Chapter 153: Contending For Supremacy
The training ground outside Pei Family Village was originally just a piece of open land. At first, it was more than two hundred Pei Clan female dependents practicing daily, and later as more and more refugees joined, the training ground was expanded wider and wider.
Pei Yun took away five hundred people, Gu Lian took away two hundred people. Pei Qinghe supplemented seven hundred new recruits from the refugees. The total strength was still maintained at around two thousand.
One hundred people per camp, two thousand people in twenty camps total. Twenty leaders each led one camp of people in formation, and the training items were also different for each.
The new recruits practiced formation queues, running drills, and drawing knives neatly. The veteran soldiers practiced military formation confrontations. There was also a group of archers who specialized in shooting arrows.
On the first day leading troops, Captain Sun practiced running drills. They ran laps around the training ground, which allowed him to clearly see the training situation of each camp.
The more he watched, the more amazed he was.
He had been in the barracks for more than a dozen years and was extremely familiar with military drills. The Pei Family Army was based on Pei Clan direct descendants, with recruited refugees as the main force. It had truly only been formed for about two years. Yet it already had the momentum and confident demeanor of an elite army.
Pei Qinghe wandered between each camp, occasionally stopping to give pointers and even personally demonstrating to teach everyone.
No wonder every soldier in the Pei Family Army was completely convinced of Pei Qinghe. This army was entirely built by Pei Qinghe herself.
The soldiers following behind Captain Sun personally witnessed the fervent training scene on the training ground and each drew in a cold breath, putting away all their pride in the imperial court’s regular army.
After practicing for an hour, they could rest for a stick of incense time.
There were several buckets of hot water by the training ground, which had now cooled. Pei Qinghe scooped a bamboo tube of cool water and drank it clean.
Captain Sun also came over to get water and drink.
“Sixth Sister really knows how to train troops,” Captain Sun sincerely praised. “No wonder in just three short years, she trained such an elite army.”
Pei Qinghe laughed. “The Captain Sun I know isn’t someone who flatters and fawns.”
The familiar old form of address quickly closed the distance between them. Captain Sun couldn’t help but laugh too. “Sixth Sister knows me. I really don’t flatter and fawn; everything I said is the plain truth.”
After joking a few words, Pei Qinghe said, “The Pei Family Army has martial arts competition drills every month, with the twenty camps taking turns to compete. The top three in the competition get rewards, and the bottom three get punishments.”
Captain Sun didn’t care about the punishments and only asked what the rewards were for the top three in the competition.
Pei Qinghe smiled knowingly. “The three camps that rank in the top three can eat meat for three consecutive meals.”
This reward was the most practical and the most motivating.
Captain Sun was also tempted, and upon learning that the competition was in half a month, he immediately started thinking about training troops.
Pei Qinghe wanted to see Captain Sun’s capability and did not interfere much with his training. When she came to Captain Sun’s camp, she only looked around briefly before leaving.
Constantly paying attention to Captain Sun’s training was also Feng Chang.
Ever since Gu Lian led troops to Quanzhou County, Feng Chang had been holding a breath in his heart.
It wasn’t resentment toward Gu Lian either. In fact, though he wouldn’t admit it out loud, he was convinced in his heart. Gu Lian was ruthless to others and even more to herself; starting as a weak woman with no foundation, she had honed a body of martial arts in three years. She never held back when killing mountain bandits or Xiongnu barbarians. On the Bohai Commandery trip, she was both brave and strategic.
Gu Lian had the advantage of being a woman and gained even more trust from Pei Qinghe. Setting aside the gender advantage, since Gu Lian had gotten ahead first, Feng Chang had nothing to say.
Captain Sun’s appearance suddenly gave Feng Chang anxiety about his status being unstable.
Captain Sun was a proper sixth-rank military general and imperial court official who had read military books, led troops, and fought battles. The advantages Feng Chang was proud of seemed utterly ordinary and not worth mentioning in front of Captain Sun.
Watching Captain Sun train troops, he did it very methodically. Pei Qinghe praised him several times in front of everyone, and the competitive Feng Chang couldn’t stand it, immediately following suit with extra practice.
Wang Erhe was trained until his whole body was sore and aching, complaining endlessly. “Boss Feng, have you been taking the wrong medicine these past few days? Training so harshly, aren’t you afraid of wearing us all out?”
Wang Erhe and Feng Chang were from the same hometown and had traveled together since the day they fled famine. Later they fled into the mountains together, then sought refuge in Pei Family Village together. Their bond was deep, closer than brothers.
Feng Chang slapped Wang Erhe on the back, laughing and cursing, “With your build, if you don’t train hard, how can you draw a knife and go into battle?”
Wang Erhe grimaced from the slap, then chuckled softly. “I know you’re rivalry with that Captain Sun. Actually, I’m not convinced either. We’ve been in Pei Family Village for over two years, fighting alongside Sixth Sister until today. Why should some newcomer climb over our heads?”
“In a few days at the competition, let’s beat Captain Sun down first.”
Feng Chang wasn’t so optimistic. “Captain Sun really knows how to train troops. Sixth Sister doesn’t even need to give verbal pointers; she just lets him lead one camp of people in drills every day. I’ve observed him closely—his martial skills are truly powerful.”
The more he talked, the more anxious he got, and he couldn’t help sighing. “I used to be a private tutor, good at literary pursuits. I only started practicing martial arts after coming to Pei Family Village. In terms of skills, I definitely can’t match a martial man who’s trained for years.”
Wang Erhe was stunned, looking at Feng Chang. “I was just joking, and you really took it to heart!”
Feng Chang pursed his lips, whispering, “I lost to Gu Lian by one step; I can’t lose to Captain Sun too.”
Wang Erhe coughed, lowering his voice. “Speaking of Gu Lian, actually, I have an idea. How about we send someone from here to be Gu Lian’s son-in-law and break her will… Ow!”
Feng Chang withdrew his leg, sneering. “I should have seen it earlier. You mention her every now and then—you’ve long had designs on her. If you want to go, just ask Sixth Sister, but Gu Lian herself has to agree. With your build, would Gu Lian even look at you?”
Wang Erhe, with his intentions exposed, stopped pretending and rubbed his leg while righteously retorting, “What’s wrong with me having this intention? You and Gu Lian are rivals, competing for supremacy. I don’t have such great ambition; I just want to be her son-in-law. Last time Sixth Sister selected troops, she didn’t pick me. Next time there’s a chance, I’ll ask Sixth Sister to let me go to Quanzhou County.”
Feng Chang rolled his eyes in anger, ignoring the lovesick Wang Erhe, and single-mindedly pondered how to train troops to thoroughly suppress Captain Sun.
Captain Sun was the same.
The rivalry and competitiveness between men didn’t need to be spoken; they each knew it well.
Pei Qinghe saw the subtle rivalry between Captain Sun and Feng Chang but didn’t point it out.
In the blink of an eye, the day of the competition arrived.
On this day, old and young in Pei Family Village all came to watch. Even Head Steward Shi put down his account book and abacus to watch the fun. He specially brought a bag of sunflower seeds, a bag of dried meat, and half a bag of popcorn candy.
Pei Xuan and Pei Feng immediately crowded over.
Shi Yan kept half a bag of sunflower seeds and stuffed the rest to Pei Xuan and Pei Feng.
Shi Yan was witty and humorous, generous, and thoughtful in speech and action. The old and young of the Pei Clan all liked him. Otherwise, would Pei Xuan and Pei Feng accept snacks from just anyone?
Pei Qinghe glanced at the three people squatting in one spot watching the fun and found it somewhat amusing, but she quickly withdrew her gaze and loudly announced the start of the competition.
