Chapter 21: Large-Scale Operations Demand Strict Military Discipline

On July 12th, Jiang Bai led the Seventh Reinforced Division away from Bi Chengyun, crossing two hundred kilometers northward to Sanping. Jiang Bai intended to make Sanping the forward command post for anti-bandit operations.

Undeniably, marching such a massive force—nearly thirty thousand strong—over a long distance was no easy feat.

Jiang Bai, Wang Xiao, and the military officers of each brigade and regiment were kept endlessly busy.

Despite their efforts, some confusion and amusing incidents inevitably occurred within the ranks.

Fortunately, once these problems were discovered, they were swiftly resolved. This helped the Seventh Reinforced Division mature; issues overlooked during training were corrected as they arose.

Though the officers and soldiers were exhausted, morale soared ever higher. The entire division was transforming into an elite force.

As a unit personally commanded by the youngest major general of the Chengyun Army, favored by the old marshal and his trusted officers, the Seventh Reinforced Division naturally attracted the attention of all factions within the Chengyun system—both the inland establishment and the reformists.

To support the Seventh Reinforced Division, Wu Sheng and Wang Zuo each dispatched a division to control the local passes, acting as the army’s outer perimeter.

Upon the suggestion of Yang Ting, Chief of Staff of the Chengyun Army, these two divisions imposed sweeping controls over local food supplies and trade, causing much misery and complaint among the populace.

It was fair to say that Jiang Bai’s northward campaign with the Seventh Reinforced Division had placed him under the scrutiny of countless eyes, from the highest echelons to the lowest ranks.

Should he triumph, Jiang Bai would rise as the brightest new star in the Chengyun system’s leadership for the next decade; should he fail, he would be erased from the ranks of the Chengyun power structure.

In a secluded valley in the Chengyun Mountains, at the hideout of the northern bandit king, Zuo Shandiao.

Zuo Shandiao, the infamous bandit chief, sat comfortably in his tiger chair, savoring a pig’s trotter with greasy satisfaction.

Draped across his tiger chair was a human skin, flayed whole from the brow of a rival king—a grisly sight.

Beside him, a short, middle-aged man was reading a letter from Chengyun with intense concentration.

“Master Zuo, the Chengyun Army is about to move against us. This time, we may face grave danger,” the man said worriedly.

“Hassan, what are you fretting about? Haven’t we already defeated their forces before? Last time, didn’t we wipe out several hundred of their soldiers?” Zuo Shandiao tossed aside the bone, wiped his mouth, and retorted carelessly.

“But Master Zuo, the enemy coming this time is no ordinary force—they have a significant objective,” Hassan warned.

“Oh? Who are they sending?”

“The attacking force is Jiang Bai, the old marshal’s most valued officer, leading the Seventh Reinforced Division. It’s said that this division is well-equipped and numerous—up to thirty thousand men, nearly double the size of other Chengyun Army divisions.”

“Such a vast force? The old marshal is throwing everything behind this young man!” Zuo Shandiao remarked with a mocking tone.

“Precisely why we must be more cautious.”

“Perhaps we should retreat deep into the mountains, avoiding their main thrust. These forests are vast—even if Jiang Bai himself comes, he can hardly threaten us,” Hassan proposed after some thought.

His forces had swelled to several thousand, making him the largest bandit gang in northern Chengyun; even other bandits had submitted to him.

“It seems we have no other choice,” Zuo Shandiao agreed to the plan.

The Seventh Reinforced Division set out from the outskirts of northern Chengyun and reached Sanping, crossing two hundred kilometers in a month.

Arriving at Chengyun County, the entire force was worn out.

“All units are to rest for three days. After that, begin operations!” Jiang Bai ordered.

“Yes, General!”

The division’s commanders responded in unison.

Jiang Bai, Wang Xiao, and the other division officers gathered in the temporary command post to discuss the current situation.

This was the Seventh Reinforced Division’s first campaign; everyone hoped to use this opportunity to demonstrate their strength.

“General, after arriving, all units of our division have strictly observed military discipline. Without orders, no officer is permitted to leave camp,” reported an officer.

“It’s our brother divisions, though—Wu’s and Wang’s troops are breaking discipline. Our military police have caught their men harassing villages multiple times. Petty theft we can handle, but some company and battalion commanders have openly forced their way into homes, violating women. Should we intervene?”

“The Seventh Reinforced Division’s discipline is their discipline. If anything like this happens again, regardless of rank, execute them on the spot. Expand the military police from a platoon to a battalion. Increase patrols from once a day to six times daily, twenty-four hours. I don’t care what Wu and Wang think—I care about how the locals view us. In large-scale operations, discipline must be strict.”

“Yes, General.”

“Damn it, Yang Ting! That fool never learns, always sending useless troublemakers,” Jiang Bai muttered, furrowing his brow and making a mental note.

“Staff Officer Wang, do you have any intelligence updates?”

“According to the latest reports from the scout company, Zuo Shandiao has retreated into the mountains and is no longer venturing out. To root them out, we’ll likely have to penetrate deep into the interior,” Wang Xiao said, worried.

“Into the mountains? General, that’s unwise. Our troops are unfamiliar with the terrain and could easily fall into an ambush. Zuo Shandiao used this tactic before to defeat our forces. Furthermore, the mountain paths are treacherous and limit our deployment,” a regimental commander added.

Jiang Bai agreed. Though new to command, he relied on his experience from a previous life and knew the importance of tactics.

In mountain guerrilla warfare, Zuo Shandiao’s forces would have the upper hand.

“Then, we must prepare both for entering the mountains and for blocking the mountain roads, besieging Zuo Shandiao. No matter how strong his forces, without supplies, they cannot last,” Jiang Bai proposed.

“Agreed. We’ll select the elite scouting teams—they should be able to handle the mountain environment,” Wang Xiao concurred.

“We’ll proceed as planned!” Jiang Bai decided.

Three days later, the Seventh Reinforced Division began their operation.

The division’s recon battalion and the scout companies from each infantry regiment—about eighteen hundred men in total—were divided into small teams, guided by locals into the mountains.

Meanwhile, the four infantry regiments moved independently, locking down the routes into the mountains and forming a net around Zuo Shandiao’s forces.

On the outskirts of Chengyun County, the division headquarters and artillery regiment established their camp.

Shiren Mountain, a lofty peak within the Funiu range, was Zuo Shandiao’s hideout, far from any settlements.

His bandit gang, having accumulated supplies through previous raids, could sustain themselves for a while.

“Boss, there’s movement from the army!” a sly-looking, short-robed bandit reported hurriedly.

“How many troops did they send?” Zuo Shandiao asked.

Hassan, beside him, listened intently.

“Boss, it looks like nearly thirty thousand troops. They’ve built a huge camp outside Chengyun County.”

Hearing this, both Zuo Shandiao and Hassan became grave—the government’s massive offensive posed a serious threat.

“Any other intelligence?” Zuo Shandiao pressed, brow furrowed.

“Boss, the army has blocked all routes into the mountains. I had to take a long detour to get back. Also, soldiers are entering the mountains, led by local villagers.”

“So bold—venturing into the forests, courting death. Hassan, should we set another ambush to repel them? If we inflict heavy losses, they’ll surely retreat,” Zuo Shandiao suggested.

“Master Zuo, we mustn’t act rashly. The Chengyun Army wouldn’t send elite troops into the mountains unless they were confident. I fear these soldiers are no ordinary men,” Hassan cautioned.

“So what if they’re elite? We have thousands of brothers; a good position could wipe them out. Even if we can’t crush them, we’ll escape unharmed. The army can do nothing to us,” Zuo Shandiao declared with confidence.

Hassan still hesitated, but with only enough food to last half a month, if they didn’t drive out the army, they’d eventually be starved out.

“Alright, Master Zuo, we’ll strike again. Let’s hope these troops are no different from those we’ve faced before,” Hassan agreed reluctantly.

“Don’t worry, Hassan. We’ll win. I hear the Seventh Reinforced Division is a newly formed unit, untested in battle. Maybe they’re just here to deliver us weapons and equipment,” Zuo Shandiao laughed heartily, brimming with confidence.

Yet Hassan’s heart remained uneasy, troubled by foreboding.

This bandit force was the largest Hassan had cultivated in northern Chengyun, intended to replace Wang Lin. Unexpectedly, after Wang Lin’s assassination, he had become the next target.

He decided to send a telegram to the Chengyun Army General’s Office, requesting an investigation into the personnel and composition of the Seventh Reinforced Division.