Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 699: Garrison Troops (Part 2)

"General Tan, this Tao Da is simply a monster."

That night, General Tan’s tent was crowded with trusted aides who came to complain: "Isn’t it true? Early in the morning he led us on a twenty-mile run. We were panting like dogs, and he was still full of energy, cursing us, calling us spineless cowards."

"After the run, he let us rest for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, then started drilling formations, and we even had to practice long spears and long knives."

"I heard that we’ll even practice battle formations in the future! Good heavens! Where do we have that kind of skill? We’re just garrison troops, how can we compare to the border army or the Capital City’s forces."

"General Tan, please talk to Captain Tao on our behalf, this kind of training is too much, we really can’t handle it..."

General Tan had also trained for a day, and was thoroughly exhausted.

There’s no avoiding it. Tao Da isn’t just all talk, he’s been leading the soldiers in training from beginning to end. How could General Tan not grit his teeth and join in personally?

Listening to the grievances of his aides, General Tan responded weakly: "Captain Tao and those dozens of Nanyang Guards are training like this, you’ve all seen it. We have no excuse not to train."

The complaining continued without end among the trusted aides.

General Tan’s face darkened, and he scolded: "Shut up, all of you! The Emperor already knows about the false payrolls in our camp and has decided not to pursue it. If he did, heads would roll, and you guys wouldn’t escape unscathed either."

"This is just routine training. As soldiers who take military pay, you’re expected to make an effort. If you don’t want to train, then get out of the camp and go home to hold your children."

The trusted aides, reprimanded, went silent and dejected.

General Tan softened his tone: "Captain Tao is new here and is deliberately being harsh with the training to make a show of force and establish authority in the camp. Once we get through two or three days, and he’s had his moment, I’ll privately appeal to him. Then the training will ease up a bit. Don’t worry, just endure for now."

Endure it they did, for five or six days.

General Tan figured that Captain Tao had established his authority, so he had the kitchen prepare a few special dishes and personally brought them to Tao Da’s tent.

Tao Da didn’t stand on ceremony and devoured everything like a whirlwind, then wiped his mouth and said, "After these few days, it doesn’t seem good enough. I’m planning to increase the training starting tomorrow!"

General Tan: "..."

General Tan laughed wryly, clasped his hands, and pleaded: "Captain Tao, have some mercy. Even with this level of training, the troops in the camp are already struggling. Increasing it further is unbearable."

Tao Da, looking disdainful, replied: "In our Personal Guard Camp, the new recruits train at this intensity for the first month. By the second month, the training intensifies."

"These are all seasoned soldiers, yet their stamina and endurance are not even as good as the new recruits. If they truly went to battle, they’d just be cannon fodder."

General Tan, stung by the mockery, was left with nowhere to hide.

Tao Da said: "General Tan, it’s not that I’m disrespecting you. Since I’ve been ordered here by the Emperor, I have to make some progress to report back." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Once the soldiers are well-trained, they’re still your soldiers. Let me be the bad guy here."

Despite seeming simple-minded, Tao Da’s words were quite genuine.

If General Tan still felt unappreciative, it would be utterly incomprehensible.

"Well then, many thanks to Captain Tao," General Tan reluctantly replied. "How the training goes is all up to Captain Tao."

...

Several days later, a handwritten letter from Tao Da was presented to Jiang Shaohua.

Having studied a few years in the Personal Guard Camp, Tao Da managed to recognize the common characters. Writing, he could pen maybe three to four hundred simple and common words. Those with complex strokes were replaced with circles.

This letter had no fewer than twenty circles. The handwriting was crooked and ugly.

Looking at it, Jiang Shaohua found it both amusing and annoying: "This Tao Da is excellent on the battlefield, but writing seems like a death sentence to him."

Chen Jinyu chuckled, joining to see the commotion.

Amused, Jiang Shaohua handed the letter to Chen Jinyu: "Here, take a look, see how much you can decipher."

Chen Jinyu read a few lines, the corners of his mouth twitching: "With so many circles and mistakes, it’ll require a lot of guessing."

However, the gist was understood.

Tao Da’s assessment of the garrison’s combat strength was: slightly stronger than pigs. At least a year and a half of training was necessary.

Jiang Shaohua laughed: "Tao Da is a blunt fellow, but he handles his duties with care. He mentioned in the letter wanting to stay in the camp to continue training troops, so he won’t return to the Capital City for now."

"Write a reply on my behalf, telling him that I approve."

Chen Jinyu immediately accepted the task, went to the desk on the side, and quickly drafted and presented the letter to the Emperor.

After reading, Jiang Shaohua nodded, smiling: "Yes, it has to be straightforward. Subtle hints won’t work; Tao Da won’t understand them. Tell him to go easy with the training. If he can bring the garrison to the level of the Nanyang Army three years ago, that’s good enough."

Chen Jinyu added a few more lines, sealed the letter, and had it sent out of the Capital City.

Not only Tao Da returned a letter like this, but other trusted aides who arrived at various garrisons also sent reports back. Their letters detailed the issues of false payrolls, and the low combat capability was a common problem. Some garrisons only trained once every seven to ten days. Some soldiers were assigned business duties by the main general, and the money earned naturally went to the general. Moreover, some garrisons extorted local wealthy merchants under the guise of bandit suppression. It was shocking.

The garrisons in Da Liang truly were like mud heaps.

Most outrageous of all, one garrison even secretly maintained a few camp prostitutes.

The one sent to this garrison was the quick-tempered Meng Dashan. Meng Dashan immediately turned hostile, had the main general arrested, and sent directly to the Ministry of War in the Capital City for punishment.

This act was indeed extremely drastic and nearly caused a mutiny in the camp that day.

Though Meng Dashan brought few men, his imposing presence was formidable, and they all unsheathed their long knives, staring down the outraged military generals.

"I, Meng Dashan, have come under imperial orders to deliver military funds, uniforms, and provisions to you. If I see any irregularities in the camp, I am mandated to address them on behalf of the Emperor."

Meng Dashan also drew his long knife, its cold, sharp edge glaringly conspicuous: "If you are dissatisfied with today’s events, feel free to act. I, Meng Dashan, am willing to stake my life here and won’t retreat an inch."

"However, I advise you all to consider carefully before taking action. Right now, only one general is in trouble. If you act, it will be a mutiny. News of this will reach the Capital City, and the Emperor will surely send troops to suppress you and even exterminate your entire families."

"Think it over: is it really worth risking your nine families for your general?"