Chapter 2: The military training ground of the mighty army, Part 3 of 5
At dawn, the rising sun is just starting to shine the first rays of morning light, but the heat of a dry summer seems to have hit already, on the huge training ground one thousand soldiers are orderly lined up in formation, the place is bustling and packed with people, nevertheless it is completely silent, demonstrating the good discipline of the Su family army.
Built in front of the training ground was a high platform, on it, one tall and one short, two people were there to divide the crowd into two. Su Yu wearing a dark blue military uniform, a tall and imposing figure. Casting a sidelong glance at Gu Yun beside him, her entire body clad in black, her long hair tied high, a powerful costume appearance, he had to admit the woman’s style of dressing has its own distinctive charm.
Standing between them on the platform, a relaxed Su Ren smiled and said: “These are chosen from the best of the Su family army new recruits, the two of you may now start the selection.”
Su Yu magnanimously offered: “Let her choose first.”
Gu Yun glanced down at the crowd of young and tense faces, she is naturally aware, no one wants to be selected by her, after all, in their minds, the difference between her and Su Yu is practically like cloud and mud. But she will quickly let them find out who is the cloud, and who is the mud!
Gu Yun indifferently replied: “Since they are all excellent new recruits, we need not expend a great deal of effort in selecting, let’s divide them into two, the left is yours, and the right belongs to me.”
The army remained quiet, nothing unpleasant occurred, there was very little disturbance afterwards, the soldiers on the left secretly rejoiced, while those on the right cannot help but be discouraged and upset.
Both Su Yu and Gu Yun simultaneously headed towards their respective armies, Gu Yun held out her hand and pointed to the forest behind the training ground roughly two kilometers away, in a raised voice she commanded: “The group on the right listen, goal: the mountain forest, time: half quarter of an hour, run forward! Go!”
“Yes!” Although a few of the soldiers were unwilling, the strict discipline of the Su family army made them quickly execute Gu Yun’s command. In a split second, three long parallel columns of soldiers with great burst of strength rushed towards the forest.
An amused Su Ren, watched Gu Yun and her departing team of five hundred recruits, he is very curious and really looks forward to, after two weeks, how they would turn out to be like.
The group of five hundred soldiers running double time did not take long to arrive in the mountain forest. Gu Yun stood before them, she practically arrived abreast with them, although they were still lined up in orderly formation and standing quietly, nevertheless she keenly observed indifference and disdain displayed on their youthful faces, even their eyes were plainly mocking her.
Gu Yun neither lost her temper, nor did she get angry, she understood that in advocating military discipline and military achievement in the army camp, the only way to make them submit to her is to be better than them! Her face wearing an indifferent expression and a cold smile, Gu Yun coldly said: “With your experience and ability, actually there is no opportunity for you to enter the General Manor army training ground, you are only standing here today because I have a compet.i.tion with Su Yu. In this compet.i.tion if I lose, you can only lower your heads down and return to the army camp in disgrace. If I win, you have the opportunity to stay in the General Manor training ground, I want to know, are you confident?”
Silence greeted Gu Yun, to be allocated to her hands certainly will lose no doubt, what confidence can be spoken if at all?!
Gu Yun eyed them coldly, snapped: “Are you or are you not?!”
“Yes.” The soft, spa.r.s.e and hesitant reply that could be heard among the soldiers fired up Gu Yun.
“Have you eaten your meals?”
“Yes!” Finally they answered with a little more energy.
Gu Yun laughed loudly, shaking her head, she coldly mocked: “You are the best new recruits of the Su family army?!”
As her words fell, the answer she got was a low roar in unison, “Yes!”
Indeed these youngsters are like Su Yu, it won’t do without some provocation! Lifting her forefinger, Gu Yun pointed to the peak of the mountain beyond the forest, facing the disgruntled soldiers, coldly announced: “I’m aware of your angry resistance, you would rather be in Su Yu’s team, so be it, I’ll give you a chance, see the mountain in front? In a moment you and I together will set off towards it, all who reach the mountaintop before me, I will let him join into Su Yu’s group, but those who are slower than me, you had better receive the on-site training sincerely, if not you get lost and return to the camp at once!”
The mountain is located about six to seven kilometers behind the General Manor training ground, it is nearly a kilometer high, from this part of the forest to the mountaintop, the march is comparable almost to a five-kilometer cross-country exercise. After Gu Yun’s challenge, amazement and disdain flashed across all the impa.s.sive faces of the soldiers, to compete with such a weak woman in a march, it is actually an insult to them, but then on second thoughts, to be able to cross over to lieutenant general Su Yu’s side, it is simply too good a chance to pa.s.s up.
Gu Yun’s lips slightly lifted, she asked: “Do you understand?”
“Yes.” This time they unexpectedly answered loud and clear!
Gu Yun and the soldiers faced towards the rear of the mountain, she yelled, “Start!” Five hundred people immediately scrambled and rushed running towards the mountain.
Gu Yun’s cold eyes slightly narrowed, a pack of boorish fellows, if she was not sure of the outcome, how could she compete with them.
Gu Yun had been thinking last night even though they are new recruits, they still would not like to listen to her, she must provide them a demonstration of authority, but to fight alone with them one by one, it is too taxing. Cross country field operation has always been her strong suit, and regarding field operation generally speaking choosing the optimal route is of paramount importance! Thus as early as last night she inspected the mountain slope, and determined the nearest and most accessible road leading to the mountaintop. Although admittedly she’s pulling a fast one, but all’s fair in war, isn’t that so?
Gu Yun is pet.i.te, her movement is very fast, and she’s full of stamina, plus she has already selected a good route, although at the beginning she did not have the upper hand, but in climbing the mountain, her superiority is immediately evident.
At the top of the mountain. A tall, strong figure and a lean man along his side ascended the summit almost simultaneously, the two of them glanced at each other, each saw in the other’s eyes admiration and provocation. In their new army camp when competing, even though they do not know each other’s names, they regard each other as rivals. They climbed the peak together, just when they charged towards the highest point of the rock, they discovered a shadow approaching from the other direction, at this moment a foot has already stepped over the rock which represented victory.
Sitting on top of the boulder, Gu Yun was breathing heavily, this won’t do, this body’s physical strength is still weak, taking advantage of this opportunity in drilling the new recruits, she wanted to test well her body’s endurance all at once doing it with her own ability! Sensing two sharp looks behind her, Gu Yun turned around, she cannot help raising her eyebrows, it hadn’t occurred to her some people unexpectedly have reached already the mountaintop, her gaze swept across the two faces, Gu Yun softly asked: “What are your names?”
At first he treated this woman with extreme disdain, but he appeared to be mistaken, who knew she really has a bit of ability, his skill is inferior to hers, he is speechless, his strong, muscular body stood erect, his voice clear he answered back: “Ge Jing Yun.”
Gu Yun looked again at the person beside Ge Jing Yun, his face was sullen as if somebody owed him a great deal, he seemed to be an unfeeling man, after a long time, he coldly replied: “Leng Xiao[1].”
Leng Xiao? Indeed this man lives up to his name. The three standing at the top, looking at one another’s face while standing, but they could not size up each other for long, the tide of the rest of the soldiers reaching the top of the mountain has welled up, after seeing the figure of Gu Yun half leaning on the rock, their eyes widened in disbelief, in frustration they bowed their heads, unexpectedly they lost, they have lost to a woman!
Gu Yun narrowed her eyes as she was looking on, the soldiers climbed the summit almost with the same speed, apparently, although they are new recruits, they have also been through a rigorous training, their physical strength and endurance are good. Indeed they are a good crop of fresh recruits, Gu Yun was secretly delighted.
Standing up straight, Gu Yun shouted, “in formation!” Whether initially crouching or standing the soldiers immediately set off to line up in formation.
Gu Yun stood atop on the rock, overlooking the still unwilling crowd, yet this time not daring to behave arrogantly again, her voice condescending, she laughingly said: “Now are there still people who angrily resist?”
Being beaten by a woman is indeed vexatious, but the fact remains, they truly lost to her.
“Speak!” Gu Yun impatiently demanded.
Inwardly grinding their teeth, with a tinge of anger and stubbornness, the group yelled back in unison: “No!”
Gu Yun nodded with satisfaction, her stern face lowered slightly, in clear voice she said: “Since no one resists, in that case I now announce, I will train you in half a month, there are three military disciplines, the first: obey orders; the second: absolutely obey orders; the third: under all circ.u.mstances absolutely obey orders, do you understand?!”
A woman clad in black, her hair ink-black, her chilly, tough talk was powerful and resonating. On top of the mountain, this kind of bullying atmosphere is really not lost to any man. Ge Jing Yun and Leng Xiao looked at each other, confronted by this woman’s imperious manner they are shaken to the core.
“Yes!” No one knows whether it is on account of Gu Yun’s shocking imposing personality, or because they were vexed that they have just lost to her, every soldier shouted himself hoa.r.s.e like a roaring tiger, the roar so reverberating that the birds between the mountains ridges were sent fluttering and scurrying about all over the place.
Very well, Gu Yun snickered in her heart, the day has just begun, there’s still a long way to go, I don’t believe I will not be able to subdue you!
At high noon, the sun’s high up in the middle of the sky, even if there are sheltering shade of the trees, the heat accosting them is still scorching, coming down from the mountain, these young soldiers were all frustrated and their unwillingness doubtlessly written all over their faces. Gu Yun chuckled secretly, although they were just forced, compelled to pledge allegiance to her, but she is confident, after two weeks, she will be able to completely rein in their hearts.
“Line up in formation!”
Their skill is not on a par with hers, actually there is nothing left now to quibble about. In their hearts they have long been clearly resigned, like it or not in the next couple of weeks, they will receive training in the hands of this woman.
[1] Leng Xiao (冷萧) lit. means cold miserable. With Leng Xiao’s miserable face and cold att.i.tude, Gu Yun thought he ironically embodies the meanings of the characters of his name.