Chapter 101: Making Friends Through Martial Arts: The Platform Decides the Fate of the World

The friction on the drill field continued to spread within the Chen Prefecture army.

The arrogance of Jiao Tu Zhen's elite soldiers and the exclusivity of Han Tong's veteran troops.

It did not dissipate after the previous forcible suppression; instead, it intensified in secret rivalry.

The icy glances when they met in the camp, the deliberately heightened shouts during training—all indicated the deepening of the conflict.

Chen Wen understood clearly that it is better to guide than to block.

If a suitable channel cannot be found to let the two sides openly determine superiority.

This grudge will only grow deeper and deeper, eventually breeding a major disaster.

After careful consideration, he again sought an audience with Chai Rong.

"Sir, rumors have been spreading in the army lately."

"It is entirely because my unit and the brothers under the Han Du Commander do not understand each other, leading to suspicion."

"If this continues, it will harm harmony in the army and be detrimental to the overall situation."

Chen Wen got straight to the point.

Chai Rong set down the document in his hands, his gaze deep:

"Oh? What good plan do you have?"

"I propose we hold a martial contest in the army, not a clash of qi, but a test of skill."

"Set up a platform, each side sends its best, for a fair match."

"First, it lets the brothers vent their frustrations; second, it lets them see each other's abilities to eliminate prejudice."

"Victory is welcome, defeat is no problem; the emphasis is on exchange and improving understanding."

Chen Wen laid out his ideas fully.

Chai Rong pondered for a moment, a flicker of approval flashing in his eyes.

He well knew the temperaments of these fierce soldiers in the army; relying solely on suppression would not work.

Only strength can earn genuine respect.

He gave a slight nod:

"This method is excellent!"

"Then as you said, in three days we will set up a platform on the drill field."

"The rules shall be jointly formulated by you and Han Tong, stopping at a point, and no injury to life shall be allowed."

"Thank you, Sir!" Chen Wen accepted the order.

When the news spread, the entire army erupted in an uproar.

When Han Tong first heard it, he snorted coldly, thinking Chen Wen was bringing disgrace upon himself.

His troops are all elite veterans who have survived a hundred battles; how could those rustic bumpkins from the borders compare?

But upon second thought,

This is actually a good opportunity to openly teach the other side a lesson and establish our position, so he readily agreed.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

In the center of the drill field, a platform about ten feet high had been erected, with banners fluttering all around.

Chai Rong remained seated in the place of honor, as civil and military officials such as Wang Pu and Zhang Yongde gathered together.

Moreover, countless soldiers who had heard the news came, packing the platform tightly, creating an extraordinarily fervent atmosphere.

On Chen Wen's side, he sent out ten elite soldiers from the Elite Soldier Battalion, led by Shi Dun.

On Han Tong's side, Wang Huzi led ten brave and fierce veteran soldiers.

The contest consists of three rounds:

The first round is individual strength, with each side sending three persons to compete in horn-butting and stone-lock strength;

The second round is team cooperation, with groups of five simulating a capture-the-flag scenario in an alley combat environment;

The third round is a team melee, ten versus ten, fighting within a designated circle; those who step out of the circle or are knocked down and unable to rise lose.

After three drumbeats, the contest begins!

In the first round of individual strength, as Shi Dun's bear-like physique stepped onto the platform, it drew a chorus of gasps.

He effortlessly lifted the huge stone lock that requires two men to encircle, raising it ten times without changing his expression; although his opponent was also brave, he was clearly inferior by a notch.

In the horn-butting, he was as steady as a rock, consecutively defeating two of Han Tong's veterans renowned for their strength.

Jiao Tu Zhen seized the initiative, winning unanimous applause.

Han Tong's face looked somewhat grim.

In the second round of team capture-the-flag, the action took place among simulated low walls and obstacles.

The veteran squad led by Wang Huzi was experienced and swift in its maneuvers.

However, Jiao Tu Zhen's five-man squad, under Chen Wen's subtle fourfold Ability Granting,

moved like foxes, their coordination seamless as one.

One lured the enemy, two flanked from the sides, one suppressed from a distance, and Shi Dun, as the spearhead, charged straight for the flag stand.

Their reaction speed, tactical execution, and tacit understanding far surpassed the opponents.

Despite moving second, they seized the flag with a slight edge!

"Good!"

This time even Zhang Yongde could not help but shout applause.

"This squad's tactics are nimble and crafty, truly capturing the essence of cooperation!"

Han Tong's face had already turned as black as a pot bottom.

He fixed his gaze on the five fatigued yet sharp-eyed Jiao Tu Zhen soldiers in the field.

The shock in his heart was beyond compare.

This is certainly not something ordinary frontier militiamen could possess.

The most crucial second team melee begins.

Twenty people surged into the circle; instantly fists and feet flew, shouts unceasing.

Han Tong's veteran soldiers, relying on their rich experience, formed ranks and fought, adept at both offense and defense.

The elite warriors of Jiao Tu Zhen showed no fear, taking Shi Dun as the spearhead and charging fiercely.

The two sides became locked in a deadly struggle, the battle intensely fierce.

Chen Wen's gaze was calm, his mental power highly focused.

Again, he precisely applied the fourfold Ability Granting to ten of his own side.

It was not a direct increase of strength.

But rather it strengthened their endurance, reaction speed, and their perception and coordination of teammates' movements.

Only Shi Dun and the others, in the fierce confrontation, kept steady breath and unimpeded movements.

Facing the veterans' proficient combined-attack techniques, they always managed to narrowly evade.

And could immediately make the most effective counterattack or support.

When one person fell into danger, a companion would surely sacrifice themselves to shield them;

When one attacked, there would surely be someone on the flank to coordinate support.

They were like an extraordinarily tough piece of taffy.

No matter how fiercely the enemy attacked, their formation might occasionally scatter.

But they could always quickly mend it, and their counterattacks grew ever more fierce.

Wang Huzi and the others grew more alarmed the longer they fought.

They felt as if they were fighting a group of tireless, telepathic monsters.

Their stamina seemed endless, and their coordination reached an astonishing level.

Their side's pride in their battle formation experience, before the enemy's near-instinctive coordination and tough individual resilience,

was gradually neutralized and suppressed.

Finally, under a wave-like relentless assault by the Jiao Tu Zhen elite warriors.

Wang Huzi's squad formation was completely shattered, repeatedly forced out of the circle or knocked to the ground.

When the last of Han Tong's veterans under his command was jointly 'asked' out of the circle by Shi Dun and another elite warrior,

On the platform, only seven Jiao Tu Zhen elite warriors remained, swaying yet still standing.

After three matches, Jiao Tu Zhen actually achieved two wins and one draw, overwhelming Han Tong's elite forces!

The drill field fell silent; everyone was stunned by the result.

Han Tong stared blankly at the Jiao Tu Zhen fighters on the platform, drenched in sweat, panting like oxen yet with eyes bright as stars.

He then glanced at the calm Chen Wen, his chest heaving violently.

After a moment, he slapped his thigh, rose to his full height, and strode up to Chen Wen.

The surrounding air instantly froze; everyone held their breath.

However, Han Tong did not become angry.

He fixed his gaze on Chen Wen, his eyes complex, eventually turning into a long sigh filled with deep emotion.

He clasped his fists and bowed, performing a solemn military salute:

"Officer Chen! Han Tong… I yield!"

"The troops you train are truly strong soldiers!"

"This old Han… I am convinced both in heart and mouth!"

This salute, this word 'yield', weighs as heavily as a thousand jin.

It represents not only Han Tong's personal approval, but also signifies the strength of Jiao Tu Zhen.

It truly gained acceptance and respect from the core echelons of the Chen Prefecture army.

Chen Wen quickly returned the salute:

"General Han, you overpraise me; it was merely luck."

"Your brothers' bravery also earns my admiration."

Chai Rong clapped his hands and laughed loudly:

"Excellent! What a splendid dragon‑tiger battle!"

"From today on, I dare anyone to still look down on the lads under Officer Chen's command!"

"Issue the order: all who participated in today's match, win or lose, shall be rewarded with wine and meat!"

"May our Chen Prefecture army, from top to bottom, henceforth be of one heart and jointly resist foreign invasion!"

"One heart! One heart! One heart!"

A roar like mountains and seas echoed across the drill field, the previous estrangements and grudges.

In this exhilarating match, it seemed the grudges truly dissipated like smoke.

Chen Wen felt within himself, from the successful coordination, the use of ability.

And the Fortune Momentum vortex, which grew subtly as he resolved major internal conflicts.

And the Growth Progress Bar that quietly broke through to 92%.

He knew this crucial step had been firmly taken.

The hidden dragon had already begun to stir the winds and clouds of Chen Prefecture.