Chapter 25: Mobile Elite
Chapter 1 (Page 1/3)
Xiang Shouyue was stunned.
“What? You really don’t know? The Duke’s Mansion just issued a court dispatch, and it’s specially for you!”
Yao Jin suddenly felt as if sand had gotten into his eyes; he couldn’t help but reach up to rub them.
“A court dispatch? Especially for me? Where is it? Let me see!”
Xiang Shouyue waved his hand, and soon someone brought the dispatch and handed it to Yao Jin.
“Duke’s Mansion Guard Captain Yao Jin, eighteen years without change.”
“Through cold and heat, never once slackening.”
“Rising early to train the troops and practice martial arts, resting at dusk while contemplating defense.”
“Like Jingwei filling the sea, unwavering in resolve.”
“Like Kuafu chasing the sun, persevering without relent.”
“Truly a pillar of the nation, a model soldier.”
“Hereby granted the rank of Senior Ninth Grade.”
“All troops shall take him as an example, emulate his loyalty and courage, admire his diligence, and restore the great military prestige of Daxu, protecting our mountains and rivers!”
In an instant, this “Yao Eighteen” was moved to tears, crying like a child.
Eighteen years without change!
Like Jingwei filling the sea, like Kuafu chasing the sun.
A pillar of the nation, a model soldier.
Every word struck his heart like the heavy drumbeats echoing across the city from the bell tower.
Eighteen years—countless days and nights.
Never had he heard such praise.
Not a single word before!
Yet on the very day the new ruler ascended in Daxu, in fact, just after morning drill, such an appraisal was given!
So many words, not a single negative one—all positive.
One could say each word was a dream he dared not even hope for, yet now it had become reality.
He had always complained: after eighteen years, not even a rank, always just a “reserve guard.”
Not even granted the Ninth Grade.
That was the lowest rank.
Now, suddenly granted “Senior Ninth Grade,” skipping a level!
The ruler truly was a wise sovereign!
There was no reason not to follow him steadfastly!
Yet something was odd.
When the ruler just handed over the military orders and the command token to muster the Imperial Guards, why had he not mentioned the rank at all?
Showing gratitude in person surely felt more sincere than doing so behind the scenes.
Only two possibilities came to mind.
Either the promotion to Senior Ninth Grade was not considered significant enough by the ruler to highlight.
Or the decision had been made before the orders were issued; since the promotion was already granted, there was no need to emphasize it again.
Suddenly, a thought struck him.
During the morning drill, when the ruler led by example and asked his name, he had casually said:
“Yao Jin, to advance, it depends on how much effort you put in.”
Chapter 1 (Page 2/3)
Immediately after, the ruler said something to Chief Administrator Zhang.
Zhang looked over sharply, his expression full of shock and some expectation, seeming worried that Yao Jin had made the wrong choice.
Fortunately, I quickly summoned the guards and issued a “diligent training order.”
If my mind hadn’t turned quickly and I hadn’t called the guards, would this “Senior Ninth Grade” have passed me by, leaving me still just a “reserve guard”?
Such a small thought, and yet it could have been so consequential.
In that moment, this newly appointed Ninth Grade Inner Guard General broke out in a cold sweat.
He even trembled all over.
It turned out the ruler’s words, “To advance, it depends on how much effort you put in,” held such power?
One sentence decided a two-rank promotion!
Truly, one must “apply oneself”!
The tasks the ruler just assigned had to be done well!
“General Shouyue, let’s get to the point!”
Yao Jin took on a solemn expression, holding the command token with both hands and presenting it to Xiang Shouyue for inspection.
“The ruler commanded me to bring this token to muster the six divisions of the Imperial Guards, with three orders.”
“First, all Imperial Guards must be on duty, patrolling more frequently inside and outside the city!”
At this, Xiang Shouyue produced the other half of the tiger token from his bosom, checked it against Yao Jin’s, and after confirming it matched, returned it.
“The ruler must be concerned about the noon Heaven Worship ceremony mentioned just now over the bell tower’s voice transmission.”
“Please relay to His Majesty that he need not worry!”
“To protect the ruler and guard the royal city is the Imperial Guards’ responsibility.”
“All six divisions of the Imperial Guards, totaling 1,200 brave warriors, shall be fully deployed, reinforced with four patrol teams, to oversee inside and outside the city!”
“By the way, according to the bell tower transmission, this ceremony will be held simultaneously from the east, west, south, and north bell towers, with the four patrol teams corresponding to each direction. Is this feasible?”
Yao Jin put away the token, shaking his head.
“No need to specifically target the bell towers in the four directions!”
“That is the ruler’s second order!”
“Maintain strictness outside but leniency inside, so the citizens do not feel burdened!”
Xiang Shouyue was startled and winked at Yao Jin.
“Really?”
“That probably wasn’t the ruler’s direct order, but rather from the Junior Tutor on his behalf!”
“You know, our ruler never really manages these details…”
Yao Jin ignored the teasing glance and spoke firmly.
“General Shouyue! I already mentioned before I came, though perhaps not clearly enough.”
“These three orders were personally issued by the ruler before the Duke’s Mansion, and the tiger token was also personally bestowed by him.”
“As for the Junior Tutor, he is currently transmitting orders from the eastern bell tower; how could he issue orders simultaneously with the ruler?”
The reason for not directly telling this Senior Sixth Grade Martial Guard General to “respect himself” was to save him face.
After all, he was the highest-ranking military officer in Daxu with the authority to appoint and remove ranks independently.
Besides, putting oneself in others’ shoes—
Had it been a day ago, no, even half a day ago, Yao Jin would have thought the same way.
A Ninth Prince issuing military orders and personally bearing the tiger token?
Chapter 1 (Page 3/3)
Wasn’t that just clowning around, like a monkey smearing tofu on its nose—purely for amusement?
Xiang Shouyue was a clever man, and seeing Yao Jin’s solemn expression, though puzzled, he guessed the gist.
It seemed the Ninth Prince’s arrival in Daxu had brought great change.
Even the long stagnant “Yao Eighteen” was now promoted “on the spot.”
What else was impossible?
If the orders were personally given, then perhaps it was truly so!
Xiang Shouyue’s teasing smile vanished.
“General Yao, the Imperial Guards accept these orders!”
“We will patrol only the outskirts, absolutely no disturbance to the citizens!”
“May I ask, what is the ruler’s third order...?”
Yao Jin slowed his words.
“The third order is to select one hundred elite soldiers from the Imperial Guards and another hundred from our guard unit to form a mobile cavalry, ready for emergencies.”
Xiang Shouyue was taken aback.
“Mobile cavalry? These are the cream of the crop!”
“However, the command over these two hundred cavalrymen...”
Yao Jin smiled faintly.
“The ruler said the command authority is to be decided by General Shouyue!”
Xiang Shouyue grew even more puzzled.
“The ruler actually anticipated I would ask this question?”
Yao Jin laughed heartily.
“The ruler said he knows little of military affairs. You are the commander of the Imperial Guards, the city’s chief commander, so naturally you should decide!”
A hint of pride appeared on Xiang Shouyue’s face.
But it quickly vanished, replaced by an expression of disbelief.
After a moment’s thought, he responded.
“It is an honor that His Majesty entrusts me with such an important matter.”
“However, as you said, I am the highest-ranked officer in Daxu authorized to determine ranks and coordinate all parties.”
“Since I hold overall command, it is inconvenient to delegate further.”
“If everyone wants control, no one will have control.”
“Therefore, it would be more appropriate for you, the newly appointed Ninth Grade Guard General, to lead the mobile cavalry!”
Yao Jin was taken aback, surprise showing on his face.
He had not expected this Sixth Grade general to say such a thing.
Yet, in truth, waves of emotion surged within him!
Because when the ruler handed the tiger token to him, he had whispered a few words.
The first was exactly what Yao Jin had just told Xiang Shouyue—it was truly the ruler’s directive.
“Form the mobile cavalry; command authority is crucial.”
“If any Martial Guard general asks, say I know little about military matters and leave it to him!”
But then, the ruler listed several options.
Never had he expected Xiang Shouyue to choose the most daunting one—it was truly chilling!