Chapter 37: The Embryo of a New Army

Which age group is the most easily incited?

Without a doubt, it is the young!

They are inexperienced in the ways of the world, full of longing for the future, and eager to accomplish great things in this turbulent era. They are impulsive, possessing a fearless spirit; once they set their sights on a goal, they easily become hot-blooded and reckless. They have yet to be constrained by worldly habits or influenced by the calculating pragmatism of the adult world. They are energetic, passionate, and free from excessive burdens, refusing to haggle over details or deliberate endlessly before making a decision, unlike their elders.

Therefore, when Li Xiao selected the men to follow him in attacking Hou Village, he chose only those under twenty years of age. Li Xiao believed that even if such a group of youths might lack the individual combat prowess of seasoned men, once their collective strength was unleashed, the destruction they could cause would be terrifying. This group of youths would also form the prototype for the new army Li Xiao envisioned for the future.

After Li Xiao finished the mobilization meeting for these one hundred and twenty-four young cavalrymen, they began to eat breakfast—boiled horse meat in salt water. However, having just gone through a night of slaughter with so many unburied corpses surrounding them, some of the youths could not stomach a thing; some even felt like vomiting. Seeing this, Li Xiao did not force them, simply ordering several pots of millet porridge to be cooked.

Then, while eating, he held a meeting with these youths. The previous gathering was for mobilization; this was the true tactical briefing. One hundred and twenty people sounded like a large number, but in reality, they formed only a modest circle. As they ate, they listened to Li Xiao.

"Hou Village is about forty li away. With three horses per person, we can reach it in a little over an hour," Li Xiao said in a deep voice. "We will rest this morning, depart in the afternoon, break Hou Village before dusk, and rest there for the night."

In this battle, the spoils of the Four Forts Alliance were staggering: over fifty thousand sheep, two thousand cattle, seven thousand horses, and a significant amount of copper coins, sheepskins, textiles, and daily necessities. Thus, the Alliance was not short on horses. They were even worried about where to keep all the livestock upon returning to their villages.

After arranging the schedule, Li Xiao moved on to tactics. "Hou Village has about six or seven hundred people, with over a hundred bearing the surname Hou. Like our own forts, they have dug trenches and built battlements around the perimeter. Therefore, a frontal assault is not a wise choice. I will not do that, nor will I gamble with the lives of my brothers."

Li Xiao said this to reassure the youths who were not yet familiar with him, showing that he was not a ruthless commander and that, since he was leading them into battle, he would do his utmost to bring them back unscathed. "To take Hou Village, we must use strategy. I already have an idea, which I will explain once we reach the village."

"Now, there is one more important matter: the issue of squad leaders." Li Xiao finished gnawing on a piece of horse meat, wiped the grease from his hands onto the ground, and looked at everyone. "We have one hundred and twenty-five people in total. That is too many to convey orders directly to each of you during battle. Therefore, I intend to divide us into five squads. The men from Hexi Fort will be split into two squads, with me serving as the leader of one. The men from the other three forts will each form a squad, and you shall elect your own leaders."

Li Xiao’s intention was simple: to organize the scattered group into five manageable units. The men quickly understood and began discussing among their respective contingents. Soon, four leaders were elected: Luo Meng for Hedong Fort, Zhao Dabao—the son of Li Xiao’s aunt—for Ta Fort, Qin Xiong—the son of Li Xiao’s eldest uncle—for Gushan Fort, and finally, Dahu for Hexi Fort.

Their identities revealed why they were chosen. In this feudal era, the masters of the forts held great authority, and this status was often inherited. From birth, these children had commanded greater prestige among their peers, so when it came time to elect leaders, no one could challenge them.

"Very well, the matter of the squad leaders is settled. After eating, go back and rest; we will assemble here this afternoon."

"One last thing," Li Xiao said, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, lingering on the strongest youths. "We are bringing twenty sets of heavy armor to Hou Village. During the battle, we will form a small unit of heavy cataphracts. Anyone who considers themselves strong enough to wear heavy armor, come see me later. After passing a test, you will become a heavy cavalryman."

The greatest gain from the Battle of Sanhe Fort, besides the tens of thousands of livestock, was thirty-six sets of heavy armor. Nomad tribes rarely possessed armor, usually relying on leather or small iron plates to protect vital areas. However, during the Battle of Beishan, a heavy cavalry unit had appeared among the Geluolu Alliance, sweeping the battlefield and shocking the tribes of Jinzhou. These nomads understood the value of armor; it was not that they did not want it, but that they lacked it. Most tribes could not even assemble a single set. Even these Han villages had none. Yet, the Geluolu had somehow managed to produce over a hundred heavy cavalrymen, causing great panic.

Fortunately, while clearing the battlefield at Sanhe Fort, Li Xiao and his men had recovered thirty-six sets of heavy armor—exactly one-third of the total. He assumed the rest were with the other two tribes. Li Xiao felt lucky that he had chosen a night raid; the Geluolu had no time to don their heavy armor, or else the Four Forts Alliance’s victory would have been a pyrrhic one.

Cataphracts, with both man and horse armored, enjoyed near-total protection. Ordinary arrows, blades, and spears caused minimal damage. Aside from bludgeoning them with maces, the only way to defeat them was for light cavalry to wear them down—a tactic that failed when the enemy also possessed significant light cavalry. Thus, heavy armor was like having extra lives on the battlefield.

At Li Xiao’s words, the youths grew excited. "Me! Me! I’ll try!" The strongest among them were ecstatic, swarming toward Li Xiao. Every man dreamed of wearing heavy armor—disregarding safety, it was simply imposing. Li Xiao had underestimated the attraction; at least fifty people signed up. Yet, looking at their physiques, not all were suited for the role. Wearing heavy armor during a prolonged battle was exhausting, and without sufficient strength, one could not even wield a lance.

"Enough, stop the noise!" Li Xiao roared. "We’ll use the simplest method: a contest. Whoever can lift the heaviest stone wins. I only need the twenty strongest! But heed this: these sets of armor are only on loan. Their final ownership will be decided once we return to our respective forts."

Like the livestock, these thirty-six sets of armor belonged to the entire Alliance. Hexi Fort, being the strongest and having contributed the most men, would get the lion’s share, likely fifteen or sixteen sets. The others would receive seven or eight each, depending on the ensuing negotiations. Li Xiao had already advised the elders and fort masters that the armor should not be distributed to individuals, but kept as public property for all the herdsmen of the fort. The strongest would be selected to wear them, but the ownership would remain with the fort. This would allow the armor to serve its true purpose rather than becoming mere family heirlooms.

After the trials, the twenty strongest were chosen. To everyone's surprise, fifteen-year-old Li Xiao and thirteen-year-old Erhu were among them. Li Xiao’s inclusion was expected, as he had slain over forty Geluolu warriors, but that young Erhu’s strength rivaled Li Xiao’s was a shock. Everyone marveled that they were truly brothers of dragon and tiger, their prowess a shared inheritance.