Border Soldiers: My granaries are full of grain and meat, and I guard this region.

Qi Feng glanced at the man, neither angry nor offering further explanation.

For this group of people, training should be about practicing how to fight on the battlefield, not about running around and standing in formation.

Qi Feng understood them, so he didn't punish them, but simply said:

"Stand still."

The man wanted to say something more, but someone next to him tugged at his sleeve, and he fell silent.

That morning, Qi Feng did nothing but practice lining up, turning left and right, and marching in step.

These things seemed ordinary to Qi Feng, but they were completely new to this group of people.

Some people turned in the wrong direction, some stretched out the wrong leg, and the group moved in a scattered manner.

Qi Feng didn't get angry; if they made a mistake, he told them to do it again.

When it was time to disperse at noon, Liu, the head constable, came over and asked in a low voice.

"Master Qi, what kind of training style are you practicing? I've never seen anyone practice like this before."

Qi Feng said calmly, "Let's get everyone trained first. You'll know what to do once we're on the battlefield."

Upon hearing this, Liu Dutou was startled. It was already intriguing that Zhong Shao had sent Qi Feng to lead the training, and now he had heard the word "battlefield" from Qi Feng. This was definitely not a good thing for Liu Dutou, who hadn't been on the battlefield for a long time.

"Master Qi, could it be...?"

Liu, the head constable, wanted to find out more, but Qi Feng shook his head.

"They're just some bandits, don't make a fuss. Look at the discipline of these county soldiers. Does that mean they can't train even when there's no war?"

After saying this, Qi Feng turned and left, giving Liu Dutou no further chance to ask questions.

In the afternoon, Qi Feng returned to Ye Family Restaurant. Although he had taken on the training mission, he could not neglect his brewing business.

Nowadays, Qi wine is brewed entirely by him. Although the process is mature and the three women in the family can lend a hand, the key is still that he has to do it himself.

After talking to Zhong Shao again, he only needs to come to train every morning and can leave at noon.

Ye Zhiwan was counting the newly produced wine jars in the backyard when she saw Qi Feng return and stopped what she was doing.

"Brother-in-law, where did you go this morning?"

Qi Feng drew a bucket of water from the well, washed his face, and recounted what had happened.

Ye Zhiwan didn't ask any more questions and continued to busy herself with her work.

During dinner that night, Qi Feng told Yu Yourong and Ye Ling Shuang about it.

Yu Yourong sewed shoe soles by candlelight, and the shoes were already more than half finished.

After listening to Qi Feng's words, Yu Yourong simply nodded and asked:

"So, will you have to go to the drill ground every morning from now on?"

Qi Feng nodded.

"Go up and train the troops, then come back in the afternoon to brew wine."

"Then I'll make you breakfast in the morning."

Ye Ling Shuang wiped her sword to the side, and only asked a question after Yu You Rong finished speaking.

"What kind of training do you plan to do with them?"

"At least when the Great Rong cavalry really comes, they'll at least not run away."

When Qi Feng arrived at the drill ground the next morning, all thirty people were already there, half an hour earlier than the day before.

Qi Feng didn't let them run directly. Instead, he led them through yesterday's formation again, and the effect was much better than yesterday. Although some people still turned in the wrong direction, at least no one laughed out loud.

Ye Ling Shuang also came over early this morning, watching Qi Feng's training methods with some curiosity.

After they finished lining up, Qi Feng made them continue running.

Someone couldn't help but mutter, "What's the point of training to run?"

Qi Feng glanced at him: "Once we get to the battlefield, the faster you run, the more likely you are to survive."

After everyone had run two laps and was panting heavily, Qi Feng began to arrange the next activity.

He took a bow from the side, nocked an arrow, drew the bow, and aimed at the wooden stake fifty paces away.

Qi Feng held his breath and focused, and the arrow shot out in the next second, hitting the center of the wooden stake.

Upon seeing this, the training ground instantly fell silent.

Qi Feng put down his bow and scanned his surroundings.

"From now on, you'll only train in formation and running every morning, and in the afternoon you'll practice archery. You'll pass if you can hit the target six out of ten times!"

As soon as Qi Feng finished speaking, many people began to wail.

"How long will this training last? It's never been this tiring before!"

Qi Feng ignored them and simply told them to get moving.

Ye Ling Shuang watched from the edge of the training ground for a while before coming over during the break.

Qi Feng glanced at her and handed her the bow.

Ye Ling Shuang took the bow and nocked an arrow, aimed at the wooden stake in the distance, and immediately fired five arrows in quick succession, all of which hit the center!

This time, the drill ground fell completely silent. The county soldiers who had been muttering to themselves were speechless, and even Commander Liu was completely impressed by the scene.

Over the next few days, Qi Feng spent his mornings training troops at the drill ground and his afternoons brewing wine, leaving early and returning late every day.

Ye Zhiwan's ledger showed that Qijiu's inventory was increasing day by day.

The cellar in the north of the city is still sealed and unopened, but the cellar in the backyard is almost full of wine.

The people Zhong Shao sent out also sent back news.

Qi Feng went to the county government office and learned from Zhong Shao that traces of the Da Rong cavalry had been discovered thirty miles west of Qing Shi Ao. There were only thirty to fifty of them, scattered in various directions.

The scouts only glanced at it from a distance before withdrawing.

Zhong Shao circled several locations on the map with a pen and asked Qi Feng a question.

"How's your practice going?"

"They can be taken out, but it's hard to say what will happen if a real fight breaks out, but they probably won't run away."

Zhong Shao nodded: "Then there's no rush. I'll also arrange for people to start training at Duma Village."

When Qi Feng came out of the county government office, it was already late. When he got to the city gate, he saw the group of refugees he had seen before. Compared with before, there were more refugees. Many of them did not continue to flee eastward, but stayed in Fuxing County.

However, as a result, the public security in Fuxing County has recently deteriorated, causing Wang Chong and his group of constables to be extremely busy and overwhelmed.

The next day, when they went to the training ground again, Qi Feng had everyone rest for a while after training in formation and running. Liu Dutou came to Qi Feng's side, squatted down, and brought him a bowl of water, his eyes shining.

"Brother Qi, the brothers have been discussing it privately these past few days. The things you taught, though strange, are much more effective than the previous training!"

"Many people feel that their minds have become much clearer. They used to not be able to distinguish between front, back, left, and right, but now they can."

Qi Feng smiled slightly.

Liu, the head constable, continued speaking to himself:

"Before, we just stood there practicing with our swords, nobody knew what we were practicing, we just kept slashing forward. When you made us run laps and line up, at first we thought it was pointless, but these past few days we've been able to stand still and run without getting out of breath!"

Qi Feng drank the water in the bowl in one gulp.

"If it's useful, then keep practicing! You'll need it eventually!"

Liu, the head constable, nodded and took the bowl back.

In the afternoon, Qi Feng returned to Ye Family Restaurant. After finishing brewing the wine, he went to the backyard, leaned back in a chair, and thought about something else.

Qi Feng wanted to go back to Qi Family Village. It had been a month or so since he moved to Ye Family Restaurant.

Although the cavalry from Qingshi'ao did not continue eastward, Qijia Village is located between Fuxing County and Qingshi'ao. If those cavalry went east, they would eventually run into Qijia Village.