Chapter 26: Forming a Battalion of One's Own

Lin Shize kept his eyes fixed on his nose, his nose on his mouth, and his mouth on his heart, refusing to look at Zhang Jiawen.

He had always killed enemies and bandits, but never his own men. Zhang Jiawen, however, had no such qualms. Upon arriving at the main camp, he had surveyed the scene and immediately ordered the execution of several officers from the veteran camp without so much as blinking. The other soldiers were driven out by Zhang’s personal guards, kicked and beaten, and forced to run laps around the open ground; anyone who lagged behind was met with a lash of a whip. The soldiers of the main camp were baffled by Zhang’s madness, as the camp had never undergone such drills in all the time they had been stationed there.

Zhang Jiawen was demonstrating his absolute power of life and death. Since Lin Shize had managed to assemble a thousand soldiers and perfectly carry out his orders, there was no reason to punish him, making these veteran soldiers the convenient scapegoats.

Zhang Jiawen walked slowly toward Lin Shize and said, "I have also executed two battalion commanders in the main camp for lax discipline. I read the military report you submitted to me, and under strict investigation, we indeed found a few parasites. Since the fault was mine, I must naturally make amends, lest others say I am incompetent in leading troops, right, Lin Shize?"

Lin Shize gave a military salute and replied in a clear voice, "Commander, your reputation is like thunder to the ears; I have long been aware of it."

"Oh? You actually know about what happened two years ago?" Zhang Jiawen looked at Lin Shize with a cryptic smile.

Lin Shize certainly knew about that incident. Two years ago, Zhang Jiawen was merely a thousand-man commander. His superior, a brigade commander, had plotted a mutiny, and Zhang had personally severed the man's head, carrying it to the tent of the regional commander in the Longdong region. Ultimately, Zhang Jiawen had risen to become the brigade commander he was today.

Zhang Jiawen snorted coldly and said, "There is one thing you said that is correct: soldiers should protect their homes and defend their country, not take the nation’s salary while betraying it. Such people deserve to be torn to pieces. The Mengla are raiding everywhere, and I have led troops to exterminate them several times, but unfortunately, the border defense line is riddled with gaps, and I am spread too thin."

"I intended to dampen your pride today, but you escaped it by luck. I hear from Sun Zheng that the camp you built yourself is quite good. In that case, I will hand these one thousand men over to you to form an independent camp. You may command them yourself. Although your official rank remains that of a battalion commander, the organization will be at the level of a thousand-man commander. If you have any other requests, state them now."

Lin Shize said emotionlessly, "With so many people suddenly arriving, I need provisions."

Zhang Jiawen nodded. "I can give you a batch of supplies, but from now on, you must rely on yourself. Later, I will send someone to coordinate the defense zone with you. If even one Mengla gets through, I will hold you solely responsible!"

It was a win-win situation. Zhang Jiawen not only used Lin Shize to solve the trouble in the veteran camp but also gained a capable subordinate. If Lin Shize failed, Zhang would surely have his head; if he succeeded, Zhang’s defense zone would become more stable. He was a shrewd old fox who never lost a bet. For Lin Shize, leaping from a hundred-man commander to a regional commander with his own independent camp granted him a level of autonomy that many never achieved in a lifetime.

***

Zhang Jiawen was generous, providing not only grain but also a portion of the military pay. When Wang Li saw these supplies, he was moved to tears. "Sir, the grain is enough; the brothers don't need the silver."

Lin Shize knew Wang Li wanted to leave the silver for him, as that was how previous officers had operated. Lin didn't even glance at the silver and said, "Since this is military pay, take forty percent and distribute it to the brothers. Keep the rest in the camp. The most urgent matter now is to arrange a place for our families. We will discuss this thoroughly once everyone reaches Yingling Village."

The soldiers knelt in a large group, murmuring words of gratitude. Lin Shize roared, "Stand up! No kneeling! From now on, I want you to rely on the blades in your hands and the brothers by your side to carve out a world for yourselves and your families, not on the charity of others. Now, listen to my orders: we are going home!"

Boom! A large tree crashed down into the snow with a thunderous sound.

Previously, the houses in Wang Li’s hometown were built by his own hands. Back then, he had to plane the wood and raise the main beams himself, working for half a year only to produce a dark, cramped hut. Now, an entire forest was leveled in less than an hour. Hundreds of large trees were stripped of their branches and sawed into uniform logs. Then, groups of four or five soldiers chanted slogans, hoisting the timber onto massive sleds. Once the sleds were fully loaded, a soldier on the hilltop waved a flag. The soldiers below simply turned the windlass, and the logs—which would have required dozens of men to move—slid along the pre-prepared paths toward the village.

The village was buzzing with activity. The people of Da Qi had an unparalleled passion for building their own homes. Wang Li wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling invigorated. He looked at Lin Shize, who was discussing plans with the carpenters, with awe. A few sketches drawn by his commander were more effective than an entire army. He had thought it would be enough just to have a place for his family to stay, but now it seemed they would be able to live in warm, sturdy houses.

Looking at the bustling figures across the mountain, Wang Li felt for the first time that life on the frontier might not be so bad. Turning his head, he saw Liu Wu walking by in a hurry. Wang Li called out, "Old Liu, where are you going?"

Liu Wu glanced back, seeing it was Wang Li, and retorted, "Where do you think? I’m going to fetch your wife and children, you idiot."

Hearing mention of his family, Wang Li stopped resting and jumped up, shouldering a log. "Old Liu, hurry back! I'll be waiting for you." He shouted to the others, "Brothers, our families are coming soon! Put your backs into it!"

The soldiers cheered in unison, and the entire hillside became even more lively. The weather was turning warmer, and Lin Shize had to complete everything before the snow melted. While the houses didn't need to be fully prepared for extreme cold yet, they had to be wind and rainproof. The winds at the border were fierce; the structures had to be solid.

Clang, clang, clang! A soldier stood in the open space and struck a copper gong. It was lunchtime. Everyone set down their tools and headed to the mess hall. For lunch, there was plenty of brown rice, oil-slicked wild mountain vegetables, and a slice of fatty pork as wide as a hand for every man to provide strength.

While eating, everyone gathered around to ask Lin Shize if it was truly possible to bring their families over. Lin Shize shoveled a mouthful of rice and said, "It is true. The situation at the border is unstable, but this place is well-hidden and secure. Bringing your families here will at least give them a safe place to stay."

"For the next few days, don't worry about anything else; just focus on building houses. It must be fast; the weather this year is strange. I worry about a late spring frost. There are plenty of trees on the mountain; when you have time, gather firewood as a precaution."

"Wang Li, I’m putting you in charge of that section on the mountain. Make sure you have enough timber ready, and hurry down to help with the construction once the trees are cleared. The village is short on hands, and the progress is too slow."

Wang Li wiped away a tear and shoveled food into his mouth. Every word Lin Shize spoke touched their hearts. It was the first time someone had planned these things for their families. Everything he did now was for his own kin; the toil and exhaustion meant nothing. He knew that as long as he followed the commander, everything would be taken care of.