Officer

Chen Sanshi's sweat poured down like rain, even seeping into his eyes. His stamina was nearly depleted, but if he gritted his teeth, he felt he could last a little longer.

This must be the chemical reaction from having astonishing stamina paired with the Vast Exhalation Breathing Technique, right?

However, his victory wasn't easy.

After all, Xu Bin was an officer who had been practicing martial arts for several years and had achieved Minor Accomplishment in Blood Tempering.

This battle had helped him quite a bit.

Skill: Basic Soldier Spear Technique (Novice)

Progress: (52/500)

Effect: Fierce spear strikes, astonishing stamina. He personally experienced the effects of these two attributes.

He figured that if it were anyone else of the same cultivation level, within seven steps, they wouldn't even have time to draw their sword before he'd stab them to death!

His spear technique wasn't just enduring; it was also fierce.

Both enduring and fierce!

"Good!"

On the high platform, Xiang Tingchun shouted loudly, his eyes filled with relief.

The soldiers watching applauded and cheered.

"Fierce!"

Zhu Tong's voice was the loudest.

Xu Wencai craned his neck, getting excited as he watched, "I see a kingly aura around Brother Chen; he's destined for great things in the future!"

"What good is your observation?"

Zhu Tong cursed, "You should focus on yourself first. It's been ten days, and you haven't even mastered a single posture training exercise. You'll end up being sent to repair the city walls!"

"..."

"Brother Chen is truly formidable!"

Song Yan admired him greatly.

Xu Bin felt utter despair.

He had lost to a newcomer in front of hundreds of people.

His future military career was effectively over, with no chance of advancement.

Not only that, but he had also offended Chen Sanshi in this match.

It was one thing that he had treated Chen Sanshi poorly before, not giving him a good look.

But this time, he had attacked ruthlessly, showing no mercy. If Chen Sanshi held a grudge and later rose to a high position, wouldn't he be able to make Chen Sanshi's life difficult with ease?

"You win."

Xu Bin picked up his saber and dejectedly left the arena.

Chen Sanshi didn't even have time to speak.

Xiang Tingchun, on the high platform, was very satisfied with this match. He looked at the civil official who had accompanied him:

"Wang Zhi told me this before, and I didn't believe him. Now it seems our Poyang Thousand Households Command truly has a seedling for a great general!

"Assistant Magistrate Zhang, is there a problem?"

"No problem."

Assistant Magistrate Zhang had already checked the military registry: "When I return, I will report to the Governor-General of Liangzhou's Mansion and clearly state Chen Sanshi's eligibility for the elite selection."

This task should have originally been handled by the County Magistrate.

However, the County Magistrate had died, and the new one hadn't been appointed yet, so the Assistant Magistrate was filling in temporarily.

"Good."

Xiang Tingchun nodded, signaling Chen Sanshi to step down for now and continue assessing the rest of the new recruits.

"How many have cultivated Qi and Blood? How many have learned spear techniques within ten days?"

Out of thirty-eight people, six stepped forward.

Xiang Tingchun ordered, "Pair up two by two and fight for me to see."

"Yes!"

The six men took their orders.

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, all the matches concluded, and their performances were basically clear.

"Song Yan is good. In a few more days, he should also be able to cultivate Qi and Blood."

Xiang Tingchun pondered, "He should have no problem qualifying for the elite selection in the latter half of next year.

"Your name is Zhu... Zhu Tong? You're not bad either!

"It's considered the highest number in Poyang County's history for this batch of people to produce seven Warrior Recruits."

"Alright, you can all withdraw for now.

"For the rest of you, just demonstrate your posture training for me directly."

Thirty-two people began their posture training.

About fifteen or sixteen people hadn't even learned posture training yet.

The most outrageous was a middle-aged man with a goatee who didn't know a single move!

Xiang Tingchun's brow furrowed, and he lost patience.

"Enough, the assessment ends here.

"Chen Sanshi!"

"Here!" Chen Sanshi responded.

"Effective immediately, you are promoted to Officer. In addition to the standard benefits for an Officer, you will be assigned a first-class warhorse!"

Xiang Tingchun looked to the side. "Wang Zhi, you brought these men. They'll be under your command from now on. Do you have any openings under you?"

"Yes, yes, yes."

Wang Zhi quickly replied, "There are several empty spots."

"..."

Xiang Tingchun continued, "The rest of you will fill the vacancies under the various Hundred Household Commanders. If you achieve breakthroughs in cultivation or earn military merits in the future, you will be promoted further!"

After presiding over the assessment, he left in a hurry.

He left the various Hundred Household Commanders to handle the subsequent trivial matters.

First, they would classify the soldiers' ranks, then decide who would command them.

Every year, when the elite selection officers came to recruit, people were also sent from above to investigate ghost soldiers.

In recent years, the investigations had become stricter, and the phenomenon of ghost soldiers had decreased significantly, though it hadn't disappeared entirely.

A Thousand Household Office should be fully staffed with around 1120 men.

Poyang County reported around a thousand men.

In reality, there were only just over nine hundred.

This meant there were nearly a hundred vacancies.

Of the thirty-odd people, any who could put on a decent show and pass the inspection were snatched up by the various military officers to fill the vacancies.

Chen Sanshi's contingent was also not full; he had seven men.

There was Zhu Tong, who had actively volunteered, four fellow villagers, and two who had been exiled.

Soon, only two or three old, weak, or disabled individuals remained on the field, the kind who weren't even as presentable as a beggar hired off the street.

"You can't even squat in a horse stance? Send him to the next county to repair the city walls!"

"No, no, please, sir! I can do odd jobs!"

"Odd jobs? Can you feed horses?"

"I can learn!"

"Learn? Who has the time to teach you? Stop wasting my time, drag him away!"

Xu Wencai was one of those no one wanted.

"Brother Chen!"

Seeing that he was about to be dragged away, Xu Wencai rushed over as if he had found a life-saving straw, tightly grabbing Chen Sanshi's arm. "Do you need men under you? Let me follow you, let me follow you!"

"Don't come and bring disaster upon us!"

Zhu Tong said with extreme disdain, "When we go to the battlefield in the future, if you can't do anything, won't you drag us all down to our deaths?"

"Who says I can't do anything?"

Xu Wencai said earnestly, "Brother Chen, I, Xu Wencai, know astronomy and geography, am skilled in troop deployment and arrangement, understand governance, and besides being too old to learn martial arts, I can do everything else. Take me, and I guarantee you won't lose out!"

"Enough nonsense."

Commander Liu gave a signal, and two soldiers stepped forward and grabbed Xu Wencai.

At this moment, Chen Sanshi cupped his fists and said, "Commander Liu, give this person to me."

"Are you sure?"

Commander Liu looked bewildered. "Aren't you afraid of wasting a spot under you for nothing? You should think clearly."

The issue of ghost soldiers had nothing to do with the new arrival, Chen Sanshi.

This meant he didn't need to pad the numbers; the stronger the men under him, the better.

"It's fine."

Chen Sanshi insisted, "I'll have him feed my horse later."

"Alright then."

Commander Liu didn't say much, "Suit yourself. Let me know if you regret it."

"Hoo..."

Not having to repair the city walls, Xu Wencai let out a long sigh, "Brother Chen truly has foresight!"

"He's just too kind-hearted, you tricked him!" Zhu Tong cursed.

About half an hour later, the soldiers were basically all assigned.

The supervisor in charge of the main storehouse handed Chen Sanshi a few slips of paper, telling him he could use them to collect resources.

There was Blood Replenishing Soup, weapon slips, and a horse.

"I still owe Officer Xu a bow."

Chen Sanshi wasn't one to go back on his word, but he couldn't find Xu Bin in the crowd at the moment. "Never mind, I'll go check out the horse first."

It was a very precious strategic resource.

Not all officers had one.

The entire Poyang Thousand Households Command had less than thirty in total.

"Officer Chen, your horse is no ordinary horse!"

The main storehouse supervisor said with a chuckle, "It's a top-grade White Swan that Lord Thousand Households went to great lengths to get from the Prefectural City. There are only two in total. Giving you one shows how much he values you. Officer Chen, your future is boundless!"

He instructed the stablehand to lead a fine steed out of the stable.

The horse was pure white, with strong muscles but a well-proportioned build. A gust of wind blew, causing its mane to flutter as if it were clouds in the sky.

"Officer Chen, why don't you try it? But be careful."

The supervisor reminded him, "This horse has a very wild temperament."

"I like wild ones."

Chen Sanshi mounted the horse.

Skill: Horse Riding (Novice)

Progress: (0/100)

Effect: None