Chapter 55: Jiang Jiao
<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>
The summer days at Liangzhou military camp were long and grueling, filled with arduous training that tested the endurance and determination of the new recruits. Day after day, they endured rigorous exercises that were both monotonous and challenging. Yet, time seemed to pass swiftly, and before they knew it, the minor heat had given way to the major heat, and autumn was just around the corner.
The intense training routines quickly honed the recruits of Liangzhou military camp into soldiers of remarkable endurance and determination. In addition to archery practice and early morning weighted runs, their training encompassed various skills such as polearm combat, footwork drills, formation tactics, spear techniques, knife arts, and equestrian archery—although the latter was somewhat limited due to the scarcity of horses within Liangzhou military camp.
“Brother Ah He, here’s your bread,” Xiao Mai handed a piece of dried bread to He Yan.
The round flatbread had been roasted over charcoal until it became crispy and savory. With a single bite, the warm crumbs and flavors danced on He Yan’s taste buds. She took a couple of bites, followed by a big gulp of water, feeling the immediate comfort as her previously empty stomach was soothed.
Hong Shan scrutinized He Yan and raised an eyebrow in curiosity. “Ah He, something doesn’t seem right. You eat the same rations as us every day, and sometimes you even get special treats, but how come you’re still so thin and… well, small?” He struggled to suppress the word “short.”
He Yan: “…”
Could she really be blamed for this?
Her so-called “sworn brother,” the “useless young master” Cheng Lisu, would occasionally sneak her some extra food. Sometimes it was a handful of pine nuts, other times a few pieces of dried meat, and once he even managed to bring her a bowl of soup, claiming it was from his uncle.
Every time he handed her something, Cheng Lisu appeared nervous, urging her to eat quickly and making sure his uncle wouldn’t catch them. It felt like a covert operation. While He Yan sometimes considered declining the food, she ultimately went along with it. After all, why turn down a free meal? Besides, the treats Cheng Lisu brought were surprisingly delicious.
Even with these extra indulgences, He Yan’s appearance didn’t change much. The rigorous training and constant sweating over the past few months had caused her to lose weight and appear even more delicate.
However, this “delicate” young lady had managed to stun everyone with her archery skills during the previous weeks, even causing the scar-faced hulking man to address her as “boss.” Her impressive feat of turning countless new recruits into “empty stomachs” was still fresh in their memories. He Yan was now a recognized figure in the military camp.
Since that incident, no one had come forward to challenge He Yan, much to her relief. She was able to enjoy a bit of respite from the competitive atmosphere. She was still strategizing on how to catch the attention of Xiao Jue, paving the way to enter Nine Banner Battalion.
On this particular day, the training focus was on spear techniques. The wooden spears used in the training were made of sturdy wood, featuring short, sharp tips.
The instructor demonstrated a series of spear techniques on the elevated platform, while the new recruits imitated his movements below. Over time, they began to show improvement. He Yan, however, wasn’t particularly skilled with the spear. Her personal weapon of choice was the sword. Moreover, her diminutive size and the awkwardness of wielding a spear made her feel constrained.
After the instructor finished his demonstration, the recruits were allowed to practice on their own. As he walked around the training ground, he observed the progress of the recruits. When he reached He Yan’s side, he couldn’t help but give her an extra glance.
After all, He Yan’s astonishing archery skills had left a lasting impression. This new recruit was being closely monitored. Over the past few days, the instructor had also noticed that while He Yan was proficient in whip, knife, footwork, and other areas, her abilities weren’t as remarkable as they initially seemed. The only real surprise came from her equestrian archery, but since there hadn’t been any competitive matches recently, it was difficult to gauge her true skills.
Despite her dedicated training, which included archery practice and weighted runs, but Instructor Liang had a feeling that she was holding back. Her abilities only revealed a fraction of her true potential.
He walked over to the position of Instructor Du Mao. Instructor Du was also inspecting the area, with several other instructors gathered around him, pointing at a new recruit and discussing something.
Liang Ping approached and heard them discussing.
“No wonder his family runs a martial arts school. Look at how skillfully he handles that long spear, impressive!”
“I’m telling you, he’s actually more skilled than you, Old Du. I’ve never seen this spear technique before!”
“Yeah, this kid is quite young, probably only seventeen or eighteen. Must’ve started training from a young age.”
Liang Ping asked, “Who are you talking about?”
“That one, the soldier under Instructor Du, the tallest one in the front row on the left, the big guy. Did you see him?”
Liang Ping followed their gaze and indeed spotted a young man in military attire practicing with a spear. The young man had thick eyebrows, sharp eyes, and a resolute expression in his features. There was an air of determination about him, along with a subtle hint of arrogance. His movements were steady, and he skillfully wielded the long spear, leaving observers dazzled by his techniques. It was clear he wasn’t just showing off; Liang Ping could sense the fierceness in every step of his spear dance.
“Excellent!” Liang Ping couldn’t help but praise.
“Indeed, he’s quite good,” Du Mao chimed in with pride, “I’ve tested him a few times before, and he’s truly skilled. His name is Jiang Jiao, and his father is the owner of a martial arts school in the capital.”
“Then why did he come to enlist in the army?” Liang Ping was surprised. The son of a martial arts school owner might not be rich and powerful, but they could still lead a comfortable life in an ordinary household.
“He has ambitious aspirations, don’t you understand the ambitions of a young man?” Du Mao said, “I admire men like him!”
Someone chimed in, “I wonder who’s more impressive, this Jiang Jiao or the recruit under Old Liang, He Yan?”
The question brought a moment of silence around them. Du Mao looked contemplatively at Liang Ping, and Liang Ping instinctively responded, “He Yan shows great aptitude in archery, but her spear skills are average at best. She wouldn’t be a match for Jiang Jiao.”
What a joke, He Yan was petite and fragile, while Jiang Jiao was tall and robust. Spear and archery skills are also different. With archery, the target is a straw figure, a flying bird, or a moving animal. But in spear techniques, it’s a direct contest between two people, and a single mistake can lead to injuries and bloodshed. Jiang Jiao’s family runs a martial arts school, and he has been practicing since childhood. How could He Yan possibly match up to Jiang Jiao? If Jiang Jiao were to give He Yan a good beating, where would he find another exceptional archer like that?
“Old Liang, you shouldn’t be so quick to judge,” Du Mao listened and continued, hooking his arm around Liang Ping’s shoulder, “Remember, your recruit, He Yan, used to lag behind during the runs but later excelled. At first, she struggled with drawing the bow, but eventually mastered blindfolded archery. Just because she’s not performing well now doesn’t mean she won’t improve in the next ten days. As an instructor, you shouldn’t overly coddle the recruits. After all, they’ll eventually be sent to the battlefield.”
Others joined in agreement, “Exactly, Old Du is right! Old Liang, you shouldn’t be overly protective.”
What a load of nonsense! Liang Ping thought angrily. He couldn’t help but feel frustrated by the onlookers who enjoyed stirring up trouble without a care for the consequences.
“Instructor Liang, I would like to challenge He Yan as well.”
As Liang Ping turned around, he realized that the young man named Jiang Jiao had quietly set aside his spear and approached him from behind. He must have overheard the instructors’ discussion and had blurted out his intention.
Liang Ping didn’t immediately respond, pondering how to decline.
“May I?” Jiang Jiao asked again, seemingly unaware of Liang Ping’s dilemma.
<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>
