Lü Bu had been beaten into complete submission, and his men had been scattered everywhere. He no longer had any power left; only he himself remained. Especially after joining Huang Zhong's command as an ordinary soldier, coming into close contact with the rank-and-file troops and witnessing their fanatical worship of Wang Yan, he completely gave up any thought of making a comeback.
Having let go of those ambitions, he was able to integrate more fully and experience the differences in Wang Yan's army. He had courage but little strategy, yet he had once been a great general commanding tens of thousands. His strategic awareness was poor, but his fundamental military competence remained strong—indeed, stronger than that of most men under Wang Yan's command.
After studying things carefully for some time, he came to believe that Wang Yan, this great rebel, truly could win the realm.
Upon enlistment, soldiers were issued padded winter clothes, padded boots, gloves, hats, and a full set of standard armor. Apprentices from the quartermaster corps helped measure and adjust everything until it fit snugly. The food was quite plentiful as well: all kinds of pickled vegetables, chicken eggs, duck eggs, goose eggs, meat soup every day, and meat every week. The meals were rich in oil and fat. Basic training meant two meals a day, while high-intensity training meant three. There was also a complete leave system and discharge system.
All of this demonstrated one thing: formidable logistical capability.
Another point was that these soldiers were exceptionally fierce, especially the Liaodong troops. They had followed Wang Yan the longest and had been organized into formations the longest. They trained as if their lives depended on it, to say nothing of when they went to war. Their combat strength was extremely formidable.
Even the You Province troops,