Three Kingdoms: Daily settlement helps Liu Bei revive the Shu Han dynasty.

Chapter 135 Heavy Armored Combined Battalion, Activated!

With the advent of high-quality steel, Lu Yong's heavy combined arms battalion can now be assembled.

He drafted a transfer order in the name of the General of the Garrison.

After writing the transfer order, Lu Yong took it to the governor's mansion.

Liu Bei only glanced at it briefly before writing a single word at the end of the order: Approved.

After writing this character, Liu Bei asked Lu Yong, "If you start building the new army now, will the workshops be able to produce the weapons and armor in time?"

Lu Yong cupped his hands and said, "I was just about to tell my lord about this. The steel-casting method has been completed."

"In the original steelmaking method, only about 20% of the 100% of the iron could be used in the end, and even then, it still depended on the experience of veteran craftsmen."

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"But after the steelmaking process was developed, the yield of steel in one furnace can reach more than 70%, and the quality is no less than that of steel made by 100-times refining, while taking about one-third less time than steelmaking."

"Including crucible losses and fuel costs, the cost of producing one batch of refined steel is reduced by at least 40% compared to the original cost. If the furnace is used in batches, the losses can be even less."

Liu Bei was naturally aware of the enormous changes this technology would bring.

So he asked in great surprise, "Who came up with this steel-casting method? I must reward them handsomely!"

Lu Yong gave a shy smile and replied, "I did it—"

"————" Liu Bei's mouth dropped open.

After a long pause, he continued, "Since you don't care about money, how about I arrange a marriage for you?"

"Huh?" Lu Yong was completely dumbfounded.

However, he quickly realized his mistake and said with a wry smile, "I haven't thought about this yet. We'll talk about it later."

After saying that, Lu Yong turned around and ran out in a flash.

"That guy—" Liu Bei shook his head helplessly as he watched Lu Yong's figure disappear quickly.

The order was quickly sent to the military camps in Danyang, Wujun, Yuzhang, and Kuaiji, and the training grounds of each camp were almost simultaneously abuzz with excitement.

The general content of the transfer order is as follows:

Active-duty soldiers from all prefectures who meet the requirements may apply to participate in the selection for the heavy armored battalion. Those selected will receive a 30% increase in rations and pay, be granted two mu of land, and be exempt from corvée labor for their entire family for three years.

However, five restrictions were listed: only those who are active-duty soldiers, under the age of thirty, over seven feet tall, and capable of carrying forty catties for twenty li without falling, can be initially selected.

Countless people rushed to sign up, including some of the generals' personal guards.

This caused many generals to look at Lu Yong with a hint of resentment.

The selection process began in mid-to-late February and lasted for half a month.

The first round is a physical examination.

Those over thirty years old were directly eliminated, as were those under seven feet tall.

In this round alone, nearly a third of them were eliminated.

The remaining people stood in front of the earthen platform on the east side of the drill ground, each with an old burlap sack stuffed with sand in front of them.

Each sack weighs forty pounds.

Soldiers who signed up had to complete a 20-mile march while carrying heavy loads to pass the test.

The second round of assessment is individual combat skills.

They paired up, each choosing their preferred weapon, and then engaged in combat on the sandy ground in the center of the training ground.

This round of testing is not just about strength and endurance, but also about comprehensive abilities.

The third test is of one's character.

After passing through the first two rounds of soldiers, they were led to the west side of the training ground.

Dozens of shallow pits had already been dug there, each knee-deep.

The soldiers, dressed in makeshift gear made from iron blocks, sandbags, and thick wooden shields, stood at the edge of the pit.

Lu Yong stood on the high platform, holding a long stick in his hand, with Zhou Tai, the commander of the heavy infantry, standing beside him.

Lu Yong surveyed the entire area and said, "Enter the pit, kneel halfway, shield on the ground, sword across your knees!"

"Without my order, no one may rise, remove their armor, or speak."

The soldiers silently entered the pit.

Half an hour later, some people were exhausted and their legs began to tremble.

Just then, a rich aroma of meat wafted in from outside the arena.

A dozen or so cooks carried wooden buckets and wine jars, slowly walking along the edge of the pit.

The leader shouted at the top of his lungs, "Those who can't hold on can come up now!"

These Drunken Immortal Wine and stewed mutton are all yours!

"You can also take a string of cash home and be spared the hard labor of wearing this iron armor!"

The aroma of meat mingled with the fragrance of wine, lingering around the edge of the pit.

Several soldiers' Adam's apples bobbed as they couldn't help but look up at the pot of mutton.

Lu Yong stood on the high platform, pointing his long staff. Zhou Tai, who was beside him, immediately jumped down from the platform and, along with several other proctoring soldiers, dragged out the people: "Eliminated!!!"

The soldiers turned pale and were dragged out of the pit.

After another incense stick's time, a plume of black smoke suddenly rose from the northeast corner of the drill ground.

Immediately afterward, a rider covered in blood rushed into the arena, dismounted, and shouted at the top of his lungs, "It's terrible! The enemy has attacked Wanling! The governor's mansion has fallen!"

Before the shouts had even faded, pre-arranged battle cries and drumbeats echoed from afar, shaking the heavens and the earth.

The soldiers in the pit all paled; some looked up abruptly, while others gripped their sword hilts tightly.

Lu Yong pointed his staff again, and Zhou Tai shouted, "Those of you who are fidgeting, step forward!"

Seven or eight more people were dragged out.

The remaining people understood that no matter what happened outside, they absolutely could not move!

Time continued to pass.

An hour later, a man dressed in Lu Yong's personal guard uniform rode up to the edge of the pit, raised a command flag, and announced loudly: "The General of the Garrison has given an order!"

The selection process is over. Everyone should immediately go to the East Gate to collect their reward money!

The selection process has been rescheduled for tomorrow!

Most of the people in the pit remained still, because this was not an order given by Lu Yong himself.

But there are still "honest people" who have to stand up.

But seeing that everyone around him was standing still, he forced himself to squat back down.

Zhou Tai's massive body appeared before him, and he shouted in a deep voice, "Number Six, A-class, lift your buttocks and thrust out!"

"No!!"

Two hours later, many people collapsed from exhaustion in the pit, but even after they fell, they did not move an inch.

Lu Yong put down the long stick.

The number of people on the field who can still maintain their original posture is less than 20% of the original number, barely more than 400.

However, this is only the first selection; there will be several more rounds to come.

Selecting two thousand people should be no problem at all.

They were all soaked to the bone and their legs were trembling.

Lu Yong nodded and turned to the audience, saying, "Those who can wear heavy armor are strongmen."

Those who can obey orders and remain motionless are true warriors.

Strongmen are easy to find, but those willing to die for their cause are hard to come by.

You've passed!

The soldiers who were still in their original positions in the pit finally breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed to the ground.

While selecting heavy infantry, the recruitment of archers and crossbowmen was also carried out simultaneously.

The assessment for crossbowmen was much simpler than that for the heavy infantry, consisting of only two rounds:

The first round is shooting at a fixed target; you need to hit the target eight or more times to pass.

In the second round, soldiers pushed straw figures horizontally from a distance of forty paces away, each throwing five arrows. Hitting three arrows was considered passing.

The repeating crossbow battalion had even more applicants, and Commander He Chong had to go through several rounds of screening before finally selecting a thousand men.

As for cavalry, Zhao Yun already had over a thousand men under his command, so there was no need to select more.

The selection process ended in early March.

The roster of two thousand soldiers was sent to Lu Yong's desk.

Zhou Tai stood to the side, barely able to suppress a smile.

In February, the ironworks had already crafted twenty full suits of armor.

Zhuge Jin is preparing to expand manpower, and the production capacity in March should reach 200.

With further expansion of furnaces and increased manpower, production can be increased even further.

Once this group of people have completed their training, their full-body armor should be fully forged.

Seeing that Lu Yong remained silent for a long time, Zhou Tai was about to ask what the problem was.

Lu Yong suddenly looked up and said, "Starting tomorrow, let's begin with drills in formation."

"Yes!" Zhou Tai replied, cupping his hands in greeting.