindered to the training ground.
When it was the time of day when training would officially begin in the barracks, around 7-9am, there was not a soul on the training ground, only the rising cooking fumes.
Gong Xiaohua frowned.
What’s this? Are they only good at eating and sleeping, and the best at nothing but cooking? I didn't expect the Xiyuan Army to be so lazy.
"Uncle, beat the drum."
"Alright."
Dong dong dong. The sound of the war drum was deafening, and finally some stirrings could be heard inside the barracks.
As the sound of the drum continued to spread throughout the barracks, the barracks began to stir slowly.
The first person to arrive at the training ground was a skinny old man with the rank of captain. Hearing the drumbeats, he came running over.
Seeing Gong Xiaohua and Li Zichen standing at the front of the observation platform on the training ground, he panted and said, "How dare you, this is an important military establishment. Who struck the drum without authorization? Come down immediately!"
"This is the newly appointed General Guangwei Gong. Why are there still no soldiers doing morning drills at this hour since you're in charge?" Li Zichen said.
"So it turns out to be General Guangwei! I've heard about the general's might. Seeing you now, you really have an imposing manner. But this is the Xiyuan Army. We don't do morning drills here!"
"I'm the acting commander of this army, General Yang. You can also call me Old Yang. Now that you two are here, I can resign."
Gong Xiaohua and Li Zichen looked at each other. Judging by the person in charge, one could imagine what the soldiers under him must be like. No wonder the Xiyuan Army had such an infamous reputation in military circles.
"General Yang, is the army always in this state?"
"Yes, but don't worry General Gong. I notified the entire barracks yesterday that we have a new general taking office today, and told everyone to be sure to show up. Please come with me to rest for a bit first, General Gong, and we’ll come back when everyone has assembled."
"No need. This general can wait here. General Yang, you wait with me."
Gong Xiaohua's manner was as cold as frost, exuding a stern military aura. General Yang dared not say more, and obediently went to stand next to Li Zichen, standing behind Gong Xiaohua with him.
The three of them stood like this on the observation platform, waiting for nearly a quarter of an hour, yet there was still no sign of the soldiers. General Yang was drenched in cold sweat, seeing how authoritarian the new general was. Then thinking of those aristocratic youths, a clash was inevitable. He didn’t know who would win in the end.
After waiting for another half a shichen, soldiers finally came pouring onto the training ground, cursing loudly, "Which bastard is disturbing people's sleep so early in the morning? Do you want to die?"
"Watch what you say. This is the newly appointed General Guangwei. Quickly go notify your squads to line up promptly." General Yang quickly stopped their profanity.
"So it's the female general who was granted the title Guangwei by His Majesty after driving back the Wei Army at Xu Mountain!"
The bosses told us yesterday that she's just a female general. If His Majesty valued her, he wouldn't have sent her to the Xiyuan Army. Let them do whatever they want, don't bother with them.
"Look, General Guangwei, you should have inquired about the reputation of the Xiyuan Army before taking office here. My advice is not to take this job so seriously. Just be a good General Guangwei, collect your salary, and retire like Old Yang when the time comes. Otherwise..."
"Otherwise what?" This was clearly a troublemaker in the army. Gong Xiaohua walked down from the observation platform and pulled out a long whip from the nearby weapon rack. She went up to the troublemaker.
Seeing the whip in her hand, he started to panic inside, having heard that this woman's martial arts skills were formidable.
But with so many people watching, he couldn't lose face, and had to pretend to be calm. "What are you trying to do?!"
"I... I'm telling you, don't cause trouble, or there are plenty of people who can get you killed in the barracks."
"Oh really!"
"Of course."
"What kind of killing? I'm very curious. Like this?" She had just finished speaking when her arm shook and there was a loud crack as the whip lashed out at the front.
Many were struck by this lash, and cried out in pain.
Seeing this, the onlookers who were watching the excitement quickly backed away.
"You really dare to get violent? Brothers, go get her!"
A group of them rushed forward. Crack crack, there were a few more sounds, and they rolled on the ground howling, like flowers falling from the sky.
Seeing this, the others quickly lined up at their positions on the training ground. She was too fierce.
"What's all this ruckus about?!" A young man walked in surrounded by a group of people.
"Young master, you're finally here. You must uphold justice for us!" The troublemaker cried bitterly to the young man.
"It's her!" said another man next to the young man.
"You know her?"
"Young master, just a few days ago my brothers and I wanted to bring you your favorite pastries, but we ended up getting beaten by this wretch on the street."
"Oh? Not lacking in guts, is she?"
"Are you their boss?" he asked the young master. Not a small fry it seemed.
"So what if I am?!"
"General Yang, have all the squads of the barracks arrived?" Gong Xiaohua ignored him and went straight back to the observation platform to ask General Yang.
"All present."
"Very good."
"Everyone, run ten laps around the barracks. Military law will be enforced on anyone who dares to sneak away or slack off." Gong Xiaohua shouted loudly.
Then to the so-called young master and his entourage she said, "You lot will do double."
"You say double and we just do double?"
Gong Xiaohua got off the observation platform and rode her warhorse. "If you haven't finished running by noon, five more laps will be added, and so on."
"Hey, the young master is talking to you!" He Lianyu had been ignored by her the whole time, and yelled angrily.
But her response was a whip cracking on his arm. "Ah!" He Lianyu grimaced in pain. He had never been struck like this since he was little.
"You looking to die? Do you know who I am?"
Another whip came down. "Why aren't you running yet?"
"You! Crazy woman." As another whip was about to come down, he quickly started running forward on seeing it.
Once he started running, the people who had surrounded him also began running. Seeing the most prestigious person in the barracks being whipped, nobody else dared to resist anymore and they all started running too.
Counting all the troops, there were only about two thousand people. Apart from some laborers, doctors, and civil officials, there were only about 1,500 actual combat soldiers.
General Yang stood on the observation platform, watching as in the vast crowd, a heroic and valiant maiden in armor rode on horseback, running while wielding a long whip.
"Too slow!" The whip cracked through the air above the ground, spurring the soldiers who didn't dare stop.
"You she-devil, I'll report this to His Majesty." The young master yelled as he ran, looking extremely disheveled.
