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

"What? We're going to the battlefield so soon?"

Inside the Imperial Guard camp, Ye Hui was completely stunned when he heard the news that the army was preparing to set off.

"Going to the battlefield is great! See those old camps that came back from Nanzhao? After a battle..."

Everyone received a reward, and each person received at least seventy or eighty taels of silver.

In my opinion, this is a rare opportunity, and we absolutely cannot miss it.

One of the soldiers who shared a dormitory with Ye Hui skillfully wiped his rifle, showing no concern whatsoever about going to the battlefield.

His name is Wu Jie, and he is twenty-two years old.

"But isn't it a bit too fast to send them to the battlefield after only a month of training?"

"So what?" Wu Jie said nonchalantly. "With this gun, there are also those cannons and Gatling guns..."

Even if a large army of martial artists came, they would be turned into a pile of minced meat. With such powerful firearms, would they still treat martial artists like subservient servants as before?

Ye Hui narrowed his eyes: "You're not worried at all?"

Wu Jie put away his rifle and said with a smile, "What's there to worry about? Six taels of silver a month, plus room and board, and compensation for injury or death."

Isn't this the kind of treatment we've been waiting for? This day was bound to come sooner or later. Besides, didn't we join the Guard to change the current situation?

Actually, I'm eager to go to the front lines and fight the enemy as soon as possible. If I accumulate military merits, I might even get a promotion, and then I won't have to worry about the future.

Upon hearing this, Ye Hui immediately realized there was some truth to it: "What you said makes sense. If we can really get a position in this western expedition, then it will be worthwhile to have served in the army."

Wu Jie: "Brother Ye, we are a new generation of soldiers with a new spirit. Even if we are just newborn calves, we must carve out our own place in this chaotic world."

"Ok!"

Ye Hui nodded vigorously, thinking to himself: I must prove myself. The eldest son of the Ye family can not only rely on the protection of the family, but also create a new world with his own hands.

At this moment, the entire Imperial Guard camp was shrouded in a tense atmosphere before the expedition.

Some were excited, some were nervous; a myriad of human emotions were on display.

Inside the newly established staff office, in front of a large sand table, Shen Lang, along with his four core guards—Zhang Dingbian, Lü Meng, Meng Gong, and Qu Yi—were outlining the tactical arrangements for the western expedition.

Shen Lang: "Lu Meng, first give a report on the current weapon configuration of our army."

"Yes!"

"The Imperial Guard has a total of 11,634 basic officers and soldiers, and the number deployed this time is exactly 10,000, including 8,000 infantry."

Infantry units, numbered in armor (20 men), were equipped with 20 Thunder Rifles (Mauser 98K, which the Empress disliked and changed).

Two Gatling guns, five grenades per person, 320 rounds of rifle ammunition, and 4,000 rounds of machine gun ammunition.

In addition, there is one 50mm mortar for individual soldiers, with 60 rounds of ammunition.

The standard equipment for the entire Western Expeditionary infantry consisted of 8000 rifles, 800 machine guns, and 400 individual mortars.

In addition, there were 1,000 artillerymen, organized into four battalions. The two artillery support battalions were each equipped with 12 82mm portable mortars and 8 75mm recoil-propelled rapid-fire field guns.

The other two main heavy artillery battalions were equipped with 16 75mm rapid-fire guns, 12 88mm mountain guns, and 8 105mm recoil-propelled heavy field guns, respectively.

The above describes the firepower configuration of the Imperial Guard during this western expedition.

The last thousand men belonged to the reserve battalion, all equipped with the new and improved Swift Thunder Gun, ready to support any battlefield at any time.

In addition, the armory also contained 37,000 rifles, 400 Gatling guns, and 223 artillery pieces of various calibers.

The ammunition depot contained a total of 36 million rounds of rifle ammunition, 120,000 artillery shells of various types, and 420,000 hand grenades.

Even without considering the arsenal's subsequent production capacity, it is sufficient to maintain a high-intensity continuous firepower output for several months.

After hearing the number reported by Lü Meng, everyone except Shen Lang began to tremble uncontrollably.

Unbeknownst to them, the Imperial Guard's firepower had become so formidable.

Shen Lang, however, was not satisfied with this.

The current firepower of the Imperial Guard is far from meeting the standard equipment level of World War II.

Individual soldier fire coverage is barely adequate, but the artillery firepower output is still rather pathetic.

The firepower configuration was far inferior to that of the European and American armies during World War II. For example, the standard for artillery in a German army corps was no less than 54 large-caliber mountain and field guns.

But considering that the military industry has only been under development for less than a year, I felt relieved.

Take it slow, things will get better and better. The alloy steel process has been mastered, and a major military reform is only a matter of time.

"Alright, now that everyone has a detailed understanding of the current firepower configuration of the expeditionary force,

So, the next step is to analyze how to utilize this firepower to win this war.

Shen Lang picked up the pointer and went to the sand table, pointing in the direction of Luoyang.

"Now Luoyang is in ruins. Based on the intelligence we've gathered from the remnants of the Western Army, the Xia Kingdom is primarily composed of cavalry."

Their defenses relied entirely on the protective barrier set up by the Kunlun Palace warriors; once the Imperial Guards entered their field of vision,

Given the style of the Western Xia army, they would definitely send cavalry to attempt a flanking attack on the Imperial Guard from the front and flanks.

What I mean is, once the cavalry confront you in the open field, you must wipe them out at all costs!

Upon hearing this, everyone's expression immediately turned serious.

"As for taking Luoyang, I have nothing to say. If we can't take it with this kind of firepower, then this new army has no reason to exist."

But my real target is not Luoyang, but the remaining strength of Western Xia.

If their 200,000-strong army could be completely encircled and annihilated along the vital Heluo Pass, the Xia Kingdom would surely suffer a severe blow.

And by then…

After a pause, Shen Lang suddenly stopped talking.

Meng Gong volunteered: "Chief Instructor, I humbly request that I be the vanguard in this recapture of Heluo."

"Alright, I'll give you a chance."

Shen Lang did not object and continued to point the pointer in another direction.

"But before that, we have to remove this nail."

Everyone looked in the direction Shen Lang pointed.

"Blood Demon Alliance?"

"That's right. The Blood Fiend Alliance has always cooperated with the barbarian tribes of Xia Kingdom to suppress the Chu people who resisted its brutal rule. It is also one of the biggest accomplices that allows Xia Kingdom to run rampant in the Northwest."

"This instructor will seize this opportunity to wipe out the Blood Fiend Alliance in one fell swoop, first crippling the Xia Kingdom!"

Lu Meng frowned: "But if the imperial court were to actively antagonize the Jianghu forces..."

This might provoke a backlash from the martial arts world. What if it causes unnecessary conflict?

"What's there to be afraid of!"

Qu Yi directly used profanity.

"I don't believe these sects would dare to act recklessly in front of my Imperial Guard."

Moreover, they were the ones who broke the rules and colluded with the government first, so it's no wonder they met their demise!

Shen Lang: "Qu Yi is right, and from any perspective..."

The Blood Fiend Alliance is a target that must be eliminated. My Imperial Guard's first battle will begin with the Blood Fiend Alliance.

With the plan finalized, everyone agreed.

"Since there are no objections, I will go to the palace to meet the Emperor. You all go back and restrain your troops to prepare. The proclamation for the expedition will be delivered in a few days."

After saying this, Shen Lang put down his teaching pointer and left the staff hall under the watchful eyes of the four people.