Over the next few days, Chen Ye did not sit idle.
He took Su Guang, Zhuang Chaoyang, and the others on inspections of the city's defenses, checking repairs to the gates and walls and preparing rolling logs and other defensive equipment.
At the same time, he honed his own martial skills and drilled Zhuang Chaoyang and the other Privates.
After several days of rest and reorganization, Chen Ye saw that the men had more or less recovered.
He then found a space in Linchuan City that could accommodate over a hundred people.
The ground was level, with low walls surrounding it, making it ideal for drills and use as a training ground.
Chen Ye ordered Su Guang to bring every man under his command to the training ground. The twelve squads lined up by number, forming a dense sea of bodies.
The men had assumed their new commander would hold a grand drill upon taking office. They rubbed their fists and flexed their palms, eager to make a good showing.
Yet when Chen Ye stood before them, he said, "We won't practice anything today. We'll only learn how to stand."
The men exchanged bewildered looks.
Chen Ye offered no further explanation. He ordered Zhuang Chaoyang to stand at the front of the ranks, then personally demonstrated the proper stance.
Feet shoulder-width apart, chest out, stomach in, hands against the trouser seams, eyes straight ahead.
"Stand in this position. Four hours in the morning and four hours in the afternoon. If you can't hold it, step out of the ranks and watch from the side."
The men's faces immediately lit up.
Some of the sharper ones realized that Chen Ye was beginning to teach them martial arts.
Without some fortunate opportunity, they would never have a chance to touch such things