Start practicing archery

Chapter 14: Flag Officers and Selected Vanguards
Poyang County Zuojun Qianhu Suo.

barracks.

"Brother Bin!"

Chen Sanshi reported on time.

Xu Bin held the sword at his waist and frowned slightly at the intimate address of "brother": "In the future in the barracks, call me position."

"Okay, Officer Xu!"

Chen Sanshi didn't care.

"Ah."

Xu Bin nodded with satisfaction, his face still expressionless: "Go put on your armor, and then go to the martial arts arena to gather. The captain will teach you martial arts."

"it is good."

Chen Sanshi found a corner and started changing his clothes, putting on the armor he had received earlier.

Although it is called armor, the main body is actually cotton cloth, but there are nail bubbles on the surface.

This armor is called cloth armor or dark armor.

As for the real armor, like the one shown in TV dramas, only military generals can wear it.

The assembly call sounded.

Chen Sanshi had just finished changing his clothes.

When we arrived at the martial arts field, there were already about thirty people gathered on the wide, flat yellow mud ground, standing scattered everywhere. Some were energetic, some were listless; some were tall and strong, and some were skinny.

About half of them are locals, and more than half do not look like they are from Poyang County.

"Stand still."

Soldiers came to command everyone to line up.

Immediately afterwards, a fat man with a mustache walked out, led by two officers.

He introduced himself in a hoarse voice: "My last name is Wang Zhi, you can call me Captain Wang.

I will be responsible for teaching you the basic martial arts of the border troops.

The桩功 was distributed uniformly yesterday, and you should all have received it. After桩功, there is also枪法. Practicing the two together will form a complete basic spear skill for soldiers.

Today, I will demonstrate it to you in person.”

The fat centurion took a horse stance, his bloated body was as steady as a mountain, and his pole-pressing exercises were smooth and flowing without any deviation.

"Next is the gunmanship."

He reached out and caught a plum blossom pistol thrown by the officer next to him.

This gun is about two and a half meters long, not more than three meters, so it can still be considered a short gun.

Captain Wang, who had been as steady as a mountain just now, became extremely agile the moment he got the plum blossom spear. The iron spear in his hand stabbed out continuously like a storm, and the sound of tearing the air echoed throughout the entire martial arts field.

Everyone was stunned by what they saw; it was also the first time they had seen real martial arts.

Before they could come to their senses, a set of spear techniques combined with standing practice was demonstrated.

"Gone?"

Everyone watched Captain Wang throw away his spear, obviously not planning to explain in detail.

It’s so fast, who can see clearly?
Wang Zhi ignored the discussion below, cleared his throat, and said in a deep voice:

“Tell me about the assessment criteria for new recruits.

"Three days of standing practice and seven days of spearmanship. Those who can combine spearmanship with standing practice and perform smoothly within ten days are called Wuzu. The rest are Zhenzu.

"Wu Zu, the monthly salary starts from three taels, and a bowl of tonic medicine is rationed every seven days. In the future, you can be promoted to an officer based on your training or merits.

"in addition.

"Whoever among you can first cultivate the first strand of Qi and blood will be promoted directly to flag officer, and will also be eligible for next year's selection."

Directly promoted to flag officer!

Hearing this, everyone was very interested.

Who doesn’t want to become an official right away?
As for the qualifications for being selected as a striker, few people understand it.

The captain on the stage didn't seem to want to explain.

Finally, a thin man with a goatee in the crowd began to explain in a drawling tone:

"This selection of vanguards means selecting the elite! Three years ago, after the commander-in-chief took charge of the entire northern border, he began to select the elite from various guards. Those who succeed in the selection can directly enter the Tiance Camp and become the personal disciples of the commander-in-chief Sun~"

"Tsk! I thought I could become a high-ranking official and make a fortune."

"That's right. Everyone knows that the Eighth Battalion will face the barbarians head-on and fight hard every day. I won't go."

Some people were greatly disappointed.

"You know nothing!"

"If you want to go far in martial arts, you need the guidance of a strong person like Master Sun and the support of the resources of the Eight Great Battalions."

"That's right. How can one succeed without working hard?"

"..."

Another group of people refuted.

"Okay, I've finished teaching you everything I wanted to teach you."

Captain Wang interrupted them and said impatiently: "Next, you can practice on your own.

"If you don't understand the specific tips of the pole and spear techniques, go and ask the flag officer, ha—"

After saying that, he yawned, scratched his shoulders and left.

"That's it?" "What did you just teach?"

Everyone looked at each other.

The entire teaching process takes no more than twenty minutes, and there isn’t even a detailed explanation or slow motion. Who the hell can learn it?

As for the practice of standing meditation, each of them has a booklet and can follow the instructions.

But what about shooting?

Who can remember it.

Someone went to Xiaoqi for advice.

After asking, I found out that it costs money.

A demonstration costs thirty cents, and a hands-on teaching costs fifty cents.

The prices are clearly stated, no deception.

When they heard that they were asked for money, most people immediately gave up.

Who would join the army if they have money at home and can afford food?

Of course, there are also a small number of ambitious people who want to become martial artists and are willing to pay money to learn every move of the standing meditation.

Looking at the ridiculous scene in front of him, Chen Sanshi was speechless.

This is the fucking military!
Can this be used to make money?
No wonder the guards became increasingly corrupt and their combat effectiveness became lower and lower.

He couldn't help but shake his head.

Fortunately, Chen Sanshi had a photographic memory and did not need anyone to explain things to him.

He took a deep breath, planted his feet and stood firm, and the familiar burning sensation came again.

He remembered every move that Captain Wang had made before, and now he was checking for any omissions and seeing if he had any deviations in his movements.

Only after confirming that everything is correct can you start practicing new movements.

Within half an hour, half of the thirty or so people in the martial arts arena fell down. For most people, the burden that standing meditation brought to the body was unbearable.

Of course, there are also many people who persist.

Chen Sanshi saw this keenly.

There was a boy younger than him, whose speed in practicing the standing meditation was only slightly slower than his. Moreover, his breathing frequency when practicing the standing meditation was different from others, as if he had some special trick.

After careful comparison, it was found to be extremely similar to the one displayed by Wang Baihu.

Previously, he noticed that the centurion had a long breath and thought it was a characteristic of a martial artist, but now it seems that it is very likely a part of the practice of martial arts.

“What we practice are all incomplete?”

"What do you mean?"

Chen Sanshi looked at the flag officers waiting to collect their money at the side of the martial arts arena, and he understood everything.

The breathing method probably costs money...

"It's really like plucking feathers from a passing goose!"

"But according to Uncle Xu, it's much easier to learn things in the military camp than in the martial arts school."

"Practice the standing meditation first."

He was confident that he could become a Wuzu, but he was not 100% sure that he might not be able to be directly promoted to a flag officer and be qualified to be selected as a vanguard.

Try Harder!
-

not far away.

Inside the tent.

Four or five officers sat around the table drinking and eating meat.

Just when they were having a great time, the tent was suddenly blown open.

A senior general in chain mail strode in.

The officers immediately put down their wine and meat, stood up in unison, and saluted: "Master Qian Hu!"

Captain Xiang Tingchun looked at the mess in the tent, frowned, and cursed: "You bastard! You don't train your soldiers or practice martial arts all day long, and you only know how to drink! If you really have nothing to do, go to Poyang County and help the city guards find the barbarian assassins!"

A group of centurions lowered their heads and dared not say a word.

Xiang Tingchun glanced at them one by one, and finally his eyes fell on a middle-aged officer: "Captain Luo, I have submitted your promotion to deputy captain to the commander-in-chief, and you should get a reply soon."

"Thank you, Master Qianhu!"

The middle-aged officer looked surprised.

"Ah."

Xiang Tingchun nodded, and then continued to say to the crowd: "In recent years, the barbarians have been harassing us constantly, and our Great Sheng Dynasty is in need of manpower. You guys should stop thinking about earning a few small things, and just teach us what we should teach."

"Yes, Master Qianhu taught me that."

The officers echoed.

Xiang Tingchun shook his head, opened the curtain and left.

Within three seconds, the officers picked up their drinks again and said, "Come on, come on, everyone, toast Captain Luo! Congratulations in advance on his promotion to deputy captain!"

"Ha ha ha ha--"

They all congratulated Captain Luo.

Only Wang Zhi muttered something silently while toasting and secretly spat on the ground.

(End of this chapter)