Chapter 29: Not Abandoning, Not Giving Up (Seeking Recommendations)

  A team of one hundred and twenty people has been trained to death by Pang Gang for more than half a month, and finally has some military appearance. Now Pang Gang is considering the training of combat skills for the troops!

  This morning, the school grounds were as lively as ever. One hundred and twenty troops were training under the leadership of two new generals, Wang Zhi and Da Zhuang. After more than half a month of training, it would be expected that the soldiers would understand what was allowed and forbidden. However, today they seemed to have collectively contracted depression, their expressions somewhat absent-minded, frequently making mistakes on the grounds, infuriating both Da Zhuang and Wang Zhi.

  As the saying goes, what kind of official brings out what kind of soldier. The big and strong men brought out by Pang Gang did not show any courtesy either, they swung their big sticks and hit the soldiers on the head, hitting them until they cried out in pain.

  At this time, a clear voice came from the side of the school field, "Alright, Wang Zongqi and Huang Zongqi (Dazhuang's real name is Huang Chunsheng), stop punishing them, come over here!"

  Wang Zhi and Da Zhuang, who were still shouting orders on the playground, immediately stood up straight and shouted loudly: "Yes! Everyone gather in formation!"

  "Hush...hush...hush..." With the sound of neat footsteps, the soldiers jogged to the center of the school field and formed twelve columns standing in front of Pang Gang. However, their expressions were slightly excited, and their eyes kept drifting towards the back of Pang Gang's body.

  Seeing this scene, Pang Gang couldn't help but feel both angry and amused. He raised his voice and scolded: "You little rascals, seeing the things behind me makes you itchy, doesn't it? I'm telling you, these things are all yours, but let me tell you a harsh truth beforehand, your hard days have only just begun! Later on, you'll understand. Now each of you come over and get a set of armor from me. Today, you'll first learn how to wear the armor properly. Dismissed!"

  "Boom!"

  As soon as Pang Gang gave the order, the soldiers came to his back one after another to choose their own armor. Pang Gang looked at the soldiers' excited appearance and showed a hint of a smile in his eyes. These little guys are happy now, but they will cry later.

  Today, Pang Gang prepared for the troops a suit of chain armor, also known in ancient Huaxia as "ring lock armor". It is generally made from iron wire or ring buckles sewn together into a garment shape. Each ring interlocks with four others, forming a mesh-like pattern.

  In the Ming Dynasty, the elite border troops were equipped with scale armor or cotton armor. Although the defensive performance of chain mail was much better than that of scale armor or cotton armor, due to its high cost, it was only supplied to military officers above the rank of hundred households in the Ming army. However, our large hundred households, with the help of that variant "Modern Firearms Encyclopedia", used a pile of ore and some worthless wood to exchange for more than 100 sets of large red swan war jackets worn inside and chain mail worn outside, which were all issued to these garrison troops today.

  After a while, the troops all put on their new armor and helmets, each one excitedly admiring the powerful armor on their bodies.

  "Warriors, do you like these armors?" Pang Gang asked with a smile.

  "Like it? I love it! Sir, is this really for us?" a soldier asked.

  "Of course, since these things have been given to you, that means they are for your use. Now that you've put on this suit of armor, the next training can begin!"

  At this point, Pang Gang's face, which had been smiling, suddenly changed. He loudly shouted: "Attention, everyone! Stand at attention!"

  "Whoa!" With one sound, all the soldiers conditioned reflexively drew their feet together, puffed out their chests and raised their heads to look at Pang Gang.

  Pang Gang pointed forward and shouted loudly: "Now, led by Wang Zongqi and Huang Zongqi, all of you wear helmets and armor, run around the Wang Hai Fortress, get ready to run!"

  "Hua hua hua........." Although they didn't understand what was going on, all the soldiers still followed orders and ran out with the two commanders.

  As expected, they didn't run even a mile before the originally tidy formation fell apart. The soldiers were all drenched in sweat, stumbling about, and even Da Zhuang and Wang Zhi were no exception.

  At this time, their helmets were also crooked, and the straps of their armor were loose. The armor that was originally majestic now felt like a heavy mountain pressing down on them.

  "Hurry up, you bunch of lazy bums! Can't even run this far? If that's the case, you'd better get out of our Wànghǎi Fortress early on. We don't need weaklings here!"

  Pang Gang was scolding the soldiers on the side, and when they ran, he also followed them. As the highest commander, he only wore a relatively light cotton armor and followed behind the troops.

  Not to mention the five-kilometer full-armed cross-country training in modern armies, even in Qi Jiguang's "Jixiao Xinshu" there are basic requirements for hand strength, foot strength and body strength.

  On the battlefield, there are extremely strict requirements for the physical and willpower of soldiers. Without a strong physique and unyielding will, it is impossible to win battles. This is the same whether in the era of cold weapons or hot weapons.

  Although Pang Gang had never led soldiers in battle before, from small to large, whether it was in movies, TV or books, it was all said that way, and the things that could be passed down through generations naturally had their own reasons. Having never eaten pork but having seen pigs run, Pang Gang is now training his first batch of soldiers according to this method.

  When the soldiers ran back to the drill ground around the Wanghai Building, a team of over 100 people was stretched out for a long time. It took as long as smoking a bag of cigarettes from the first soldier to the last one to arrive. This result made Pang Gang extremely angry and he immediately summoned the soldiers together and scolded them severely.

  "Today is your first time wearing full armor for training, and as the first time I won't blame you. But what makes me angry is that all of your formations were completely messed up! Those who ran back ahead of time, remember this: you are a military unit, not a mob. In the future when you go to battle, they will be the only ones you can rely on. Today you abandoned your comrades who fell behind and ran back first, in the future you may also be abandoned by others. I don't want people who abandon their own brothers in my team! Remember these six words: do not abandon, do not give up! Do you understand?"

  "Understood! We won't abandon, we won't give up!" The soldiers looked at Pang Gang and shouted loudly.

  "Never give up, never abandon" is actually a kind of faith and will. Only an army that possesses this faith and will can achieve ultimate victory. Pang Gang's intention was to create extreme environments and limit training in the army's daily training to enhance the soldiers' sense of desperation and strengthen their spirit. Only an army with such faith and will can become a true iron-blooded warrior.

  After another ten or so days, when the team's running training gradually took shape, Pang Gang began to add weapon exercises to the training. At first, the weapons added by Pang Gang for the soldiers were waist knives and long guns.

  "This thing is called a Guo spear, the whole gun is seven feet two inches long, the gun head is seven inches long and weighs four taels. The square edge is as flat as sorghum, the front end is sharp, used for piercing. Now you see me demonstrate it for you!"

  Pang Gang finished speaking and suddenly made a sideways gesture with his hand, shouting loudly: "Kill!"

  The long spear thrust forward at the scarecrow in front of him and immediately pierced through the scarecrow's chest.

  "Good!" Everyone cheered in unison.

  Pang Gang shook his head and scolded with a smile: "You can't flatter this official, this official is clear about his own level. Although this official doesn't stab well, the posture is still correct. From now on, you will practice according to this official's posture, practicing stabbing a thousand times a day, and it won't take a few months for you to qualify!"

  Thank you for the reward from Fēng Rén Yuǎn Institute Director and Jiàn Piāo 123 brothers!