Volume 1, Chapter 67: The Ambition of an Insignificant Man

The night was deep and the cold wind howled bitterly.

In front of the ancestral hall of Zhangjia Village, huge bonfires crackled and blazed on the spacious open ground, driving away the chill.

Simple wooden tables were set up all around, and large iron cauldrons were mounted in the center. Inside the cauldrons, whole blocks of pork were stewed together with Chinese cabbage, vermicelli, and potatoes, bubbling away and releasing an intensely mouth-watering aroma.

Almost the entire village, young and old, had gathered together, sitting around in groups, eating meat in large chunks, drinking wine from large bowls, and talking and laughing heartily.

The children were even more overjoyed.

Zhang Muyang had brought back firecrackers and fireworks for them, and these little ones had long since rushed impatiently to the distant open space to play and set them off. Constant bursts of laughter rang out, making it feel just like the Lunar New Year.

"Come! Let us all raise a bowl together to toast Commander Zhang!" The old clan patriarch stood up with a trembling frame, holding his wine bowl high.

"Right! A toast to Commander Zhang!"

"A toast to Brother Muyang!"

The villagers stood up one after another, holding their bowls, deeply moved and excited.

In their hearts, they knew very well that without Zhang Muyang, Zhangjia Village would have been reduced to an unimaginable fate. As for the young men of the village wanting to become officials? They probably would have died on the battlefield long ago, with even their bones left unfound.

As for that pitiful compensation for those killed in action?

The imperial court would indeed issue it, but after layers of corruption and exploitation, whatever finally reached the hands of the villagers would likely not even be enough to buy a cheap coffin.

"Bottoms up!"

Filled with heroic spirit, Zhang Muyang tilted his head back and drained the fiery, potent liquor in his bowl in a single gulp.

The old clan patriarch wiped his mouth and asked, "Muyang, tell everyone, what is the situation really like up in the northern frontier? Have the Rong tribe and the Northern Yan cavalry truly joined forces? Is General Xiao really poisoned? Can our Town North Pass... still hold out?"

These questions struck like heavy hammers, pounding against everyone's heart.

The scene instantly fell silent, and all eyes focused on Zhang Muyang, filled with tension and anxiety.

Zhang Muyang put down his wine bowl and said in a deep voice, "Rest assured, everyone! Town North Pass will definitely hold! The brothers of our Defending the Frontier Army are no pushovers! However... the imperial court suffers from troubles both internal and external, treacherous officials hold power, eunuchs act tyrannically, and the lives of the common people across the land are already miserable. We cannot rely on others; we must make our own plans early!"

"What kind of plans?"

"Conscription! Martial arts training! We must make ourselves strong!"

Zhang Muyang's voice was resolute and ringing: "Only the power held within our own hands is truly something we can depend on."

The old clan patriarch nodded heavily, expressing his stance: "Muyang, you are right! Go ahead and do whatever you must; all of us in Zhangjia Village will listen to you!"

Zhang Muyang produced two hundred liang of silver, handed them to the old clan patriarch, and said solemnly, "Starting tomorrow, all the young men in the village will participate in full training! As for the instructor... I already have someone in mind."

His gaze shifted toward Blacksmith Han, who was quietly drinking nearby.

Blacksmith Han was a veteran of the Defending the Frontier Army, extremely familiar with military formations and basic drills, making him the absolute best candidate.

Yet Blacksmith Han put down his wine bowl, shook his head, and confessed frankly, "Muyang, I can handle the training, but I'm afraid I might fail these young men and not be able to teach them any real skills."

"Father, don't worry, I have this."

Zhang Muyang smiled faintly and pulled two carefully compiled booklets from his tunic: *New Recruit Survival Guide of the Defending the Frontier Army* and *Actual Combat Manual of the Defending the Frontier Army*.

The booklets were illustrated with text and diagrams, using simple language that perfectly integrated the essence of modern special forces training with the traditional drill manuals of the Defending the Frontier Army. Covering physical endurance, close-quarters combat, reconnaissance, coordination, and wilderness survival, they could be called a truly practical military compendium!

Originally, Wu Kexiong had wanted Zhang Muyang to promote these across all camps, but due to one battle after another, he simply had no time.

Blacksmith Han took the booklets, flipped through a few pages by the firelight, and a look of shock immediately appeared on his face. He jerked his head up: "Muyang, where... where did you get this? Such exquisite and practical drill manuals, I have never seen them before!"

"I figured them out and drew them myself."

"What?"

The look Blacksmith Han gave Zhang Muyang instantly filled with sheer disbelief and profound respect. He gripped the booklets tightly and said in a deep voice, "Fine! With these in hand, even if I have to risk this old life of mine, I will definitely train an elite force for you."

Zhang Muyang nodded, then looked toward Yang Wenxiu and Yang Wenjuan: "Wenxiu, Wenjuan, logistics and provisions will be up to you. The brothers will be training hard, so their meals must keep pace. Only by eating their fill will they have the strength! Don't worry about the silver, I'll figure something out."

The two women nodded solemnly: "Understood!"

Han Li smiled and said, "Forging weapons and repairing armor will be left to me and my father; we guarantee a steady supply!"

"Good!" Zhang Muyang raised his wine bowl once more, swept his gaze across the crowd, and said loudly, "A toast to you all! A chaotic era is coming; may everyone in Zhangjia Village stand as one and live well!"

"Live well!"

All the villagers felt their blood boil, responding in unison, and drained their bowls of wine.

Nothing more needed to be said, but... an unprecedented sense of urgency and cohesion had already permeated the heart of every villager. That very night, dozens of young men signed up for training, becoming the first batch of recruits under Blacksmith Han.

As for the new recruits recruited in Sifang County, Zhang Muyang did not plan to deploy them just yet.

Privately training local militias and forging weaponry was a crime that could lead to the execution of one's entire extended family if leaked.

Nighttime.

With a beauty in each arm, Zhang Muyang naturally could not avoid a bout of lingering intimacy.

It was only tough on the pregnant Yang Wenxiu, who could only lie at the head of the brick bed, listening to the commotion next door and quietly enduring the torment.

Just as dawn was breaking.

Lin Xiaobei, Gou Sheng, and the others had already climbed out of bed to practice their sabers in the courtyard.

Smiling, Zhang Muyang called those young men over as well, personally instructing them and putting them through two days of high-intensity crash training.

Early the next morning, Zhang Xiaobei and Gou Sheng led a group to the county town to relieve Su Ying and Bai Zhi, who were stationed there for recruitment.

At dusk, Su Ying and Bai Zhi finally hurried back to Zhangjia Village, covered in dust.

"Elder sister..."

Bai Zhi was very quiet, blinking her large eyes and addressing them one by one as elder sister as she greeted them.

Just look at her appearance.

With skin as tender as jade, that face... you could practically squeeze water out of just by pinching it.

Han Li took Bai Zhi's hand, liking her more the longer she looked, and smiled: "Good sister, from now on we are one family, don't be shy at all."

Bai Zhi blushed and nodded: "Mm, I won't be."

Han Li's eyes rolled playfully as she smiled: "That's perfect, tonight you can sleep with husband, we'll just watch from the side."

"Ah? This... how can that be!"

Bai Zhi was so frightened her face changed color, and she waved her hands repeatedly: "Brother Muyang and I... no, it's not, not what you think."

Han Li asked, "Then do you want to marry someone else?"

Bai Zhi blushed even harder, saying softly, "No, no."

"Our husband has looks, he has ability, he's skilled in both literary and martial arts, and his medical skills are top-notch. Where could you ever find a man like this? Besides, the rest of us get along just like biological sisters, and husband puts on no airs with us whatsoever."

"That's right, that's right."

Su Ying, Yang Wenxiu, and Yang Wenjuan all stepped forward to persuade her as well.

At this, Bai Zhi grew even more embarrassed and flustered, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Zhang Muyang chuckled: "What are you all doing, just stirring up trouble here for no reason."

"Husband..."

"Time to sleep, I have something to tell you all."

Originally, Zhang Muyang was supposed to lie at the edge of the brick bed, but because Yang Wenxiu was with child, under Zhang Muyang's strict orders, she was given the spot at the head of the bed.

Zhang Muyang was second, Han Li third, Yang Wenjuan fourth, Su Ying fifth, and Bai Zhi sixth...

That was quite a large earthen brick bed.

Yet packed with six people sleeping on it, everyone had no choice but to lie on their sides, completely unable to move.

Holding Han Li in his arms, Zhang Muyang told them about Li Ping'er—she was also a poor, ill-fated girl. However, with the war situation being tense right now, he would bring her back the next time he went to Town North Pass.

"Alright!"

They offered no objections.

Su Ying quietly poked Bai Zhi beside her with her finger, whispering, "Sister Bai Zhi, won't you really reconsider? If you stay with our husband, once you miss this shop, there won't be another village like it."

Bai Zhi buried her face completely into the quilt, leaving only her ear tips glowing red, and dared not make another sound.