Chapter 25: The Founding of the Eighth Route Army

  Looking at the bandits standing on the mountain stronghold, selected for training, in accordance with Xu Bin's principles, most of these bandits were over 18 years old and under 35 years old. It wasn't that Xu Bin wanted to set this age range so high, but if the age was set too low, considering the age of these bandits on the mountain stronghold, it would be estimated that even a hundred or so people couldn't be selected.

  Not to mention some of the old bandits in Heifeng Village, who are all around the same age as their fathers, it's impossible for them all to join. For example, Old Du, who went with Xu Bin on a reconnaissance mission last time, looked no different from an ordinary 50 or 60-year-old man, but who would have thought that this Old Du was only just over 40 years old?!

  For the meritorious veterans of the previous generation in the mountain stronghold, Xu Bin hopes to use their sense of belonging to the mountain stronghold to let them stay in the mountain stronghold and follow his second uncle to do a good job in logistics. As for the important task of going out to fight and expand their forces, it is handed over to these hundred or so people in front of him.

  Of course, the scale of Xu's army will expand in the future, but at least one skeleton, Xu Bin, needs to be trained. Maybe by then, when there are many new recruits, he can just focus on organizing and training them, and not have to do anything else, just staying in the training base all day. What a big deal!

  Today, some of the bandits standing here are relatively young and new-generation bandits from Heifengzhai, with relatively shallow experience but suitable age. The representative among them is Gouzǐ, an 'old bandit' who was also brought up the mountain without knowing his surname, who last time took down Xiānglǔ Fēng together with Xǔ Bīn.

  They call him "Dogzi" because in those days, people believed that a humble name would bring good fortune. This "Dogzi" is undoubtedly one of the most common names among ordinary folks. If you were to run into a village with over a hundred residents and shout out "Who's Dogzi?", at least a few people would stand before you. Because this is a popularized nickname.

  Looking at the 120 middle-aged bandits standing in front of him, Xu Bin's slightly childish face had an inexplicable mature expression, and he said coldly: "Do you know why I gathered you all here today?"

  The bandits looked at each other and no one dared to answer, but a few bold ones still shook their heads, which was equivalent to expressing the common response of these people. That is, I don't know!

  Knowing the bandits' quality, if they want to be treated as a regular army in the future, it's estimated that they still need to be trained for some time. For this reason, Xu Bin suppressed his discontent and said: "Since you all don't know, today I'll select you to do what. From now on, listen carefully with your ears perked up. Starting from today, you will receive military training under the plan jointly formulated by me, Li Chengbing, and Wang Erbo, two big bosses.

  The purpose of doing so is to tell you that from today on, you should no longer consider yourselves as bandits in a mountain forest, but as members of the Xu family army.

  To put it bluntly, from now on you can't behave like bandits anymore. From now on, you will be under my command, a soldier of the Xu family army. In simpler terms, from now on in Heifeng Fort, you won't be bandits but soldiers who will fight and sacrifice for me, Xu Bin.

  If you brothers want to quit now, you can leave the team on your own, and I'll pretend I didn't see it. Once training begins, both of the big bosses and I will train with you together. Anyone who quits halfway through will be eliminated - it's a shame that you can't even keep up with me, the big boss, and you've grown up for nothing.

  "This time, during military training, I and the other two will follow you throughout the entire course. If you feel that we three are slacking off, you can express your opposition and protest at any time, and even request to quit this military training. If all three of us can persevere, but you cannot, then you can only accept being eliminated."

  Turn bandits into soldiers!

  Apart from a few people in the know, the bandits present were undoubtedly shocked by these words. They thought to themselves, 'Is this young master's brain cooked? Doesn't he know that "soldiers and bandits don't coexist"?'

  Even Bai Mulan, who was idle and came to watch the excitement, also looked very puzzled after hearing Xu Bin's words: "Zhong Shu, what is this stinky boy doing?"

  Incredible!

  Xu Yizhong didn't know how to answer this question either, because when he heard Xu Bin mention it at the time, he also felt that his nephew was joking. But from today's situation, this kid really wasn't just acting on impulse, but actually had a plan!

  Young people are like this, unwilling to accept the status quo! This is Xu Yizhong's first impression of his nephew in front of him.

  Just as the bandits began to whisper to each other, Xu Bin said again: "I know that today's decision is a bit sudden, but I still say it out loud. My ambition is great, and a small Black Wind Gang is not what I want."

  I don't want every time we go down the mountain, the folks at the foot of the mountain point and whisper that we are bandits from the mountains. I want to be a decent person, don't you? Are you really willing to spend your whole life hiding in these mountains, being a bandit that nobody looks up to?

  No matter what you think in your hearts now, I want to tell you that from today on, every brother who has participated in the first round of military training and reorganized can receive one yuan of military pay from me every month. What you do with this money, I won't ask.

  But today, those who were not selected to come here are all meritorious ministers of my father's generation, and they are all older than you. So I chose them to serve as the logistics personnel of the Xu family army, and they will be managed by my second uncle, Xu Yizhong.

  They will also enjoy a monthly allowance of one long yuan like you, without the need for training. As for the income from fighting and capturing spoils in the future, it will not follow the original rules of the mountain stronghold, where one-tenth of the spoils can be counted towards the soldiers who participated in the battle.

  Another 20% will be kept by the logistics department for you, and after your family is killed in battle, it will be used as a consolation fund for your family members. The minimum amount will reach 100 Longyang, and the more meritorious the Xujia Army is, the more consolation money will be given, with no upper limit.

  The remaining 70% will all belong to me for management, used to expand the troops and purchase weapons and ammunition. In a sense, you will be my private army, whether or not you can live like a human being in the future also depends on whether you are worthy of my, Xu Bin's, favor.

  I'll give you three minutes to consider. Those who are willing to drop out of this training, I can arrange for them to be transferred to the logistics department, responsible for the mountain stronghold's logistical work. However, from now on, there will be no share of war spoils and rewards for you. The only thing you'll be able to receive is a monthly bonus from the mountain stronghold based on your work performance assessment.

  The principle is simple, those who shed blood and sweat can make a lot of money and live a good life. If you are afraid to die, have a small heart and don't dare to fight, then stay in the mountain stronghold and help with some small things, such as raising pigs or something, as long as you work honestly, the mountain stronghold will also provide your food and shelter.

  If you want to spend the rest of your life with a wife who's hot-headed, it's going to be tough. That's all I have to say, now let's start counting down. If you don't leave after time is up, I'll assume you've accepted my conditions. No regrets in the future, sorry, but you can just get out!

  Carrots and big sticks speech by Hu Luobo, these selected bandits were immediately very entangled, but at this age, who doesn't want to find a wife to inherit their legacy?

  Always living in this mountain village as ordinary people, the danger is naturally not as great as being a soldier, but later on, they will also be like those older people who can only do some chicken and pig feeding work, how can these proud men bear it?

  Compared to those bandits over thirty years old, some of them knew that survival was the most important thing, and being too greedy would lead to an early death. Those bandits under thirty were more willing to participate in this round of military training.

  Because they all knew that in order to live a better life in the future, they had to follow this young master. So, those who were most delighted by this news were undoubtedly these bandits under the age of thirty.

  As several bandits over thirty years old walked out one after another, 108 people were left at the scene three minutes later. After crossing out the names of these twelve bandits from Xu Jiajun's name list, Xu Bin did not get angry with those twelve bandits who quit.

  "On the contrary, he said excitedly: 'Alright, three minutes are up, and you will become the meritorious officials of the Xujia Army led by me, Xu Bin, in the future. As long as you follow me with loyalty in the future, I, Xu Bin, will not disappoint you. From today on, you will undergo a one-month military training with me, during which no one is allowed to drop out or leave early.'"

  "Anyone who disobeys will be driven out of Xu's village. If you want to be envied by others in the future, then get through this month for me. You are all big men, tell me, can you hold on?"

  Of the one hundred and eight bandits, except for Li Chengbing and a few who were left behind due to their duties, the old men of Heifengzhai did not get excited about this promise. The rest of the young bandits all shouted in unison: "We can!"

  From then on, the event of the establishment of the army at Heifeng Mountain Black Wind Stockade was forever remembered in the war history of Longhua State. Unexpectedly, when Xu Bin ordered the record clerk in charge of documents to record today's events, he only then realized that the chosen day was surprisingly the first day of August in the sixth year of the Democratic Calendar of Longhua.

  If the Xujia army really becomes a warlord in the future, perhaps this military building holiday will also be kept forever. August 1st Army Building Festival, what a familiar day, this makes Xu Bin determined. Even for this day, the future Xujia army must develop and grow stronger, to support a bright and peaceful sky for the people of Gannan Road and the suffering compatriots of Longhua State!

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