Chapter Fifty: The Martial Arts Competition on the School Grounds

  "This is a national hatred and family feud, three sentences can't be said clearly." Yu Songyuan did not want to talk too much about his father's glory.

  "I've been to your home, and I must say you're a worthy descendant of Yu Lao Da, with great character. Our small unit has a heavy combat mission during peacetime, it's a strategic strike force. Of course, we also have high requirements for the quality of our soldiers. How about it, do you still want to join the army?" asked the Regimental Commander.

  "What's the use of thinking about it now? Isn't the enlistment registration already over? Besides, I'm currently studying for the exams, and in a few months, I'll be taking the college entrance exam. If nothing unexpected happens, I should get into a key university this year, and there shouldn't be any problems."

  "We understand your family situation. Although you have a warm and big family, your home has suffered a great disaster. Your three brothers are already in college or vocational school, and if you get in this year, although the school will provide tuition, book fees, and living expenses, you still need to spend money on clothes, transportation back and forth, and daily pocket money. Can you imagine how much economic hardship your parents would have to bear for the four of you children's education?"

  “……”

  Yu Songyuan was speechless, and the camp commander had struck his weakest point.

  On the dark, national-character face of the company commander, a faint smile appeared. "If you had a choice now, to go to college and it's a military academy. And your family doesn't have to bear any burden, and you can fulfill your childhood dream of becoming a soldier. Especially since this is the kind of soldier you hoped for, one who can fight during peacetime, why wouldn't you?"

  "Cheers!" Yu Songyuan blurted out without thinking.

  "Don't you really need to discuss it with your parents, uncles and aunts, professors, masters, and two beautiful aunts? And what about your girlfriend, don't you need to discuss it with her too? This is not a simple decision, it's not just related to your own fate, but perhaps also the rise and fall of your entire family." The squad leader continued to use his persuasive tactics, in high spirits, as if he had already won over this young man.

  Yu Songyuan said bluntly, "If what you said earlier is true, then it's not necessary. I've already made my debut in front of Dage, Xiaoye and Shifu, and I've established my own school. All my decisions will be supported by my family."

  "The company commander said, 'Alright. Although the regular recruitment is almost over, we can make an exception for you. If your political review and physical examination are fine and you pass our required test content, we will decide to recruit you specially. After enlistment, if you perform well enough, according to the army's regulations, you can take part in the military academy entrance exam next year. And if you're exceptionally outstanding, there is also a chance for you to be sent to study with special permission.'"

  "During your studies, all expenses are borne by the military, and after graduation, you will be assigned as an officer. Even if you don't get into a military academy, as a specially recruited volunteer soldier, you can enjoy treatment as a platoon-level cadre in the long-term service of the military. After retiring from the army, you will also be arranged to work by local authorities like a platoon-level cadre who has transferred industries. There is no joking around in the military; once you make a decision, you cannot regret it. Are you sure you have made up your mind?"

  "I'm sure!"

  Liu Gan glanced at the upper berth and teased him, "You really have the final say, don't you need to discuss it with that very pretty little girlfriend of yours?"

  Yu Songyuan's face turned red, "Really no need, she will definitely support me!"

  The regimental commander said, "Since you're so sure, I'll introduce our unit's basic recruitment situation and requirements to you first."

  It turned out that this small unit was not an ordinary soldier. It is a special force engaged in amphibious warfare, directly controlled by the highest level of strategic strike force, and frequently undertakes arduous combat missions. Therefore, it has very strict requirements for personnel conditions.

  This recruitment is all special recruitment. As long as the conditions are met, regardless of whether the local authorities agree or not, and regardless of whether there are any connections, they will be specially recruited. Of course, after enlistment, training is also particularly harsh, and combat environments are even more arduous and dangerous. Entering this unit is completely voluntary, and after passing a strict political review, you must also meet the following basic conditions:

  Must pass a cultural degree examination above high school level through a specialized organization, with a visual acuity of 2.0 or higher. Static rope skipping and free fall ability must meet the standards. Complete a 500-meter swim using breaststroke or sidestroke within 11 minutes. Do at least 45 push-ups in 2 minutes, do at least 50 sit-ups in 2 minutes, and complete 10 consecutive pull-ups on the horizontal bar. Wear sports shoes and shorts, and run approximately 2.5 kilometers within 11 minutes.

  "The above is just the basic conditions for this recruitment, but to become a special recruit, you must also meet the following conditions: 500m long swim, using frog or combat side stroke, and complete within 7-8.5 minutes; Complete 100 push-ups in 2 minutes, complete 100 sit-ups in 2 minutes, and complete 15-20 pull-ups on a single bar; Wear rubber shoes and long pants, and run 2.5km within 8.5 minutes."

  Liu Gan said, taking out a stopwatch, "As for cultural achievements, we've made some inquiries and you absolutely won't have any problems. As for swimming, there's no need to test you at all - you're even qualified to be an instructor! Your performance that day in the river was the best test of all. Now, let's go to your school playground to test your military physical training - are you willing?"

  "Good!"

  The four of them came to the playground together. At this moment, although it was class time, there were still many people sitting under the trees around the playground, most of whom were holding books and were classmates from cram school.

  Liu Gan and Camp Director each held a stopwatch, Lv Department Head directed, the test began. Yu Songyuan easily completed 110 push-ups in 2 minutes. For sit-ups, he easily did 121 in 2 minutes. Then at the pull-up bar for testing, Yu Songyuan easily completed over 30 pull-ups within the allotted time.

  The squad leader laughed and called a halt, "Alright, alright, let's just test the long-distance running, forget about the rest."

  The battalion commander and Liu Gan sat in the jeep, starting to time a lap around the track to calculate the standard length. Yu Songyuan said, "A 400-meter standard track, do we have to measure it on site?"

  Lü said, "This recruitment found that many middle school standard tracks are not up to standard."

  As expected, after running a lap, the instructor said: "The length of this track is 418 meters. We will give you eight minutes to complete 2.5 kilometers, which is six laps. You control your own speed and rhythm."

  Yu Songyuan wanted to take off his clothes, but Liu Gan Shi said he couldn't. So the camp commander and Liu Gan Shi simultaneously started timing, and Lu Buzhang gave the order for Yu Songyuan to start long-distance running while still wearing his clothes.

  He roughly calculated in his heart, 8 minutes, 2.5 kilometers, which is 6 laps, and each lap takes about 1.3 minutes. So, for the first two laps, he maintained a pace of 1.5 minutes per lap, and ran the third lap in 1.8 minutes. The third lap was also the most difficult time for his body, but he kept adjusting his breathing, and by the last three laps, he easily accelerated, getting faster and faster.

  At this time, the bell rang for class dismissal. The students who walked out of the classroom saw that someone was testing long-distance running on the playground, and many people came over to watch. Many classmates from the supplementary class also came over to watch, and many people started cheering Yu Songyuan on, while Director Lü hurried over to maintain order.

  Teacher Zhang was holding his lesson plan and just came out of the high school classroom, saw that the playground was very lively, took a glance, saw Yu Songyuan running long-distance, everyone surrounded the playground to cheer him on, so he also stood curiously at the edge of the playground, and laughed and scolded, "Too energetic!"

  Yu Songyuan was not affected by the surrounding classmates, and when he ran to the finish line in six laps, the head of the camp and Liu Gan Shi took a look at the watch, 7 minutes and 40 seconds. Director Lü saw that Yu Songyuan's face was not red and his breath was not short, and said with envy, "Young man, you have great physical strength!"

  The squad leader asked, "I noticed that even when you were sprinting at the end, you were still breathing through your nostrils and never opened your mouth. What kind of training have you received? Tell me the truth."

  Yu Songyuan wiped the sweat, "My big and little masters and teachers taught me that practicing martial arts, practicing internal strength, especially lightness kung fu, is actually practicing Qi. Adjusting one's breath is the foundation of endurance training."

  "Is it the same when swimming?"

  "No, no, no, can't joke around, when swimming, use your mouth to breathe more. Because the oral cavity is larger and it's not easy to choke on water."

  Liu Gan took off his upper garment, "How about it? Are you tired or not? Dare to exchange a few moves with me?"

  "What are you afraid of? You can't beat me, I couldn't beat him." Yu Songyuan also took off his shirt, and the two stood in the middle of the playground, pointing at Zhang Yingchang.

  "It's just a friendly match, let's stop at the crucial point, begin!" Liu Gan was slightly shorter than Yu Songyuan and took the lead in opening his stance.

  The team leader had just finished speaking, and Liu Gan was already approaching him, punching towards Yu Songyuan's face. Yu Songyuan dodged to the side. Liu Gan followed up with several beautiful consecutive kicks, and Yu Songyuan continuously dodged and parried, but still maintained his composure and didn't use his full strength. The two of them exchanged blows, opening and closing in a thrilling display that was truly exciting to watch.

  Suddenly, Yu Songyuan sprang up and performed a beautiful continuous roll in the air, already behind Liu Ganshi's back. With one palm, he slapped him down to the ground. The movement was too fast, Liu Ganshi had not reacted yet, and was already flipped over onto the ground with a light slap from Yu Songyuan.

  At this time, hundreds of students who were watching the fight had already surrounded the center of the playground, making it impossible to get in or out. Peng Yuhui, Liu Jun and several others were also among the onlookers, and they couldn't help but break into cold sweats as they saw Yu Songyuan's impressive fighting skills. It turned out that the other day, he had actually been holding back. If he really let loose, it would be unbearable.

  Li Yun and Teacher Zhang were overjoyed, enthusiastically cheering him on.

  Yu Songyuan helped Liu Gan up, and Liu patted the sand off his hands, then patted Yu's shoulder and said, "Kid, you're really something. After all, it's a matter of family learning and deep skills. I'm far inferior to you."

  The squad leader also took off his upper garment, and Yu Songyuan hastily clasped his fists together and said, "Senior, senior, spare me! I don't need to be hit to know that I'm no match for you. I admit defeat!"

  "That won't do, this is also part of the test," said the battalion commander. Yu Songyuan could only smile wryly and reluctantly walk forward, muster up his spirit, and get into position. As soon as Director Lü shouted "begin", the battalion commander suddenly jumped up from where he was standing to a height of three or four meters, his body spinning several times in mid-air before landing in a seated position, like an eagle swooping down, with both knees aimed straight at Yu Songyuan's face.

  The onlookers outside all let out a burst of exclamations, and Zhang Laoshi and Li Yun and the other female classmates were so shocked that they covered their mouths.

  Don't mention the people on the scene, Yu Songyuan was also shocked. This move he had never seen before, the camp commander's aura was strong, and suddenly it came crashing down like Mount Tai, in an emergency, he rolled over and dodged continuously with a somersault.

  Just as he was about to land, the captain's foot tip had just touched the ground, and another somersault kicked in, his left leg like a heavy hammer, fiercely smashing towards Yu Songyuan's head. Yu Songyuan had already calmed down from the panic earlier, he knew the captain's left leg was a feint, dodged to the side, and followed with a tumble to the ground. Sure enough, the captain followed through with his momentum, his right leg carrying the force of a thousand jun, sweeping horizontally towards him.

  Yu Songyuan had long been prepared, and as he fell, his legs flew up into the air, striking the battalion commander's shins. The battalion commander lost his balance and tumbled backwards, but landed steadily on his feet. Yu Songyuan used the momentum to leap up, delivering a whip-like kick towards the battalion commander's face. As the battalion commander dodged to the side, his right palm transformed into a blade, chopping straight at Yu Songyuan's leg tendons.

  Being able to quickly turn defense into offense, with both attacking and defending capabilities, is indeed formidable. Yu Songyuan rolled over again to dodge, but he didn't expect the camp commander's speed to be so fast, and his palm strike was a feint, while his right leg followed with lightning speed, sweeping him out for about four or five meters, landing heavily on his buttocks in the sand pit.

  The classmates were all dazzled by their continuous moves, and such a high-level martial arts competition had rarely been seen before. The whole audience was shocked into silence.

  Yu Songyuan fell to the ground, and he was like a fool, his mind was blank. In his heart, he kept lamenting, it's all over, it's all over, my dream of becoming a soldier is going to be shattered...