In summer, the sky was already bright at 11am. This was earlier than the previous time when we were rushing to travel. We arrived in Liangzhou for the first time last night, and we were all excited and rested late. When we arrived at the martial arts arena, everyone was bleary-eyed, and some even wore their shoes the wrong way around.
Shitou was fine. Xiaomai and Hongshan were tying their belts as they walked. Seeing He Yan was in high spirits, they asked in confusion, "Ah He, aren't you sleepy?"
"I went to bed early last night and had a good sleep." He Yan replied.
Xiao Mai praised: "You are awesome!"
While we were talking, we had already reached the martial arts arena. Since today was the first day, we still lined up according to the previous team formation. But on the high platform stood a strong man in red martial arts clothes, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, sturdy and dark, as tall as a tree, holding a long spear, very majestic.
"Who is that?" He Yan asked.
"The coach who is in charge of supervising our training is Coach Shen." Xiao Mai is a gossiper and had already found out everything early on.
He Yan nodded, but in her heart, she originally thought that Xiao Jue would come to train the soldiers in person, but she didn't expect that she didn't even see him today. Speaking of which, although they were both young soldiers who joined the army and became generals, each general has his own way of training soldiers. He Yan also wanted to see Xiao Jue's methods and learn from him, but it seems that this is not possible for the time being.
"I am your head coach, Shen Han." Coach Shen's voice was like a loud bell. The martial arts arena at the foot of Baiyue Mountain was surrounded by mountains on all sides. His voice was so loud that it made people's scalps numb. "From now on, I will lead you." He shook the military registration book, "Call the troops now!"
We have to count the troops quickly. Today is the first time. After a few days, they will be divided into squads, hundreds, brigades, and divisions. Then the squad leaders, hundred leaders, brigade leaders, and thousand-man commanders can be appointed to count the troops, which will save a lot of time.
This group of people were all scattered soldiers recruited from the capital. They had never received training in the past. It took an hour to count the soldiers. They could only stand in the martial arts field. I felt uncomfortable all over and moved from time to time. Xiao Mai whispered to his elder brother, "Brother, Brother He doesn't move at all. He is like a stone."
Shitou looked at He Yan.
Compared to him, He Yan seemed to be more worthy of being called this name. She stood straight, her posture as straight as a pine tree, her arms neatly placed at her sides, looking at the platform with bright eyes, she seemed neither tired nor bored, giving people an illusion that even after another two hours, she could still stand like this.
Shitou thought of the time when he and Xiaomai were hunting in the mountains. There were wild beasts in the mountains. When the beasts caught hares, they would hide in the bushes and lie quietly, motionless. At first glance, they looked like lifeless stones. He and Xiaomai had hunted for so many years. He was fine, but Xiaomai was determined not to be able to help himself and come down. Why could He Yan do it? Hongshan said that He Yan joined the army because his family fell into poverty and he had nowhere else to go. Judging from his appearance, he seemed to have a good family background before. How could such a person have long-term patience and perseverance like wild beasts?
After all, He Yan doesn't need to hunt.
His contemplation did not yield any answer, and the call to arms was completed.
Coach Shen closed the military register and said, "From today on, one hundred people will form a team, and each team will have one coach. You will practice military formations and charge here! What I want to teach you today is military orders!" When he said this, Shen Han smiled. For some reason, when everyone saw this smile, they felt a chill in their hearts.
As expected, Shen Han shouted, "Not responding when your name is called, not showing up at the time, and not arriving on time is called slow marching. Those who violate this will be flogged! You were late today for a moment, and you should have been punished by military law. However, since this is your first offense, I will let you off."
Everyone's heart was in ups and downs after hearing his words. Just as they came to terms with it, they heard the iron-faced coach's emotionless voice.
"Everyone, carry sandbags and run around the military camp. Ten laps! Not one less. The coaches of each team will be watching you. Anyone who dares to slack off will be punished by military law!"
Everyone present took a deep breath.
The military camp is at the foot of Baiyue Mountain. One lap is at least one li, and ten laps is more than ten li. We also have to carry sandbags. When we got up early, it was still early and we didn't feel hot. But now, after a review of the troops, the sun is high in the sky, and the heat is hanging over our heads. We are sweating profusely just by standing.
I was running in circles under the scorching sun, and suddenly everything around me was filled with sadness.
Xiao Mai said, "Brother Ah He, what Coach Shen said is exactly the same as what you said. How did you know he would say that?"
How did she know? Of course, it was because when she joined the army, it was the same situation. Just like a killing stick, it was a warning to the new recruits to let them know that joining the army is not for a good life. Even if it wasn't for this, Shen Han would find some other reason to punish them.
"Remember the military orders more often," He Yan patted the boy's shoulder, "It will be good for you."
Xiao Mai nodded, not quite understanding.
As Shen Han said, so many soldiers were divided into teams of 100. Everyone went to get sandbags. At first, He Yan thought that the sandbags were like the ones she and He Yunsheng used to chop wood in the mountains, the size of a palm, and they could be tied to the legs. But when she got here, her eyelids twitched.
The sandbag was the size of a bundle, not tied to the legs, but carried on the back. It was heavy to lift, and was definitely not comparable to her sandbag.
"Damn it, running ten laps with this thing on my back is too much!" Hong Shan yelled.
Xiao Mai secretly looked at He Yan's expression. He Yan's face, which had been very calm from the beginning to the end, finally showed a crack when he picked up the sandbag. Xiao Mai secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that Brother He was also an ordinary person and not omnipotent.
He Yan was speechless.
When she was training new recruits, she had to do some weighted running to strengthen their physical strength, but it was done gradually, mostly using the sandbags she had made at the Ho family.
She didn't know Xiao Jue's training method before, but now she finally knew it. He was so fierce at the beginning. Xiao Jue had a pretty face, but she didn't expect that he had such a cruel heart. She still underestimated Xiao Jue's ruthlessness.
He is a ruthless person.
"Ah He, you..." Hong Shan was just about to ask if he wanted to help him carry it on his back, when he saw He Yan pick up the sandbag and tie it around his body neatly.
She was too thin and small. In the barracks full of men, she looked like a boy who had not yet grown up. The sandbag was big and heavy, pressing on her back, and it seemed to make the boy shorter. She looked trembling and very pitiful.
Even a taciturn person like Shitou couldn't stand it anymore and just asked her, "Are you okay?"
"Not bad." He Yan smiled at him.
When they saw her smiling face, they felt relieved, thinking that she was a young and strong girl after all. Even though she looked a little thin, she still had strength.
He Yan cursed Xiao Jue a thousand times in his heart.
Such load-bearing was not a problem in the past. But Miss He was delicate and frail. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't turn Miss He into a strongwoman overnight.
So, it’s really heavy.