Chapter 483: Only My Unique Method Chapter 483: Recruiting Soldiers

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Protagonist:

Chen Yi

The High Priest gazed up at the sky. His profile looked like a philosopher attempting to probe the secrets of the universe; his back looked like Cinderella yearning for a prince; his front had a white-robed priest kneeling and bobbing up and down, presumably also probing some secret of life.

After a long while, Iyar let out a satisfied exclamation, brushed aside the young little priest, and laughed heartily: "Haven't been this happy in a long time. You did well."

"All for the temple." The little priest kept his eyes lowered, obedient. He had snow-white skin, crimson lips, and an expression ripe for the picking. In the temple's academy, a brotherhood passed down for a thousand years specialized in teaching special techniques to those willing to take shortcuts.

"Well said. We're all for the temple." Iyar, both cheerful and nostalgic, gazed ahead. There, a new high-rise had risen, named the Air Force Command Building. At 25 stories and 120 meters, leveraging the terrain, it just surpassed Ma La's former commanding height, the "Tower," as if symbolizing the end of an era. Iyar suddenly spoke with a touch of melancholy: "If it were the past, I could give you a cushy post."

The little priest cleverly raised his head: "Serving the temple seeks no reward, High Priest. You are the servant of the god; serving you is my greatest honor."

"Even a servant of the temple should live as well as possible; the Dragon God would agree. Hmph, you serve me, which is also indirectly serving the Dragon God; you deserve a reward." Iyar dotingly patted his head: "The Dragon God will remember you. How about going to Xima Market to be a merchant?"

The little priest was overjoyed, but his face showed not a trace of it: "If you need it, Palus will certainly manage it well for you."

Iyar nodded in satisfaction. He liked clever pets, unlike certain self-important yet inwardly inferior public servants; he at least dared to use clever ones — this was his only pride now.

Pride existing in the heart.

A formation of helicopters went "clack-clack-clack" as they suddenly dropped into the cloud layer. Marking the start of a new day's patrol.

Iyar let out an annoyed "Hmph," and said: "Look at those fragile Giant Bird Knights. Let's go back, lost my appetite."

The little priest Palus was working hard; the High Priest suddenly pulled away, nearly making him knock into the table. But he dared not complain, carefully clambered up, and resentfully eyed those "Giant Bird Knights" painted deep blue and black, thinking: Once the temple war ends and the spell knights return, the Sky Knight Order will surely tear you to pieces.

The noise lasted 30 minutes before He Qun ordered the helicopter group to fly to the mining area. Since Chen Heng took office, the West River Region's defense zones had been newly delineated. The West River Water Fortress area is a Level 1 alert zone, with the largest scope and highest intensity, including the West River Water Fortress, Xima Market, the airport, and the railway line — the latter being the actual transit point to and from Earth.

The Level 2 alert zone includes the mining area and Xijiang Wharf.

The Level 3 defense zone is Ma La, the Rubber Forest, and the newly discovered Rare Earth Mine. None of them count as pure West River Water Fortress property; even the Rubber Forest is only closed during tapping season, otherwise still allowing nearby villagers to enter to hunt and pick fruit.

The Level 1 zone is permanently garrisoned by various troops; the Level 2 zone has armored forces and helicopter units patrolling; the Level 3 zone conducts scheduled deterrence patrols based on traffic lines, just like the Ring City Highway Battle back then, only there's no war now.

The temple war drew everyone's attention; even the gentlemen inside Ma La treated supplying war materials as the top priority, not the West River Water Fortress right before their eyes. Judging by the consistent behavior of "Jiangning People," the decisions of the High Priest and others seemed reasonable. "Jiangning People" are more like bandit robbers; they'll try every means to plunder wealth from Ma La, but ultimately it's all for wealth — they neither occupy cities nor demand believers' submission... For a massive temple like the Water Dragon Temple, there's almost no threat.

High Priest Iyar didn't know that the newly appointed Mr. Chen Heng in West River Water Fortress is a resolute, offensive-minded military leader. His school life and staff officer career were unremarkable, but three years in the Special Forces completely reshaped his thinking.

Expanding from one battalion to three battalions took West River Water Fortress nearly half a year. But expanding from three battalions to three regiments, Chen Heng only plans to use two months. Moreover, he intends to heavily employ members from Earth, and on that basis continuously expand the number of native soldiers.

Each of the three regiments is standardized at 1,000 people, equivalent to the military headcount of a small European country. West River Water Fortress's population doesn't even match a small European country; maintaining such a military force is no easy matter from any angle.

However, the situation on the West Continent is: as long as Chen Yi supports it, it will definitely succeed.

Chen Heng adopted a volunteer recruitment system rarely used by modern nations, instead of the conscription system he was used to, and conducted propaganda on every street of West River Water Fortress.

West River is a small place; outdoor advertising is still in the big-slogan stage.

The colorful recruitment ads, once unveiled, attracted the attention of numerous trainees and staff members.

"100,000 to 1,000,000 annual salary per year — isn't that even lower than a trainee?" A trainee newly arrived on the West Continent stood before the inquiry desk at the small square, disappointed: "In my impression, the Martial Arts Hall is far more generous."

Tong Guanxian sat in the center, listened, and smiled: "What's your current salary?"

"Body Technique Level 4, 24,000 times three, I just arrived at West River." The trainee spoke as if on a business trip. Humans are social animals; if he came alone to a strange continent he'd naturally be fearful, like appearing alone in a foreign country. But if a group, even a military organization, appears on a strange continent, there's instead a sense of conquest achievement.

Tong Guanxian nodded, smiling: "How long do you think it'll take you to reach Body Technique Level 7?"

"Maybe two years?"

"Exceeds the standard period."

"That's why I came to the West Continent." The newly arrived trainee said this, and many beside him chimed in agreement.

The standard period is the time to convert to a worker; voluntarily going to the West Continent extends this time. For non-genius trainees, the only way to reach Level 6 is to come to the West Continent — this is also the result Chen Yi wants. Body Technique Level 6 is already a bit dangerous for ordinary people.

Ma Zhongcheng, also responsible for recruitment and thin as a pole, laughed at this: "You're a trainee who just barely made the cut and you've got quite a few demands. Honestly, we're preparing to recruit at most 2,000 people. Body Technique Level 4 is the control threshold; you want in, you'll still need to put thought into the assessment. The total pay is higher than when you convert to a worker, right?"

"Soldiers go to the battlefield; pay should be higher than now."

"Current trainees also go to the battlefield; it's just becoming more regularized." Tong Guanxian explained seriously, stood up, clapped his hands, and said: "Everyone here, Martial Arts Hall old third batch, you probably didn't catch it, I didn't catch it either... but I caught 'West Defense Once'..."

He planted one foot on the table, revealing a handsome yellow-white medal.

The trainees crowded below let out heavy breathing sounds.

Muse, a former Noble Knight from Ma La and the earliest to surrender to West River Water Fortress, timely shouted: "Be a dog of 'West Defense Once,' be a rat of 'West Defense Once,' Long live West River City-State!"

A trainee in his 30s muttered in a daze: "Just two months short, just two months short, and I'd have gotten the West Defense Once commemorative medal."

"Don't enlist, and you definitely won't get the medals for West River's expanded campaigns." Tong Guanxian jumped up painting a rosy picture, waving the medal on his chest, and shouted: "West River Defense Battle first participation commemoration — this was won with the lives of your seniors. Look left and right; which current senior official doesn't have a West Defense Once medal? Quite a few have the 'West River Defense Battle Outstanding Medal' too. You missed the good times; now is your second chance. Ask yourselves: why are we expanding the army? Is West River City-State idle and handing out money for fun?"

The venue fell silent.

During the West River Defense Battle, West River Water Fortress was in ruins awaiting revival; almost anyone with a skill had a chance to shine. "West Defense Once" is actually a commemorative medal; everyone in West River Water Fortress back then got one. Even if they couldn't seize the opportunity well, they'd meet countless who did, thereby gaining opportunities again.

Just as Tong Guanxian said, at this time of the city-state's founding, seniority and qualifications are still very valuable... Military merit is unquestionably an important achievement transcending other merits.

The previously problematic Level 4 trainee suddenly "pfft" laughed and shouted: "The Martial Arts Hall isn't always idle handing out money either. But I'm joining."

His words broke the silence and scared a cold sweat onto Tong Guanxian's forehead; he hurriedly jumped off the table: "You're a Level 4 trainee, you don't have unconditional qualification to enter the army. I'll record your name and wait for the follow-up interview. Your name."

"Pei De. Pei from cultivate, De from morality."

"Pei De, got you." Tong Guanxian pointed at his forehead.

The new trainee hehe'd and withdrew from the crowd.

The few new trainees beside him hesitated a moment, then also signed up.

As of today, West River City-State accommodates over ten thousand Earth people; newcomers able to find good positions are fewer and fewer. For them with zero credentials, joining the army is a not-bad decision.

Though seemingly dangerous and the pay not much increased, it's still better than converting to a worker after a year. Compared to Earth's military treatment, the common Level 4-5 trainee annual salary of 400,000-500,000, tax-free, is not lower than European and American professional officers' pay.

On the other hand, their caliber is indeed not weak. Whether nerve reaction speed, or psychological endurance, strength, speed, intelligence, etc., all increase significantly with Body Technique level. With appropriate weapons, they fully qualify as super soldiers.

Chen Heng doesn't know the little secret that only Chen Yi can use the Magic Subway, but he is very certain: as long he has such an army, even if some ambitious person wants to transfer ownership of the entire West Continent, he has the power to fight back. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian. com) to vote recommendation tickets, monthly tickets; your support is my greatest motivation.)