Several days later, the actions of the City Lord's Mansion confirmed this news.
The City Lord's Mansion, citing rampant banditry outside the city and the serious threat to the lives and property of the people,
officially announced the formation of a vanguard army to eradicate the raging bandits.
The plan was to recruit two thousand warriors as the vanguard to charge into battle.
Another two thousand soldiers from the city's garrison would serve as the central support force.
This bandit suppression operation was not only to protect the peace of the people, but also a rare opportunity for promotion.
For those eager to make a name for themselves, it was undoubtedly a golden opportunity.
The announcement caused a sensation throughout the city.
The City Lord generously promised that anyone who distinguished themselves in the bandit suppression operation
would have the opportunity to obtain an official position and abundant wealth, and those who survived the vanguard army would have the chance to join the City Lord's garrison.
Such enticing offers naturally attracted a large number of people eager for advancement and wealth to sign up.
Especially the refugees from outside the city, who were even more eager.
They saw this as a golden opportunity to gain merit.
After all, with over four thousand regular troops besieging less than a thousand bandits at Beiman Mountain, victory seemed assured.
A few days later, Qingchen sat leisurely in a private room of a brothel.
He gently toyed with a glass of wine, the amber liquid swirling within.
However, Qingchen's mind was already preoccupied with the upcoming battle to suppress the bandits at Beiman Mountain.
Several minor officials from the local government sat around him, each with a beautiful woman in their arms, the atmosphere lively.
They discussed the upcoming battle, their roles in it, and their potential achievements.
Qingchen feigned ease, occasionally interjecting with a few flattering remarks.
"I heard the City Lord's Mansion is really going all out for this bandit suppression. They're preparing to conscript over two thousand able-bodied men to wipe out those bandits from Beiman Mountain in one fell swoop,"
an official said while drinking, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"That's right. I also heard that the vanguard captain, Lord Wang, is a renowned second-rate expert.
He once slaughtered a hundred men in his armor, riding a warhorse.
Following Lord Wang, if we can achieve great merit on the battlefield, wouldn't official rank and treasure be within our grasp?"
another official chimed in, his words filled with boundless anticipation and longing for the future.
You know, even an ordinary third-rate expert can fight ten men bare-handed.
If it's a third-rate expert clad in heavy armor and wielding a sharp blade, that's even more terrifying.
Not to mention second-rate masters; if he also possessed exceptional horsemanship, a charge would be enough to rout a hundred-man sentry.
“Oh, gentlemen, you are my benefactors! Please put in a good word for me and help me secure a position in the vanguard. Afterwards, there will be generous gifts.”
Qingchen spoke as he rose and respectfully bowed to the officials.
“Haha, of course, of course.”
“Brother, you’re so helpful; we can’t just eat and drink for free.”
With money and favors paving the way, the process was uneventful.
The next day, Qingchen led more than twenty brothers from his gang to the city lord's mansion to register for military service.
Qingchen’s martial arts had already reached the level of a third-rate master.
Through his exceptional intelligence and close ties with the officials of the city lord's mansion,
he actually managed to obtain the position of a centurion, essentially achieving Qingchen’s plan.
While a third-rate expert is considered a rare talent,
the military requires more than just individual combat skills; it also demands leadership abilities and a strong background.
If a third-rate expert joined the army alone, he would most likely be assigned to a scout or squad leader position.
However, Qing Chen not only possessed skill and connections, but also had over twenty men as his personal guards.
Therefore, he was exceptionally promoted to centurion of a hundred-man outpost.
His gang members, thanks to Qing Chen's patronage,
were all placed in key positions within this outpost.
Within the vanguard's organization, ten men formed a squad, led by a squad leader;
five squads, totaling fifty men, formed a platoon, led by a platoon leader;
two platoons, totaling one hundred men, were combined into a squad, personally led by a centurion.
Five squads, totaling five hundred men, were organized into a battalion, commanded by a magistrate (司馬), responsible for overall coordination and command.
The four battalions were merged into one army, the vanguard, commanded by a captain.
Qingchen's unit was the second battalion of the vanguard.
The commander of the second battalion, Li Muyun, held a particularly special position: he was the son-in-law of the city lord.
The city lord had four sons and one daughter, and Zhao Gongzi, as the youngest son, was naturally showered with affection.
When Qingchen learned he had been assigned to the second battalion, he was overjoyed.
What Qingchen feared most was following officers with real ability and strict discipline.
In such an environment, orders were absolute, actions were restricted, and there was virtually no room for autonomy.
This was undoubtedly a major disadvantage for the plans Qingchen was secretly plotting.
However, this son-in-law of the city lord
was, in Jin City, a notorious incompetent and gigolo.
The city lord had never been entirely satisfied with his son-in-law, a man of unyielding character.
However, his daughter was deeply in love with him, so the city lord let her be.
Now, placing his son-in-law, Li Muyun, in the vanguard army was probably just a way to let him accumulate military merit for future promotions.
Although the city lord seemed somewhat biased in handling this matter, he would never easily hand over command of the regular army to this incompetent son-in-law.
On the eve of the expedition, in a large, three-courtyard mansion in Jincheng.
"Chen-ge'er, your joining the army this time has made your second mother very worried. Giving up a good life, sigh."
That day, the second mother held Qingchen's hand, her voice filled with concern.
“That bandit suppression is no child’s play! I’ve heard those bandits are incredibly fierce; you must be very careful.”
Qingchen smiled upon hearing this: “Don’t worry, bandit suppression is actually quite simple.
We have over four thousand men; dealing with less than a thousand bandits is a piece of cake. Don’t worry, I will definitely bring my second brother back safely.”
Hearing Qingchen’s words, the second aunt felt somewhat relieved, but still somewhat uneasy.
At this moment, her second brother, Qingjie, also approached. Dressed in a martial arts outfit, he looked dashing and spirited.
These past few days, he had been diligently practicing the Five Tiger Soul-Severing Saber and the Gecko Wall-Climbing Skill, and his martial arts had improved considerably.
When he wielded his saber, three or five burly men were no match for him; if he wore armor, he would be unstoppable.
Fifteen or sixteen-year-old Qingjie, already nearly seven feet tall, stood confidently before his second aunt and said,
"Mother, don't worry. I've joined the vanguard army too, and now I have some martial arts skills. I can fight alongside my eldest brother."
Qingjie's words were filled with excitement.
Qingjie had indeed made considerable progress in the past few months, experiencing some events with the Double Eagle Society and getting his hands dirty with blood.
As a brother, Qingjie's loyalty and reliability were unmatched.
Therefore, upon hearing his younger brother Qingjie's request, Qingchen didn't hesitate at all.
He immediately assigned Qingjie to his sentry unit, making him his personal guard squad lea