Chapter 46: Visiting the Brothel as a Group

Li Jiancheng thought for a moment and immediately understood Chen Ying’s intention. He asked solemnly, “The two battalions of the Right Command Guard together amount to just over three hundred men. Isn’t that too few?”

In truth, Chen Ying had no confidence about leading the troops to quell the rebellion. He knew nothing of the temperament or customs of the people of Pangqi, nor had any idea about how many rebels they currently had or their strength. Still, Chen Ying recognized this as an opportunity to improve his circumstances, and he knew he had to seize it.

“Your Highness, I assure you,” Chen Ying replied, “the value of an army lies not in its numbers but in its quality. Besides, the soldiers of the Right Command Guard and the two battalions have their families here in Chang’an, making them especially trustworthy in terms of loyalty.”

“Very well,” Li Jiancheng considered Chen Ying’s words and found them reasonable. After a moment’s thought, he said, “Then I’ll assign you Captain Zhang Huaiwei’s unit from the Left Command Guard as well. Take four regiments of officers to Liangzhou!”

In reality, Chen Ying was not someone adept at scheming. He had no certainty about whether the revolt could be suppressed easily. At that moment, a spark of inspiration flashed through his mind. He thought of one person—Xu Jingzong.

Xu Jingzong was a master of intrigue throughout his life. No matter his reputation, it was undeniable that he was the greatest winner among the eighteen scholars of the Prince of Qin’s residence. He retired with the honor of Special Advancement, a high-ranking position, and was posthumously given great honors. At this time, Xu Jingzong had not yet risen to prominence—could he be utilized?

Chen Ying asked cautiously, “Your Highness, I am young and reckless, sometimes forgetting myself and neglecting state affairs. Might you select a wise advisor for me?”

Li Jiancheng looked at Chen Ying with a smile and asked, “Do you already have someone in mind?”

Chen Ying’s cheeks flushed; he realized his attempt at cleverness was still too naive before Li Jiancheng.

“My residence was purchased from Xu Jingzong, the son of the former Sui Deputy Minister of Rites, Xu Shanxin. In my conversations with Xu Jingzong, I found him to be articulate, elegant, and possessing remarkable insight—a rare talent. If I could have his assistance, the task of quelling the rebellion in Shizhou would surely be accomplished with twice the results for half the effort!”

Li Jiancheng said, “I have heard of Xu Jingzong. He’s now been issued a red appointment letter by the Eastern Palace and assigned as an adjutant in Lingzhou.”

The so-called red appointment letter was a temporary official document used in the early Tang era, often issued by local authorities and reported to the court for acknowledgment. During the early reign of Emperor Wu De, the Tang bureaucracy was chaotic: not only did the court have the authority to appoint officials, but the Prime Minister, Prince Qin Li Shimin, and various princes and nobles also had the power to appoint officials below the fourth rank. This disorder only began to diminish after the fourth year of the Zhenguan era.

Chen Ying asked urgently, “Has he actually taken up the post?”

“This… I really don’t know,” Li Jiancheng replied. “Go back and prepare for now; I’ll have someone look into it!”

After leaving the Eastern Palace, Chen Ying returned immediately to the barracks of the Right Command Guard. When he arrived, the three hundred fifty-six soldiers of the two battalions were diligently training according to his methods, filling the parade ground with dust as they ran.

Chen Ying strode to the central platform on the parade ground. Once atop the platform, he turned to the orderly and commanded, “Sound the drum and assemble the troops!”

Boom, boom…

A resounding, majestic drumbeat suddenly rang out. The soldiers from each regiment immediately jogged toward the platform.

During training, Chen Ying had borrowed simple tactical hand signals from later centuries, and they were fully put to use. During assembly, each regiment, brigade, and squad followed the hand signals in silence—no shouting, just the rhythmic thud of synchronized footsteps across the field. In just a little over the time it took to burn an incense stick, the entire force had assembled. For a battalion that had trained for less than half a month, this was truly remarkable.

The eight formations, each five rows of eight, stood in perfect order. Their armor, covered in dust, looked all the more imposing. Bright broadswords formed walls of cold steel; sharp spears stood dense as a forest. Watching his nearly transformed force, Chen Ying felt a surge of pride.

“We salute you, General!”

“At ease!” Chen Ying returned the salute, then shouted, “Do you know why the assembly drum was sounded?”

Not one of the three hundred fifty-six answered.

Chen Ying continued, “Because those damned Qiang slaves have rebelled. They’re pillaging, burning, and murdering in Shizhou, committing every imaginable evil.”

The soldiers remained expressionless.

Chen Ying pointed at them and said, “Do you know what this means? It means those bastards are slapping us in the face. Slapping us, understand? As soldiers of the Great Tang, it’s our duty to protect the people, and to destroy the rebels is our unshirkable responsibility.”

“To wipe out the rebels is our unshirkable responsibility!” the soldiers echoed.

Chen Ying’s gaze became sharp as a hawk’s, sweeping slowly across the assembled men. His piercing eyes seemed to press upon their faces, and the soldiers unconsciously revealed their emotions—anxious, excited, timid, or simply bewildered.

Chen Ying continued, “His Highness has appointed me as your commander and ordered all of us to march to Shizhou to suppress the rebellion. I’ll give you the chance to withdraw now. Anyone who admits to cowardice may leave—I will not take weaklings into battle.”

The soldiers felt deeply insulted; many faces flushed red as their blood boiled with indignation.

“Are there any cowards?”

“No!”

“Are there any weaklings?”

“No, none at all!”

“Excellent!” Chen Ying declared. “All of you are brave men—no weaklings among us. Today’s training is canceled. You have one night to return home and make your farewells.”

“Oh, and those who aren’t married, who are still virgins, stay behind!”

The soldiers were bewildered, unsure what Chen Ying meant.

He explained, “On the battlefield, weapons don’t discriminate. No one is Death’s nephew. If you’ve never been with a woman, dying would be a waste. I have some money left—anyone who’s never been with a woman, I’ll treat him to a brothel visit…”

At that moment, Captain Duan Zhigan of the First Battalion spoke up, “General, I’m still a virgin—I’ve never been with a woman.”

Chen Ying laughed and scolded, “Get out of here! You have two sons and you claim you’ve never been with a woman!”

Duan Zhigan protested, “That’s not fair, General Chen. If you’re treating, you should treat everyone. Let’s all go together. Brothers, am I right?”

“Right!” the soldiers shouted.

“Good!” Chen Ying replied. “Let’s all go together!”

Yin Yuan came up to Chen Ying and said, “I know the girls at Red Sleeve Pavilion in Huaiyuan Ward are the prettiest, each more beautiful than the last.”

“Then Red Sleeve Pavilion it is!” Chen Ying declared. “Let’s go to Red Sleeve Pavilion at once!”