Chapter 53 Standoff with Veterans

What does that mean?

Many soldiers couldn't understand it.

Many veterans chose to ignore it and continued to drift along listlessly.

"Didn't you hear me?" Wei Shuyu shouted.

"Young general, what are you saying? We don't understand."

An old hand yawned and couldn't help but reply.

"You you you you..."

Wei Shuyu pointed out each of those troublemakers one by one.

"Each person leads nine people, line them up according to their height!"

Ten people hesitated.

These seasoned veterans are people even they wouldn't dare to offend easily.

"What? Do I have to repeat myself?"

Wei Shuyu stepped forward, holding a military baton.

The group immediately turned around to make arrangements...

They had already made up their minds that they would work under Wei Shuyu for one day and then apply for a transfer that evening.

After working for quite a while, we finally got the line arranged.

"It takes you so long just to stand in line, you deserve to be soldiers your whole lives!"

Wei Shuyu mocked him mercilessly.

The veterans acted as if they hadn't heard anything and went about their business.

*Smack*

Suddenly, Wei Shuyu stepped forward and slapped the chin of the most troublesome guy at the front with his military stick.

"Head up, chest out, stomach in, buttocks lifted..."

With each sentence he spoke, Wei Shuyu would strike him with his stick.

"Stay in that position, don't move!" Wei Shuyu shouted sternly. "Move even once, and you'll be punished with twenty strokes of the cane."

The troublemaker's eyes were practically spitting fire.

“You troublemakers, come here and learn from me. After you’ve learned, hand me over to the nine people you’re leading.”

"From now on, the ten of you will be the squad leaders of your respective teams."

"If I find anyone in any team standing incorrectly, the entire team will be punished!"

Wei Shuyu constantly lectured and instructed him.

Several troublemakers accepted it reluctantly.

As for those seasoned veterans, they don't care at all.

Anyway, I'm just getting by. As long as I don't bother them, I don't care what they do.

Standing posture is easy to learn; you can almost learn it after watching it once...

"Young general, you've already learned it."

Wei Shuyu stood with his hands behind his back, watching this scene with cold eyes.

"Say it again? Did you learn it?"

Wei Shuyu's stern face and cold voice rang out...

Even the most rebellious soldiers couldn't help but feel a sense of fear when facing Wei Shuyu.

Having already been tamed once, they would subconsciously develop a fear of Wei Shuyu.

"Yes...yes."

The troublesome soldier who had spoken seemed a little guilty, and he turned his head to look at his teammates behind him.

Did I tell you to turn around and look behind you?

Bang.

General Wei Shuyu slammed his staff into the ground, kicking up a little dust.

"You ten team leaders, step forward!"

As Wei Shuyu roared, the ten troublemakers stepped forward in unison.

About face!

Swish.

The ten people then obediently turned around.

Although it's not a military stance, the speed is still different.

"Open your dog eyes and see clearly, are they standing the way I taught them?"

Looking around, all I could see were those veterans, each one crooked and drooping their heads, scratching their backs, wiping their sweat, picking their noses... each one different.

In an instant, the faces of the ten troublemakers turned green.

They were teaching perfectly fine just now.

"Young general, it's the middle of the day, can we go and rest now?"

One of the veterans fanned his face with his sleeve, looking extremely impatient.

"Who gave you permission to speak?"

Wei Shuyu stepped forward and met his gaze without flinching.

"Young General, we know you have connections. If you want to be a general for a few days, we can cooperate."

"But look at this sun, it's so hot! Let's play together when it cools down a bit, okay?"

An old hand is an old hand; he immediately guessed Wei Shuyu's purpose in coming here.

Throughout history.

There was only one Huo Qubing!

No monarch would use his elite troops to create another champion!

*Smack*

No sooner had he finished speaking than Wei Shuyu slapped the veteran across the face.

"What...what are you doing?"

The veteran was stunned by this sudden turn of events.

*Smack*

Wei Shuyu slapped him again.

boom.

The two slaps in quick succession ignited the veterans' fury.

They stepped forward one by one, angrily accusing Wei Shuyu...

"Kid, don't think you're a real general just because I call you 'Little General'."

"We have shed sweat and blood for the Tang Dynasty!"

"Don't take advantage of your status to bully others. If things get out of hand, it won't be good for anyone!"

The veterans recounted their story with a chilling intensity...

They weren't afraid of Wei Shuyu, the son of an official.

Those who could be called veterans were those who served under Qin Qiong and Cheng Yaojin, most of whom had followed them since the Wude era.

In a one-on-one situation, they might be afraid of Wei Shuyu.

But when they unite...

To be honest, even Li Shimin didn't dare to touch them!

"You shed sweat and blood for the Tang Dynasty?" Wei Shuyu sneered, "Do you think you're proud to be veterans?"

The veterans held their heads high, adopting an air of self-righteousness.

Some even rolled up their sleeves and began to flaunt their scars...

"These two scars are from when we attacked the Turks!"

"I've been doing this for a long time, since the time of the Xuanwu Gate Incident..."

"Look at my technique, it was used to destroy Liang Shidu back then..."

The veterans lifted their robes, each showing off their battle achievements.

Scars are every soldier's most magnificent medals!

"Indeed." Wei Shuyu nodded. "They are all people who have made contributions."

Suddenly, Wei Shuyu raised his voice and roared, "Then tell me, why are you, with such illustrious military achievements, still just the lowest-ranking soldier!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed drastically!

Wei Shuyu, however, did not let them off so easily, and continued to rebuke them mercilessly...

"Weren't you the one who was yelling the loudest just now?"

Wei Shuyu pointed at an old soldier: "Three scars on his back, two cuts on his chest, and countless scars on his hands and feet?"

"Please tell me, if you're so daring and willing to fight, why did you come here?"

"Is there no more soldiers in the Tang Dynasty? Or have all the other soldiers died, and I need a great hero like you to keep me company?"

Wei Shuyu's words were exceptionally sharp, like a dagger piercing the old soldier's heart.

The veteran's face flushed red, and he stammered, unsure how to answer.

"Based on the few major battles you've experienced and the scars you've sustained, you'd be more than qualified to be a seventh or eighth-rank captain, if not a great general. Have you ever thought about why?"

"And you guys, even if you don't have scars, just by getting older and more senior, how could you possibly become a minor leader?"

"How did you all end up playing around with me?"

"Can't figure it out?"

"Let me tell you..."

"No matter how brave or daring you have been in the past!"

"But now, you have become a burden to the military!"

"A group of people that everyone despises and loathes!"

"His Majesty and Commander Qin are keeping you parasites because of your past contributions."

"It's fine if you don't realize it."

"They still rely on their past glory to act arrogantly and domineeringly within the camp!"

"You need to understand one thing..."

"When you've been reduced to playing with me, all your former glory has long since been extinguished!"