From then on, Zhao Yun, Zhang He, Zhang Liao, and Yang Yan would get up early every day to spar and compete with each other, and their friendship grew stronger.
After their sparring session ended that day, the four of them sat together and chatted.
Yang Yan, who had always felt inferior because of his Qiang identity, was now much more relaxed and had a smile on his face.
As they chatted, the four of them started talking about their ideals for the future.
Zhao Yun looked at Yang Yan and asked with a smile, "Brother Qiangming, what do you want to do in the future?"
Yang Yan was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, and the smile on his face turned somewhat solemn. He looked up towards the northwest, his eyes filled with melancholy.
“I was born in a Qiang tribe. Since I was old enough to understand, I have never been full. Later, my father was conscripted and died in battle, and life became even more difficult. My mother worked hard all day, but she still almost starved to death.”
My biggest wish back then was to grow up quickly so I could help my mother with the work and not let her suffer so much..."
At this point, Yang Yan's eyes reddened slightly. That memory was not pleasant for him, but he could not forget it.
Zhao Yun, Zhang Liao, and the others felt a deep empathy when they heard Yang Yan recount his past, and their expressions became somewhat heavy.
"And then what happened...?" Zhao Yun couldn't help but ask.
"Later, a Han army came to our tribe. They were very strong and gentle, and they even gave us some food. It was the first time I had ever tasted anything so delicious..."
At this point, a warm smile appeared on Yang Yan's face: "From that time on, my dream changed. I wanted to join the Han Army so that my mother and I could always eat such delicious food."
Later, the Han Dynasty recruited us Qiang people to work, so I followed my mother to the Han Dynasty and settled down there. During that time, I met my adoptive father…”
“My godfather told me that they were doing this to help the Qiang people who were suffering like me. This great spirit showed me a different path.”
From that time on, I carried on my adoptive father's last wish: to strive forward, even at the cost of my life, to liberate and help my compatriots who are still suffering.
When talking about his deceased adoptive father, Yang Yan's pain flashed across his face, but then turned into a determined expression, because he had promised his adoptive father that he would be a man.
Upon hearing Yang Yan's words, a glint of light appeared in the eyes of Zhao Yun, Zhang He, and Zhang Liao.
They only knew that the Han army was great, but they never had a direct impression of it.
Now, after hearing Yang Yan's personal experiences and the various changes he has undergone, they truly understand that the Han army is indeed so glorious and magnificent.
They are proud to have such an army and proud to be a part of it.
Zhao Yun said with a heroic air, "Brother Qiangming, your ideal is also the ideal we all share. Let's work together in the future to dedicate our strength to saving those suffering people!"
"That's right!"
"Me too!"
Zhang He and Zhang Liao, who were standing nearby, echoed in unison.
"Yes, let's work together!"
Hearing what Zhao Yun and the others said, Yang Yan nodded heavily.
"Zilong, Junyi, Qiangming, we share the same ambition and are like-minded. In my opinion, why don't we become sworn brothers?"
Zhang Liao looked at Zhao Yun, Yang Yan, and the others, and proposed that he wanted to become sworn brothers.
"Haha~, great, I've had this in mind for a long time!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yun laughed heartily and immediately agreed to Zhang Liao's suggestion.
"That would be best!"
Zhang He and Yang Yan readily agreed with smiles on their faces.
Afterwards, the four of them went to the street, bought some incense, candles, wine, and meat, and found an open space in a grove of trees behind the camp.
After setting up the incense table and offerings, Zhao Yun, Zhang Liao, and the other three knelt before the table, raised incense, kowtowed, and swore brotherhood.
According to their respective ages, Zhao Yun is the eldest, Zhang Liao is the second, Yang Yan is the third, and Zhang He is the youngest.
After bowing, Zhang Liao, Yang Yan, and Zhang He also stood up and bowed to Zhao Yun, saying, "Brother!!"
"Haha~, Second Brother, Third Brother, Fourth Brother, please don't stand on ceremony!"
Zhao Yun laughed heartily and quickly helped his brothers up one by one.
In the past, Zhao Yun had always followed behind Liu Hong, Dian Wei, Lü Bu and others, playing the role of a younger brother. Now that he was suddenly being called the elder brother, he was naturally extremely happy.
...
September 1st,
After a long and arduous wait, the day of the camp's opening finally arrived for the group of teenagers.
On this day, just as dawn was breaking, the boys living in the separate camp got up early and began to tidy up.
As dawn broke on the horizon, the group of teenagers spontaneously arrived at the open space of the other camp.
The instructors who came to guide the boys nodded in satisfaction upon seeing how self-disciplined the teenagers were.
Afterwards, the boys formed a long line of ten and headed towards the Imperial Guard Camp.
Upon arriving at the Imperial Guard Camp, the boys couldn't help but focus their attention on a huge stone tablet in front of the camp gate.
The stone tablet reads: "Those who seek promotion and wealth, please take another path; those who are afraid of death, do not enter this gate!"
These two sentences were personally written by the current emperor and served as the motto of the Imperial Guard.
Looking at the two lines of large characters on the stone tablet, the group of teenagers silently memorized them.
Upon entering the camp gate, directly opposite it are the statues of Huo Qubing and Wei Qing, two pillars of the Han Dynasty.
Looking at the two statues, the faces of the group of teenagers were filled with reverence and longing.
They knew that the emperor had placed these two statues both to inspire them and to express his expectations of them.
Soon, the group of teenagers were taken to the Imperial Guard's training ground and, under the guidance of the instructors, formed four large square formations.
After standing still, everyone stood ramrod straight, their eyes fixed on a high platform in front of them.
Before long, a luxurious carriage, escorted by a troop of Imperial Guards, entered the Imperial Guard Camp and slowly drove towards the drill ground.
Liu Hong lifted the carriage curtain and looked at the young boys standing on the training ground, feeling a mix of emotions.
Recalling the list of trainees sent by the Imperial Guard, Liu Hong felt very fortunate to have come to the best of times.
In this era, with so many famous ministers and generals, the backbone of the Han Dynasty was once again upheld, and nothing could be more satisfying.
As the carriage slowly approached, the boys on the training ground all turned their heads to look over.
When they were 200 meters from the training ground, Liu Hong called the carriage to a stop.
The moment he stepped out of the carriage, the boys in the training ground gasped, their eyes filled with reverence.
The Emperor's name is now known to everyone, and the young people have been influenced by it since childhood. Many of them had already decided to follow him and swore allegiance before even arriving at the Imperial Guard.
The excitement I felt upon seeing the Emperor in person today is unimaginable.
Facing the gazes of the group of teenagers, Liu Hong waved to them and then slowly walked towards the high platform.
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