Chapter 1104

Today's situation left Chen Wuji rather speechless.

"Such a large military camp, and the soldiers' martial training has reached what level? Not a single one of you told me about this. Do you think this is acceptable? I mobilized the strength of three commanderies to gather winter clothing for you, and the result is you tell me it's no longer needed—is that appropriate?" Chen Wuji's expression was extremely grim; these matters shouldn't have required his active inquiry, and he didn't have the time to nitpick every trivial detail in the camp.

He didn't know whether it was understandable, but the fact that no one informed him about these issues was wrong!

The officers instantly fell silent like cicadas in cold weather.

"Everyone, after returning, write me a five-thousand-word self-criticism detailing what happened. If anyone cannot explain it clearly or articulate it properly, I will make them read their self-criticism aloud before the entire army!" Chen Wuji shouted sternly.

The officers instantly sucked in a breath of cold air.

The two words "self-criticism" in the military camp carried more terror than beheading them.

Previously, a few somewhat clever individuals had the literati clerk write for them, only to nearly be beaten to death with military staffs.

They never expected Chen Wuji to have already recognized their handwriting; different script would immediately expose them.

Now no one dares to do that; hearing the words "self-criticism" makes their scalps Listening.

Even those as well-read as Lv Ji fear writing self-criticisms almost as much as facing death.

"My lord, actually the winter clothing is not excessive." Hu Bugui stood up and expressed a view different from everyone else.

"Deputy General, I don't know the situation in other generals' camps, but compared to the Central Army, it's surely much worse. Anyway, at least half of the soldiers in my unit have not yet attained martial artist status, and these soldiers cannot all be sent home to farm."

"I believe these soldiers should be formed into a separate unit, later serving as rear garrison for the city or as logistics units, battlefield cleanup, etc. If the entire army could be martial artists, that would naturally be best, but this is too difficult and impossible to achieve."

Xu Zengyi stood up: "My lord, I believe General Hu's words are truly hitting the mark."

"What the earlier generals said is correct—martial artists and non-martial soldiers indeed cannot be mixed, which would affect the unit's overall strength, but those non-martial soldiers should not all be sent home."

"The number of non-martial soldiers in each unit may vary, but in the entire army, at least half likely cannot attain martial artist status. Even with the lord's bestowed supreme heart method and martial method, this hurdle is not easily overcome; if it were truly that easy, martial artists would be everywhere. Later we can compile exact numbers and form a separate unit for non-martial soldiers."

"Not every unit is under the Central Army or the Guardian General—this everyone should know, cannot be learned, and cannot be learned."

Chen Baojia's unit originally selected elites, and this was even done before the Central Army.

Only back then it was for forming the first cavalry unit, and the selection scope wasn't as large as the Central Army's later selection.

Chen Wuji raised his hand: "Let's count now—how many martial artists are in the army, and to what extent have they progressed? These people surely know the numbers in their hearts. Whoever tries to be vague at this moment, go get a military staff yourself, don't argue with me."

The officers instantly sat up straight and properly.

Some who had been imitating Chen Wuji's slouched posture straightened up, and those staring fixedly at the charcoal basin looked away; everyone suddenly resembled a meeting over iron rice bowls, and a solemn atmosphere arrived instantly.

"Let me help you generals by keeping count—who wants to go first?" Xu Zengyi asked cheerfully.

When the atmosphere isn't that pleasant, this person starts speaking up.

This has now become customary.

"My unit has one hundred seventy-seven!" Chen Baojia spoke first.

"My unit here has six hundred ninety-three!"

"I feel ashamed, but I have two thousand four hundred……four hundred seventeen."

"I feel even more ashamed, I have over four thousand, four thousand and one hundred eighty-two."

"If you all say it like this, I fear I'll earn the title of waste material—I have even more here……"

……

After the count, currently in Zhangye City's various units, non-martial soldiers number over forty thousand.

They account for nearly one-third of all units excluding the Central Army.

Although winter clothing has increased, the excess isn't that exaggerated; the preparation isn't excessive.

Chen Wuji glanced at Chen Baojia and Cao Mu.

Damn it, these two bastards nearly led him into a ditch.

These two people, the moment they spoke, saying this isn't needed and that isn't needed, made Chen Wuji nearly believe all units were in such a state.

Now upon inspection, it's purely overthinking, and he was happy too early.

Xu Zengyi said something correct: if entering martial artist status were truly that easy, this world would probably already have martial artists everywhere.

The scarcity of martial arts heart methods and secret manuals is one matter; innate talent is another.

Although martial training isn't cultivation, the essential aspects are quite similar.

Even if Chen Wuji distributed the best heart methods and martial methods seized earlier, talent remains a barrier—no one can overcome it.

He is not an extreme case; he's just like most people with ordinary talent.

"One by one, yelling there, making me really think you've all become heaven-defyingly awesome. Look, isn't there still three-tenths ordinary soldiers?" Chen Wuji let out a light snort. "These soldiers, after today's meeting ends, will be divided into units—don't add trouble for you all."

The officers silently averted their gazes.

Today was a day the lord chased and tried to kill them; they dared not raise their voices.

Xu Zengyi laughed: "My lord, this number actually surprised this deputy officer—after removing the Central Army from the 180,000-strong army, only three-tenths are ordinary soldiers, which is extremely remarkable, can be said to be extremely rare."

"What do you think?" Chen Wuji asked the officers on his right.

Chen Baojia et al. looked at each other, exchanged glances, after a moment of humble demeanor, Lv Ji said: "My lord, perhaps it's related to our army's extremely high-intensity training? Our soldiers, during rest periods, aside from eating and sleeping, have nearly no rest time."

"Martial training competition isn't just about heart methods, martial methods, and talent—it also involves persistent perseverance; diligence can compensate for clumsiness. Soldiers with ordinary talent may find advancement difficult, but through constant forging and refinement, they can still progress."

This view gained everyone's unanimous approval, and Chen Wuji also felt it should be just so.

Upon reaching this thought, he suddenly felt somewhat proud.

The feeling of changing the world……damn, it's so satisfying!

Since raising troops, he has made countless innovations and reforms, but only three things truly made him feel heroic.

Land to the People, Open Education, and Control Martial Arts.

In Da Yu, land belongs to the rich gentlemen, books belong to the court and clans, and martial arts belong to the Jianghu sects.