Chapter 211 – Exterminate Bandits, Kill or Capture (1)
Nong Qin looked steadfastly at Jiang Pengji, kneeling straight on both knees, her shoulder wound still oozing blood and sticking to her clothes.
“Please, Young Master, teach me!”
Jiang Pengji regarded Nong Qin with a smile that was neither one nor the other, making her feel all kinds of awkward with every glance.
After a lengthy pause, she said, “What do you think I could possibly teach you?”
Nong Qin was taken aback, not understanding her meaning.
Jiang Pengji continued, “You have the perseverance to train hard, a spirit that refuses to yield, and with these, you are already enough. What I can teach you is only how to maximize your strengths and how to strengthen your body; the rest you’ll have to rely on yourself.”
Indeed, women have physiological disadvantages, but that doesn’t mean they are weak.
In Jiang Pengji’s world, the Federation’s military is generally divided into fourteen legions, with the legion commander being the highest command officer, directly appointed by the Grand Marshal. Each legion has different responsibilities, such as the Seventh Legion that Jiang Pengji leads, which belongs to the first-tier combat legions.
One could say that apart from the Grand Marshal, the legion commanders are the pinnacle of power and influence.
In Jiang Pengji’s generation, there were eight female legion commanders and six male ones.
The Federation respects the strong, disregarding gender.
Who can say that those female legion commanders are weaker just because they are women compared to the six male commanders?
In fact, Jiang Pengji’s personal combat capability could firmly place her among the top three legion commanders.
Physiology is not absolute; it all depends on the will to grow stronger.
“If others are stronger than you, then learn to strike faster. If others are faster than you, then learn to deliver a devastating blow. If others have better physical attributes, then study military strategy and how to lead troops into battle. Your eyes should never focus on your weaknesses, and there’s no need to compare your weaknesses with others’ strengths; that is unnecessary.”
With every word Jiang Pengji spoke, Nong Qin’s heart raced uncontrollably, as if something was about to break free from its cocoon.
Jiang Pengji said, “Get up. You came to me for instruction; I should at least teach you something.”
Nong Qin stood up, her knees covered in dirt.
“I’ll come to the farm every day for a while; what you learn will depend on yourself,” Jiang Pengji said, raising her hand to check Nong Qin’s limbs, her expression serious. “The state of your muscles and bones is acceptable and has room for improvement. After training, do you receive massages?”
The massage regimen Jiang Pengji provided was not simple; it was designed for military academy students, maximizing training effects, stimulating muscle nerve activity, reducing the aftereffects of previous training, achieving efficiency that surpasses expectations.
Over time, even those slightly younger could experience renewed development and effectively enhance their physical qualities.
Nong Qin’s face flushed as she whispered, “Yes, the chief instructor sees me suffering from hard training and specifically had the matrons of the farm learn to help me.”
Though that all-over massage was quite embarrassing, the effects were indeed significant.
Her muscles felt sore and swollen, like having taken a long hot bath.
She thought she would be too worn out to get up the next day, but surprisingly, after a good night’s sleep, her limbs were only slightly sore.
This level of fatigue didn’t affect her training at all.
Jiang Pengji chuckled lightly and praised, “Meng Hunyun is quite attentive. Go tend to your shoulder wound and apply some medicine.”
Nong Qin respectfully acknowledged.
“In half a month, isn’t it time for the selection of squad leaders?”
Jiang Pengji glanced at her previously established regulations and confirmed that the selection occurred monthly.
Meng Hunyun replied, “Yes, Young Master.”
“Nong Qin will participate as well. Notify everyone; whoever loses to her will have to wash the clothes of the unit.”
Meng Hunyun stared blankly and asked, “Although Nong Qin works hard, winning against others…”
Simply the size alone put her at a disadvantage.
Jiang Pengji spoke meaningfully, “It’s not impossible to win.”
No one knew better than her how to kill a person in the shortest amount of time.
Even in a disadvantaged position, one could take the enemy’s life!
Since she was teaching Nong Qin, how could she not teach some practical skills?
Meng Hunyun felt a chill run down his spine, instinctively sensing something was off, yet he couldn’t quite articulate why.
Cangzhou, one of Dongqing’s six states and twenty-one counties, had convenient trade routes to the north, with dense connections to the northern frontier. The exchange of goods between the two regions attracted many merchants, boosting the local economy and making Cangzhou a prosperous part of Dongqing.
However, that vibrant scene was now but a memory. Cangzhou today lay shrouded in a sense of desolation and despair, with intermittent bandits robbing passing merchants. The once-bustling trade routes lost their former glory, with ragged commoners slumped by the roadside.
Occasionally, ranks of soldiers in Meng Clan uniforms could be seen patrolling with rifles, their expressions somber as they inspected hurried, suspicious pedestrians, secretly withholding property and taking the opportunity to bully the common folk, seizing merchants’ goods and extorting them.
Exiting and entering Cangzhou, especially around Meng County, had heavy military presence guarding each checkpoint due to the bandits’ raids. The displaced common people lingered at the city gates, a few at a time, clad in tattered, outdated clothes, looking gaunt and emaciated, their eyes resigned to vacancy.
“Damn these… beasts!”
Avoiding those soldiers, an old beggar, gray-haired, concealed his face as he wept, cradling a painfully thin child in his arms.
Upon closer inspection, the child’s complexion was ashen, with multiple bruises dotting the face, eyes tightly closed and breathing ceased.
The child was a foundling the old beggar had picked up, raised for twelve years, hoping for a companion in his later years. But when his grandson, hungry, stealthily went out to beg, he accidentally dirtied a Meng Clan soldier’s shoe and was beaten to death on the spot.
Was this protecting Dongqing and safeguarding the common people?
Clearly, they were a pack of wolves in human skin, demons emerging from hell!
“What are you cursing about, you old beast!”
A soldier with sharp ears heard some sounds and swaggered forward, scolding.
The old beggar, with nothing to lose, spat at the soldier, “I curse you beasts!”
In just a moment, a splash of blood spattered on the ground, the old beggar lying next to the lifeless body of the little beggar, punctured with several holes.
The nearby vagrants had grown numb, their eyes like wooden beads pressed down, unmoving, resembling wooden dolls.
At that moment, a crisp sound of hooves approached from outside the city gate.
The guards, once arrogant, suddenly turned servile and respectful, bowing low and smiling obsequiously.
The rider ignored the disordered common people and galloped straight in.
“I have urgent matters to report to the governor! Quick, let me through!”
The rider’s eyes were bloodshot, veins prominent, their face smeared with layers of dull oil, hair unkempt, appearance haggard, making it clear they had been riding hard for days and hadn’t even had time to tidy up.
