Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

"Sand table?"

Meng Gong was puzzled by what he heard and looked at the sand table set up in front of Shen Lang.

At first he didn’t pay attention, but after looking closely he suddenly realized that the mountains and terrain were clearly visible in the sand table.

Even the positions and strongholds of both sides are displayed in a very three-dimensional way.

"Instructor, is this a topographical map of Luchuan?"

Shen Lang nodded, then took out a pointer and pointed to a spot: "Look, this land is the new border for the expansion of the Chu Kingdom."

There are hundreds of simple earthen and wooden fortresses along the border, densely packed along the main routes leading to Nanzhao.

Then he pointed to another place: "And this is the Luchuan Royal Palace, which is also the most central area in the entire Luchuan Kingdom."

Then, Shen Lang drew a circle in the center of the sand table.

"Currently, the situation in the Indochina Peninsula is tense, with conflicts erupting between the Luchuan people and various local ethnic groups."

So, what should our army do during this period to reap the greatest benefits? Why don't you tell us?

Meng Gong thought for a moment and said, "Then I will presume to teach you my humble opinion. I believe we should continue to push these earthen fortifications into the heart of Luchuan."

By establishing borders on enemy territory, thereby controlling key land and water routes, and leveraging advantageous terrain to hold sway and compress the enemy's living space,

Within three years, the Luchuan Dynasty will inevitably collapse completely.

Shen Lang nodded with satisfaction: "If we apply this strategy to the north to deal with the Yan state, how profitable do you think it would be?"

Meng Gong shook his head: "I'm afraid it's difficult. First, the Northern Yan has always maintained very strict control over the grasslands. They won't allow anyone to establish such strongholds within their territory."

Secondly, many parts of the grasslands were gradually turning into desert, water resources were scarce, and the main river channels were almost entirely occupied by the Northern Yan cavalry tribes.

If our Chu army were to cross the border, the enemy would know immediately.

Third, the logistical pressure is too great. An expedition requires massive amounts of supplies, and cost calculations will only result in losses.

"Yes," Shen Lang sighed, "It all comes down to the high transportation costs."

In fact, there was one more thing Shen Lang didn't say: the potential benefits of the northern frontier were not enough to motivate the powerful clans and gentry within the pass to explore them as much as they had in Luchuan.

Luchuan is located in the Indochina Peninsula. The local land is fertile, rich in minerals, and has a long coastline. Whether it is developing fisheries or establishing maritime trade, it can generate huge income.

These tangible benefits easily motivated ambitious feudal manor lords to spare no expense, and even actively fund the court's military expansion to obtain greater profits.

Because the larger the territory, the more resources can be obtained.

The only way to move forward without being stuck in one's own little world and getting bogged down in endless competition is to explore new territories (markets) and break free from the original, oppressive environment.

However, the grasslands and rivers outside the Great Wall are scarce, and the landscape is mostly Gobi Desert. The climate and environment are extremely harsh, and many places are not suitable for farming, making it impossible for people to settle down.

Even though there are a large number of high-quality mineral resources buried underground, the current traditional mining technology in Da Chu can only complete the excavation of shallow surface minerals, so it is impossible to mobilize private capital to develop them.

The only grassland specialties, such as cattle, sheep, and furs, could be easily obtained through border trade by exchanging them for items like salt, tea, and cloth, without the need for armed conflict.

Therefore, the plan to expand beyond the Great Wall was a hundred times more difficult than expanding into the subtropical regions of the south.

Even now that the north-south railway is open, Shen Lang estimates that not many people would be interested in settling outside the Great Wall, unless…

"If we could develop an internal combustion engine, things might be different."

Upon hearing this, Meng Gong, who was standing nearby, immediately asked, "May I ask, Instructor, what exactly is this internal combustion engine?"

"It's nothing, just a product of future industrial technology."

Shen Lang made up a random excuse to brush it off, since Meng Gong wouldn't understand even if he explained it now.

However, Shen Lang's words were not unfounded, because there is an extremely special resource on the grasslands beyond the Great Wall, and its reserves are enormous.

The value of this resource has not yet been discovered by anyone, but Shen Lang is very clear that whoever controls this resource in the future will control the whole world.

That resource is called petrolatum.

Or, it can be called petroleum.

Thinking about it, I'd better not. Even the Maxim heavy machine gun is still in the process of developing an automatic firing mechanism. Talking about internal combustion engine technology right now is a bit like self-hypnosis.

Within ten years, steam power is destined to be the mainstream industrial propulsion mode of the Great Chu, and mastering it will be enough to dominate the entire continent.

"Instructor, could you please teach me how to make this sand table?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Lang smiled and said, "Of course. Not only will you learn how to make it, but all the sergeant-level officers in the Imperial Guard will also need to learn."

"After this new army is fully trained, I plan to speak with His Majesty about establishing a military academy to systematically cultivate your command abilities."

Upon hearing this, Meng Gong was filled with respect: "Instructor, do you mean to open a school specifically to train officers?"

"Yes!"

Shen Lang nodded.

"If military talent is always controlled by powerful families, it will only affect the strength of national defense."

Once the situation stabilizes, all the generals and commanders in the Great Chu army will be trained by specialized military academies.

In just a few years, the situation where powerful families control the military will inevitably collapse.

By then, it will be an era where only the talented are valued.

Shen Lang has essentially skipped the current discussions in the Great Chu court about emulating the imperial examination system of Wu Zhao Kingdom, and directly implemented a brand-new official selection system centered on a combination of theoretical and practical assessments.

However, the only prerequisite for this system to be implemented is that military power in various regions must be returned to the central government in the most peaceful way and placed under the control of Jiang Mengxuan.

A noble family that has lost its army is like a sick cat with its teeth pulled out; it is not worth worrying about at all.

Meng Gong's body trembled incessantly. The idea that commoners could lead troops or even become commanders like aristocratic families was his long-cherished dream.

Establishing military academies and systematically training batches of outstanding military talents will only make the State of Chu stronger and more prosperous.

He was really looking forward to that day.

"By the way, I'll be taking care of the opening of the steel mill these next few days, so I'll leave the training of the new recruits to you guys."

Meng Gong immediately stood up straight and saluted: "Please rest assured, Instructor, I will definitely not let you down!"

……

Time flies, and half a month has passed.

Within the Shanglin Garden...

"Hi, london yo~"

"Wearing a military uniform~~"

"Hi, london yo~"

"To be a soldier~~"

"Hi, london yo~"

"Saving lives!"

As dawn broke, the drill ground was already bustling with activity.

Under the strict command of the veterans, the new recruits in each battalion began another day of training.

The first thing I do when I get up is to go for a three-kilometer run around the training ground to liven things up.

Amidst the surging crowd, Ye Hui was truly in a state of misery.

He never expected that the training methods of the new army were not so different from those of the old army, but rather completely unrelated.

It may seem simple, but the daily training volume is astonishing, and more importantly, it tests one's perseverance and endurance to an extreme degree.

After my morning run, I washed up briefly and then ate breakfast.

To be honest, the Imperial Guard's food was the best he had ever seen in any military camp, completely surpassing that of any of the old army units.

Breakfast consisted of rice porridge, noodles, and an egg for each person, along with various flatbreads and steamed buns, and sometimes even stuffed dumplings.

Lunch consists of two vegetable dishes, one meat dish, and a soup, with unlimited white rice, and fruit is available after the meal.

As for dinner, it's basically the same as lunch. If the soldiers are on leave the next day, they can also ask for a small pot of wine to enjoy.

The food wasn't particularly fancy, but it was plentiful and filling, and quite oily, which explains why the guards all looked so energetic.

Besides these, during their free time they also received candy, tea, and even tobacco leaves and a small amount of dried goods. It can be said that the Imperial Guards' food and treatment far surpassed that of any traditional old army that Ye Hui knew of.

After breakfast, Ye Hui began his daily routine of standing and walking training, which was also the most grueling part of the day.

Stand still and remain focused at all times, ready to receive orders from your superior.

For many people, it is even more grueling than high-intensity sports.

After an hour of marching at attention, there is a 15-minute rest period before the next training session: firearms aiming.

During peacetime, new recruits are not allowed to fire live ammunition for the first month; they must first learn to hold a gun steadily.

However, all new recruits must hold their rifles against their shoulders, either standing, squatting, or lying down, maintaining a stable posture with their three points aligned with the target in front of them.

If you are not careful and slack off, you will definitely be scolded or even beaten by the instructor.

Ye Hui, who was initially thrilled to receive the rifle, gradually became numb to it after half a month.

After lunch, rest for half an hour.

In the afternoon, training began with physical fitness, technical and tactical drills, and the management was not as strict as during the day, which can be described as a good balance between intensity and relaxation.

This is where Ye Hui's favorite part comes in, especially the obstacle course training, where he always comes in first place in the full armor.

In the evening, everyone took turns learning to read and write.

Those new recruits with basic knowledge learned entirely new military knowledge, such as: geometry, ballistics, gun care, infantry infiltration tactics, trench fortification and guard duty records, and calculus, all from military books personally compiled by Shen Lang.

The day's military life only ended when the bugle sounded to signal lights out.

Only at this time, after taking a bath and lying on the bed, would Ye Hui feel that although the days were tough, they were also very fulfilling.

"I hope I can advance smoothly in three months and go to the battlefield again."

With these thoughts in mind, Ye Hui drifted off to sleep.

However, in less than three months, an unexpected incident will soon allow these new recruits to experience the changes in warfare ahead of schedule.