stonecrandall Chapter 943: Balanced factions, special forces group!
Chapter 943: Balanced factions, special forces group!
This appointment also reflects Gao Yao's careful consideration. Gao Erniu, a brother brought from his hometown, possessed unparalleled loyalty and a distinguished pedigree. However, his personal abilities, particularly in strategic planning and political acumen, did have their limitations. Gao Yao felt most confident in stationing the Fourth Army near Xianyang as a strategic reserve and garrison force around the capital, with the loyal and reliable, though less capable, Erniu in command. However, the person entrusted with the most important task and placed the highest hopes on him was actually Deputy Commander Lü Ming.
Lü Ming was a member of the Lü family, even Gao Yao's nephew, according to seniority. When Lü Gong decided to rebel, Lü Ming was one of the few clear-headed members of the clan. He argued against the idea, even saying it was "a path to self-destruction," and was subsequently imprisoned in his own dungeon by the enraged Lü Gong.
Gao Yao had already investigated this matter. After the Lü family's fall from power, Gao Yao refrained from widespread persecution, but repression was inevitable. However, Lü Ming, for his foresight and righteous actions, caught Gao Yao's eye. He was later admitted to Shangshan College, where his intelligence and diligence earned him the admiration of the Four Elders of Shangshan, earning him the title of "The Lu Family's Brilliant Talent."
After graduation, Lü Ming, undeterred by his family background, rose through the ranks to become a grassroots official. In his local post, he handled government affairs with impeccable organization, encouraging agriculture and sericulture, developing water conservancy projects, and maintaining public order. Within a few years, he rose to the position of Chief Clerk, demonstrating exceptional administrative talent. During the Fourth Legion's early deployment to the newly conquered Maurya Kingdom, Lü Ming was temporarily assigned to assist with military operations, where his performance impressed Gao Yao.
He not only effectively comforted the local population displaced by the war, but also creatively organized an auxiliary army composed of locals. Under the pretext of "protecting the territory and the people," he effectively maintained local order and reduced the pressure on the garrison. He fully understood the importance of cultural identity and vigorously promoted Chinese characters and "elegant language," establishing simple schools to promote cultural integration.
Most commendably, he was acutely aware of the social problems that prolonged military presence could cause. He boldly encouraged, and even organized, marriages between unmarried soldiers and women from the Maurya Kingdom, offering these families land and tax incentives. This policy not only stabilized military morale and alleviated homesickness, but also accelerated ethnic integration through blood and cultural ties, laying a solid foundation for long-term rule.
These decrees were no small feat, but their effective implementation in a new territory characterized by complex circumstances and vastly different cultures, without sparking widespread resistance, demonstrates not only Lü Ming's wisdom but also his exceptional execution and communication skills. Placing him alongside Gao Erniu was precisely to leverage his strengths to complement his weaknesses, ensuring the Fourth Army was not only combat-ready but also capable of properly managing relations with local forces, becoming a truly stable force characterized by both political competence and military prowess.
At this point, Gao Yao had completed the core deployment of this military reform. From the macro-level strategic adjustments to the meso-level allocation of recruitment responsibilities, and then to the micro-level specific personnel appointments, each link was closely linked, demonstrating both his ahead-of-its-time military vision and his skillful political balancing act.
After Gao Yao announced the reorganization plan for the four major conventional armies, the officials in the palace were still stunned by the sheer size and meticulous organization of the troops. However, Gao Yao's plans clearly went far beyond this. He glanced at the crowd, his tone steady but with undeniable decisiveness as he announced another major decision:
"In addition to this, a special forces group will be established, with Duosi in charge!"
As soon as these words were spoken, many courtiers who had previously paid little attention to Duosi turned their attention to the sturdy general with a face that carried the uniquely resolute character of South Vietnam. Duosi acted almost immediately, quickly stepping out from the ranks of courtiers. His steps were firm, his eyes gleaming with uncontrollable excitement. He reached the imperial steps, knelt solemnly, and bowed, his voice rising slightly with excitement:
"Yes! Your Majesty, Duosi, accepts your command and expresses your gratitude!"
At this moment, Duosi's mind was as clear as a mirror. He knew full well that this appointment was far more than just an ordinary military post. It meant that from this day on, Duosi was no longer the "small division" commander occasionally entrusted with important tasks simply because of his familiarity with mountain warfare. Instead, he had truly stepped into the core power circle of the Southern Border regime—no, now, it should be called the Kingdom regime.
In the past, despite his remarkable achievements, he was more often viewed as a "specialist"—an indispensable tool in specific circumstances, but not necessarily involved in the highest-level strategic decision-making and control of core military forces. Now, however, he has been granted independent command of a brand-new "Special Forces Group Army," undoubtedly the highest recognition of his past abilities by the King, and a profound confidence in his future potential. This is a world away from his previous position, where he "followed orders but not announcements" and was primarily responsible for specialized missions.
Gao Yao looked at Duo Si, who excitedly accepted the order, nodded slightly, and then explained to everyone the unique positioning and astonishing authority of this "special forces group":
"This special forces group army will integrate all the specialized military branches currently scattered across the various armies. These include, but are not limited to: heavy cavalry, both mounted and cavalry, equipped to charge and break through enemy lines; heavy armored soldiers, like mobile fortresses, with exceptional protection, adept at frontal advances; specially crafted rattan armored soldiers, light yet exceptionally defensive, particularly adept at fighting in the humid, mountainous forests of the south; and mountain soldiers, personally trained by General Duosi and skilled in mountain climbing, jungle lurking, and combat in treacherous terrain. Furthermore, the army's most elite soldiers, best suited for specialized missions such as small-scale infiltration, raids, decapitation, and intelligence gathering, will be selected to form a dedicated special forces brigade."
He paused, then announced the size of the army and its supreme command: "This special forces group army has a tentative strength of 50,000. Although its size is smaller than that of a regular group army, all of them are veteran warriors, capable of fighting ten to one. And—"
Gao Yao's voice was deliberately emphasized here. He swept his eyes across the room, especially glancing at General Han Xin. "I will personally take charge of this army!"
This last sentence resonated like thunder in the palace. Everyone instantly understood the deeper meaning of this arrangement. The king's "personal responsibility" meant that the supreme authority and command of this army, comprised of the most elite and specialized forces in the entire military, would rest firmly in Gao Yao's hands.
Even Han Xin, a Grand General theoretically commanding the entire nation, was unable to mobilize a single soldier from this "special forces" without Gao Yao's explicit order or authorization via the tiger talisman. This fully demonstrates the unique strategic position of this unit and its special nature as Gao Yao's "personal army" or "strategic reserve." It was not only a decisive force on the battlefield but also an absolute guarantee for maintaining the stability of the royal power and responding to unexpected crises.