Chapter 4 Entering the City

As the cart moved forward, Li Yan listened to all this and bowed his head in deep thought, and only after a while did he look at the worried Li Yu and Li Shan. "It's fine. If the front is really like what Uncle Guoxin said, these few times have blocked the enemy soldiers, even if there is a war in the future, for the time being there should be no serious war. After the previous attacks, they hadn't even captured the county town and suffered so many deaths and injuries. Enemy soldiers must already be scared of General Hong. They must also know that unless the main general is changed here, there may be a chance to attack in, or there is a natural disaster or other calamities to take advantage of the opportunity to break through. But this kind of thing I think General Hong and his strategists have already thought of. Those are all veteran battlefield warriors, so there shouldn't be any more attacks by large armies easily." Hearing this, Li Guoxin could not help but look at Li Yan in surprise. These things were indeed like what Li Yan had said. In the last year or so, Meng had not sent out a large army to Green Mountain Pass, only occasionally there were still small groups of cavalry harassing and attacking. "How did you come up with this idea?" Li Guoxin couldn't help but ask in astonishment. "Uncle Guoxin, this is similar to when we go hunting in the mountains. When we were surrounded by wolves, which time didn't you bravely stand in front of them and lead the group to block their attacks several times? After killing more wolf cubs, those wolves began to be scared, and would retreat on their own, of course, they were afraid of you, Uncle Guoxin. Unless there's a problem with our big group's defense from the inside, no accidents will happen either!" When Li Guoxin heard this, he couldn't help but stretch out a hand to pat the cart and laugh. "That's really the truth as you say, it's similar to killing wild beasts! Hahaha..." "This young bro is extremely right, our General Hong and Military Strategist Ji are both formidable generals and talented people of the world. Those robbers in Meng Country have been unable to win four or five times when they attacked with a large army, and they have also been scared out of their wits by Military Strategist Ji who took the head of their deputy general. Now we also often attack them as well and really beat these enemy robbers to cry bitterly." At this time, a voice suddenly came from the front. It turned out that they had already arrived at the city gates without realizing it. A dozen or so soldiers in armor were on both sides of the gate, but there was a person standing in the middle of the road in front of them. He was wearing a broadsword and a suit of armor, but the top of his helmet had a red tassel on it, making him look different from the others. This person has a medium build, black face without a beard, high nose, is looking at them with eyes like lightning. He stood in the middle of the two rows of soldiers, just blocking the entrance to the city gate, which should be the leader of the squad. The one who spoke just now was this person, at this moment, he looked at Li Yan with some surprise in his eyes. After all, Li Yan appeared to be only sixteen or seventeen years old from his figure. He was dressed in rough clothes, not one of the rich and powerful gentry. If he was one of those gentry, he wouldn't be surprised. After all, these people from these origins, the elders at home would often talk about these events, and it wasn't uncommon for them to come out and talk a bit after hearing about it. They took turns guarding the north gate today. The people who come are usually the villagers of the area under their jurisdiction or the people who run businesses in the dynasty. Those sons of the royal family would not come here to play in recent years. After all, it's still hard to guarantee that there won't be any accidents some of the time. Looking at Li Yan's outfit, he wouldn't think that he was a son of one of the royal families who came here to play the game of private visit. Such a countryside boy has such an insight, so it makes him feel a little interested. Seeing the other party looking at him, Li Yan immediately jumped off the cart and bowed. "Please forgive me for my nonsense words just now, Your Excellency." These matters of etiquette, the old scholar in the village had taught them a lot in the past. Everyone in the village was well acquainted with each other, and they were rural farmers, so there were still a lot of coarse and vulgar words among each other. But the old scholar was very strict with these students. It is supposed to be the old scholar's life pride "masterpiece". He often let them remember not to be rude and uneducated, must be well practiced. In particular, they should take the initiative to salute when meeting officials, as the saying goes. This leader was only slightly curious about Li Yan's words just now. After hearing Li Yan's words, he did not say anything more. He then turned to Li Guoxin and asked. "What are you guys doing in town?" Li Guoxin had already pulled the cart at this time and came in front of this leader-like person, and replied respectfully. "Reporting sir, I am the village chief of the Li family village in the Great Green Mountain, this is our introduction letter." He said and took out the introduction letter that had long been prepared and handed it over with both hands, and continued. "I brought a few juniors to the town to do apprenticeship and enlist in the army. Due to the distance traveled, we have only arrived here at this time." The leader-like person took the road guide and looked at it, nodding his head. "Indeed, it is unmistakable." When he heard the words enlisted in the army, he laughed. "It's to join the Close Guard?" Li Guoxin hurriedly replied. "Exactly, exactly!" The man's gaze swept over the three. "Which of these people are enlisted in the army?" Li Guoxin pointed at Li Yan and said. "Sir, he is the only one who enlisted in the army, the other two are doing apprenticeships." Once the person heard that, he also followed Li Guoxin's finger to look at Li Yan. Once he saw that it was him, he said to Li Yan. "Oh, so it's you! You young kid had some insight in what you said earlier, and it's appropriate to join the army. Our General Hong now values people with strategic talents, after all, there are still more soldiers with strength." Hearing this, Li Yan once again bowed and saluted. "Many thanks for your enlightenment, Sir!" That leader-like person waved his hand and said, ''Then you guys hurry up and go! This time, the close guards are only recruiting one hundred and fifty people. This is already the second day, and this barrack is still recruiting quite fast, so I guess it will be full today. After all, the Close Guard is considered a reserve barracks, with less bloodshed. And the pay is only a little less than those of us on the front lines." He then paused for a moment as he said to Li Yan. "My name is Liu Chengyong, I am the leader of the third team of the Battle C Barracks, we might work together in the future." Li Yan felt surprised to hear it. Could it be that everyone in the barracks was so good at talking? But he didn't dare to ask. Seeing this, Li Guoxin answered for Li Yan in a loud voice. "Captain Liu, if this kid is lucky enough to enter the barracks, then whenever there is an errand, please just command." Liu Chengyong heard this and laughed. "Very good, very good!" With that, he returned the guidebook in his hand to Li Guoxin, sidestepped out of the way, and with a wave of his hand let them enter the city. Li Guoxin took the guidebook and put it into his arms, expressing his thanks. After he greeted Li Yan and the three of them hurriedly getting into the cart, he drove and began to slowly walk towards the city gates. But in his heart, he was still marveling at the words of this Captain Liu just now. He was aware that these soldiers were all ruthless men who had spent an unknown number of trips in blood. In addition to dealing with officials, he had never seen them treat anyone like them so politely. At best, they would just let them pass with an "oh", which would be thank goodness. At worse, it's not uncommon for them to find a reason to beat you up. Those who were in trouble would be locked up for a few days. If you don't take out some silver to pay for it, don't want to come out easily. But at this time he also has something in mind, so he no longer thought too much, hurriedly rushed into the city. Watching them enter the city, a soldier beside asked Liu Chengyong curiously. "Captain Liu, why are you so polite to a country boy?" Liu Chengyong glanced at him and said indifferently. "Right now, it's General Hong who has the final say when the army fights a war. But since last time, Military Advisor Ji rescued General Hong in the siege of the enemy, and he also took the head of Meng's deputy general in the thousands of armies as if he were a god, now many things can be decided by Military Advisor Ji for General Hong. And since the last two years, Military Advisor Ji has been going to the training ground to personally test all the enlisted soldiers at every recruitment into the army, especially the ones who are educated..." Speaking of this, he also had a strange look on his face. After all, for each recruitment into the army, although the number of applicants was limited, since the recruitment had a subsidized fee given in advance, there were dozens to hundreds of people who came each time as well. But even then, Military Advisor Ji was testing the body of each person enlisted one by one, as if he was handpicking good soldiers. Although everyone knew about this later, when they thought about it, it was quite tiring and laborious to test one person at a time like this. Military Advisor Ji, however, went to do it without stopping, so everyone still felt it was a bit strange. At this time the soldier next to him interjected. "Yes, yes, I heard that Master Ji is going to select a suitable person to be his successor. Speaking of which, it makes people envious. Master Ji's martial arts are extraordinary, and he's probably the top expert in the jianghu. Otherwise, last time, it would not have been possible to take the head of a general in the midst of thousands of troops and bring back General Hong and his squad of men. If anyone learns such martial arts, then all the places in this world are as accessible as possible." After another soldier looked around, he also lowered his voice and said. "It's a pity that our barracks have also been tested one after another by Master Ji, and there's still no one who can fulfill his requirements. However, I heard that at the beginning of last year, Master Ji chose a suitable disciple from a small team in the Central Military Camp, only that not many people know about this person. A small soldier like him in hundreds of thousands of troops, and there is nothing outstanding, usually in addition to a few people around him, only the squad leader knew him. Later on, he was brought back to the mansion by Military Master Ji to practice. But I heard that since he hadn't studied, and probably couldn't understand the direction of the meridians, he died when he made a mistake while practicing his inner strength." Another soldier interjected in an even smaller voice. "It's true! Some people said they saw his body swollen and black, and his death was horrible, but this also shows the domineering and overwhelming martial arts of Master Ji..." Some of the other soldiers next to him said that they had heard of it, and at the moment, no one was entering or leaving the city here, so a few of them were instead talking to each other. Liu Chengyong swept a dissatisfied glance at this group of soldiers. If not for the fact that these people were his die-hard subordinates, he would have punched them. But he also knew that these people in the barracks actually liked to brag and talk nonsense in private the most. "Shut up! The above are not allowed to say anything about Military Master Ji outside. Do you guys want to cause trouble for me?" After those soldiers heard this, they hurriedly nodded their heads one by one shrinking their necks and responding in succession. "Yes yes yes!" Then they stopped talking about the matter. At this time, another soldier asked strangely, "Captain Liu, why were you so attached to that kid just now? Could it be that he will certainly have a chance to become Master Ji's disciple?" Liu Chengyong's black face reveals a little smile, "That can't be said. I just think that this kid has some insights and is not stupid. From the way he talks later, he should have studied. This is the kind of person that Military Master Ji needs, unlike you guys, who even write your name as 'Turtle' when you receive your pay." When these soldiers heard this, they couldn't help but laugh. It was already good enough for them to be able to write their names. "I'm just casually reminding a few words. Is there a chance? Maybe it's still possible! Alright, you guys continue to be on duty as usual, don't talk nonsense anymore. Be careful of being sued for blackmail and losing your heads without even realizing it." Liu Chengyong still warned. These people can talk nonsense in front of him, but if it is heard by the others it will not be good. These soldiers heard, hurriedly re-stood in line on duty. Just all of them are thinking about Liu Chengyong's behavior in their hearts. It turns out that this guy is spreading the net all over the place, to see if he can catch the big fish in the future.