Chapter 1 Zhang Wei

Zhang Wei was temporarily assigned to the Third Garrison Battalion stationed in Suiyuan City. When General Xu Sr. presided over the diversion of the original Yunzhou armies, and when Ye Tao took over Yunzhou and further divided the troop types in detail, it was impossible to conduct an assessment of the entire army and then divide the main combat troops and garrison troops. Basically, a standard was set: those who met the standard stayed, and those who did not were eliminated. A soldier with considerable combat power like Zhang Wei, even if placed in the main combat cavalry units such as the Iron Cloud Riders or the Soaring Cloud Riders, or in the melee infantry battalion, would be head and shoulders above the rest. In the garrison battalion, at the age of twenty-two, he was already the deputy battalion commander. Logically speaking, although he was serving in the garrison troops, at the level of deputy battalion commander, given his age, as long as there was a vacancy for battalion commander, he would naturally be promoted, and then steadily enter the Yunzhou Command and become a general who had a say in Yunzhou. Serving in the garrison battalion system was actually an opportunity for him.

However, Zhang Wei didn't really care how old he had to be to become a general. He had long understood that as long as his luck wasn't too bad, like getting killed quickly in a battle or during a mission, he would become a general before the age of thirty anyway. Moreover, he also realized that with the adjustment of the fifty Yunzhou battalions, the complete professionalization and specialization of the Yunzhou military forces, and the gradual advancement of the Yunzhou military management regulations, even if he made meritorious service and became a general at this time, he would probably embarrass himself. It was better to give himself some time to make up for his shortcomings in this area. At the same time, although the garrison battalion was also a regular part of the fifty Yunzhou battalions, the eight garrison battalions were always looked down upon by their colleagues in the main combat troops. At several military conferences, the contempt of the officers of the main combat battalions for the garrison battalions made the entire garrison battalion system furious. Zhang Wei almost got into conflict with people from other main combat battalions several times.

When each unit was asked to select elite soldiers and soldiers with special skills to participate in the special operations battalion assessment, unlike the other main combat battalions which held back somewhat, the garrison battalions truly conducted a thorough selection. From the perspective of personal development, although the garrison battalions never felt inferior, and the Command had always treated the garrison battalions equally, even tending to fully arm the eight garrison battalions first in the early stages of reorganization, the garrison battalions' tasks meant that they shouldn't have many opportunities to go to the battlefield. For those capable and ambitious soldiers, this was indeed a limitation. And the special operations battalion would be a good opportunity for these people. Zhang Wei also recommended himself to participate in this selection, not because he didn't value the extremely smooth path to promotion that the garrison battalion system offered him, but for other reasons. On the one hand, the special operations battalion would be equipped with the most outstanding instructors for training and cultivation in various aspects, which could allow him to make up for the knowledge and experience he lacked. On the other hand, he was determined to take the lead in this assessment, overwhelm all the other main combat battalion guys, and win glory for the garrison battalion system. And he was also the highest-ranking officer among all the soldiers participating in the selection.

During the previous physical fitness assessment and individual combat skills assessment, after Zhou Rui announced the standards, Zhang Wei understood that these two assessments were probably not the key. As the deputy battalion commander, he was usually responsible for the training of the Third Garrison Battalion in Suiyuan City. He knew what standards ordinary soldiers could reach and what standards elite soldiers could reach. The standards announced by Zhou Rui and the previously mentioned elimination rate of leaving at most five hundred people were too far apart. Zhou Rui knew that there would definitely be more interesting projects later, so he had reserved some of his strength in the first two assessments, ensuring that his ranking was in the middle, as long as he could pass the two rounds of assessments. He had also thought about giving some pointers on this issue to his colleagues in the garrison battalion system. However, compared to those main combat battalions, although they were all elites in the army, the garrison battalions were indeed at a disadvantage in terms of overall quality. He himself was very confident that he could pass the assessment if he reserved some of his strength, but if others reserved their strength, they might be directly eliminated. In addition, as an officer, he also knew the taboos in the army. Forming cliques from the beginning of the assessment would lead to severe suppression even if he was selected for the special operations battalion in the future. He had seen Zhou Rui's methods these past few days, and he didn't want his military life to be bleak.

"Are you sure you're going to leave five hundred people?" Dai Yun frowned and asked Ye Tao when Zhou Rui organized everyone to draw lots.

Ye Tao shrugged noncommittally and said, "Who knows…" It had been so many years since he had read the *Hunter x Hunter* manga. Although he and Tan Weixin both remembered this setting, they couldn't remember what the elimination rate of the Hunter Association exam was in this exam. Since the assessment didn't allow the use of excessive force, the assessment might focus more on tracking and counter-tracking, and the martial arts competition might become very ritualized later on. Anyone smart enough would probably choose to hand over the other party's required number plate in exchange for being able to escape and retain the opportunity to hunt for the number plates of other weaker people. Otherwise, there would be nowhere to cry if they were injured. And in the assessment, since there was no requirement for everyone to act independently, the cooperation of small teams might also become quite critical. In addition, there was the wilderness survival project. Although it was indeed a bit cruel to conduct this kind of assessment this season, according to Zhou Rui, these people were completely fine and should be able to get through it. And the problem was how to hunt for the number plates they needed while avoiding being hunted, and how to deal with so many people who were ready to take advantage… At least from the eyes of everyone who was drawing lots now, it seemed that many people had already decided to casually knock down three people to complete their six points. Under these circumstances, Ye Tao and Dai Yun both understood that let alone five hundred people, it would be good if two hundred people were left after this assessment.

"Like the Blood Kirin Army in the beginning, the main role of this first batch of people to build the army is to establish standards for later generations. The standards for assessment, the standards for training, the selection of various equipment, and so on. Is it okay to screen out so many people at once?" Dai Yun asked. She also understood that the special operations battalion should have high standards and strict requirements, but if so many people were screened out in the first time, it might not be very beneficial for the establishment of the special operations battalion's standards. Moreover, although such assessment projects were indeed very comprehensive, they also had a very large degree of randomness and could easily eliminate some capable soldiers.

"So Zhou Rui didn't say that he would personally supervise the whole process?" Ye Tao said with a smile, "He's going to assess those people. These past few days, he has a good idea of ​​these people. Some people, even if they don't get six points, he will come up with a reason to keep them. It seems that there will definitely not be five hundred people, but ensuring about three hundred people should still be more appropriate, right? A three-to-one elimination rate, do you think that's appropriate for a unit like the special operations battalion?"

Dai Yun nodded and said with some relief, "Three to one is about right. Three hundred people, add those martial artists, plus a period of training, they can be sent out on any mission… to practice."

Ye Tao chuckled and said, "Yeah, the special operations battalion can't be trained by training alone, it still has to rely on them to constantly go on missions. Governor Dai, who are you planning to send the special operations battalion out to harm first?"

"Lord Ye, let's discuss this at length. There really isn't an enemy around Yunzhou that is worthy of the special operations battalion's attention. Although I really want to send the special operations battalion to Xiling to play around, but when I think that Xiling has already been harmed by you to that extent, I really can't bear it."

Occasionally using official titles such as Governor Dai and Lord Ye had become one of the ways Ye Tao and Dai Yun teased each other. The affairs of Yunzhou were actually controlled by the family with more members, including Ye Tao, Tan Weixin, and Dai Yun. Public affairs and private affairs were sometimes not so easy to distinguish. Talking about relaxed things with serious titles, or talking about official business with close private titles, could probably be regarded as a way for them to constantly adjust their mood and reduce psychological pressure.

Just as Ye Tao and Dai Yun were teasing each other, the soldiers had completed the lottery. When drawing each person's number plate, everyone waited quietly, paying attention to each person's number, and trying to remember each person's number. And when everyone took turns walking into that extremely simple tent to draw their target, everyone waited, deducing who they had drawn from the expressions on everyone's faces, whether they were looking for their target in the presence of everyone, and whether they were exchanging information with their friends and partners from the same unit. Everyone who walked out of the tent tried to look expressionless, trying not to let anyone notice who their target was… The assessment had actually already begun when they drew their number plates.

Zhang Wei looked extremely indifferent. The number he drew was number nine, and his target's number was number three hundred and seventeen. He happened to remember that the owner of this number was a young man from a Yunzhou tribe in the Jingyun Riders, a guy without much cunning. Seeing that his target was such a guy, Zhang Wei was a little embarrassed to bully him.

Just do a good deed… Zhang Wei finally consoled himself this way. The tribal lad with excellent physical fitness and superb individual skills should find it difficult to cope with the environment where the special operations battalion needs to think and make decisions all the time. Rather than suffering after entering the special operations battalion, it would be better to send him back now to develop well in the Jingyun Riders, which is a very promising place. The rules said that you can't take action against the target for a period of time after departure, but it didn't say that you can't take action before departure. Zhang Wei walked towards a colleague from the First Garrison Battalion stationed in Ningyuan, and "accidentally" bumped into that big guy number three hundred and seventeen on the way. It was normal for a large crowd of people to bump into each other. The two seemed to not care much, glared at each other, and then passed by. And Zhang Wei, at this moment, had already pocketed the number plate clipped in the belt of number three hundred and seventeen, without anyone knowing. The garrison battalion still had its own characteristics. They were originally the garrison troops in various places, and they usually had to be responsible for maintaining public order, so they had to deal with people from all walks of life. Zhang Wei had learned the skill of picking pockets from a habitual thief.

However, although no other soldiers noticed, Zhang Wei's extreme concentration of attention and energy in the moment before he made his move had already attracted Zhou Rui's attention. When he turned his head, he happened to see Zhang Wei's agile and hidden action.

Zhou Rui felt that this kid was really interesting, but it seemed that letting him pass so easily would make him feel a little unhappy. He smiled wickedly and decided to give Zhang Wei a hard time.

After everyone had drawn their targets, Zhou Rui stood on the high ground again and shouted to everyone, "Check your number plates, everyone. Then let's set off. Start timing now, no action is allowed within two hours. Gather here in seven days!"

Zhang Wei was startled, but he still walked slowly towards the woods without showing any emotion. He clearly heard the conversation between the tribal big guy number three hundred and seventeen behind him and Zhou Rui:

“…Report sir, my number plate is lost. I can't find it." Then there was a burst of laughter from everyone.

"So careless. Here's another one for you. What's your number again."

"Three hundred and seventeen."

“…Here, don't do it again. The original one is invalid. I've marked this number plate."

"Thank you, sir."

Zhang Wei frowned, but he continued walking without showing any emotion. He suddenly thought that Zhou Rui usually spoke softly, so why did he say these few words so clearly and loudly? Could it be for him to hear?

You're screwing me over… Zhang Wei thought through gritted teeth. However, he didn't dare to have any opinions. Being screwed over by a superior was sometimes a kind of treatment and opportunity. He was also an officer, and he understood.

After the soldiers participating in the assessment had chosen their direction of departure and gradually disappeared, Ye Tao and Dai Yun also crawled into the wide and tall tent. This was probably the largest military tent that could be used at present. The frame of the tent and the outer tent curtain made of two layers of canvas and felt had to be loaded with two four-wheeled carriages. It took twenty soldiers almost an hour to set up the tent. This size of tent was intended to be equipped for the central army battalion in the future, as a command tent in the field. And now, in the tent used by Ye Tao and Dai Yun, there were many kinds of furniture that could make life more comfortable. Even the marching bed that all the officers hated, after being redesigned by Ye's Workshop, was much better to lie on than the original hard thing.