A lean man bowed down on the spot: "We were wrong before. I hope Fourth Young Master will not dislike us. I am willing to listen to Fourth Young Master in everything and will never take a step back!"
Soon someone followed and expressed their opinion: "We all listen to the Fourth Young Master!"
More people shouted: "Never take a step back!"
Seeing the high morale of the three hundred young men, Yang Ning's face brightened slightly: "This is your choice, don't regret it!
"From now on, I will control you with military law and will never show mercy to anyone! And as long as you meet my requirements, I guarantee that you will be able to repel the barbarians!
"Now, immediately, return to your original position and line up!"
Under the restraint of the corps commanders and chiefs, the young men stood up again, and all three hundred people raised their heads and chests high.
Yang Ning nodded to Yang Kui, signaling the other party to prepare again.
When dozens of cavalry were ready to attack, Yang Ning pointed at them and shouted at the three hundred young men:
"Remember, the people standing in front of you at this moment are not the private soldiers of the Yang family, but the Hu cavalry! How you face them now is how you will face the Hu cavalry in the future!
"Anyone who backslides will be whipped twenty times!"
Three hundred young men shouted in unison: "Never retreat!"
Morale can be used, but unfortunately the reality is not just shouting slogans.
When dozens of riders rushed out together, causing the ground to tremble under their feet, and rushing in front of everyone like a torrent, these young and strong people who were ordinary villagers yesterday clearly felt the pressure of a landslide.
When the cavalry was still twenty steps away from them, many of them were trembling with their legs.
When the cavalry reached ten steps, one young man after another could not suppress the fear in his heart, turned around and ran away.
At this moment, they were not defeated by cowardice, but by survival instinct.
When the cavalry reined in their horses and stopped a few steps away in front of everyone, more people fell to the ground limply, and some even became incontinent on the spot.
"Not bad." Yang Ning nodded secretly.
Whether standing or sitting, at least a hundred people stayed where they were, and most of those who ran away were concentrated in the front row.
"It's easy for you to run away, but those companions who didn't run away will be killed by you!"
Yang Ning came to those who had escaped from the battle with a sullen face, whipping down the whip regardless, "You bunch of losers, look down at me, are your birds scared away?!"
"Everyone who retreats will be punished with twenty lashes. If you are a corps commander, you will be punished with five lashes. If you are a senior officer, you will be punished with 10 lashes!"
Yang Kui and others got off their horses and stepped forward. For a while, the school grounds were filled with the sound of whips and the screams of young men. The onlookers' family members felt their scalps numb, and the old man covered his children's eyes.
But no one feels anymore that this shouldn’t be the case.
"Go back and continue. Anyone who retreats this time will be whipped thirty times!"
After seeing many people standing in place safe and sound, and realizing that they would not be knocked over or trampled to death by the cavalry if they did not run, the second training effect was much better, and the fear of whips defeated the fear of cavalry.
The corps commanders and senior officers spontaneously encouraged their subordinates and ordered them not to retreat. Some fierce-tempered ones even threatened them verbally.
They had received more whippings and did not want another one.
Of course, some people still instinctively turned and ran, especially those standing in the front row.
This training is destined to be full of blood and tears.
...
At the end of the day's training, Shi Wu, who had performed well, was rewarded with meat, and when sporadic cheers erupted on the school field, Yang Meng walked into the study of the old patriarch.
The old patriarch was playing chess with Zhao Wenjing. Both of them looked carefree and turned a deaf ear to what happened in Wubao, as if they could remain calm even if Mount Tai collapsed.
After seeing the ceremony, watching chess for a while, and chatting for a while, Yang Meng went straight to the topic and said to the old patriarch worriedly:
"Father, An Zhi has been struggling all day today, but I don't understand it at all.
"He neither allowed his private soldiers to teach young men how to kill enemies, nor gave these people weapons. Instead, he kept whipping them, and many of them were injured.
"If this continues, I'm worried that the villagers will be resentful. Before the barbarians come back, they will kill and maim the young men, causing the villagers to cause trouble!"
The old patriarch slowly settled down and glanced at Yang Meng with a salty look: "Do you think there is something wrong with An Zhi's military training method?"
Yang Meng came here just to discredit Yang Ning, but he couldn't show it too obviously, pretending to be silent, and after a moment he said: "At least my son can't see the benefit of what he did.
"Shouting slogans in the morning, doing hard labor later, and standing still in the afternoon. Can this build combat effectiveness?"
The old patriarch was noncommittal and still leisurely. Zhao Wenjing was originally more graceful than him, and every move he made was calm and elegant, but he couldn't help it after hearing this.
He frowned, turned to glare at Yang Meng, and said angrily: "That's nonsense! It's like a summer insect can't talk about the ice, and a well frog can't talk about the sea!"
For no reason, Yang Meng was spat on by Zhao Wenjing again. He was angry in his heart, but he didn't dare to show it on his face. He could only pretend to hold his hands in front of him, showing an open-minded attitude:
"I am stupid, please give me some advice from Mr. Zhao."
He didn't think Zhao Wenjing could say anything subtle. He was also a man of literary and military skills. After reading the Art of War, he didn't see the purpose of Yang Ning's actions.
After all, Yang Ning only had three days. Now that one day has passed, he has not seen any fighting strength among the young men.
...
At the same time, Li Qinghan and Li Jianjia returned to the embroidery building. The two were also discussing what they had seen and heard today and wondering about Yang Ning's training methods.
"It's exciting, but I don't understand what Yang Si is doing. Why doesn't he teach the young men how to kill enemies? Instead, he tortures them in different ways?"
Li Jianjia poured a glass of water and drank it all in one breath, "What's the use of this?
"It seems to me that he is panicking. He knows that the barbarians are about to come back, and he wants to do something but doesn't know what to do, so he can only act in a hurry!"
Li Qinghan smiled gently: "I didn't understand it at first, but after thinking about it for a day, I finally got some insights. Would you like to hear it?"
Li Jianjia snorted, as if I don't know what you are thinking: "You want to flatter that kid again? OK, I want to see how you can use your words to make excuses this time!"
...
Zhao Wenjing snorted coldly and taught Yang Meng a lesson unceremoniously: "Since the establishment of the Puppet Han, the Hu people have been fighting everywhere in these years, and all of them are old soldiers.
"Not to mention a group of farmers who were holding hoes yesterday, even well-trained warriors are no match for them.
"Yang Silang only has three days. No matter how good he is, he is not a god after all. How can he make the killing skills of young men better than those of barbarians?
"For this reason, training in the art of killing is a waste of effort!
"Thanks to you for living for decades, you don't even understand such a simple truth?"
Being scolded like a fool or a child, Yang Meng was very embarrassed. If the person in front of him was not Zhao Wenjing, a famous person with qualifications and prestige in the world, he would definitely walk away.
