Siheyuan: tomb robbing? I am serious about hunting.

Chapter 1118 Hammer

Three days later, the tranquility of the capital's parade grounds had long since vanished. Like a raging beast, the bitter cold wind raged across the empty grounds, whipping up the snow on the ground into white whirlwinds that lashed the soldiers' armor with a clanging sound. Banners fluttered in the wind, the "Yan" banner and the banners of various generals fluttering in the wind, yet they couldn't mask the restlessness and doubt that permeated the air.

Just after noon, a team of armored guards entered the parade grounds. Their march was measured, their armor gleaming, and the cold gleam of their swords at their waists instantly quieted the previously noisy parade grounds. Then, a steady sound of footsteps could be heard from the parade grounds' entrance. Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a general in black iron armor slowly approaching.

This set of black iron armor was clearly a battle-worn artifact. Though the edges showed some wear, it had been polished spotlessly, gleaming with a cold, hard sheen under the gray sky. The armor covered the general's entire body, revealing only his eyes. Those eyes, narrow and sharp, like a hawk's, scanned the parade ground with an undeniable majesty that inspired awe. The general was tall, and even clad in heavy armor, his upright posture was unmistakable. Each step was steady and powerful, as if he were treading not snow but solid ground.

"Is that Shen Ce?" a bearded general whispered in the training grounds. His name was Zhao Hu, and he was the deputy commander of the Beijing Garrison. He had been in the army for over twenty years and was accustomed to seeing veterans on the battlefield. However, the Shen Ce before him was a little hard to understand.

The guard beside him nodded, his voice uncertain. "I heard it was him, the General Zhenbei appointed by His Majesty himself. But he looks so young and unknown. Can he really defeat the Northern Di people?"

Similar discussions quietly spread among the soldiers. Some stared at Shen Ce's back, their eyes full of curiosity; others frowned, their faces filled with doubt; and some generals from military families even revealed disdain, wondering how a nameless commoner could suddenly become the General of the Northern Frontier, commanding the troops of the Northern Frontier.

Shen Ce seemed to be deaf to these whispers as he stepped up to the platform for selecting generals. The platform was built of large bluestone blocks and stood three meters high. On the platform was a huge banner and a table. On the table lay the imperial sword bestowed by the emperor. The gems inlaid on the scabbard gleamed faintly in the cold wind.

Shen Ce walked to the center of the reviewing platform, stopped, slowly turned around, and glanced at the densely packed soldiers below. The training ground instantly fell silent, and everyone's eyes were focused on him, waiting for him to speak.

"General Shen Ce, commanding the troops as ordered." Shen Ce's voice was low and hoarse, as if worn by wind and sand, yet it carried a strange penetrating power, reaching everyone's ears clearly. There were no unnecessary pleasantries, just a simple sentence, yet it revealed an unquestionable firmness.

The audience immediately erupted in an uproar, and the discussion was even louder than before.

"That's it? Not even a word of encouragement?"

"I'm worried. Is General Shen just a scholar who only knows how to talk about war on paper?"

"The Northern Di cavalry is not easy to deal with. General Li and General Wang were defeated before. How can a nobody like him do it?"

These doubts were expressed without reservation, and several hot-tempered generals even spoke out. One of them was Zhao Hu. He strode to the command platform, clasped his fists, and said, "General Shen, I, Zhao Hu, have something to ask you. The Northern Di cavalry, numbering 100,000, is advancing with overwhelming force, and several generals have been defeated. I wonder if you have any good strategy to repel the enemy and achieve victory?"

Zhao Hu's words expressed everyone's thoughts. The soldiers looked at Shen Ce, waiting for his answer.

Shen Ce's gaze fell on Zhao Hu, without a trace of anger. He simply said calmly, "A good strategy will be decided on the battlefield. There is no point in talking any more now. Only by leading the troops to kill the enemy can we protect our homeland and our country."

"But the general doesn't even have much combat experience, how can he lead the troops to defeat the enemy?" Another general stepped forward, his tone somewhat provocative, "I think Your Majesty's move is too hasty. Letting an unknown person lead the troops will probably lead to the failure of national affairs!"

This sentence was like a spark, instantly igniting the emotions of the soldiers. Many people echoed it, and the atmosphere in the training ground became increasingly tense.

Shen Ce slowly raised his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet. His movement was very light, but it instantly restored the noisy training ground to calm.

"I understand your doubts." Shen Ce's voice was still low, but a little heavier. "I, Shen Ce, have no official position, and I was suddenly appointed the General of Zhenbei. It is indeed difficult to convince everyone. But have you ever thought about it? The Northern Di cavalry has already arrived at Yanmen Pass. The soldiers at Yanmen Pass are using their flesh and blood to resist the enemy's attack. The people of the northern border are suffering from the ravages of war. At this moment, we should not argue about whether I am qualified to lead the army, but how to repel the Northern Di and protect our country!"

He paused, his gaze sharpening as he scanned every member of the audience. "The Northern Di invaded our territory, killed our compatriots, and destroyed our homes! They stole our food, slaughtered our loved ones, and burned our houses! As we march out today, we have behind us millions of civilians and our country! We will triumph or perish in battle. Do you dare to follow me and fight the Northern Di to the death?"

Shen Ce's voice was not loud, but it was like a hammer, hitting everyone's heart hard. The soldiers remembered the villages looted by the Northern Di, and the compatriots who died tragically at the hands of the Northern Di. The doubts in their hearts gradually gave way to anger.

"I dare!" Zhao Hu shouted first, his voice booming. "I am willing to follow you, General, into battle and die with the Northern Di!"

"Dare! Dare! Dare!" More and more soldiers joined in, and the roar was deafening, causing the snow on the parade ground to fall down and form white mist in the air.

Shen Ce looked at the excited soldiers in front of him, and a trace of relief flashed in his eyes. He knew that he had won the initial trust of these soldiers.

"Alright!" Shen Ce shouted, "Since you are willing to follow me into battle, please remember that from today on, we are brothers who live and die together! On the battlefield, I will be at the forefront; before military law, everyone is equal. No matter who it is, anyone who violates the rules will be severely punished!"

After saying this, Shen Ce turned and walked down the stage, then mounted his horse. His warhorse was a black steed, with a sleek build and shiny fur, clearly a battle-hardened horse. Shen Ce grasped the reins and whipped the horsewhip, the crisp sound of the whip echoing in the air: "Let's go!"

"Let's go! Let's go!" The soldiers all jumped on their horses and followed Shen Ce, galloping towards the northern border. The army was mighty, like a huge black dragon, leaving a long trail on the snow and gradually disappearing into the skyline of the capital.