Three Kingdoms: Jiangdong is no longer a rat

Chapter 22 Xu Sheng joins the army
The young man's muscles were tense, his cheeks flushed from the exertion, and the veins on his right arm, which was holding the stone lock, bulged as he lifted the heavy stone lock above his head little by little.

After doing this several times, the young man's right arm began to tremble unconsciously.

"It's just the last time!" the onlookers shouted.

Perhaps it was this last reminder that stimulated the young man. He shouted loudly, and his arm, which had been gradually sinking, suddenly exerted force and lifted the stone lock above his head in one go.

"You're quite strong. Go and record the account." Chen Gan walked up to the young man and handed him a bamboo stick coated with chalk.

The young man took the bamboo strips excitedly.

Yan Yi came over and asked, "How heavy is this stone lock?"

"Forty kilograms." Chen Gan said.

Forty kilograms in this era is roughly equivalent to nineteen kilograms in later generations.

Yan Yi grabbed the stone lock and lifted it. It didn't feel very heavy, but it would not be easy to repeat the action of lifting and lowering it thirty times in one breath without moving his body.

He looked at the young man who was still breathing slightly, smiled and asked, "Why do you want to join the army?"

The young man scratched his head and said, "General Chen said that if you can lift this stone lock, you will have one dou and two liters of rice every day after joining the army. Young Master is a good official, and I am willing to work hard for you. If it were anyone else, I wouldn't go."

Yan Yi nodded slightly. One dou and two liters is about seven jin in later generations. However, this is the weight of rice before husking. With the husking technology of this era, only more than three jin will be left after husking. If you eat sparingly, you can save some rice. In addition, rice husks can also be used to feed livestock and fertilize fields.

"You're right. Joining the army is first and foremost about filling your stomach." He smiled and encouraged, "But joining the army shouldn't be just about filling your stomach. Taking up the sword is also about protecting those you care about, such as your parents, brothers and sisters, wife and children, and giving them a comfortable life. If you achieve military merit, you can also realize the ambition of a true man, wielding a three-foot sword, achieving unparalleled feats, leaving your name in history, and living up to your youth!"

He seemed to be talking to the young man, but in fact he was saying it deliberately for Xu Sheng to hear.

Who doesn’t have a desire to achieve great things when he is seventeen or eighteen years old?

What's more, people's emotions are high when they are drunk.

Sure enough, Xu Sheng and others either gripped the hilts of their swords tightly, or had flickering eyes, or breathed rapidly, and they were all quite uneasy inside.

At this time, Zhao Cuo shouted, "Let me try!", handed the dagger to Xu Sheng, and walked into the field.

He grabbed the stone lock and, taking advantage of his drunkenness, lifted it more than twenty times. His arms were already numb. After taking two breaths, he shouted loudly, gathered his strength, and lifted it thirty times.

Zhao Cuo put down the stone lock, looking excited, walked to the target again, picked up a one-stone mulberry wood bow, and shot ten arrows in one breath, but because his strength had not recovered yet, he only hit seven arrows.

He put down his bow and arrow in disappointment, looking somewhat depressed.

Yan Yi clapped his hands and encouraged, "Not bad, that's pretty impressive!"

Zhao Cuo's eyebrows suddenly raised again. He walked to Xu Sheng and took the dagger. He didn't know what he was thinking about. He was no longer as active as before and became quiet.

Everyone watched the others shoot for a while. Then Fan Yan came over with a scroll of documents. His face was filled with joy, yet also with a hint of worry. He handed it to Yan Yi and said, "Young Master, we've already recruited 217 people. Do you want to recruit more?"

The number of applicants far exceeded his expectations. Even though he had raised the recruitment standards by 30 to 40 percent based on the quality of regular soldiers in Yan Baihu's army, the number of qualified applicants was still increasing.

Yan Yi took the brief document and examined it, then asked, "Were they all recruited strictly according to the recruitment standards?" Fan Yan nodded, "Indeed, and quite a few of them are from the Xiangting tribe preparing for the winter invasion, so they already possess certain combat skills and experience."

Yan Yi smiled and said, "That's great. Let's continue recruiting."

Fan Yan choked and reminded, "But we only planned to recruit a hundred people in Geqiting, and now we have far exceeded that."

Yan Yi suddenly realized that the refugees entering Wucheng were settled in several pavilions. If they were in Geqi Pavilion, most of the two groups of troops planned would be recruited, and there would not be enough space for them in the other pavilions.

After all, recruiting soldiers does not just look at physical fitness. The larger the base of soldiers, the more talents can be selected.

Zhao Cuo, who had listened carefully to the conversation between the two, suddenly asked, "Young Master, can I join the army?"

Xu Sheng and Zhang Ying looked at him in surprise.

Yan Yi smiled and said, "Of course you can, but you have to think it over carefully. Also, does your family agree?"

"I have two older brothers at home, and my parents don't pay much attention to me. I can make the decision myself." Zhao Cuo said firmly.

He had indeed thought that this half-day experience was the most exciting and glorious time in his life. He also admired and appreciated Yan Yi's actions. He couldn't wait to start another life.

"Since you've made up your mind, I welcome you to join my army." Yan Yi handed the brief plan back to Fan Yan. "Write down Zhao Cuo's name and continue recruiting. I'll take care of it."

Fan Yan took the letter, his worry disappeared, and he returned to the recruitment platform in high spirits. As a general, seeing the high-quality soldiers, he would definitely want to recruit more.

Having decided on a major event in his life, Zhao Cuo resumed his usual activeness and began to encourage his two companions: "Wen Xiang, Yuan De, why don't you two join the army? Let's follow the young master and do something great together!"

Zhang Ying shook his head and said, "I have already become a disciple of Lord Lu and study the classics. I have no intention of joining the army."

Xu Sheng seemed a little hesitant.

Zhao Cuo, fearing Xu Sheng would also refuse, quickly pulled him aside and continued to persuade him, "Young Master, you've banned looting, executed corrupt officials, and reduced taxes for the people. How many people like you have ever met? Isn't he worthy of our following?"

Xu Sheng hesitated and said, "But my family is in Wu County, and I haven't discussed this matter with my elders yet."

"A true man considers the world his home; how can he be confined to one place? Wasn't it your own decision to escort our elder brother to Wucheng this time?" Zhao Cuo urged him vigorously, "Young Master is loyal and righteous, decisive, and about the same age as us. If you don't follow someone like him, are you going to follow those old men? When will you ever get ahead?"

Si Qing also came over at this time and advised: "Young Master is indeed a man worthy of serving, do not hesitate."

Xu Sheng looked at his friend, then at the man who had just saved his life. His defenses were rapidly crumbling. He gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, let's join the army together!"

Zhao Cuo smiled from ear to ear, patted his shoulder and said, "That's great. With you by my side, I won't be lonely anymore."

Xu Sheng glared at him and said in feigned anger, "Is this the reason you advised me?"

Zhao Cuo put his arm around his shoulder and said with a smile, "Of course not. What's important is that we two brothers can fight side by side in the future!"

(End of this chapter)