The hills west of the Wind Fortress were known for their varied terrain: gentle plains to the east, dense forests to the north, and a series of rocky hills to the west. It was there that the ground had been prepared for the tactical evaluation maneuvers of the newly promoted units after the spring exam.
The sun had barely reached its zenith when the horn sounded twice, announcing the start of the military exercise. On the heights, under a red silk pavilion, General Han Yu, a veteran of the war against the northern barbarians, watched. Beside him, several officials from the Ministry of War and two great noble clans observed intently.
—That's the young man from the Li Clan —one of the onlookers remarked, pointing to Li Wei at the front of his formation—. The top scorer in the practical exam. Can a cub lead a pack?
—We shall soon find out —replied Han Yu, in a grave voice.
Order of Captain Li Wei's UnitLi Wei positioned himself at the front of the column, wearing a dark blue cloak with the emblem of the Two-Headed Lion, the symbol of his unit. He gave the order with a firm voice, and the banners rose. The five infantry units marched as one. Behind them, the hundred logistics men accompanied with wagons and supplies, impeccably arranged under Wu Min. On the wings, the mounted archers moved gracefully, and the heavy cavalry, like a contained storm, advanced with steady force.
Li Wei rode to his commanders.—Today, not only will they evaluate us —he said—. They will assess whether we are worthy of fighting together. Deployment formation: "Lion's Horn"!
Tactical Exercise: "Defend the Position"The exercise consisted of holding an elevated position for one hour against simulated waves of attack from another test unit. The infantry would take the front line, the archers would form a mobile harassment line, and the cavalry was to perform dissuasive charges on the flanks.
First phase:Li Yueran and Fan Jie's archers galloped in circles, firing arrows with precision at moving dummies. Each hit was followed by the sound of a drum: successful impact.
Xu Rong and He Jian's infantry formed an impenetrable wall, with firm spears and shields. Han Rui and Zhou Ping rotated the squads to keep the fighters fresh.
Second phase:The simulated attack arrived. Dummies controlled by ropes, moving obstacles, and small groups of hooded soldiers represented ambushes. Wu Min's logistics responded flawlessly, replenishing spears, simulating casualty evacuation, and maintaining morale with strict discipline.
Then, the enemy attacked the flank.
—Now! —shouted Li Wei.
Like lightning, Shen Bao and Gao Fen charged with their heavy cavalry. The ground trembled with each gallop, and the simulated enemy line was split in two. On the hill, the nobles watched, mouths agape.
—That is no ordinary charge! —murmured General Han Yu—. It's a divine hammer.
Evaluation ResultsHours later, as the banners returned, the general descended from the hill and approached Li Wei. The young man bowed, his face sweaty but resolute.
—Captain Li —said the general—. The Blue Lion has roared. I haven't seen such a disciplined formation in years, and never in such a young unit. You have honored your promotion… and your clan.
—Thank you, sir.
Han Yu turned, but paused.
—Next week you will depart for the southern border. There are disturbances near the Jieyin pass. Your unit will be assigned to establish an outpost. Prepare yourself.
Li Wei rose… as the news spread like wildfire through the camp