I was living at the end of the Ming Dynasty, and I dealt a brutal blow to the Eight Banners!

As the Governor-General of Jiliao, how could he possibly try to poach his subordinates?

The generals immediately began to tease him, all turning their gazes to the tense-looking Wu Sangui.

"Your Excellency," Wu Sangui said anxiously, "aren't you trying to undermine me?"

Hong Chengchou simply smiled, ignoring Wu Sangui, and instead looked at Zhang Jingchuan, asking, "Are you willing?"

“This…” Zhang Jingchuan pretended to hesitate, waiting for Wu Sangui to express his opinion.

In fact, whether he followed Wu Sangui or Hong Chengchou, it was all the same to Zhang Jingchuan; what he cared about was who could give him something of greater value.

In the army, you either get a position and soldiers or gold, silver and food. If you want to build your own power, you need both. It all depends on what Wu Sangui and Hong Chengchou offer. Which one is more tempting?

Wu Sangui was anxious, so he quickly moved to Zhang Jingchuan's side, turned his back to Hong Chengchou and the other generals, and said in a low voice, "You were originally one of my men, and you have made great contributions this time. When we get back, I will promote you to centurion!"

General Bai?

Zhang Jingchuan's heart skipped a beat. According to the Ming army's organization...

Ten people form a team, with a team leader;

Three teams form one banner, with a banner commander;

The three banners were divided into one department, with a centurion in charge.

In an effort to win him over, Wu Sangui promoted him two ranks, which was quite generous of him.

However, whether it's called "Bai Zong" or "Qi Zong"...

In essence, it's just a military rank. The real key is the quality of the troops under that rank. If the troops under your command are all old, weak, sick, or disabled, what use is it to give you a guerrilla general?

What he truly wanted were the brothers who had risked their lives alongside him.

They had worked together, sharing hoes and fields, eating from the same pot and drinking from the same vat. Memories of them are etched into our very bones.

If it were just a simple centurion, he would most likely select a hundred men from his men, while the rest would be assigned to other divisions.

Zhang Jingchuan knew very well that when these garrison soldiers arrived on the battlefield, they would be used as cannon fodder, just like the vanguard battalion they were in.

He turned his head and looked at his brothers. The remaining three or five hundred men also looked at Zhang Jingchuan.

Their eyes were filled with joy and fervor, for they had won a battle and longed for a reward, even if it was just a meal of meat and a drink of wine.

but,

They didn't realize that a victory wouldn't change their fate as cannon fodder.

There was only one person who could truly change her fate, and that was Zhang Jingchuan.

This is why there is the saying "One general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand." Of the three thousand men in the vanguard battalion, only three to five hundred remain, and in the end, only Zhang Jingchuan benefits.

For high-ranking generals like Hong Chengchou and Wu Sangui, a single report was enough to exchange the sacrifice of two or three thousand men for a stepping stone to higher positions, for gold and silver treasures, or even for the title of general and marquis.

Zhang Jingchuan smiled slightly at them, and when Li Daniu and the others saw Zhang Jingchuan smile, they smiled along with him.

When Zhang Jingchuan turned around, he had already made a decision, even though that decision might bring about changes for him.

Zhang Jingchuan looked at Wu Sangui beside him and said solemnly, "I have one more request."

"You speak," Wu Sangui said, frowning.

After taking a deep breath, Zhang Jingchuan said calmly, "Leave all the brothers behind me to me."

Wu Sangui was taken aback at first, then turned around and looked back, his eyes filled with surprise: "This...this is three to five hundred people!"

Excluding the wounded and some elderly and weak, there should be around three hundred men. If they are all led by Zhang Jingchuan, then there's no need for the title of centurion; he should be promoted directly to battalion commander. (The three divisions form a unit, with a battalion commander, whose rank is equivalent to the seventh grade, accompanied by dozens of personal guards and attendants, and approximately four hundred soldiers under his command.)

Seeing Wu Sangui's troubled expression, Zhang Jingchuan knew that his request was indeed a bit excessive, but if he didn't do so, how could he protect his brothers?

Although he himself might be used as cannon fodder, he would at least cherish their lives and prevent them from making unnecessary sacrifices.

With this in mind, Zhang Jingchuan steeled his resolve and said in a low voice, "From now on, I'll fight the tough battles and attack the fortified cities!"

Wu Sangui scrutinized Zhang Jingchuan with a sharp gaze, and after a moment, nodded and said, "Alright, I hope you keep your word!"

Seeing Wu Sangui and Zhang Jingchuan whispering to each other, Hong Chengchou and the others were not annoyed. They just watched with smiles on their faces, as if they were watching a play.

"Have you thought it through?" Hong Chengchou asked.

After glancing at Wu Sangui, Zhang Jingchuan bowed deeply to Hong Chengchou and said, "Your Excellency, I have just achieved some minor merit and dare not be arrogant. I beg Your Excellency to allow me to continue serving under my General."

Hong Chengchou was not surprised by Zhang Jingchuan's decision. He merely glanced at Wu Sangui, turned his horse around, and announced loudly, "Return to camp!"

……

When the army returned to Songshan City, it was nearly dusk.

Wu Sangui, the commander-in-chief of Ningyuan Guard, convened a military meeting. He first commended the vanguard battalion for their victory, and then announced the appointment of Zhang Jingchuan.

The news of Zhang Jingchuan's heroic feat of turning the tide in the vanguard battalion, capturing enemy generals and seizing flags, had already spread on his return journey.

No one raised any objections to Zhang Jingchuan's promotion from captain to centurion. After all, Zhang Jingchuan's achievements were undeniable, and there was nothing to question. Besides, centurion was not a high-ranking military position.

If it weren't for the purpose of rewarding Zhang Jingchuan, even if Zhang Jingchuan had become a centurion, his military rank wouldn't have qualified him to participate in this military council.

But when Wu Sangui said he would transfer the remaining four hundred or so men of the vanguard battalion to Zhang Jingchuan's command, the generals present were in an uproar, their faces full of surprise.

Overstaffing is not unprecedented; in fact, it has become quite common in border troops in recent years, but there are certain special circumstances to it.

At this moment, however, it is clear that there is no special characteristic of being over-enlarged.

Compared to the surprise of the others, the face of a burly man standing in the front row was terribly gloomy.

This man was named Song Ben, a general under Wu Sangui, who commanded a battalion of soldiers. The vanguard battalion had previously been trained and managed by Song Ben.

According to common sense, after the vanguard battalion returns, its original structure will be abolished, and its members will be used as new recruits to fill the vacancies on Song Ben's side. If there are any extras, they will be assigned to other battalions.

But now, Wu Sangui has transferred all of the remaining four hundred-plus men of the vanguard battalion to Zhang Jingchuan. So who will fill the vacancies on Song Ben's side?

Song Ben's eyes were filled with resentment as he looked at Zhang Jingchuan, but he did not lose his temper and chose to endure it.

Wu Sangui's gaze kept glancing at Song Ben, and seeing his ashen face and eyes that seemed to be spitting fire, he couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth slightly.

The military meeting ended.

Zhang Jingchuan, carrying the armor and seal he had received, walked towards the camp where their vanguard battalion was located.

He felt no joy at being promoted to centurion, because he could sense that many people in the military tent had looked at him with disdain and even resentment.

The reason, as for the cause, is the fate of those four hundred people.

The remaining four hundred-plus men of the vanguard battalion were seen as delicious pieces of meat by those generals. They had taken their meat, so it was no wonder that the others were jealous of them.

However, this also reminded him that if he wanted to accumulate strength as quickly as possible, he could not continue to stay in the military camp. Otherwise, as a mere centurion, he would not only be unable to protect these four hundred brothers, but he himself would also be in danger.

After all, it is easier to avoid an open attack than to guard against an arrow from the dark.

But how can we lead these brothers out of the military camp to develop elsewhere? We need a legitimate and reasonable reason.

As Zhang Jingchuan's figure gradually disappeared into the distance, a burly man emerged from beside the military tent. Gazing at Zhang Jingchuan's departing back, a cold smile appeared on his lips. This man was none other than Song Ben.

The camp commander, Hu Lie, curled his lip and said sarcastically, "Stop looking. If you keep looking, those four hundred men belong to them too."

Song Ben said in a deep voice, "If I can't have it, no one else can!"

Hu Lie raised an eyebrow, looking intrigued, and asked, "You have a plan?"

“Hehehe,” Song Ben narrowed his eyes and sneered, “It’s just using someone else to do the dirty work.”

……