Chapter 740: Grand Commander on Patrol

But now, things were different. Today, he was no longer alone, with dozens of people trailing behind him. A commander's inspection tour demanded a show of grandeur.

There was no fog today, and the situation on the opposite bank was crystal clear. The riverbank was empty, with only occasional shadowy figures appearing in the distant forest.

Their own side was much the same, with perilous peaks, woodlands, riverbanks, and withered grass all present.

Adjutant Chao Qian pointed and explained to He Lingchuan: "Our terrain on the west bank of the river consists mainly of low hills, unlike the naturally perilous peaks on the opposite side, which are easy to defend and hard to attack."

Indeed, their own riverbank was open and its edge covered with dense grass, all of which was, of course, blanketed in white snow this season.

He Lingchuan wandered around, spending the most time in the forest.

The forest spanned over ten qing (about 160 acres), and with no tall mountains overlooking it nearby, it was an excellent hiding place.

Twice, incursions from the opposite bank had entered the village from this very spot.

Before Commander Xiao left, he had hesitated about whether or not to cut down all these trees.

The locals strongly opposed it. Except for winter, this dense forest provided them with timber, hunting opportunities, wild vegetables, fruits, and mushrooms, making it a vital source of income.

He Lingchuan's idea was precisely the opposite of Commander Xiao's: "Keep the woodlands. Clear out all the reeds on the west side of the riverbank to ensure a clear view of the river and riverbed. Level the vegetation in the valley, and build two more watchtowers on the back hill."

This channel would then be bare from end to end. Anyone moving through it would be visible from above, and without vegetation for cover, approaching enemies would find it harder to disguise themselves.

Then, hang a few bioluminescent spores, and there would be no fear of anyone sneaking in at night.

Chao Qian said: "If this path is wide open, the Jinyou people won't like it, and they'll use the forest instead."

With one side exposed and the other a dense forest spanning over ten qing, small invading raiding parties, whether by instinct or tactics, would certainly choose the latter with its cover.

"Isn't that exactly what we want?" He Lingchuan asked him. "Who was the original mountain spirit here?"

"A pack of wolf demons. They also contributed during the previous battles."

"Relieved of duty," He Lingchuan said. "I've already asked Deputy Envoy Wen to appoint someone else." He then pointed backward, and Chao Qian saw several flat carts lashed together, transporting a large tree.

The tree was about six zhang (roughly 60 feet) tall, not particularly outstanding in this forest. However, its bark was cracked and covered in greenish-white spots, evidence of previous moss and fern growth.

He Lingchuan knocked on its trunk, and it rang with a hollow sound, more like metal than wood.

"Oh, isn't this the old elm demon from the city gate?" Chao Qian found it familiar and slapped his head as he remembered. "When we attacked Jade Balance City, it even helped the Western Ji people fight against us."

"Only the wise adapt to the times," He Lingchuan chuckled. "The very day the city fell, it surrendered to us, otherwise it would have been burned for firewood long ago. Some people have less foresight than this tree."

The soldiers stepped forward and dug a large pit to plant the old tree.

In winter, the ground was frozen solid, making it impossible to dig with shovels. But these men were resourceful and unorthodox: they first dug a small hole, buried explosives, and then detonated them.

They buried more, and detonated again.

After several consecutive blasts, a large pit three zhang (about 30 feet) deep was completed.

Everyone helped support the tree and fill in the soil, and it was planted in no time.

Some meticulous individuals even scooped snow and carefully scattered it over the base.

Leafless in winter, the old tree looked wild and gnarled. He Lingchuan patted its trunk, noting, "Hmm, quite sturdy."

He then read out the appointment decree on the spot, took out his official seal, and stamped it on the tree's trunk, declaring: "From today, you are the Mountain Spirit of the Yin River Valley, with a jurisdiction of a hundred li (about 30 miles)."

The mountain wind whistled, forming strange sounds. As the crowd listened closely, they seemed to hear the words "As you command."

In just two or three days, all the trees within its jurisdiction would become its eyes and ears.

This was also one reason why the northern demon kingdoms preferred to appoint old tree demons as mountain spirits. He Lingchuan found this very logical, and decided to learn from their advanced practices.

He Lingchuan then instructed: "Every fifteen days, take four fresh branches and place them in a water bottle in a quiet room, orienting them to the four cardinal directions: east, south, west, and north. If a branch moves without wind, it signifies an enemy attack from that direction."

With this old tree demon present, enemy incursions into the river forest would not escape the notice of the defenders.

"Oh, and recruit a batch of bird demons," He Lingchuan added. "Owls and other nocturnal birds with night vision are best. Human eyes are no match for theirs at night. These creatures were everywhere in Beijia, posing significant obstacles during his escape. I recall there are a few bird demon nests nearby, aren't there?"

Humans could not stay long by the cold river, but these wild demons could.

Chao Qian noted down each instruction.

Actually, Commander Xiao had laid an excellent foundation for He Lingchuan, his successor. All military affairs in Jade Balance City were proceeding smoothly, requiring almost no changes from him. In particular, the first batch of conscripted soldiers had completed their initial training and were ready for deployment.

The problem was that after the army's reorganization, their combat effectiveness was unproven, and their numbers were insufficient.

With just over a thousand men, they had to garrison the border and defend the city, as well as patrol the trade routes to the south, making their resources immediately stretched thin.

He Lingchuan had no quick solution for this. An army couldn't be built overnight, and a battle-hardened force wasn't forged in a single day.

Fortunately, General Hong had swiftly captured Jade Balance City and secured the granaries immediately, preventing the Western Ji people from burning them down. After another autumn harvest, food supplies were ample this winter, and the young men in the barracks could eat meat every two days.

Just for such provisions, many people signed up to join the army.

After finishing his military duties, He Lingchuan headed home. On the way, he passed the martial arts training hall and heard exclamations and roars coming from within.

The exclamations belonged to the commoners.

He was very familiar with the roars; they were Meng Shan's.

The tradition of martial arts contests from Coiling Dragon City had also been brought here by the Gale Army. Two sets of elevated platforms had only been completed yesterday, and already today, people were eager to test their skills and challenge others.

Among the twenty people He Lingchuan had requested from General Hong, Meng Shan was one.

As he walked over, he happened to see Meng Shan execute an over-the-shoulder throw, slamming an unknown unfortunate fellow into a daze.

The spectators all covered their mouths, but He Lingchuan saw that the poor fellow was still alive. His neck wasn't broken, and his internal injuries weren't severe, though he lay on the ground groaning for a long time, unable to get up.

After joining the Gale Army, Meng Shan was no longer as wild as before; he had learned to exercise restraint.

The contest on the other platform was much more gentle.

These martial arts contests also adopted a points system. Winners could exchange their points for desired equipment and supplies from the armory—and money, of course. The soldiers and civilians of Jade Balance City had never tried this kind of competition before, and were now eagerly signing up.

The street shops nearby were being built quickly. Standing on the bustling street, He Lingchuan once again experienced the feeling he had upon first entering Coiling Dragon City:

A scene of prosperity and vitality.

Returning home, dusk was falling.

He Lingchuan brushed the snow off his head. Just as he took off his cloak, he heard a splash from next door.

"Teacher Sun?" He wondered what the teacher was doing.

Sun Fuling's voice came through the wall: "Ah, come quickly!"

Go over now? He Lingchuan hesitated for a moment, then lightly sprang up, pushed off the wall with his hand, and vaulted right over.

The walls here were much higher than the wooden houses in Coiling Dragon City, but he was already accustomed to not using the main entrance.