Section 2, Budding (2)

"Wherever it is, it is all about mutual learning; there is no need to take it to heart. In the future, we will all be brothers," Wu Feng said warmly as he walked over and shook hands with Liang Chongxin.

At the recruitment station next to the Arc de Triomphe, it was already a sea of people. The Empire has always placed great importance on military achievements, especially in recent decades, as the Empire has faced repeated setbacks in foreign wars, significantly affecting its prestige among the various nations on the continent. The current Emperor is particularly intent on reshaping the image of the Empire, offering substantial rewards to those with military accomplishments. However, the Empire imposes strict requirements on commoners and free citizens who wish to enter politics, making promotions relatively more difficult compared to the military. After all, once one is on the battlefield, as long as one possesses courage and insight, opportunities abound. Therefore, the lower and middle classes are quite eager to join the military.

Kang Jianguo stood there, his face full of shame, not knowing what to do. Wu Feng inserted his gun into the ground, walked over, and picked up the knife to hand it to him. Only then did Kang Jianguo seem to awaken from a dream and bow to Wu Feng. "I have been arrogant and ignorant of my own limitations. Please punish me, Captain."

Seeing that Wufeng had won, he remained exceptionally humble, which was in stark contrast to the arrogant demeanor often exhibited by other aristocratic families he had encountered. Liang Chongxin and all the soldiers were somewhat moved, and there was no longer any reason for them to doubt him. In this way, Wufeng demonstrated his strength through facts, and his humble nature, despite his victory, earned him the respect of the entire squad. He quickly established authority within the second squad, and no one dared to regard him as a mere child any longer. Thus, Wufeng proved his strength through facts, and his humble quality, despite his victory, won the respect of the entire squad, allowing him to quickly establish authority within the second squad, where no one dared to see him as a child anymore

Wufeng's words immediately stirred up a great commotion among the soldiers. After all, he was just a young kid; defeating him could lead to the possibility of becoming a squad leader. Even if they couldn't become a squad leader, they could at least aim for a sub-leader position. And if they lost, it wouldn't matter much, as he had already made a public vow and could not go back on his word. The soldiers couldn't help but look at each other, each feeling a sense of eagerness to try their luck.

Wufeng glanced at the conscription requirements outside the tent. This conscription primarily aimed to reinforce several divisions of the Imperial City Guard Corps in response to the increasingly severe situation. Since the City Guard Corps is stationed within the capital and its suburbs, the enthusiasm of the capital's citizens to enlist is notably higher

Upon learning of his appointment as squad leader, Li Wufeng could not help but feel a surge of excitement within him, as this marked the first step towards the path he had chosen. However, the road ahead was not smooth. Generally speaking, it is quite difficult for a new recruit to be promoted directly to an officer, let alone leapfrogging the position of team leader to become a squad leader, especially considering that Li Wufeng was not yet seventeen years old. With a squad consisting of five teams and thirty-five members, whether he could truly establish himself within the squad and earn the trust of all team members remained to be tested. Moreover, there would undoubtedly be many individuals in the team, particularly some veterans and those who considered themselves capable, who would present challenges to him. Rather than waiting passively, it would be better to address the issues directly and resolve them openly. With this thought in mind, a confident smile appeared on Li Wufeng's face.

The opponent was equally unyielding, using the left shield for defense and advancing boldly. With a thrust of the spear, he aimed at the lower body of his opponent. The adversary did not back down either, pressing down with the left shield, executing the movement cleanly and decisively. With a resounding "clang!", both retreated a step. Wu Feng secretly acknowledged the opponent's considerable strength, unaware that this single thrust had left nearly everyone present in astonishment. This Kang Jianguo was a standout among the new recruits of the entire Third Division, yet he was actually pushed back by Wu Feng's spear striking the shield. It is important to note that the iron shield was significantly heavier than the spear, making a light strike against a heavy object. Moreover, the shield was braced against the arm, representing a substantial portion of one's body strength, making it a fair match. The evident disparity in strength was striking, and this individual was already considered an elite among the recruits.

The imperial law stipulates that all males aged between sixteen and forty-five may join the military. However, once enlisted, they cannot withdraw from the military without the approval of the military department, or they will be treated as deserters. Due to the large population of the empire, there is an ample supply of recruits, thus a conscription system is adopted. Many lower and middle-class individuals view joining the military as a means to change their fate, although opportunities are scarce. The empire is characterized by a strict hierarchical system, categorizing its citizens into several ranks. The first rank is the royal family, which refers to the emperor's direct relatives and close kin. The second rank consists of the gentry, or upper nobility, which includes those who have been granted titles by the emperor due to military achievements or political contributions, as well as the descendants of imperial meritorious subjects who inherit their titles.

The Arc de Triomphe is one of the largest and most important buildings in the entire imperial capital. The Arc serves as a symbol of the empire, and many significant government institutions and buildings are located nearby. Next to the Arc, military flags flutter in the breeze, and several military tents are set up alongside.

Ladies and gentlemen, before we take our respective places, allow me to introduce myself. From now on, we will be brothers fighting and living together, and I hope everyone can support my work. My name is Li Wufeng, I am seventeen years old, from Zhongzhou, and I will be your squad leader from now on

Without saying a word, he simply smiled at him. The man from the illustration appeared somewhat hesitant, but ultimately seemed unable to withstand the pressure of the crowd's gaze, and stepped forward, performing a salute. "I am Sergeant Liang Chongxin, the leader of the first squad of the second team. I humbly request your guidance, my lord". His tone was noticeably more polite than before.

Liang Chongxin's defeat was not unexpected, as he had been mentally prepared for failure from the very beginning. To have persisted for this long, the loss was not too disgraceful, and he had done his best to honor everyone involved. The opponent had clearly held back, showing mercy, while he himself had been oblivious to the situation, which was quite ungrateful. After offering a salute, Liang Chongxin respectfully said, "I have lost, thank you for your mercy, my lord."

After completing three months of basic training as a new recruit, Wufeng received unanimous praise from the training officers for his impressive performance during the exercises. Coupled with his noble lineage, Wufeng was swiftly appointed as the squad leader of the second team in the third squad of the newly formed fifth battalion of the fourth regiment of the Imperial City Guard Corps.

Wufeng then shifted the tone of his speech. "Perhaps everyone is thinking that this hairless fellow must be a relative of someone important, having nothing better to do than come to the army for some gilding. However, I do not know why he ended up at the very bottom. I can candidly clarify to everyone that I, Li Wufeng, come from a noble family, but I certainly did not rely on any so-called connections to make a living. As the saying goes, 'Whether it is a mule or a horse, let’s take it out for a walk.' I am not yet your captain. If anyone doubts my abilities, I welcome your corrections. Here, we are at the grassroots level of the army, where what matters is the ability to kill the enemy. I now swear on my personal honor that I will never hold a grudge or seek revenge against anyone who challenges me, regardless of victory or defeat. If I violate this, may heaven and earth punish me. If anyone defeats me, I will recommend them to my superiors to take my place as captain, and I will serve as an ordinary soldier.

Kang Jianguo felt a deep sense of frustration within himself. His entire left arm was numb from the impact, rendering it nearly useless. However, he was now in a situation where retreat was not an option, and he had to press on with determination. Shaking his left shield, Kang Jianguo executed a quick roll forward, reaching Wufeng in an instant. He swung his knife down fiercely at Wufeng's legs. Wufeng, having anticipated this move, stepped back, angled his spear to deflect the deadly strike, and then thrust his spear upward, aiming directly at his opponent's throat. Kang Jianguo dodged by turning his head, pushing his iron shield forward to deliver a powerful blow to Wufeng's chest, while simultaneously retracting his knife for defense. Wufeng used the shaft of his spear to parry the strike from the iron shield, then retreated two steps, thrusting his spear straight at Kang Jianguo's right hand that held the knife. Kang Jianguo positioned the blade of his knife against Wufeng's spear, and Wufeng pressed down, applying a twisting force. Kang Jianguo felt an overwhelming strength emanating from Wufeng's hand, and he could no longer maintain his grip on the knife, which was sent flying over a yard away by the force of the spear.

After waiting for a full two hours, it was finally Li Wufeng's turn to register. When he handed his identification to the middle-aged officer in charge of registration, the officer glanced at the ID, then looked at Li Wufeng with a look of surprise. He carefully examined the identification again before asking Li Wufeng to provide his name, age, place of origin, and other relevant information as required. Li Wufeng understood why the officer was surprised; it was rare for someone from a noble background to join the military at such a grassroots level. They usually entered the military through various connections and channels to reach the military agencies or higher echelons. It was indeed uncommon for someone like Li Wufeng to directly enlist at the recruitment office. After a brief visual assessment and physical examination, the recruitment office quickly made the decision to accept him into the service. Thus, Li Wufeng became a new recruit in the Third Division of the Imperial City Guard Corps.

There is another class of people who, although not recognized by the imperial law, exist widely in every corner of the empire; these are the slaves, a significant number of whom live at the very bottom of society. Many of these individuals come from war captives, criminals, or those who have fallen into slavery due to debt, as well as their descendants. The imperial law stipulates that for a slave to become a free citizen, the master must provide the original identification proof of the slave, request the release, and pay a certain fee for identity registration to the local government. The local government must confirm the release of the slave status for it to take effect. The emperor of the empire has the authority to directly grant the release of slave status.

Some enlightened individuals within the empire have recognized the drawbacks of this situation and have reported this issue to the emperors throughout history. However, since this involves the interests of the gentry, every time this issue is raised, it meets with strong opposition from the upper nobility of the empire. Most high-ranking officials and nobles in the empire come from the gentry, so such proposals have all come to naught. Wufeng recalls a discussion he had with his master about a topic: what is the most important ability for someone who achieves great things? They ultimately concluded that it is neither martial prowess, nor high moral standing, nor unparalleled strategy, but rather the ability to select the worthy and appoint the capable, to recognize and utilize talent, and to possess a broad-mindedness that can embrace all rivers and a spirit that can conquer the world. However, the system of the empire stifles many talents, leading many who are unwilling to live in obscurity for their entire lives to prefer to venture to foreign lands in search of development. These individuals, due to their understanding of the internal situation of the empire, even pose a threat to the empire itself.

The gazes of several veterans were directed towards the first person on the left, a man who was one or two years older than Kang Jianguo. Although he was not as well-built as Kang Jianguo, his demeanor clearly surpassed that of these new recruits.

Having neutralized Liang Chongxin's technique, Wufeng lunged forward, his right hand wielding the broadsword aimed directly at the opponent's head. The opponent parried the strike, and the halberd was swung down diagonally. Wufeng raised his shield to block, then thrust his sword forward fiercely. The opponent dodged to evade, and the halberd thrust upward sharply towards Wufeng's abdomen. Wufeng stepped back to avoid this fierce attack, but the opponent seized the opportunity for another diagonal strike, the halberd's edge pressing directly against Wufeng's side. Seeing the opponent's ferocity, Wufeng decided not to retreat any further; otherwise, the opponent's momentum would only increase. Instead of retreating, he advanced, using his iron shield to deflect the opponent's halberd while delivering a vicious horizontal slash with his right-hand sword.

Wufeng glanced at the man who had leaped out, appearing to be around twenty-three or twenty-four years old. He was robust and strong, with a broad face and forehead. He held a shield in his left hand and a sword in his right, exuding the aura of a hero capable of slaying tigers. After Wufeng received a salute from him, he took two steps back to wait for Wufeng. Wufeng casually picked up the long spear from a nearby soldier holding a gun and said, "Come on!"

Wufeng stood in front of the entire squad, calmly giving a brief self-introduction. The soldiers below displayed a mixture of surprise, defiance, and jealousy on their faces, yet they maintained silence, for the military discipline of the Empire was strict. Those who showed contempt for their superiors would be dealt with according to military law

Please. Wu Feng spoke little, and it seemed that Liang Chongxin's strength was significantly superior to that of the previous one. Liang Chongxin raised the spear in his hand and slowly walked out of the formation, while Wu Feng took the iron shield and wooden knife that Kang Jianguo had previously used from the hands of a nearby soldier

The surrounding soldiers could not help but whisper among themselves. Just moments ago, Wu Feng had easily defeated Kang Jianguo, who wielded a knife and shield, suggesting that Wu Feng was skilled in pole weapons such as spears and halberds. Now, facing an opponent armed with a spear, he had switched to a knife and shield. Could it be that he is proficient in both long and short weapons? If that is the case, it is likely that Liang Chongxin would not fare much better than Kang Jianguo. With little confidence to begin with, Liang Chongxin's expression grew even more serious. Well, he thought, I will do my best; at least that way I will not let down the goodwill of my brothers.

"I have long said that everyone is welcome to offer corrections. You have committed no wrongdoing, so how can there be punishment?" This statement decisively defeated the challenger and immediately silenced almost everyone. Each person began to weigh their own abilities, questioning whether they could so easily defeat Kang Jianguo and how capable they truly were. Everyone was well aware of their own strengths, and the team fell into a profound silence

The opponent did not anticipate that Wufeng would advance instead of retreating. Hetushu.com unleashed a series of lethal moves, catching some off guard, forcing them to rely on the impact of their iron shield against the spear, resulting in an immediate retreat. Wufeng, seizing the advantage, pressed relentlessly, striking down with the iron shield in his left hand while his right hand wielded the wooden knife, dancing like snowflakes, each move targeting vital points. Liang Chongxin found himself constrained by a single move, increasingly trapped, unable to leverage the advantages of his long weapon, and fell into a defensive position. Wufeng fully exploited the characteristics of short weapons, not allowing the opponent to escape. Ultimately, he took advantage of a gap in the opponent's defense, executing a diagonal slash with his right knife that severed the opponent's shoulder strap. This was Wufeng showing mercy; otherwise, if it had been on the battlefield, the opponent would have lost an arm.

Due to the empire's classification of its people into several ranks, and the preferential treatment afforded to the aristocracy in military and political matters, individuals from the third and fourth ranks often have to exert several times the effort to achieve prominence. Many officials of commoner and freeborn origins, regardless of their talent or significant contributions, frequently find themselves overshadowed by those of mediocre or even corrupt character but of aristocratic lineage. Consequently, many capable individuals remain buried in the lower strata. This has become one of the most pressing issues facing the empire today, with Li Wufeng even considering it a greater threat than foreign invasions.

The imperial law stipulates that a noble title can only be inherited by one individual from the next generation, and if there are no other military or political achievements, it cannot extend to the third generation. This limits the number of nobles with titles within the empire. However, the law also provides that the descendants of titled nobles will receive preferential consideration in various aspects such as governance and military service within the empire. This group is referred to as the gentry. The third class is the commoners, which refers to ordinary officials at all levels of government, merchants, landowners, workshop owners, and others who have made outstanding contributions and have been approved by local governments to be registered with the imperial central authority, along with their descendants. Thus, this also limits the number of nobles with titles within the empire. The fourth class is the free citizens, referring to ordinary people engaged in various trades. The third and fourth classes are collectively referred to as the common people.

Is there anyone else who would like to give it a try

Why is it that no one dares to give it a try

I, Private Kang Jianguo, come to seek your guidance, esteemed sir

At this thought, Liang Chongxin could not help but gather his spirits. With a low shout, Liang Chongxin made a swift advance and launched the first attack, which earned him thunderous applause from the soldiers outside the arena. Wu Feng did not lag behind; with his left arm holding the shield, he turned his body slightly and effortlessly neutralized the opponent's fierce assault with a gentle deflection. Before the cheers for Liang Chongxin had faded, the soldiers could not help but applaud Wu Feng's effortless resolution.

Indeed, as soon as this sentence was spoken, someone immediately responded.