Chapter 25: Chapter 24 Training the Troops Chapter 25: Chapter 24 Training the Troops “Right now, we need to do three things: first, select capable young men for training; second, reinforce the village defenses; and third, find a temporary residence in Changqing Mountain!” Yang Zhenshan continued.
Yang Zhengxiang lowered his head, pondering for a moment, “You handle the training of the young men; I’ll take care of the rest!”
He probably guessed Yang Zhenshan’s intention. Yang Zhenshan wanted to train the young men not just for the protection of Yang Family Village but also to seek personal achievements for himself.
This was Yang Zhenshan’s selfishness, but he did not oppose Yang Zhenshan’s intentions, even rather supportive of it.
Yang Zhenshan was a member of the Yang Family. If Yang Zhenshan indeed paved a prosperous path, it would be beneficial for the entire Yang Family.
Perhaps this prosperous path would require much bloodshed to pave; nonetheless, he was still willing to support Yang Zhenshan.
Martial Artists are different from scholars. Scholars can achieve official ranks and wealth through examinations, but Martial Artists must step over blood and bones to ascend to glory.
With Yang Zhengxiang’s support, the selection of capable young men in Yang Family Village went smoothly.
There were a total of seventy-eight households in the village, and a household here was not just a family of three or four; nearly each household had more than a dozen people.
The total population of Yang Family Village should be around a thousand people, with about two to three hundred men aged between fifteen to thirty-five. However, Yang Zhenshan only chose a little over a hundred.
He chose those around twenty who were daring and aggressive in battle. As for those who were sneaky, cowardly, and incompetent, he naturally would not want them.
…
Inside the Yang family’s main hall, the three brothers Yang Mingcheng stood erect in front of Yang Zhenshan.
“Dad, every other family has people participating, should we also join the training!” Yang Mingcheng asked with sparkling eyes while looking at Yang Zhenshan.
Yang Zhenshan’s gaze swept sternly over the three brothers, who were all full of anticipation and excitement.
Although they had always been taught by Yang Zhenshan, this training was different from the usual teaching. The previous teachings were just practicing Martial Arts and cultivating Martial Arts, but this time, the training was military training.
Men love to arm themselves, especially those who practice Martial Arts.
“All of you will participate in the training, but eldest, you need to focus on the home!” said Yang Zhenshan.
“Ah!” Yang Mingcheng was stunned, “Dad, I am a Martial Artist, shouldn’t I be training properly with you?”
Yang Zhenshan shook his head slightly, “You should understand the purpose of training the young men. It is to defend against the Hu Clan, and once we really encounter the Hu Clan, it will surely be a fight to the death. By then, I definitely won’t be able to take care of home, and you will need to protect our family!”
In times of war, anything can happen. Yang Zhenshan couldn’t take all the capable young men of the Yang Family to the battlefield; someone had to stay behind to protect the home.
The remaining women and children needed someone to rely on, and Yang Mingcheng, the eldest son, was undoubtedly the most suitable person.
He should participate in the training but cannot join him on the battlefield.
“This…” Yang Mingcheng hesitated. He turned his head and glanced at his wife and son standing outside the door and eventually nodded resignedly, “I understand, son!”
Yang Zhenshan then turned to Yang Mingzhi and Yang Minghao, “Second, I will arrange a team leader position for you. Whether you can shoulder the responsibility will be up to you!”
A company of over a hundred men naturally needed a clear structure. Da Rong border army’s structure was five men to a team, two teams to a Centurion, three Centurions to a unit, three units to a patrol.
Yang Zhenshan organized the hundred or so capable men into three units based on this structure, with three team leaders – Yang Mingzhi, Yang Zhengxiang’s eldest son Yang Minghui, and Yang Mingwu, who was tall, robust, and innately brave.
Yang Minghui needed no further mention. As Yang Zhengxiang’s eldest son, the Yang Family’s affairs always needed Yang Zhengxiang’s support and naturally took care of his descendants as well.
As for Yang Mingwu, Yang Zhenshan had specifically chosen him for a very simple reason—because he was tall and strong enough.
His figure was like that of the Bear Brothers, standing there was enough to startle anyone.
Before Yang Mingcheng became a Martial Artist, he was the one most likely to become one in Yang Family Village.
“Yes, Dad!” Yang Mingzhi was so excited that he nearly jumped up when he heard he would be a team leader.
“Dad, what about me? I’m not a team leader, but being a Centurion is fine too!” Yang Minghao couldn’t help but speak.
Yang Zhenshan glanced at him and said, “You’ll be one of my personal soldiers.”
“Ah, if not Centurion, then a team leader is fine. I’m not picky!” Yang Minghao said dissatisfied.
Yang Zhenshan narrowed his eyes and said coldly, “You boy, just follow me closely and behave. If you dare to act rashly, you’ll face family discipline!”
Among the three brothers, this youngster was the most unrestrained, always coming up with new ideas; if he wasn’t thinking about getting married, he was plotting some scheme.
“I!” Yang Minghao wanted to argue a bit, but feeling the icy coldness in Yang Zhenshan’s gaze, he shrank his neck and dared not speak another word.
The next morning, in the wasteland behind Yang Family Village’s mountain.
More than a hundred strong men gathered with long spears, and a large number of villagers came to watch.
Although the news of impending border conflicts unsettled the villagers, the fact that Yang Zhenshan wanted to train the young men still made them curious to join the excitement.
They were very curious about how Yang Zhenshan would train their own youngsters.
Even Yang Zhengxiang and several clan elders came over to watch.
Yang Zhenshan stood above, looking down at the disordered crowd, his expression serious.
Every able-bodied person in Yang Family Village practiced martial arts; everyone could fight, but being able to fight did not mean they were qualified soldiers.
Military discipline is about obedience, following orders without question, with military orders as firm as mountains, while these people before him were, to put it harshly, nothing more than a motley crowd.
Even if they had learned martial arts, it could not conceal the fact that they were farmers.
As for how to train an army, Yang Zhenshan still had some confidence.
His original self had been mixed in the military for a year, and he himself had also participated in military training several times; he had some experience at least.
“Silence!”
Listening to the noisy chatter, Yang Zhenshan shouted coldly.
His chilling voice echoed, causing everyone to tremble and fall silent.
“From now on, without my command, no one is allowed to speak! If you wish to speak, raise your hand and say ‘report!’”
“Understand?”
Yang Zhenshan asked loudly.
“Understood!” came a sparse response.
“Louder, do you understand?”
“Understood!”
“Do you understand?”
“Understood!”
The robust voices converged and spread out.
Yang Zhenshan nodded in satisfaction; although they were only a motley crowd, it was a victory that these people could listen to him.
It was not a waste of his time walking around Yang Family Village recently, building up his authority.
“You should all be aware of the border conflict. I need not say more. Now I want to talk about why you need to undergo training!”
Yang Zhenshan stood with his hands behind his back, his posture straight and demeanor solemn as he spoke loudly: “Training you is not for me, nor for yourselves, but for your parents and children.”
“Your duty is to protect, to protect our home of Yang Family Village, to protect the parents and children within this home, to protect this land that could be violated by evil invaders!”
“Turn around and look at them!” Yang Zhenshan raised his hand and pointed to the watching villagers and said, “If one day, the Hu Clan comes here to kill them, to violate them, to take away their silver and food, you should know what to do?”
“Think about the Jiang Family Village, think about the Little Forest Village, think about the cries that were heard beneath the thick smoke, the living examples are right before your eyes!”
“And that’s just bandits; the Hu Clan is more brutal and terrifying than bandits. The Hu Clan will not only burn, kill, and loot, but also capture your wives, sisters, and daughters to violate, and take away your brothers and sons as slaves.”
Listening to Yang Zhenshan’s words, the young men below all showed a fierce look, and the surrounding villagers all wore expressions of fear and reluctance.
They had all heard and seen what happened to Jiang Family Village and Little Forest Village.
No one wanted to watch Yang Family Village also become like that.