Chapter 6, Do Not Treat Me as a Human Being
The new recruits, who had not eaten, nodded like chicks pecking at rice, feeling that what the officer said was indeed very reasonable
Do not treat me as a human, and I will not treat you as humans either
Looking at the new recruits sprawled haphazardly all over the training ground, Meng Hu's lips curled into a cold sneer once again. As a veteran who had crawled out from a pile of corpses, he had plenty of ways to deal with these rookies. After all, when he was a new recruit, wasn't he also subjected to the same treatment by the veterans?
A loud shout suddenly erupted from beneath the reviewing stand, as someone could no longer contain themselves
Would you like to eat
The veterans maintaining order turned around one after another, casting pitying glances at the new recruits on the training ground. They were all veterans brought out by Meng Hu, and they knew that Meng Hu's words were not mere talk. During their time in the Fierce Tiger Squad, these veterans had been thoroughly dealt with by Meng Hu, and now the new recruits were in trouble.
Meng Hu pointed at the new recruits who were well-fed and lying on the ground basking in the sun, and then said, "They are also new recruits who just joined the army, and they also ran to that hill. Why is it that they can be well-fed and satisfied, while you have to go hungry?"
Meng Hu let out a low grunt, his murderous aura sweeping across the entire training ground as he growled fiercely, "Who else dares to come up?"
The same principle applies in the military: your rations can only be fought for and seized by yourselves. No one's stomach is more precious than another's. If you wish to fill your stomachs, you must rely on yourselves! Although I am your commander, I too cannot decide who gets to eat their fill and who goes hungry.
Before the sound of the shout had faded, a strong figure had already leaped into the air, diving straight towards Meng Hu on the reviewing stand. A fleeting chill of inexplicable intensity crossed Meng Hu's eyes; he truly did not expect that there would be such a bold hero among the new recruits. However, mere courage was far from sufficient. To challenge his authority with such limited skills was somewhat overestimating oneself.
In the depths of winter, Meng Hu was clad in a thin overcoat, his muscular arms exposed to the biting cold wind. His booming voice echoed across the training ground like thunder, causing the eardrums of the new recruits in the front row to ache, while those standing in the back could also hear his voice clearly
Although Meng Hu's kick was heavy, it was executed with great precision
"No one dares to come up?" Meng Hu mocked, "See, you are nothing but a bunch of sheep, worthless!"
I am here
On the parade ground, the new recruits of the Fifth Regiment have assembled, and Meng Hu is delivering a speech
The two rotating veterans suddenly revealed sinister smiles, quickly stepping forward to hoist the unfortunate soul up onto the flagpole. Their movements were exceptionally swift, indicating that they had frequently engaged in such tormenting activities in the past. After all, what could be done? They were veterans from the Fierce Tiger Squad.
In the eyes of this commander, you are nothing but a group of sheep, weak and easily deceived
My name is Meng Hu, and I am your commander
There are many tasks to be accomplished, but the most important is to awaken the primal instincts within them. The reason Meng Hu established the rule of "competing for food" in his regiment was to awaken the most primitive beastly nature of these farmers. The law of the jungle, where the weak are preyed upon by the strong and the fittest survive, has always been an ironclad rule of this world. For an army to become strong, it must naturally adhere to this rule.
Many new recruits began to exhibit a change in their expressions after listening to Meng Hu's speech, with a menacing glint emerging in their eyes
In the military, the quartermaster can allocate rations to you, ensuring fairness; however, when it comes to the battlefield, can the quartermaster decide your fate? Can he determine who lives and who dies among you? If the quartermaster sends you to your death while others survive, would you consider that fair?
As Meng Hu waved his hand, the on-duty veterans and the cook had already brought dozens of large barrels and several large baskets onto the review platform. The barrels contained porridge, while the baskets were filled with cornmeal buns. The fragrant aroma of the porridge and buns immediately captured the attention of the new recruits. Just moments ago, they had been exhausted, resembling dead dogs, but now they all scrambled to get up. If it weren't for Meng Hu standing on the platform, they would have rushed up in a frenzy to snatch the food.
About half an hour later, the remaining recruits gradually returned. However, at this point, there was not a single drop left, not even of the porridge; as for the cornmeal buns, they were completely gone. The first thousand or so recruits who had returned were well-fed and satisfied, each one lying on the parade ground basking in the sun
"You refuse to accept it, do you?" Meng Hu's gaze swept across the training ground like a blade, and he shouted fiercely, "Alright, I am standing right here. If any of you have the guts, feel free to come and try. If anyone can defeat me, I will take back everything I just said, kneel down and call him 'grandfather,' and even let him take my position as the commander. How about that?"
Having patted his backside, Meng Hu was about to turn and leave when he suddenly caught sight of a new recruit still lying on the training ground, unable to distinguish east from west even after the fall. He couldn't help but snort disdainfully from his nostrils and shouted at the duty veteran: "Hang this fellow up on the flagpole and let him go hungry for three days. How dare he challenge my authority as the commander? This is outrageous, hm!"
The new recruits were initially taken aback, and after a moment of dazed silence, they finally came to their senses. Then, they erupted into a thunderous cheer and swarmed towards the reviewing stand, rushing eagerly towards the porridge and steamed buns. A few unfortunate ones, hurrying up the stairs, accidentally missed a step and fell to the ground, immediately being trampled underfoot, crying out in pain, yet no one paid them any attention
Um ... ...
Starting today, I, the commander, will establish some rules for you. In my Tiger Brigade, those who lack ability will go hungry. If you want to fill your stomach, you can, but you must roll up your sleeves and fight for it, seize it! If you can't seize it, then it's because you lack ability, and you deserve to go hungry! I can pity you and provide you with food, but when you are on the battlefield, will your enemies pity you? Will they cut off their own heads and give them to you out of pity?
The new recruits under the reviewing stand shouted in unison, rushing like a swarm towards that hill.
The new recruits looked eagerly at Meng Hu, who suddenly shouted unexpectedly, "Are you waiting for that group of sheep behind to come back and compete with you? You bunch of foolish sheep!"
... ...
"Having joined the Fierce Tiger Brigade, your good days are over. From today onwards, you must all obey me. If I tell you to go east, you cannot go west; if I tell you to climb the mountain, you are not allowed to go into the water. In short, you are nothing but a group of livestock, and this commander will deal with you as he sees fit. You have no right to resist and can only comply obediently."
For all the soldiers of the Western Legion, the Hexi Canyon can be considered a place of sorrow. Three years ago, the Fourth Division was encircled here by three divisions of the Mingyue Empire, resulting in the complete destruction of the entire army. This devastating defeat even shook the entire empire, leading to the disbandment of the Fourth Division, which was opportunistically carried out by Minister of Military Affairs Ye Haotian.
The Hexi Fortress tightly controls the Hexi Gorge, and together with the northern Tianlang Fortress, they are known as the two great strongholds of the western frontier of the Empire
A sudden intake of breath arose from beneath the reviewing stand, as all the new recruits looked on with astonishment. It was only then that they recalled their commander had slain the renowned enemy general Situ Biao amidst thousands of troops. Such a fierce warrior was beyond the match of these mere foot soldiers.
Let this officer tell you. Meng Hu shouted fiercely, "There has never been such a thing as fairness in this world. Some people can live in luxury, enjoying fine food and drink every day, while others cannot even fill their stomachs, lacking a place to live; some have numerous beautiful wives and concubines at home, changing partners every night, while others cannot even find a wife. During the day, they have nothing to do, and at night, they are equally idle. Is this fair? Nonsense! Nonsense!"
Almost all the new recruits returning to the training ground responded with a roar, each looking at Meng Hu with eager eyes, wishing he would immediately give the order to serve food. Speaking of which, the 4th Division is truly not a place for humans to stay. They have been here for several days already, yet they have not had a single full meal. Each person receives only half a bowl of thin porridge and two steamed buns per meal. How is that enough?
Do you think it is unfair, right
As noon approached, new recruits gradually returned to the training ground. After a long run of several dozen miles, these recruits were utterly exhausted, lying down on the ground as soon as they arrived, stretching their legs out in a manner that suggested they would not get up again even if they were beaten. They seemed indifferent to whatever happened next.
However, it is regrettable that Meng Hu will no longer return to his original world, and he will not see the superior who once "tormented" him.
You will surely find it unfair, for on the battlefield, your life and death can only be determined by yourself, and you alone must fight for it, because every life is a life, and no life is more precious than another. In this world, no one has the power to decide the life or death of another.
All the new recruits displayed expressions of indignation, each one a spirited young man. Who would be willing to be looked down upon and treated like a fool? And who would want to be treated like livestock at the whim of others? Even if you are an officer, you should not bully people in this manner
I want!
Meng Hu's expression gradually became ferocious, and suddenly he shouted in a stern voice: "Then why don't you tell me, how do you write the two characters for fairness?"
The words spoken by Meng Hu are cold and cruel, even exuding a stark and bloody scent
Three days later, the location of the 4th Division of the Hexi Fortress.
Are you a bunch of foolish sheep with rusted brains? You are soldiers now, not farmers!
Meng Hu then said: "Do you think that they should wait for you to come back before having a meal together, allowing the cook to serve each of you a small bowl of porridge and two steamed buns? Since other units do it this way, we should do the same; that is what is called fairness, right?"
How can this group of farmers, who have just put down their tools, be transformed into cold-blooded killing machines
Meng Hu's cold reprimand continued unabated
The recruits wanted to laugh, but found themselves unable to do so, as if a stone were lodged in their hearts, causing a feeling of suffocation.
Meng Hu's smirk deepened at the corners of his mouth as he loudly asked, "Are you hungry?"
However, is this not the nature of war? War has always been the dirtiest and ugliest game in this world. Soldiers have always been the coldest and most ruthless profession. As a soldier, fighting and killing are their missions. As a commander, Meng Hu must do everything possible to train the soldiers into cold-blooded killing machines
The new recruits exchanged glances, not daring to speak.
Meng Hu stood on the reviewing platform, arms crossed, towering like a small mountain
Under the reviewing stand, there was a profound silence, so quiet that a falling needle could be heard. Meng Hu asked three times in succession, yet no one dared to respond. Finally, he pointed to a distant mountain peak and shouted: "Very well, since you all admit you are sheep, now do as I say. Do you see that mountain peak? Everyone, march forward! You are not allowed to return to the barracks until you reach the peak!"
Meng Hu's second sentence nearly caused the recruits to choke on their own saliva
So what are you all waiting for
Hungry
... ...
The remaining more than 3,000 people, however, were in dire straits. They had not eaten a single grain of rice from morning until now, and were already so hungry that their eyes were gleaming with desperation. These unfortunate souls looked pitifully at Meng Hu on the reviewing stand, hoping that the commander would grant them a morsel of food. However, they were soon disappointed, for the expression on Meng Hu's face was nothing but coldness.
is not
Many new recruits who returned late or failed to secure their meals nodded repeatedly
Before the new recruit could reach him, Meng Hu shouted loudly and delivered a powerful kick, striking the recruit squarely in the chest. There was a muffled thud, and the recruit, who had lunged forward, was sent flying backward at an even greater speed, crashing heavily to the ground. He was momentarily dazed, unable to regain his senses for quite some time.
When he uttered the last three words, Meng Hu was almost roaring loudly, resembling an enraged tiger, with fierce light flashing in his eyes. The parade ground was silent as a grave; although the new recruits felt indignant in their hearts, Meng Hu was, after all, their commanding officer, and they truly did not dare to challenge his authority.