The old bricklayer carefully added some slaked lime and stirred it, then used a shovel to lift it up and check the consistency.

He muttered, "Sir, this won't work either. The adhesive isn't strong enough to stick the bricks properly."

Seeing their timid and hesitant appearance, Lü Tu said irritably, "This thing isn't some kind of elixir, what are you afraid of? Add more without hesitation!"

"Okay!"

As lime was continuously added and stirred, the eyes of several old bricklayers lit up at the same time, and they exclaimed with delight, "Sir, hey, it really works!"

"Sir, you are truly amazing! There is lime everywhere, which will make it much easier for us to make cement in the future!"

Lu Tu nodded: "Since you know this is good, you'd better keep your mouths shut from now on. Your job every day is to wait for people to bring sand and lime, make cement mortar, and then deliver it to them to build the walls!"

"Understood, sir. I guarantee not to divulge a single word! Truly, the patriarch has revealed his true power..."

Just as the old bricklayer was about to excitedly take out incense and candles to thank his ancestral master, he suddenly had a flash of inspiration and knelt down before Lü Tu, saying, "Thank you, sir, for teaching us. This is truly a great achievement that will benefit future generations!"

"Yes, sir, once the city wall is built, I will definitely build a temple for you to commemorate your merits."

Lu Tu felt a chill run down his spine. A living person being offered as a sacrifice in a temple? His face darkened as he asked, "Are you trying to shorten my lifespan?"

The men were shocked upon hearing this and quickly waved their hands, saying, "We wouldn't dare, sir, you have misunderstood us."

Lu Tu waved his hand at them: "Alright, get to work. Do what I asked you to do and teach the others how to build walls. That will be your way of repaying me."

"We understand."

With the availability of inexpensive cement mortar and a large stockpile of blue bricks, it won't be long before the entire village is protected by city walls and barbicans.

At that time, not only will Yun Tianshi trip him up, but even if Zhao Wuyou from Huai Shuo next door leads his men to attack, they won't be able to do anything to him, since the blueprints he discussed with Xiao Zhong set very high standards.

Since there were spare people available, Lü Tu called on the villagers to dig up stones to pave the road. The paved road would greatly improve transportation efficiency, allowing all the village's problems to be resolved quickly.

Lu Tu summoned Sun Meng and entrusted him with the task, instructing him to lead the villagers who were free to dig. As soon as he finished giving the instructions, he discovered that the person had disappeared again.

They still lack population. Right now, their entire village, including the 1,500 soldiers and slaves they just recruited, only has 3,800 people.

This was also his own idea; if outsiders knew, they would probably be so angry they'd vomit blood.

The village alone accommodated more than 3,800 people, and this was in the desolate northern region.

Even villages in the Central Plains don't have this many people; it's comparable to a large town.

Domestic affairs are progressing rapidly, and of course, military affairs cannot be neglected either; both must be addressed with equal vigor.

Lu Tu summoned the 50 cavalrymen he had taken away the day before. These 50 men were Lu Tu's most valiant and skilled elite cavalrymen, and he intended to train them as his personal guards.

In the future, once a war breaks out, no matter who the opponent is, these 50 cavalrymen can be used as the vanguard to break through the enemy lines.

Lu Tu announced loudly, "Starting today, I will teach you ten more spear techniques!"

Upon hearing this, Nie Yun and the cavalrymen were extremely excited, as Lu Tu had only taught them 10 moves before.

After several battles, large and small, they were surprised to find that these marksmanship techniques were simple and efficient, often taking the enemy's life in the least effortful way. Not only were they highly effective at killing, but they were also less likely to get injured themselves. They were simply divine skills on the battlefield!

So when they heard that there were still 10 moves to learn, everyone perked up and looked at Lü Tu with admiration.

Lu Tu stood in the training ground, holding a golden spear, the high sunlight making him look like a god of war.

He announced loudly, "The previous 10 moves were the basics of spear techniques. I am very satisfied with the results of yesterday's charge. So the next 10 moves will be advanced spear techniques. Watch carefully!"

"The eleventh move is called 'Shield-Breaking Tide'! If the enemy uses shields to defend against our charge, we will use the tip of our spear to try and stab their feet!"

"Huh?" The crowd, who had thought it was some kind of advanced marksmanship, were dumbfounded when they heard this! Although efficiency is important in combat on the battlefield, this was just too despicable.

Lu Tu seemed to see through their thoughts and said with a contemptuous smile, "Actually, I have a better way to break the shield formation, but it's troublesome right now and I need to reforge the weapons. You can learn it first, so we can use it if we encounter it again."

"clear!"

Lu Tu then taught Nie Yun and the others the other 10 spear techniques, and then gave them individual guidance on the angles from which to thrust their spears.

"Everyone, perk up! Promote the three best trainees to sergeants!"

These soldiers selected by Lü Tu knew in their hearts that Lü Tu intended to train them as elite troops; otherwise, he wouldn't have only trained 50 of them individually.

There will always be a competition among elites, otherwise a group of people would just want to coast along, and even the most elite soldiers would eventually become nothing more than seasoned veterans.

Moreover, Lu Tu immediately tempted them with military ranks. They were all teenagers, and which young soldier didn't want to make a name for himself?

So these guys train exceptionally hard, even more so than when they're in bed with their wives.

Under Lü Tu's guidance, the group practiced for four hours and finally mastered the ten spear techniques.

The sun was about to set when Lü Tu, watching the villagers return from work one after another, called out to stop training the soldiers: "Stop!"

All the soldiers stood still instantly, just like the spears in their hands, their eyes burning with fervor.

Lu Tu nodded in satisfaction: "As I said earlier, I will select three of you to serve as squad leaders. Now, let's begin the pair competition, and we'll stop when you've made your point!"

"start!"

At Lü Tu's command, the 50 soldiers present began to fight one-on-one. Although Lü Tu had reminded them to stop when they were about to strike, the desire for victory in their eyes made it impossible for them to remain sober.

No one wanted to be outdone by the other, so they put all their effort into using their marksmanship skills. In an instant, the entire training ground was filled with dust and shouts of battle.

This also attracted the attention of the villagers who were finishing their work nearby, who cheered at the sight! Especially the older women and young wives.

"My goodness! Sergeant Nie Yun is so handsome! Tsk tsk tsk, look at all those muscles of his, it's like he has inexhaustible strength. If he could use that strength on me, that would be amazing."

Someone nearby immediately teased, "You old codger, you really dare to dream. Squad Leader Nie Yun has someone he likes, Ye Xing'er. Her skin is so delicate, you could squeeze water out of it if you pinched it. Why would she be interested in you?"

"If you don't like me, you naturally won't like me either!"

Lu Tu always had a headache dealing with these mature women. Just as he was about to tell them to go home and cook, a cold light flashed in the next second. One of the two soldiers who were sparring in front of him thrust his spear straight at the other's throat without holding back!