Chapter Sixty-Three: Slogans and the Transformation of the Commander's Barracks

Riding swiftly, he arrived before the main gates of the Imperial Guard camp. The sentries recognized the emperor at once, bowed low in greeting, and one of them said, “Your Majesty, please follow me to change into your armor and mount a warhorse!”

Liu Tan nodded, signaling the soldier to lead the way. He was taken to a building near the main gate, and when he emerged, he was already clad in silver-white armor, a longsword hanging at his waist. This suit had been specially commissioned by Pang Bo at Liu Tan’s behest, forged anew in silver. Though its defensive qualities were unremarkable, it was impressive in appearance, dazzling in its brilliance. Truth be told, he had wanted to have a suit of golden armor made, but there simply was not enough gold, and the treasury’s reserves could not be drawn upon at will. Silver would have to suffice for now.

At that moment, a soldier led forth a warhorse, also armored in black, its head protected by a helm crafted for a steed. Liu Tan mounted in a single motion, then turned to the empress and Zhao Yun. “Mount up and come with me!” he commanded.

Once they were ready, he called to the nearby soldiers, “You may beat the drums!” The order was acknowledged, and the great drum not far away thundered to life. The rhythm of the drumming carried meaning: on this occasion, the pattern signaled the emperor’s arrival.

As the drumroll ceased, the empress and Zhao Yun were instantly aware of the transformation throughout the entire camp. The tumult of drums, the shouts of command, the cadence of marching feet—all fell into sudden silence.

Not a sound could be heard, as though the world itself held its breath.

“Let’s go,” Liu Tan called. He guided his horse forward at a measured pace, entering the camp and proceeding onto the parade ground.

They first entered the left division’s field. Here, the soldiers of the left flank stood in formation, maintaining a soldier’s posture. As the emperor and his small retinue reached the center of the ranks and paused, a commanding voice rang out:

“Left Division, on my command, bow!”

With two sharp steps forward, every soldier of the left division dropped to their knees in unison.

“Hail!”

“Long live His Majesty! Long live His Majesty! May His Majesty live ten thousand years!”

Liu Tan nodded in approval. Though not yet perfectly uniform, it was at least a start; with more training, he believed the desired effect would be achieved.

He gestured with his hand, and the herald called out once more, “Ritual complete—rise!”

All the soldiers of the left division rose to their feet simultaneously.

Liu Tan waved expansively toward the field and called out in a strong voice, “You have all worked hard, my brave soldiers!”

“We serve His Majesty with utmost loyalty!” came the reply.

Liu Tan rode past the left, center, and right divisions of the Imperial Guard. Each responded with the mountain-echoing hail he had prescribed. Though the performances were not yet perfectly synchronized, he was confident that, before long, the standards of his former world’s military parades would be met.

“Uncle Zilong, what do you think?” he asked Zhao Yun as they left the Imperial Guard camp.

Zhao Yun pondered a moment before replying, “Well, I must say, this is truly a way for Your Majesty to draw closer to the soldiers and raise their morale!”

Liu Tan smiled.

Their next stop that day was the Ordnance Corps. The highest officer in the camp, Colonel Zhao Yian, was there to receive them.

“Your Majesty, as you instructed, I have overseen the complete reorganization of the Ordnance Corps, with generous support from the Prime Minister, who also allocated the necessary funds and provisions for the renovations!” Zhao Yian reported carefully, following just behind the imperial party.

“Oh?” Liu Tan was surprised. He had only handed the scroll to Zhao Yian at the end of court and had not made his plans public. “The Prime Minister has seen it and approved?”

“Yes, indeed! The Prime Minister said Your Majesty’s reforms would greatly improve the efficiency and quality of our weapons production and should be enacted at once. With funds and supplies in hand, I recruited more workers and set them to their tasks day and night. Just a few days ago, weapons production resumed in full!” As he spoke, Zhao Yian gestured to the left. “Your Majesty, over there is the forging area for halberd heads; beyond that, the long blades are made; and over there, the longsword workshop. There are also workshops for curved bows, arrowheads, and so on. According to your instructions, all processes have been separated, and each craftsman now specializes in a single task, with strict measurements enforced. Though efficiency has dipped these past days, I am confident that soon, the pace of production will increase dramatically!”

“Indeed, specialization is the very principle at work here!” Liu Tan approached the longsword workshop, where a smith hammered at his anvil. From time to time, the craftsman picked up a wooden board about a meter long and two fingers wide, inscribed with markings, to measure the sword’s form as it took shape.

Another smith was already forging a blade of impressive quality. After every few strikes, he quenched the sword’s edges in a water trough, repeating the process many times.

“Your Majesty, I have had your suggested partial quenching method tested,” Zhao Yian reported with excitement, “and it works wonderfully. The edges are quenched more often than the body, making the blade hard but the spine flexible. When struck against other swords, the edge neither chips nor breaks.”

“Of course,” Liu Tan said with satisfaction. “There is a saying: ‘The best steel must be used for the blade.’ By the way, how are these craftsmen paid? Are there any rewards for excellence?”

“Their rations are allotted as approved,” Zhao Yian replied, “each master craftsman receives enough for himself and four assistants—twenty-five people’s worth, divided among them, with the masters receiving more. As for rewards, there is no precedent, but there are penalties: if a task is not completed, their rations are docked.”

Liu Tan shook his head. “That will not do. If there are only punishments and no rewards, the craftsmen will lose motivation, doing only the bare minimum each day. I propose another idea; discuss it with the Prime Minister and see if it can be implemented.”

“Your Majesty, please instruct me!” Zhao Yian replied, bowing low.

“Keep the base rations unchanged, but establish a system of rewards. For example, if a craftsman excels in his field, reward him; if someone offers useful suggestions, reward him as well. The exact amounts can be decided in consultation with the others, but my aim is to encourage initiative. Let there not be the same outcome for good work as for poor—do you understand?”

“I understand!” Zhao Yian was no fool and grasped the emperor’s intention immediately. “I will confer with the other leaders and submit a plan to the Prime Minister as soon as possible!”

“Colonel Zhao, implement this on a trial basis for now. I guarantee that the money and provisions spent on rewards will be more than compensated by the results!” Liu Tan declared.

Leaving the Ordnance Corps, Liu Tan gazed out over the newly harvested rice fields ahead and asked Zhao Yun, “Uncle Zilong, do you know where the nearest ironworks is?”

Pointing south, Zhao Yun replied, “A little more than three hundred li from here. Does Your Majesty wish to visit?”

“I do. Iron is vital to the army, and I wish to see it for myself... but three hundred li is a long way. Uncle, you are advanced in years; you should not endure such a journey on horseback.”

Liu Tan touched the silk scroll tucked within his robe, regret in his expression.

Zhao Yun slapped his chest with vigor. “Your Majesty, I have spent my life in the saddle! A mere three hundred li is nothing. If Your Majesty truly wishes to go, I will certainly accompany and protect you. In truth, I am more concerned the journey might be too taxing for you and the empress!”

Liu Tan knew that nothing irked Zhao Yun more than remarks about his age.

He glanced toward the empress. Dressed in simple attire, she pushed back a lock of hair and smiled. “Your Majesty, I am not so delicate as you think!”

“Very well, let us depart!” With that, Liu Tan spurred his horse southward in a cloud of dust.

The empress and Zhao Yun followed close behind.

“Your Majesty, I am now quite certain you have truly changed!” Zhao Yun called.

“And why is that?” Liu Tan asked, not looking back.

Zhao Yun replied, “Your Majesty once delighted in pleasure and beauty—never would you have taken such pains to concern yourself with weapons and ironworks!”

Liu Tan merely chuckled and said nothing.