Liang Xiao took out a pile of blueprints from his travel bag and handed them to Lü Yi.
"I was about to give them to your uncle, but this formation is not impenetrable. It needs to be used as a surprise weapon, and we must prevent the enemy from learning it. Uncle should understand what I mean."
Lü Yi carefully took the blueprints and opened them, nodding as he read, "Uncle understands. If it weren't for you showing respect to His Majesty, Uncle wouldn't even have a chance to learn this formation."
The Supervisor of the Ministry of War, Dugu Yuncheng, was still at the northern army camp. Lü Yi had to bypass this person for many of his important military strategies to be implemented perfectly.
Yanzhou had almost fallen, and the northern lands were devastated. Dugu Yuncheng, while not bearing the primary responsibility, was undeniably linked to it.
However, the Dugu family had always been adept at occupying the moral high ground, always managing to do despicable things with righteous justifications, such as negotiating peace and ceding territory and indemnities. Xiao Qing had been unable to deal with them before, as the Dugu family's influence was too great, even the Gongyang clan of Jiangnan was their faction!
Zhuo Wulüe and Lü Changhe couldn't help but lean in to look together. The more they looked, the more astonished they became.
"How exquisite! Uncle can vaguely understand the marvels of this formation!" Lü Yi's hands trembled slightly, as if he had obtained a priceless treasure.
Liang Xiao reminded him, "These blueprints and formation details need to be copied for me so I can take them to Captain He of the Shadow Guards to help me train soldiers. Uncle..."
Lü Yi said, "Understood, we need to find reliable people to copy them! How about we have Military Advisor Zhuo copy one? The Zhuo family is skilled in calligraphy and painting, and Military Advisor Zhuo, having followed Zhuo Lingjun, has learned a bit. He should have no problem replicating formation diagrams."
Zhuo Wulüe was overjoyed, "Your subordinate had exactly this intention; I wish to learn the Que Yue Formation!"
This formation overturned their understanding; it was not recorded in any past military texts!
Lü Yi's expression grew increasingly excited, "Nephew, it seems I can't casually give you an army anymore!"
Lü Changhe and Zhuo Wulüe looked at Lü Yi in confusion.
Lü Yi said sternly, "I never imagined you possessed such talent for generalship. Uncle plans to select ten thousand of the most elite troops, excluding the White Robe soldiers, from the northern army camp for you, and have Ji Yun temporarily act as your second-in-command to train them! How do you wish to select them?"
The two suddenly understood, "That's right!"
If they had doubted Liang Xiao's ability to lead and train troops before, this Que Yue Formation was enough to associate him with the famous generals of ancient times!
Such a talented general, who was also to assist Xiao Qing in opposing the aristocratic families, why waste time retraining a unit from scratch in the northern army camp?
Nan Jiyun also needed prestige to command respect, and following Liang Xiao, who promoted him, was just right.
Moreover, Liang Xiao also had to recruit private soldiers, and his own private soldiers would take time to train.
News also came from Xiao Qing that the Directorate of Weaponry was building a large number of elite weapons, intending to provide Liang Xiao and Lü Yi with sets of military equipment for over ten thousand men each!
Liang Xiao was delighted, "Do the soldiers train every day? In that case, select those who can carry a hundred jin of sacks and run a hundred li within half a day. For those who qualify, give them triple the pay!"
Lü Yi and the other two were startled.
Carrying a hundred jin of sacks and running a hundred li in half a day!
"There probably aren't many elites like that..." Lü Yi said with a wry smile.
Liang Xiao smiled gently, "We'll take it slowly. In any case, select the ten thousand with the best stamina and strength, and later we will select elites from all over the country. Since we are building the strongest elite force, let's be thorough!"
Liang Xiao was selecting people according to the standards of the Wei Wu Zu and planned to train them using later military training methods.
Lü Yi readily agreed, "Uncle also looks forward to your brilliant achievements in military matters, to vindicate your father and your uncle..."
"I think Marquis Anguo's method of selecting personnel is really good!" Lü Changhe chuckled.
Liang Xiao smiled slyly at Lü Changhe.
You think it's good, huh?
Just wait, one day you, kid, will have to run like this too!
This kid always tried to probe Liang Xiao's capabilities, making Liang Xiao cautious. Liang Xiao had long held a grudge!
Lü Yi added, "Were the warhorses you bought from the capital eaten by the barbarian tribes? Coincidentally, a while ago, with the divine might of General Tian's manifestation, the White Robe soldiers confiscated over ten thousand warhorses from the barbarian cavalry. We will select the best six hundred to compensate you!"
"Will Dugu Yuncheng obstruct this?" Liang Xiao asked.
"Dare he?" Lü Yi said with disdain, "You are protected by General Tian. Without General Tian, let alone confiscating these warhorses, it's questionable whether Changhe and the others would have returned alive!"
Lü Yi became more indignant as he spoke.
His beloved son was almost harmed by Dugu Yuncheng, and he hadn't had a chance to settle the score yet!
Liang Xiao smiled faintly and no longer insisted, thanking them repeatedly.
The warhorses of the barbarians were all fine steeds trained in actual combat, which also saved Liang Xiao the time for training.
"Is he really not General Tian?" Lü Yi gazed at Liang Xiao, his doubts growing.
Sometimes he looked more like him, and sometimes he looked completely unlike him.
Thinking of this, Lü Yi pointed to a thick wooden stick standing nearby and said, "Nephew, I heard you easily drew your sword and cut down Dugu Ling. Can you show us your swordplay?"
Lü Changhe and Zhuo Wulüe also looked at Liang Xiao expectantly, eager to witness the swordplay that could behead an opponent with a single draw.
Liang Xiao pouted, "I was just in a moment of desperation and drew my sword, accidentally cutting him. Uncle, please don't make things difficult for me."
Upon hearing this, the three of Lü Yi were speechless.
Accidentally?
Hear ye, hear ye!
"Enough, enough. Let's go see how their sparring is going, and then we'll select elite soldiers for you!" Lü Yi no longer pressured Liang Xiao. Hooking Liang Xiao's shoulder, they all walked out of the military tent together and headed to the training ground to watch Nan Jiyun and Yue Qingtian.
As soon as they reached the outside of the training ground, Liang Xiao and the other three heard continuous cheers and the sound of war drums.
The crowd curiously walked into the training ground and saw the soldiers gathered around, watching Nan Jiyun and Yue Qingtian spar.
Nan Jiyun held a long spear, while Yue Qingtian used twin iron halberds. The two fought fiercely, dust flying, dazzling the eyes.
"Good!" Lü Changhe and Lü Yi, both having military backgrounds, shouted in unison.
Lü Yi quickly asked the deputy general Zhuo Ying standing beside him, "How long have they been fighting?"
"Reporting to Marshal, this is the one hundred and twentieth round! I never thought someone could fight Nan General to a draw!" Zhuo Ying said excitedly.
Even Liang Xiao marveled secretly and was overjoyed.
His reflexes and speed were astonishing, and his eyesight was far superior to ordinary people. Naturally, he could see that Nan Jiyun's spear technique was exquisite, no less than Lü Changhe's.
A month for the staff, a year for the saber, a lifetime for the spear; it was truly difficult to master spearplay!
Nan Jiyun's spear technique was so refined, yet Yue Qingtian, someone from the deep mountains, could actually block it?
However, Liang Xiao soon saw through the situation.
Yue Qingtian likely possessed innate divine strength. Compared to Nan Jiyun, he had an advantage in power but lacked agility.
Even so, if it were a life-and-death battle of brute force, Nan Jiyun would eventually be at a disadvantage. But if it were mounted combat, which Nan Jiyun excelled at, Nan Jiyun would ultimately prevail.
Watching the two locked in fierce combat, Liang Xiao pouted, recalling the saying: Lin Chong on horseback, Wu Song on foot. If Lin Chong rode Wu Song, he would dominate land and sea...
Of course, this was assuming Nan Jiyun on horseback and Yue Qingtian on foot, not counting General Tian, Liang Xiao, entering the fray.
Lü Yi, fearing for the safety of the two, quickly called a halt.
The two were still unsatisfied but chose to disengage.
Lü Yi scrutinized Yue Qingtian with a puzzled look and asked, "Mr. Yue, you claim to be a barbarian. Are you truly from Mount Fierce Tiger?"