Chapter 23 of Volume 1: You All Got Promoted

  In the midst of the people's cheers, Qiao Anbang picked up a long-prepared iron knife and walked down from the stage, walking deeply and solemnly towards the front of the stage.

  "Kill him...... kill him......"

  "Kill him..."

  The people present shouted in unison.

  Qiao Anbang carried a large iron knife, walking slowly and unhurriedly towards Wei Dekai, who was kneeling on the ground. Although he had already been beaten several times by the security guards, he still managed to survive thanks to his robust physical constitution.

  As he watched Qiao Anbang walk slowly towards him, Wei Dexi's face showed some terror as he stared at the large knife in Qiao Anbang's hand, and trembled slightly: "Officer, please give me a gun, I don't want to be a headless ghost."

  "Shoot you? I'd rather not waste the bullet, a scoundrel like you deserves to taste the pain of being torn limb from limb!" Qiao Anbang sneered coldly.

  "You... I'll haunt you from beyond the grave if I don't get revenge on you..." Wei Dexi, determined to die trying, suddenly revealed his vicious appearance and roared at Qiao Anbang.

  Just as Wei Dexi's voice had not yet fallen, Qiao Anbang held a knife in both hands and slashed down at his neck. With a "pu" sound, the head that was still ferocious just now suddenly rolled out from its neck.

  Scalding hot blood spurted out from the severed head, splashing all over Qiao Anbang.

  His robes stained with blood, Qiao Anbang turned around sternly and raised his large knife high, saying in a loud voice: "The evil Wei Dexi has been executed on the spot. From now on, whoever dares to harm the people will end up like him!"

  "Good!"

  "Long live the security team, long live Captain Qiao..."

  The people under the platform suddenly cheered and applauded, with a loud shout.

  …………..

  After executing Wei Dexi, Qiao Anbang took Ya Li and Gen Sheng away. He was going to prepare some essential supplies. The matter of recruiting soldiers would be handled by his elder brother, Qiao Anguo.

  The common people did not leave, but instead rushed crazily to the several recruitment points temporarily set up by the security team, and all the recruitment points were instantly filled.

  Qiao An Gu, who was present at the scene, immediately set up several more recruitment points. After nearly a day of screening at almost ten recruitment points, over 1,000 qualified young and strong men were finally selected.

  The reason it took so long was that there were too many people coming to enlist, including middle-aged and elderly people in their 40s and 50s, as well as young teenagers aged 14 or 15. However, the standard age requirement set by Joe Anbang earlier was between 18 and 25 years old, with no bad habits or illnesses, and physically strong.

  As a result, more than 10,000 people were screened out of which over a thousand were selected.

  And this number also happened to coincide with Qiao Anbang's expectations, because his plan was to first form a regiment based on more than 100 old soldiers of the security team, with an average of one old soldier leading ten new soldiers, and then conduct training.

  The art of war says that the strength of an army lies in its quality, not its quantity. One veteran soldier leading ten new recruits is already a limit; if there are more than that, it's just a mob.

  Qiao Anbang was well aware that he did not lack weapons, money or various strategic materials, the only thing he lacked was well-trained soldiers and all kinds of military talents.

  Only after this team is trained and formed can it be suitable for continuing to expand the troops.

  …………..

  Late at night, Qiao Anbang dragged his tired body back to the Qiao family's large courtyard. Today he had been busy all day, recruiting over a thousand new soldiers, and everything from food and drink to accommodations needed to be resolved immediately.

  Also, the settlement allowance and the first month's salary were directly distributed to their families who were present at the scene, saving them from returning home during the return period.

  Qiao Anbang went back to his room after eating some of the hot dishes that the servants had prepared for themselves in the kitchen.

  Just as he was about to push open the door and enter, a voice sounded from behind him - it was his elder brother Qiao An Guo: "Third Brother, wait."

  Qiao Anbang's spirit was low as he turned around and weakly asked: "Big brother, what's up? I'm exhausted today, I really want to sleep."

  Looking at his brother's appearance, Qiao Anguo couldn't help but chuckle: "You're just lacking exercise."

  Qiao Anbang helplessly shrugged and said, "Come on in." Indeed, his physique was almost emptied by that scumbag from his previous life. It seemed he needed to strengthen his body through exercise.

  The two brothers entered the house one after another and sat down. After that, Qiao Anguo directly spoke up: "Old Three, I have come to find you so late because there are some things."

  "Uh-huh, go ahead and speak, Big Brother." Qiao Anbang nodded in indication.

  "It's like this, I just went to the camp and took a look, all these new recruits today are honest and simple country folks, they haven't even touched a gun before, can they really fight?" Qiao An'guo's face was full of worry.

  "Big brother, no one is born knowing how to shoot a gun. These civilians have never held a gun before, but that's because they haven't received formal training and haven't seen blood. As long as we strengthen their training and let them experience battle when the time is ripe, they'll naturally become seasoned soldiers. Wasn't it the same situation when our security team was first established?" Qiao Anbang replied confidently.

  "It's also, but aren't the old soldiers in our security team too few? I have an idea. Those dozens of bandits we captured last time, now that Wei Dexi is dead, why not recruit them into the team? After all, they all know how to shoot, and at least they're better than new recruits. They can also help train the new soldiers." said Qiao Anguo.

  "Not now, it's not time yet." Qiao Anbang shook his head immediately.

  "Why? They were also ordinary people at first, and most of them became bandits because they had no other choice." Qiao Anguo was puzzled.

  "Yes, they were originally ordinary people, but they are not now. After mixing with the bandits for so long, everyone has more or less picked up some bad habits. Now if we recruit them into the army, their various bad habits will infect other new soldiers, which is absolutely unacceptable." Qiao Anbang explained.

  Qiao An Guo still had some doubts, Qiao An Bang paused for a moment and continued: "Big brother, you don't know that an army is a collective, especially when it's first established. The first batch of officers and soldiers will have a huge impact on the future, whether in terms of combat effectiveness or military discipline. If the first batch of officers and soldiers are well-behaved and disciplined, then naturally they will be strong and fierce in battle. But if the first batch of officers and soldiers are all cunning and slippery, with bad habits all over them, their combat effectiveness will be unable to withstand a single blow."

  Once this army takes shape, it will be difficult to change it. Therefore, before our officers have formed a good style of work and tradition, those bandits who are accustomed to being sloppy and lazy cannot be recruited into the troops at all.

  "On the other hand, if our troops have already formed a collective with their own traditions, then there will be no individual troublemakers. They must change themselves to fit in and adapt to this collective."

  "Oh, I see." Joe nodded as if suddenly enlightened.

  ………..

  The next day, Qiao Anbang got up early, washed his face and had breakfast before rushing to the camp. Today was the first day of enlistment for new recruits, and as a deputy captain, he naturally had to be present to give a speech and get acquainted with the new recruits. After all, this army was his first army, and it would be the foundation of his future home.

  Qiao Anbang had just walked into the courtyard when he ran into Ya Li coming towards him.

  "Yali, so early." Qiao Anbang greeted her.

  "Hmm." Yali saw no one around and asked in a low voice: "Master wants to go to the military camp?"

  "How did she know I was going to the barracks? After some thought, it must have been that wicked information reader. Jo Anbang hesitated for a moment and smiled: 'Yes.'"

  "Then I'll go too." Yali said softly.

  "Yali, military camps are all men, you're a girl, it's better not to go, it's inconvenient." Qiao Anbang rubbed his head with a difficult expression.

  "No way, I'm going anyway." Yali pretended to be angry and pouted her small mouth in protest.

  "It's better you don't go, military camps are all big men, it won't be good for your reputation if you go." Qiao Anbang looked at Yalikou's lovely face and advised again.

  "Master, it's so boring here, just let me go with you, I can protect you." Seeing that Jo Anbang didn't respond, Yali took the initiative to hold his arm and shook it while coquettishly saying: "Master, won't you agree to let me go with you?"

  The pair of towering, soft jade rabbits in front of her chest accidentally touched Qiao Anbang's arm.

  Feeling the soft touch transmitted from her arm, Qiao Anbang glanced at those towering breasts with his eyes, and couldn't help but swallow his saliva. Looking at Yalai's pitiful big watery eyes, Qiao Anbang compromised and nodded reluctantly, then was pulled by the excited Yalai out of the courtyard, got on a truck, and headed straight to the camp.

  As soon as he arrived outside the military camp, Qiao Anbang discovered something unusual. There were dozens of soldiers standing outside the camp, discussing and arguing with each other.

  Qiao Anbang stopped the car and got out with Yali, walking forward together.

  As I approached, I found that these dozens of people were all old soldiers from the original security team, and the former deputy captain Wang Ding Sheng was also among them.

  As soon as they saw Qiao Anbang, everyone hurriedly saluted: "Captain."

  "Hmm." Jo Anbang returned a courtesy nod, scanning the crowd with an inquiring gaze. "What are you all gathered here for? Is there something going on?"

  Everyone looks at me, I look at you, with a difficult expression, but no one dares to speak out and answer.

  "Prosperity, what's going on?" Qiao Anbang said in a low voice.

  "Third Master, it's like this. The new recruits each get 12 taels of silver per month, which is more than double what our original security team members used to get. So the brothers can't help but have some thoughts in their minds. It's not that they have any complaints about you or Young Master..." Wang Ding Sheng trailed off without finishing his sentence.

  Qiao Anbang smiled and said, "I thought it was something big, but it's just this matter. It's my oversight. Brothers, don't envy those new recruits because our security team is about to expand into a security regiment. You're all getting promoted now - squad leaders become battalion commanders, platoon leaders become company commanders, soldiers become squad leaders and then platoon leaders. A platoon leader's monthly salary is 20 big yuan. Got it?"

  Everyone listened and was overjoyed. A big-headed soldier asked timidly: "Captain, is what you said true?"

  "Of course it's true, tell the other brothers that I, Qiao Anbang, will never forget our old security team brothers, and I will absolutely not let you down." Qiao Anbang replied with a smile.

  "Yes!" The crowd responded in unison.

  PS: I've been absent for so many days, unforgivable. The autumn wind has killed me a million times, and it's hard to redeem my sin. But please spare my life, so I can continue writing, work hard on updates, write good articles, and share them with you all.