The Three-Three System

"Three-Three System?"

The strange name puzzled the soldiers. They had never heard of this tactic.

"The Three-Three System means three men form a team, three teams form a squad."

Luo Yu patiently explained:

"Three men in a team, during close combat, one attacks while two defend. The defenders guard the flanks, allowing the attacker to focus entirely on the enemy in front.

Three teams support each other, forming a triangular formation, enabling flexible attack and defense."

Everyone stared wide-eyed, as if they understood but didn't really get it.

Luo Yu scanned the crowd, and Meng Hu, Xiao Wu, and another Jiming Fort soldier stepped out of line. Meng Hu held a stick, while the other two held bamboo shields.

"Let me show you. Five of you come forward and try to beat these three. If you win, you can take five taels of silver.

Meng Hu is big, but they're all new recruits who joined less than a month ago, so it's not unfair."

Luo Yu crossed his arms with a smile. He had explained the key points of the Three-Three System to them earlier that morning, just for this demonstration.

Soon, five men eagerly stepped forward, each holding a wooden stick. They weren't really after the five taels of silver, just curious about the Three-Three System.

Meng Hu stood in the middle, while Xiao Wu and the other soldier guarded the flanks, forming a small formation. The five attackers spread out, surrounding the trio.

"Go!"

"Attack!"

The five men exchanged glances and pounced with ferocity.

Xiao Wu and the other soldier raised their bamboo shields to block the sticks, while Meng Hu swung his stick and knocked down the man in front. The five took turns attacking, but no matter how they attacked, they couldn't touch Meng Hu because Xiao Wu and the other soldier didn't need to attack - they just needed to block with their shields.

Meng Hu attacked with full force, not having to worry about flanks.

The five alternated between attacking, creating chaos, while the three-man team had clear objectives. Meng Hu attacked wherever they went, making the difference clear.

In a moment, all five soldiers were knocked to the ground, causing a chorus of exclamations.

Good grief, this Three-Three System seemed unimpressive, but its practical effects were amazing.

Luo Yu was satisfied, silently thanking:

Thank you, Dongye!

Actually, he had noticed a problem when he was in Jiming Fort - these border soldiers had almost no training. In battle, new recruits trembled with fear, while veterans relied solely on their bravery, with no organization or discipline.

The Three-Three System could significantly improve coordination between soldiers, thereby enhancing combat effectiveness.

Luo Yu raised one finger:

"From now on, all soldiers will be divided into teams of three. The strong and brave will attack! The weaker new recruits will defend, learning to work together.

Trust me, in just a few days you'll become incredibly strong!"

They wouldn't have believed him earlier, but after seeing Meng Hu easily knock down five men, everyone's confidence soared!

"Who can ride horses? Step forward."

After teaching the Three-Three System, Luo Yu turned his attention to cavalry. They had seized over a dozen warhorses - they couldn't let them go to waste, especially since they needed cavalry to fight the Qiang.

About twenty men stepped forward from the crowd. Luo Yu said solemnly:

"Brother Dong, choose a dozen strong brothers to start training cavalry combat skills. Now I'll show you the essentials."

In front of everyone, Luo Yu mounted a horse, holding the long lance left by Xiao Shaoyou. A scarecrow was set up in the distance, with many small sandbags attached to simulate a human's weight, weighing about a hundred pounds.

Luo Yu adjusted his posture, feeling a strange surge of excitement. The sensation of riding a horse was exhilarating.

But cavalry combat skills didn't come from special memories in his mind. They were taught by his martial brother, Wu Rubai, before they parted ways. He only taught it once, but Luo Yu mastered it immediately.

"In cavalry combat, longer is stronger. With equal skill, a long lance far outmatches a curved saber!"

Luo Yu said gravely:

"Left hand holds the reins, right hand holds the lance at mid-length. Keep your legs tight around the horse's belly, don't sway your upper body, which can easily throw you off balance.

Remember, build momentum while charging, but don't make any flashy, energy-wasting moves. In combat, just one lance thrust - put all your strength into attacking vital points."

Luo Yu explained a lot, then gripped the lance tightly and shouted:

"Watch carefully, I'll demonstrate!"

He pulled the reins, and the warhorse charged forward. The lance rose from low to high, pointing straight ahead.

The horse passed, the lance thrust, all in one fluid motion. The hundred-pound scarecrow was impaled and thrown several steps away by Luo Yu's lance.

Everyone sucked in their breath - too cool!

The knowledgeable ones were even more impressed by Luo Yu's arm strength. That one thrust was better than any ordinary Qiang cavalry. Dong Chuan, who had been a cavalryman in his youth, admitted he couldn't withstand that lance.

"Did you see that? Practice that lance thrust!"

Luo Yu pulled back the reins:

"From now on, cavalry will practice lance techniques, infantry will train the Three-Three System, not a moment can be wasted!

Remember that phrase - you don't live for others, you live for yourself!"

"Understood!"

The soldiers dispersed, beginning their intense training. Luo Yu noticed Shen Li huddled in the corner, hesitated for a moment, then walked over to her:

"The Qiang are coming, Black Gully Fort is already a death trap. It's too dangerous for you to stay here. I'll give you some dry rations, and you can lead your fellow villagers inland."

He was being kind, but still spoke coldly.

"So what, we're a burden now?"

Shen Li's cheeks were still smeared with mud, but she huffed:

"You said you'd protect us until we reached safety. Now you're going back on your word?"

"That's not what I meant."

Luo Yu said expressionlessly: "Battle is merciless. I just don't want you refugees to lose your lives needlessly."

"Hmph, I don't care. A man's word is his bond!"

Shen Li glared at him:

"You said you could bring them through this alive. They believe you, and I believe you!"

She had watched Luo Yu's every move and word earlier. She didn't understand much, but she felt he was reliable.

"Fine, follow if you want."

Luo Yu turned to leave: "But I still say, you can't eat for free. You'll handle the cooking duties in camp!"

Watching his retreating back, Shen Li stomped her feet in anger:

"Always so mean and grumpy, stinking pervert!"

…

Five days passed in a flash. Black Gully Fort was bustling with activity, with soldiers training from morning till night, never letting up. The coordination between three-man teams visibly improved, and the cavalry was starting to take shape.

Luo Yu was right - even if you don't live for others, you have to live for yourself.

He trained with them every day, and in his free time he observed the terrain around Black Gully Fort, sometimes sitting at the camp gate lost in thought. No one knew what he was thinking.

On the fifth day at sunset, Luo Yu sat as usual at the camp gate, staring blankly into the distance.

He missed his mother.

"Boss."

Dong Chuan and Meng Hu hurried over:

"Scouts have spotted Qiang cavalry. Over a hundred riders, twice our number. They'll probably reach the fort's perimeter by tomorrow night."

All their faces were tense. Black Gully Fort had no defensible terrain - one cavalry charge would collapse the walls. Then they would have to use their bodies to resist the Qiang cavalry's horses, with no telling how many would die.

"The inevitable will come."

Luo Yu stood up slowly: "Prepare for battle."

Dong Chuan said gravely:

"Boss, I'll start reinforcing the walls right away. It'll help hold back the Qiang cavalry's horses."

"No need. Let the brothers rest and conserve their strength."

"Um, no need?"

Dong Chuan was stunned:

"Unstable walls, how do we defend Black Gully Fort?"

"Defend? Who said I wanted to defend?"

A smile suddenly appeared on Luo Yu's face, his fist clenching slightly:

"I'll meet the Qiang army outside Black Gully Fort and eat them whole!"