Select reliable individuals from the refugees to expand the guard, with a quota of five hundred men!
You have three days! Briefly train these men. I only want those who are obedient! The kind who wouldn't flinch even if ordered to their deaths!
In three days, I, this young master, will lead you to pursue the northern army and participate in the Battle of Liang Shidu!
Fang Er announced his orders decisively.
Zhao Hu was somewhat bewildered by this sudden command.
What was his young master up to?
Why was he running off to join the battlefield instead of enjoying himself at home?
Just as he was about to ask for the reason, he saw Fang Er's serious expression and dared not speak.
He took Sun Zhou and Liu Meng to select the men.
Fang Er called Zhao Gang and Ma Shan to discuss some matters in the workshop.
After Zhao Gang and Ma Shan left, he sent Ma Chao back to relay some messages to Hua Niang.
Having done all this, Fang Er then shut himself in the workshop, instructing them not to disturb him.
He intended to create a secret weapon for himself!
Zhao Hu and the others proceeded smoothly.
This was all thanks to the excellent benefits of being in the guard!
Three meals a day, with meat every day!
Two taels of silver every month, with additional rewards for missions!
The young and strong among the refugees had long been looking on enviously, eager to join.
This time, with Fang Er opening the opportunity, the applicants flooded in.
The quota was five hundred, but two thousand people applied.
Zhao Hu looked at the dense crowd of two thousand people, unsure what to do.
He was only a farmer by origin, and had never even been a private soldier. He had no idea how to select and train troops.
Helpless, he knocked on Fang Er's door.
What is it?
Fang Er asked impatiently, looking at a part in his hand.
Young Master, there are too many people applying to join the guard, a full two thousand. I don't know how to select them!
Zhao Hu replied sheepishly.
Gather them on an open space, have them stand one step apart, and select the thousand who can last the longest!
Then, have these thousand people run around the estate! Select the five hundred who can endure the longest!
You need me to teach you this? Go find Zhuzi. Have him be the examiner. Don't bother me with trivial matters!
Fang Er blurted out the selection criteria.
Anyone who has participated in military training in later generations would understand these.
One tests perseverance, the other tests endurance.
Only those who meet these two conditions have the potential for further growth.
Zhuzi, along with his men, was in the fields teaching the refugees how to plow with curved-shaft plows.
Upon hearing Zhao Hu relay Fang Er's request.
His eyes lit up with excitement.
He was a former soldier who had retired due to injury.
During his time with Fang Er, he had been constantly nourished with good food, and his body had long since recovered.
Compared to the peaceful life on the estate, he preferred the thrill of fighting on the battlefield.
Taking on the role of examiner, Zhuzi seemed like a different person.
Standing on the cleared ground from the previous cannon test, he looked at the two thousand strong men before him, filled with passion.
The young master has opened this opportunity, the guard is recruiting. This is your chance!
You must all know the daily treatment of the guard members!
I will say it again: three meals a day, with meat every day! Two taels of silver every month, with additional mission rewards!
However, joining is not as simple as saying you want to!
Now, spread out, front, back, left, right, one person per step, stand straight! I'll see who can last until the end!
Zhuzi announced the selection criteria.
The strong men below straightened up immediately upon hearing this, fearing they would be eliminated.
This opportunity was simply too rare for them.
As long as they were selected, their families' food and drink would be secured!
With a few missions, they might even earn enough for a bride price!
One incense stick.
Two incense sticks.
After half an hour, people slowly began to falter and fall to the ground.
They were dragged away by Zhao Hu and his men.
Then they were ruthlessly told: You are eliminated!
Zhuzi did not give the remaining thousand men any time to rest.
He immediately led them along the newly built road, running laps around the estate.
Zhuzi looked at their condition and was quite satisfied.
These men, having endured the trials of the natural disaster, cherished every opportunity for change even more.
After another hour, the final five hundred were finally selected.
That evening, Fang Er emerged from the workshop.
He looked at the five hundred men holding torches in the open space.
Do not think you have passed just yet. More cruel things await you!
He said this lightly, handing a booklet to Zhuzi and instructing him to train these men according to the requirements in it.
For two days, Fang Er's only requirement was obedience.
With perseverance, endurance, and unconditional obedience.
This team began to take on a basic shape.
Further screening would come later.
The next day, Fang Er once again locked himself in the workshop.
The new guard members began their running drills again.
The explosive packages, stripped of their ceramic shards, were detonated by Zhao Hu and his men nearby, less than five meters away from them.
The rising flames and the rushing airwaves sent them scattering in fear.
Some of the more timid even wet themselves.
But Zhuzi showed them no mercy.
Wielding a whip, he struck anyone who remained on the ground, punctuating his actions with vile curses.
With what right do you think you deserve a life of superiority!
You're already scared by this? A bunch of country bumpkins! Trash!
Damn it, get up! If you don't get up now, go back to work! I don't want cowards here!
Zhuzi cursed and struck, but inwardly, he couldn't help but wonder.
Was his young master going too far with this?
These were refugees, willing to do anything for a meal, but he feared inciting their resentment.
However, as he continued to whip them, he realized that not a single one of them showed any sign of resistance.
They were beaten, but remained silent, got up, and continued to run.
They endured the explosions around their ears.
Suddenly, Zhao Hu and his men charged at the formation on horseback.
Just as they were about to collide, they suddenly pulled back on their reins, causing the warhorses to rear up and then land heavily.
This, too, terrified the new recruits immensely.
Even Zhao Hu and his men felt their hearts pound, fearing they might accidentally kill someone.
Following this, there were other methods used to test and harass the new recruits.
Explosions, cavalry charges, and night raids. For two days, the new recruits felt as if they were living in hell.
When Fang Er appeared before them holding a sniper rifle.
These men stood there blankly, as if their souls had been drained, utterly dishevelled.
Of the five hundred men, only four hundred and fifty remained.
Fifty men could not endure the torment and withdrew.
Fang Er offered no explanation. This was only the beginning.