Chen Sansi was sweating profusely, even his eyes were soaked in sweat, and his physical strength was nearing exhaustion, yet he felt like he could still push on a bit longer if he gritted his teeth.
Perhaps this was the chemical reaction produced by pairing amazing endurance with the Hao Ran Breathing Skill?
However, his victory was not easy.
After all, Xu Bin was a military officer who had practiced Martial Arts for years and had achieved a small accomplishment in Blood Refining.
This battle had been quite helpful to him.
[Cultivation Technique: Basic Spear Technique for Military Soldiers (Entry-Level)]
[Progress: (52/500)]
[Utility: Gun Movement Swift, Amazing Endurance]
He personally experienced the effects of these two skill descriptors.
He estimated that any peer within seven steps would be struck down before they had a chance to draw their sword!
His spear technique was not only enduring but also swift.
Both long-lasting and fierce!
"Good!"
Atop the high platform, Xiang Tingchun loudly exclaimed in approval, his eyes brimming with gratification.
The watching soldiers burst into applause and cheers.
"Fierce!"
Zhu Tong's voice was the loudest.
Xu Wencai stretched his neck, equally energized by the sight: "I see a hidden king's aura in Brother Chen, he is destined for greatness!"
"What's the use of your looking," Zhu Tong cursed. "You'd better focus on yourself. It's been ten days, and you still haven't grasped a single Pile Work. You're just waiting to be sent out to repair city walls!"
"..."
"Brother Chen is truly formidable!"
Song Yan couldn't help but express his admiration.
Xu Bin's heart felt as dead as ashes.
He had lost to a novice in front of hundreds of people.
His chances of advancing in his military career from now on were pretty much over.
Not only that, this duel had offended Chen Sansi.
Previously, he could disregard him and not show a good face, and that was that.
This time, he had been ruthless and had shown no mercy. If he had incurred resentment, once Chen Sansi rose to a high position, wouldn't it be easy for him to make life difficult for him?
"You won."
Xu Bin picked up his knife and dejectedly left the field.
Chen Sansi didn't even have the chance to speak.
Xiang Tingchun on the high platform was very satisfied with this competition. He looked towards the accompanying civil servant:
"Before Wang Zhi spoke with me, I did not believe him, but now it seems like our Po Yang Thousand Households have really produced a potential general!
"County Magistrate Zhang, no issues, right?"
"No issues."
County Magistrate Zhang had already checked the military register: "I will report it to the Liangzhou Governor's Mansion after I return, and make clear the qualifications for Selected Point of this Chen Sansi."
The matter was originally expected to be handled by the county prefect himself.
However, since the prefect had died and a new one had not yet been assigned, it was temporarily entrusted to the County Chief.
"Hmm."
Xiang Tingchun nodded, signaling Chen Sansi to step down and continue the examination of the other new recruits.
"How many of them have cultivated Qi-Blood in ten days, and how many have learned the spear technique?"
Out of thirty-eight people, six stood out.
Xiang Tingchun commanded: "Pair up in twos, and show me a fight."
"Yes!"
The six responded.
Before an hour had passed, the competition concluded, and one could basically tell how each person had performed.
"Song Yan is good, and in a few days, he should be able to cultivate Qi-Blood."
Xiang Tingchun mused: "The qualifications for Selected Point in the second half of next year should not be an issue.
"You're named Zhu... Zhu Tong? You're also not bad!
"Having seven military soldiers among this batch is the highest turnout in the history of Po Yang County.
"Alright, you may also step down for now.
"The rest, directly show me your Pile Work."
Thirty-two people performed Pile Work.
About fifteen or sixteen of them hadn't even mastered Pile Work.
The most absurd was a middle-aged man with a goatee who did not know a single move!
This sight made Xiang Tingchun frown deeply, losing the patience to continue watching.
"That will do, the assessment is over.
"Chen Sansi!"
"Present!" Chen Sansi answered.
"From this day forth, you are promoted to flag officer, with all the due treatment of the position, in addition to being equipped with a first-class warhorse!"
Xiang Tingchun looked to the side: "Wang Zhi, he's your recruit, so he will be under your command from now on. You have a position for him, right?"
"Yes, yes, yes."
Wang Zhi hurriedly answered, "There are quite a few empty spots."
"..."
Xiang Tingchun continued, "For the others, fill in the vacancies under each Households Commander; if they achieve a breakthrough in their cultivation or earn military exploits in the future, promote them then!"
After overseeing the evaluation, he left in a hurry.
Leaving behind the various Households Commanders to deal with the subsequent trivial matters.
First was to classify the ranks of the soldiers, and then decide who they would report to.
When the Selection Officers come to pick people each year, it's also the time for those from above to investigate the issue of phantom soldiers.
In recent years, the scrutiny has become stricter, and the phenomenon of phantom soldiers has decreased a lot, but it has not completely vanished.
A Thousand Households should have a full complement of about 1120 people.
Po Yang County reported about one thousand people.
In reality, there were only a little more than nine hundred people.
This meant that there were nearly a hundred vacancies.
Thirty-something people, as long as they looked presentable enough to pass the inspection, were all picked by the military officers to fill the gaps.
Chen Sansi also didn't have a full complement under him; he had seven people.
There was Zhu Tong, who actively clamored to come over, four fellow villagers, and two who were sent to the army as a punishment.
Soon, only two or three old, weak, sick, and disabled remained unwanted by anyone, belonging to the kind that even a beggar hired temporarily from the street would look better.
"You don't even know how to stand in a horse stance? Go build the city wall in the neighboring county!"
"No, no, no, my lord, I can do odd jobs!"
"Odd jobs, can you feed a horse?"
"I can learn!"
"Learn, who has the time to teach you? Cut the nonsense, drag him away!"
Xu Wencai was one of those who nobody wanted.
"Brother Chen!"
Seeing that he was about to be taken away, Xu Wencai, as if seeing a lifeline, rushed over and clutched Chen Sansi's arm desperately, "Do you have a shortage of people under you, let me follow you, let me follow you!"
"Don't come and bring us misfortune!"
Zhu Tong said with extreme disdain, "When we go into battle, you won't even know what to do; you'll just drag us down to our deaths!"
"Who says I can't do anything?"
Xu Wencai said, full of earnest promises, "Brother Chen, I, Xu Wencai, have a broad knowledge of astronomy and geography, I am good at arranging troops and managing affairs. Other than being too old to learn martial arts, I can do everything else. Take me in, and I assure you it will be worth it!"
"Enough talk."
Households Commander Liu gave a signal, and two soldiers approached to restrain Xu Wencai.
At that moment, Chen Sansi cupped his fist and said, "Households Commander Liu, please give this man to me."
"Are you sure?"
Households Commander Liu looked puzzled, "Aren't you afraid of wasting a spot under you? Think it over carefully."
The issue of phantom soldiers had nothing to do with Chen Sansi, the newcomer.
Which is to say, he didn't need to pad the numbers, and naturally, the stronger the combatants under him, the better.
"No problem,"
Chen Sansi insisted, "I'll make him feed the horses for me later."
"Fine then,"
Households Commander Liu didn't say much, "As you wish, if you regret it, just let me know."
"Phew..."
Relieved from having to go work on building the city wall, Xu Wencai let out a long sigh of relief, "Brother Chen, you really have vision!"
"He's just too kind-hearted and got fooled by you!" Zhu Tong cursed.
About half an hour later, the soldiers were mostly allocated.
The one in charge of the armory handed Chen Sansi a few slips, telling him that he could use them to collect resources.
There was Blood Replenishing Soup, Weapons Slips, and also a horse.
"I still owe Xu Flag Officer a bow,"
Chen Sansi wasn't one to shirk debts, but he couldn't find Xu Bin in the crowd at the moment: "Never mind, let's go check out the horse first."
A horse.
It was an extremely valuable strategic resource.
Not all flag officers had one.
The entire Po Yang Thousand Households had less than thirty horses in total.
"Chen Flag Officer, this horse of yours isn't an ordinary one!"
The head of the armory said with a grin, "It's a top-grade Baihu that Lord Thousand Households took great effort to acquire from the Prefecture City. There were only two in total, and he was willing to spare you one, a clear sign of how much he values you. Chen Flag Officer, you have a boundless future ahead!"
He ordered the coachman to lead a fine horse out of the stables.
This horse was pure white all over, with strong muscles and a well-proportioned physique; as the wind blew, its mane danced in the breeze, resembling clouds in the sky.
"Would you like to give it a try, Chen Flag Officer? Be careful, though,"
the head of the armory reminded, "This horse has a fiery temperament."
"I like them fiery."
Chen Sansi mounted the horse.
[Skill: Horse Control (Uninitiated)]
[Progress: (0/100)]
[Utility: None for now]