Chapter Thirteen: Lessons

  Long Chen's speed was extremely fast, so fast that Zhao Erhu's heart was clear that even if he turned around and ran away now, it would definitely be too late. He gritted his teeth and threw out his fist to meet the attack head-on. Since you're bullying me too much, I'll just fight you to the end!

  Zhao Erhu could only be considered a rustic bumpkin, his skills far inferior to Hu Meng's. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been thinking of slacking off even during training. Facing Zhao Erhu's fist, Long Chen stretched out his left hand and lightly grasped it before applying pressure.

  Zhao Erhu felt that his fist was about to be crushed, it could be said that the pain from being stepped on by Long Chen's foot and the pain of having his fist clenched were worlds apart. Even the courage and confidence he had just mustered up to fight Long Chen were completely destroyed at this moment. His whole body bent down, his mouth agape but unable to utter a "pain", he could only continuously gasp for air.

  But Long Chen's eyes didn't have a shred of sympathy, only coldness. For these soldiers, you can only be more ruthless than them. At this time, Long Chen couldn't make them respect him, so he made them fear him!

  Zhao Erhu's face began to sweat, his eyes pleadingly looking at Long Chen, the surrounding soldiers also stared unblinkingly at the scene in front of them, and a chill ran down their spines.

  "Hmm", Long Chen opened his palm, Zhao Erhu only felt a lightness throughout his body, and his fist finally broke free from its restraints.

  But then Long Chen quickly stretched out his right hand and grabbed Zhao Erhu's neck with lightning speed, and exerted his arm strength to lift him up.

  Facing this sudden change, Zhao Erhu clearly didn't react in time, only feeling his neck being clamped, then his feet left the ground, and he couldn't breathe.

  "See that? All of you, take a good look! If you think you can't train and won't listen, fine. If you can beat me, then you have the qualifications! Otherwise, this will be your outcome. Did everyone see?"

  Long Chen held Zhao Erhu in the air, turning him around in a circle in front of the Han army. Zhao Erhu could only try to pry Long Chen's fingers open with all his might, but it had no effect. He was now slowly running out of breath and his face began to turn purple.

  The soldiers' chests began to fluctuate, and they clearly couldn't accept Dragon's behavior, after all, there was still a bit of resentment in their hearts. They didn't dare make any moves for now, but the slightly resentful gaze swept towards Dragon, however, under the cold stare from Dragon, they quickly lowered their heads. Dragon's aura was too powerful, and none of the soldiers dared to provoke his authority, even if they were extremely dissatisfied in their hearts, they didn't dare show it too obviously.

  "Did you hear me? I want your answer!" Long Chen bellowed again.

  "I heard." The scattered responses came over, and at this moment even Hu Meng didn't have the enthusiasm to respond loudly.

  "Your voice is not enough, are you all mute?" Long Chen shouted.

  "We heard that!" The Han soldiers all puffed out their chests and responded loudly, also venting their dissatisfaction with Long Chen.

  "I'm telling you, since you're my soldiers, I get to decide how to train you! Anyone who's lazy or slacking off will be dealt with like this!"

  Looking up at Zhao Erhu, Long Chen said in a low voice: "If there is a next time, I will definitely kill you!" The cold and fierce killing intent pierced into Zhao Erhu's heart with that icy gaze, leaving a deep imprint on his inner soul, which would accompany him for the rest of his life.

  Zhao Erhu's palms loosened, and he fell to the ground, lying on his back with both hands covering his throat, panting heavily. His face slowly turned from purple to red.

  "What's your name?" Long Chen asked another soldier kneeling on the ground.

  "Little... Wang Liang, little one knows he was wrong, knows he was wrong." At this moment, Wang Liang regretted to death for being lazy with Zhao Erhu, and seeing the miserable state of Zhao Erhu who had just been dealt with, Wang Liang was terrified from the bottom of his heart.

  "Do you want to be like him?"

  "No, no." Wang Liang hastily shook his head.

  "Twenty circles, understand?"

  "Understood, understood." Wang Liang nodded desperately.

  "Go run quickly!"

  "Yes, yes." Getting up from the ground, Wang Liang stumbled a few steps and almost fell over, but still didn't dare to look back, starting to run instead.

  "Everyone else, ten laps! You can only go get your lunch ration after you've finished running!" Long Chen raised his arm and shouted.

  "Got it!" The Han soldiers turned around, formed a line and started running.

  In the mountains, houses and schools can only be built on flat land, so there is limited space. As a result, the barracks are densely packed around the school grounds. At this time, these idle soldiers gather in threes and fours at the edge of the school grounds, pointing and laughing at Hu Meng and others who are running, occasionally bursting into snickers.

  "Hey, Mengzi, are you stuffed from eating and running around?" Another little flag was standing at the edge of the playground, watching the commotion.

  "You dare to come in, I'll beat you to death!" Hu Meng spat and cursed back without any politeness, but still panting and continuing to run.

  "Fine, you're quite bold, speaking so rudely. Are you trying to intimidate me?" The little flag was clearly infuriated by Hu Meng's retort.

  At this time, Hu Meng had already run a lap, but still turned his head and shouted: "You little devil has the guts to come now!"

  That little flag was about to enter the school grounds to find Hu Meng and ask for an explanation, but the soldiers beside him immediately pulled him back.

  "Brother, don't go, this is a trap set for you. If you go, won't you be falling into his trap?" A soldier beside him whispered in his ear.

  That little flag also came to its senses, glanced at Long Chen standing not far away, and could only hatefully pant a few times: "Forget it, forget it, let's not meet this dog Hu Meng, let's go, let them run around here like fools."

  That little flag is intimidated by Long Chen, and doesn't have the courage to enter the school grounds. Then just leave, must you wait for Hu Meng to run another lap around here and scold yourself a few more times?

  They ran another ten laps, and the soldiers were also tired. They were different from Long Chen, who was used to high-intensity training like eating and drinking. They usually slacked off during training and only cared about getting by in the barracks, their spirits were not enough, and even the best physical foundation would be ruined by such laziness.

  "It's over."

  Listening to Long Chen's order, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief and went to the kitchen to get their lunch rations.

  Zhao Erhuo, who was lying on the ground, was also helped back by several soldiers. But Wang Liang was still running laps on the training grounds, and when he secretly turned his head to see that everyone else had dispersed, he really didn't want to run anymore. However, his gaze happened to meet Long Chen's scanning gaze, causing Wang Liang to suddenly feel a chill down his spine.

  Alas, let's run away then.

  "You'll get into trouble if you keep this up." Yan Yi also ran 20 laps with the soldiers, but his face was only slightly red. These 20 laps were nothing to Yan Yi.

  "What's going on?"

  "You're too rigid and prone to breaking, you handle things too violently." Ruan Yi admired Long Chen's skills, but disapproved of his tendency to solve problems with his fists.

  "It's not waiting for me, come on, let's go to the back mountain." Could Long Chen tell this man in front of him that in seventeen years, the Great Ming dynasty would be overthrown by a peasant uprising and then the Qing dynasty would enter the pass and pick up the peaches?

  "What's going on in the back hills?"

  "Accompany me to catch fish."

  ……

  "General." Lu Han walked into Mao Youjun's signature room and saluted with a fist.

  "Have you figured out what's going on with all the commotion in the schoolyard?" Maoyou Jun put down the brush in his hand.

  "After inquiring clearly, it was Long Chen who led his brothers to practice. Lu Han's face couldn't help but smile."

  "Haha, this kid's skills are undeniably good."

  "Since the general also appreciates him so much, why not transfer him to a directly affiliated army?"

  Mao Youjun is currently the commander of Tieshan, and in the future if he goes to another place for work, his own direct troops can be taken away. The soldiers outside of his direct troops will all stay behind for the next person in charge.

  "Look, he's only been in charge for a few days and already wants to make some moves. If you let him into the direct-affiliated army, are you going to let him take your place directly? He won't be content with being a low-ranking soldier, can you keep him under control later?"

  Mao Zijun's direct troops had about 200 people, led by Zhou Kefeng and Lu Han respectively, which was a household troop.

  Lu Han nodded in agreement, deeply convinced that last time they fought, he was no match for him at all.

  "So let him go down there and temper himself for now, grind off those rough edges, and then bring him back into the regular army, or even better, have him come over to me as a personal guard."

  "Still, General thought deeply."

  "In any case, a talent like Long Chen's, once discovered, will not be let go. I'll instruct De Zong to keep an eye on him and let things slide as long as he doesn't get too out of hand."

  "I understand, and I'm sure the Emperor will also understand the General's intentions."

  Mao Youjun nodded slightly and Lu Han also retreated tactfully.