As a young marshal, it's reasonable for me to have 300,000 private troops, right?

After their heart-to-heart talk over drinks, Bao Yulin never mentioned resigning again.

After this battle, he, Zhang Tingshu, and Zhang Xuecheng were inspired to fight and trained even harder at the military academy.

In drills, shooting, and tactical simulations, they excelled in every subject. Before long, their scores were among the best in the entire military academy, making them outstanding students.

The year-long intensive training at the Military Academy passed in the blink of an eye, and graduation day arrived in the blink of an eye.

On the parade ground at dawn, banners fluttered in the wind, and all the students of the military academy stood in neat rows, dressed in smart military uniforms.

Qi Fan, Zhang Tingshu, Bao Yulin, and Zhang Xuecheng stood in the middle of the line, their postures as upright as pine trees and their eyes as sharp as eagles. After a year of training, the naivety of youth had long since faded, replaced by the fortitude and composure of soldiers. Each of them was full of vigor and spirit.

Just as everyone held their breath in anticipation, Guo Songling, dressed in military uniform, walked steadily onto the platform.

His gaze was sharp as he slowly swept over the queue below, and he spoke in a deep voice: "Today is the day you will graduate."

"good!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the long-suppressed cheers erupted instantly, and the students' faces were filled with excitement and exhilaration.

After a whole year of arduous training and hard work, it's finally coming to an end. How could I not be happy?

Many people even clenched their fists secretly, hoping to receive their graduation certificates as soon as possible and start a new military career.

But this excitement didn't last long. Guo Songling raised his hand to calm himself down, waiting for the playground to quiet down again.

"However, don't get too excited yet. Before you officially graduate, there's one last test: a practical exercise!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd with an undeniable air of authority.

"In this exercise, you all need to show your true skills! Team Two against Team One, let's see who's the best and prove that your year of training hasn't been in vain!"

These words were like a shot in the arm, instantly igniting everyone's fighting spirit.

The students, who were just immersed in the joy of graduation, suddenly became sharp-eyed, and their blood was boiling.

All the training of the year was for the purpose of proving ourselves on the battlefield, wasn't it? In an instant, the entire formation was filled with high morale, and everyone was like a sharp knife just drawn from its sheath, ready to strike.

Seeing this, Guo Songling nodded in satisfaction, took out two neatly folded pieces of paper from his pocket, and held them up high.

"These two sheets of paper, one says 'Defend' and the other says 'Attack.' Later, each of the two squads will select one representative to draw lots. The squad that draws 'Attack' will be responsible for launching the offensive; the squad that draws 'Defend' will be responsible for defending their position!"

As soon as these words were spoken, a murmur of discussion arose on the playground.

"Drawing the 'Attack' character is a huge disadvantage! The toughest battles are the ones with the highest casualties!"

"Exactly! The defense has a huge advantage in terrain; it's incredibly difficult for the offense to break through!"

"Hopefully our team draws the 'Guard' character; that would greatly increase our chances of winning!"

The trainees all looked nervous, secretly praying that their teams would draw favorable lots.

Guo Songling was well aware of everyone's concerns, but he showed no intention of changing the rules and spoke in a solemn tone.

"I know this isn't fair to the teams that drew the 'Attack' card. But you must remember, there is never absolute fairness on the battlefield! In the future, when you step onto the real battlefield, you may face enemies ten or a hundred times stronger than these, and you may find yourself in all sorts of unfavorable situations!"

His voice suddenly rose, carrying a power that pierced the heart.

"So, regardless of whether you draw 'attack' or 'defense,' you must display the spirit and might of the Fengtian Army! Even when at a disadvantage, charge forward with your lives; even when holding your ground, don't yield an inch! This is the kind of soldier my military academy trains!"

As soon as Guo Songling finished speaking, each of the two teams nominated a representative for the draw.

For the second team, the choice is undoubtedly Qi Fan.

As an outstanding student who ranks among the top in the entire district and even the entire military academy, he not only excels academically, but also has accumulated sufficient prestige through his composure and sense of responsibility over the past year.

Qi Fan remained calm as he slowly stepped out of the queue and walked steadily toward the podium.

The representative sent by the First Squad was Yang Qinglin.

This person is Yang Yuting's cousin. He has an extraordinary background and solid military skills. He excels in tactical simulation, shooting, and combat, and is recognized as the leader of the first squadron.

The two men, one to the east and one to the west, walked side by side to Guo Songling. Both were tall and straight with sharp eyes, and an unspoken confrontation had already formed between them.

"Gentlemen, please draw lots." Guo Songling handed two slips of paper to the two of them.

Qi Fan and Yang Qinglin exchanged a glance, then each reached out and picked up a neatly folded piece of white paper, slowly unfolding it.

Qi Fan looked down and saw the word "attack" printed on the note.

Meanwhile, after Yang Qinglin saw the word "guard" on his note, a meaningful smile appeared on his lips. He looked up at Qi Fan and spoke with a hint of mockery.

"Hanqing, it seems luck is on my side. I'll have to go easy on you when we fight tomorrow."

Qi Fan's expression remained unchanged. He simply nodded slightly to Yang Qinglin, neither responding nor showing any sign of discouragement. He was as calm as if he had drawn the "defense" card, which was not a disadvantageous one, but a "defense" card that he was confident of winning.

Guo Songling, having seen the results of their draw, announced them loudly.

"Alright! The outcome is decided: Second Squadron will be the attacking force, and First Squadron will be the defending force! Today, I'm giving First Squadron a full day to build fortifications and familiarize themselves with the position! Tomorrow, Second Squadron can launch their attack at any time!"

Upon hearing the news, the trainees of the Second Squad immediately showed disappointment, and many couldn't help but lower their heads.

Everyone knows that offensive battles are always the toughest and most difficult. The defending side has a great advantage in terrain, and the attacking side often has to pay a heavy price to break through the defense. This draw result is really unfavorable.

Qi Fan naturally understood the difficulty involved, but he did not hesitate at all. He turned to face all the students of the Second Squad and slowly raised the piece of paper with the word "Attack" written on it.

"Brothers! I ask you, what have you been doing this past year at the Military Academy?"

After a brief silence, the trainees of the second squad roared in unison: "Train hard!"

"good!"

Qi Fan suddenly raised his voice, his eyes burning like fire.

"So what if it's a tough battle? So what if it's difficult? We've been through thick and thin this past year, honing our skills to overcome the odds and developing the indomitable spirit to face challenges head-on! Every one of you is a top-tier soldier in the Second Squadron, the strongest! Now, it's your chance to prove yourselves. Are you afraid?"

"Don't be afraid!"

This time, the roars were even more synchronized and louder than before, making people's eardrums go numb!

Disappointment and anxiety have long been cast to the winds, replaced by a burning fighting spirit.

"Good!" Qi Fan shouted, raising his arms.

"Then let the First Squad see just how sharp our Second Squad's spearhead really is! Let them know that even in an assault, we can flatten their position!"

In just a few words, the morale of the Second Squad was completely ignited.

Everyone straightened their backs, their eyes gleaming with fearlessness, and a powerful fighting spirit swept over them, as if even the air itself had been ignited.

Guo Songling, who was standing nearby, saw this scene and smiled approvingly, secretly marveling at it.

"This kid's got some skills! He stays calm under pressure and can instantly rally people and boost morale. His leadership is better than many veterans!"

He stepped forward and spoke in a deep voice to everyone.

"Excellent! This is how students of my Martial Arts Academy should be! Now, everyone go back and prepare! Let's use this exercise to properly assess your efforts and achievements over the past year!"