Chapter 26: Eightfold Instructor Trains the New Recruits, Hu Biao's Renewed Attack Is Crushed

Hu Biao's scouting let Chen Wen realize they needed a fighting force; just having walls wasn't enough.

The existing militia numbers were insufficient, and they lacked training.

The next morning, on the open ground in the town center, all males aged sixteen to forty, about fifty or so, were gathered.

They looked at Chen Wen standing before them, their eyes filled with both awe and apprehension.

Chen Wen's gaze swept over the crowd, his voice calm and strong:

"I know many of you have never fought in a battle, and some have never even exchanged blows."

"But in this world, if you don't want to be bullied, you need fists to protect yourself and your family!"

"Starting today, I will personally train you."

"The process will be harsh, but once trained, no one will dare provoke our Jiao Tu Zhen again!"

He didn't waste words; training began immediately.

The training seemed simple: drill, physical conditioning, basic chopping and thrusting.

But Chen Wen's training method made everyone experience what "hellish efficiency" means.

He had eightfold observation, instantly spotting any irregularity in each person's movements and correcting it on the spot.

He had eightfold demonstration ability, breaking down each movement with extreme clarity, textbook precision, and containing power techniques.

He had eightfold pressure, leaving no room for laziness or slack, and making everyone dare not relax even slightly.

"Keep your waist straight! Hold the spear steady! Imagine the scum of Hu Biao in front of you!"

"Too slow! Haven't you eaten? The enemy won't give you that kind of speed!"

"Swing the knife with force! It's not to tickle!"

His shouting echoed across the training field.

He personally led the running; the pace made even the strong young men groan.

He personally demonstrated chopping; the power that split the wooden post with a sound was chilling.

He even picked the fastest learners as squad leaders, using his eightfold analytical ability to teach according to aptitude.

【Undergoing military training (instructor), teaching and command proficiency increase (x Bonus)!

Diligence Points (WP) +10…+10… (continuous)】

While the militia found it unbearably harsh, the results were obvious.

Their discipline, physical fitness, and even the most basic combat skills were improving at an astonishing speed.

More importantly, a budding sense of confidence and cohesion began to arise among them.

【The trainees' drill proficiency markedly improved! Organizational cohesion strengthened! Diligence Points (WP) +200!】

【Current WP: 2186】

On the fifth day of training, just as the militia began to take shape, Hu Biao could no longer restrain himself.

He perhaps thought the sudden influx of refugees into Jiao Tu Zhen would cause internal chaos, presenting a good opportunity to loot supplies.

He personally led over thirty followers, mostly brutal defeated soldiers, marching mightily to the outskirts of Jiao Tu Zhen.

Gazing at the towering breastwork and watchtower, Hu Biao's eyes flashed with a hint of envy and greed.

But relying on his side being battle-hardened veterans, he still shouted arrogantly:

"Those inside, listen! If you're sensible, hand over a hundred dan of grain and twenty women!"

"Otherwise I'll smash your rotten wall and leave not a chicken or dog alive!"

On the wall, Zhang Cheng and the militia grew nervous, all looking toward Chen Wen.

Chen Wen remained calm, ordering Zhang Cheng: "Follow the plan. Open the door, meet the enemy."

"Open the door?"

Zhang Cheng blinked, "We have a wall, shouldn't we defend it?"

"We've trained five days; it's time to see blood."

"We can't hide behind the wall forever."

Chen Wen said lightly, "Don't worry, I'm here."

The heavy wooden door slowly opened.

Seeing this, Hu Biao laughed loudly:

"You're sensible after all! Brothers, go in and move the grain..."

His laughter cut off abruptly.

Because what came out of the door wasn't laborers carrying grain!

But over fifty militia in neat formation, wielding spears and sword-shields!

Their eyes were still a bit tense, yet filled with a fierce determination!

Leading them, one man held a waist knife, his expression grim—none other than Chen Wen, whom Hu Biao hated to the bone yet feared a bit!

"Chen Wen! You're not dead?!"

Hu Biao was both shocked and furious.

"Hu Biao, your time of death has come."

Chen Wen pointed his blade tip at him.

"Damn it! Kill him, old man! Just this bunch of mud-legs who just picked up knives will collapse in a single charge!"

Hu Biao roared angrily and led the charge.

Behind him, the defeated soldiers howled as they followed, their momentum ferocious.

"Form ranks! Spears forward! Sword-shields guard!"

Chen Wen gave the order calmly.

After five days of devil training, the militia instinctively carried out the order.

Although their movements were still a bit stiff, the formation instantly took shape!

When Hu Biao and the others charged to the front of the formation, they were met with a forest of spears thrusting out!

Puchi! Puchi!

The few routed soldiers at the very front didn't even regard this group of "peasants".

Unable to dodge in time, they were instantly pierced by the spears, screaming as they fell to the ground!

The momentum of the routed soldiers' charge was thwarted!

"How is that possible!!"

Hu Biao was greatly surprised; these mud-legs actually dared to resist and even form a formation!

At the moment he was stunned, Chen moved!

Eightfold speed exploded! He slipped away from the formation like a ghost, directly cutting into the routed soldiers' ranks, his target pointing straight at Hu Biao!

"Capture the bandit leader first!"

A flash of blade light! Faster than imaginable!

Hu Biao only felt his vision blur; before his great sword had been lifted halfway, he felt a chill at his neck!

He stared wide-eyed in disbelief at the expressionless Chen Wen, then his vision spun…

Gurgle… Hu Biao's head rolled to the ground, his face still bearing an expression of shock.

【Slain bandit chief Hu Biao, enemy morale shattered. Diligence Points (WP)+100!】

The bandit chief died instantly!

The remaining routed soldiers were scared witless!

Their greatest reliance was Hu Biao's ferocity and their veteran status.

Now their leader was killed in an instant upon meeting, while those "mud-legs" opposite brandished spears and pressed step by step!

"Run!"

Someone shouted, and the routed soldiers instantly collapsed, turning and fleeing.

"Pursue! Those who surrender will not be killed!"

Chen Wen gave the order.

Seeing this, the militia's morale soared!

It turned out these vicious routed soldiers were so fragile!

They howled as they gave chase—some capturing prisoners, others delivering finishing blows; the scene was completely one-sided.

In the end, of the more than thirty routed soldiers, seven or eight were killed, over twenty captured, and only a few managed to escape by luck.

On Jiao Tu Zhen's side, only a few suffered minor injuries.

What was expected to be a fierce battle turned into a perfect rout!

All the militiamen who fought gazed at the corpses on the ground and the dejected prisoners.

Looking again at the weapons in their hands, they seemed to recognize their own strength for the first time.

Confidence was thoroughly established!

The spectators on the town wall sent up earth-shaking cheers!

【Successfully repelled the external foe, achieving total victory at minimal cost! The militia under command gained combat experience, morale high! Diligence Points (WP)+300!】

【Current WP: 2586】

Chen Wen sheathed his blade, looking at the cheering populace and excited militia, a smile appearing on his face.

With this preliminarily trained unit, with a solid stronghold, with ever-growing WP and the impending 16-fold ability upgrade, Jiao Tu Zhen's development will enter a brand-new stage!

However, since the system upgraded to eightfold ability, the WP cap has never been clearly displayed.

It merely gave Chen Wen a feeling that this WP still needs to keep increasing.

However, Chen Wen believes that once this feeling arrives!

Then he can directly upgrade to sixteenfold ability!

Moreover, Chen Wen also has a premonition!

After upgrading to sixteenfold, the system will definitely have a tremendous change.