Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 128 The Return of the Evil

Outside the west gate of Xinghuo Fortress, a victorious army once again returned, but this time they brought not enemy heads or captured goods, but hundreds of elite soldiers and a giant man as large as a moving mountain. The soldiers and civilians inside the fortress had long heard the tale of their lord's three visits to Black Wind Ridge and his subjugation of the fierce general Dian Xiong, and now they flocked to the streets and alleys, watching with curiosity and excitement.

Dian Xiong rode a specially chosen, exceptionally strong Xiliang horse, still shirtless except for a leather vest. His dark, iron-plated spear lay across the saddle, and his every glance exuded a fierce and valiant aura, drawing gasps and whispers from the onlookers. Behind him, the hundreds of former Black Wind Ridge soldiers, though dressed in a mixed style, had, after a brief reorganization, begun to resemble a ranks. Each stood tall and proud, striving to adapt to their new identity and environment as "government troops," their eyes reflecting both initial trepidation and anticipation for the future.

Chen Xing rode ahead, with Chen Wei trailing half a horse's length behind. The group walked straight through the cheering crowd and arrived at the military camp area on the west side of the fortress. A separate barracks and drill ground had been designated in advance as the temporary residence for Dian Xiong and his troops.

"Ziwei, and all my brothers," Chen Xing reined in his horse, turned to face Dian Xiong and his men, and said in a loud voice, "this will be your temporary home. The barracks are ready, and hot water and food will be delivered immediately. Settle in for today and familiarize yourselves with the surroundings. Tomorrow, the Military Council will send someone to register you, distribute your weapons and armor, and explain the Military Regulations and our army's merit system."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the soldiers who, though trying to stand straight, could not hide their weariness from the long journey: "I know you all come from Black Wind Ridge, new to the regular army, and it's understandable that you're finding it difficult to adjust to the many rules and constraints. But I want to tell you, in my Starfire Fortress army, rules are not shackles, but protective talismans! They guarantee clear rewards and punishments, ensure unity among comrades, and ensure that every drop of blood you shed and every merit you achieve will not be buried! Furthermore, they guarantee that your families can be proud of your glory, not live in fear!"

These simple yet powerful words calmed many of the soldiers who had been filled with anxiety. Dian Xiong nodded emphatically, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, "Rest assured, my lord! Now that I have surrendered, I will obey orders and discipline my men! Anyone who violates the rules will be the first to face the consequences!"

Chen Xing nodded: "Alright. Chen Wei, Dian Xiong's troops are new here, and there are many things to handle. Please take good care of them. Dian Xiong, come with me first."

He led Dianxiong away from the military camp and to a relatively secluded courtyard inside the fortress, near the artisan camp. Hot water, clean clothes, and even a small jar of wine were prepared in the courtyard.

"Wash up and change first, then rest for a while," Chen Xing said to Dian Xiong. "An hour later, I'll take you to the crafts camp to have your armor custom-made. You're used to using a spear, and the spearheads forged using the steel-forging method of my Starfire Fortress should be sharper, tougher, and less prone to breaking than your original one."

Dian Xiong's eyes lit up. He had long heard of the excellent weapons of Starfire Fortress. Upon hearing this, he rubbed his hands together and smiled憨厚ly, "Thank you, my lord!"

An hour later, Dian Xiong, now dressed in clean military attire, followed Chen Xing to the bustling crafts camp. Zhou Dashan, the newly appointed head of the crafts camp, had been waiting for a long time. Upon learning that they were forging weapons for the lord's newly recruited fierce general, he became even more attentive.

Chen Xing personally discussed Dian Xiong's weapon requirements with Zhou Dashan and several veteran craftsmen. Dian Xiong possessed immense strength, and his usual iron-clad spear weighed over sixty jin (approximately 30 catties). The shaft was made of hardwood wrapped with iron, while the spearhead was ordinary forged iron. Although heavy, Chen Xing believed that the materials and craftsmanship were too crude and failed to fully unleash Dian Xiong's power.

"The spear shaft will be made of a composite material, with a core of highly elastic mulberry wood, wrapped in oil-soaked hemp rope, then covered with wrought iron, and finally painted. This way, it will be both strong and flexible, less prone to breakage, and better able to transmit force," Chen Xing proposed. "The spearhead will use a core of steel repeatedly forged using the crucible steel method, made longer and heavier, shaped into an armor-piercing cone, shifting the center of gravity forward for greater thrusting power. The total weight... could be increased to eighty jin! Ziwei, is that manageable?"

Dian Xiong's eyes lit up, especially when he heard "eighty jin" (approximately 40 kg). Far from being afraid, he was eager to try: "It's easy to move! It's easy to move! My lord, if we can obtain this divine weapon, my fighting strength will increase by at least 30%!"

"Alright! Steward Zhou, proceed as proposed and produce a sample as soon as possible," Chen Xing instructed. He then said to Dian Xiong, "The armor must also be custom-made. Ordinary lamellar armor is too light and fragile for you. Use thickened cold-forged steel plates combined with rhinoceros hide to create a set of heavy-duty infantry armor, focusing on protecting the chest, abdomen, shoulders, and back, while ensuring flexibility at the joints. The helmet should include a neck protector and a mask. The weight... is tentatively set at 100 jin!"

Nobuyuki was so excited that his face turned red, as if he could already see himself wearing heavy armor, holding a giant spear, and being invincible in the enemy ranks.

After leaving the crafts camp, Chen Xing brought Dian Xiong to the Military Affairs Office and convened a small military meeting with Chen Wei and several key generals.

"Ziwei's bravery is evident to all," Chen Xing said bluntly. "However, even a brave general needs to be placed in the right position to maximize his effectiveness. My idea is to use the original Black Wind Ridge elites under Ziwei's command as the backbone, and then draw a group of fierce, brave, and physically imposing men from various battalions to form a battalion, specializing in attacking fortified positions and leading the charge! The battalion will be called the 'Trap Camp'! Ziwei, you will be the first commander of this Trap Camp!"

"The Vanguard Camp?" Dian Xiong murmured repeatedly, his eyes gleaming with astonishing light. This name was exactly to his liking! Attacking fortified positions, breaking through enemy lines—this was exactly what he loved and excelled at!

Chen Wei and the others nodded in agreement. With Dian Xiong's physique, strength, and personality, he was perfectly suited to lead an elite heavy infantry force as the spearhead to tear through the enemy's defenses.

"The initial strength of the Trapped Camp is 800 men, with a full strength of 1,000. Soldiers must be handpicked from the best of the best, equipped with heavy armor, long weapons, large shields, and powerful crossbows. Training will be personally overseen by Ziwei, with Chen Wei assisting and supervising. We must train a disciplined, fearless, and invincible iron army capable of taking on any challenge!" Chen Xing looked at Dian Xiong with eager eyes, "Ziwei, are you up to the task?"

Dian Xiong abruptly rose to his feet, knelt on one knee, and roared, "This humble general, Dian Xiong, will certainly not fail the lord's trust! I will forge this elite infantry battalion into the sharpest spear and the strongest shield in the lord's hands! Wherever military orders are given, we will charge into battle with the will to die!"

"Good! That's exactly what I wanted to hear!" Chen Xing helped him up and said to Chen Wei, "Chen Wei, the Military Affairs Bureau will provide full support and priority for the selection of personnel, allocation of supplies, and training grounds for the Trapped Camp."

"This subordinate obeys!" Chen Wei replied solemnly.

From that day forward, Dian Xiong, like a tiger finding its perfect armor, threw himself wholeheartedly into the formation and training of the elite infantry. Though illiterate, he possessed a rugged yet effective method for training soldiers—leading by example, sharing meals and lodging, rigorously demanding during training, yet mingling with his men during rest periods, drinking and eating heartily. His astonishing martial prowess and forthright personality quickly earned him the respect and affection of both new and veteran soldiers.

The news that the craftsmen's camp had tailored special heavy armor for him and an 82-pound steel-filled armor-piercing spear spread quickly throughout the army, further enhancing his aura as an "inhuman" fierce general.

The soldiers and civilians of Xinghuo Fortress gradually grew accustomed to this towering giant who roared and stomped between the barracks and training grounds, and readily accepted the new term "Trap Camp," a name that evoked either reassurance or fear. In private, they began to describe Norio as "the ancient evil one," their words brimming with pride.

After her pregnancy stabilized, Murong Mingyue made a special trip to the training ground to watch the Trapped Camp's drills. Seeing Dian Xiong, like a ferocious beast, leading hundreds of heavily armored soldiers in a practiced charge and breakthrough, amidst billowing dust and deafening roars, she couldn't help but nod in approval. She said to Chen Xing, "This is truly a fierce general! With such a valiant warrior in my husband's hands, who in the north can stand against him?"

Chen Xing put his arm around her shoulder, gazing at the bustling scene on the training ground, and smiled, "Even the fiercest warriors need a wise ruler to lead them, and the elite troops need a capable general to command them. Ziwei is the sharp blade, and the Trapped Camp is the heavy hammer. How to use this sharp blade and heavy hammer effectively to break the stalemate in the north, and even to conquer the world, is what we need to think about."