History Park: Starting with the Imjin War

The next day, at dawn, before it was fully light.

On the east side of the training ground, the ground was covered with a thin layer of frost, which felt brittle when stepped on.

Zhao Tou has arrived.

There were no guns on the ground today, only two stone weights, one large and one small.

The larger ones weigh around 40 kilograms, while the smaller ones are over 20 kilograms.

As soon as Mo Qin approached, Zhao Tou raised his chin.

"Let's not use the gun today."

"Train your strength."

He kicked the large stone lock.

"The gun is a matter of the hands, but the muscles and bones are a matter of the body. If your skeleton is strong enough but your flesh isn't, no matter how thick the beam is, if the wall is made of paper, you can pierce it with one punch."

"Pick it up."

Bending down, Mo Qin gripped the stone lock handle with his right hand and lifted it with one hand.

Just as he got into a swing of his arm, the stick struck his lower back.

My back is killing me!

"Hold your feet to the ground, don't straighten your knees, twist your hips first, then send the lock through."

Grinning, Mo Qin regained his footing and tried again.

This time, he turned his hips first, and the stone lock swayed and was lifted in front of him, but he was still a beat too slow.

Time for another round of practice.

"Twist it once, don't grind it like tofu!"

On the third strike, Mo Qin took a breath, gripped the ground with his feet, lowered his knees, and twisted his waist and hips simultaneously.

The old injury on my left shoulder suddenly felt hot.

The heat flowed down his shoulder blades, but stopped abruptly at his waist.

Then, it seemed as if it bumped itself up.

Following that force, the stone lock traced an arc and came to a steady stop in front of his left shoulder.

Zhao Tou glanced at him and then replaced the large lock with a small one.

"Fifty each on the left and right."

"Don't grab it with your hands, and don't let your waist sag."

Mo Qin responded and continued to do as instructed.

The frost underfoot melted away little by little, and the inner garment on my back became soaked through.

He twisted the stone lock again and again, his arms aching, his waist and abdomen throbbing, but the anger still lingered.

The heat was still lingering around my waist, but my feet felt more stable than yesterday.

When he got to the last ten or so strokes, Mo Qin realized something was wrong.

In the past, when I exerted force, my shoulder always tended to be the first to move.

They all start with their arms, and their waist and back can keep up, but they're just a little lacking.

Now it feels like there's a thread pulling from the waist and hips all the way to the shoulders, and with every movement, the whole thread is stretched out.

My stamina has also increased since yesterday.

Logically speaking, training starts so early.

With an empty stomach and a shoulder injury, I must be feeling unsteady on my feet by now.

But now nothing's wrong.

Could it be...?

With each injury, I actually become a few points stronger.

Snapped!

The practice shot hit the back of his knee.

"What are you staring at!"

"continue!"

Mo Qin grinned, not daring to say anything more, and quickly finished the last few moves.

Just as he put down the stone lock, Zhao Tou handed him the white wax spear.

"Now practice entanglement."

Zhao Tou stood on the opposite side, carrying a short stick.

"The block is to be cleared."

"Entanglement means to retain."

"If you can't hold them back, they can leave with their guns. If you can hold them off, they can't retreat, and only then can you send your guns in."

Before he finished speaking, the short stick was already pressed against the gun barrel.

"Come."

Mo Qin followed through and pestered him.

It was lost on the first try.

The short stick slipped and detached.

"It's not 'pressing,'" Zhao Tou said. "It's 'sticking.'"

The second time, Mo Qin stuck too tightly to the gun, his wrist stiffened, and the shaft came apart on its own.

"Holding you so tight, are you holding a baby?"

The third time.

Fourth time.

Fifth time.

Zhao Tou pressed him to change it, stroke by stroke.

If the shoulder is too high, hit the shoulder; if the elbow flies, hit the elbow; if the waist is too slow, hit the lower back.

He didn't say much, but every word he uttered hit the nail on the head.

Mo Qin didn't dare to say anything, and could only try to get a feel for it again and again.

After practicing about thirty times, the heat flow started again.

This time, move from the waist to the back, and then from the back to the shoulders.

With a slight loosening of his wrist, Mo Qin's spear shaft pressed upwards, and Zhao Tou's short stick was momentarily frozen in place.

Zhao Tou raised his eyes.

"Again."

Mo Qin sheathed his gun and continued to entangle.

It can only last for a moment, but it's much more stable than before.

Zhao nodded.

"We've got a feel for it."

"Remember, when you've entangled someone, don't rush. If you rush, they'll scatter on their own. Hold them in place, then kill them."

Despite being panting heavily, Mo Qin forced himself to bow.

Zhao Tou put away the short stick and then turned around to pick up another white wax spear from the side of the wooden frame.

This spear is older than the one he used for practice, and the spearhead is also of ordinary quality, unlike the one he usually uses, which is well-maintained.

"then."

Mo Qin raised his hand and caught it.

"Don't overthink it, I'm not trying to save face for you."

Zhao Tou said with a stern face.

"You're not good enough for my gun yet. This one's for you to practice with."

"Practice during the day, and don't leave it behind at night either. I'll clear a space for you by the old shed pillar; you can lean against it all the time. Touch it twice before going to sleep, and twice again when you get up. Get your hands used to it first."

Mo Qin glanced at the white wax spear in his hand and laughed.

"Yes, Master."

Zhao Tou snorted.

"Stop talking nonsense."

"Let's go eat."

"After you finish eating, go to the weapons shed and move the medicine barrels. You've been standing here all morning; if you don't use up this body fat, all that food will have been for nothing."

After a pause, he added:

"The old soldier by the arms shed, surnamed Ding, is missing two fingers on his right hand and his left eyebrow is burnt white. Be respectful to him."

"Don't let his current position as a mere guard fool you. He's a real veteran in Li's army who's seen bloodshed; even he'd hesitate to speak up when it comes to him."

Mochin only heard the gist of the rest.

But as soon as it comes to food, my stomach rumbles with delight.

Inside the kitchen, everything was steaming hot!

Meat was stewing in a pot, and the steamer next to it had just been opened, so the white steam from the flatbread mixed with the aroma of wheat wafted out.

Old Qian, the cook, was wielding a large ladle when he looked up and saw Mo Qin. He rolled his eyes at him.

"Hey, here comes someone to scoop out the bottom of the pot."

Mo Qin handed over the wooden plaque.

Old Qian glanced down, first scooped out a large bowl of meat soup rice, then grabbed four flatbreads and threw them aside.

"Eat first."

Mo Qin picked up the bowl and started eating.

The first bowl was barely empty before the second bowl was served.

After a few bowls, the people who were busy in the kitchen gradually stopped.

Old Ding happened to be coming from the weapons shed to get some kindling, and stood at the door for a while.

He was very thin and stiff; when he stood by the door, he looked like an iron rod.

His right hand, missing two fingers, slowly rubbed the tinderbox, but didn't go in.

By the time Liu Gao finished his sixth bowl, he was already smacking his lips.

"Brother Qin, this isn't a meal!"

"This is clearly a troop mobilization."

Yan Qi, holding the arrow, added:

"The soldiers haven't been called out yet, and the pot is almost empty."

Lin Jun had just returned from the central army, still holding half a cold pancake in his hand, and stopped when he saw the scene.

"If 'The Grand Mansion Gate' were to be remade, you'd be the perfect choice to play Zheng Laopi."

Mochin didn't have time to answer; he just buried himself in his food.

When the last bowl was emptied, a row of empty bowls had been laid out on the table, and a stack of flatbreads had also been removed.

He then let out a long sigh of relief.

full.

Old Ding stared at the row of empty bowls for a long time without saying a word, then tucked his tinderbox and left.

After leaving the kitchen, Wang De sent him to the weapons shed.

Old Ding sat on a small wooden stool at the entrance of the weapons shed.

His back wasn't against the wall, but his waist was ramrod straight.

From a distance, although they are just sitting, they look more like gatekeepers than people who are standing.

When he saw Mo Qin approaching, he only raised his eyes briefly.

"It's you."

"Move to the inner room."

"Don't let the bottom of the bucket drag on the ground, don't go inside near the fire pit, don't touch any metal, and don't breathe too loudly. If the medicine dust rises, even a single spark will send us all flying."

He responded and carried the buckets as instructed.

He had just reached halfway up the second bucket when someone suddenly brushed past him at an angle, bumping into him shoulder-to-shoulder, the impact landing squarely on his old left shoulder injury.

Mo Qin's eyes turned cold. He first lowered his body, twisted his waist and hips, and thrust the short wooden stick he was holding in his right hand backward.

Snapped.

The tip of the stick was poking right at the man's shoulder.

The man grunted, and just as he raised his wrist, Mo Qin struck him with his other hand, causing his entire arm to go numb instantly, and he staggered back half a step.

Mochin had already turned around.

He had a sallow, thin face and was dressed plainly; at first glance, he looked like an ordinary passerby.

But this guy retreated too quickly.

Lin Jun happened to be looking for Mo Qin and, upon seeing this scene, immediately shouted in a low voice:

"Don't chase!"

The person used the wooden frame as a cover and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Mo Qin took two steps back, but ultimately didn't chase after him.

At the entrance of the shed, Old Ding acted as if he hadn't seen anything and remained seated.

"Fighting is not allowed in the weapons shed."

Mo Qin glanced at him sideways.

Old soldier Ding slowly added a sentence:

"I don't care about the rest."

Mochin didn't say anything more, and just finished moving the gunpowder barrel.

After he and Lin Jun reached a sheltered spot behind the shed, Lin Jun spoke in a low voice:

"We've been getting more people watching us lately."

"Those crooked-backs are probably going to make a move against us."

Mo Qin moved his wrist, and his knuckles cracked softly.

"Let them keep an eye on us then."

"If they dare to reach out, just chop them off."

Lin Jun rolled her eyes at him.

"Stop showing off."

Mo Qin snorted and didn't reply.

Nothing happened during the day.

As evening approached, a gust of wind swept through the camp.

The curtains outside the shed were being blown about wildly, and the distant neighing of horses could be heard intermittently.

Liu Gao was still moving straw, cursing heaven and earth, taking a breath after each curse.

Yan Qi sat in the shed polishing arrows, occasionally glancing outside before looking down again.

Mo Qin leaned against the old shed door, sharpening his dagger bit by bit with a whetstone.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the shed.

Lifting the curtain, the visitor was none other than Xu Qing.

With a look of urgency on his face, he glanced at Mo Qin and Lin Jun.

"You two, come with me."

Mochin first praised his acting skills, then raised his eyes slightly.

"Where to?"

"Master Han is calling you."

Xu Qing lowered his voice, "We've found some clues. It's not convenient for the central command to call out openly, so let me take you there first."

Lin Jun also raised his eyelids slightly.

"Did Master Han send you?"

Xu Qing's face twitched.

"What? Would I falsely relay military orders regarding matters concerning the central army?"

Mo Qin and Lin Jun exchanged a glance.

Both of them knew that this statement could not be trusted.

If Han Shouyi really wanted to call for help, he wouldn't spare Xu Qing.

But since the other party asked Xu Qing to lead the people out, it means that the other party was in a hurry.

If we don't follow this tonight, this line will most likely shrink back again.

Even if you only scratch the surface of the past, it's worth it.

With this in mind, Mo Qin had an idea.

He didn't spell it out, but simply put down the millstone and glanced at Lin Jun.

Lin Jun was an extremely intelligent person, and he immediately understood.

As she got up, she casually pressed a piece of fine wood shavings that had been shaved off the edge of the table into the dust on the threshold.

Then, with a gentle flick of the toe, a footprint pointing west was left.

The movement was so natural, like casually brushing off some dust, that no outsider could tell anything was amiss.

Mochin slowly stood up and picked up a short stick from the corner.

The white wax spear used for practice still leans against the old shed pillar.

Carrying a long gun and walking with people in the camp at night would be too conspicuous and would easily arouse Xu Qing's suspicion.

After all, this is a rare opportunity, and we must not alert them.

Moreover, if it really comes down to close combat, a short stick is actually more effective.

So Mochin only took the short stick and didn't touch the gun.

Lin Jun also stood up and casually pulled down his sleeves.

His short knife was hidden very well, and it was not visible to the outside at all.

Xu Qing glanced at the stick in Mo Qin's hand.

"Why are you bringing this?"

Mo Qin's face turned old, and he glanced at him sideways.

"It's dark at night, beware of dogs."

Xu Qing's expression changed, but he ultimately didn't retaliate and turned to leave.

"hurry up."

The three of them left the old shed in the front camp and walked west along the camp road.

The further they walked, the fewer the lights became, and the fewer the voices.

Xu Qing walked at the front, stopping at each fork in the road.

It looked like it was recognizing its way, or perhaps it was waiting for something.

The lantern illuminated the thin layer of sweat on the back of his neck, which, despite the freezing weather, had not dried.

Mo Qin saw it all, but didn't bother to say anything.

Ahead was an abandoned stable, and beyond that was an old supply depot.

Xu Qing's pace began to slow down.

When he reached the half-collapsed stable, he stopped and stepped aside.

He only said one sentence:

"The person has arrived."

As soon as the word "了" was spoken, there was a movement in the darkness, first in one place, then in a second.

A person emerged from behind the wooden stake on the left.

A person stood up next to the half-collapsed shed door on the right.

Further on, behind the old haystack, another figure slowly straightened up.

The last one emerged from the darkness directly in front of them.

There are four in total.

Although their positions appear scattered, they effectively block the road.

He's obviously a veteran.

The leader stepped forward, and the faint scar on his left eyebrow gleamed softly in the lantern light.

At the same time, over at the old shed, Yan Qi stopped wiping the arrow.

Turning his head, he saw the scratches in the dust on the threshold and immediately asked loudly.

"How long has Brother Qin been gone?"

Liu Gao sat up from the haystack and rubbed his eyes.

"It's been a while. What's wrong?"

Yan Qi didn't answer, but instead took the bow off the wall.

Before leaving, his gaze swept across the room and landed on the white wax spear leaning against the old shed pillar.

In front of the stable, Mo Qin slowly raised the stick in his hand.

The man with the shallow scar looked at Mo Qin and said in a muffled voice.

"We've prepared four people for you tonight; that's already showing you a lot of respect."

"Let's save ourselves the trouble."

"Will you lie down on your own, or wait for us to take you home?"