Several days later, the city lord's manor took action that confirmed the news.
The city lord's manor cited rampant banditry outside the city and the grave threat to the townspeople's lives and property.
It formally announced that it would form a vanguard army to wipe out the mountain bandits running amok.
The plan was to recruit two thousand brave men as the vanguard, to charge into battle.
Another two thousand manor troops would form the central army and provide support.
This campaign against the bandits was not only meant to protect the people's peace, but also offered a rare opportunity for advancement.
For those who longed to win merit and make their mark, it was undoubtedly a heaven-sent opportunity.
Once the notice went up, the whole city was stirred.
The city lord generously promised that anyone who earned outstanding military merit in the campaign against the bandits.
Would have a chance to obtain an official post and generous riches, while those who joined the vanguard army and survived would have a chance to join the city lord's manor troops.
Such temptation naturally drew large numbers of townspeople eager to rise in status and make money to sign up.
The displaced people outside the city were especially eager.
They believed this was a good opportunity to earn merit.
After all, with more than four thousand regular troops surrounding Northern Mang Mountain, where there were fewer than a thousand mountain bandits, victory seemed already in the bag.
A few days later, Qing Chen sat at ease in a private room in a brothel.
He lightly toyed with a cup of wine, the amber liquid swaying inside it.
Yet Qing Chen's thoughts had long since flown to the coming battle against the bandits on Northern Mang Mountain.
Several minor officials from the government office sat around him, each with a beauty in his arms, and the atmosphere was lively.
They discussed the coming battle, their roles in it, and the military merit they might earn.
Qing Chen feigned ease, occasionally chiming in with a few flattering remarks.
"I heard the city lord's manor has really made up its mind this time. They're preparing to conscript more than two thousand able-bodied young men and wipe out those mountain bandits on Northern Mang Mountain in one stroke."
One official spoke as he drank, his eyes glittering with excitement.
"That's right. I also heard that Lord Wang, the commandant leading the vanguard army on this expedition, is a renowned Second-Rate Master.
Once, clad in armor and riding a warhorse, he slaughtered an entire hundred-man company.
If we follow Lord Wang and earn outstanding military merit on the battlefield, won't official posts and riches be ours for the taking?"
Another official agreed, his words filled with boundless hopes and longing for the future.
An ordinary Third-Rate Expert could fight ten men barehanded.
A Third-Rate Expert clad in sturdy armor and wielding a sharp blade was even more terrifying.
That went all the more for a Second-Rate Master. If he also possessed exceptional horsemanship, his charge could slaughter a hundred-man company until it utterly collapsed.
"Oh, my lords, you're my benefactors! Please put in a good word for me and help me land a position in the vanguard army. Once it's done, I'll have more generous gifts for you."
As Qing Chen spoke, he rose and respectfully bowed to the officials.
"Hahaha, easily done, easily done."
"You know how things work, brother. We can't eat and drink at your expense for nothing."
With gold, silver, and personal connections clearing the way, the process went without much trouble.
The next day, Qing Chen led more than twenty brothers from his association to the city lord's manor in a grand procession to enlist.
Qing Chen's martial skills had already reached the level of a Third-Rate Expert.
Through his exceptional cunning and his close dealings with the officials of the city lord's manor.
He actually secured a position as centurion of a company, essentially achieving what he had planned.
Although a Third-Rate Expert was already a rare martial expert.
The army required not only prowess in individual combat, but also the ability to lead troops in battle and a solid background.
If a Third-Rate Expert came alone to enlist, he was more likely to be assigned as a scout or a squad leader.
But Qing Chen not only had strength and connections of his own, he also had more than twenty brothers under him to serve as personal guards.
Thus, an exception was made, and he was appointed centurion of a hundred-man company.
And those brothers of his from the association, through Qing Chen's patronage.
Were placed in the company's various key positions.
Within the vanguard army's organization, ten men formed a squad, overseen by a squad leader;
Five squads, totaling fifty men, formed a platoon, commanded by a platoon leader;
Two platoons, totaling one hundred men, combined into a company, personally led by a centurion.
Five companies, totaling five hundred men, formed a battalion, whose commanding officer was a major responsible for overall deployment and command.
Four battalions combined into an army-the vanguard army-with a commandant serving as its highest-ranking officer and commanding the entire force.
Qing Chen's company belonged to the vanguard army's second battalion.
And the second battalion's major, Li Muyun, held a particularly special status: he was the city lord's prized son-in-law.
The city lord had four sons and one daughter. As the youngest son, Young Master Zhao was naturally showered with affection.
When Qing Chen learned that he had been assigned to the second battalion, he was thrilled.
What Qing Chen feared most was serving under genuinely capable army commanders who enforced strict military discipline.
In such an environment, orders weighed like mountains and movement was restricted, leaving little room for independent action.
For the plan Qing Chen was secretly devising, this would undoubtedly have been highly unfavorable.
This son-in-law of the city lord, however.
Was notorious throughout Ford City as an empty-headed fool and a pretty boy.
The city lord had never been particularly satisfied with this son-in-law of his, a silver spear with a waxen tip.
But his daughter had eyes only for him, so the city lord let her have her way.
Now that he had placed his son-in-law Li Muyun in the vanguard army, he presumably only wanted him to pick up some military merit so that he could receive promotions and titles later.
Although the city lord showed some favoritism in handling this matter, he would never lightly hand command of the regular manor troops to this good-for-nothing son-in-law.
On the eve of the expedition, in Ford City, inside a large residence with three successive courtyards.
"Chen, with you joining the army this time, my heart keeps jumping up and down. You could have stayed home and enjoyed a perfectly good life. Ah."
That day, Second Mother held Qing Chen's hand and spoke with a note of worry in her voice.
"How could fighting bandits be child's play? I've heard those mountain bandits are terribly fierce. You must be careful."
Qing Chen smiled at her words. "Don't worry. This business of fighting bandits is actually very simple.
We have more than four thousand men against fewer than a thousand mountain bandits. Won't that be easy? Don't worry. I'll definitely bring my younger brother back safely."
After hearing Qing Chen's words, Second Mother felt somewhat reassured, but she was still uneasy.
Just then, his younger brother Qing Jie came over as well, dressed in close-fitting martial attire and looking spirited and valiant.
Over these past days, he had diligently practiced the Five Tigers Soul-Severing Saber and the Gecko Wall Traversal Art, making considerable progress in his martial skills.
With his saber in hand, even three to five burly men were no match for him. In armor, he would be all the more unstoppable.
At fifteen or sixteen, Qing Jie was already approaching seven feet in height. Standing before Second Mother, he said with complete confidence:
"Mother, don't worry. I've joined the vanguard army too. Now that I've learned some martial skills, I can fight shoulder to shoulder with my elder brother."
Qing Jie's words were full of excitement.
Qing Jie had indeed improved considerably over these past few months. Following the Twin Eagles Association, he had been through several things, and his hands had also been stained with plenty of blood.
As a brother, Qing Jie's loyalty and reliability were beyond what ordinary people could match.
Thus, when he heard his younger brother Qing Jie's request, Qing Chen did not hesitate at all.
He assigned Qing Jie to his own company as the squad leader of his personal guards.