Chapter 1 Wangchuan

The people of Wangchuan were all trembling with fear after Wangchuan was recaptured. Most of them were unaware that the Western Route Army had arranged supporting troops within the city. Historically, issues like this arising from peaceful takeovers would invite retaliation. A Zeppelin transit base had been destroyed, and many warriors from the Blood Kirin Army and the Northern Frontier Pacification Office were injured, killed, or captured, plunging the Blood Kirin Army into a difficult situation. Had it not been for Ye Tao, Zou Shuangwen, and the Blood Kirin Army fighting to the death, and had their reputation as the number one army in the world not been backed by genuine strength, they might have been completely annihilated. Wangchuan, as the spark that ignited this entire incident, was too crucial and sensitive. The people of Wangchuan had no doubt that if the Western Route Army, following the style of the Northern Liao, were to retake Wangchuan, the inevitable solution would be a city-wide massacre.

Perhaps anticipating this, when countless Zeppelins and a portion of the Blood Kirin Army arrived at the foot of Wangchuan, the soldiers defending the city had considered fighting to the death. However, the Blood Kirin Army knew there were very few enemies inside Wangchuan, at most only three to five thousand. Due to the battle with the Northern Liao army, Wangchuan had no chance of receiving reinforcements, and morale was already low. The Blood Kirin Army feigned an attack on the city walls, but in a blink, Zeppelins carried over three hundred elite soldiers who rappelled down into the city. With internal and external cooperation, Wangchuan was captured in less than two hours.

However, a city-wide massacre would not occur. Although the soldiers of the Blood Kirin Army harbored no goodwill towards the people of Wangchuan due to the previous incident, their faces remained cold. After controlling Wangchuan and suppressing resistance, the Blood Kirin Army followed standard procedure, posting notices to reassure the people, stating that they would not use force against innocent civilians. This brought a measure of relief to everyone. Even if they were to investigate and arrest many people, at least it would not affect everyone. The Blood Kirin Army was a unit with a strong sense of honor, and they would definitely try to avoid anything that would damage their reputation.

But regardless, there had to be an explanation for this matter. The Blood Kirin Army sent Sun Bo to command the troops in Wangchuan. Due to his outstanding performance in assisting Ye Tao with defensive operations, and his skillful handling of incorporating Northern Liao prisoners, he was assigned this task. When a battalion commander is assigned to coordinate several battalions and deal with local government and financial affairs, it basically means he is about to be promoted. No one was surprised. Sun Bo was a formidable warrior, yet also very clever. Many of the tactics involving using exploding flames to injure enemies, and heavy infantry using tower shields to deflect airflow, which others saw as very dangerous, were developed and initially tested by him. Although Sun Bo was somewhat enthusiastic and reckless in battle, quite different from his role model Qiu Haohui's calm and steady demeanor, if heavy infantry could go berserk, their power would surely shake the world.

Zou Shuangwen had been the Blood Kirin Army's supervisor for many years. Having led the Blood Kirin Army to make great achievements again, he could not remain in that position. Even if he was willing, it would not be allowed. The Blood Kirin Army would select someone from the current heads of the various divisions to be the supervisor. Within the Blood Kirin Army, the Ministry of War, and even Tan Xiaopei, Zhuo Mang, and others, felt that Shi Hongjun, the current chief of heavy infantry, was very good. Shi Hongjun, nicknamed "Iron Guardian," was a tactical master within the Blood Kirin Army. He and Zou Shuangwen were two different types of officers. Zou Shuangwen took over the Blood Kirin Army because it needed a stable environment for development, needing several years to form a strong internal atmosphere and temperament, preventing too many aristocratic children from undermining the Blood Kirin Army's combat power and affecting its development. Zou Shuangwen's status and methods could suppress a large number of aristocratic children. His own growth into a supervisor with strong leadership style and tactical skills was an unexpected bonus. But Shi Hongjun was different. He was a very well-rounded general. After the Blood Kirin Army had formed its own strong style system, he could unleash its full combat power. Although Shi Hongjun served as the chief of heavy infantry, he excelled in all cross-divisional skill assessments. Considering the Blood Kirin Army's terrifying assessment standards, he was the only one who could do this.

He had been frustratingly kept away from the army heading to Northern Liao, remaining at the Blood Kirin Army headquarters to continue overseeing camp affairs and training new recruits. This was because, regardless of whether he had made any military contributions, he was to be the next supervisor. When the time came, the Blood Kirin Army would have to promote a heavy infantry chief. It now seemed likely to be Sun Bo. As for why Shi Hongjun was not brought along, it was simple: Shi Hongjun's promotion to Blood Kirin Army supervisor would come at a crucial time for a series of major battles in Dongping over the next few years. There would be many important battles to fight. This time, he had to be held back a little, so Zou Shuangwen felt his mind at ease.

In any case, Sun Bo had this opportunity, so naturally he wanted to perform well. On the third day after arriving in Wangchuan, after sorting out the various materials, defenses, and basic civil administration information, Sun Bo ordered the gathering of the lizheng (neighborhood heads) and gentry from all regions of the city. He wanted to announce the management policies for Wangchuan in the near future. Of course, this was not a hearing or deliberation, but simply a one-sided announcement.

Although the Blood Kirin Army had not taken any action in the past few days, the entire city was uneasy. Hearing this news, although they were afraid that the Blood Kirin Army would take action at the meeting, they dared not refuse to attend. The main hall of the original city guard's mansion was the only place large enough to hold such a meeting. That day, the hall was filled with rows of long benches. Regardless of who came, everyone received the same treatment. What made people even more nervous was the fully armed Blood Kirin heavy infantry standing neatly on both sides. The desk originally used for court hearings had long been removed. Dongping had spent more than five years implementing the separation of local administration and justice throughout its territory, and was no longer interested in such things. Seeing that everyone had arrived, a large group of people of different ages sitting neatly and quietly, Sun Bo leisurely entered the hall.

The heavy infantry saluted Sun Bo in unison, the sound of their steel-gloved fists hitting their chests making the atmosphere in the hall even heavier.

Sun Bo returned the salute, standing there and loudly announcing his decision to those present.

"In the next three months, Wangchuan will continue to be under military control. In ten days, it will be taken over by the Twenty-Second Garrison Battalion under the jurisdiction of the Northern Frontier Pacification Office. Our Dongping has promised everyone here, the entire Wangchuan, that we will treat you peacefully and kindly, so that your lives will not change too much because of the war between the two countries. Some of your stores have even made a small fortune because of our local purchases. To show you our goodwill, the prices at which our Blood Kirin Army made local purchases were even higher than purchasing in Yunzhou plus shipping costs. But look at how you treated our brothers?"

Sun Bo said sternly, "The Blood Kirin Army does not handle cases. I am too lazy to deal with these things. That's why I haven't started arresting people these past few days. In ten days, officials from the Northern Frontier Pacification Office and the Dongping Intelligence Bureau will arrive with the garrison battalion. They will thoroughly review every family, every clan… Of course, three months may not be enough. Military control will only end when the review is completed. At that time, Dongping will appoint local officials and establish a normal administrative system."

"Families that harbor, accommodate, or fund the Western Route Army will have all local fixed assets confiscated and relocated to other areas of Dongping. The houses, fields, and other properties held by residents who left the area before the war will all be confiscated and become public property, and will be disposed of after the local review is completed. In addition, to fill the current large personnel shortage in Wangchuan and restore the local economy as soon as possible, Dongping will gradually relocate a portion of people to settle in Wangchuan."

"They are Dongping citizens, I want to emphasize this to everyone. I know that no one will welcome outsiders, at least not quickly. However, if anyone dares to deliberately cause trouble, first think about which side our Dongping army will stand on." Sun Bo's cold tone made those present feel a chill. Now, none of them dared to have any ideas about the people Dongping would be relocating in the future. The Blood Kirin Army had not massacred the city, nor had they started a large-scale search and arrest as soon as they entered the city, but announced a three-month review period, carefully screening people one by one. This had already made them overjoyed. "In addition, during the period of military control, partial rationing will be implemented locally. I know that local grain production has not caught up. I hope that those of you present can announce, assist, and organize the restoration of production in the surrounding farmland as soon as possible. You are not happy about the scorched earth policy either, are you? Among those who could not leave before the war, many were dirt poor and had no land. Please inform everyone that those who do not have stored grain can register to apply for rations, and then work in the agricultural areas designated by us to repay them. But if you have stored grain and still come to cause trouble, don't blame me for not reminding you. For at least several months, this place will be under military control, and under military control, everything will be carried out according to military law. Military law has always had only two punishments: military beatings and beheading."

Sun Bo scanned the silent scene, quite satisfied with his statement. "Any questions?"

A young man with a pale face stood up and cautiously asked, "General, what if… someone can't work? Can they apply for rations?"

"Who are you?" Sun Bo asked, frowning.

"I am Hong Liang from Shilan Lane in the south of the city… Shilan Lane is a semi-abandoned place, but it is now home to hundreds of orphans. Many of them are under ten years old, and working in the fields… this…"

The Blood Kirin Army did not understand the local situation. When they notified the local lizheng to attend the meeting, they naturally sent people to each area according to the map. They had no idea about the situation in Shilan Lane. Moreover, after a series of major battles, there were many dilapidated areas, and they could not tell that Shilan Lane was in such a state. But when he shouted there, only this Hong Liang came out to negotiate with the messenger, so he was brought here. When the city was in better condition, the local people were quite charitable and would help those homeless children. But after the scorched earth policy, these little ones, who were already uncared for, were completely cut off from food. These days, Hong Liang had been working hard to obtain various grains and other things to keep those little ones from starving. His biggest source of food was stealing or begging from the local garrison of Northern Liao. Some kind-hearted old soldiers would also give him their surplus food. But after observing the Blood Kirin Army for a day, he knew that such channels were impossible. And after the implementation of military control, he was afraid that he would not even have the opportunity to get food.

"Take care of it!" Sun Bo ordered without any hesitation, "I will send someone to go with you in a moment. In Dongping, no child has starved to death for many years, and this cannot happen in my hands." After he said this, the local lizheng and gentry were both touched and ashamed. And they also had some goodwill towards the cold and stern Sun Bo from before.