Once all the soldiers of the Zhao State army had finished their meal, Hua Tianxiong instructed General Zhang Kui to assemble the more than 1,400 officers and soldiers capable of hitting targets at a distance of 180 meters. He then distributed the 1,500 pre-prepared Cloud-Piercing Bows and sets of Iron Stone armor to them, forming a temporary elite marksman battalion. Since most of these men were officers, Hua Tianxiong requested that General Zhang Kui take direct command of this marksman battalion. He also divided them into four squads, each led by a senior officer to ensure the battalion remained well-managed.
Following the strategy previously used by the Iron Stone Guards to surround and annihilate the Xiongnu foraging parties, the Zhao State army—being the personal guard of Grand General Zhao Wuji—maintained excellent order despite the reorganization. Although there was slight initial confusion, they quickly returned to a state of absolute obedience. Of course, with General Zhang Kui in charge, any officers harboring dissatisfaction dared not show it; after all, they remained under his direct command.
As for the remaining 14,000-plus soldiers, they were divided into four battalions—first, second, third, and fourth—each consisting of about 3,800 men. These were led by General Zhang Kui and three other primary generals. In normal circumstances, one squad of marksmen would be assigned to follow each battalion, with special arrangements made for unique situations.
Chapter 116