Wuxia: The Super Slave Master

Page 365

Chapter 127 Military Ranks

In the military ranks that Luo Chen designed for his generals, there weren't many levels. Generally, a Lieutenant General could lead troops independently and become a legendary Grand General—with the opportunity to lead 100,000 infantry and cavalry to garrison or pass through a place in a triumphant manner, or to conquer an opponent, or to suppress bandits... in short, to lead troops independently.

It is very difficult to be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General. There are not many Lieutenant Generals in the Fallen Dust Army. Generally, you can compete for seniority to become a veteran general, or make great contributions to become an extremely outstanding independent general in the eyes of the Fallen Dust Army—or a commander with great talent. Then congratulations, you will have the opportunity to be promoted and become a top general with a very high rank.

For example, the current Lieutenant Generals in Luo Chen's army are: Ma Chao, Xiahou Yuan, Huang Zhong, Chang Yuchun, Yan Qing, and Lin Chong. The first four are all generals who lead troops independently. Xiahou Yuan is in Hanzhong, Huang Zhong is in Shangyong, Ma Chao is in the north—mostly Tongguan, and Chang Yuchun is on the northern Han-Xiongnu front—and they are being groomed as promising young generals. However, despite their impressive reputations and numerous achievements, they are still only Lieutenant Generals—this hurdle is too difficult to overcome, given their relatively short tenure and lack of any truly earth-shattering accomplishments. As for Yan Qing and Lin Chong, they naturally became capable generals when Luo Chen was short of commanders. Moreover, these two have been among the few trustworthy generals around Luo Chen from the beginning, with considerable seniority, so their promotion to Lieutenant General is not unreasonable. As the number of generals in Luo Chen has increased, Yan Qing is mainly responsible for guard duties, while Lin Chong works at the National Science and Technology Bureau, responsible for logistics and security, and has almost completely withdrawn from the battlefield. However, the National Science and Technology Administration is Luo Chen's most important trump card, and transferring Lin Chong there to be in charge of political and military defense is also a great trust.

Several outstanding generals broke through the rank of Lieutenant General and became top-tier commanders. These included: General-in-Chief Lü Bu, General-in-Chief Ma Teng, and Grand General Xu Da. Lü Bu, needless to say, was Luo Chen's first general. From the time Luo Chen had only a thousand-man guard, he witnessed all the major events in Luo Chen's rise, from the downfall of Dong Zhuo, Li Jue and Guo Si, to the southward invasion of Yizhou… To show his importance and to praise his experience, he was naturally distinguished from other independently commanding generals and promoted from Lieutenant General to Grand General. Although Lü Bu's common weakness in commanding troops and his usage was no different from other Lieutenant Generals—he was usually stationed in Chengdu, and only deployed to command 100,000 troops in wartime—Luo Chen, perhaps having read too much of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, knew Lü Bu was not a natural leader and therefore limited his use. General Ma Teng, whose subordinates Ma Chao, Ma Dai, and Pang De, needed to be distinguished by their official ranks, especially since Ma Teng's official position was Prefect of Liangzhou, a border general who controlled all military and political affairs in Liangzhou. A lower rank would not be enough to command respect. General Xu Da, on the other hand, was promoted to Grand General almost instantly, his rank rising like a helicopter under Luo Chen's manipulation. However, his strategic ability to command the entire army repeatedly proved the correctness of Luo Chen's decisions—this was natural, because Luo Chen based his decisions on historical facts…

Below the Lieutenant General (中郎将) is the Commandant (都尉), roughly equivalent to a Brigadier General (委将), including Ma Dai and Pang De. These two cannot independently command large armies; at most, they can lead 40,000 to 50,000 light cavalry, undertaking short-term missions under the guidance of the General or other army commanders. At other times, they are with the Commander-in-Chief, awaiting battlefield orders. Of course, as Ma Dai and Pang De's seniority increases, they may one day be promoted to Lieutenant General. Below the Commandant-in-Chief are the Colonels (校尉), who comprise the vast majority of lower-ranking officers, such as detachment commanders or commanders of temporary combat units… These all operate under the Commander-in-Chief, leading their assigned troops and awaiting the Commander-in-Chief's battlefield commands.

Barrow also boarded the helicopter this time, instantly rising from a lowly platoon leader to the deputy commander of the detachment. Before everyone could even process this rapid promotion, he was promoted again the very next day to captain, the same rank as the detachment commander. Even more impressively, he became the temporary commander of Luo Chen's personal guard. Being by Luo Chen's side so early, wouldn't he eventually become a general...?

Now, let's turn our attention back to the northern front lines of the Han-Xiongnu confrontation.

It was a pitch-black night, with only faint stars in the sky. The Hun gods seemed to have deliberately made the depths of the grasslands an extremely secret and elusive place. This vast grassland seemed endless; if it did end, then beyond lay only endless desert and grassland, and more desert. The tribe's bravest warrior, who had ventured the furthest, told the people that the desert was exceptionally arid, teeming with countless demons, and beyond that desert lay endless wasteland and dense forests…

The legends of the Xiongnu tell people that the depths of the grasslands were the resting place of the Xiongnu gods, a sacred place that could not be visited casually, and of course, an extremely dangerous place.

The old patrol chief lay alone in the pitch-black night.

The young soldier, finally unable to bear the loneliness, requested to leave. The old patrol chief had lost count of how many young men had left him. It was understandable; young people always crave novelty and new experiences. Every day, deep in the desolate grasslands, there was nothing but grass, with the occasional herd of gazelles or wolves. The conditions were also extremely harsh; they slept in only a tent and a blanket, and ate only simple rations and water. Facing such a monotonous and harsh environment on the desolate grasslands day after day, what young man could endure it?

So the old patrol chief often found himself alone, a patrol chief without soldiers, a commander without troops. For example, right now, he lay alone on the grass, wrapped in a simple blanket. The long night had fallen, and the old patrol chief's eyes were slightly closed—of course, he didn't need to open them; just by listening, he knew a gazelle had just hopped past him, about ten meters to his right. If he wanted to, the old patrol chief could easily whip the gazelle without even opening his eyes, but he didn't want to go through that trouble, so he simply lay there quietly. The poor gazelle must have firmly believed that there were no larger creatures around, much less any human beings. Perhaps the old patrol chief had become one with the grassland, breathing in unison with it, becoming a silent part of the grassland. He lay there quietly, just like the wild grass on the grassland—no different from anyone else. So much so that the timid and alert gazelle hopped past him safely just ten meters away, completely unaware of anything amiss.

The night seemed to grow darker, and a chill crept in. The grass was damp and cold, and the old patrolman gently wrapped his blanket tighter around himself. Suddenly, he stopped wrapping the blanket and froze, as still as a stone. From deep within the grassland, there was the faint sound of four feet pounding the ground, extremely low but strong and agile.

These are wild beasts of the grasslands, their sharp, powerful claws gripping the grass tightly. The soft grass and fur minimize the sound, leaving only a gentle rustling of the blades. The familiar footsteps—the old patrol leader had heard them for years, knew them intimately—were those of wolves.

There was a large pack of wolves. This was what surprised the old patrol chief. It was normal for one or two wolves to roam alone, but a pack of at least fifty wolves was something he had never seen before in all these years. What was even more amazing was that the rustling sounds of the wolves were almost simultaneous, with the furthest sound coming from the center and the two sides separating, indicating that the pack was advancing in a pincer formation with strict discipline.

The wolves deep in the grasslands are different from those in populated areas, roaming within human activity zones. The old patrol chief has been standing guard deep in the grasslands for over twenty years; he knows far more than anyone knows. Zhong Ping doesn't know, Yesuo doesn't know, and even the former Great Khan of the previous dynasty doesn't know.

The old patrol chief's life was legendary. Rumor had it that he saved the life of the former Great Chanyu, Qiangqu—a name now seemingly vanished from the grasslands; no one spoke his name, only the former Great Chanyu. It was also rumored that the old patrol chief had assisted the former Great Chanyu in his youth, even serving as his teacher and strategist to Qiangqu—by that logic, he should have been the chief strategist and held military power. However, he remained extremely low-key. Many decisions were made by him, but people only remembered Qiangqu, because this chief strategist preferred to remain out of the public eye. Logically, when Qiangqu was close to unifying the grasslands, the old patrol chief should have enjoyed extremely high honors as the most meritorious official, but instead, he voluntarily went to stand guard deep in the grasslands. This was his original duty; he had begun his military career as a sentry deep in the grasslands, and even after becoming the chief strategist (rumored), he still appeared daily at his post deep in the grasslands, seemingly never leaving his post as patrol chief.

The grasslands were recently facing a crisis, attacked head-on by Xiahou Dun from the east and from the rear by the Xiliang army. It was rumored—only rumored—that everything about the old patrol chief was merely hearsay; he was far too low-key—that he personally designed the defensive line, cutting off Cao Cao's supply lines and forcing Xiahou Dun's army to retreat. As for Ye Suo's use of wolves to defeat Xiliang, people didn't know how much the old patrol chief knew. Having spent so long deep in the grasslands, he should have been the most knowledgeable and qualified to speak on the matter, yet he remained silent during the court discussions, not uttering a single word.

If the rumors are true, the old patrol chief's position at the time was in no way inferior to Zhong Ping's. If he had stopped Zhong Ping's coup, Zhong Ping would have been in real trouble. After Zhong Ping's coup, the old patrol chief, as the most important minister of the Qiangqu, remained unscathed. Moreover, Zhong Ping repeatedly invited him to return to service, but the old patrol chief politely declined each time, becoming a true patrol chief. —Perhaps it was because of his close personal relationship with Zhong Ping? That Zhong Ping decided to let him go after seizing the position of Great Chanyu? These questions remain unanswered.

The wolf pack stopped; the old patrol leader could even feel their panting.

The wolves deep in the grasslands are different from ordinary wolves, a fact the old patrol chief knew very well. He also knew that these wolves had never harmed him.

The wolf pack noticed his presence.

The old patrol chief sat up abruptly, making a rustling sound. He saw those deep, unsettling eyes, seemingly staring at him intently. This was the third time he'd seen those eyes, staring at him as if he possessed something that attracted the wolves. Moreover, this was the third time the old patrol chief had encountered wolves deep in the grasslands recently; the first two times there were only two or three wolves, but this time it was a whole pack.

The old patrol chief instinctively beckoned to the wolf that was staring intently at him, signaling it to come over. Afterward, the old patrol chief felt a sense of absurdity; how could a wolf understand him? And even if it did, why would it come over?

Unexpectedly, the wolf walked step by step to his side.

Too close. A wolf could easily pounce and his old life would be over. The old patrol chief had fought wolves bare-handed in his youth, but now his hair and beard were white, his arms were weak, and his reflexes were slow. He definitely couldn't beat this wolf.

The wolf stopped, then obediently lay down, as if the old patrol chief were nothing but air, and it had only come here to rest. —Or perhaps it was some kind of trust… as if the old patrol chief were one of its own.

This was a large, dark gray wolf. The old patrol chief sat down beside it; the wolf's fur was very stiff. The wolf showed no discomfort or wariness, as if the old patrol chief were one of its own kind. To be honest, the old patrol chief was terrified by his own courage. Why had he dared to sit so close to the wolf? Even dared to touch its fur? What if the wolf became angry? Wouldn't he be finished?

The wolf was very obedient.

The old patrol chief even felt a sense of comfort; it was better than being alone, at least he had company.

It was around midnight when the old patrol chief wrapped himself in a blanket, preparing to rest. If there were another person, they could relieve him, and the old patrol chief could sleep more soundly. But now he could sleep, though he was a light sleeper. He could hear and wake up immediately at the slightest sound.

But he might be able to sleep more soundly tonight, because a pack of wolves is lying next to him, helping him stand guard.

The old patrol chief faintly heard the sound of horses' hooves. He immediately sat up, instantly becoming alert. The sound of hooves was coming from the east; someone was entering the depths of the grassland from the front.

He glanced back at the pack of wolves; they were still there. The one beside him, its ears perked up, had stood up, looking alert.

"That night, barring any unforeseen circumstances, it should be Yesso," the old patrol chief thought. He had figured many things out; the wolf pack deep in the grasslands was the same pack of wolves before him. Of course, he had vaguely sensed it for a long time, but these past few days, having witnessed and felt the wolves' intelligence firsthand, he was even more certain.

"Go back now," he whispered to the pack of wolves, waving his hand.

The wolf turned and left, while the rest of the pack remained in tight formation, quickly and silently disappearing into the depths of the grassland.

This confirms another of the old patrol chief's suspicions.

Chapter 129 Meeting an Old Friend

The old patrolman had long noticed a strange phenomenon: the wolves deep in the grasslands seemed very interested in him. And he could easily influence and command them, especially in the last few days.

What happened today directly confirmed his suspicions. He beckoned, and the large wolf came over obediently, lying down beside him as if he were one of its own. He waved for the pack to leave, and the wolves immediately retreated in tight formation.

If the rumors are true—that Yesso can influence and command wolves, the legendary Prairie Wolf Legion—then I possess the same abilities as Yesso. And the rumors are mostly true, only the Prairie Wolf Legion isn't quite as mystical as some portrayal suggests; it's a pack of intelligent wolves, commanded by a commander named Yesso.

The sound of hooves grew closer, ever closer. The old patrolman knew his location just by the sound. Suddenly, he froze. Something was wrong; the horse's hooves were louder, and it wasn't wrapped in sheepskin. Over the years, the old patrolman had seen Yesso come and go countless times in the dead of night, and without exception, all of them had horses with hooves wrapped in sheepskin, moving silently.

"Guests heading deep into the grasslands, please speak the password," the old patrol leader said calmly. His crossbow was already fully drawn, and he moved silently in a circular motion. For newcomers, the patrol leader liked to repeat the entire command.

"May the Hun gods protect us." The voice was steady and powerful.

The old patrol chief was stunned. The voice was all too familiar; it used to be so decisive and confident, even somewhat arrogant, but now it sounded weary. This person was Zhong Ping.

"Shaha, thank you for your hard work." Zhongping clearly knew who was speaking to him. "Long time no see." Saying this, he spurred his horse and gradually walked out of the darkness to the old patrol leader. "Long time no see." In the darkness, only the figure could be vaguely seen, but Zhongping and Shaha were both "eagles" of the grassland, as if they had sharper eyesight, and could barely make out the person in front of them.

"Long time no see, Great Chanyu," the old patrol chief said without any sign of surprise or unease—or perhaps he had concealed it so well that no one but himself could tell—as he spoke, he placed his hand on his chest and bowed deeply.

Zhongping was clearly pleased with the title, as if he had always been the Great Chanyu. Back then, the two were both the left and right arms of the Qiangqu, Zhongping was famous throughout the land, while Shaha remained extremely low-key. Zhongping became a great general with a large army and a powerful regional official, while Shaha declined all rewards and military power, resolutely choosing to go deep into the grasslands to be his patrol chief.

However, the two were very close friends. Many people might wonder why two people with such different interests and personalities could become such good friends. It might be because their personalities complement each other, and the old patrol chief tried his best to stay away from the center of power to avoid conflicts of interest.

Now, for Zhongping, this wise old friend patrols and keeps watch every day deep in the grasslands—the place where his wolf legion lives and trains. If Shaha is completely unaware of the wolf legion, Zhongping certainly wouldn't believe it... but this old friend would also resolutely refuse to admit it.

“General Yeso…come often.” Shaha seemed to be trying to distract Zhongping from his thoughts.

“Yes…that’s right. General Yesuo is commanding the battle against the Han Chinese army at the front and hasn’t had time lately,” Zhong Ping said.

This is clearly not a valid excuse. Months have passed since the battle with the Han army began, so why did Yesuo come every single time? Besides, as the chief strategist, how often did Yesuo not need to direct and consider the Xiongnu's military operations?

The old patrol chief simply bowed slightly again: "General Yesso is a young talent."

“Yes…that’s right.” Zhong Ping seemed to suddenly become a little impatient and said, “I have something to do, I’ll leave first. I’ll find a young man to come over for you in a few days, you’re too lonely by yourself.”

"Thank you, Great Chanyu," the old patrol chief said, bowing.

The clatter of hooves quickly faded into the distance.

The Wolf Legion's detachment commander was already waiting outside the camp to greet Zhong Ping; they had been notified in advance of his arrival. The burly men all seemed somewhat uneasy; the air was silent and tense.

Sure enough, Zhong Pingfei dismounted and his first question was: "The wolf pack has been having organizational problems lately, and there are signs that they are not following orders?"

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The detachment commanders all lowered their heads, unsure how to answer.

Zhong Ping stared coldly at them: "Speak your mind, don't hold back. What can't a man of the grasslands say? I won't blame you!"

The commanders exchanged glances, and one of them stepped forward and said, "The wolf pack's disobedience and lack of discipline are likely related to General Yesso's infrequent visits recently... General Yesso hasn't shown his face for almost a month."

"Yesso?... Tell me, the wolves have been tamed, so why do we still rely on Yesso?" Zhong Ping frowned. "The Steppe Wolf Legion has been established for over a year. We thought it was an invincible force, our last resort, but it's become like this without one person?" Zhong Ping's voice, which had been calm and emotionless, grew louder and louder, clearly showing signs of great anger. "What kind of trump card is this? The last line of defense of the steppe, entrusted to you, how can I trust you?" By the end, Zhong Ping was heartbroken and shouted angrily.

. ........ .......

The tent was eerily quiet; all the commanders bowed their heads, holding their breath. Zhong Ping clutched his head, managing to regain his composure. It wasn't really the officers' fault; after all, the Wolf Legion was truly unpredictable by common sense. The reason for this was likely Yesso's strange lineage. This explanation should clarify why the wolves hadn't been as obedient lately—Yesso's influence on them was fading, and the wolves' taming ability was inevitably weakening.

So why was he so angry? Ultimately, it was because of Yesuo, his inability to break free from his dependence on Yesuo. This was what truly angered Zhongping. As a proud, resolute, and autocratic Great Chanyu, he could not tolerate having to rely on others. Dependence meant weakness, and it meant the possibility of being defeated.

"Give me a report on the recent situation, and how you handled any incidents that occurred," Zhong Ping finally spoke, his voice returning to its usual calm and emotionless tone. The brigade commanders secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Chapter 130 Wolves and Tigers

Zhong Ping rode alone to the Steppe Wolf Legion's camp to personally inquire about and guide the legion's recent situation. The Steppe was currently overwhelmed with military affairs, as the hundreds of thousands of Luo Chen troops were constantly searching for the main Xiongnu force for a decisive battle. The Xiongnu army, facing a significant numerical disadvantage, had to exercise extreme caution, patiently awaiting an opportunity. It could be said that Luo Chen's current offensive against the Steppe represented the latest crisis for the region, potentially leading to the collapse and annihilation of the Steppe regime.

Under Yeso's guidance and advice, the two major steppe cavalry forces merged, forming an army of approximately 30. They were divided into two closely linked units, forming a defensive perimeter, constantly maneuvering deep within the steppe to avoid a large-scale decisive battle with the Luo army and instead seek opportunities to divide and attack them. This situation had persisted for nearly two months. Both sides were on edge, with the Luo army under immense logistical and supply pressure. Fortunately, the fertile Guanzhong Plain and Sichuan Basin provided abundant resources, and the new land system significantly boosted productivity. If GDP were a concept, the Luo Chen group would undoubtedly be number one… Meanwhile, the main force of the Luo army had launched several attacks across the steppe, but failed to capture the main force of the Xiongnu army. It should be said that the Luo army was on the verge of imminent collapse.

This was exactly what Yesuo wanted. The wolf intended to provoke the enemy, exhaust them, blind them, and drive them to irrationality. It aimed to make them impatient and ultimately expose their weaknesses, allowing the predators—the main force of the Xiongnu—to launch a fierce attack and divide the enemy army, ultimately crushing their offensive. This would completely alter the aggressive rise of the Central Plains, creating another twenty years of advantage for the steppes over the Central Plains.

However, while the Xiongnu army and Yesuo were indeed wolves, the Luo army was not prey to be slaughtered. On the contrary, the Luo army was a tiger, a tiger meant to kill the steppe wolves. It was extremely difficult for Yesuo to find a weakness in the Luo army. The Luo army's superior strength and military quality were undeniable, supported by its powerful state. If the wolves were not confident in their attack, they might not be able to inflict a fatal blow on the Luo army, instead allowing for a fierce counterattack, ultimately leading to the downfall of the Xiongnu regime.

The fierce battle between these two ferocious beasts ultimately tests endurance. Whoever can hold out until the end depends not only on national strength but also on sound strategic planning.

The Xiongnu army is in dire straits, and Yesuo is under considerable pressure as well. As time progresses, two factions have emerged within the Xiongnu. One faction, led by Yesuo, advocates avoiding battle and waiting for an opportune moment to decide the outcome in one decisive battle. The other faction, including Zhongting and Elu, believes that avoiding battle and shrinking back is a sign of cowardice and a serious missed opportunity. At this rate, how long will it take for the steppe crisis to end? If things continue this way, the dense network of thousands of scouts in the Central Plains will eventually pinpoint the location of the main Xiongnu force, at which point the Xiongnu may face a sudden attack from an enemy twice their size. This constant avoidance of battle and hiding is wearing down the soldiers' morale and exhausting them; sometimes they even have to move camps twice a day. Hiding 30 men in the steppe is simply unrealistic.

Fortunately, Yesuo's reputation as the chief strategist remained intact, and the progress of the Han-Xiongnu War was still within his design. The actions of the Xiongnu army were also largely in accordance with Yesuo's wishes. Of course, as time went on, the implementation of Yesuo's ideas encountered increasing resistance, with soldiers and generals generally opposing them. Who wanted to run away with their tail between their legs every day? They talked about finding loopholes in the retreating army, but two months passed, and they didn't even dare to show their heads.

Zhongping knew of Yesuo's strategic vision, so he consistently defied public opinion and followed Yesuo's advice. Although Yesuo had been stripped of his command of the Steppe Wolf Legion and demoted to Zhongting as an advisor, retaining his title as the chief strategist, his prestige remained, and Zhongping still heavily relied on him for decision-making. However, opposition within the army was growing louder and stronger, forcing Zhongping to consider the possibility of the main Xiongnu force proactively engaging the enemy head-on.

Zhong Ping, having commanded 300,000 men running around the grasslands, was also exhausted and hadn't visited the Grassland Wolf Legion for a long time. The Grassland Wolf Legion had effectively been under self-governance for about a month, only reporting on daily operations weekly and any special circumstances. Neither Zhong Ping nor Yesuo had shown up.

However, recent emergencies have been increasing, and significant problems have arisen within the wolf pack. The most explosive report is that the pack has begun to disobey orders and is exhibiting collective wandering behavior. When Zhong Ping saw this report, he initially thought he had misread it. But reports of related incidents kept coming in, the most serious being the disappearance of over a dozen wolves, still being searched for. Their last known location was likely near the edge of the desert; they may have entered the desert and encountered some mishap. Another alarming report is that several wolves encountered a well-equipped army; four or five men were all killed by the wolves, but the pack itself also lost one wolf, which was dragged back. The wolf rider examined the wounds and found they were sharp knife wounds, approximately ten cuts, two or three stabs into the abdomen, and two or three cuts to the wolf's throat and neck—these two fatal wounds caused the wolf's death.

Because these wolves had ventured out without permission and traveled such a long distance, the Steppe Wolf Legion could not move out without authorization. After receiving Zhong Ping's approval, a detachment commander dispatched two wolf riders and one of the participating wolves to the location, but several days had passed. All the enemy corpses had been collected, and there were no other traces on the ground. The wolf riders circled the area for a long time, concluding that there were traces of a large number of cavalry passing through, indicating that the enemy was an organized and fairly large cavalry force. There were almost no cavalrymen roaming the steppe in this area. The Xiongnu rarely ventured into this area, and besides, the steppe wolves would not attack the Xiongnu indiscriminately. The Xiliang cavalry, while possible, were still quite far away. If they were coming, the friendly forces in the Hexi Corridor should have detected them beforehand, but Zhong Ping had not received any relevant reports. The remaining possibility was Luo Chen's army, but that seemed unreasonable. Luo Chen's army was frantically searching for the main force of the Xiongnu cavalry in Shuofang and the northern front, while Ma Teng in Shicheng to the south was too far away... What kind of army was it? This is a mystery. Could it be a local armed force of some unknown tribe?

Chapter 131 At the Grassland Wolf Legion Camp

"Any news about the dozen or so missing wolves?" Zhong Ping asked first, his gaze sweeping over the commanders of the various detachments below.

"The desert winds have been quite strong these past few days, making it very difficult to find any trace of these dozen or so wolves." The squad leader of the detachment to which the wolves belonged seemed somewhat uneasy, as he bore primary responsibility, especially since one of the wolves was a renowned wolf throughout the entire grassland wolf army—the alpha wolf of those dozen or so. He had always led his squad to outstanding success in every training mission, and Yesso had specifically praised him for it.

Zhong Ping remained silent for a moment without speaking.

"Do you think the prairie wolf perished in the desert?"

"I'm afraid so."

"Prairie wolves... Prairie wolves, those are prairie wolves! Are they made of mud? They'd fall apart with a breath!" Zhong Ping suddenly roared in anger. "A few wolves in the north encountered a well-organized army, and our Prairie Wolf Legion killed them. Then, in the south, a whole squad of our Prairie Wolf Legion's big wolves vanished without a trace! Don't you know how to connect these two events?!"

This was the second time Zhong Ping had lost his temper that night. It seemed that after Yesuo left, not only were the grassland wolves disobeying orders, but the commanders of these detachments were also incompetent and at a loss.

"Our Steppe Wolf Squad... was surrounded and wiped out by a whole unit of cavalry?" The squad leader, sweating profusely, followed Zhong Ping's train of thought and asked tentatively.

"That's right. The time, the place, the logic—everything needs to be considered. Your Steppe Wolf Legion has been training with General Yeso for two years, and you don't even have this much reasoning ability? What kind of legion are you?" Zhong Ping lamented. The Steppe Wolf Legion, without Luo Chen, had practically lost its head, its soul. Without a soul, this army couldn't unite, which led to situations where wolf packs would roam freely and disobey orders. Without a brain, their actions were chaotic and their command severely lacked intelligence and was childish. If this continued, his trump card, his pride and joy—the Steppe Wolf Legion—would surely be finished.

"The most important thing now is to find out who these people are! What kind of people are these organized cavalry? Are they the army of the Xiliang people or the army of Luochen? What is the size of this army, and what is their purpose?" Zhong Ping said sternly.

"Understood!" the detachment commanders responded in unison.

Zhong Ping walked out of the central command tent, intending to head straight to the training camp, but then stopped: "What are your plans regarding finding out the enemy's strength and identities?"

The detachments paused for a moment, exchanged glances as if discussing something, and then a commander stepped forward and said, "Each of our four detachments will send out one hundred patrol teams, with three men and nine wolves per patrol team. That way, the four detachments will have four hundred patrol teams, 1200 riders, and 3600 wolves. We will conduct a thorough search of the area near the first encounter with the enemy, extending into the desert, to ensure that we thoroughly investigate the enemy."

Zhong Ping was satisfied and was about to nod, but then hesitated. Such a large-scale deployment could very well expose the Steppe Wolf Cavalry Regiment completely.

"Let's go check on where our soldiers and the steppe wolves rest and train first," Zhong Ping said, feeling he needed to think it over, so he didn't give an immediate answer.

The grassland wolf pack trains in shifts, alternating between day and night training. On odd-numbered days, they train during the day and rest at night; on even-numbered days, they train at night and rest during the day. They generally don't use torches or similar items at night to avoid detection.

The training grounds of the cavalry regiment were unimaginably vast. According to the organization of the Steppe Wolf Cavalry Regiment, it was divided into four detachments, each with approximately 10,000 riders. Each rider commanded roughly three wolves, resulting in approximately 120,000 wolves. The training grounds were usually located during migrations, but fortunately, the depths of the grasslands provided abundant prey to sustain this massive army of men and wolves. Each detachment comprised five squads, each with 2000 riders. Each squad was further divided into ten platoons, each with 200 riders and 600 wolves, forming a combat unit. Despite the seemingly small size of the Steppe Wolf Cavalry platoons, these platoons were capable of overwhelming an army of thousands of cavalrymen.

Each squad requires a large training ground, several miles in radius, roughly two square kilometers. With 200 squads in the entire army, the total training ground area would be around 400 square kilometers. Crossing the training ground would require a 20-kilometer gallop on horseback.

The detachment commander lit a torch for Zhong Ping, which looked like a star in the sky from afar. Probably only the commander of the entire army received this treatment.

Zhong Ping saw it. In the darkness, the wolves' eyes gleamed eerily, all fixed on him. Zhong Ping, a seasoned warrior, ruthless in killing, felt a chill run down his spine. What a killing machine, what a killing organization he had created! Anyone who saw the densely packed wolves lying in the darkness would feel a chill; several were in the grass, and a den lay beside the horse!

Zhong Ping 750 instinctively gripped the sword at his waist, his body tensing as if he were about to be suddenly attacked by a wolf. But nothing happened; after all, wolves have undergone a certain degree of domestication. He roughly knew that the person under the torch was the commander, although he didn't look like Yesso, and although his veins didn't carry the same alluring blood as Yesso's.

"Is this my own army?" Zhong Ping asked himself. Could his own army really make him so nervous, even fearful? Perhaps he had activated a machine he couldn't control, opening Pandora's box. Zhong Ping kept asking himself, "Can you completely command and control these terrifying wolves?"

Perhaps letting them go out and roam the desert and grasslands would be safer, and would also help them expend their excess energy and wildness. Zhong Ping thought so.

"I approve your reconnaissance plan," Zhong Ping suddenly turned to the commanders and said. "But you must maintain the secrecy of the Grassland Wolf Legion as much as possible. In particular... it's best if the two teams cooperate to avoid any unforeseen events. As long as any person or wolf in the team is alive, no one is allowed to leave behind a corpse, and no one is allowed to be taken prisoner." Zhong Ping said coldly.

"Understood," the squad leaders replied in unison.

Chapter 132 Mr. Zhang

Luo Chen's army marched for two days before halting their advance, as Wuwei County was only a day's journey away. At this time, Chang Yuchun's and Lü Bu's troops began a rapid southward march, preparing to join forces with Luo Chen.

According to reconnaissance at the front, the Xiongnu cavalry in the four commanderies of Hexi numbered no more than 50,000, while those in Wuwei Commandery numbered less than 10,000. An army of around 60,000—equivalent to a force led by Chang Yuchun or Lü Bu—could easily capture Wuwei. However, it's possible the Xiongnu cavalry might later make a desperate move, retreating 40,000 to 50,000 troops into a single city. This would make them a much tougher opponent, but such an encirclement would likely lead to their annihilation. To the west of the four commanderies of Hexi lies the Jade Gate Pass. Further west and north, the area remains inhabited by Xiongnu tribes, lacking a main force, allowing for easy incursions. To the south of the four commanderies of Hexi are the Qiang people.

This is a rare oasis in the desert, lush with vegetation, and a babbling brook flows gently through it. Someone has built an artificial irrigation system here, allowing groundwater to flow out and back, creating a vital little stream in this extremely arid place. This also suggests that Luochen is very close to human settlements—perhaps this small irrigation system was built by the Xiongnu people of Wuwei County. With streams, vegetation, and hills in the distance, a swirling wind blows in, carrying some moisture. Due to the unique geographical environment, it likely generates some rainfall. With vegetation, soil, and water, there is naturally more life here, including quite a few large prey.

The soldiers, who had been walking in the desert for many days, were so excited to see this patch of green that they cheered and jumped for joy.

"Rest and camp here for half a day, waiting for Chang Yuchun's troops and Lü Bu to approach us. As soon as we join forces with Chang Yuchun's troops, we will set off immediately and take Wuwei County!" Luo Chen ordered. At the same time, since the possibility of animals and even people appearing in this oasis has greatly increased, Luo Chen dispatched nearly a thousand patrol teams and sentries to ensure that the situation within several kilometers of the surrounding area is firmly under control. Meanwhile, the advance team has already set off for Wuwei County, dressed in civilian clothes, to begin reconnaissance and to formulate an attack plan.