I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

The entire training ground radiated a surging heatwave! It was as if flames were burning there, far surpassing the atmosphere of the previous large-scale military camp!

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Sigh...it's true what they say, good fortune never comes in pairs, and misfortunes never come singly...

I don't know if it's because my stomach upset a few days ago weakened my immune system, but my throat has been sore all day, and I feel really lethargic... I'm writing this chapter in bed, on my phone, in fits and starts. I'll write a little, rest a little, then write a little more...

Sorry, Leopard is just too weak! (Leopard crying.jpg)

Chapter 681 The Shinsengumi's "Preliminary Trial" [4200]

Looking around, there were about seven hundred soldiers training on Training Ground A.

They were scattered in different areas, practicing different military skills.

Some were training for battle formations, some were practicing swordsmanship, and some were practicing military posture.

Some fell down by accident, some were sweating profusely, and some were knocked to the ground.

The sounds of running, shouting, and wielding knives rose and fell.

Whether new recruits or veterans, every single one of them flared their nostrils, clenched their teeth, and glared menacingly at their weapons, throwing themselves wholeheartedly into the training.

Although they were only observing from afar, and only witnessing the other side's daily drills, everyone present was awestruck by the intense training scene.

Anyone with eyes and brains, whether they are close to Tokugawa Iemochi, Tenshōin, and Matsudaira Katamori, or they dislike Hitotsubashi Yoshinobu, Matsudaira Harugaku, and the generals of the "Imperial Guard," must acknowledge one fact—the Shinsengumi's training level is far superior to that of the Kyoto Daibanku!

At this moment, Tokugawa Iemochi and the others all had the same thought: apart from their training level, there was another very obvious difference between the Shinsengumi soldiers and the soldiers of the Kyoto Daibanbu.

What exactly is the difference?

They couldn't figure out the answer to the question for a moment.

Tokugawa Iemochi and his men, their eyes wide open, glanced left and right, their gazes sweeping back and forth, carefully examining every corner of the training ground, much like Grandma Liu entering the Grand View Garden.

Suddenly, Tokugawa Iemochi pointed to a corner of the training ground:

"Qingdeng, what are those soldiers over there doing? Why are they just standing there?"

Qingdeng looked in the direction his finger was pointing and immediately understood.

"Your Highness, those soldiers over there are new recruits who have just joined the army. They are practicing standing at attention."

"After rigorous selection, more than 800 people have become new recruits in the Shinsengumi."

"Standing at attention is a required course for my Shinsengumi."

"Every new recruit must first master the military posture before they can receive training in combat formations, martial arts, and other related subjects."

Upon hearing this, Tokugawa Iemochi immediately feigned confusion:

"Stand at attention...?"

He gently chewed on this unfamiliar word.

"Qingdeng, what does 'standing at attention' mean?"

No sooner had Tokugawa Iemochi finished asking his question than the others began to cast questioning glances at Aoto.

After a moment's thought, Qing Deng explained succinctly:

"This is the basic tactical maneuver of the Shinsengumi."

"Straighten your legs, puff out your chest and pull in your stomach, look straight ahead, pull your shoulders back, and keep your hands close to your thighs. Even if someone tries to pull your hands away, your hands should not leave your thighs."

"As long as you can meet the above standards and stand still for an hour or two, you can pass the 'standing at attention' test."

No sooner had Qing Deng finished speaking than Yi Qiaoqingxi frowned and interrupted:

"Tachibana no Hirobu, it seems that this is just a more tricky 'standing' position."

"What's the point of making the soldiers practice standing?"

"Instead of having the soldiers practice this, it would be better to have them swing their swords a few more times."

Qing Deng replied calmly:

"Lord Hitotsubashi, you are mistaken."

"Admittedly, at first glance, 'standing at attention' may seem like just a slightly different way of standing."

"But in reality, it has many advantages and is the best choice for training troops and strengthening the military."

"First of all, it is a great exercise for one's physical strength and willpower."

"Just standing for long periods of time is enough to make an ordinary person who has never received professional training feel back pain."

"Not to mention that military posture also has many requirements such as 'legs straight,' 'head up and stomach in,' and 'hands close to the sides of the thighs.'"

"Even those who have practiced martial arts since childhood will find themselves drenched in sweat and suffering greatly when they first encounter 'standing at attention'."

"Secondly, 'standing at attention' can cultivate the discipline of soldiers. And this is the most important function of 'standing at attention'."

Discipline—another unfamiliar term that puzzled Tokugawa Iemochi and others.

Qing Deng immediately explained:

"Supply and discipline are the foundation of an army."

"Without supplies, the army cannot continue."

"Without discipline, there is no point in talking about fighting in an army."

"The reason I forced the soldiers to practice 'standing at attention' was to wear down their sharp edges and subtly cultivate their discipline."

"To make the soldiers understand at all times that even the smallest things, such as 'standing still,' require them to obediently follow military orders."

"If I tell you to straighten your back, you have to straighten your back; if I tell you to put your hands tightly against the outside of your thighs, you have to obediently do it."

"No complaints are allowed, and no doubts are permitted."

"In short, it boils down to this: do whatever you're told to do."

"The above is one of the core tenets of my 'Orange Stream Military Science'."

Tokugawa Iemochi: "'The Tachibana-ryu Military Strategy'? What is that?"

Qingdeng smiled slightly:

"This is a strategy of warfare that I have summarized based on my own learning and personal experience."

"It includes a series of aspects such as military administration, command, and combat."

"It's a pity that I'm too busy right now to pick up a pen and write."

"The contents of 'The Orange Stream Strategy' are still stored in my mind."

"I'll write books and establish my theories when I have more time later."

As soon as Qing Deng finished speaking, Tokugawa Iemochi burst into laughter:

"Qingdeng, once your 'Orange Stream Military Strategy' is completed, please be sure to print it into a book so that I can distribute it to other generals for study."

Qingdeng chuckled to himself:

"That's natural!"

Tokugawa Iemochi, with his hands behind his back, glanced around the training ground a few more times before turning to Aoto and saying:

"Qingdeng, I want to observe your soldiers up close."

Upon hearing this, Qingdeng immediately understood and stretched out his arms, making a "please" gesture.

"Of course, please follow me!"

Qingdeng led the group and slowly walked into Training Ground A.

Their appearance immediately caused quite a stir on the training ground.

The soldiers unconsciously stopped what they were doing and looked up at Qingdeng.

"Look, it's Lord Niou!"

"Who are those people around Lord Niou?"

"He must be a high-ranking official in the shogunate."

"Huh? Could it be the Shogun?"

"Hey! Stop looking around! Stop whispering! It's not time to rest yet! Keep training!"

……

The troops currently training at Training Ground A are the First Division, the Third Division, the Fourth Division, and the Sixth Division.

Apart from the captains of these four squads—Okita Souji, Saito Hajime, Serizawa Kamo, and Inoue Genzaburo—the rest of the soldiers were unaware that the Shogun would be coming to inspect the Shinsengumi's camp today.

This situation surprised Tokugawa Iemochi and his men.

In fact, many of them had just been secretly speculating that the Shinsengumi soldiers' amazing performance was all because Aoto had informed his soldiers of the "general's visit" in advance, ordering them to "play along" and deliberately double their training today to present the appearance of a "top-notch military force".

Now, under the curious gazes of the surrounding soldiers, their unfounded speculations have been completely disproven.

In this way, what they are seeing now is indeed the most authentic Shinsengumi, without any fabrication.

Before long, they arrived beside the new recruits who were practicing standing at attention.

The new recruits stood in neat square formations, carefully straightening their postures.

A dozen or so instructors walked between the ranks, meticulously supervising the new recruits' drills.

"Lift your head up! Inhale! Tuck in your stomach!"

"Hands! Hands! How many times have I told you! Keep your palms close to your thighs! If I find you not keeping your hands close to your thighs again, don't blame me for being rude!"

"Hold on! If you can't even endure this little bit of hardship, how will you ever achieve merit on the battlefield?!"

Similar menacing sounds were heard incessantly.

Although these people were called instructors, they were all ordinary soldiers in the Shinsengumi until a month ago.

As the conscription plan of "expanding the army by 3,000" was gradually implemented, the original hundred or so soldiers of the Shinsengumi were all promoted on the spot, from ordinary soldiers to junior officers.

Compared to the new recruits who have just joined the army, these soldiers who joined the Shinsengumi at the beginning of its establishment are indeed veterans.