Chapter 322

Chapter 322 Tiger Vanguard Army

Outside the capital city, at the Tiger Vanguard Army training ground.

A training ground is a place for drills or martial contests, and every military camp has such a place.

Life in the camp is very dull. The soldiers' daily routine consists of training, standing guard, patrolling… This is especially true for the Tiger Vanguard Army among the three armies, but that was before.

After all, not long ago, the Emperor gave an order to hold military exercises!

Military exercises.

Heavens, the Imperial Court hasn’t held such exercises for over ten years, and among the three armies, those who participated in the last exercises are very few!

Although not many soldiers from the three armies have participated in military exercises, it doesn’t matter. They only need to understand one thing: this military exercise must be carried out perfectly.

His Majesty has ordered the exercises, and at that time, all the civil and military officials will come to watch their drills!

If it were just a contest within their own camp, it would be fine; if someone embarrassed themselves, at most only their own troops would mock them. But if they embarrass themselves in the three-army exercise… Ha, no matter who they lose to, they absolutely cannot lose to the other two armies!

By tradition, the Imperial Guards have always looked down on the Tiger Vanguard Army; the Tiger Vanguard Army looks down on the Southern Army; and the Southern Army… the Southern Army is disliked by everyone.

In short, since the three armies learned about the upcoming military exercises, the training grounds in the camps have been filled with many people practicing sword and staff fighting diligently.

After all, not everyone in the three armies is mobilized for the exercises. Instead, a selection of individuals will be showcased.

Anyone with some ambition would want to compete for such a rare opportunity to perform in front of His Majesty and the officials, right?

Compete!

Such a great chance must be seized!

Not competing is not human!

Although we cannot guarantee about the soldiers from the other two armies, the Tiger Vanguard Army’s soldiers are known to be the most enthusiastic; almost every soldier without a mission is quietly training extra.

The training ground is where they display their skills, openly show their personal abilities.

Who is the strongest? Who is weaker? Can their skills stand out during this military exercise selection? The Tiger Vanguard Army soldiers may not dare to guarantee everything else, but on the point of who is the strongest, they have a lot to say!

At the southeast corner of the Tiger Vanguard Army training ground, a group of bare-chested men formed a circle, yelling loudly in cheers.

"Great! Ah Shan, you’re amazing!"

"Won again? Another victory! Ah Shan, you’re mighty!"

"…"

In the middle of this crowd of excited, red-faced, and hoarse-throated men, there was a space neither too big nor too small.

In the center of the empty ground, a mountain-like huge and strong man was firmly pressing another man to the ground.

That man was burly, with muscular and strong limbs, so powerful that he pinned the man on the ground with just one hand.

After struggling several times in vain, the man on the ground gave up in frustration.

"I lost!"

Upon hearing his opponent's surrender, Ah Shan quietly withdrew his hand.

Seventeen—this was his seventeenth victory today.

He stood up, looked down at the cheering crowd; his eyes were not deliberately fierce, but they made everyone dare not act recklessly.

Ah Shan muttered in a low voice, “Next, who’s next?”

Someone excitedly raised their hand, “I’ll go!”

The focus immediately shifted to the next contestant; the crowd parted to clear a path, calling out the newcomer's name, eager to see how long this guy could hold out against Ah Shan…

Yes, how long he could hold out, not whether he could beat Ah Shan.

—Ah Shan is currently the strongest in the Tiger Vanguard Army.

This was now unanimously accepted among the Tiger Vanguard Army.

At the edge of the training ground, Wei Yu stood with arms crossed, together with Bai Feiyu, looking toward the crowd shouting “Ah Shan” from time to time.

Wei Yu clicked his tongue and shook his head: "See that? Ah Shan is doing so well in the camp, like a fish in water. Look at his popularity; I can hardly believe he’s only been here for a bit over three months… Why aren’t you saying anything?"

After saying a lot but hearing no response from Bai Feiyu, Wei Yu suspiciously turned to look.

The skinny young man beside him was watching the crowd from afar, a faint smile on his lips. It was hard to tell what expression he had on his face—kind of like… the look of an old father watching his son?

Wei Yu blinked twice. “You’re… feeling proud?”

Bai Feiyu withdrew his gaze, turned to look at him, smiling, but said nothing.

This guy… fine then.

Wei Yu pursed his lips, turned away lazily, deciding not to ask him anymore.

Since he didn’t ask, Bai Feiyu started talking again, but about something unrelated to Ah Shan.

“Your Highness came to the training ground not to discuss the military exercises with Lord Grand Commandant? The three armies are not just the Tiger Vanguard Army, from what I’ve understood of Your Highness recently, you probably still need to visit the Imperial Guards and Southern Army today, right?”

Wei Yu: …

Hey, just call him lazy-eyed if you want, no need to beat around the bush!

Originally, Wei Yu meant well bringing this guy to see Ah Shan, but since he doesn’t care, never mind. Wei Yu didn’t even look at Bai Feiyu, turning to find Du Xing.

Bai Feiyu followed behind calmly.

–

Du Xing was discussing the selection of military exercise candidates with the Tiger Vanguard Army generals.

Most of the Tiger Vanguard Army generals come from the grassroots; promotions are based solely on years of military achievements. Compared to the other two armies, which consider family background and connections, their selection process is more fair.

Of course, there is also a lot of arguing.

In the large tent, the generals were noisily arguing over the candidate selection.

“Why can your side pick so many? I only have twelve! Not acceptable! I’m not agreeing to this! I don’t accept these candidates!”

“Not accepting doesn’t help! It just means your skills aren’t as good. Who else can you blame? Anyway, today I don’t care if you accept it or not—the selection is final. Accept it or get lost!”

“Hey, you Qi Laohei, get lost, you jerk! That’s too much…”

Lord Grand Commandant sat at the head, staring blankly at the unruly people below. He didn't think their speech was crude but only found them especially noisy.

Taking advantage of no one paying attention to him, Du Xing secretly scratched his ankle.

Let them argue; these deals that benefit the subordinates are things a superior has to argue for. He himself is always thinking about how to squeeze benefits from the Six Ministries for the soldiers; it makes no sense to block the generals from securing their subordinates’ future now, right?

They are all family as generals; internal problems can be solved internally, as long as they don’t dump the problems on him…

Lord Grand Commandant just likes to complain about being broke when facing civil officials.

While the generals kept shouting inside the tent, someone entered.

“Sir, His Highness the Wise King has arrived.”

At the sound of “His Highness the Wise King has arrived,” the tent instantly fell silent.

The generals were stunned, even Du Xing who was scratching his ankle paused.

They exchanged glances.

“The Wise King is here. What does he want?”

Only Du Xing, after a brief moment of surprise, stood up happily.

“Quick! Let His Highness in!”

Du Xing rubbed his hands together, hastily getting up from the place of honor, grinning broadly.

Joking aside, maybe others don’t know what the Wise King is capable of, but does he?

He’s been craving the goodies from the Ministry of Works for a long time, okay?

Pei Zhi is an old bastard who won’t give them, but once he stirs things up, won’t they get some?