Dark Sand: My Players Are All Actors
Chapter 437 - 252 Cleanse the Royal Side_3

The soldier’s expression visibly tightened, and he said somewhat uncertainly, "It seems... to form a large squad?"

Zhao Haiping’s expression darkened, "Anything else?"

The soldier faltered and could no longer respond.

Zhao Haiping said, "If the cymbals sound again, form a large squad, and the flags retreat to the main camp!

"You still haven’t memorized it. You and your squad leader go to the military judge now and receive ten military sticks each!"

The soldier dejectedly said "Yes," then reluctantly went to find his squad leader to receive the punishment.

Zhao Haiping randomly grabbed another soldier from the formation.

"When the trumpet blows a long sound and the musket fires once, what does it mean?"

This soldier calmly replied, "At this time, the flags will be waved up, down, left, and right. All soldiers must carefully watch the direction of the flag movements and turn accordingly."

Zhao Haiping nodded slightly and then asked, "Now tell me, what does the drum signal mean?"

This soldier obviously hesitated for a moment, as this was a very broad question, but after a short contemplation, he still provided an accurate answer.

"Reply to the general: a light drumbeat means to advance out of camp. A light drumbeat once means to move twenty steps; a quick drumbeat once means to move one step and prepare to engage with the enemy; rolling the drum means to immediately engage and close in for combat. Rolling the drum after setting up camp means to fetch firewood and water. Rolling the drum after closing the camp gate at night means to change the guard."

Zhao Haiping nodded with satisfaction, "Very good!

"Promoted to sergeant major, receive a reward of one guan!"

The soldier couldn’t help but show a look of joy, "Thank you, General!"

Thus, Zhao Haiping, following the phantom of General Deng Yuanjing, kept inspecting the training formations, frequently spot-checking the soldiers’ memories of various military regulations.

Those who couldn’t answer were punished, while those who answered well could be promoted.

General Deng’s emphasis on these military commands had reached an unsurpassable level. Not only did he prioritize the learning and memorization of these military commands before weapon training, but he would also have Zhao Haiping conduct intermittent checks thereafter.

Only through this could they achieve true compliance and command an army with the precision of an extended limb, responsive to orders.

Zhao Haiping couldn’t help but reflect that training troops was indeed no simple matter!

In reality, if there really were experienced old generals like Deng Yuanjing to guide, training troops itself wouldn’t be too technically difficult, nor impossible to learn regardless of effort.

However, the difficulty of training troops lay mainly in the details.

In ensuring commands are obeyed, in establishing authority, in managing relationships at all levels, in the training methods for various weapons, and so on.

To do all these well required a person of great resolve.

Zhao Haiping also felt somewhat fortunate, as in the Trial Illusion, he needn’t consider logistical support, military supplies, variances in weaponry, political relations, and other issues.

But in reality, a renowned general must consider all these aspects.

That generals Han Fuyue and Deng Yuanjing could train such a formidable force under so many constraints truly made them the top military strategists of their ages.

Meanwhile, Zhao Haiping increasingly looked forward to the day when he would use this army to clash with the iron cavalry of Jin.

...

Chuge had already returned to the Qi Dynasty.

A year in the game amounted to just a mere ten or so minutes for him.

As the fog obscured and then cleared, the events Li Hao experienced over a year after returning to Qi unfolded before Chuge.

Initially, upon his return to Qi, Li Hao naturally did not receive much welcome.

One could even describe it as his doorstep being cold.

Everyone knew that Li Hao was a former official from the reigns of Emperors Qihui and Emperor Yingzong of Qi, and had been taken to the north along with the two emperors.

Now that he was released and returned, who knew what happened in the north?

Why did the Jin not release someone else, but specifically you?

Such speculations resulted in almost no officials visiting Li Hao or engaging him in pleasantries, fearing that the public might suspect them to be Jin spies, causing misunderstandings.

And while the surrounding populace dared not do anything directly against Li Hao, their disdain for him was apparent from the few glances he made from the curtain of his carriage during his occasional outings.

Indeed, how could he still have the face to return?

The Jingping Incident was a fiasco caused by incompetent civil officials like yourself. Taken captive to Jin, not only did you not commit suicide to honor your country, but you were also released by the Jin...

Doesn’t this mean that either you are extremely useless, superfluous even as a prisoner; or perhaps you colluded with the Jin, betraying a great deal of Qi’s interests to secure your release?

Such discrepancies deeply resonated with Chuge.

Of course, Chuge was, after all, a player; he didn’t truly immerse himself in the character or blend into the world completely.

Yet, he could still empathetically imagine what kind of mental state Li Hao might be in at the moment.

Having once been a third-grade Imperial Censor, he enjoyed top-tier material conditions and social status, naturally discussing the noble act of dying for one’s country.

But now, after losing all that, he realized he was almost nothing.

Such a great disparity and sense of defeat altered his view of the current ministers and important court officials.

How could he not aspire to sit in their positions?