81: Perform martial arts

After a morning of selection, Lin Yue finally chose over 7,500 pure white warhorses of Yellow-tier Mid-grade, and called Li Mu and others to take the warhorses back.

“Military Marquis, 7,500 infantrymen have arrived,” Li Mu said with a smile.

“Oh? The Replenish troops (replenishment troops)?”

“Yes!”

“This time, to prevent infighting among the various units over the allocation of troops, the units were already assigned on the way here,” Li Mu explained.

“Then come with me,” Lin Yue said, leading Li Mu back to announce the news.

“My Lord!” When they arrived at the Military Camp, Pan Feng and the others, having heard the news, had already gathered there, waiting.

“Hmm, before I went to Xianyang City last time, I had already arranged the positions, but I didn’t expect you to take office early,” Lin Yue said with a smile.

The Generals were also beaming with joy. Forming their structure before returning to Shang Commandery meant they would have more time to train the Soldiers!

This way, they wouldn't have to rush into battle with insufficient training as before, leading to excessive casualties, and many comrades regrettably leaving the White Horse Righteous Cavalry.

“Li Mu, promote all Soldiers with outstanding military achievements in the original White Horse Righteous Cavalry by one rank.”

“Military Marquis, the statistics were already completed, just waiting for the troops!” Li Mu said.

“Good, leave some official positions open as preparation for Soldiers who perform exceptionally well in the martial arts demonstration, and then let them compete with Soldiers in the White Horse Righteous Cavalry whose positions remain unchanged. The winner takes the position!”

“Understood!” Li Mu nodded.

“Liu Sandao.”

“This humble general is here!”

“After the martial arts demonstration, you will select a squad of elite troops from the White Horse Righteous Cavalry to serve as my personal guards, and you will be their Squad Leader!”

“This humble general obeys!”

“Good.” Lin Yue nodded and said, “After the martial arts demonstration, Pan Feng, Xing Daorong, and Li Mu, divide the remaining White Horse Righteous Cavalry into three, and you three will lead them!

Once the troops are all here, our unit will hold a martial arts demonstration to spar and then distribute the remaining Soldiers to each unit.

Then, with the new recruits, the veterans will lead the new,” Lin Yue said to the three. Veterans leading new recruits could be said to be the standard practice of this era.

“Understood!” The three said in unison.

“My Lord, they have arrived,” a Soldier reported from outside the gate.

“Good, everyone, follow me out to take a look!”

Subsequently, the Generals and Soldiers filed out.

Outside the barracks, a formation of 7,500 infantrymen stood against the wind.

After the headcount was completed, Li Mu exchanged documents with the accompanying officials and then returned.

“Military Marquis, the numbers are correct.”

“Good.” Lin Yue nodded, stepped forward, and shouted loudly:

“Welcome to the White Horse Righteous Cavalry!

I am your Military Marquis, Lin Yue.

First, go to the barracks and put down your belongings. In one hour, gather here!

We’ll have a martial arts demonstration to see your true strength!” Lin Yue said.

Below, over seven thousand people had only fervent gazes, and no one made a sound.

This batch of troops clearly had a higher combat capability!

“The winners will be able to directly serve as Squad Leader, Squad Leader, Squad Leader, Centurion, and other positions!

There are six Centurion, twelve Squad Leader, sixty Squad Leader, and one hundred twenty Squad Leader positions!

These are all reserved for you, but you need to compete with the original White Horse Righteous Cavalry, and the winners among you will take the positions!”

As soon as Lin Yue spoke these words, the previously silent formation immediately became a bit noisy. The Soldiers all showed expressions of disbelief. Not to mention Centurion and Squad Leader, just Squad Leader and Squad Leader were positions they could hardly dream of!

They came from various commanderies of Great Qin. Some were frustrated in their respective commanderies and then signed up to join the Great Wall Legion, some were selected from the armies of various commanderies, and some were good commoners who voluntarily joined the army. But without exception, at this moment, they were all ordinary Soldiers, without any official positions!

Now, upon their arrival, they had hope of assuming positions, and although they still had to compete with the veterans, they were still exceptionally excited.

It was only reasonable for the capable to hold positions, and there was nothing they couldn't accept!

“Alright, whether it's true or not, you will know after the martial arts demonstration.

Now, go put your belongings in the barracks. Military Marquis Li Mu will arrange you,” Lin Yue said with a smile.

Yesterday, after Liu Sandao heard that the troops were arriving early, he led the White Horse Righteous Cavalry to build barracks day and night, creating a place for them to rest. By noon today, all construction was finally completed.

Subsequently, Li Mu stepped forward and led them to find their respective barracks.

Lin Yue looked at the enthusiastic Soldiers and couldn't help but feel a little excited. Today, he truly became a Military Marquis commanding ten thousand men.

With the chaotic times approaching, he had no choice but to climb higher step by step!

To become an existence that could truly control his own destiny!

Only then could he turn passive into active in the future disputes, instead of being swept along by the tide and carried away by the general trend!

While the new recruits went to the barracks to place their belongings, the veterans of the White Horse Righteous Cavalry also looked quite restless. Their backgrounds were largely similar to this batch of Soldiers; they hadn't arrived much earlier than them. But because they participated in several major battles and coincided with the expansion of the army, most had already been pre-assigned as Squad Leader, Squad Leader, and so on.

After all, the official positions prepared for the new recruits accounted for a small proportion, and in their view, the capable should hold positions, and the incapable should yield. Even if they lost, they would have no complaints!

The remaining veterans who were still Soldiers were also incorporated into the personal guard squad, becoming the Military Marquis's trusted troops!

Whether it's a mule or a horse, everything depends on fists. Now they are rubbing their hands together, already eager to try!

“Military Marquis, everything is ready!” Li Mu said.

In this one hour, he had already arranged the rules of the competition and the order of appearance. Now, he was just waiting for the competition to begin!

The few of them walked towards the open space outside the barracks and saw that the open space had already been marked with hundreds of circles, and the Soldiers had successfully grouped into pairs.

The veterans of the White Horse Righteous Cavalry served as referees. In fact, no referees were needed at all; the winner and loser in a contest between two people were obvious at a glance. The referees were only there to separate the two contestants at critical moments to prevent injuries and disabilities.

He did not want his Military Camp to be filled with wails and half-disabled people on the first day. Furthermore, while injuries and disabilities on the battlefield while killing enemies were acceptable, suffering injuries and disabilities at the hands of one's own comrades would be too regrettable.

Lin Yue motioned for Li Mu to explain the rules to them.

Li Mu stepped forward and said, “Everyone, quiet down! I will announce the rules!”

All the Soldiers in the open space stopped upon hearing this and looked at Li Mu, as this concerned their future.

“One, only bare hands are allowed; no weapons are to be used!

Two, wear protective gear and do not strike vital areas!

Three, each match is limited to half an incense stick of time. If no winner is decided after the time limit, the referee will decide!

Four, the one who leaves the venue first loses!

Five, anyone who continues to fight when the opponent is unable to retaliate or when the outcome is already decided will be expelled from the Military Camp!”

Li Mu paused, then loudly declared, “The martial arts demonstration begins!”