Chapter 587: Looking Young

Da Wang swore he'd be a troublemaker in this special recruitment camp, held down by his older brother and behaving himself for a while. After waiting another few quarter-hours, the late-summer air grew sticky, and finally it was Da Wang's turn.

They handed over a travel permit from Luoyang, which still looked recently issued; the official examined it repeatedly, found nothing wrong, and gave it back.

The registrar noted they were from Xinqiu in Luoyang, then looked up and asked Da Wang how old he was.

Da Wang candidly replied, "Fourteen!" He had to misstate his real age.

The official sized him up, but before he could voice any suspicion, Da Wang got in first, chin lifted: "What's wrong with looking young? Haven't you seen a baby face before?" His tough persona wouldn't falter.

The official might have a good temper; he didn't kick them out, but instead asked Da Wang what his special talent was.

Da Wang blinked and said, "I have extraordinary strength!"

"Good. Why did you come to enlist?"

"The times are harsh, life is as light as a speck of dust, the country is unstable, to repay—"

The recording official cut him off: "Stop! Get to the point."

Da Wang answered loudly, "To eat my fill!" A small ripple of laughter came from behind.

Wei Ke: …He went from one extreme to another.

The official didn't say anything else, probably really having written down "to eat," "…Go inside first; there will be a preliminary selection inside."

Da Wang didn't leave; he turned back to wait for Wei Ke. After Wei Ke went past them, a refugee stood behind them. Da Wang slowed his steps to listen to the man say he came from a remote small county near Huzhou; he had no travel permit, having fled with his whole village to escape the ravages of war. When asked why he didn't go to the Northern Border to work but instead enlisted, he copied Da Wang's loud reply: "To eat my fill now! Also to have food half a year from now."

Da Wang: …He felt the Forbidden Army would be harder to feed.

Surely they didn't all enlist just to get a meal? The food budget is going to skyrocket!

After entering the Xuanping Camp, anyone who wanted to stay had to put on a talent show; only after passing the preliminary screening could one remain and earn a temporary post in the Feather Forest Guard. The officer in charge of the screening was from the Xiaoqi; he knew not only Da Wang but also Wei Ke, who often loitered around their camp in Youzhou. Seeing the two, he was startled only briefly, then quickly regained his composure—he had also carried out a mission of going out in disguise with Da Wang. When he lifted his head again, he saw the Second Young Master and Commander Ling behind him, and he grew even more composed.

This is team-building!

Wei Ke relied on his martial skill, but in sparring with the Xiaoqi his performance was mediocre—just a rough-and-ready fighter, barely holding his own. Da Wang said he had great strength; the camp's extremely strong bow requiring two stone of draw weight he could pull back effortlessly, so the Xiaoqi officer in charge of screening simply let him pass.

Those present who had been watching Da Wang with interest also relaxed; everyone in Chang'an knew Da Wang had been toppled by the Wei family's decadent heirs, and no one had ever heard rumors of the Northern Border King possessing extraordinary talent.

Da Wang successfully obtained his enlistment notice; he just needed to report the next morning.

Waiting for Xie Yuan and Lu Tong to pass again that evening in front of the great square before Jianzhang Palace, they saw the two large pits already planted with two big trees of an unknown species, a gaggle of little eunuchs sweeping up the debris; he knew this was Da Wang's return. Zhang Xuke said that aside from Da Wang, no one was allowed to touch those pits; Xie Yuan thought it would be enough just to come back, and would try to block Da Wang again tomorrow. But to his surprise, he showed up on time at the early morning hour the next day to intercept someone—only to come up empty, for Da Wang had already risen early and left the palace!

This time even Lu Tong was shocked—Da Wang is the sort who would change ancestral rites just to attend court, and only shows up at the early morning hour; what could possibly drive him to go to such lengths?

The two stared at each other, thinking the outside venture looked no small matter!

The two prepared to go back and ask Xie Tu; maybe their game had some inside information.

Da Wang went to report at the Xuanping Camp early that morning; the special recruitment camp already had sixty or seventy who had passed the preliminary screening, more than he had expected. He had originally thought a few companions would suffice to accompany him to the Forbidden Army's main camp, but seeing so many people now made him beam with delight.

Without formal training, there are so many gifted fighters—why not take them?

After his joy faded, he worried again: "Is it that the times are too terrible, forcing such talented people to enlist? Or… are they all spies?" If one relies on martial skill, the bare minimum to stay is to fight the Xiaoqi to a draw. Da Wang's kind of immense strength is an exception. Logically, wouldn't these people be better off doing anything else than enlisting? Serving as a retainer for the aristocracy is also a good option, since once you enter the military it's hard to get out, so Da Wang can't help but think further.

Wei Ke: …He let Da Wang finish speaking.

"The Feather Forest Guard has always been prestigious—after all, it's the emperor's personal guard; let's look on the bright side."

All right, Da Wang could only think that way.

When everyone had gathered, Liang He came in person. He had already learned last night of Da Wang's appearance; now he scanned the crowd without changing expression, then withdrew his gaze.

"……Commander, I'll give you one more chance to choose. If anyone hasn't made up their mind, they can still withdraw today; but once you enter the army and pass the final selection to become official soldiers, anyone who backs out will be punished by military law! Our Northern Border forces maintain strict discipline; soldiers defending home and country is a sacred vocation, brooking no one who goes back on their word or acts recklessly! Now, those who haven't decided, step forward—Commander, I'll give you one last opportunity."

He paused for a moment; no one moved.

"Good, Commander will treat you as having already made your choice! Since you have chosen to join the Feather Forest Guard, you will henceforth be subject to military law; if anyone is found to have falsified their identity, harbored ill intent, or plotted to threaten the interests of Great Jin and His Highness, upon discovery I will personally behead them and exile their three clans."

Da Wang nodded from below; that was appropriate.

"……Having said the unpleasant things. Everyone here today has some talent, unwilling to waste a lifetime in mediocrity, wanting to make a name for themselves and change their fate. These days the times are unstable; as long as you have ability and loyalty, the Feather Forest Guard is your best choice. Only by choosing a life of military campaign can one hope to be granted a marquisate at once."

Here there are seventy-two people, who automatically form a new platoon; starting this afternoon they will enter the East Great Camp and train together with the Forbidden Army. As long as everyone can ultimately stay, they will have a chance to become a distinctive unit within the Feather Forest Guard, like the Snow Cavalry of the Northern Border forces. High pay and mystic armor—everything will be provided.

In the Great Jin army, a platoon is roughly a hundred strong, two platoons make a company. Below a platoon are squads of fifty, sections of ten, and fireteams of five. Seventy-two people barely make a platoon.

Liang He's words had barely fallen when someone below shouted, "I want to be platoon leader!" in a tiny, crisp voice.

Liang He struggled to keep his composure; Da Wang was being overly ambitious. That's how he saw it, but Xie Yuan and Lu Tong held different views.

"Shouting slogans won't cut it; to be platoon leader you need real ability!"

Upon hearing that, Da Wang blurted out, "Deal! As long as you don't play dirty, the platoon leader will be me based on merit!" The moment he said that, several more people took an instant dislike to him.

Liang He: …

He glanced at Wei Ke beside him; the meaning in his eyes was easy to read: "Please protect Da Wang!" Wei Ke gave an almost imperceptible nod—this mouth really needs a bodyguard.

Da Wang strode toward the East Great Camp, thinking, "No way, this is too much like, too much like! Liang He has learned his secret skill—the Pie-Baking Great Method!"

"Uh-oh! My closely guarded secret has been learned!"

Wei Ke: "…May I ask if that's a poison‑coated tongue?"

Da Wang: …