In summer, dawn had already broken at the fifth watch. This was even earlier than their previous travel schedule. Having arrived in Liangzhou just last night, everyone had been excited and stayed up late. When they reached the training grounds, all were bleary-eyed, some even wearing their shoes backward.

Shitou was fine, but Xiaomai and Hong Shan were still fastening their belts while walking. Seeing He Yan’s bright and energetic demeanor, both asked in confusion, “He Yan, aren’t you tired?”

“I retired early last night and got enough sleep,” He Yan replied.

“You’re amazing!” Xiaomai praised.

As they talked, they reached the training grounds. Being the first day, they maintained their previous marching formation. On the high platform stood a muscular man in crimson training clothes, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, dark-skinned and tall as a tree, holding a long spear – quite imposing.

“Who’s that?” He Yan asked.

“Instructor Shen, who’s in charge of supervising our training,” Xiaomai, ever the information gatherer, had already found out.

He Yan nodded, though thinking to herself that she had expected Xiao Jue to personally train them, but hadn’t even seen him today. Though they both joined the army young and became generals, each officer had their training methods. He Yan had hoped to observe Xiao Jue’s techniques to learn from them, but it seemed impossible for now.

“I am your Head Instructor Shen Han,” Instructor Shen’s voice boomed like a bell, echoing across the training grounds surrounded by White Moon Mountain, making everyone’s scalp tingle. “From now on, I will be training you.” He shook the military roster. “Now for roll call!”

The roll call needed to be quick. Today was the first day; later, when divided into units of five, hundred, brigade, and division, the appointed squad leaders, centurions, brigade commanders, and battalion commanders would handle roll call, saving much time.

This group of recruits from the capital had never received training before. The roll call took over an hour, leaving them standing stiffly on the training grounds. They felt uncomfortable all over and kept shifting. Xiaomai whispered to his brother, “Brother, Brother He stands so still, like a stone.”

Shitou looked at He Yan.

Compared to him, He Yan seemed more deserving of the name ‘Stone.’ She stood perfectly straight, posture as rigid as a pine tree, arms properly at her sides, eyes bright and focused on the platform, appearing neither tired nor bored. It created an illusion that even after two more hours, she could maintain this stance.

Shitou thought of hunting with Xiaomai in the mountains. When wild beasts hunted rabbits, they would hide in the grass, perfectly still, looking like lifeless stones. After years of hunting together, he could manage it, but Xiaomai never could. Why could He Yan do it? Hong Shan had said He Yan joined the army because her family fell on hard times. Given her manner, she seemed to come from a good background. Why would someone like her possess the patience and endurance of a wild beast?

After all, He Yan didn’t need to hunt.

His contemplation was interrupted as roll call ended.

Instructor Shen closed the roster and announced, “From today, you’ll be divided into units of a hundred men, each with an instructor. Here you’ll train in formations, and practice combat maneuvers! Today, you’ll learn military orders!” At this point, Shen Han’s smile made everyone’s hearts chill.

Sure enough, Shen Han barked, “Failing to respond to roll calls, arriving late for assembly, or missing appointed times is considered disrespect to military discipline, punishable by flogging! You were late today and should face military punishment, but being first-time offenders, we’ll show leniency.”

Everyone’s hearts jumped at his words, and before they could settle, the iron-faced instructor’s emotionless voice continued.

“Everyone carries sandbags and runs ten laps around the camp! Not one lap less! Unit instructors will watch you – anyone who slacks off faces military punishment!”

Everyone drew sharp breaths.

The training ground below White Moon Mountain was the military camp – one lap was over a li, making ten laps more than ten li. With sandbags on their backs, the early morning coolness had given way to the high sun beating down on their heads. They were already sweating just standing still.

Running laps under the scorching sun prompted widespread groaning.

Xiaomai said, “Brother He, Instructor Shen’s words were exactly like yours. How did you know he would say that?”

How did she know? Because when she first entered the army camp, it was the same situation. Like disciplinary beating, they first gave recruits a show of force to let them know military life wasn’t easy. If not for this, Shen Han would have found another reason to punish them.

“Memorizing military orders,” He Yan patted the youth’s shoulder, “will benefit you.”

Xiaomai nodded with partial understanding.

As Shen Han said, the troops were divided into hundred-man units. When they went to get sandbags, He Yan initially thought they would be palm-sized like the ones she used when chopping wood with He Yunsheng, tied to their legs. But seeing them, her eyelid twitched.

The sandbags were the size of bundles, not meant for legs but for carrying on their backs. They were heavy when lifted, incomparable to her previous sandbags.

“Damn it, running ten laps with this thing is too much!” Hong Shan complained.

Xiaomai secretly watched He Yan’s expression. Her consistently calm face finally showed cracks when lifting the sandbag. Xiaomai secretly sighed in relief – it seemed Brother He was human after all, not omnipotent.

He Yan was speechless.

When she trained new recruits, weighted runs were necessary to build strength, but it was gradual, mostly using sandbags like those from the He family, slowly increasing the weight.

She hadn’t known Xiao Jue’s training methods before, but now she did – starting so aggressively. Xiao Jue had a pretty face but an unexpectedly harsh heart. She had underestimated his ruthlessness.

He was truly merciless.

“He Yan, do you…” Hong Shan was about to offer help carrying the sandbag when he saw He Yan swiftly hoist it up and secure it on her back.

Her frame was exceptionally small, like an underdeveloped youth among the male soldiers. The large, heavy sandbag on her back seemed to make her even shorter. She looked unsteady and pitiful.

Even the taciturn Shitou couldn’t bear it and asked, “Can you manage?”

“I’m fine,” He Yan smiled at him.

Seeing her cheerful expression, they felt slightly relieved, thinking that young men had strength despite appearing weak.

He Yan cursed Xiao Jue a thousand times in her heart.

Such weight would have been no problem before. But Young Lady He’s delicate frame, no matter how hard she tried, couldn’t become herculean overnight.

So yes, it was really heavy.