The fiercest soldier of the border army

The bugle call for an urgent assembly suddenly sounded, and the military order for an emergency assembly resounded throughout the entire training ground!

The moment the rapid drumbeats blared, the entire barracks erupted into chaos.

The sounds of shouting, clashing armor, and thudding footsteps mingled together, creating a jarring and noisy cacophony.

"Hurry up, everyone assemble!"

Tang Shun suddenly sprang up from his sleeping mat on the floor.

Their auxiliary corps didn't need to wear armor or helmets, so they were theoretically the fastest team to assemble in the entire battalion.

But as soon as he finished calling out to Wei Zong and the others and strode out of the barracks, his heart sank.

Something's definitely not right here!

The soldiers of the first, second, and fourth squads were already fully armored, swords in hand, and standing in formation, their military postures as straight as pine trees!

In just a few breaths, everyone was in place, without a single mishap.

Even a fool could see that the other teams had been informed of this urgent nighttime gathering beforehand!

Only these three teams were deliberately kept in the dark and completely forgotten.

Tang Shun walked slowly to the center of the open space on the drill ground, and without saying a word, quietly looked at the messy barracks of the third team.

A moment later, the soldiers from the third squad rushed out in a panic.

Some people had their shoes on backwards and their clothes askew, looking utterly disheveled; while a lame old soldier leaned against the doorframe, panting heavily and staggering along.

Tang Shun neither urged nor roared, his expression was frighteningly calm.

The torches at the edge of the drill ground burned brighter and brighter, their red flames illuminating the pitch-black night.

The other three teams stood at attention, completely silent, even their breathing was deliberately suppressed, and the entire place was deathly quiet.

On the high platform, Wang Xianghong stood with his hands behind his back. His black iron armor reflected the firelight and gleamed with a cold, menacing light, his aura overwhelming the entire audience.

All eyes turned to the third team, which was late in returning and in complete disarray.

The time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

The lame veteran, the wounded old soldier, and the clumsy new recruits—a group of old, weak, and disabled soldiers—finally managed to join the ranks, albeit with difficulty.

The drill ground was deathly silent, while the other teams stood tall and straight, their military bearing impeccable.

Only the three teams under Tang Shun's command, with their disorderly footsteps and heavy breathing, were huddled together in a chaotic mess, looking like a herd of livestock being driven, completely out of place.

The moment everyone returned to their positions, Wang Xianghong spoke calmly from the platform.

The voice wasn't loud, but it had tremendous penetrating power, carrying steadily throughout the entire training ground: "Third team, assemble last, lag behind the rest of the army by half a quarter of an hour!"

He paused slightly, his icy gaze sweeping over the third team. "Assemble immediately tonight! Military orders are absolute!"

"Military regulations are in place: if one person is slow, that person will be executed; if a platoon is slow, the platoon leader will be executed; if a squad is slow, the squad leader will be executed! Do you really not know this?"

Tang Shunli stood at the head of the group, his expression calm and silent.

Liang Enyi, standing to the side, gritted his teeth, stepped forward, and explained with his hands clasped, "Reporting to the Captain! Our three squads have not received any orders whatsoever. Please investigate, Captain!"

"Clear observation?" Wang Xianghong's lips curled into a cold smile. "The drums sounded three times, the whole camp knew, yet your third team didn't hear them? That's pure shirking and sophistry!"

Cheng Feng clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles cracking, his chest burning with rage.

He wanted to scream and demand answers right there and then: Why were the other teams allowed to know in advance? Why were they specifically targeted?

But just as he was about to speak, Tang Shun gently nudged him with his elbow, firmly suppressing his impulse.

"Third squad leader! Step forward and report!"

Seeing no one respond, Wang Xianghong suddenly shouted loudly, his imposing aura rising sharply.

Tang Shun stepped forward, "Your subordinate is here!"

"Ha, you still recognize yourself as a subordinate?" Wang Xiang mocked sarcastically. "Anyone who didn't know better would think you, Tang Shun, were the camp commander!"

He abruptly changed the subject, his voice sharp as he demanded, "As the squad leader, the auxiliary troops don't need to be armed and should be the first to assemble! Why are you the slowest to arrive?"

"A sluggish squad is guilty of a crime! Military law is before us, what do you have to say?"

Tang Shun understood.

That bastard is using military regulations as an excuse to openly target me, trying to take advantage of the situation and punish me!

The daytime clashes on the training ground are being staged once again.

It is precisely at times like these that we must not back down!

If the other side dares to use military orders to intimidate him, he will publicly tear off this hypocritical fig leaf!

Tang Shun looked up at the high platform and spoke frankly, "Captain Wang holds military law in his hands, so his word is law."

"But all two hundred brothers in the school have seen it all; everyone knows exactly when each team will receive the assembly notice!"

"Furthermore, all three of my teams are auxiliary personnel, mostly the elderly, the weak, the disabled, and the new recruits, who are already physically weak."

"If we did it all over again, the mobilization speed would be the same!"

"If the captain wants to kill me, there's no need for beating around the bush; just carry out the execution!"

Tang Shun stood tall, fearless and undaunted, facing the oppressive pressure of his superior position head-on.

The night wind howled as it swept across the field, causing the flags on the drill ground to flutter wildly in the wind.

The two hundred soldiers held their breath, their eyes fixed on the two facing off, not daring to make the slightest move.

On the high platform, Wang Xianghong stood with his hands behind his back, looking down and silently exchanging glances with Tang Shun for a few breaths.

Suddenly, he burst into laughter: "Hahaha! You dare to say you think I'm deliberately targeting you?"

"In that case, let's drop this matter for now."

"But this is a one-time exception; there will be no next time!"

He deftly defused the standoff, his smile fading, and loudly announced the important matter: "An emergency assembly tonight; there are two crucial matters!"

He held up one finger, his voice resounding: "Firstly, the entire school has just been reorganized and is using this opportunity to quickly regroup and assess the morale, combat effectiveness, and discipline of each unit!"

"Of the four teams, only three are sluggish and disorganized; the rest are entirely satisfactory to me!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his second finger, turned around, picked up the bamboo plaque on the table, and gently weighed it in his hand.

"Secondly, orders have been issued from above that a detachment of troops must be dispatched to garrison Xiushui Town!"

The moment those words were spoken, the previously deathly silent training ground erupted into chaos. The expressions of all the soldiers changed drastically, and a cacophony of whispers suddenly broke out.

"Xiushui Town? Isn't that a death trap that's been raided by the Xiongnu every year? A desolate place that gets raided six times a year!"

"The earthen walls there are low and dilapidated, making it difficult to provide support from the outside. Once you get in, you basically can't get out!"

"This isn't a garrison post; it's a death sentence! Anyone who goes there is doomed!"

The torches on both sides of the training ground crackled and sparks flew, highlighting the fear and dread on everyone's faces.

Wang Xianghong raised his hand and pressed down, and the noisy training ground instantly fell silent again.

"I will never designate a team, lest anyone accuse me of deliberately setting a trap!"

"Tomorrow morning, the entire school will draw lots to determine the teams! Those selected will immediately depart for their posts in the morning!"

His eyes suddenly sharpened, and he warned sternly, "Let me make this clear from the start! Regardless of which team wins the draw, anyone who dares to disobey orders or shirk responsibility will be executed immediately!"

After speaking, Wang Xianghong raised his eyes slightly and glanced at Tang Shun with a half-smile.

"Three teams remain stationary; the remaining teams return to camp and are dismissed!"

As the clapper sounded, the first, second, and fourth teams retreated in an orderly fashion to their respective camps.

On the training ground, only three teams stood alone, with no one allowing them to pass.

Wang Xianghong slowly walked down the platform, stood in front of the three teams, and said with a sinister smile, "Your team leader is saying that our school is deliberately targeting him?"

"Military discipline is paramount. Being late or making a mistake should be punished; this is the rule of the military!"

Too lazy to waste any more words, he coldly ordered, "Tonight, all members of Team Three will stand in place all night as punishment. No one is allowed to move!"

Having said that, he turned around with his head held high and left proudly, leaving behind two personal guards to keep watch and supervise from a distance, preventing anyone from slacking off.

Tang Shun observed with a detached eye, his mind clear.

Wang Xianghong's move was a gradual, step-by-step process of chipping away at the enemy's strength and peeling back the layers of their defenses!

He deliberately used punishment to vent his anger on the entire team, making all the brothers in the third team resent him, the team leader.

Sow discord among his troops, causing him to be deserted by his followers and unable to move an inch, thus completely stripping him of his power!

School C had only two hundred soldiers, and everyone knew each other well.

At this moment, everyone in all three teams knew exactly what was going on—

Tang Shun, the team leader, has offended his superior, Wang Xianghong, and is already a thorn in Wang's side. He will be dealt with sooner or later!

In the dead silence, Tang Shun suddenly smiled, a frank and open smile that faced the entire team.

"Our third team has become completely famous throughout the school tonight."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a heavy thud of a cane striking another object rang out.

An elderly soldier leaning on a cane, his face full of resentment, stared intently at Tang Shun. "Squad Leader Tang! Let me tell you the truth! Why should our personal grudge against the captain drag us all into this?"

Someone took the lead in making trouble, and the pent-up resentment exploded instantly.

"Yes! We're already disabled veterans; who can endure being forced to stand all night?"

"If you don't have the ability to stabilize the situation, don't sit in this position as team leader! You're just dragging the brothers down!"

The one who spoke was Li Lang, an old soldier who had lost his left eye.

He fought a bloody battle on the border last year and was blinded in one eye by a stray arrow from the Xiongnu. He was arrogant and fierce, and was highly respected in the army.

The entire room fell silent; everyone stared at Tang Shun, awaiting his response.

"You fucking want to die!"

Cheng Feng instantly bristled, his eyes wide with anger as he prepared to step forward and argue.

"Don't move."

Tang Shun reached out and pressed down on Cheng Feng's shoulder, stopping his anger.

His gaze swept over the brothers, their faces filled with resentment. His voice was calm, yet each word was forceful: "Aren't you all blaming me? Feeling that you've suffered undeservedly by following me, and wanting to switch teams to escape?"

"Can."

"Anyone who thinks they have the ability or connections to switch teams, step forward now, and I, Tang Shun, will not stop them; they will all be allowed to go!"

After he finished speaking, the entire room fell into a deathly silence; no one moved.

Everyone knew in their hearts that they were all wounded and disabled auxiliary soldiers who had been eliminated from the battlefield and had long been abandoned by their respective teams, so they had no right to be transferred to another team.

Tang Shun's gaze was deep, and he spoke in a loud voice that pierced the night, "You all know what's going on. Our three teams are full of incomplete, elderly, and weak recruits—you could say they're all useless!"

"Whether I, Tang Shun, am the team leader or not, your situation will not change in the slightest!"

"The delay in assembling earlier wasn't just one person's fault; it's the inherent nature of our team!"

The torches flickered, casting dappled shadows, and the soldiers wore complex expressions, none daring to utter another word.

After giving the entire team a dressing down, Tang Shun changed the subject and readily took responsibility: "But Li Lang is right."

"Tonight, everyone has suffered and been unjustly punished. All the blame lies with me, the team leader, and has nothing to do with you brothers!"

Wei Zong and the others felt a chill run down their spines upon hearing this.

As a leader, publicly taking full responsibility for all mistakes is extremely easy to indulge the soldiers' spoiled nature and weaken military discipline, which is definitely not the way to lead troops!

But the next second, Tang Shun pulled out the last five taels of silver he had hidden close to his body from his pocket.

Amidst the shocked, greedy, and bewildered gazes of everyone, he strode up to Li Lang.

He raised his hand and stuffed the heavy five taels of silver into Li Lang's arms.

"Those who dare to speak the truth and frankly point out the pros and cons deserve a reward!"

The entire room erupted in uproar; everyone was completely stunned!