Following the previous incident, Tan Lun ordered the guards to restrain the two men and immediately conduct a thorough investigation. The truth was soon laid bare: the victims supposedly killed by the Man-gu were, in fact, innocent teenage commoners. Faced with this reality, Tan Lun trembled with rage. Without a second thought, he executed Shui Niu and Man-gu in accordance with military law.
This incident left a deep impression on Tan Lun. As a former Xin Dynasty soldier, he knew all too well that his troops were demoralized, undisciplined, disorganized, and lacking in quality. While such an army was more than enough to deal with pirates, Japanese raiders, and scattered remnants of defeated forces, they would surely crumble like tofu if brought onto a real battlefield.
Knowing that the Emperor himself was a military genius, Tan Lun gathered his courage and submitted a memorial to Ding Wei, detailing his desire to reform the military and humbly asking for advice. Upon receiving Tan Lun’s report, Ding Wei was pleased to see a general who was open-minded, eager to learn, and willing to confront the flaws of his own troops; he took the time to provide careful guidance. Considering the unique nature of Tan Lun’s forces, Ding Wei provided a prescription, dividing the rectification of the army into three simple, blunt steps:
Chapter 538