Chapter 2387: Chapter 2387 Strongest Squad
Ye Liuyun summoned the Interspatial Ring into his grasp and immediately poured out its contents, revealing what was inside to the soldiers.
"You will face punishment for breaking the rules. Excel in training, and you’ll earn rewards! Take a good look at what’s inside here. I’ll hold onto these for now. Once you complete your training, these resources are yours!"
After making an example of one soldier to warn the others, Ye Liuyun gave the troops something to strive for. It was to shift their focus away from the harsh discipline.
Then, he resumed their training. The formations he drilled them in were the Sanctuary Dynasty’s standard military doctrine. He didn’t incorporate any of his drill. Yet the training itself was rigorous.
Ye Liuyun made it clear to them that the strictness now would give them a better chance of survival in battles.
In addition, he shared his wealth with the soldiers. He slept, ate, and trained with them. None of them held any resentment toward him.
After executing one soldier, Ye Liuyun immediately went to Yuan Hu to replenish the ranks.
Whenever a soldier was eliminated during training, he would demand replacements without hesitation. He never tried to be modest or mince words.
Yuan Hu always satisfied Ye Liuyun’s demand without question, demonstrating absolute trust in him.
Ye Liuyun’s talents had been examined by Yuan Hu, who had been watching him closely, and he had found him to be more than satisfactory.
Besides, Yuan Hu had been dispatched by the Sanctuary Dynasty. He had no reason to care which faction Ye Liuyun belonged to as long as he served the Dynasty.
Little did he know, Ye Liuyun was precisely the man opposing the Sanctuary Dynasty.
While meticulously playing his role, Ye Liuyun sought opportunities to get closer to Yuan Hu.
But Yuan Hu’s guard remained highly vigilant. Yuan Hu rarely engaged in direct communication with Ye Liuyun. For now, the right moment simply hadn’t yet presented.
Yuan Hu granted ample time for the recruits’ training. He did not review the outcomes of each squad’s performance until about two months later.
It was a straightforward evaluation process. He conducted squad-on-squad fighting that took place on smaller battlefields. The battles drew hundreds of squads..
But regardless of strategy, whether it was a head-on collision or a series of calculated moves, Ye Liuyun’s squad was unbeatable.
Most squads ended up with a quarter of half of their soldiers perished, while the survivors surrendered outright.
Eventually, Ye Liuyun’s squad gained such a fearsome reputation that opponents refused to engage them at all, opting to concede before the fight began.
Seizing the opportunity, Ye Liuyun didn’t just win battles. He poached the best fighters from the defeated squads, swelling his ranks. By the end of the battles, his unit had expanded to three hundred men.
But he didn’t stop at merely recruiting. He did not leave the resources to waste and seized all of them. By the end, his squad amassed wealth and supplies, leaving others resentful but powerless to protest.
Through the trials, Ye Liuyun became a legend among the recruits. Every soldier and junior officer respected him with some grudgingly, others with admiration.
So when Yuan Hu called for nominations to lead a ten-thousand-man unit, Ye Liuyun was unanimously voted in.
They had no reason not to choose him. Serving under Ye Liuyun meant stronger combat skills, better plunder, and a leader who shared the resources. An opportunity like that didn’t come around often.
Without any assistance from Yuan Hu, Ye Liuyun was elevated to deputy commander, taking charge of a thirty-thousand unit.
However, Yuan Hu did not meet with him in person. On the contrary, he ordered Ye Liuyun to gather his troops and keep the rigorous training.
Without delay, Ye Liuyun moved forward. He renamed his army the Shang Wu Legion and bound every soldier with a loyalty oath. With the military funds at his disposal, he ramped up the training, honing the troops’ combat skills.
All the while, he and his clone never slacked in their cultivation.
At the same time, he kept an eye out for chances to get closer to Yuan Hu.
Ye Liuyun took the initiative after his unit was prepared for combat. "The troops will not go beyond a plateau until they have actual battle experience," he reminded Yuan Hu. "I am asking for a chance to give them a live engagement."
Yuan Hu couldn’t help but chuckle when Ye Liuyun requested him.
"I’ve been waiting for you to ask!" Yuan Hu said with a knowing smile.
"But who are we supposed to fight?"
The Sanctuary Dynasty was at peace across its lands. Even if there were scattered bandits here and there, they were nothing more than small-time troublemakers. Hardly worth mobilising troops for.
Instead of answering directly, Yuan Hu replied with a question. "I heard you made your soldiers pledge allegiance?"
"That’s right. I don’t want anyone stabbing me in the back during battles," Ye Liuyun admitted without hesitation.
There was no need to conceal it since it was standard procedure throughout sizable troops. Soldiers would not surrender until their captain was killed in combat when such contracts were established.
Yuan Hu nodded thoughtfully. "I understand your reasoning. But you must remember that your army belongs to the Sanctuary Dynasty, not to any individual.
"You have to obey the Dynasty’s orders without question."
"Undoubtedly," Ye Liuyun said, although he was a little confused about Yuan Hu’s intended direction.
"It’s good that you understand." Yuan Hu leaned forward slightly. "I’ve received two missions from the Sanctuary Dynasty, both offering real combat experience. Take a look."
With that, he slid a piece of paper across the table to Ye Liuyun.
At the same time, he waved a hand, signalling his guards to wait outside the tent.
Wan Weihou and Lord Zhenxing’s names stood out boldly on the page.
"Is this a test?" Ye Liuyun’s mind raced as he stared at the names. "What are they testing me for? Should I accept or refuse?"
Yuan Hu was studying Ye Liuyun’s face, gauging his reaction.
"These two factions are sworn enemies. Is he testing my allegiance to see which side I’m on? Or is he probing my loyalty to the Sanctuary Dynasty?"
With a hint of bewilderment glinting in his eyes, Ye Liuyun locked eyes with Yuan Hu. "I will immediately gather my forces if this is the decree of the Sanctuary Dynasty. However, wouldn’t such measures cause widespread fear?"
Yuan Hu’s voice was firm. "This is indeed the Dynasty’s decree. These two factions have been at each other’s throats, even manipulated into wiping out an entire army of two hundred thousand. To this day, no one knows who’s truly responsible!"
He leaned in slightly, his tone turning icy. "The Sanctuary Dynasty intends to teach them a lesson. They need to understand that backstabbing comes at a price. Their powers were granted by the Dynasty, and the Dynasty can easily take them away."
A cold smile played on his lips. "As for the people’s unrest? It’ll be temporary. Once we eliminate these lords and replace them, order will be restored."
"Understood. I’ll deploy my forces immediately," Ye Liuyun replied decisively.
But Yuan Hu raised a hand, stopping him. "However, the Sanctuary Dynasty can’t openly admit to purging its own appointed Lords and marquises."
Ye Liuyun frowned. "So we’re to disguise ourselves as bandits? But once the mission is done... how will the Dynasty deal with us?"
Yuan Hu chuckled, a glint of approval in his eyes. "You are as sharp as ever. Serve the Dynasty well, and the Dynasty has no reason to turn on you. When you strike them down, you are an outlaw. But the moment you don our uniforms, you are our soldiers."
