RWNEFE -Chapter 154 Appointed Centurion

He knew from the start that he would rather starve and freeze at home than come here.

Liu Yanhui brought Zhang Liao before Shen Lanxi.

“Master, Zhang Liao has come to enlist!”

Shen Lanxi looked up, putting down the documents in her hand.

“Zhang Liao, do you know who you are pledging your service to?”

Zhang Liao was momentarily stunned. After thinking for a moment, he replied, “I’m serving the Great Zhou Court!”

Shen Lanxi said, “Think again.”

Zhang Liao glanced at Liu Yanhui for help. What was wrong with his answer? Didn’t they never ask this question in previous enlistments?

“Master, over thirty people have already enlisted, half of them young men. They all seem a bit thin and weak now, but after a few full meals and some training, in a few months they’ll be strong and capable!”

Shen Lanxi nodded in satisfaction.

Zhang Liao’s mind still hadn’t fully adjusted. Loyalty to the court had been stamped on him like a brand—he couldn’t even imagine serving anyone else.

Seeing that he still hadn’t figured it out, Liu Yanhui couldn’t help but remind him: “Whoever pays your salary, you serve them. Whoever feeds you, you serve them. Can’t you understand that?”

Zhang Liao’s eyes brightened, and he quickly explained: “I just didn’t think about it, I have no other intentions!”

Liu Yanhui nodded.

Zhang Liao immediately knelt before Shen Lanxi: “My lord, I pledge my loyalty to you. I may not be good with words, but I am sincere. From now on, I will only serve you!”

Shen Lanxi said, “Squad Leader, take ten new recruits and begin training them!”

Zhang Liao froze, then realized he had been promoted and his face lit up with joy.

“Thank you, Master, for your guidance!”

Liu Yanhui led Zhang Liao away.

Recruitment continued. With less than ten days until the New Year, Shen Lanxi finally decided it was time to suppress the bandits.

Leading a force of four hundred, she attacked Grass Camel Ridge. After circling the area and leaving half of her men behind, she returned to report the heads of the bandits, bloodied from battle, to Tian Maofeng.

“Master Tian, we’ve been lying in wait for over ten days and finally located the bandits’ hideout. It was easy to defend, hard to attack, and our newly recruited soldiers were mostly old, weak, or sickly. Half of us were casualties, but we finally eliminated the bandits. Now all the bandits are executed!”

Liu Yanhui began to sob as he recounted the hardships: “Master Tian, our Commander nearly lost an arm while intercepting the bandit leader. Luckily, the snowy, slippery ground caused the bandit leader’s sword to miss. Otherwise, our Commander wouldn’t have lived to report to you!”

Tian Maofeng looked at Shen Lanxi, her face covered in blood, her bandaged arm still seeping, feeling both touched and relieved.

He could finally report back to Suiyuan Prefecture. Just in time to finish before the New Year, he would surely receive praise afterward. With a bit of maneuvering, he might even reach the rank of Marquis.

“Good. You’ve all done well. Lanxi, you are now the Centurion under this Commander, overseeing the garrisons of Baihe County, Dayu Tun, and Xingyuan Tun. All soldiers under you are promoted one rank!”

Shen Lanxi: “Thank you, Master Tian, for your guidance!”

Eager to report back to Suiyuan Prefecture, Tian Maofeng handed over the Centurion’s appointment letter and badge to Shen Lanxi and hurried away.

Exiting the Commander’s residence, Shen Lanxi donned her Centurion badge. Her face hardened, turning icy.

Her distant gaze toward the Commander’s residence sent chills down Wei Dongzhu, Liu Yanhui, and the others!

“Purchase food and meat and return them to Baihe County to reward the soldiers of the three garrisons!”

“Yes, Master!”

That night, Tian Maofeng returned, and his subordinates immediately reported: “Lanxi bought a lot of food and meat, saying it’s to reward the soldiers of the three garrisons when they return!”

Tian Maofeng’s face darkened: “Place men inside to monitor him.”

“Commander suspects something?”

He shook his head: “For now, no. But this kid’s background is unclear, and he rose from a low-ranking soldier to Centurion in such a short time—I have to be cautious.”

“Understood!”

Even if subordinates are capable, they cannot outshine their commander. Tian Maofeng didn’t want anyone using him as a stepping stone, so he would crush anyone who started to rise.

Since ancient times, those whose merit eclipses their superiors must be eliminated!

…

“Master, I’ve sent word to the families of the 200 new recruits. They’ve been told the soldiers will serve during the New Year and will not return home for the next two months. We’ve delivered provisions to their families, and everyone is very pleased. They’ve been told to focus on training and not worry about home!”

Shen Lanxi was reviewing the procurement ledger sent by Liu Yanhui.

“Buy more meat. Rice and charcoal will arrive in the next two days. Recruitment must continue!”

“Yes, Master!”

Wei Dongzhu and the others had a million questions but dared not ask.

They most wanted to know how far Shen Lanxi intended to take them. Just thinking about it made their hearts race—they dared not dwell on it.

During the New Year break, Shen Lanxi returned briefly to Hongliu Village.

The atmosphere there was better than before. With the men drafted, the remaining people still had to continue life as usual.

This time, she brought Zhang Liao with her.

Cao Lianwang had illegally occupied a lot of land within Baihe County and had the soldiers cultivate unregistered plots. Tian Nong had only been in office a few days and hadn’t dealt with these lands yet.

“Collect taxes from the soldier households as normal. For extra land, see who wants to lease it. Based on the yield, they pay a reasonable amount of grain each year. You’ll be in charge of recording all this.”

She intended for Zhang Liao to manage the military land and oversee Cao Lianwang’s properties in the county as well.

“Today, distribute the cultivated lands in Hongliu Village. Tomorrow, quietly take people to seize Cao Lianwang’s house!”

Zhang Liao had been stunned for days. He never expected so many strong men to obey someone who looked like a scholar. Truly, appearances can be deceiving.

“Master, what if Tian Maofeng’s daughter reports us to her father?”

Shen Lanxi: “Use your brains—or if necessary, your blades!”

Zhang Liao: “…” Got it. I’ll ask Mr. Liu later.

Some women from Liu-Zhao Village and students from Qinglan Academy had returned this time, to be arranged by her.

“I’ve found several doctors—you will all learn medicine!” she told the women from Liu-Zhao Village.

“Yes, Master!”

The remaining students were told: “Tomorrow, I return to Baihe County garrison. You may come with me, or wait until after the New Year.”

They immediately wrote: “Together!”

Shen Lanxi nodded: “Prepare yourselves!”

The Qinglan Academy students exchanged notes. They had a feeling that the next time they returned might be a long time from now, so they would take everything they could.

…

“Master, you’ve finally returned…” Chunxue and Qiushuang ran up to her immediately.

Seeing their tearful eyes, Shen Lanxi smiled.

“Change into male clothes, pack your things. Tomorrow, we go to the garrison!”

The two immediately smiled through their tears—they had thought the Master had abandoned them.

Turns out she was taking them with her!