plumnovel Chapter 92 First Appearance
Chapter 92 First Appearance
Daxingyuan School Ground.
The wind howled across this training ground, the most elite training ground of the Sui Dynasty during the Kaihuang era.
At this moment, dark clouds loomed over the training ground.
Twelve thousand soldiers crowded onto this vast land.
Although they were dressed in the military uniforms of the Sui Dynasty, with iron armor in the front row and leather armor or military uniforms in the back row, the first impression this army gave was not that they were elite, but rather that they were dejected.
Yes, that's right, it's dejection.
Because the news had already spread in private: their gathering this time was not to fight the Turks in the north, nor to quell the remnants in Jiangnan, but to select some people to follow the disgraced Prince Changning to Lingnan, a place rumored to be rife with miasma and inhabited by barbarians who ate human flesh!
In this era, Lingnan was practically synonymous with the gates of hell.
In the line, some people stood slouching, some whispered to each other, and many more had blank stares, carrying a deathly silence after resignation.
This is hardly a fierce and powerful army about to go into battle; it's clearly a group of prisoners waiting to be exiled.
"His Highness has arrived!"
A long shout tore through the wind.
On the side of the training ground, a deputy general dressed in silver armor had been waiting for a long time. When he saw the three riders escorting a person, he hurriedly stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and moved with fluid grace.
"This humble general, Li Mi's deputy, pays his respects to Your Highness, Prince Changning!"
The lieutenant raised both hands above his head, holding a thick roster, and spoke rapidly: "Your Highness, as instructed by the Crown Prince, 12,000 soldiers of impeccable character from the Twelve Guards on duty have been assembled! Among them, over 10,000 are seasoned veterans, and the rest are newly recruited soldiers—all are present! Of these, 10,500 are truly seasoned veterans who have seen blood and fought in battle!"
After finishing speaking, the lieutenant glanced smugly at Li Mi behind him.
Such efficiency and execution—looking across the entire capital, who but our Prince Pushan could achieve this?
Yang Yan reined in the horses and looked down at the roster.
But he didn't reach out to take it.
He simply turned his head slightly, his gaze passing over the adjutant to Li Jing beside him, and casually raised his chin.
"Brother Pharmacist, here you go."
Li Mi's previously smug smile twitched slightly, and his eyes instantly turned sinister. That was military power! That was the lives and fortunes of twelve thousand men! And Yang Yan, without even a glance, had handed it over to this scholar who could only write and draw?
Li Jing was also slightly taken aback, but he reacted very quickly.
There was no refusal, nor any sense of trepidation.
He simply stretched out his hands calmly and steadily accepted the heavy roll of names, as if he were receiving not just a roll of names, but Yang Yan's heavy trust.
"promise."
It was just one word, yet it carried immense weight.
This scene was witnessed by Qin Qiong, who was standing nearby. A glint of shrewdness flashed in the eyes of this burly Shandong man.
Although he was a military man, he also understood the principle: if you doubt someone, don't use them; if you use someone, don't doubt them.
Your Highness's move was brilliant!
"Let's go."
Yang Yan didn't look again. He lightly squeezed the horse's flanks with his legs, and the Jade Lion snorted. With elegant steps, he walked straight towards the three-zhang-high command platform in the center of the training ground.
Li Jing followed closely behind on horseback, clutching the scroll of names tightly in his hand. Qin Qiong stood guard beside him, his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Only Li Mi, watching the three figures disappear into the distance, gripped his horsewhip tightly.
"Hmph! Let's see how long you can keep up this act!"
He snorted coldly, spurred his horse, and chased after it, but he was ultimately half a horse length behind.
……
The command platform stands tall, reaching into the clouds.
When Yang Yan appeared on the high platform in his scarlet royal robes, the once noisy training ground for ten thousand people gradually quieted down.
Yang Yan climbed the steps one by one.
The steps are very high, and each step feels like stepping on the hearts of everyone.
Behind him, on his left was Li Jing, with a lean face but piercing eyes, and on his right was Qin Qiong, who was as tall as an iron tower and exuded a fierce aura. Li Mi stood a little behind with a cold face.
The four people stood still.
The wind seemed to have picked up, making Yang Yan's robes flutter loudly.
Yang Yan did not speak immediately.
He stood on the edge of the platform, his hands gripping the cold stone railing, his gaze sweeping over the dark mass of people below.
Twelve thousand pairs of eyes were also watching him.
There was curiosity, disdain, and fear...
"Is this the unfortunate eldest grandson of the emperor?"
"I heard that he offended Empress Dugu and is going to be sent to feed crocodiles."
"They even want to drag us down with them, what a fucking bad omen..."
Although he couldn't hear the specifics of the discussion, Yang Yan could clearly feel the resentment permeating the air.
He took a deep breath.
As a modern person, he had never actually given a speech in public, let alone in front of more than 10,000 ancient soldiers armed with weapons.
My heart was pounding in my chest, and my palms were slightly sweaty.
Are you nervous? Of course I'm nervous.
But he knew this was a hurdle he had to overcome.
To survive in this chaotic world and to change the fate of the Sui Dynasty, which only lasted two generations, he needed more than just conspiracies and tricks. He had to have the charismatic leadership to inspire people and make soldiers willing to die for him!
He closed his eyes, recalling the breathing technique Li Jing had just taught him, focusing his energy on his dantian.
When he opened his eyes again, there was no trace of fear in them, only an arrogant arrogance that seemed to want to tear a hole in the sky.
"Silence, all troops!"
Qin Qiong suddenly stepped forward, his tongue thundering, and let out a loud roar.
That shout, like the roar of a tiger, made the eardrums of the soldiers in the front row ring.
The training ground fell into a deathly silence.
Everyone instinctively straightened their backs, a natural fear of the strong.
Yang Yan nodded in satisfaction as he watched this scene.
He spoke slowly, his voice not particularly loud.
To ensure everyone could hear clearly, a loud-voiced messenger would relay his message every ten steps, spreading it like waves across the entire area.
The wind howled past, stirring up the dry, yellow dust on the training ground, which stung my face.
Below the command platform, twelve thousand heads hung low, like a desolate wasteland.
No one spoke; only heavy breathing and the soft rustling of armor rubbing together created a suffocating atmosphere of oppression.
Taking a deep breath, Yang Yan abruptly waved his sleeve: "I am Yang Yan, grandson of the Emperor of the Great Sui Dynasty and eldest son of the Crown Prince!"
These words caused a slight commotion among the previously apathetic crowd.
Although everyone knew he was a grandson of the emperor, his straightforward self-introduction carried an intimidating aura in this rigidly hierarchical era.
"I know you're afraid!"
"Before you stand the miasma, poisonous insects, and barbarian swords of Lingnan! It's a legendary hellish place where nine out of ten who go there never return! In your hearts, you think of the fierce Turks of the north, for at least it's dry land; you think of your homeland in Jiangnan, for though it's far away, for at least it's your hometown; you think of your wives and children, your warm bed, and the harvest from your small plot of land!"
The commotion in the audience grew even greater.
The soldiers, their secrets exposed, looked up, their eyes filled with shame and indignation, but even more so with the panic of having their fears revealed.
"Being afraid is the right thing to do!"