Recruiting Soldiers

The recruitment went much faster than expected. By early the next morning, the camp was filled with new recruits. Each recruit brought two others, exactly fifty new soldiers arrived, and Shen Li brought over a dozen young men from the slave court. This meant Luo Yu now had a total of 130 men.

The camp was bustling with noise as the new recruits gathered in small groups. Luo Yu stood on a high spot, scanning the crowd. After a brief speech, he called over his trusted men - Dong Chuan, Meng Hu, Xiao Wu, and about a dozen others.

"Boss, just tell us what needs to be done."

Dong Chuan smiled:

"I've checked out the new recruits. They're mostly border people from Quezhou, solid base, no cheats or slackers."

"Good. Now that we have soldiers, next comes training. We go to battle for military merit, not to send heads."

Luo Yu said solemnly:

"You've been with me the longest and know the three-man system best. Other armies have squad leaders, we don't need that. From today on, you're all squad leaders. Dong Brother and Meng Hu will also be company leaders.

Each of you will have nine men under you. Three men to a group, three groups to a squad. You'll each be responsible for training them.

Besides practicing three-man coordination and infantry tactics, everyone needs to practice riding. The Qiang soldiers excel at cavalry archery. We can't rely solely on infantry to face them. We don't have many horses now, but we'll have them eventually."

"Understood!"

The dozen men were excited. After following Luo Yu for so long, they were finally getting promotions. Dong Chuan and Meng Hu as company leaders made sense - one had the most experience, the other the best martial arts.

"I'll say it again - the three-man system is all about coordination. On the battlefield, mistakes don't just harm me, they harm you too. Understand?"

"Understood!"

"Also, I'm putting up twenty taels of silver to buy more meat, so these brothers can eat their fill. You need strength to train, right?"

"Boss is generous, hahaha!"

Everyone was thrilled. They knew this was the silver granted by the general's residence. Luo Yu hadn't kept it all for himself but was using it to improve the men's meals.

Not that Luo Yu had too much money to spend, but how could they train without food?

"The Qiang soldiers will be here soon. We can't afford to slack off. Start training now!"

"Understood!"

After arranging everything, Luo Yu turned his attention to a corner where a dozen men were huddled together, looking around nervously, their gazes occasionally lingering on Luo Yu. Shen Li was also standing by the group.

Luo Yu walked over:

"You're all from the slave court?"

The dozen men were ragged, looking like beggars. The cold wind made their red cheeks tremble, and they had bloodstains on their shoulders.

"Yes, they all are!"

Shen Li quickly said: "After arriving in Yunyang Pass, they had no way to survive, so they could only help build walls for food."

"Who's the leader?"

"I am."

A young man stepped forward. He wasn't particularly tall or muscular, but he looked solid, with a fierce glint in his eyes.

"What's your name?"

"Lu Qingyun."

"You all seem young."

Luo Yu asked curiously: "You escaped alone? What about your families? Left them in the slave court?"

"Dead."

Lu Qingyun's expression was eerily calm:

"Either killed by the Qiang or starved to death. Since we left the slave court, we've had no family left."

Orphans, the horrors of the slave court could only be truly understood by those who had experienced it.

Luo Yu was moved: "What are your plans?"

"Just to survive. The officials overseeing wall construction are extremely cunning. They don't pay a cent of the agreed wages. For such heavy work, they only give one bun a day. Shen girl said General Luo here could provide full meals, so we came."

"Full meals are no problem, but I recruited you to be soldiers."

Luo Yu raised an eyebrow:

"To fight Qiang soldiers. Dare you?"

Lu Qingyun looked back at his brothers, determination flashing in his eyes:

"Tell Captain, are you afraid?"

The dozen men shouted in unison: "Not afraid!"

The sound made Luo Yu's eardrums vibrate. He was impressed - these men were indeed good.

Lu Qingyun said expressionlessly:

"When we left the slave court, we had over a hundred people. We encountered Qiang soldiers multiple times along the way. We fought desperately to escape here, but only this many survived.

Our families are all dead. What's left to fear?

To put it bluntly, if we can kill more Qiang soldiers, it would be revenge for our families."

"You've killed Qiang soldiers?"

"Two."

"Good."

Luo Yu was satisfied:

"From today on, you're a squad leader. These brothers will follow under you. I can't promise much, but while I have food, you won't go hungry.

But remember, in the army you must follow orders. No one will pity you because you're from the slave court. If you violate military rules, I won't be lenient!"

"Understood. Shen girl said Captain Luo is strict but fair."

Luo Yu was taken aback, glaring at Shen Li, who had already turned away, not looking at him.

Lu Qingyun's stomach growled, and he said awkwardly:

"Can we get some food first? Haven't eaten for two days."

"Shen Li, go make food. There's meat today. Make sure everyone eats their fill."

"Got it!"

At the mention of meat, everyone's eyes lit up.

Dusk fell, and after half a day of training, over a hundred soldiers were exhausted. The smell of meat wafted through the training ground.

Soon, the women carried out several large wooden buckets filled with pork stewed with wild vegetables, making the soldiers' mouths water. They wanted to lick the buckets clean.

Meat - in the front lines where they couldn't even get enough food, eating meat was a luxury.

Shen Li waved the ladle and called out:

"Brothers, today Captain Luo is treating you to all the meat you can eat!"

"Thank you, Boss!"

"Let's eat!"

The shouts reached the sky, even louder than their training shouts.

Standing by the training ground, Luo Yu smiled with satisfaction. If there was no war, these men would probably be quite simple, each living peaceful lives.

"Using your reward silver to treat the soldiers, I've never seen such a captain."

A not-so-light voice came from behind. Luo Yu turned and hurriedly saluted:

"Captain Han, you've come."

Han Shuo, one of Kong Xian's three colonels and Luo Yu's direct superior. This hundred-man unit was under Han Shuo's command, a typical border army man in his forties.

Han Shuo scanned the training ground where everyone was eating meat and rice:

"I heard you recruited quite a few soldiers. As your colonel, I had to come and check. Is there anything you need help with? General Kong instructed me to pay special attention to you."

"Hehe, then I'll boldly ask for something."

Luo Yu's eyes twinkled:

"I now have 130 men, but the general's residence only gave me equipment and uniforms for 100 men. This…"

When Kong Xian gave him the supplies, it was for 100 men. He'd have to figure out the rest himself. But since Han Shuo was easy to talk to, he dared to make this request.

"Simple."

Han Shuo was straightforward: "I'll make up the equipment and uniforms. They'll be sent over tomorrow morning."

"Thank you, Captain!"

Luo Yu seized the opportunity to add:

"And the military salary…"

"Luo Captain, some things are better left unsaid."

Han Shuo's gaze hardened:

"I'm just a colonel. I can't make money appear. If every captain asked for money, I might as well quit."

Though lightly scolded, Luo Yu wasn't angry, just embarrassed. He had indeed been too presumptuous.

"You've been in the army for a short time. There are some things you need to remember."

Han Shuo looked straight at Luo Yu:

"This is a military camp. Outside is the battlefield. Silver or prestige - anything you want must be earned through military merit. Understand?"

"Understand!"

"Whistle!"

"Whistles!"

A piercing whistle suddenly echoed, followed by the rumbling of war drums.

The soldiers eating all stood up, looking surprised. Some put down their bowls, others picked up their weapons.

This was the signal for Qiang soldiers attacking!