In the courtyard, Chen Sanshi practiced his spear technique while the medicinal power of the Bone-Nourishing Soup coursed through his body.
With the help of the Haoran Breathing Method, his qi and blood moved in rhythm, tempering his muscles and bones. The sensation was tingling and numbing—not as painfully intense as before, but still deeply stimulating.
[Technique: Undying Golden Serpent Spear (Upper Scroll) (Uninitiated)]
[Progress: 65/100]
[Effect: Dragon Elephant Blood]
"In a few more days, I'll reach the tendon-tempering stage," he muttered. "Once that's done, I'll head to Medicine Valley."
Recently, the cases of missing people had decreased sharply. The martial halls must've reined themselves in—but not completely.
Chen Sanshi had also tested a few more uses for that strange lamp oil. For example, he'd scooped a tiny drop and fed it to a rat.
The rat had died instantly.
Clearly, it wasn't meant to be consumed.
Most likely, it was a kind of fuel—something used to ignite fire.
"Phew—"
He wiped off the sweat and sat down at the stone table beneath the plum blossom tree. Opening several military manuals, he began reading.
Over the past few days, he'd come to a conclusion: there were two main ways to improve his Commanding Troops proficiency.
1. Study military strategy and theory through books.
2. Conduct training—preferably formation drills with troops.
Real combat would definitely work too, but he didn't have that opportunity yet.
"Leading an army isn't just shouting commands and charging ahead. It's a craft in itself."
The more he read, the more he realized how intricate it was.
Preparation had to begin half a year—or even longer—before deployment. One needed to plan how many soldiers and weapons were required, how much grain and fodder, how to transport them, and what the expected losses would be.
If it was an expedition, weather and terrain had to be considered too. Would the troops adapt to the local climate? Would they face ambushes, and if so, where were the most likely spots?
With a large enough army, even something as simple as taking a dump needed strict arrangements—it wasn't as simple as dropping your pants anywhere.
War was a complex affair that no single person could handle alone. It demanded a full organizational system to operate smoothly.
That was why having capable subordinates was so vital.
Then there was formation strategy.
According to the military texts, certain special formations could significantly increase the fighting strength of ordinary soldiers.
For instance, to encircle and kill a martial artist who had reached tempering blood major achievement with a lower-grade technique normally required about 20 lives. But with a special formation, that number could be reduced to 15.
On paper, it didn't look like much.
But each number represented a living man.
Multiply that across a campaign, and the manpower saved was considerable.
Of course, since they were called special formations, not everyone could execute them.
First, the commander had to actually understand them.
The formation diagrams in the manuals were built on the foundation of Qimen Bagua, full of cryptic patterns that ordinary people couldn't grasp without years of study and focus.
Second—even if one understood the theory, they had to be able to apply it in real battle.
Drills were drills, and war was war.
If a formation collapsed the moment it was charged, it was useless no matter how clever it looked on paper.
That was why remote garrison posts like theirs usually only trained in the simplest basic formations.
Only elite troops in real armies could employ special formations effectively in combat.
As for top-tier forces, their formations were executed by fully trained martial soldiers.
"Formations are still a long way off," Chen Sanshi murmured.
He had only just finished teaching the recruits their stance training. They hadn't even reached the level where martial soldiers and formation grunts were clearly distinguished. Still, teaching martial arts counted toward his progress.
[Skill: Commanding Troops (Uninitiated)]
[Progress: 48/100]
[Effect: None]
By the time the new recruits completed their assessment period, he should reach the Beginner stage.
"Flag Officer Chen, assemble!"
A shout came from outside—Sub-Flag Officer Fang's voice.
"What's going on?"
Chen Sanshi opened the door, surprised. It was still noon break.
Sub-Flag Officer Fang explained quickly, "The Prefect and the newly appointed County Magistrate have arrived together. They're coming to inspect our Thousand-Household Division."
"Which Prefect? The Prefect of Anding?" Chen Sanshi asked, brows furrowing.
Chen Sanshi asked calmly.
After receiving confirmation, he couldn't help recalling the threat that Song Wu had uttered before his death.
He didn't feel nervous, though. He decided to first observe the situation before taking action.
Following Sub-Flag Officer Fang to the training field, he saw that most of the soldiers were already standing neatly in formation, waiting for their superiors to inspect them.
Technically, in the Great Sheng Dynasty, the civil and military offices were two separate systems—independent yet balanced. One didn't command the other. Normally, it wasn't within a Prefect's jurisdiction to inspect the army.
Unless, of course, that Prefect represented the faction supporting this upcoming military expedition—the Crown Prince's side.
The crowd didn't have to wait long. About ten minutes later, Thousand-Household Officer Xiang Tingchun appeared with two civil officials, surrounded by a group of martial officers.
The man leading the group wore a rich crimson robe embroidered with soaring cloud geese—marking him as a fourth-rank Prefect.
Beside him was another man in a blue robe, with a mandarin duck pattern stitched upon it—signifying a seventh-rank County Magistrate.
They didn't deliver speeches or reprimands. Instead, they strolled through the formation, conversing with each other as they passed, before heading straight into the central command tent.
Chen Sanshi noticed a detail that others seemed to overlook.
The seventh-rank County Magistrate showed not the slightest hint of deference toward the fourth-rank Prefect. On the contrary, his tone carried a faint air of arrogance.
That meant only one thing—this County Magistrate had powerful backing.
The Magistrate didn't stay long; within the time it took to drink a cup of tea, he departed. The Prefect, however, did not emerge.
As expected.
"Flag Officer Chen, the Prefect wants to see you."
Hundred-Household Officer Liu approached quietly to deliver the message, lowering his voice as he warned, "This Prefect is connected to the Song family's backers. They don't dare move against the Thousand-Household Officer, but since they found out you were involved in that case, they'll likely come after you. Be very careful."
"Thank you, Hundred-Household Liu, for the warning."
Chen Sanshi frowned slightly but showed no fear. He strode directly toward the central tent.
The crime of rebellion had already been settled; no one had grounds to touch him publicly now.
Avoiding the meeting would only make things worse. Facing it head-on might at least reveal the other party's intentions—and give him a way to prepare.
He lifted the tent flap and entered.
The atmosphere inside wasn't nearly as tense as he had imagined. The spacious interior held only two people.
The Prefect in the crimson robe sat in the main seat, while behind him stood a middle-aged bodyguard.
With a polite smile, the Prefect began, "You must be Flag Officer Chen Sanshi?"
"That's right," Chen Sanshi replied, cupping his fists. "Prefect, you summoned me—what instructions do you have?"
The Prefect spoke bluntly, "I'm a straightforward man, so I'll be direct. Flag Officer Chen, your martial talent is remarkable. To be confined in a small place like Poyang County is a waste.
"How about this—you leave this garrison and come serve as a personal guard in my household? I'll provide you with ample cultivation resources and ensure your path to transformation-level strength is smooth. What do you think?"
A bodyguard?
Chen Sanshi froze for a moment, then quickly understood.
It sounded like an offer of recruitment.
In truth, it was a cleverly disguised elimination.
The Song family's destruction was something the Prefect couldn't ignore. If he let it go, how could he keep the martial halls obedient in the future?
But since the one who executed the extermination was Thousand-Household Officer Xiang Tingchun—someone the Prefect couldn't afford to offend—he could only target Chen Sanshi instead.
The Tailei Martial Hall had already been condemned for treason. There was no way to openly accuse Chen Sanshi of wrongdoing.
So, under the pretense of "appreciating talent," the Prefect intended to pull him under his control, remove him from Poyang County, and call it a compromise to appease the martial halls.
But...
Chen Sanshi had struggled his way up to where he was now, and soon he'd be joining the Eight Garrisons for the Elite Selection. How could he possibly bow his head and become a dog for a mere Prefect?
He could already predict what the man would say next.
Sure enough, the Prefect's smile turned faint and cold.
"Flag Officer Chen, I'm saying this for your own good. The spring campaign is fast approaching, and your cultivation is still shallow. On the battlefield, swords and arrows don't discriminate. If some unfortunate accident were to happen, wouldn't that be a waste of such rare talent?"
The implication was clear.
Either serve obediently—or die in an "accident."
A surge of killing intent welled up in Chen Sanshi's chest.
From Qin Xiong's death onward, troubles had piled up one after another.
He wasn't fond of killing or scheming.
But every time he hesitated, someone else tried to strike first.
'I just want to practice martial arts in peace,' he thought.
'Why must everyone force me?'
Couldn't go after Xiang Tingchun, so now they turned to bully him instead?
A Prefect? Could such a man survive one shot from a Fifteen-Stone Bow?
Chen Sanshi had already made up his mind—to play along for now, and strike later if needed.
Just as he was about to respond, a cool, crisp female voice suddenly rang out from behind.
"Prefect Ji," it said, "Flag Officer Chen is officially registered under the Grand Commander's Office as a candidate for the Elite Selection. For you to try and snatch him away like this—don't you think that's a bit inappropriate?"