Chapter Eighteen: Bait (Part One)

  The bamboo forest camp became lively.

  Although it was only three days, since it was a military camp and training was required, there must be a military appearance and a training atmosphere.

  Shan Shi Qi, Cao Wu Shang and Tang Li all stayed behind and were incorporated into Liu Quan's unit.

  In the Qin state army, after Shang Yang (also known as Shang Jun) established the new military system of "lianbao", until Wei Liao included it in his military treatise and created the "Wei Liaozi - Wu Zhi Ling", the six states of Guandong also began to accept and implement this more perfect and excellent military system.

  Five men make up a wu, with the leader being called the Wu Zhang; ten men make up a shi, with the leader being called the Shi Zhang; five shi, or fifty men, make up a zu, named Zu Zhang; two zu make up a guan, with the leader being called the Guan Zhang, also commonly known as the Bai Fu Zhang; only when there are a thousand men can they be referred to as a Jiang.

  Liu Quan was flogged with fifteen lashes, but also benefited from the misfortune and was appointed as a company commander.

  Apart from Liu Quan's four men, there was another guy named Zhou Chang who also became one of Liu Quan's subordinates. This person was about the same age as Shen Shi and looked clever and capable. However, his personality was somewhat dull, always with a straight face, and not fond of talking, being a taciturn person.

  According to Cao Wushang, Zhou Chang is not a person who dislikes talking, but he stutters very badly.

  Especially when arguing with others, he gets tongue-tied and can't say a word for half a day. However, this guy is very strong-willed and impartial, being extremely fair-minded. If provoked, he even dares to roll up his sleeves and fight to the death.

  The people of Pei County are quite respectful of him, and even Xiahou Yan's men dare not provoke Zhou Chang lightly.

  With the addition of this eccentric, plus the three people who were already there, Liu Xuan unexpectedly discovered that his subordinates were truly a diverse bunch, with all sorts of people. Shi Shi was clever and capable, Cao Wu was fiercely opposed to evil, Tang Li was steady and cunning, and Zhou Chang was meticulous and demanding.

  Looking at the four people sitting together, Liu Kan had a feeling of being unable to laugh or cry.

  "Let's hand over our rations to Zhou Chang for management." Liu Kan hesitated for a moment before saying to the crowd: "Zhou Chang's physical condition is not good, usually during training, it's me and Wu Shang who take care of him. But since you're meticulous, please be in charge of our equipment and supplies."

  Zhou Chang's face was stiff, and he nodded slightly with a rigid expression.

  In comparison, his physical strength was indeed not robust. However, he had a naturally competitive personality and would never give up no matter what.

  For Liu Kan's kindness, Zhou Chang appreciated it. This can be seen from his stiffened face twitching slightly.

  "Alright, it's getting late, roll call is at midnight tomorrow, everyone get some rest early."

  The four of them nodded and lay down. They had been busy all day, and they were really tired, so after lying down, they fell asleep soundly.

  Liu Quan did not sleep, got dressed and went out of the military tent.

  The sound of clashing swords echoes in the sky above the military camp, yet it also sets off the tranquility here.

  The starry night sky twinkled, indicating that tomorrow would be another good day. Liu Ju sat down outside the military tent, hugging his knees, thinking about his worries.

  In his previous life, he was unwilling to be a soldier and had a grudge against his father.

  Who would have thought that I lived again and still walked into the barracks. This old heaven, sometimes it's really interesting, making people unable to guess its thoughts.

  It's also good that in the previous life I regretted not being a soldier, this life can be a soldier, it is considered to have fulfilled a dream and resolved an old father's heart.

  Although, the old dad of last life...can't see this scene.

  Thinking of his parents from the previous life, Liu Jian's heart rose with endless sorrow. He sat alone in front of the military tent, staring blankly while hugging his legs, lost in thought.

  The footsteps behind him woke Liu up.

  He turned his head to look and saw Tang Lie walking out of the military account. He took a glance at Liu Kan, sat down beside him without saying a word, frowning.

  "Tang Ge, something on your mind?"

  Tang Lie said in a low voice: "Ah Kan, do you really believe what the county magistrate said today?"

  "What's up?"

  "It's just three days later, let's talk about escorting grain and grass."

  Liu Kan hummed and asked in surprise: "What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

  Originally thought that Ren Ze gathered the village braves to clear out bandits, but unexpectedly his purpose was actually to gather the village braves to escort grain and fodder.

  Liu Jian was surprised at first, but thinking about it, it seemed reasonable.

  Everyone knows that Qin's territory is vast today, but the military strength is not very sufficient. It is normal to lack people who escort grain and grass.

  But judging from Tang Li's tone, he seemed to be skeptical.

  "Tang Ge, don't you think the county head has other purposes?"

  Tang Lie nodded, "That's right, I think things shouldn't be so simple, it seems like there's something not quite right. But I couldn't think of an answer, and couldn't sleep... Ah Jian, anyway, I think we should still be careful with this matter, and pay more attention."

  Perhaps Tang Li's words were just empty and absurd nonsense.

  But Liu Jian also understood the principle of being careful with the "ten thousand year boat". Some things are still better done cautiously, after all, caution is no big mistake.

  "Tang Ge, let's leave this matter to him. He has good relationships and is broad-minded, just let him pay more attention. What we need to do now is train well. Sweat more in peacetime, bleed less in wartime. The more you practice, the more ways you'll have to save your life, don't think too much."

  "Sweat more in peacetime, bleed less in wartime."

  Tang Lie looked at Liu Gan with a surprised expression, and suddenly laughed: "Ah Gan, I just realized that you're actually not stupid at all."

  Liu Kan also smiled and patted Tang Lie's shoulder, "Alright, stop daydreaming. Go back and rest, you still have training early tomorrow."

  Actually, what results can be achieved in just three days of training?

  Everyone knows it in their heart.

  Even if Ren Yao is a sharp soldier from the Iron Eagle Guards, he's not a god after all. It's naturally impossible to suddenly squeeze a group of idle people into one entity. However, Ren Yao was very serious and strict, and in three days, he eliminated another 200 or 300 people.

  There are less than six hundred people left in the military camp now.

  The training subjects mainly focus on formation and combat skills.

  The training was extremely hard and many people were complaining all the time. However, Liu Jian's team from start to finish did not have a single person retreat, they gritted their teeth and persisted.

  Apart from Liu Jian's team, there are several other teams that are training diligently.

  Fan Kuai led one squad, Liu Bang led one squad. Apart from these two, there was another guy named Ren Ao who led a squad of men and trained very hard as well.

  According to Shi Fu's words, these three hundred men were all Liu Bang's people.

  Xiahou Ying was also assigned to Liu Bang's squad. In front of Liu Bang, this guy had none of his previous arrogant attitude, although he was still smiling and laughing, but in terms of attitude and training, he performed flawlessly, as if he had changed into a different person.

  Liu Bang's men always maintained a hint of hostility towards Liu Gong, but no one dared to provoke him.

  On the one hand, military discipline is in place, and Liu Bang repeatedly orders that there must be no unauthorized fighting within the army camp. On the other hand, the battle between Liu Bang and Fan Kuai also made people have a certain degree of respect for him. Xiang Yu privately told Liu Bang that he was also deeply impressed by Fan Kuai.

  On the night of the battle, Xiahou Yuan once asked Fan Qiang: "Tuzi Ge, what's Liu Quan like?"

  Fan Kuai replied: "In a real fight, that little runt is no match for me. If we really clashed, I could take him down in less than 100 rounds."

  But in ten years... In ten years, if he continues to develop at this rate, within twenty rounds, he will definitely be able to kill me. Ah Yin, all of you listen clearly. Don't go provoke that guy, or else you'll lose your lives, I won't care.

  "Matters between us will be handled by Big Brother and me, you can settle it with him."

  "Ah Qiang, judging from Butcher's tone, it seems like you have a grudge against that guy. What's going on?"

  The "that guy" in the mouth of the food auditor is undoubtedly Liu Bang.

  Liu Ke shook his head and said, "How would I know? Before this, I had only heard you guys talk about how he was, but I had never actually seen him. As for hatred, that's even more absurd. I suppose it's because last time I helped Brother Wu Xiang get out of trouble and beat up some people."

  Tang Lie said, "Impossible. That guy may be a scoundrel, but he still has some conscience. Otherwise, Wu Shuang would have had him killed long ago. You should know that there are several formidable guys around him, and killing Wu Shuang is not a problem at all."

  "Awesome guy?"

  Shan Shi replied, "Apart from Tu Zi, that guy has another accomplice, a man from Fengyi named Zhou Bo. He's the one who is always with him, and he looks very lean and strong. Originally from Juanxian (now Yuanyang in Henan), he makes a living by weaving silk cocoons for sericulture, and sometimes helps out at funerals by playing the Xiao. However, he has great skills, can pull a strong bow, his martial arts are not bad, and he's very cunning."

  One of them, one butcher, these are all Liu Ji's confidants. There is also Lu Xuan, who has been friends with Liu Ji since childhood, and the two grew up together. Lu Xuan seems to be Liu Ji's tail, wherever there is Liu Ji, you can always see Lu Xuan. And then there is Ren Ao, whose relationship with Liu Ji is not bad either... Sometimes, I just can't figure out what's so good about that guy, everyone is surrounding him."

  Zhou Chang stuttered and said: "Since everyone admires him, he must have his outstanding points. Ah Qi, you are not as good as him in this aspect."

  He glared at him with his eyes wide open, ready to argue with Zhou Chang.

  Liu Kuang hastily pulled the two apart, thus preventing them from quarreling. However, Zhou Chang's words also reminded Liu Kuang.

  You can't just look at someone's shortcomings. People like Fan Kuai and Zhou Bo are all capable individuals, and if they can submit to Liu Bang, then it must be that Liu Bang has some exceptional qualities. It seems that I really need to pay more attention to this guy... As for what Shi Yushi said, it can only serve as a reference.

  However, during training, Liu Quan discovered that Liu Bang did not have any hostile intentions towards him as Han Xin had said.

  On the contrary, Fan Kuai and others had a kind of inexplicable hatred towards him. However, Liu Bang always showed great kindness.

  It seems he wants to get along with Liu Jian.

  Is it a deep-seated plan or a genuine friendship? Liu Guang was also unsure! So, he only had a nodding acquaintance with Liu Bang, neither being hostile to him nor having too much contact. As the saying goes, "Don't have a mind that harms others, but also don't be without a mind that lets go..." Hehe, it's indispensable!

  In this strange atmosphere, three days passed quickly.

  Grain and fodder have been gathered, Ren Zhong ordered his deputy, Zhao Tuo, who was also from the Iron Eagle Sharp Soldier, as the commander, to lead the team to transport grain.

  Zhao Tuo, this name seems somewhat familiar!

  Liu Jian looked at the young general riding a war horse in the team, desperately thinking about Zhao Tuo's background. Unfortunately, his understanding of this period of Qin and Han history was really too little. So much so that he racked his brains to recall, but couldn't think of anything.

  Ren You leads the iron eagles under his command, on the city wall of Pei County, seeing off the troops as they depart.

  One of the Iron Eagle Guards said in a low voice: "Sir, didn't you think highly of that young man? Why do you still want to let him take risks?"

  Ren You's expression was calm and composed as he said, "It's precisely because I have high hopes for him that I allowed him to participate in this operation. Wang Ling, but they're just a motley crew. If they can't even pass this test, what qualifications do they have to become Iron Eagle Sharpshooters? This eagle emblem isn't something that just anyone can obtain."

  Besides, didn't we also come out of those bloody battles back then? If he's really an old Qin person, he should be clear about that.

  Tie Ying's words were: "What you said is absolutely right!"

  "That's it, this matter is settled, don't mention it again. Immediately send someone to inform General Tu that the 'bait' has been released and we are ready for action."

  "Hi!"

  Iron Eagle sharp soldier bowed his head in response, turned around and left with big strides.

  Ren You stood on the city wall, looking at the grain team that had already disappeared from view, and suddenly laughed: "Kid, do a good job, don't let me down!"