Chapter Thirty: Seeking Someone More Capable

As time passed, the momentum of the irregulars' assault gradually waned, with some soldiers beginning to retreat or even flee the field.

"The outcome is decided," Liu Zhi remarked, standing beside Chu Nan. He could not help but lower his voice, his tone betraying a hint of shock.

Chu Nan offered a faint smile and replied calmly, "This is merely the beginning."

Indeed, less than half an hour later, the disorganized mob collapsed entirely. Their formation had been shattered, and those remaining scrambled away in a state of utter disarray. Meanwhile, Chu Nan’s three thousand soldiers maintained their ranks, standing firm and unmoved.

"Victory! We have won!"

The three thousand men cheered in unison, the sound echoing across the entire drill ground. Chu Nan stood at the front of the ranks and raised a hand to signal for silence. The men immediately quieted and stood back to attention. The uniformity of their movements and the solemnity of their expressions were a far cry from the lazy, farmer-like state they had been in just a week ago; it was as if they had transformed into an entirely different army.

Observing from the high ground outside the drill field, Yang Ruyan took in the entire scene. She had initially been drawn by the news that Chu Nan intended to pit his three thousand men against the irregulars, watching out of curiosity and a touch of disdain. However, as she witnessed Chu Nan commanding the confrontation, a tempest rose within her.

"Discipline like iron, movement as one."

She pondered these words, her gaze flickering as Chu Nan’s phalanx advanced. A force of three thousand, moving with such flawless synchronization and steady resolve, had managed to repel an enemy three times their size, beating them into a pathetic retreat. More importantly, these men had only been under training for a single week. To mold a group of loose, undisciplined soldiers into such a force in just seven days?

The astonishment in Yang Ruyan’s eyes deepened, tinged with a flicker of self-doubt. As a military commander who had led cavalry on the frontiers and survived countless bloody battles, she had to admit that this training method and tactical formation were unheard of in the traditional military doctrines she had studied.

"It is truly bizarre. How on earth did he do it?" she wondered to herself.

Yang Ruyan cast her eyes back toward Chu Nan. He stood at the front of the ranks, watching the fleeing irregulars in silence before turning to dismiss his three thousand men. He did not celebrate loudly or boast of his command, merely stating coolly, "Today’s victory is due to your discipline and unity. This is the first step; we continue tomorrow."

Though simple, these words struck a chord with the soldiers. Their gazes were no longer filled with contempt, but with newfound respect. Watching him quietly, the bias Yang Ruyan had held began to waver. She was forced to acknowledge that the Chu Nan before her was entirely different from the "lucky merchant who stumbled into success" she had imagined. Such insight, methodology, and courage could not be achieved through mere luck.

"This man..." she mused, recalling the Yang family’s past condescension toward him, and felt a complex stir of emotions.

Before long, the soldiers began to disperse to return to camp. Chu Nan walked among them, his expression gentle, occasionally exchanging quiet words with his men. Despite being their commander, he maintained no air of superiority. Yang Ruyan squinted, watching him blend into the ranks, her brow furrowing slightly. This style of suffering and working alongside the soldiers was rare in the armies of the Great Desolation. The high-minded commanders of old, especially those from prominent noble backgrounds, would never deign to mingle with the rank and file. Chu Nan’s hands-on approach was unexpectedly refreshing.

"A strange fellow indeed," she murmured, before stepping down from the viewing platform and walking toward him.

At the makeshift rest area in the camp, Chu Nan sat on a rock, discussing the day’s performance with a few soldiers. A soldier wiped sweat from his brow and asked tentatively, "Young Master Chu, was our formation advancement a bit slow today? The second rank seemed to lose its pace for a moment."

Chu Nan smiled slightly. "It is good that you noticed the flaw. But slowness is not necessarily a bad thing; chaos is the true fatality. Remember, holding the formation steady is more important than increasing speed."

The soldier nodded repeatedly, his face filled with admiration. Other soldiers drew near, eager to seek his advice. Chu Nan answered them patiently, showing no signs of fatigue, and even demonstrated a few techniques for positioning and advancement.

In the distance, standing in the shadows, Yang Ruyan watched this scene and felt, for reasons unknown, a sense of unease. She cleared her throat and strode forward.

"Chu Nan," Yang Ruyan spoke coldly, her voice carrying a hint of pressure.

Chu Nan turned at the sound, his expression cooling instantly. He swept a fleeting glance over her, then stood up and waved his hand at the soldiers. "That is all for today. Go back and get some rest; we have more training tomorrow."

The soldiers dispersed quickly, leaving only Yang Ruyan standing in place.

"What does the General want with me?" Chu Nan asked in a calm tone, his eyes cast slightly downward, clearly uninterested in prolonged conversation.

Yang Ruyan frowned, sensing his coldness. She was accustomed to being treated with reverence, and encountering such an attitude from Chu Nan left her feeling unsettled. However, she quickly suppressed her annoyance and came straight to the point. "I admit, your formation tactics today were impressive."

"Your method of training troops is different from any military doctrine I have ever seen. I wish to know, where exactly did you learn this?"

Chu Nan did not answer immediately. He merely glanced at her with indifference, turned to pick up a water skin from beside the rock, poured a cup, and took a sip.

This dismissive attitude caused a spark of irritation in Yang Ruyan. She could not help but sneer, "What is this? Are you playing games with me?"

Chu Nan set down the cup and replied in a cold tone, "General Yang, you flatter me. A nobody like myself, what right would I have to play games with a General?"

The words sounded humble but were laced with sarcasm, causing Yang Ruyan’s expression to shift. She realized immediately that Chu Nan had no intention of indulging her, and might even be retaliating for the Yang family’s past slights.

"I did not come here to argue," Yang Ruyan said, suppressing her displeasure and forcing her tone to be as level as possible. "Chu Nan, I admit I had misconceptions about you. But today, I saw your capability."

"The past injustices the Yang family visited upon you are separate from any cooperation between you and me."

"I only wish... to ask for your guidance on these training methods."

Her words were now lower in stature, carrying a hint of sincerity. Yet, Chu Nan remained calm, not even a muscle in his brow twitching.

"General Yang is too kind," he said flatly. "I am but a merchant, and I know nothing of military affairs. If the General has questions, perhaps she should consult other truly renowned commanders."

This response left Yang Ruyan speechless. She stared at Chu Nan’s unruffled face, a sense of inexplicable frustration rising within her. This man, who supposedly possessed no background, had gained total control of the situation using methods she could not fathom. And now, he did not even have the interest to spare her another glance.

For the first time, Yang Ruyan realized she was truly unable to handle this man.