C16 The Military Advisor Liu Shaan

The Jingxi Training Grounds.

Once the stronghold of the King Protector Army, it was fragmented by warlords upon the death of Gao Shaoyi's father.

The elite of his father's forces were entrusted to the Imperial Court, but lacking the necessary leadership, they were ultimately disbanded.

Now, with news of the Young Marquis, people from all walks dropped their tasks to rally under his banner.

"Long live the Qian Empire! Long live the King Protector Army!"

Gao Shaoyi, standing on the training platform once graced by his father, bellowed the army's slogans with a surge of emotion before the assembly of four thousand.

Initially numbering three thousand, their ranks swelled overnight as more joined from distant provinces, some bringing considerable wealth. By the time Gao Shaoyi arrived, the King Protector Army's coffers boasted twenty thousand silver coins.

"Long live the Qian Empire! Long live the King Protector Army! Long live the Marquis!"

The soldiers stood in impeccable formation, clad in pristine German uniforms, their hearts ablaze with fervor.

Many believed that if the Qian Empire were to be saved, it would be by the King Protector Army.

Yet the Imperial Court lacked the prowess to lead, and unexpectedly, it was the Young Marquis, once deemed a wastrel, who had forged this formidable force.

"Soldiers..."

At Gao Shaoyi's call, over four thousand snapped to attention, their disciplined ranks a testament to their elite status. It was a mystery how his father had shaped such a formidable unit.

"Present the imperial edict..."

Eunuch Lee approached, bearing the decree from the court.

Gao Shaoyi observed the soldiers' gazes; they looked upon him with reverence, but their respect waned for Eunuch Lee and his entourage.

The King Protector Army's discontent with the Imperial Court was palpable and far from unfounded.

Back in the day, our brothers shed blood in fierce battles to the south, decisively defeating the invading forces of the Galru Empire. Yet, the Qian Empire, fearing the escalation of war, disgracefully sued for peace despite our victory.

Many generals within the King Protector Army were not only denied promotions but also faced relentless persecution. If Gao Shaoyi hadn't stepped up this time, I doubt anyone would have been willing to rejoin the ranks. In their eyes, regardless of the Young Marquis's shortcomings, he's still the old Marquis's son—our young master. As for the imperial court... well, they can go to hell.

"Thank you for your graciousness..."

Eunuch Lee's face fell at the lackluster response from the men. He had delivered the imperial edict with fervor, but to his dismay, it failed to ignite the soldiers' passion.

"These men have only just returned from rural life to the military; they're still adjusting. Please, Eunuch, pay it no mind."

Gao Shaoyi hastily produced a banknote for five hundred silver coins from his pocket.

"Rest assured, Young Marquis, I understand what must be done upon my return."

Eunuch Lee, a seasoned figure in the corridors of power, knew exactly the purpose of those five hundred silver coins.

"Attention, everyone! From this moment forward, you are the First Infantry Regiment of the King Protector Army."

With Eunuch Lee gone, Gao Shaoyi faced the troops, who now presented a completely different demeanor, snapping to attention.

The First Infantry Regiment?

But there were over four thousand men here!

"Marquis, by our military's standards, an infantry regiment comprises only two thousand men. Shouldn't we divide into two regiments?" inquired First Wang, puzzled.

Gao Shaoyi gave his subordinate a wordless stare.

Where did you get the idea of two infantry regiments? The Imperial Court clearly established only one.

"Convey my command: from now on, the regiment's structure will uniformly be a reinforced regiment of five thousand men."

With his influence not yet solid, Gao Shaoyi had no choice but to follow the Imperial Court's directives, which meant significantly expanding the army within the existing framework.

Ten men to a squad, five squads to a platoon, making a platoon fifty strong.

Five platoons make up a company, with a company comprising three hundred personnel, including clerical staff. Three companies form a battalion, and with the addition of a logistics company, a battalion numbers one thousand people. Five battalions constitute a regiment, totaling exactly five thousand troops.

Gao Shaoyi was well aware of the Wang family's four brothers' strength. He himself held the position of regiment commander. Wang Wu commanded the first battalion, with Second Wang, Third Wang, and Fourth Wang leading the second, third, and fourth battalions, respectively. The fifth battalion was under the command of Zhang Dashan, a man who was far from ordinary. A formidable warrior who had served under Gao Shaoyi's father, he stood at an imposing 1.9 meters tall, resembling a small mountain in stature.

After the introductions were made, Gao Shaoyi refrained from delivering any rousing speeches. To these genuine soldiers, mere words held no value; they required concrete actions. So, as the assembly neared its end, Gao Shaoyi uttered a single sentence that set the camp ablaze with fervor: "Tomorrow morning, at eight o'clock, the entire army will move into the Embassy Area." This bold declaration was unprecedented; no regular army had dared to enter the Embassy Area in the last decade. Yet, this was the daring endeavor Gao Shaoyi intended to undertake.

"Uncle Liu..." Gao Shaoyi mused, stepping down from the platform as the soldiers resumed their training. He was about to observe their progress when he noticed a middle-aged man, around fifty years old, at the camp's entrance.

"Advisor Liu..." First Wang recognized him too. This was Liu Shaan, the trusted aide to Gao Shaoyi's father and the former strategist of the King Protector Army, revered as the empire's military's own 'little Zhuge.' Regrettably, despite his talents, he had not risen to prominence within the empire and had instead retired to a simpler life. The last time Gao Shaoyi had seen Liu Shaan was at his father's funeral.

"Do you still recognize me, your uncle? Do you think I'm too frail, or that I'm unworthy of serving as your advisor? Remember, half of your father's great deeds also bear my mark." Liu Shaan had watched Gao Shaoyi grow up and spoke to him with an easy familiarity.

Initially, Liu Shaan had thought Gao Shaoyi was merely playing at war, but having made the journey to see him and witnessing his conduct, Liu Shaan felt a spark rekindle within him.

"At the outset, I thought Gao Shaoyi was just causing a ruckus, but as we journeyed together and witnessed his recent actions, I, Liu Shaan, could feel a spark igniting within me.

"I dare not..."

"Say it again, there are no uncles or nephews in the military! Only generals and marshals."

"My lord..."

Gao Shaoyi opened his mouth, but within the confines of the barracks, he found himself at a loss for words.

"Marquis Gao Shaoyi, I am ready to undertake any task for you, like a loyal servant!"

In the presence of so many, Liu Shaan knelt before Gao Shaoyi. Though Gao Shaoyi attempted to lift him, Liu Shaan's resolve was firm, and he remained kneeling.

It was then that Gao Shaoyi realized Uncle Liu's actions had a purpose: to show everyone in the camp that no one could presume seniority before Gao Shaoyi.

If you wish to claim the role of an uncle, then come forth and see if your seniority surpasses mine. Here I am, humbly kneeling before the marquis. Courtesies observed in daily life are one thing, but within these barracks, there are only generals and marshals, not uncles and nephews!"

Moved, Gao Shaoyi's eyes welled up with gratitude for all that Liu Shaan had done for him.