The sun beat down mercilessly on the village of Xianfeng, its rays scorching the fields as dry dust rose with each step of the soldiers in formation. Amidst this desolate landscape, a young villager named Tian worked silently, his body covered in sweat, his hands trembling with exhaustion as he tried to keep the spear steady. The intense training had only begun a few days ago, but for him, each day felt like a battle for survival.
Tian had never imagined wielding a weapon, let alone training as a soldier. He was the son of farmers, accustomed to working the fields, not the battlefield. But everything had changed after the failed imperial attack and the new orders from Xu Anping. The village walls were still worn down, and the injured veteran soldiers had been sent to turn all the villagers into reserve soldiers.
Before Xu Anping's arrival, the reserve system in the village only involved a handful of men—those with more war experience or the naturally stronger ones. But now, everyone, from the youngest to the oldest capable of holding a weapon, was required to train for at least a few hours each day. Xu Anping left no room for doubt or objections. If the village wanted to survive, every able man and woman had to be prepared.
For Tian, this change was devastating. Like many others, he had never envisioned himself as a soldier. His hands, used to handling farming tools, now trembled under the weight of a spear or a sword. The training field had become his new reality, and the days were an endless mix of physical and mental exhaustion.
The training was brutal. The injured veterans, those who could no longer fight on the front lines, had been put in charge of turning the villagers into warriors. They were relentless, and though their bodies were worn, their minds were as sharp as the steel of their swords.
One of the veterans, an older man named Wu Kang, had been assigned as the instructor for Tian and his group. He walked with a slight limp, with a deep scar on his left leg, but his presence commanded respect. Wu Kang had no patience for weakness.
"Hold that spear higher, boy," Wu Kang growled as he passed by Tian, tapping the bottom of the spear with his cane. "If you lower it like that in battle, the only thing you'll achieve is getting your head cut off."
Tian gritted his teeth and tried to correct his posture. His hands burned from hours of practice, and his arms, accustomed to lifting sacks of rice, now trembled under the weight of the spear. He felt out of place there, surrounded by men who had fought in wars or, at least, were stronger and more experienced than he was.
"If you're tired, you'd better think twice," Wu Kang added. "On the battlefield, the enemy won't wait for you to rest. War is unforgiving. You must be the same!"
Embarrassed, Tian swallowed hard and nodded, though doubts continued to plague him. He had always been quick to learn farming techniques, but this... this was different. The danger of death loomed over him every time he thought about what was to come. But there was no choice. If he didn't defend the village, everything he knew would be destroyed by the imperials.
The Frustration of Learning
After the morning training, Tian and other villagers sat under the shade of a large tree on the outskirts of the training field, trying to catch their breath. Several of them were quietly discussing their frustrations.
"This is madness," murmured one of the younger men, named Chen. "None of us have any real experience. We're farmers, not soldiers."
"Before, only a few trained—the stronger ones, the ones who had always been part of the reserves," added another man, shaking his head. "Now all of us have to do it. Even the old men and young boys. It's a huge burden."
"What Wu Kang said is true," said another man, his face weathered by the sun. "If we don't learn now, we'll be dead when the imperials return. We can't afford to be weak."
Tian listened in silence, feeling the weight of his own doubts grow. Would he really be able to fight when the time came? The sleepless nights ran through his mind, each filled with nightmares of failure, of being unable to protect his family or the village.
Just as the conversations were dying down, the figure of Xu Sanhua appeared in the distance, moving with the calm precision that always characterized her. Despite the immense pressure on her, her face always remained serene, a pillar of control amidst the chaos. She walked toward the group, accompanied by one of the rebel officers, reviewing the progress of the training.
As Xu Sanhua approached, the villagers looked at her with a mixture of respect and fear. Everyone knew that she, along with Xu Anping, was the reason the village still stood. Under her command, the defense had been organized with precision, and many had witnessed her cold strategic brilliance in action.
"Wu Kang has informed me that this group's training is not progressing as expected," Xu Sanhua said calmly, but her words were like a knife. "Does anyone have anything to say about that?"
The group remained silent. Most of them, including Tian, feared facing her. Although she never raised her voice or showed aggression, there was something in her presence that inspired discipline.
Finally, Tian gathered the courage to speak.
"We lack experience, Miss Xu. We're not used to this kind of training, and some of us aren't sure we'll be able to rise to the occasion when the battle comes."
Xu Sanhua looked at him for a long moment, evaluating his words.
"Experience isn't something gained in a few days," she said, "but discipline and preparation can make the difference between life and death. You don't have the luxury of giving up. No one does."
Silence grew heavier around them. Xu Sanhua continued.
"Wu Kang and the other veterans are here to teach you what you need to survive. But beyond techniques and tactics, what you need to learn is control over yourselves. No matter how much fear you feel, no matter how difficult the circumstances. What will define your success is your ability to keep going despite all of that. In battle, the soldiers who survive aren't always the strongest, but those who can remain calm and follow orders."
Her words were cold and meticulous, but Tian listened intently. Though doubts still gnawed at him, something inside him began to shift. He knew he wasn't the strongest or the fastest. But there was something he could work on: his determination.
The Fire of Steel
The following days of training became even more intense. Wu Kang didn't ease up on his demands, but Tian began to notice a difference. Slowly, his body, once exhausted, started adapting to the long hours of training. The spear that had once felt heavy now moved with more fluidity in his hands, and his posture improved with each correction.
Wu Kang, in his tough and severe way, also noticed the change. Though he didn't show it openly, Tian started to see that behind the harsh exterior, there was a quiet satisfaction in the veteran.
"You're improving, boy," he said one day while they practiced a series of defensive strikes. "But don't get too comfortable. The battle will be far worse than anything you face here."
Despite the gruff tone, Tian nodded with an internal smile. He knew that, although the road was long, he was making progress. As the days went by, he began to feel more a part of something bigger. He was no longer just a farmer; he was transforming into a warrior who could protect his home.