Temporary Operation

Before long, an armored man stepped onto the platform. His wolfish eyes were like arrows as he said coldly and viciously, "A secret report has just arrived. Rebels have been discovered west of the city. The new recruit assessment is postponed. You will follow me now to wipe out the rebels and win glory through battle."

"Move out!"

At the order, everyone set off.

"Just my luck. I only just got here, and I'm already being sent on a mission." A man beside Li Yi said with a mournful face.

Han Jia, however, was brimming with excitement, his face full of yearning.

"This is an opportunity. Maybe we'll be able to win glory through battle. Little Yi, we have to seize it."

Li Yi was somewhat speechless. He could see it now—Han Jia was the typical foolhardy sort.

Otherwise, what normal person would get excited about being thrown straight onto a battlefield?

"Old Han, do you know anything about that man just now?"

"Of course. The Hundred Commander is called Song Jie. They say he's already at the fifth transformation of the Body Tempering Realm. Two years ago, he supposedly slaughtered an entire Qing Kingdom squad by himself and became famous in a single battle. He was originally only a squad leader, but he was promoted exceptionally to Hundred Commander."

"But he's ruthless by nature and extremely strict with his troops. I heard quite a few new recruits didn't die outside—they died at his hands instead."

"Tsk. No wonder he's willing to lead newcomers like us into battle."

"Hey! What are you two whispering about?"

The military inspector's rebuke came from nearby, and Li Yi and Han Jia immediately shut their mouths.

After marching for most of the day, Li Yi and the others arrived at a remote temple.

Song Jie flicked the horsewhip in his hand, and the soldiers came to a halt.

"New recruits to the left. Veterans to the right."

At the command, a clear dividing line formed between the two sides, as though it marked the boundary between life and death.

Song Jie rode down the middle, looking over them on either side.

"Today's rebels number around twenty. This was originally a mission for the veterans, yet I brought you greenhorns along. Do you know why?"

No one spoke.

"Because of you." Song Jie pointed at the new recruits on the right.

"Because I want you to grow quickly. I don't care whether you live or die, but I don't want you dragging me down once you reach the battlefield.

"So this is your one and only chance. Endure it, and you'll have the skills to survive on the battlefield in the future.

"If you can't endure it and die here, that's still better than handing the enemy merit on the battlefield.

"Now, everyone who can shoot a bow, step forward!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yi was the first to step out.

In the age of cold weapons, archers were always the most valuable branch of the army.

And on the battlefield, they did not need to face danger head-on.

Li Yi had long intended to display his strength at the proper time, to gain another measure of hope for survival.

After Song Jie swept a glance over Li Yi, he said expressionlessly, "See that tree? Shoot an arrow. Let me see."

Li Yi did not hesitate. He immediately raised the bow in his hand and nocked an arrow.

With a whoosh, the arrow struck a large tree some fifty zhang away.

Song Jie's pupils contracted slightly, but his expression did not change at all.

He merely said flatly, "Passable. Join the archer unit."

Since this campaign against the rebels was meant to train the new recruits and let them witness a real battlefield, the accompanying archer unit had only one squad leader.

A middle-aged man looked Li Yi over as he approached.

"My name is Wu Chuansheng. From now on, you answer to me."

Li Yi nodded, then stood beside him.

Seeing this, the others began to display their abilities one after another.

"My name is Dog Leftover. I can dig holes."

"Sir, I'm strong."

Li Yi turned toward the voice and discovered that the speaker was Han Jia.

Judging from his build, he truly was tall and powerfully built, the type suited for wrestling.

As soon as he finished speaking, he lifted a new recruit beside him over his head and spun him through the air.

"Big brother, spare my life..."

The cries of the new recruit spinning through the air rose and fell without end.

Song Jie gave a cold snort. "Passable. Join the infantry!"

Han Jia set down the new recruit, who was already dizzy and disoriented, then happily stepped aside.

Unfortunately, most of the greenhorns behind them had no special abilities.

Only Li Yi and Han Jia were assigned to different units. The rest were sent directly to the vanguard.

The vanguard and the infantry were entirely different concepts—two entirely different lives.

Put nicely, they were the vanguard. Put bluntly, they were a death squad, running at the front to take the blows for the infantry.

Once the vanguard charged into the enemy, the infantry would step in and clash head-on with them.

The hundred men continued onward in a mighty procession.

Their destination this time was Thousand-Zhang Temple. It had once been prosperous with incense offerings, but after years of warfare, refugees passed through and burned, killed, looted, and pillaged the place, leaving it ruined and desolate.

Most of the rebels they were to suppress had originally been farmers. When they were driven to the end of the road, they were beguiled by enemy forces and became part of them.

They later infiltrated the area and occupied Thousand-Zhang Temple.

They intended to wait until their numbers had grown large enough, then coordinate from within and without with Qing Kingdom.

Without lifting a finger, they would be able to capture an entire city.

Gangwu County, fifty li from Blackstone Town, had been taken in a single day this way. Every soldier defending the city had been killed.

That was what provoked the court's fury and made it determined to capture every last rebel.

Just as they were about to launch the attack, a fast horse suddenly came racing over from behind.

The rider was a messenger. Before he even reached Song Jie, he began shouting.

"Report! Sima Cao has ordered us to suspend the suppression!"

Before the horse had even fully stopped, the messenger leaped down, held a letter in both hands, and dropped to one knee.

Song Jie took the letter, flew into a rage, and threw it straight onto the ground.

"Damn Cao Li."

"Commander Song!" The messenger's tone shifted slightly.

Song Jie stared hard at the messenger and said, "Tell Lord Cao that this campaign was ordered by the court. If he has objections, he can take them to the court."

After giving Song Jie a deep look, the messenger clasped his hands in salute, lowered his head, and withdrew.

Song Jie snorted coldly and told the soldiers under his command, "Vanguard, charge first. Infantry, follow behind them. Once you're within range, break through their defenses immediately. Archers, adapt to the situation. Find suitable concealed positions. If anyone tries to flee, kill them at once."

"When you hear the signal, act immediately. Do not let a single one escape."

"For every enemy killed, one tael of broken silver will be awarded."

Under Song Jie's command, the hundred men dispersed.

Wu Chuansheng led Li Yi behind a dead tree and prepared to loose arrows.

The other veterans surrounded Thousand-Zhang Temple from every direction, like leopards crouching in the shadows.

Song Jie, meanwhile, led his personal guards and the remaining newcomers to a road at the flank, ready to catch any fish that slipped through the net.

In less than a quarter of an hour, everyone was in position.

All that remained was to wait for Song Jie's command.

"Li Yi, don't be nervous later. If someone comes out, watch how I shoot, then follow my lead," Wu Chuansheng reassured him.

In his eyes, although Li Yi's archery was fairly good, he came from a hunter's background. Killing prey and killing people were two entirely different matters.

He had seen too many people like that.

Before stepping onto the battlefield, they were high-spirited. Once they got there, they could barely hold a bow steady.

Li Yi nodded and thanked him.