The first time in history

Cao Junjie rode as fast as he could to Jiankang Prefecture, his expression solemn and with a hint of mystery. He entered the city and headed straight for Qian Mingduo's residence. Qian Mingduo had been waiting anxiously in the mansion for a long time, and he knew that Cao Junjie must have come here for an important matter.

Cao Junjie stepped into Qian Mingduo's study and said in a low voice before Qian Mingduo could speak: "I came here for an important mission. The emperor has ordered you to prepare to lead troops and train soldiers." Qian Mingduo frowned, and a trace of doubt flashed in his eyes: "Why did the emperor suddenly have such an order? Is there any reason?"

Cao Junjie paced in the room and said slowly: "The current situation is turbulent, the Jin people are eyeing us covetously, and there are occasional frictions on the border. Your Majesty is worried that our army is weak and it is difficult to resist the enemy, so he made this decision. This is a matter of training soldiers, which is related to the safety of the Song Dynasty."

Qian Mingduo nodded slightly, but he still had concerns in his heart: "Training soldiers is not easy. Food, weapons, and soldiers all need to be properly prepared. Moreover, if it is a large-scale training, it may cause suspicion from all parties."

Cao Junjie's eyes gleamed with light: "This is exactly why the emperor chose you. You have been operating in Jiankang Prefecture for many years and have a solid foundation. You must have a way to raise food and weapons. As for the suspicions of all parties, who dares to say anything with the emperor's order?" Qian Mingduo smiled bitterly: "That being said, this is a heavy responsibility. If there is any mistake, neither you nor I can bear it."

Cao Junjie walked up to Qian Mingduo and patted him on the shoulder: "I know you are worried, but this is the time for us to serve the Song Dynasty. Think about it, if the Jin soldiers march south and the people are devastated, how can we stay out of it?"

Qian Mingduo took a deep breath and said, "You are right, but the training method also needs to be carefully considered. The quality of the soldiers is uneven. If the training intensity is too high, it may cause mutiny; if the intensity is too low, it will be difficult to achieve results."

Cao Junjie took out a document from his arms: "This is the preliminary training method drafted by the emperor. You can refer to it. However, how to implement it specifically still requires you to adjust it according to the actual situation." Qian Mingduo took the document and looked at it carefully, his brows sometimes furrowed and sometimes relaxed.

Cao Junjie looked at Qian Mingduo and thought to himself. He actually had his own plan. If the training of soldiers was successful, his position in the court would be stable and he would also gain a good reputation for being loyal to the emperor and patriotic.

As for Qian Mingduo, on the one hand he was worried that the task was arduous and difficult to complete, but on the other hand he also understood that this was an opportunity. If he could train an elite division, his prestige in the local area would be unmatched.

After reading the document, Qian Mingduo slowly said, "Although this training method is good, there are still some areas that need improvement. For example, the document does not mention psychological comfort for new recruits. New recruits are new to the barracks and far away from home. If they are not guided, they will easily develop homesickness, which will affect their training."

Cao Junjie nodded and said, "You have thought it through carefully. You will be the one to perfect these details."

The two discussed for a long time, from the recruitment channels of soldiers, to the selection of training grounds, to the appointment of generals at all levels, they made plans one by one. Cao Junjie felt relieved, he felt that Qian Mingduo was indeed a suitable candidate, capable and smart.

Although Qian Mingduo was still under pressure, he also ignited a fighting spirit. He seemed to have seen the birth of a well-trained army in his hands.