Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 154 Competing for Strength (Part Two)

The competition would last all day and consist of four rounds. The first round was a contest of strength, with ten men selected from each battalion to lift stone weights, and points awarded based on the weight they lifted. The winner was determined by the total score of the five men at the end.

The second round is a fistfight contest, with ten different participants selected to compete against each other by drawing lots. The winners will receive one point.

The third competition, mounted archery, will again have ten participants per battalion, but the participants must be different from those in the first two competitions. Scoring will be based on the number of times the arrow hits the target.

In the final match, the remaining seventy men conducted a battle formation confrontation drill. This match also yielded the highest score, with the winner receiving twenty points.

These are the competition rules set by Pei Qinghe, which take everyone into account while giving the best in each camp a chance to stand out. The scoring system is also relatively fair and just.

Of course, luck plays a crucial role in the draw. Especially in the final battle formation drill, if you draw a newly recruited battalion that has only been training for a few days, it's a guaranteed win. Conversely, if you draw Pei Yan's battalion, everyone will lament their bad luck.

In terms of military leadership, besides Pei Qinghe, Pei Yun and Mao Hongling are the best in the Pei family army, with Pei Yan barely ranking fourth. However, in terms of bravery in battle, the hot-blooded and reckless Pei Yan surpasses the other two. Apart from Pei Qinghe personally taking to the field, no one can control Pei Yan.

Feng Changling's battalion was also extremely formidable. They consistently placed in the top three in almost every monthly martial arts competition. Since Gu Lian went to Quanzhou County, Feng Changling's brilliance had only shone through.

Now, Sun Cheng has arrived. So, who is more powerful?

Pei Qinghe was also full of anticipation.

The first competition was a test of strength, with a total of two hundred people participating, forming ten teams to lift stone weights. The stone weights were specially made by craftsmen at Pei Qinghe's request, arranged from lightest to heaviest, with the lightest weighing eighty jin and the heaviest weighing one hundred and sixty jin.

Someone came up and tried to lift 160 pounds, but failed and was given zero points. He was booed and laughed at by the crowd, and his face turned red as he retreated.

To be conservative, start with something lighter. You'll have two more chances after lifting it, so you can try something heavier.

In the end, only five people successfully lifted 160 pounds.

Pei Qinghe summoned the five men and gifted each of them a long sword. The five men, heads held high and faces beaming with pride, returned to their camp to continue watching the martial arts competition.

In Sun Cheng's battalion, there was also someone who received an award. However, it wasn't a veteran that Sun Cheng had specifically chosen, but a young and strong recruit.

Sun Cheng thought to himself that he couldn't underestimate the Pei family army. He turned to the two dejected veterans and said, "See? The Pei family army has plenty of elite soldiers. Don't think that just because you've been in the military, you're better than them."

"Cheer up and train hard from now on. I'll switch you two to different events for the competition next month."

The two old soldiers, who were confident in their strength, were not willing: "No need, I want to compete in lifting stone weights."

“The two of us used to be in the army, and we could lift the heaviest stone weights. This time, we’ve been on the run for a long time and haven’t had enough to eat, so we’re not strong enough. Let us have a full month of food, and then we’ll try again.”

Soldiers fear cowards and bastards the most; what they need is that competitive, fierce, and indomitable spirit.

Sun Cheng successfully aroused the competitive spirit of the two, and they patted their chests and promised to get the top five reward next month.

The second round has begun. After drawing lots, everyone found their opponents and, without any pretense, simply found an open space to start practicing.

Two hundred people were on the field, divided into one hundred teams to compete, and the audience was dazzled by the spectacle.

Sun Cheng, ignoring everyone else, quickly focused his attention on the ten men he had sent out. Of these ten, five were veterans and five were new recruits. The veterans, all seasoned veterans, were skilled and had won all their matches in this round. The five new recruits had also won three matches. In this round of competition, Sun Cheng's battalion, having won eight matches, was the most formidable force.

Sun Cheng remained calm and composed under the envious gazes of the crowd, showing no signs of smugness.

Feng Chang's battalion won six matches, which was quite good. However, he was still somewhat annoyed to be outdone by the newcomer, Sun Cheng. He muttered to the four defeated men, "You four, starting tomorrow, train really hard. You have to win back all your losses in next month's competition."

The rules of the competition were set, and each battalion had to rack their brains to get the highest total score. Feng Chang was quick-witted and selected ten men to train in strength, and ten men to train in fist and foot techniques, who also trained daily. Another ten men trained in horsemanship and archery. The remaining seventy men focused on military formations.

This is why Feng Chang's battalion consistently achieved extremely high rankings, earning them three meals of meat every month. Feng Chang was also Pei Qinghe's most trusted and valued officer, and everyone respected and admired him.

Who would have thought that Sun Cheng would be even more formidable, shining brightly in the fistfight without making a sound.

Pei Qinghe announced with a smile, "It's already noon. Everyone, go have lunch first, rest for half an hour, and then come back to the training ground."

Everyone readily agreed and began enthusiastically discussing the previous contest. The winners boasted and were praised by everyone, while the losers were not ridiculed or mocked, but they were all holding their breath in resentment.

Shi Yan naturally came over and stuffed the half-bag of sunflower seeds that he had been shelling for half a day into Pei Qinghe's hand.

Pei Qinghe took it casually, grabbed a small handful, and ate it with relish.

The imposing and renowned Sixth Miss Pei is actually only sixteen years old. At this age, she loves to dress fashionably and always wears simple clothes, carrying not embroidery needles, but bows and arrows and long knives. When she kills, her expression is icy, and no one can rival her. Those who truly dare to approach her, besides the direct descendants of the Pei family, are few and far between.

Shi Yan has only been here for a little over half a year, but he has already completely integrated into the Pei family army and become Pei Qinghe's most trusted and closest confidant.

“No wonder this Sun Cheng is valued by the Sixth Miss; he is indeed capable,” Shi Yan said with a smile.

“The people Sun Cheng brought are all veterans who have been through countless battles.” Pei Qinghe’s tone was quite gratified: “It wasn’t obvious this morning, but we’ll see in the afternoon’s competition.”

Shi Yan chuckled softly, "Feng Chang has met his match."

A smile flashed in Pei Qinghe's eyes.

In the military, there must be a strong sense of competition. If everyone is too harmonious, how can you train elite soldiers?

At noon that day, they ate brown rice, and each person had a palm-sized slice of meat. A spoonful of fragrant meat juice was ladled over the brown rice, making everyone's mouths water.

After a half-hour break, the third match began on time.

The Pei family army had few warhorses, and even fewer who could ride horses and practice archery. Their daily training consisted of standing and shooting at targets. Today, in the competition, the "sharp archers" carefully selected by each camp marched onto the field with great momentum under the watchful eyes of the crowd.

The commander of each battalion can only participate in the last event, the formation battle. The first three rounds of competition also serve to test the commanders' ability to arrange their troops.

Sun Cheng selected ten veterans, all of whom were skilled in horseback riding and archery.

Whoosh whoosh!
After several rounds of archery practice, Sun Cheng's battalion achieved an extremely high score, leaving everyone else in the dust.

(End of this chapter)