871 The Iron Mountain (1/2)
Luo Ningcha was somewhat discontent with the situation, but at the moment, she didn't know what the problem was. After peering at the soldiers standing in the snow for quite a while, she finally asked, ”How many men do we have?”
”We have over 2,400 Iron Mountain soldiers,” answered the chief, who was a former subordinate of the Big Head God. He had heard Luo Ningcha's voice both when she was a little girl and when she had grown up. However, this was the his first time seeing her in person. He praised her secretly, thinking that the Big Head God hadn't been bluffing back then.
”But why do they… look so few and… not powerful?” Luo Ningcha frowned. ”You've seen the Norland army. They number in the hundreds of thousands, and I can tell that they're an army that can fight just by looking at them.”
The chief laughed. ”My lady, we can't compare to a powerful country like the Norland or the Central Plains. 2,400 is not a small number at all. They're a military force to be reckoned with in the Western Regions or any other small country. Besides, over a thousand of them are veterans of the Iron Mountain army, and each of them is stronger than ten enemies combined.”
Luo Ningcha did some calculations, and she found that even if each of these 1,000 soldiers was capable of fighting ten enemies at a time, their total strength was merely equivalent to that of 10,000 soldiers. For a woman who had seen far larger armies, this number didn't qualify as 'big' at all. ”The Dragon King frequently goes to different places with merely several thousand, and sometimes even several hundred soldiers, and his group always feels like a pretty powerful army. Why can't the Iron Mountain army be the same? Is it because you didn't train hard enough, or is it because I didn't pay you enough money?”
All the leaders lowered their heads and kept silent. Ever since the Big Head God had died, they had had a tough time. A year ago, they reunited at the Iron Mountain and thought that they could start over again and regain their former glory. But unexpectedly, they ended up becoming Golden Roc Castle's vassals. Because of the Central Plains' intervention, they finally ended up returning to the daughter of the Big Head God. They didn't expect to hear such depressing words on the first day.
The chief was more familiar with this lady than the others, and he knew that she never thought twice about what she said, so he let out a couple of laughs and hoped to cover it up. ”Of course money is important, but that's not the only reason why our brothers are gathered under this Iron Spear Flag-”
Luo Ningcha hadn't noticed the reaction of those people around her at all. Pointing at the big flag embroidered with the pattern of a spearhead, she seemed to have suddenly understood, saying, ”The problem's the flag. It's not tall enough, and it's also not big enough. Go get me another one. I want a flag that looks mighty and dignified. And figure out a way to have it constantly flap in the wind. It makes people sleepy when it droops like this.”
”Yes. I'll get another flag,” the chief answered resignedly.
”In three days. This is an order,” Luo Ningcha was still discontent. ”Equip them with uniform armors and weapons, along with all the other stuff. Look at you. You're commanders of this army. Why are you dressed as beggars? Are you trying to embarrass me? Throw all this away and get new ones.”
Those leaders' heads drooped even lower. They used to be bandits, and they still had been after Big Head God's death, so they had always worn whatever they had taken from others. How could they possibly have a uniform set of armor and weapons?
The chief blushed scarlet. ”That won't be easy, my lady. We have over two thousand men here. Where am I supposed to get so much matching armor and weapons? Besides-”
Luo Ningcha glared at him. ”Are you suggesting that I'm not competent? List all the things you need, and I'll go get them for you.”
”Yes, yes. I'll give you the list by the end of today.” The chief instantly cheered up. ”Of course you're competent, my lady. Otherwise, we wouldn't have come to you.”
Luo Ningcha enjoyed this flattering remark. Even though it was only average, she found it more pleasant than the half-hearted pledges of her servants. ”Oh, while I still remember this – you need to change your titles too. 'Chief' and 'Leader' are not decent enough. 'Marshal' and 'General' are much better. If you don't like them, 'Captain' and 'Chiliarch' are also good alternatives. They're simple, easy to remember, and also very dignified. You can consult with each other and make a decision by tomorrow.”
”Yes.” The chief felt this was a simple issue.
”And… And… never mind. These things give me headaches. Anyways, you have to figure out a way to make Iron Mountain Army seem more impressive. How am I supposed to take you to Jade City if you look like this?”
Upon hearing the words ”take you to Jade City,” all of the leaders raised their heads and their faces lit up.
A maidservant galloped over and whispered something in Luo Ningcha's ear. Luo Ningcha raised her arm and walked towards the carriage with the support of her personal maid. With one foot on a stool, she turned her head back around and said, ”Oh, what's your name?”
The chief's face was filled with embarrassment. He had met her several times, but she still didn't remember his name. ”My name is-”
”Never mind that. Just put it on the list. And theirs as well. Put all of their names on the list. I'll reward them according to their ranks. From the generals to the soldiers, there'll be something for everyone.”
”Travel safe, my lady!”
”Hail Iron Mountain!”
When Luo Ningcha left the camp, the atmosphere was very warm. She was satisfied with herself since she believed she had shown both competence and generosity in front of the troops. In her opinion, even Servant Huan wouldn't have found any flaws in her performance.
The encampment of the Iron Mountain Army was almost right next to that of the Central Plains' army. Luo Ningcha's carriage stopped in front of the doorway of the main tent. After getting off the carriage, she glanced at the Dragon King's guards, thinking that she should also select a hundred guards for herself from her own soldiers. Also, her guards should be as tall and strong as those swordsmen of the Big Snow Mountain, and their weapons should also be different from the common soldiers' so that she would get a sense of security once she set eyes on them.
She lodged this issue firmly in her mind and said to the maidservant beside her, ”Go inside and inform them of my arrival.”
The Dragon King had come here to negotiate with Prince Xiao, and she had to be present because she also had an army at her command now. No longer was she some other man's vassal.
Prince Xiao was not the kind of person who preferred to get straight to the point and talk business. So, when Luo Ningcha entered the tent, he was still exchanging his usual pleasantries with the Dragon King, making a lengthy comment on the winter in the Western Regions. ”You're also from the Central Plains, Dragon King. I guess that you've never seen such heavy snow in your hometown, have you? Heavy snows and the desert – these two things alone stop most outside enemies from coming. In the Central Plains, there are actually people who think that it's very easy to lead an army of over 100,000 men to the Western Regions. Alas, their idealistic opinions are really detrimental to our country… When did you return, beauty?”