Chapter 14 Flag Officer and Selected Point

Po Yang County Left Army Thousand Households.

Military Camp.

"Brother Bin!"

Chen Sansi reported on time.

Xu Bin held his sword by the waist, his brow slightly furrowed at the affectionate address "Brother," "In the camp, address by rank henceforth."

"Okay, Xu Flag Officer!"

Chen Sansi was indifferent.

"Hmm."

Only then did Xu Bin nod in satisfaction, his face still expressionless, "Go change into your armor, then assemble at the Martial Arts Arena. The Lord Hundred Households will teach you martial arts."

"Okay."

Chen Sansi casually found a corner and started to change into the armor he had previously been issued.

Though called armor, its main body was actually cotton, but with armor pieces affixed to the surface.

This armor was referred to as either cloth armor or Dark Armor.

As for the real armor, like those seen in TV dramas, only military officers were allowed to wear them.

The assembly horn sounded.

Chen Sansi had just changed.

Arriving at the Martial Arts Arena, a wide, flat, yellow-mud ground had already gathered about thirty or so people, scattered around, some spirited, some listless, some tall and robust, others thin as rails.

About half of them were locals, the rest didn't seem to be from Po Yang County.

"Line up, line up."

A soldier came to direct everyone to form lines.

Following that, a fat man with a goatee beard took the lead, flanked by two officers, strolling out one foot after the other.

Raising his voice, he introduced himself, "My surname is Wang, first name Zhi. You can call me Hundred Households Wang.

I am responsible for teaching you the basic martial arts of the border army.

The Pile Work was distributed yesterday, you should all have received it. After Pile Work, there's spear technique. Combining the two for practice constitutes the complete basic spear technique for military soldiers.

Today, I will personally demonstrate it to you.

The chubby Hundred Households readied his posture, his bulky body as stable as Mount Tai, performing the Pile Work as smoothly as flowing clouds, without a single deviation.

"Next is the spear technique."

He reached out, catching an iron plum blossom short spear thrown by an adjacent officer.

The spear, about 2.5 meters in length and not exceeding three meters, was still considered a short spear.

The previously steadfast Hundred Households Wang, upon receiving the plum blossom spear, suddenly became very agile, his iron spear thrusting out like a storm, the sound of tearing air echoing throughout the Martial Arts Arena.

Leaving everyone stunned, it was their first time witnessing true Martial Arts.

Before they could recover, a set of spear techniques coordinated with Pile Work was already demonstrated.

"That's it?"

The crowd looked at Hundred Households Wang, who had tossed aside the iron spear, clearly not intending to explain further.

That quick, who could see clearly?

Wang Zhi ignored the murmurs below, cleared his throat, and spoke sternly:

"Let me talk about the assessment standards for the new soldiers.

"Three days Pile Work, seven days spear technique, those who can fluently execute spear techniques combined with Pile Work within ten days will become military soldiers; the rest will be Array Soldiers.

"For military soldiers, pay starts at three taels per month, with supplemental medicine provided every seven days. Based on Cultivation or meritorious deeds, one can be promoted to officer.

"Moreover.

"Among you, anyone who can first cultivate the first strand of Qi-Blood will be directly promoted to flag officer, plus eligibility for next year's Selected Point."

Direct promotion to flag officer!

Hearing this, everyone was interested.

Who wouldn't want to be an officer right away?

Regarding the subsequent "Selected Point" eligibility, very few understood it.

The Hundred Households on stage didn't seem inclined to explain either.

Finally, a lean man with a goatee from the crowd dragged out his words and started explaining:

"This Selected Point means selecting the elite! Three years ago, after the Lord Governor took charge of the entire Northern Territory, he started selecting elite from each garrison. Those who succeed in Selected Point could directly enter the Heavenly Strategy Camp and become direct disciples of Supervisor Sun~"

"Tsk! I thought it would be a huge promotion and great wealth."

"Exactly, who doesn't know that confronting barbarians in the Eight Camps requires risking one's life daily? I'm not going."

Some were greatly disappointed.

"You know nothing!"

"If you want to go far in Martial Arts, you need the guidance of a powerful figure like Supervisor Sun and the resources of the Eight Camps."

"Right, where are there shortcuts to success without risking your life?"

"…"

Another group argued.

"Enough, I've taught all I'm going to teach."

Hundred Households Wang interrupted them, quite impatiently, "Next, you practise on your own.

"For specific tips on Pile Work and spear technique, if there are things you don't understand, go ask a flag officer, ha—"

Fishing his statement, he yawned, massaging his shoulders and scratching his back as he left.

"That's it?"

"What was just taught?"

Everyone looked at each other in dismay.

The entire teaching process had not exceeded twenty minutes, without even a detailed explanation or slow-motion demonstration, who the hell could learn it?

The pile work, they could somehow manage, they each had a manual and could mimic like drawing a gourd from a model.

But what about spear technique?

No one could remember it.

Someone went to ask the small flag for advice.

Only then did they find out it cost money.

To demonstrate once was thirty coins, to teach hands-on was fifty coins.

The prices were marked clearly, honest to all ages.

Hearing it cost money immediately deterred most people.

If they had money back home, enough to eat well, who would join the army?

Of course, there were also a few ambitious ones who wanted to make it as military soldiers, willing to pay to start learning from each action of pile work.

Watching the absurd scene unfold, Chen Sansi was rather speechless.

This was the damn military!

This could be used to make money?

No wonder the garrison was increasingly corrupt, its combat effectiveness ever declining.

He couldn't help but shake his head.

Luckily, Chen Sansi had a photographic memory; he didn't need someone else to explain.

He took a deep breath, positioned his stance firmly, and the familiar burning sensation returned.

Each movement previously demonstrated by Hundred Households Wang had been firmly imprinted in his memory. Now, he checked for any missed or incorrect movements.

After confirming there were no mistakes, he began practicing the new movements.

In less than half an hour, about half of the thirty or so people on the Martial Arts Arena had fallen, the strain of pile work being too much for most to handle.

However, quite a few were still persevering.

Chen Sansi keenly observed this.

A boy younger than him was only slightly slower in practicing pile work, and his breathing rate was different from the others while practicing, seemingly having some special techniques.

Upon closer inspection, it seemed extremely similar to what Hundred Households Wang had demonstrated.

Initially, he thought the prolonged aura of the household officer was a trait of a martial artist, but now it seemed likely to be part of a cultivation technique.

"Are we practicing a compromised version?"

"What do you mean?"

Chen Sansi looked at the flag officers waiting to collect money next to the Martial Arts Arena, how could he not understand?

The breathing skill was most likely also going to cost money …

"Truly plucking feathers from crossing geese!"

"But according to Uncle Xu, it's already easier to learn something in the army compared to the Martial Arts Halls."

"Let's master pile work first."

He was confident about becoming a military soldier, though he might not immediately advance to flag officer to qualify for Selected Point, he also had no full guarantee.

Keep working hard!

—

Not far away.

Inside the tent.

Four or five military officers were gathered around a table, eating and drinking.

In the midst of enjoying themselves, the tent was abruptly flung open.

A high-ranking military officer clad in Lock Armor strode in.

The officers immediately put down their food and drink, standing up all at once, greeting with clasped fists: "Lord Thousand Households!"

Lord Thousand Households Xiang Tingchun surveyed the mess inside the tent, frowning deeply. He berated them, "Idiots! Not training the soldiers, not practicing martial arts, just knowing to drink! If you're really that idle, go to Po Yang County, help the city guards find barbarian assassins!"

A group of Hundred Households bowed their heads, not daring to make a sound.

Xiang Tingchun scanned them one by one, his gaze finally resting on a middle-aged military officer, "Hundred Households Luo, I've already submitted your promotion to Deputy Thousand Households to Commander, a reply should come soon."

"Thank you, Lord Thousand Households!"

The middle-aged military officer showed surprise.

"Mhm."

Xiang Tingchun nodded, then continued to address the others, "In recent years, barbarians attacks have been constant, our Great Sheng Dynasty is in need of more people, you folks should not always think about making trivial profits, teach what needs to be taught."

"Yes, Lord Thousand Households is correct in his teachings."

The officers echoed in agreement.

Xiang Tingchun shook his head, lifted the tent curtain, and left.

Within three seconds, the officers had picked up their drinks again, "Come come come, let's all toast to Hundred Households Luo! Here's to celebrating your promotion to Deputy Thousand Households!"

"Hahahaha—"

They all congratulated Luo Hundred Households.

Only Wang Zhi, while toasting, muttered something silently, and secretly spat on the ground.