"What's this about military organization? Why bring it up?"
"Once he's selected according to the military regulations, he could end up under anyone's command. Would they be able to personally look after and train him as well as I could?"
"What's more, we're about to attack Han. This is the perfect chance to distinguish himself and build a career. Wouldn't it be wonderful for him to serve under your nephew and earn distinction together?"
Meng Wei was secretly delighted, but still muttered stubbornly, "Weren't you the one who brought up military regulations...?"
Meng Wu immediately found himself at a loss for words and raised his foot as if to kick him again.
Only then did Meng Wei burst out laughing. "Go call Zhao Cheng over!"
Meng Wu gave an embarrassed snort, but inwardly he felt relieved. Such a young god of war—he really was a treasure they'd stumbled upon!
Before long, Zhao Cheng arrived.
"Uncle Meng."
Looking at the tall, dashing young man before him, Meng Wei grew more and more pleased. Thinking that he would soon be handing him over to his elder brother, he felt an inexplicable reluctance.
"Good lad, you did well. You're just a bit too modest. There's really no need to hold back."
Meng Wu and Meng Tian were both startled. He had been holding back?
Meng Wei continued, "Let me introduce you. This is Zhao Cheng."
"Zhao Cheng, this is my elder brother, Meng Wu. He's the Central Army general the king sent to attack Han. This is my nephew, Meng Tian. He's inherited the Meng Family's military teachings and has joined the army to gain experience. You two can address each other as brothers."
Before Meng Wu could say anything, Meng Tian had already stepped forward excitedly and cupped his fists to Zhao Cheng. "We've only just met, but you're a peerless warrior, brother. I'm in awe. I'm a few years older than you, and I happen to have a younger brother about your age. If you don't mind, I'd be glad to treat you as my brother."
Zhao Cheng looked at the young man before him, whose features still held a hint of boyishness. He had bronze skin, thick brows, tiger-like eyes, and an open, cheerful face. Tall and sturdy, he had an honest air about him that made him seem dependable at a glance.
This was a future famed general!
He was also a trusted confidant of the First Emperor!
If Hu Hai and Zhao Gao had not conspired to alter the imperial edict, and if Meng Tian had not been so honorable as to choose suicide rather than rebellion, with such a pillar of support shielding Great Qin from wind and rain, how could Great Qin have fallen after only two generations?
His thoughts surged, and Zhao Cheng cupped his fists in return. "I'd be delighted, elder brother."
Meng Tian was overjoyed. He had yet to make a name for himself and still had a young man's heart. How could he not be thrilled to have such a fierce warrior call him brother?
"Come on! Father says you're to join the Assault Cavalry Battalion!"
Meng Wu nearly lost his composure. "I haven't decided yet!"
"Heh heh." Meng Tian grinned. "With Ah Cheng's astonishing mounted archery and strength enough to lift a cauldron, it'd be a terrible waste not to put him in the Assault Cavalry Battalion."
Zhao Cheng had no real idea what the Assault Cavalry Battalion was, so he looked to Meng Wei.
Meng Wei, in turn, looked at Meng Wu.
Meng Wu's stern face softened. "Would you be willing to join the Central Army as an Assault Cavalry Elite?"
Zhao Cheng asked, "I only want to take the field and kill the enemy. Wherever there's a battle, that's where I want to be! General, can Assault Cavalry Elites attack the enemy formation first and get a chance to kill enemies and earn distinction?"
Meng Wu looked at him approvingly, though he also found the question amusing. "The Vanguard Battalion's Light Infantry are the ones who attack the formation first. When a major battle begins, the Vanguard Battalion suppresses the enemy with crossbows and bows, harassing them and breaking their formation. Then the Central Army's heavily armored Elite Soldiers advance in squares and shatter the enemy's defenses."
"If we're talking about engaging and killing the enemy in a head-on charge, then the Central Elites lead the way."
Zhao Cheng thought it sounded perfect for him. "Then I want to join the Central Elites!"
Meng Wu asked with a faint smile, "If you join the Central Elites and enter the front lines, how many people could you kill in a single battle? How much distinction could you earn? Could you cut through an enemy force of tens of thousands, capture their commander, and bring down their banner?"
Zhao Cheng thought it over seriously. Although he had reached great mastery in Flesh Refining, cutting through an enemy formation single-handedly was still impossible. Unless the formation was very weak, the deeper he went into enemy ranks, the more stamina he would use. No matter how much endurance he had, he could not swim upstream through an entire army and cut his way through.
So he shook his head.
Seeing that Zhao Cheng had actually taken the question seriously, Meng Wu was at a loss. Perhaps warriors like him simply thought differently from ordinary people?
"That's why, with your ability, you should be assigned somewhere more important, where you can unleash more of your edge."
"The Central Army's Assault Cavalry Battalion is extremely important. It plays a crucial role in every major battle."
Meng Wu was very patient. "Tell me, when a major battle begins, which force is the first to engage the enemy?"
Zhao Cheng knew nothing about this and guessed, "The Vanguard Battalion?"
Meng Wu shook his head. "No. The Cavalry Scouts! When two armies clash, the scouts meet first!"
"Scouts are the eyes and ears of both armies. They're vital to military intelligence, and every crucial piece of information they obtain is worth immense military merit!"
"And in the Assault Cavalry Battalion, only the finest elites and strongest soldiers qualify to serve as Cavalry Scouts."
"During wartime, the scouts of both sides operate and clash thirty to eighty li ahead of their main forces. When they encounter the enemy, they either conceal themselves or strike. Whenever they spot an opening, they exploit it. That's the first achievement: killing the enemy!"
"Light Cavalry venture deep behind enemy lines, scouting formations, locating headquarters, raiding provisions, and gathering intelligence. That's the second achievement: military intelligence!"
"When battle begins, they circle around to attack the flanks, sweep in from behind, find an opening, and charge through the enemy ranks. That's the third achievement: breaking the formation!"
"Beyond that, there's one crucial feat that ordinary cavalry can't accomplish: penetrating deep behind enemy lines, forcing a way through dangerous terrain and obstacles, then cutting down the enemy's banner and capturing their general! It's perilous in the extreme, but the military merit is beyond compare: killing the general and capturing the banner!"
"As for pursuing defeated soldiers after a battle, that sort of minor merit from leading Light Cavalry after fleeing troops doesn't even bear mentioning."
Zhao Cheng's eyes widened as he listened, flames seeming to boil within them!
Was there any branch of the army more suited to him?
He could fight alone or operate in small squads, with a high degree of freedom.
And since he would engage the enemy's scouts first, his archery would be unrivaled at a sufficient distance. He could easily cut out the enemy's eyes and ears and penetrate behind their lines. Who could stop him?
Once behind enemy lines, enemies would be everywhere. With his combat strength, would he ever lack people to kill?
On top of that, the freedom to roam and kill across the battlefield gave him the greatest latitude to strike. Charging into enemy ranks or cutting down a general and capturing the banner—military merit and chances to distinguish himself were everywhere!
His gaze grew hotter and hotter.
Meng Wu watched him with a knowing smile. He knew Zhao Cheng couldn't possibly refuse.
Just as expected, Zhao Cheng bowed solemnly. "I humbly ask to join the Assault Cavalry Battalion!"
Meng Wu roared with laughter. "Approved."
"With your ability, you can be made Squad Leader as soon as you join, as an exception!"
Zhao Cheng's spirit soared. "Why make an exception? Once I'm on the battlefield, I'll earn my own military rank through merit!"
Meng Wu looked to the side. "That's fine too. But Cavalry Scouts often operate in squads of ten. Once you join the army, military orders come first. You must obey the Wuzhang and Squad Leader's commands, and you mustn't act on your own."
Zhao Cheng's lofty confidence vanished. "Um... making an exception just once wouldn't hurt. I'll make up the military merit once I'm on the battlefield."
The three members of the Meng Family all laughed.
Meng Wu looked at Meng Wei.
"Pick out a fine steed for him and prepare his equipment. In half an hour, we'll set out for the Nanyang battlefield."
Meng Wei smiled. "I've already got it all ready."
Before you continue