Chapter 1216

A word fell, like a giant stone cast into a calm deep pool, causing the Da Qian soldiers below to change color.

Buzz!

Zhao Bushi's face suddenly changed.

Pu Duo's face also changed abruptly.

Wang Xiao, Li Daniu, and other Commandants who considered themselves to have excellent physical fitness also wore solemn expressions.

Looking at the distance, twenty *li* was not close, but looking at the time, those with better physical strength could complete it without much difficulty!

But if they had to carry a weight of one *shi* (thirty catties), it would be completely different.

That difficulty was simply as hard as ascending to heaven!

The Living Yama, he doesn't treat people like people!

On the reviewing stand.

Wu Zhao was shocked.

Gao Tianlong, Qin Zhenguo, and others were also shocked.

Carrying a weight of one *shi* while running on uneven ground, involving turns and various obstacles—how could it be completed within one hour?

But Gao Yang remained composed and spoke loudly to the soldiers below the reviewing stand.

"Begin!"

"If you want to change your fate, then bring out the skills that will make me take notice!"

"On this trip, I have ordered people to follow you the entire way. Those who stop will be considered eliminated, and those who cheat or play tricks will be dealt with according to military law!"

To one side, the carts Gao Yang had prepared in advance were driven in, filled with basket after basket of stones that revealed an icy sheen in the sunlight.

Gulp!

In the field, over a thousand people swallowed their saliva in unison, a flash of horror in their eyes.

Among them were Zhao Bushi and Pu Duo.

"Those who feel they cannot do it may withdraw themselves; otherwise, even if you force yourself to persist, it will be in vain!"

"Because this is what future training will be like!"

These words caused many Xiongnu to look fearful, dispelling their thoughts of gritting their teeth to give it a try. After hesitating for a moment, they ultimately chose to withdraw.

At least a hundred people retreated.

Gao Yang's expression remained unchanged, feeling no surprise.

By using heavy rewards, he naturally wanted only the elite, especially since they were to fight the Xiongnu, who were famous for their cruelty.

He felt that one should adopt the most cautious attitude and give the highest respect.

His subordinates must all be first-class elites capable of taking on ten men each!

Although many withdrew voluntarily, compared to them, more chose to stay.

For them, although the challenge was difficult, it offered the possibility of changing their own fate.

As the saying goes, there are thousands of diseases in the world, but the most fatal one is often the "disease of poverty"!

Now that the opportunity had come, even if it meant climbing a mountain of blades or descending into a sea of fire, they had to give it a try.

After all, how many such opportunities does a person have in a lifetime?

Zhao Bushi gritted his teeth and looked at Pu Duo beside him. "Brother Pu, what do you think?"

Pu Duo's eyes turned red, and he said ruthlessly in his heart, "The Living Yama really has something up his sleeve. Those who can persist in this must be elites. For the sake of my children, and so my wife won't nag anymore, I'll do it!"

Hearing this, Zhao Bushi also hardened his heart. "Damn it, if I can't work myself to death, then I'll work myself to death!"

"With everyone watching, and His Majesty looking on, this is the time to prove that we are descendants of the Heavenly God. If we let those miners outdo us, it would be truly shameful!"

As soon as these words were spoken, some Xiongnu echoed him.

"Brother Zhao is right!"

"Indeed, those who withdrew voluntarily just now, except for a few miners, were all our clansmen. How shameful!"

"Damn it, those miners are all looking at us with mockery and contempt. Let them show off; we'll teach them a lesson later!"

"Whether it's a mule or a horse, let's take them out for a run. I'm not fast at anything else, but I can run fast. I'll run those miners into the ground later and let them know how good we are!"

Soon.

Accompanied by orderly division of labor, and with guards on horseback responsible for supervision along the way, a vast crowd of Xiongnu and miners, carrying sturdy baskets, ran toward the East Gate of Changan.

Gao Yang, Wu Zhao, and the others stood outside the military camp, watching the backs of the soldiers as they departed.

Wu Zhao asked curiously, "High Minister Gao, what kind of training method is this?"

Gao Yang replied with a touch of pride, "This is—the Special Forces method!"

"And this is just an appetizer. Once the selection is made, I will simulate various terrains for them to train in."

"Special Forces?"

Wu Zhao was stunned; it was the first time she had heard this term.

To the side, the group of veteran generals was also curious.

"My Lord, what are Special Forces?" Qin Zhenguo asked.

"So-called Special Forces are soldiers with extremely abnormal physical fitness and extremely fierce combat power. They are a surprise force that penetrates deep behind enemy lines, the sharpest dagger of my Da Qian, capable of piercing deep into the enemy's heart!"

A word fell, causing the three characters "Special Forces" to sink deep into everyone's hearts.

"Yang'er, but is this training method too harsh?"

Gao Tianlong frowned, worried.

Carrying a weight of one *shi* and trekking twenty *li*—this could not be called anything but difficult.

And that was not to mention the time limit.

Gao Yang shook his head.

He looked at the group of veteran generals full of doubt and spoke slowly: "Grandfather, this weighted running training seems harsh, but it actually contains the subtle principles of special operations!"

"The Seven Kingdoms War is ever-changing. On the battlefield, what means cannot be used? If you want to produce surprise troops, you need to execute missions under various extreme conditions. Weighted running focuses first on the shaping of endurance!"

"The Xiongnu have long lived in the bitter cold of the desert. Once our army needs to penetrate deep behind enemy lines, my Da Qian soldiers must not only carry equipment for long-distance raids but also cross mountains and dangerous obstacles. Without super endurance, how can we be a surprise force? Endurance is the foundation of survival and mission completion!"

"Furthermore, weighted running greatly enhances strength. On the battlefield, during close-quarters combat, drawing bows and swords, climbing obstacles, and hand-to-hand fighting all require powerful strength. Through long-term weighted training, the leg, waist, and upper limb strength of my Da Qian soldiers will be enhanced in all aspects, and they will become like human tyrannosaurs!"

These words made the veteran generals look solemn; even Wang Zhong fell into deep thought.

"But to run twenty *li* frantically within one hour while carrying a heavy load—this is simply impossible to complete!"

Qin Zhenguo said in a steady voice.

Gao Yang shook his head. "This is a screening process. One hour is naturally extremely difficult, and those who can complete it will be few and far between."

"But this is more of a tempering of willpower. When the body reaches its limit, willpower will lead the body to break through the encirclement. Only by constantly breaking through physical limits can one be a true iron-blooded soldier!"

"This can better condense the soul of the army!"

"The beating of the body is only the appearance; the test of willpower is the core essence!"

"This can better condense the military soul!"

"The hammering of the body is just the appearance; the test of the will is the core essence!"