In this chaotic world of vying for power, I can become stronger by marrying a wife.

Murong Yan stood outside the camp gate, followed by a dozen or so female soldiers carrying packs.

She changed into a set of standard leather armor of the Jing'an Army, with a curved sword at her waist, and her long hair was tied into a high ponytail, exuding a heroic aura.

His face was expressionless, as cold as ice.

Su Ming leaned against a pillar at the camp gate, looking her up and down.

"Hey, Centurion Murong, no, I should call you Lieutenant Murong now," he grinned. "What's up? Tired of your job at the Censorate? Want to experience life in the army?"

Murong Yan took a deep breath and pulled out a scroll of imperial edict from her bosom.

"This is His Majesty's decree, transferring me to the Shenji Battalion as an adjutant to assist you in training new recruits." Her voice was calm, but her eyes held a fire within them. "Captain Su, please guide me."

"I dare not presume to offer guidance." Su Ming accepted the imperial edict and casually tossed it to Wei Lang. "However, since it is His Majesty's will, I cannot refuse. Please come in."

He turned and walked inside, but stopped after a couple of steps and looked back at the dozen or so female soldiers behind Murong Yan.

Who are they?

"My people." Murong Yan raised her chin. "His Majesty said the Divine Machine Battalion is expanding, so I brought fifteen sisters, each one a skilled fighter."

Su Ming narrowed his eyes.

Good heavens, the old emperor's move was ruthless. Not only did he plant a spy, but he also sent in a whole troop of soldiers.

"Alright." Su Ming nodded. "Since you're here, you have to follow the rules. No matter what your previous status was in the Divine Machine Battalion, once you're in this place, you have to listen to me."

"I see."

"Good." Su Ming turned around and called out to the camp, "Wei Lang, arrange barracks for them. They'll stay in the open space on the east side tonight, and training will begin tomorrow."

"yes!"

Murong Yan left with her people.

Standing next to Su Ming, Li Yueru asked softly, "Won't she cause you trouble?"

"Trouble?" Su Ming laughed. "If she just stayed put, that would be troublesome."

Li Yueru was puzzled.

Su Ming didn't explain, but just looked at Murong Yan's back, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.

That evening, the Shenji Battalion hosted a continuous banquet.

More than a hundred people gathered around the campfire, gnawing on horse meat and drinking strong liquor, making a great commotion.

Murong Yan and her dozen or so sisters sat in a corner, feeling out of place.

"Sir, should we invite them over to eat together?" Wei Lang asked.

"No need." Su Ming chewed on a bone. "They don't want to integrate themselves, and forcing them won't work."

Just then, Zhang San walked up to Murong Yan with a bowl of wine in his hand.

"Lieutenant Murong, would you like a bowl?"

Murong Yan looked up at him and shook her head.

"I don't drink alcohol."

"Then let's eat meat." Zhang San grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. "It's the rule of the Shenji Camp that newcomers have to eat meat, otherwise they're not considered one of us."

Murong Yan frowned.

The dozen or so female soldiers behind her also stood up, their hands on their knife hilts, watching Zhang San warily.

The atmosphere instantly became tense.

"What?" Zhang San wasn't annoyed, still grinning. "Is Lieutenant Murong being disrespectful?"

"I told you, I don't drink." Murong Yan's voice turned cold.

"That's disrespectful." Zhang San's smile vanished, and he turned to Su Ming, shouting, "Sir, this new adjutant is breaking the rules."

Su Ming put down the bone, picked up the wine bowl next to him, and slowly walked over.

"Lieutenant Murong." He stood before Murong Yan, looking down at her. "It's the rule of my Shenji Battalion that new recruits must drink. If you don't drink, are you looking down on me, a mere captain?"

Murong Yan looked up and stared directly at him.

"I just don't drink."

"That means you look down on me." Su Ming laughed. "Fine, since you're not going to drink, I won't force you."

He turned and left.

Murong Yan breathed a sigh of relief.

But the next second, Su Ming's voice came again.

"Wei Lang, transfer Adjutant Murong and her people to the logistics battalion. Starting tomorrow, they will be in charge of the entire battalion's laundry and cooking."

Murong Yan suddenly stood up.

"you!"

"What?" Su Ming turned around, smiling at her. "I told you, once you join the Divine Machine Battalion, you have to follow the rules. If you don't drink, then go do what you're supposed to do."

"I'm an adjutant, not a cook!" Murong Yan said through gritted teeth.

"So what if you're an adjutant? Does that mean you can break the rules?" Su Ming's smile vanished. "Murong Yan, I don't care what your past status was. In the Divine Machine Battalion, I'm the one who calls the shots. If you're not happy, you can get lost now."

Murong Yan stared intently at him, her chest heaving violently.

The surrounding soldiers all stopped what they were doing and looked in their direction.

The atmosphere froze.

Just then, a female soldier behind Murong Yan suddenly spoke up.

"Lieutenant, how about we have a drink?"

Murong Yan turned her head, and the female soldier whispered, "We're new here, so it's best not to make things awkward."

Murong Yan remained silent for a moment, took a deep breath, and took the wine bowl from Zhang San's hand.

"Fine, I'll drink it."

She tilted her head back and downed it in one gulp.

The spicy liquor rolled down her throat, choking her and bringing tears to her eyes, but she stubbornly didn't cough once.

"Good!" Zhang San clapped his hands and cheered, "That's more like what a member of the Divine Machine Battalion should be like!"

The surrounding soldiers cheered.

Su Ming looked at her, a slight smile curving his lips.

"Since we've drunk from each other, we're family now. Come, sit down and eat with us."

Murong Yan wiped her mouth, gave him a cold look, and turned to sit back down.

The dozen or so female soldiers behind her also took the bowls of wine and downed them in one gulp.

The atmosphere then eased.

Su Ming returned to his seat, and Wei Lang leaned closer and whispered, "Sir, you did this on purpose, didn't you?"

"Nonsense." Su Ming gnawed on a bone. "If I don't teach her a lesson, she'll really think she's here to spy on me."

"What if she really leaves?"

"Leave?" Su Ming laughed. "If she really leaves, His Majesty will be the first to punish her."

Wei Lang suddenly realized.

His Majesty transferred Murong Yan to the Divine Machine Battalion, ostensibly to plant spies, but in reality to use her as a hostage.

If something happens to Su Ming, Murong Yan won't be able to escape either.

Similarly, if Murong Yan dares to act recklessly, His Majesty will not let her off the hook.

Early the next morning.

Su Ming gathered everyone on the training ground.

"From today onwards, the Shenji Battalion will officially begin training." He stood on the high platform, scanning the soldiers below. "I don't care who you were before, once you're in the Shenji Battalion, you have to listen to me."

"The training is divided into three parts: archery, swordsmanship, and formations."

"Every day begins at Chenshi (7-9 AM) and ends at Youshi (5-7 PM), with only one hour of rest in between."

"Those who fail to complete the training will have their pay docked."

"If you can't finish it in three consecutive days, get out."

"Did you understand?"

"Understood!" everyone shouted in unison.

"Very good." Su Ming nodded. "Now, everyone, run ten laps around the training ground. Begin!"

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone started running.

Murong Yan also started running.

But after running less than three laps, she realized something was wrong.

These people are running too fast.

Moreover, everyone carried sandbags, weighing at least thirty kilograms.

She gritted her teeth and tried to catch up, but was quickly left behind.

By the time she finished running ten laps, the others had already started practicing archery.

"Lieutenant Murong, you're too slow." Su Ming stood in front of her and said with a smile, "You're punished by having to run five more laps."

Murong Yan was panting heavily, glaring at him.

"you……"

"What? You're not happy?" Su Ming raised an eyebrow. "Then get lost."