Two Days Later
True to his words, Qin Feng had rooted out all the spies within the fortress. They fell into two groups—one aligned with the Crown Prince, the other with the Minister of War.
He couldn't extract much from them: both groups chose death over capture, taking their own lives before his soldiers could interrogate them. What information he did glean came from sifting through their belongings.
Even without concrete proof, his suspicions were clear. The Crown Prince had likely "sold" the fortress city to the Northern Khaganate, forming an alliance to gain their support in his bid for the throne. It is well known that though he bore the title of Crown Prince, he was not favored by the Emperor—he held the position only because of the scheming of his mother, the Empress.
As for the Minister of War, that was really no surprise. He had always resented his father and had plotted against him multiple times. It's quite likely that the redeployment of Huo Jian was orchestrated by him, a scheme to eliminate his father and loyal subordinates.
Huo Jian was probably expanding his forces, waiting for the Northern Khaganate to successfully wipe them out. He would then rally his forces and counterattack, then take his place as the new Commander of the Northern Frontier.
With the Ministry of War's backing, the plan was plausible.
It was quite obvious now that the missives from the Ministry of War about reduced supplies as a result of "stolen grains" and "poor harvests" were fabrications—most of the supplies had likely been redirected to Huo Jian's camp. Looking back, the Minister of War must have planned this for years. Otherwise, why would Liang Wude, Feng Luo, Zhao Kun, and Bai Xian hold lower ranks than Huo Jian?
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Infantry Training Field — Beiguan Fortress
Qin Feng approached the training field as General Zhao Kun observed the squads practicing formations with precise coordination.
"General Zhao," Qin Feng called.
Zhao Kun turned, offering a slight bow. "Commander."
Qin Feng nodded in acknowledgement. They watched the soldiers in silence, as the rhythm of drills continued to fill the air.
Finally, Qin Feng spoke.
"General Zhao, what are your thoughts on our infantry formations? Do you see ways to improve combat effectiveness—to reduce the number of men returning in carts?"
Zhao Kun blinked, clearly taken aback by the question.
"Our infantry is solid—we've come a long way," he said carefully, weighing his words. "We improve after every battle, refining our formations and drills. But true innovation… there's only so much we can achieve on our own. We are far from the legendary strategists of old." His voice carried a quiet, restrained regret, as if acknowledging the limits of even his skill.
Qin Feng studied him silently. 'Looks like I chose the right general for the job'.
"General Zhao, I entrust the training of the infantry entirely to you," Qin Feng said, leaving Zhao Kun puzzled.
'Haven't you done that already?'
"This is an ancient manual on infantry training. I've studied it and can assure you—it surpasses anything we currently use." He handed the book to Zhao Kun, not waiting for a response, and walked off.
Anyone observing closely might have noticed a shadow detach from Qin Feng's and merge with Zhao Kun's shadow—though most would chalk it up to imagination. In truth, a shadow stalker had been attached the general. Not to spy on him, but to protect the manual, ensuring it never fell into the wrong hands. One could never be too careful.
As Zhao Kun opened the book—The Canon of Unbroken Lines—his eyes widened. The more he read, the more impressed he became.
The formations were layered: shieldbearers in front, spearmen behind, reserves ready to fill gaps as they appeared. Each soldier had a precise role, each role supporting another.
This was no mere rigid line meant to merely hold ground. It included controlled rotations that allowed exhausted or wounded men to fall back without breaking the formation. It alao accounted for Encirclement—units could pivot inward while maintaining spear coverage on all sides.
Furthermore, sections on cavalry taught how to angle spears low to unseat riders, use hooks to drag them down, and overlap shields to absorb a charge. Once momentum broke, second and third ranks would advance, turning defense into measured, relentless pressure.
"If drilled properly…" Zhao Kun muttered, eyes narrowing, "…this would be nearly impossible to break."
The manual demanded discipline over brilliance, coordination over brute strength. Yet once mastered, ordinary infantry could fight far beyond their weight.
He closed the book slowly.
'With this, our infantry wouldn't just endure… they'd grind the enemy down.'
Preparations began immediately. One month was tight, but enough to integrate the basics among veterans—enough to see significant improvement.
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After leaving Zhao Kun, Qin Feng moved to General Feng Luo. Both generals—Zhao Kun and Feng Luo—were his immediate priorities, needing time to train troops in new formations and techniques. The one-month window was unforgiving, and every day counted.
For the infantry, Qin Feng had provided The Canon of Unbroken Lines; for the cavalry, The Canon of Breaking Waves. Each manual had cost 100 SP from the system—but to Qin Feng, their real value was priceless. Had he been in charge of the system shop, he'd have priced them at least 1,000 SP each.
Not only were the manuals exceptional individually, but their combined use amplified effectiveness.
An immovable wall, paired with an unrelenting wave of steel.
'The enemy will regret ever facing us,' Qin Feng thought as he chuckled darkly.
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Author's note:
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