336: Chapter 336 Royal Court

The border of the Darhan Grasslands.

The twenty thousand cavalry led by Lu Sanchuan, carrying grain and supplies, had crossed the arid desert and had been marching for three days.

Just an hour ago, a wave of Northern Barbarian troops chasing Western Qiang people was intercepted by Lu Sanchuan's army.

The Northern Barbarian Army, after marching and looting for over ten consecutive days, was in a state of exhaustion.

Lu Sanchuan personally led over three thousand light cavalry and directly annihilated them all.

Immediately after, Lu Sanchuan ordered the army to rest and reorganize, as it was expected they would encounter more Barbarian Army forces tomorrow.

He needed to send out more scouts to gather intelligence before he could formulate the next step of the plan.

"Commander, this is our first time crossing the Gobi and venturing deep into the grasslands. We can be considered to have expanded our territory!"

"Not to mention, I really like General Lin's decisive character!"

Several old subordinates from the Silver Armor Army gathered together, their faces filled with excitement.

Back when they followed Prince Bai, they were always bogged down in internal strife, which was frustrating. Now, fighting the barbarians was truly satisfying!

Lu Sanchuan reminded them, "Don't get happy too early. We haven't encountered any decent Barbarian Army forces along the way, which means their main force hasn't appeared yet."

"But our tracks have already been exposed, and we are at risk of being ambushed at any time."

"The opponent is that old fox Marshal Suhe. These small units of the Barbarian Army are very likely just bait."

Just then, the sound of an argument came from not far away.

Lu Sanchuan frowned and immediately led his men over.

"What are you all arguing about?!"

The soldiers on both sides saw Lu Sanchuan approaching and quickly stopped their fighting stances, cupping their fists and shouting, "Commander!"

Lu Sanchuan noticed that one side of the argument was his old subordinate, Garrison General Xu Lei, while the other side consisted of several officers at the rank of commandant.

He couldn't help but frown. There was a difference of several ranks between the two sides; how could they have started a quarrel?

"Xu Lei, what's going on?"

Xu Lei immediately pointed at a young commandant opposite him and said, "Commander, this Liu Tongguang, ever since he became some 'Supervisory Colonel,' hasn't shown any respect for us superiors at all!"

"I just took a few captured pancakes and some kumis for the brothers to eat and drink to warm up, and he goes on saying I've violated military discipline!!"

"We've followed you for over ten years, Commander. Since when is it a young brat's turn to lecture us?!"

Liu Tongguang said indignantly, "Every needle and thread is a trophy of war! The Eleven Articles of the Zhenbei Army clearly state that all spoils of war must be turned over to the public! If you want to eat or drink, you must wait for the Commander's distribution. How can you just take it without permission?!"

"Just a few pancakes and a few gulps of wine, and you expect the Commander to worry about it?! You've got shit for brains..."

"Enough!!"

Lu Sanchuan barked a reprimand, his eyes sweeping over the two like blades.

Then, he walked over to the confiscated spoils and looked around.

Lu Sanchuan soon frowned and called over an adjutant nearby. "Are these all... the spoils from the battle just now?"

The adjutant replied, "Yes, Commander. They have all been gathered here."

"There are this many?" Lu Sanchuan asked instinctively.

The adjutant smiled. "Because according to the Eleven Articles of the Zhenbei Army, the soldiers didn't dare to just take things. They are waiting for your distribution."

A look of deep thought appeared in Lu Sanchuan's eyes. Having led troops for many years, he knew exactly how many spoils could be expected from a certain number of captives.

The spoils before him were more than three times what they used to be!

This was the change brought about by the rule that 'all spoils of war must be turned over to the public.'

What if they annihilated thousands or tens of thousands of people?

How many spoils would have been privately carved up?!

Could the soldiers below feel balanced when they saw the officers taking away the lion's share of the benefits?

The more Lu Sanchuan thought about it, the more he felt how profound the impact of this single military rule would be!

He even felt a shiver run down his spine!

"Liu Tongguang, according to the military rules, how should Xu Lei be punished?" Lu Sanchuan asked after a moment of silence.

Xu Lei was dumbfounded. Had the Commander gone senile?

Punishing him over such small things—was it really necessary?!

Liu Tongguang cupped his fists and said, "Reporting to the Commander, according to the military rules, he should receive twenty strokes of the cane!"

"Good! Anyone who takes spoils of war privately will be dealt with according to military law!!"

Xu Lei collapsed to his knees. "Commander! I'm not convinced! We've been with you for so many years, why can't we take just this little..."

"Shut up!!"

Lu Sanchuan roared sternly, "You have the nerve to mention how many years you've been with me?! Was it I who told you to violate military discipline?!"

"Listen up, all of you! I have said many times that we are no longer the Silver Armor Army, and certainly not the White Kings Army, but the Zhenbei Army!"

"As the Zhenbei Army, you must obey the rules of the Zhenbei Army!!"

"Xu Lei, you are relieved of your position as garrison general and demoted to a regular army commandant. Liu Tongguang, you will temporarily take his place!"

After the rewards and punishments were dealt, Xu Lei was dejected, while Liu Tongguang was overwhelmed by the unexpected favor.

The soldiers whispered among themselves, many nodding frequently. The rank-and-file soldiers, in particular, showed expressions of excitement.

After all, in the past, most of the spoils were taken by the officers, and they got almost nothing. This way, they suddenly felt things were much fairer.

Seeing the excited looks of the soldiers, the image of that somewhat unconventional Great General appeared in Lu Sanchuan's mind...

Could it be that his own understanding was truly lacking?

"Liu Tongguang, come here. I have something to ask you."

"Yes!"

Lu Sanchuan intended to ask in detail exactly what Lin Xiao had taught this group of Supervisory Colonels.

On the other side of the grasslands.

Tengri, the Golden Tent Royal Court.

In the blue sky, eagles circled, looking down at the unfamiliar Central Plains cavalry below.

The Zhenbei Army led by Lin Xiao had encountered no more significant resistance after charging through the Xiata Valley.

Five thousand men, with three times as many horses and ample supplies, marched grandly into the land where the armies of the Central Plains dynasties had never set foot.

The further they went, the more they found the water sources to be abundant. When spring arrived, it would surely be a magnificent pasture.

"General Lin, the Ural Mountains are ahead. That is a place where only the nobility of Mobei are worthy of a sky burial, a holy land second only to Alimu Mountain!"

Meng Xi looked at the banner of the Golden Tent Khan, her heart surging with emotion.

She had been here as an envoy before, but at that time, Western Qiang was bringing gifts to the Northern Barbarians to beg for border stability, and she could only be humble and subservient.

But this time, she was using Lin Xiao's army to destroy this powerful Northern Barbarian royal power!

Although the price was that sheepskin scroll of a 'traitorous treaty,' still... she would enjoy the moment first!

"These barbarians are really poor. Even at the Royal Court, there are only a few stone houses; it's all tents."

General Wu Jinzhe complained, "What are those things? Piles of stones everywhere. Are they graves?"

"You're actually right. Those stone piles are the tombs of Northern Barbarian nobles, said to be thousands of years old," Meng Xi said.

When the officers heard this, they immediately felt it was bad luck. Who would build graves right at their doorstep?

"Husband, we've reached this place, yet why has no Barbarian Army come out? Could it be that Khan Jilun has given up resistance?" Wanying wondered.

"It's actually possible. After all, if Suhe tries to rush back, he will also encounter Lu Sanchuan's interception."

Zhao Caiwei said, "If Jilun wants to live, he might very well choose to surrender temporarily, but that would only be a pretense. We still need to be careful."

Lin Xiao sensed the surrounding situation but felt that something was amiss.