Rows of barracks, built with green bricks and tiles, were neatly arranged across the plain. In front of the barracks was a training ground made of rammed earth. Military equipment used for training—such as spears, bows and arrows, stone locks, and stone wheels for strength training—were all neatly placed on the training grounds.
The walls surrounding the military camp were made of mud and straw, standing more than ten feet high and nearly six feet thick. There were only two gates, one to the east and one to the west, for entry and exit.
Along the walls inside the gates on both sides, several watch towers were constructed. In the event of a war, these towers would allow for surveillance of the enemy's movements and provide the opportunity to harass them with arrows.
Barricades were placed near the gates to prevent cavalry from launching attacks.
Though it was called a "military camp," in truth, it resembled more of a military stronghold. If war were to break out, this place could serve as a fortified position to be defended.
For an enemy to capture the camp, they would either need to spend time bringing in siege equipment or assault the camp with several times the number of troops.
Alternatively, they might bypass the camp, but the soldiers stationed here could still harass the enemy's supply lines and cut off their logistics, particularly food supplies.
This camp wasn't far from the main road, so it would be nearly impossible for any enemy to bypass it and get supplies through other routes.
However, these military arrangements, while impressive, were of little use on normal days, especially in Xingyuan Prefecture, where the chance of war was slim.
Yet, despite the lack of conflict, the soldiers posted on the towers and the patrols walking the perimeter demonstrated that General Sun was strict about discipline, with no sign of relaxation among the troops.
Even though the region was peaceful, General Sun's personal soldiers remained ever vigilant.
He had served for many years in the border army, and it was clear from the camp's management that he took his role seriously.
"Fifth Brother, how is the food in our personal guard camp? Is there meat? Are we getting enough fine grains?" Chen Mo asked Mo Hu with a curious expression.
He had been meaning to ask for a while, but since Mo Hu had ridden a horse while he took a carriage, he never had the chance to bring it up. Now, finally, he had the opportunity, and he didn't want to miss it.
For Chen Mo, food was the most important consideration. It was simple: well-fed soldiers accumulated energy and strength more quickly.
"Ha, don't worry about that. In our personal guard camp, we eat white flour every meal, and there's meat every day." Mo Hu laughed as he responded to Chen Mo's question.
Previously, when Mo Hu had recruited others into the personal guard camp, some had asked about the salary, whether they would be paid on time, or if they could achieve any official rank or title by serving. Others had asked about the training requirements and how well they could progress in their careers.
But Chen Mo was different—his only concern was food.
Mo Hu couldn't help but find it amusing but also thought it showed a kind of simplicity and honesty in Chen Mo. As long as a person had enough to eat, everything else would fall into place.
As they continued on their way, several guards posted at the camp gates called out with smiles. "Fifth Brother, you're back."
It was clear that Mo Hu held a certain status in the guard camp.
"Yes, I brought a new guy." Mo Hu nodded in acknowledgment and led Chen Mo deeper into the camp.
"You're a new soldier here, so don't worry about anything else in the first three months. Just focus on your training. After that, I'll assign you to a group and give you tasks." Mo Hu explained as they walked.
The Daqian army was organized into squads of five soldiers, each led by a squad leader. Two squads formed a "ten" under a ten leader, three "tens" formed a "group" led by a group leader, and five groups formed a "team," headed by a team commander.
All of these positions had ranks but no titles. Above that, there were battalion-level officers, and a colonel led a battalion. Chen Mo had already met Captain Wang, who was at this rank, the lowest level of military officers in the Daqian army.
The personal guard camp, however, was understaffed. Since it had suffered heavy casualties in a border conflict months ago, only about a hundred soldiers remained. With the situation dire, General Sun had asked to return to Xingyuan Prefecture to regroup and train new recruits. While they were waiting for reinforcements from their home regions, the scope of recruitment had been expanded.
"Let's go with this one." Chen Mo gestured toward one of the empty barracks as he surveyed the buildings.
The barracks were built of bluestone, with the floor covered in tightly fitted bluestone slabs, offering a far more comfortable living space than anything Chen Mo had seen before. The room was spacious—more than ten feet long and wide—enough to comfortably accommodate two or three people.
More importantly, this room had actual windows, something Chen Mo had never had in his previous accommodations.
Mo Hu helped Chen Mo request the necessary furniture from the logistics officer: a wooden bed, a table, two long benches, bedding, and two sets of military uniforms.
After quickly tidying up the room, it was already evening.
"Come on, Fifth Brother, I'll take you to eat and show you how good the food is in our camp!" Mo Hu called out as the time for dinner approached.
Chen Mo, having just finished setting up his space, was happy to follow.
Outside the door of the barracks, Mo Hu's older brother, Mo Dao, was standing. He was extremely tall, at least six and a half feet, with a stern expression and said nothing.
"This is my brother, Mo Dao. You can just call him Fourth Brother." Mo Hu introduced him casually.
"Fourth Brother." Chen Mo greeted with a smile.
"Mm." Mo Dao nodded briefly, not offering much else. His reserved nature was evident.
"My brother is like that—cold on the outside, warm on the inside. You'll get used to it once you get to know him." Mo Hu said with an affectionate tone, playfully draping his arm over Chen Mo's shoulder.
It wasn't long before they arrived at the camp's mess hall. Not many soldiers were there at the moment; many were still out on missions or busy with other duties.
After greeting a few familiar faces, Mo Hu led Chen Mo to the food. Ignoring the curious looks from the others, Chen Mo filled his bowl with a hearty serving of stewed tofu and cabbage, and added eight white flour buns. He didn't hesitate to start eating, savoring the abundance of food as though there was no one else around.
The food in the personal guard camp was a far cry from anything he had eaten before. The portions were generous, with no restrictions on quantity, ensuring that every soldier was well-fed.
After the meal, Mo Hu took Chen Mo back to the barracks. The next day, Chen Mo began his official training with the other new recruits under Mo Hu's leadership.
While not everyone in the camp could lift a 300-jin stone, there were about eleven or twelve soldiers who could do so. Many of the others had either fought on the border with General Sun or were fellow clansmen of the general, numbering around fifty or sixty in total.
Two months passed quickly. Chen Mo grew accustomed to the daily training regimen. The strength-building exercises, long drills, and grueling physical conditioning helped him improve significantly. It wasn't long before he began to see the results of his hard work. But it was clear that this was just the beginning of the long road ahead.
This camp, like the military itself, ran on strict discipline and an unshakable work ethic. But General Sun's generous treatment of his soldiers—ensuring they had ample food and training—was proof that he valued the human element as much as strategy. Whether in peace or war, the soldiers of this personal guard would be ready for whatever came next.
End