The rebel army's foremost master craftsman forged a million iron pylons!

"Yes, Brother Tian, ​​please let us go back. We really can't hold on any longer."

People came out intermittently and handed the wooden plaques they were holding to Li Tian.

Li Tian didn't stop them; he took the wooden plaque and let them leave.

Watching the departing people, and thinking about the reward measures Li Tian had given, Tie Niu opened his mouth, wanting to remind Li Tian that General Chen hadn't given any extra money or provisions for rewards or punishments.

But he didn't say it out loud; he knew Li Tian was a smart man.

Moreover, he was also curious about where Li Tian was going to get these funds and provisions.

Fortunately, not many people left, after everyone who was supposed to leave had left.

Li Tianqing counted the number of people; a total of twenty-seven people had left, leaving two hundred and eighty-six people.

These people varied in height and build, but they all shared one thing in common: their eyes were bright and piercing, revealing a desire to achieve great things.

Very good. If someone in a team is always complaining and saying they're tired, the morale of the whole team will be low.

It's actually a good thing that they left on their own initiative.

"Brothers, you are all the backbone of the righteous army. I, Li Tian, ​​swear to you that I will lead you to achieve great things."

"If you die on the battlefield, I, Li Tian, ​​will take care of your wives, children, and parents."

"Now, I'll ask one last time, is there anyone else who wants to leave?"

Li Tian asked, somewhat agitated.

Silence fell; not a single person left.

"We set off. If we can't climb anymore, we'll cut tree branches to make sticks. If anyone falls behind, we'll carry them back, even if it means carrying them."

"We're a team; we can't let any of our brothers fall behind!"

Without further ado, Li Tian led his troops out again.

Tie Niu was surprised to find that the morale of the troops seemed to have been refined even more than before.

Having shed its previous impetuousness, the army now moves silently through the mountains and rivers like a stubborn piece of iron.

It's more difficult than before.

But no one complained of hardship or difficulty; there was only the rustling sound of footsteps as they walked.

Even if someone falls behind, their teammates quickly help them up.

After descending Laojun Mountain, half of the people were almost unable to walk.

This is also human nature.

They are all mortals.

Yet he accomplished something comparable to that of a god.

Li Tianxia ordered them to rest here for a quarter of an hour.

Then he issued an order that baffled everyone—

Cut down tree branches to make stretchers, put those who can't walk on the stretchers, and carry them out of Flying Eagle Peak, even if it means carrying them by hand.

The soldiers silently carried out Li Tian's orders; rather than being numb, they were absolutely obedient to him.

Li Tian's prestige was established within the militia without any difficulty.

Even the rough and uncultured Tie Niu noticed that the soldiers were looking at Li Tian differently, and thought to himself.

"How strange, could it be that my brother Li really knows how to train troops?"

Soon, thirty-six stretchers were ready.

Soldiers who could not walk were all thrown onto stretchers.

Their gazes toward Li Tian were now filled with gratitude and respect.

Those who are not abandoned when they are weak are the ones who win people's hearts the most.

After resting for ten minutes,

Li Tian stood up from the large rock, and his words were simple: "Let's go!"

The troops advanced again, silently heading towards Flying Eagle Peak.

Is Flying Eagle Peak high?

It's probably very high; legend has it that even eagles can't fly over it.

But one unit silently marched up Eagle Peak, supporting each other, some even lying on stretchers, yet not a single person fell behind.

In the end, almost everyone was too tired to walk.

The hemp ropes that Li Tian brought came in handy. He wrapped the ropes around the waist of each soldier and walked in front, leading the soldiers behind him.

Like a tireless locomotive, it carried its soldiers through one dangerous place after another.

No one could cross Flying Eagle Peak, but Li Tian and his militia actually did it.

When we arrived at the foot of Flying Eagle Peak.

Li Tian's troops couldn't help but cheer.

"We did it, we really did it."

"Damn it, I thought I was going to die on Eagle Peak."

"This Flying Eagle Peak is no path for humans."

The soldiers lay sprawled on the ground, but each one looked more energetic than when they arrived.

Perhaps they had gotten used to the route, or perhaps the overwhelming victory had filled them with immense excitement; they all felt as light as swallows, and even felt that walking Flying Eagle Peak again would be no problem at all.

Li Tian was even happier.

Become!

The troops he needed have finally arrived!

Today's training is for screening.

As a result, all 286 people passed the test.

Perhaps these people themselves didn't realize that after this training, their mental outlook had been completely transformed.

As long as you have a strong will, future training will not be a problem at all.

"Brothers, you've worked hard. Take a break here for fifteen minutes!" Li Tian said with a grin.

Although their chests felt like they were on fire, the unit was full of energy, and some even went to the nearby mountains to fetch spring water and pick wild fruits for their teammates.

The soldiers got along better.

Fifteen minutes later, the troops continued their journey.

The task that followed was extremely simple: swim ten miles across the river and run fifty miles of mountain road back to Lijia Village.

For the soldiers who had crossed Eagle Mountain, it was an easy feat.

By the time they returned to Stone Village, it was already noon.

The mountain breeze feels exceptionally refreshing on the skin.

Li Tian didn't ask the soldiers to do anything more, letting them sit in the shade of the tree, drink water, and eat food.

After a while, Li Tian announced that the militia members should go home and rest for two hours.

Two hours later, we will meet again at Shajiaping. At that time, we will give them the silver and meat we promised.

The soldiers cheered and went home in twos and threes.

These days, nothing makes them happier than money and meat.

"Brother, isn't this a bit too hasty? General Chen didn't say anything about distributing silver and meat to the militia."

"If you agree to this so early, how are we supposed to keep our word?"

At this moment, Tie Niu had regained some of his strength. Standing beside Li Tian, ​​he wrung out the water from his clothes and asked.

"Brother Tie, don't be in a hurry. Let me get a few things out."

Li Tian smiled slightly and walked towards a cave near Shajiaping.

Before long, Li Tian returned carrying six suits of armor.

Although there was some damage, the rebels lacked armor and didn't care about such things.

"Brother Tie Niu, look at these things. They might be worth two hundred taels of silver and a cartload of meat."

Li Tian threw the armor at Tie Niu's feet.

Tie Niu's eyes lit up. "Good stuff! The rebel army is in dire need of armor. With the quality of this armor, one suit of armor can easily fetch eighty taels of silver."

"Six sets in total, four hundred and eighty taels of silver."

"Brother Li, please wait a moment. I'll go back to the military camp right away and get the silver and meat back for us."

The imperial armor is a form of hard currency; if it were sold on the black market in a county town, the price would only be higher!

Tie Niu, beaming with excitement, hugged his armor and walked toward his warhorse.

"Brother Tie Niu, wait a moment!" Li Tian called out to Tie Niu again.

Tie Niu turned his head. "Is there anything else?"

"Are there any earthworkers in the military camp who know how to make earthen stoves and bellows?" Li Tian asked.

"Of course there are," Tie Niu laughed loudly.

"Why is Brother Li asking this?"

"Brother Tie Niu, don't ask anymore. When you come back, borrow forty craftsmen," Li Tian said with a smile.

Tie Niu nodded and rode his fast horse swiftly towards the military camp.

Li Tian sat under the shade of a tree, waiting for Tie Niu to return.

About half an hour later.

A group of about several dozen people headed towards Shajiaping.

Tie Niu, dressed in black cloth, rode a tall horse at the head of the procession, waving his arms at Li Tian from a distance.

"Brother Li, I've brought the people and supplies you requested."

Li Tian immediately went forward to check. The entire cart was full of meat, enough for 286 people, along with 400 taels of silver and 40 craftsmen.

He ordered his men to move the boxes of silver to the ground one by one, and then Li Tian faced the forty-odd craftsmen.

"The craftsmen can build furnaces and bellows, which are used for forging iron."

The artisans smiled.

"Sir, you're joking. This is what we do in the army. What's there to be unsure about?"

"How many stoves does the sir want?" someone asked.

"Eighty sets!"

"It must be completed within three hours."

Li Tian laughed.

"No problem!" the craftsmen readily agreed.

They had forty men, and it would only take them two hours to build eighty sets of furnaces and bellows.

immediately,

These craftsmen used local materials, such as soil and mud, and went up the mountain to chop firewood, and got busy with their work.

Tie Niu, not understanding what was going on, quietly asked Li Tian.

"Brother Li, what are you doing?"

"Training the troops!"

Li Tian coldly uttered two words.