Chapter 155

After the three fires of agricultural policy, workshops, and official administration were successively ignited, the policy of "deep roots and solid foundation" was carried out with great vigor.

Chen Wen's gaze finally fell on his core strength.

It is also the greatest reliance for establishing oneself in this chaotic world—the Jing'an Army.

The original Jing'an Army, though tempered by the bloody battle at Gaoping, had become elite, but its scale was ultimately limited.

As the three counties' land became increasingly stable, refugees continually came to attach.

And the shadow of potential threats from Bian Liang and the north.

Expanding the Jun Ying, further enhancing military strength, became an urgent task.

The drill ground outside Luo Chuan city has now been expanded several times.

The newly tamped loess ground is level and open, with more archery targets, wooden stakes, and simple facilities for practicing climbing and scaling set up at the edges.

Right now, heads gather on the drill ground, clamor boiling.

The newly recruited soldiers, plus some who passed initial screening and are willing to surrender and join.

The total exceeds two thousand, currently gathered there in a chaotic mess.

These new faces, some with sallow complexions and fearful eyes, are farmers who have just escaped a life of displacement;

some carry a bit of the slippery arrogance of soldier ruffians, being scattered troops from the defeat of other fiefdoms;

and a few are rural sturdy youths who came to enlist after hearing Chen Wen's name.

They wear mixed clothing, and their weapons are all kinds.

Some even hold sharpened wooden sticks.

Discipline is out of the question; whispering, shoving, and noisy clamor are everywhere.

The entire drill ground resembles a huge market.

Shi Dun stands like a black iron tower, erected on the platform for appointing generals.

His bell-like big eyes sweep over the rabble below, his brows knotting into a lump.

Beside him stand Zhao Dayan and other veteran soldiers, also with solemn expressions.

To train such a group into combat-ready soldiers in a short time is an arduous task.

At this moment, Chen Wen, escorted by his personal guards, ascends the platform.

"My lord!" Shi Dun and the others quickly clasp their fists in salute.

Chen Wen waves his hand, his gaze calmly overlooking the noisy crowd below.

He does not speak, merely standing silently there.

However, with his arrival, an invisible pressure seems to quietly spread.

His current status, position, and the fierce fame earned from the battle at Gaoping itself constitute a powerful deterrent.

Gradually, the clamor on the drill ground diminishes.

Countless gazes, filled with curiosity, awe, and probing.

Focused on the point of the platform, that overly defensive young commissioner.

"I, Chen Wen Zhong."

Chen Wen spoke, his voice not loud, yet clearly transmitted to every corner of the drill ground.

As if it sounded right beside each person's ear.

"By the grace of His Majesty, I have been appointed Defense Commissioner of Chen Prefecture, overseeing the defense of the three counties."

He paused, his eyes sharp as knives, sweeping over the crowd.

"You stand here today either to seek a full meal, or to strive for a future."

"Or to find a place to settle in this chaotic world. I can give you all these!"

The crowd stirred slightly, many people's eyes brightening.

"But!"

Chen Wen's tone shifted, suddenly turning grim.

"The rations of my Jing'an Army are not so easy to eat! My Chen Wen Zhong's future is also not so easily won!"

"If you wish to stay, you must obey the rules of my Jing'an Army and train its skills!"

Those who fear hardship and toil, those who rely on luck, those who refuse discipline, may leave now; I will give you three days' rations, and I will not make things difficult!

The area below fell silent, no one moving.

"Leave? Where else could one go?"

"In this world, to have a place that takes you in and gives you a meal is already a great fortune."

"Very good."

Chen Wen's tone eased slightly.

"Since you have chosen to stay, from today onward you are members of my Jing'an Army!"

"Remember, here your sole task is to train! Train to the death!"

"Only by training the courage to fear neither life nor death, and honing the skill to kill enemies and preserve life, can you survive on future battlefields."

"Only then can you follow me, Chen Wen Zhong, to win glory and protect your families!"

He did not give a lengthy discourse, just a few simple sentences.

Yet they clearly sketched out the future scene.

— arduous, but with hope.

After the instruction, Chen Wen stepped back and whispered to Shi Dun.

"Begin. According to the set plan, veteran soldiers lead the new recruits, by squad, practicing formations, physical conditioning, and basic combat techniques."

"Understood!"

Shi Dun clasped his fists in acceptance, turned to face the drill field, took a deep breath, his voice like thunder.

"Everyone's got it! Listen to my orders……"

The massive training machinery began to rumble into operation.

The veteran soldiers cursed and complained, yet dutifully drove the raw recruits into neat formations.

Instruction began with the most basic stance, turning, and walking.

The entire drill field instantly filled with the clamor of commands, rebukes, and the awkward movements of the recruits.

Chen Wen stood on the appointing platform, silently observing.

The chaos was expected; new recruit training is inherently slow work.

He couldn't wait that long.

He closed his eyes, and his mind sank into the system.

Facing this massive group of over two thousand, it was impossible for him, and unnecessary, to expend huge energy on "Broad Endowment" or "Focused Endowment".

He chose the option with the widest coverage but the weakest individual effect.

Yet at this moment the most applicable choice——【Massive Endowment: 2× Efficiency】!

A force far gentler than when he previously used other empowerments, yet vaster.

Centered on Chen Wen, it spread like mercury spilled on the ground, silently and soundlessly, enveloping the entire drill field.

It encompassed everyone—including the recruits, instructors, and even logistics support troops.

This time, the consumption of mental energy was gentle and sustained.

Like a trickle of water flowing long, unlike the previous intensity.

Chen Wen estimated that maintaining this large-scale, weak empowerment should pose no problem for half a day.

On the drill field, no one noticed anything unusual.

But the change occurred quietly in the minutiae.

Those recruits who, due to nervousness and clumsiness, had stiff movements.

Suddenly felt their bodies had become a bit more coordinated, and their understanding of the veterans' instructors' commands quickened slightly.

Although they would still make mistakes, and still be scolded profusely.

But at least after making a mistake, correcting it seemed less difficult, and the speed of forming muscle memory increased a little.

The veterans in charge of training felt their patience had improved somewhat, and their throats were less prone to hoarseness.

They remained strict, but when explaining the key points of movements and demonstrating standard postures,

their thoughts were clearer, their expression more accurate, enabling them to quickly grasp the recruits' common errors and apply targeted corrections.

Their efficiency in organizing troops and issuing orders also saw a subtle improvement.

This twofold increase in efficiency, when placed on a single person, is not obvious and may even be imperceptible.

But when this effect is applied to a collective of over two thousand, to the process of "learning" and "teaching",

its cumulative effect begins to show.

Originally estimated to require a whole morning to barely teach basic formation marching,

in less than two hours, each formation was actually able to step in a not-too-chaotic pace.

accomplishing simple advance, halt, and turn.

Although there were still comic scenes of moving left and right together, and collisions sending people tumbling.

but the overall progress had already surpassed the expectations of veterans like Shi Dun.

"Damn it, these little bastards, did they break through their apertures today?"

Zhao Dayan scratched his head, watching a formation's recruit, under his command, complete a standing posture fairly neatly, somewhat incredulous.

According to his past experience, being able to avoid blowing up the camp and distinguish left from right on the first day counts as success.

Shi Dun also narrowed his eyes, feeling the drill field's training rhythm seemed considerably faster than expected.

The speed at which the recruits entered condition, and the veterans' efficiency in organizing instruction, both exuded an indescribable smoothness.

He unconsciously glanced at Chen Wen, eyes closed and nurturing his spirit on the appointing platform, and felt a faint realization.

The afternoon's training shifted to basic physical conditioning and combat skills.

Shi Dun personally took the field, demonstrating a spear thrust.

He let out a violent shout; his spear, like a poisonous dragon bursting from its cave, fiercely pierced the straw‑man target's center, its force strong and fierce, drawing a gasp from the recruits.

"See clearly? Generate power from the waist and abdomen, channel it to the spear tip! Don't just flail with your arms!"

Shi Dun roared.

"All of you, practice! Each thrust five hundred times! If your form's wrong, I'll beat you to death!"

The recruits, trembling, picked up the distributed white‑wax wooden poles lacking spearheads, and began imitative practice.

Under the weak effect of "Massive Endowment," their imitated movements seemed easier to grasp the essentials, and the accumulation of muscular fatigue slowed a bit.

Although after five hundred thrusts most people still had swollen arms and deformed motions,

at least, they barely managed to endure the day's training volume.

and they gained a vague yet roughly correct initial impression of the basic power generation for a spear thrust.

The sun set westward, the drill drum sounded, and the first day's ordeal‑like training finally ended.

The recruits, as if fallen apart, helped each other along.

Grimacing and baring teeth as they walked toward the barracks, complaints and groans never ceased.

But looking closely, besides fatigue, their eyes also held a hint of resolve different from that of morning.

and a faint surprise at their own change.

——It seemed they could endure a bit more than they imagined?

On the Point General Platform, Chen Wen slowly opened his eyes, his face slightly pale.

The sustained "Massive Endowment" over most of the day was also a considerable mental strain.

But he saw the troops on the drill field, weary yet not collapsed.

Seeing the undisguised delight in the eyes of Shi Dun, Zhao Dayan, and the others, a satisfied curve rose at the corner of his mouth.

The way of training soldiers lies in perseverance and in laying a solid foundation.

The effect of this "Massive Endowment 2x" is like the finest catalyst, quietly accelerating this process.

Solidifying the foundation cannot be done without the guarantee of military strength.

And a powerful force is beginning to take shape from this dust‑kicked drill field.