Chapter 72: Selecting Troops
The ancient road of A Lai Ridge truly exists.
When Li Xiao was stationed at the Northern Frontier in later years, he visited this place many times and was very familiar with the local terrain.
Despite the passage of eight hundred years, Li Xiao believed the landscape of A Lai Ridge would not have changed significantly.
It could absolutely allow for the passage of large cavalry units.
This is because historical records briefly mention that Temüjin once fought a war with the Merkit People at A Lai Ridge.
If Temüjin’s army could pass, Li Xiao could also lead people through.
Not long after, all units of the Northern Frontier Army received an order from Xiao Simo.
Chiliarch Li Xiao of Jin Prefecture was to select a group of elite soldiers from each unit to form a special force.
No one was to obstruct this, or they would face military law.
On the day the order was issued, Li Xiao arrived at the Great Desert Army Camp.
He was greeted by Xiao Tula Duo, who was temporarily managing the Great Desert Army.
“Chiliarch Li, what does the Great King’s order mean? Is he perhaps planning to gather all the elite soldiers to launch a fierce attack on one location?”
Xiao Tula Duo walked alongside Li Xiao in the Great Desert Army Camp, asking with a slight tilt of his head.
Li Xiao, clad in black armor, lightly gripped the cavalry saber at his waist with his right hand, exuding a majestic presence.
“How can we guess the thoughts of the Governor? I am merely following orders.”
“However, I agree with General Xiao’s thoughts. Lord Xiao might be planning something like this,” Li Xiao said with a faint smile.
He did not tell Xiao Tula Duo the truth, as Xiao Simo had specifically instructed him to do so.
This was because Xiao Simo had a feeling that someone under him might have issues, but he didn’t know who.
For the success of the operation, only Li Xiao and two others knew about this matter so far.
“Is that so?” Xiao Tula Duo frowned slightly.
Why would an elite army, formed by selecting the best and strongest soldiers from the entire army, be entrusted to a Han person like Li Xiao, instead of being led by loyal Khitan Generals?
It was too childish!
Xiao Tula Duo felt a sense of imbalance and planned to speak with Xiao Simo later, ideally to have himself appointed as the commander of this elite force.
Li Xiao, however, paid no mind to his thoughts and walked around the Great Desert Army Camp on his own.
There were war horses and tents everywhere, as well as large pots set up by soldiers for cooking, creating a rather chaotic scene.
Even with an veteran general like Xiao Tula Duo in command, the condition of the Great Desert Army had not changed in a short time.
“Elder Brother, can you really pick elite soldiers from an army like this?” Er Hu asked with slight confusion, not understanding why they were here.
“A weak soldier makes for a weak unit; a weak general makes for a weak army.”
“There hasn’t been a war in the Great Desert for many years; they are just unaccustomed to battle.”
“If we select some people and give them a little training, they can still shoulder important responsibilities,” Li Xiao said calmly.
Then, looking at Er Hu’s height, he gently patted his shoulder and smiled, “For this selection, I will pick one hundred men to be under your command.”
“You will be the Centurion of this unit.”
Hearing Li Xiao’s words, Er Hu’s leopard-like eyes immediately shot out with a keen glint: “Really?”
“Of course!”
“That’s great, Brother, I will definitely train them to be completely obedient,” Er Hu said excitedly.
Looking at this group of Great Desert soldiers, they now seemed much more agreeable, and he couldn’t wait to grab a stick and whip them into shape with proper training.
“Heh heh heh, no rush.”
“And you all, this time you will all be officers. The lowest will be a Corporal,” Li Xiao said, looking at his companions behind him.
Li Xiao had always placed great hope in this group of companions.
They were seen as his future right-hand men.
Now that there was an opportunity, he naturally wanted to train them well.
“That’s great.”
“I can be a Corporal too.”
“Maybe even a Sergeant.”
Thin Monkey, Tie Tou, and others said excitedly.
Next, Li Xiao began the actual selection of personnel.
The Great Desert Army had a total of 3,500 men. They were gathered in groups of 500, and selected one by one.
Li Xiao ignored their sloppy and loose standing formations, primarily focusing on scrutinizing each individual.
“What did you do before you became a soldier?” Li Xiao stared at the face of a middle-aged man in front of him.
Although young, Li Xiao was not short in stature, and he could almost see the top of the man’s head.
Furthermore, Li Xiao was fully armored at this moment, with a stern expression, and even Xiao Tula Duo accompanied him. Everyone understood that he was definitely a significant figure.
Thus, the middle-aged man’s inner pressure was imaginable. He subconsciously hunched his back and said with a fawning smile, “This humble one used to be a peddler.”
Li Xiao shook his head and turned to leave.
Merchants were not suitable.
They were prone to shirking their duties and were not useful.
Li Xiao would even have to constantly worry if they would sell military supplies to the enemy.
“And you? What did you do?”
Li Xiao walked up to the next man, whose skin was rough and face was honest.
He was so frightened by Li Xiao that he barely dared to speak, and finally mumbled, “I, I, I used to herd sheep for people.”
Li Xiao nodded and said to Er Hu, “Take him to the side.”
Immediately after, Li Xiao looked through these 500 men one by one.
In the end, he selected over eighty people, all of whom were either sheep herders or farmers.
Moreover, they all appeared to be honest and simple individuals with no hidden agendas.
Businessmen were rejected outright.
Li Xiao, being an officer, could generally assess a good soldier from a bad one.
Some people might appear arrogant and boisterous in daily life, seeming capable, but they would be the first to falter when faced with trouble.
Others might appear honest and quiet on the surface, but possess a stubborn streak deep down, willing to risk their lives at crucial moments.
For commanders, the latter type of soldier was preferred.
Li Xiao was selecting the latter.
Especially those who looked honest but had a hint of ferocity in their eyes were Li Xiao’s favorite type of soldier.
Soon, Li Xiao had gone through all 3,500 Great Desert soldiers.
He selected over 600 in total.
This proportion was not high.
“Chiliarch Li, what are you selecting these people for?”
“They don’t seem particularly elite? They’re clumsy and foolish.”
During this break, Xiao Tula Duo had already understood the situation regarding the people Li Xiao was selecting.
They were basically all farmers and sheep herders.
They appeared dull and listless, with no outstanding performance in their daily lives.
Their skills were not remarkable, their horsemanship was not exquisite, and they possessed nothing but strength.
At least within the Great Desert Army, there were many more individuals who were better fighters and possessed stronger individual combat capabilities than them.
Xiao Tula Duo was very puzzled, wondering what Li Xiao was trying to achieve.
“These people are indeed rather stupid, but that’s precisely why I can use them with peace of mind,” Li Xiao said with a chuckle.
“Alright!”
Xiao Tula Duo shook his head. He had originally intended to contend with Li Xiao for the command of this ‘elite army.’
But now, seeing the composition of these people, he had lost all such ideas.
“General Xiao, you’ve worked hard today. I’ll treat you to some wine another day.” Li Xiao said.
After all, he had cooperated fully on this matter and hadn’t caused any hidden trouble, which was a great help to Li Xiao.
Xiao Tula Duo laughed heartily: “Good, I love drinking wine, and I only drink good wine.”
“Don’t worry, General Xiao, the fine wine brewed by my Li family will definitely satisfy you,” Li Xiao said confidently.
“Little one~”
“One bowl will have you on the ground.”
After selecting these 600 Great Desert soldiers, Li Xiao also picked out a few ruffians.
These ruffians were arrogant and domineering, had gathered a group of followers, and lorded over many soldiers in the camp, who were afraid of them.
Li Xiao left their followers behind and took them out separately.
They were useful!
After settling the 600 Great Desert soldiers, Li Xiao went to the camp of a nomadic tribe from Jin Prefecture.
After looking around, Li Xiao sighed with emotion: “All good soldiers!”
The Great Desert bordered the Tianshan Mountains and was located on the Silk Road. The frequent passage of merchants led many people in the Great Desert to adopt business-like habits.
Many people Li Xiao questioned were either innkeepers or peddlers.
In contrast, the people of these nomadic tribes all had the appearance of herdsmen from the grasslands.
Their faces might look fierce and unapproachable, but they were by no means slick or cunning.
This tribe only had 200 soldiers, and Li Xiao selected over thirty of them.
And they were all slaves who looked simple and honest.
He didn’t choose a single free tribesman.
“Chieftain Tali Tai, I will be taking these men with me for now. Regardless, I will provide you with the reward of one sheep per person afterward.”
“If any slaves die, I will compensate you with two sheep per person.”
Li Xiao said to the tribal chieftain of this nomadic tribe.
Although it was Xiao Simo’s order, Li Xiao knew he had to handle things properly.
He still needed to understand human relationships and etiquette.
Indeed, upon hearing Li Xiao’s words, the chieftain, who had been somewhat reluctant, immediately broke into a smile.
They were just slaves; if they died, they would capture more.
Anyway, the mortality rate of these slaves in battle was already quite high.
Now, if they lived, they would earn a sheep’s wage, and if they died, they would receive compensation of two sheep.
This price made the chieftain very satisfied.
He happily sent them off.
But Li Xiao was even more satisfied in his heart.
Because he could earn even more.
Infiltrating behind enemy lines was a very dangerous task, and soldiers would not be willing to go without sufficient rewards.
Therefore, Xiao Simo generously promised that every soldier who went on campaign with Li Xiao would be rewarded with twenty sheep.
For fallen soldiers, their families would receive a pension of fifty sheep.
Of course, Li Xiao couldn’t keep the nineteen sheep in the middle all to himself.
To stimulate the initiative of the slave soldiers, Li Xiao also had to provide them with material incentives.
Ten sheep should be enough.
Ten sheep should be enough.
