Hundred-Man Commander

The deafening sounds of slaughter shattered the mountains. The bandits fled in panic, while the Battle Soldiers pursued without mercy, determined to wipe them out to the last.

Only after several hours of fierce fighting did the battle gradually come to an end.

Of the thousand-odd bandits, barely more than two hundred escaped into the deep mountains and forests. Some Battle Soldiers wanted to press their advantage and pursue them, but Zhou Xiong stopped them.

"Don't chase a desperate enemy. Hurry and bring the supplies back."

Once the bandits fled into the forests, the Battle Soldiers would be unfamiliar with the terrain. Pursuing them might instead cost them more men.

The most urgent matter was to transport the supplies back to Jade Sun City and report what had happened here to Zhou Xingzhan.

Everyone rushed into the Yellow Wind Stockade's lair and quickly found the stolen supplies.

"Lord Zhou, the bandits abducted over a hundred women. How should they be dealt with?"

After turning the bandit den upside down, they found not only the stolen supplies but also rescued over a hundred women the bandits had seized.

The women were gathered together. Most wore numb expressions and had hollow eyes, like walking corpses.

Faced with the border army, they didn't feel the slightest reassurance. Instead, they became even more terrified.

In the eyes of common folk, government soldiers weren't much better than bandits.

Government troops often slaughtered innocents to claim military merit, and the common people feared them to the marrow of their bones.

Looking at the shivering, pitiful women, Zhou Xiong considered for a moment before making his decision.

"Bring all of them back to Jade Sun City."

These women all came from nearby villages. Their villages had been wiped out by Yellow Wind Stockade, and they had nowhere left to go. Bringing them back to Jade Sun City would allow the local officials to settle them as they saw fit.

Li Xuancang looked at the hundred-odd women before him. Though his face remained calm, his heart couldn't settle.

He wasn't made of stone. Even though he'd repeatedly told himself this was a world where people devoured people, once he witnessed these human tragedies with his own eyes, he still couldn't remain unmoved.

He felt rage. He felt sympathy. He wished he could tear the bandits into ten thousand pieces.

Every one of the women was frightened out of her wits and didn't dare speak. Whatever they were told to do, they cooperated with all their strength.

Having survived in a bandit den, they'd long forgotten what resistance was. Those who had resisted had already been brutally murdered by the bandits.

Three days later, everyone returned to Jade Sun City.

"Go rest. I'll report to the Colonel and reward everyone according to their merits."

They had rushed back and forth and fought a major battle. They were already exhausted, so Zhou Xiong sent them away to rest.

"Thank you, my lord..."

Everyone was utterly weary and departed one after another.

"Dong, dong-dong-dong..."

The day after the army returned to camp, the Assembly Drum sounded.

On the parade ground, the entire army assembled in formation. Zhou Xingzhan personally presided over the awards ceremony, rewarding merit accordingly.

Standing atop the high platform with a military order in hand, Zhou Xingzhan swept his gaze across the crowd before finally settling it on Li Xuancang in the front ranks. He announced in a ringing voice,

"Squad Leader Li Xuancang displayed unmatched valor in the bandit suppression campaign. He made a decisive judgment and broke the enemy's ambush, earning outstanding merit. He is hereby specially promoted to Hundred-Man Commander, commanding one hundred elite soldiers under Thousand-Man Commander Zhou Xiong."

As soon as his words fell, the entire field erupted. The surrounding soldiers' eyes were filled with envy and admiration.

Though there was only one rank between a Squad Leader and a Hundred-Man Commander, the difference was as vast as heaven and earth.

A Squad Leader commanded only ten men and was little more than a lowly soldier.

A Hundred-Man Commander, however, was a proper low-ranking military officer with real authority, commanding a hundred elite troops and truly entering the ranks of military commanders.

During this bandit suppression, Li Xuancang had been the first to break the ambush and launch a surprise attack on the flank, turning the tide of battle in one stroke. The foremost merit belonged to him.

He had already earned enough merit at Azure Cloud Ridge. Combined with his role in wiping out the Yellow Wind Mountain bandits, he more than deserved promotion to Hundred-Man Commander.

Li Xuancang quickly stepped out of formation, cupped his fists toward Zhou Xingzhan, and accepted in a deep voice. "This subordinate obeys!"

Li Xuancang was puzzled. His promotion to Hundred-Man Commander had been within his expectations, but being placed under Zhou Xiong's command had caught him somewhat off guard.

As he wondered, Zhou Xingzhan personally stepped forward and handed him a brand-new set of Hundred-Man Commander armor, a military tally, and a waist badge.

"From this day forward, you will receive a Hundred-Man Commander's salary and be assigned a personal tent. You may select your own troops, train them, and arrange defenses. All shall be under your command."

After receiving his rank, the tangible difference in treatment became fully apparent.

"Thank you, Colonel."

Li Xuancang gave his thanks in a loud voice.

Zhou Xingzhan's gaze lingered on Li Xuancang for a moment.

After Zhou Xiong returned from suppressing the bandits, he'd told Zhou Xingzhan every detail of what had happened in the Yellow Wind Mountains. When he mentioned Li Xuancang, he'd praised him without reservation and had even requested Li Xuancang be placed under his command.

Zhou Xiong was Zhou Xingzhan's right-hand man and a member of the same clan, so Zhou Xingzhan naturally took an interest in anyone Zhou Xiong praised.

"He's already a Hundred-Man Commander at such a young age. This boy's future prospects are boundless."

"Perhaps Hundred-Man Commander won't be his final destination. He may become a Battalion Commander in the future."

"I know him. He's from Lakeside Station and has always fought fiercely."

"..."

Countless gazes of envy, jealousy, and admiration fell upon him.

Seeing Li Xuancang become the Hundred-Man Commander countless people dreamed of at such a young age, everyone was somewhat astonished.

"Zhao Dashan, fought valiantly, slew enemies..."

After announcing Li Xuancang's promotion, Zhou Xingzhan continued rewarding those with merit.

Two hours later, the grand awards ceremony finally ended.

Most soldiers received only some silver and supplies. Only a small number were promoted.

The people on the parade ground looked at those who had been rewarded with burning eyes, wishing they could take their place.

Seeing their expressions, Zhou Xingzhan's lips curled slightly.

He had deliberately used this awards ceremony to boost the flagging morale, and everything was developing under his control.

After the awards ceremony ended, Li Xuancang removed his Squad Leader armor and changed into the jet-black, heavily armored uniform of a Hundred-Man Commander, engraved with patterns.

His posture was straight, and his entire bearing changed. The youthful rawness of a low-ranking soldier had faded, replaced by the composure and authority of a commander leading troops.

Upon becoming a Hundred-Man Commander, he received a much more spacious tent, complete with tables, chairs, weapon racks, and bedding.

His regular salary increased severalfold, reaching fifteen taels of silver each month.

His daily meals consisted of ample refined rice and meat. His weapon was replaced with a fine military spear and protective soft armor, and he was assigned a personal guard responsible for his daily needs and delivering orders. His authority was entirely different from before.

After changing out of his armor, Li Xuancang went to the army roster office and selected one hundred elite soldiers.

Among them were veteran soldiers who had survived the bloody battle at Azure Cloud Ridge, as well as sturdy young recruits. He formally established his own command.

Standing before his troops with the Hundred-Man Commander's military tally in hand, his gaze was sharp.

"Wang Xiaoniu, you are promoted to Five-Man Leader. Wu Dadao, lead the first squad..."

He reorganized the unit in a deep voice, dividing them into squads and clearly laying down training regulations and military discipline. Every word and gesture carried the bearing of a commander.

Wang Xiaoniu's face flushed red in the crowd, so excited he could hardly contain himself.

He'd never dreamed that a single act of kindness back then would bring such a generous reward.

If Li Xuancang hadn't saved him time and again, he would have long since died on the battlefield and become a pile of dry bones.

Now, not only had he survived, he'd even been promoted to Five-Man Leader. It felt too unbelievable to him.

"This subordinate will surely die in Lord Li's service."

Wang Xiaoniu's eyes were incomparably resolute. He would give his heart and brains, brave fire and water, for Li Xuancang.

Li Xuancang quickly finished reorganizing his command. The hundred soldiers stood in neat formation and answered in unison.

"We shall obey Hundred-Man Commander Li's orders."

Their voices were uniform and thunderous, filled with reverence.

Li Xuancang looked at the hundred men before him, unable to suppress the excitement in his heart.

From this day onward, he was no longer an ordinary soldier charging into battle. He was a Hundred-Man Commander, commanding a hundred men and standing on his own.

The lives, training, and battles of the soldiers under his command were all his responsibility. He had to answer for the lives of these hundred men, and he now truly possessed real power to establish a foothold in these chaotic times.

He clenched the military tally in his hand, and his resolve to grow stronger became even firmer.