Chapter 12 Come to our garrison, bro.
A group of seven or eight people left Qingshui County and headed north to Daxing Garrison.
Besides the soldiers recruited from Linjia Village, there were also three accompanying constables and military officers. After leaving the county and heading north, the group gained more than twenty recruited soldiers.
Thanks to the money Lin Erniu gave him before he left, although it wasn't much, it made Lin Changning's journey less difficult. He used the money to buy roast chicken and wine, which he shared with the constables. After that, the constables treated him much better.
One of those traveling with them was Wang Xiaoqi, who was accompanying the escorts and delivering letters.
They were somewhat displeased with him from the first meeting, and people openly and secretly said that someone like him would be sent to his death if he went to the border.
But after eating her chicken and drinking some wine, the group's attitude softened.
A constable chewed on some tough chicken breast and asked, "Changping, I heard from your village that you volunteered to join the army. What were you thinking? With your small frame, I'm afraid you won't even make it through the first day."
Wang Xiaoqi nodded in agreement: "Exactly, someone like you going to the border is just suicide, isn't it? I heard you're a scholar, but has your brain become outdated from all that studying?"
Lin Changning also took a couple of sips of wine, feeling warm all over. He grinned, showing off his big white teeth, and said, "You guys don't understand, do you? You can't judge a book by its cover. I may look a bit thin, but I'm actually quite strong."
Wang Xiaoqi scoffed, "What are you bragging about? Let's arm wrestle, I don't believe your little body can have any strength!"
Seeing the skeptical looks from the group of people, Lin Changning remained remarkably calm: "What's so great about arm wrestling? See that boulder over there? I can lift it."
Wang Xiaoqi, his eyes wide with fury, seemed determined to challenge Lin Changning: "That rock weighs at least three or four hundred pounds! You? If you can lift it, I'll eat it!!!"
Lin Changning looked at Wang Xiaoqi with a smile: "That's not necessary. If I can lift it, I can borrow Xiaoqi's horse to ride tomorrow."
A constable standing nearby, eager for a good show, exclaimed, "Why not? If you can lift that huge rock, you can ride horses in turn. I guarantee you won't even have your feet touching the ground by the time you reach Daxingwei!!!"
A group of people shoved and jostled Lin Changning, creating a commotion.
Lin Changning cupped his hands and bowed: "Then this lad thanks you all, hehe!"
Wang Xiaoqi laughed and scolded, "Go away, as if you can lift it. Let me tell you, if you can't lift it, you'll have to cover all our food tomorrow!"
Lin Changning, standing by the fire, grinned from ear to ear: "No problem at all. If not, we'll still have roast chicken and drinks tomorrow."
As she spoke, a group of people urged her to hurry up and go.
Apart from those from Linjia Village, most of the group were somewhat amused and eager to see the spectacle unfold.
Lin Changning walked to the boulder, measured it, and then grabbed a point of leverage. Before anyone could react, he had already bent down and firmly gripped the bottom of the boulder with both hands.
After securing his stance, he used the strength of one hand to slowly lift the boulder!
The flag officer and his men were so astonished they could hardly speak, and the roast chicken in their hands almost slipped from their grasp.
Their eyes widened as they stared intently at Lin Changning, their faces filled with disbelief.
Lin Changning, carrying the boulder, walked steadily around the flag officer and his men, each step leaving a slight indentation in the ground, yet his steps were incredibly firm.
The constables looked at each other in disbelief, and one of them couldn't help but mutter, "My goodness, is this even human strength?"
Wang Xiaoqi was also stunned and stood there for a long time before he came to his senses, his face full of shock.
After circling around the crowd a few times, Lin Changning, without panting or blushing, steadily placed the boulder back in its original position.
A deathly silence fell over the surroundings, then erupted into thunderous cheers.
Lin Changning raised an eyebrow: "How about it? I told you not to judge a book by its cover, didn't I?"
As soon as Lin Changning sat down next to someone, his stomach started growling.
She was always extremely hungry after using up all her strength.
He took a dry biscuit out of the package and ate it in a few bites along with the wine, which relieved his hunger a little.
"I wasn't lying to you, was I!"
Wang Xiaoqi looked at Lin Changning with the same eager gaze a wolf in the forest would have on a flock of sheep, which slowed down Lin Changning's eating pace.
Wang Xiaoqi cupped his hands and said, "Brother Lin, I was too presumptuous. You have such skills, yet you went to study in previous years. It's a real waste of your talent. I'll accept the bet. Tomorrow you ride the horse, and I'll walk with them."
Lin Changning waved his hand: "Hey, when I was young, there wasn't enough food at home, and I would get dizzy and lightheaded if I exerted myself even a little. My family thought I was naturally weak, so they found me a school, thinking that I would have a way out in the future."
The constable, Sun, chuckled and handed over a piece of dried meat: "Look at you, you're so hungry you're almost too busy to talk. Try some of my mother's smoked meat..."
Lin Changning declined with a slight shyness: "I can't accept this. The older brothers have taken good care of me on the way."
Sun, the constable, stuffed a piece of meat into Lin Changning's hand: "It's nothing valuable. You treated us to roast chicken, so have a taste. It's a token of your appreciation."
Lin Changning once again feigned the appearance of a weak scholar, cupped his hands in greeting as he looked at the group's eager gazes, and said, "Then thank you, brothers. I'll treat you to the roast chicken and drinks tomorrow."
Wang Xiaoqi patted Lin Changning on the shoulder with a smile: "Kid, you're a good one. Call me Brother Wang from now on. How about coming to our garrison?"
Lin Changning hesitated for a moment: "Thank you, Brother Wang. I'm the sixth child in my family, just call me Liulang. Isn't the garrison assigned? Can I still choose?"
Wang Xiaoqi looked at Lin Changning and nodded: "That's the general rule, but since Liu Lang has immense strength, I imagine all the garrisons will be vying to have him."
Wang Xiaoqi looked around, then leaned closer to the fire and whispered:
"I work under Commander Qi Rong. Do you know Commander Qi Rong? He is the eldest son of the Duke of Qi's family."
He came from the Chu King's guard post and was just transferred to our guard post by the Chu King. His martial arts skills are unparalleled, and he is also good to his subordinates.
Brother Lin, if I may be so bold as to speak, nowhere else would be as good as coming to our garrison. At least our battle achievements are real. It's hard to say about other garrisons..."
Lin Changning instantly understood the implication in Wang Xiaoqi's words. With her immense strength, she would naturally be recruited, and the border guard she was going to was in the area under the jurisdiction of the King of Chu.
This is also the place she wants to go, but according to Wang Xiaoqi, it seems that there are other forces in the garrison.
Only the lineage of Commander Qi can be considered the King of Chu's trusted confidants.
As for the other garrisons, they are likely controlled by the imperial court or other princes.
It's quite complicated, but she came here for the King of Chu from the start. Thinking of this, Lin Changning looked around and cupped his hands again: "I don't know anyone here. It's my good fortune that you're willing to take the risk to promote me. I'll leave the matter of getting into the garrison to you, brother..."
Wang Xiaoqi laughed heartily and patted Lin Changning on the shoulder: "No problem, no problem. Who knows, Liu Lang might become our comrade-in-arms in the future."
As they spoke, the group started laughing and joking again.
Lin Changning breathed a sigh of relief. As long as he could enter the territory of the King of Chu, he wouldn't be afraid of not being able to climb up the ranks in the future.
With the major concern resolved, Lin Changning's smile became especially genuine.
Wang Xiaoqi was overjoyed to have found such a promising young player for his team's commander.
The two exchanged a glance, both feeling they had gotten the better deal, and the atmosphere became exceptionally harmonious.
Lin Changping may look like a scholar, but he is different from the stereotypical pedant in his dealings with people. He is willing to put aside his pride and be with them, these ordinary soldiers.
He doesn't use classical Chinese phrases, and he doesn't look down on people just because he's a scholar. He also looks at people with a very calm and gentle gaze, and he seems to be a clever person.
These are secondary; the most crucial thing is that this kid possesses immense strength.
Even an illiterate soldier like Lao knew that throughout history, those with immense strength were often generals.
He went out to deliver a message and returned with a talented person; the commander would surely reward him for his discerning eye.
Although Commander Qi was still young, he never mistreated his soldiers.
When a group of people train or eat together, they usually live and eat together, so the subordinates are all under their control.
Wang Xiaoqi was overjoyed at the thought of finding a literate and incredibly strong soldier for the garrison; he could already imagine the centurion's praise upon their return.
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