The Golden Age - Chapter 102: Wind Forest Fire Mountain
Geng Shao stood there like a wooden chicken.1“Stood there like a wooden chicken” is an idiom that means the person was so surprised that he/she doesn’t know what to do anymore
He clearly saw Qin Xiao’s move, but when he tried to block, it was already too late. In the blink of an eye, his wrist was already hit by Qin Xiao’s stick.
The second he felt his right hand being numb, he knew it was too late as the stick in his hand dropped.
Once one lets go of their weapon, it is considered a defeat.
Geng Shao himself also found it hard to believe. He looked down at the stick and blurted out, “What… what move did you use?”
However, everyone could tell that Qin Xiao’s move couldn’t be simpler.
In a flash, he thrust the stick out and directly hit on the wrist.
In fact, even Qin Xiao himself felt like the easy win was a bit unreal.
Su Chao was also stunned. When he finally got back to his sense, he slowly said, “The winner is… Wang… Wang Xiao!”
Geng Shao clenched his fists as he showed a very unwilling expression. But everyone witnessed his defeat, he couldn’t do say anything at all.
After standing there for another second, he bowed towards Yuan Shangyu and Su Chao. Then he quickly turned around and left.
Qin Xiao threw away the stick in his hand and also bowed to Yuan Shangyu.
“Wang Xiao…” Yuan Shangyu quietly said Qin Xiao’s name and came forward, patted on Qin Xiao’s shoulder, and said with a smile, “You are the first warrior to pick up the Tiger Stone, and also the first man to be promoted to a lieutenant on the first day.”
Qin Xiao immediately replied, “Sir, I never wanted to be a lieutenant, I just wanted to be a normal cavalry of the White Tiger Battalion.”
He wasn’t lying.
Today when he came for the Tiger Stone, he just wanted to leave the feed mill and not deal with Sergeant He and the others again.
He originally thought that he could just secretly lift the stone, but he never expected so many people to come and watch.
When he came to the White Tiger Batallion, he wanted to hide in a low-key manner, but now it backfired.
He didn’t want to be promoted to a lieutenant either after beating Geng Shao. He just wanted to teach him a lesson because of what his cousin, Geng Shao, did.
“You think the rules at the White Tiger Battalion are jokes?” Yuan Shangyu frowned. “These are the rules that Marquess made, you can’t do anything about it. Since you beat Geng Shao already, then his position is now yours. And he will be working in the feed mill now.” Without waiting for Qin Xiao to reply, he had already said loudly in a deep voice, “Wang Xiao!”
Qin Xiao knew that if he insisted, it would just make people think low of the commander’s authority.
As the commander of the battalion, it was his superiority that makes the soldiers do as they were told. He knew that if he continued to do what he was doing, it would make Yuan Shangyu very unhappy.
He went into the feed mill this morning and got into multiple conflicts with Sergeant He and the others. All he wanted was to leave the feed mill, there was no need to anger Yuan Shangyu.
He knelt down on one knee and lowered his head. “Yes sir!”
“From now on, you will be the lieutenant for the Fire Sector. You must lead your troops strictly and make no mistakes,” continued Yuan Shangyu.
Qin Xiao bit his lips and replied, “Yes sir!” He smiled bitterly. I can’t even ride horses or shoot arrows, what army do you want me to lead?
“Aright nothing to see here any more.” Su Chao waved his hand. “Get back to your camps and rest.”
With his orders, the soldiers dared not stay any longer. Soon after, there were only a few people left under the battalion flag.
“Wang Xiao, come with me!”
With that, Yuan Shangyu turned and left. Qin Xiao quickly followed until they arrived at the commander’s tent. After going into the tent, Yuan Shangyu sat down in front of a desk and took a gulp of wine from the wine bag he handed to Qin Xiao earlier. Then he said, “I want to explain a few things to you.”
Although Yuan Shangyu had the highest position in the White Tiger Batallion, he was not arrogant. He even lent Qin Xiao his wine bag to encourage him. So he had a really good impression on Qin Xiao’s mind.
Qin Xiao’s ways of life were very simple. He would directly try to feel with his heart whether a person was good or bad for him.
People who were good to him, he would try to repay him as well. But if someone wants to hurt him, he would definitely fight back. An eye for an eye.
He sat respectfully while waiting for Yuan Shangyu’s words.
“I don’t care where you came from. I don’t care why you had such skills.” Although Yuan Shanyu was still smiling, his eyes were extremely sharp. “You’re now part of the White Tiger Battalion. From now on, if you make achievements, I’ll reward you. If you make mistakes, I’ll punish you.”
“I admire how the commander can make things the rules so clear yet strict,” said Qin Xiao respectfully.
“When fighting, you are the lieutenant. You must charge in front of everyone else. On the battlefield, if I find you charging slower than your men, then that means you’re a coward.” Yuan Shangyu’s voice was cold. “I never tolerate cowards.”
Qin Xiao shivered in his heart. It’s fun and stuff having a high position, but when there’s a real battle, we’re probably the ones risking the most of our lives too.
“If your Fire Sector makes achievements in a battle, you’ll be credited the most,” continued Yuan Shangyu, “But if your Fire Sector loses on the battlefield, then you’re the first to be punished. Do you understand?”
Qin Xiao smiled bitterly. “Sir, please forgive me, but although I have some strength…I… I don’t know how to ride horses, let alone shoot arrows. And… and I never led any troops. Um..can you remove my lieutenant position and just let me be a normal soldier?”
“If you don’t know how to ride a horse, can’t you learn?” Yuan Shangyu rolled his eyes. “Can’t shoot arrows? We may not have much in our battalion, but we have plenty of arrows for you. Go to the archery field and practice for twelve hours a day. I don’t believe you won’t improve like that.” He drank some more wine. “As of leading troops, you don’t have to worry about that too much. The White Tiger Battalion only has eight hundred cavalries. With four lieutenants, you only have two hundred troops under your control. And with the sergeants helping you…!” He thought about it, then decided to keep it simple. “Whatever, there’s no need to explain so much right now. When you train, you’ll have to work harder than everyone else. When you’re on the battlefield, you charge in front of everyone else. You don’t need to plan for the tactics either, don’t worry too much.”
Qin Xiao wasn’t sure what to do for a second as he scratched his head.
“Okay, there’s nothing else. You can go back now.” Yuan Shangyu yawned and waved his hand. “Wouldn’t it be the same if you do it during the day? Why do you have to pick up that stone during the middle of the night? Go to sleep.”
“Uh sir, where should I go?”
“You’re the lieutenant for the Fire Sector, of course you’re going back to the Fire Sector.” After a second, Yuan Shangyu finally understood and laughed as he said, “Ah, silly me.” He cried, “Guard!”
The guard outside of the commander’s tent immediately came in. Yuan Shangyu ordered, “You take Wang Xiao to the Fire Sector.”
The guard bowed and took the orders. Qin Xiao also bowed and left with the guard.
After leaving the commander’s tent, a gust of wind blew. Qin Xiao took a deep breath. Wow, the world is indeed very interesting
Just then, he was still cutting hay in the feed mill, the workers with the lowest position in the White Tiger Battalion.
Now in the blink of an eye, he turned into the lieutenant for the Fire Sector. If this didn’t happen to himself, he would never believe such a thing was realistic.
“Lieutenant Wang, congratulations.” The guard whispered beside him. “All the other brothers used to always say how no one will probably ever pick that stone up. Who would have imagined that Lieutenant Wang showed such incredible strength tonight, I admire you very much.”
Qin Xiao replied with a smile, “It’s just luck, luck.” If it wasn’t for Me Yeji to help me reach level two and all those red berries I ate, I would have never been able to pick up that Tiger Stone.
“Without actual strength, luck is useless.” The guard said with a smile.
“Oh, the commander asked me to go to the Fire Sector. I think he said there are four lieutenants? What are the other three sectors?” asked Qin Xiao.
“Speed like wind, unite like a forest, fierce like fire, sturdy like a mountain. This is what the Marquess said when he set up the battalion. From that day on, the White Tiger Battalion was split into four sectors. Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain. Each sector is composed of two hundred people. You are the lieutenant for the Fire Sector,” replied the guard.
“Wind Forest Fire Mountain?” Qin Xiao immediately remembered the days when he was still living with Mr. Zhong. Mr. Zhong would often bring a few books for him to read, he remember seeing these words together somewhere, but he couldn’t recall which book it came from.
The guard seemed to be willing to befriend Qin Xiao as he happily explained, “Lieutenant, these four sectors each have different training focuses. Although everyone knows how to ride horses and shoot arrows, the Wind Sector is mainly focused on riding skills; the Forest Sector focuses on archery; and the Mountain Sector mainly trains on sword skills. And your Fire Sector…!”
“What does the Fire Sector focus on training?”
“The Fire Sector is the hardest,” replied the guard, “Riding, archery, and swordsmanship are all being trained. As a result, you guys also receive the least time to rest. Among the four sectors, the Fire Sector has the most elite soldiers.”
Qin Xiao shook his head helplessly.
My luck is insane! I happened to enter the Fire Sector. More training than everyone else and less time to relax. Horray!
For the past few years, he had been living comfortably as the head of the Jia Prison. Now that he suddenly had to start such intense training, he wasn’t sure if he can survive through it.
At this time, he missed the happy days in Jia Prison more than ever
The guard seemed to be very familiar with the campground. He walked as he explained and Qin Xiao slowly started to understand the situation here.
He didn’t pay much attention before, but looking at it now, the campground was indeed split into four parts. And the colors on the flags of each sector were also different.
Gray Wind. Green Firest. Red Fire. Black Mountain.
Although there were only eight hundred people total, the order was well maintained. There were even fences between the sectors as boundaries.
“Lieutenant, this is the Fire Sector.” After walking for quite a while, the guard finally stopped and he said as he pointed to the area in front. Besides the closed gates, there was a flag. Under the dark sky, Qin Xiao couldn’t tell what color it was. But he could see that there were already a group of people standing there.
“Lieutenant, I’ll be going now.” The guard bowed and quickly left.
Qin Xiao walked towards the camp gate for the Fire Sector. Before he even arrived, several people had already rushed out to greet him. A few steps in front of him, they all knelt down on one knee and said in unison, “Pleasure to meet lieutenant!”
Qin Xiao had never experienced being such a high status before. He wanted to rush forward and help them up, but he only took one step before stopping immediately. He coughed once and said, “Everyone, please get up.”
The people stood up and one of them stepped forward. “Lieutenant, the five sergeants of the Fire Sectors have all arrived, waiting for your orders!” Everyone else immediately stood upright and waited for Qin Xiao to speak.
- 1“Stood there like a wooden chicken” is an idiom that means the person was so surprised that he/she doesn’t know what to do anymore