51: Chapter 0051 I Like You Wearing It

Seeing this, Chen Chuan knew he could not hide it anymore, so he knelt down and reported, "My Lord! Please, listen to my explanation..."

"My real name is Chen Yan. I used to be the head of security for a wealthy landowner in Qingzhou."

"The landowner's son took a fancy to my wife, drugged her, and violated her."

"Unable to bear the shame, my wife, who was three months pregnant, threw herself into a well..."

"In a fit of rage, I killed that beast and then fled..."

At this point, Chen Chuan's eyes were red, and his voice choked with sobs.

For the past two years, he had been living in fear, terrified of being exposed, and dared not reveal the pain in his heart to anyone.

Having said it out loud today, he actually felt a sense of relief.

"My Lord, I did indeed kill someone. If you wish to punish me, I have nothing to say!"

Lin Xiao looked at some of the soldiers nearby and asked, "How is Chen Chuan's character on a daily basis?"

Several soldiers who knew him immediately stepped forward.

"Reporting to you, My Lord, Chen Chuan is a kind person and definitely not a bad man!"

"That's right! Last time my mother needed money for medicine, Brother Chuan lent me his military pay for the emergency. He's a good man!"

"My Lord, it was not excessive for Chen Chuan to avenge his wife and child!"

Seeing the soldiers speaking up for him one by one, Chen Chuan was deeply moved.

Lin Xiao raised his hand to quiet the crowd and said, "You don't need to be nervous. I never said I was going to arrest him."

"Chen Chuan, are you willing to represent the Baishui garrison and compete in archery and equestrian skills against the Mu Family Army?"

Chen Chuan couldn't believe it. "If you don't mind, My Lord, I, Chen Chuan... will give my all!"

"Good. I still need four more people. I see many of you are cavalrymen, and some are skilled at horse taming or archery."

"Whoever among you has the confidence to beat the Mu Family Army, step forward!"

As soon as Lin Xiao spoke, a dozen confident soldiers and two junior officers walked up to him.

Lin Xiao took a look; their attributes all included things like "Cavalry" and "Archer."

Just as he was planning to make a selection from them, a commotion broke out behind the soldiers.

"Li Xu, go up there!"

"Oh no, I can't... I really can't... I'm just a horse groom..."

Lin Xiao glanced over, and his eyes narrowed! Oh?

[Li Xu, 22 years old, Baishui garrison horse groom, Aptitude: mystic grade]

[Technique: Falling Goose Archery (31 years of cultivation), a hunting archery style widely spread in the Northern Territory, simple but effective. Grade: yellow grade]

[Attributes: Sharpshooter (Special), Horse Taming, Horse Grooming]

"Li Xu, come out!"

At Lin Xiao's command, a young horse groom with clean-cut features and a slender build stepped out.

"I am Li Xu..."

"It's you!"

Lin Xiao didn't wait for him to say anything else and announced it directly.

Upon hearing this, the other dozen soldiers who had signed up were unhappy.

"Commander Lin, I disagree! This kid is just a horse groom!"

"That's right! He hasn't even been on a battlefield, why him!?"

Lin Xiao smiled and said, "How about this? All of you, compete against Li Xu in archery and equestrian skills. Whoever can beat him will be selected!"

The group looked at each other, feeling that this was fair.

Li Xu looked nervous and stammered, "My Lord, I... my family has been horse grooms for generations, and my archery was just something I practiced haphazardly while hunting..."

"Don't be nervous. If you lose, you'll just go back to grooming horses. But if you win against them..."

Lin Xiao patted the young man on the shoulder. "I will ensure you achieve great success and bring honor to your ancestors!"

When Li Xu heard this, it seemed logical; there was no loss in losing!

Soon, Li Xu mounted his horse, took his bow and arrows, and rode alongside the other competitors while shooting arrows.

Amidst everyone's incredulous gazes, Li Xu and his horse moved as one, fast as lightning!

His archery looked effortless, yet he could accurately hit the bullseye from fifty paces away!

After a series of competitions, no one dared to question Lin Xiao's choice again!!

Mu Wanying and General Zhao Kuan watched with eyes shining with brilliance!

"Lin Xiao truly has a discerning eye. Who would have thought that a mere horse groom from the small Baishui garrison could possess such equestrian and archery skills!?"

"In terms of this Li Xu alone, his equestrian and archery skills are indeed enough to surpass our Mu Family Army."

General Zhao Kuan stroked his beard and laughed, "My virtuous brother always manages to surprise me! When it comes to discerning talent, I am ashamed to admit I am inferior!"

Lin Xiao was also quite satisfied with the result.

In truth, he was under pressure regarding his bet with General Wu Jinzhe.

If all these thousands of soldiers were truly a bunch of good-for-nothings, it would be a disaster.

With Chen Chuan, Li Xu, and three other soldiers possessing both 'Cavalry' and 'Archer' attributes, this five-man team finally had a fighting chance.

Lin Xiao planned to provide them with scientific training over the next week to reinforce their weaknesses.

After a simple meal at the military camp, Lin Xiao assigned the two thousand-plus soldiers to different military branches in the afternoon.

Close-combat troops, long-range troops, scouts, and cavalry—he had them all undergo specialized training.

This method of training troops made Mu Wanying and General Zhao Kuan feel it was very novel, and they felt they benefited greatly.

But only Lin Xiao knew that this was just the beginning.

To forge a truly kingly army, he still needed more people, more resources, and the most critical factor... time!

When it grew dark, Lin Xiao and Mu Wanying said goodbye to General Zhao Kuan and returned to the residence.

After observing him for the day, Mu Wanying admired Lin Xiao even more.

"Father, the heavens have truly been kind to me... The Mu Family Army regaining its former glory might really not be far off..."

Mu Wanying thought to herself, her eyes filled with boundless tenderness.

Upon arriving home, they learned that Xiao Qingxuan was busy distributing land reclamation tasks in various places and was staying at an outside farmstead with Leng Bingyan tonight.

Although Lin Xiao felt sorry for his woman, he knew Xiao Qingxuan enjoyed it, so he let her be.

It was the first time Lin Xiao and Mu Wanying had eaten alone together, which felt quite novel and intimate.

"Wanying, since Qingxuan isn't here tonight, you will have to attend to my bath."

"Ah?" Upon hearing this, Mu Wanying's pretty face flushed with nervousness. "I... I have to do it?"

"What, are you unwilling?" Lin Xiao feigned displeasure.

"No, it's not that!"

Mu Wanying hurriedly shook her head. "Lin Xiao, please don't misunderstand. I... I just have no experience and am afraid I won't do it well."

She was also a great general's daughter and had never attended to a man before.

"If you don't know how, you can learn slowly. You are so smart; with more practice, you'll get the hang of it."

Lin Xiao smiled and picked up a piece of meat for Mu Wanying. "Eat more; you'll need the strength tonight."

Mu Wanying understood the implication in his words, her watery eyes rippling, and she gave a soft "Mn."

Night fell.

In Mu Wanying's room, the woman helped Lin Xiao bathe and change his clothes.

When it was time to go to bed, Lin Xiao pointed to the armor on the rack.

"Wanying, put it on."

Mu Wanying was a bit confused. "Lin Xiao, it's so late, where are we going?"

"We aren't going anywhere. I just think you look especially beautiful wearing armor; I really like it!"

Lin Xiao breathed hot air against the woman's crystal-clear earlobe and said, "Good Wanying, be obedient."