Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

After a whirlwind of cleanup, the Shanglinyuan training ground was filled with a large group of new recruits, some lying on the ground and others staggering.

Shen Lang coldly looked at the group of panting scholars, or the shirtless men swinging their hooves, and four words suddenly popped into his mind.

"What a damn rabble."

But it doesn't matter. Before long, they will become real killing machines in their own hands, becoming the seeds of the new army and making their mark on this land.

"Girls, congratulations on successfully passing the first test, although your arrival at the training ground was not as fast as I expected."

But your sincere actions deeply moved me, and to show my respect for you,

After training, everyone will lie down and receive five strokes of the military rod.

After all, your current situation makes me very worried.

This action was so slow it was appalling.

Perhaps this is the greatest insult to the literary giant who coined the term.

At this moment, a young man in his early twenties protested, "Instructor, you can scold us, you can even punish us, it's no problem!"

But could you please stop calling us "girls"? That's fucking unfair!

Shen Lang narrowed his eyes, looking at the young man in front of him who had a rather heroic air, and asked, "What's your name?"

"My name is Zhang Dingbian!"

Upon hearing the name, Shen Lang was immediately delighted.

If I remember correctly, Zhang Dingbian was a general under Chen Youliang during the late Yuan Dynasty? He was both intelligent and brave, a truly formidable figure.

I never expected to meet someone with the same name here; it's truly an eye-opener.

Hopefully, he won't let himself down.

"Your suggestion is good, but I'm very sorry, your current behavior is almost like that of women."

To gain recognition, you must demonstrate perseverance and determination.

Otherwise, the title "girl" would stay with you for the rest of your lives.

Zhang Dingbian gritted his teeth and glared at Shen Lang with a face full of resentment.

Shen Lang ignored him and casually pointed at him, saying, "Also, you go and run ten laps around the training ground first."

"Why?"

Zhang Dingbian looked completely unconvinced.

"On what grounds? Because you didn't report for duty and immediately made demands of me, the instructor. That's against the rules!"

"But you didn't tell me beforehand."

"So you feel wronged? You feel it's unfair? If so, that's right, because here, I am the rule."

Whether it's fair or not is up to me. If you're not happy, you can get out now. Nobody can stop you. It's a royal privilege—I can act first and report later. Any other objections? If not, then get moving!

As soon as he finished speaking, another person in the group couldn't help but speak up: "That's way too domineering. How can you do that?"

"Who's speaking? Come out and show yourself!"

The next second, two young men stepped forward at the same time, both of them quite handsome.

"name."

The older one immediately replied, "Qu Yi."

The younger one proudly declared, "Lu Meng."

Now it was Shen Lang's turn to fall silent. If Zhang Dingbian was just a coincidence, then Qu Yi and Lü Meng in front of him were just too much.

Qu Yi was a general under Yuan Shao during the Three Kingdoms period. In the novel, he is just a minor character who was killed by Zhao Yun with a single spear thrust.

However, in official history, this man was a heavyweight, a fierce warrior who defeated the White Horse Cavalry with infantry crossbow formations.

Unfortunately, it is said that he was later executed by Yuan Shao for being arrogant and complacent.

Needless to say, Lü Meng was portrayed as a despicable villain in the novel. He killed Guan Yu and was cursed by countless Shu fans. Shen Lang used to feel disgusted by Lü Meng's behavior.

But after reading the official historical description, I realized that Lü Meng's life story is just like that of an early protagonist in a wish-fulfillment novel who rises from the ashes.

He was an ordinary man who joined the army only to make money, and he only lost one battle in his entire life, to Zhang Liao, which was when they were trying to save Sun Quan.

During the rest of his life, he was both brave and resourceful, and served as a model of private morality in the Eastern Wu region.

Aside from crossing the Yangtze River in white robes to seize Jingzhou, Lü Meng personally beheaded Chen Jiu in the Battle of Jiangxia; when Zhou Yu took Nan Commandery, he offered a strategy to attack Yidao; and he strongly urged Sun Quan to take Wancheng, building the Wancheng-Ruxu defense line, which remained unbroken until the fall of Cao Wei.

In particular, his Jiangdong defense strategy influenced the Eastern Jin Dynasty, which saw its elites migrate south.

After all, it makes sense. Anyone who can enter the Temple of Martial Arts must have something remarkable about them. In addition, Lü Meng has a very harmonious relationship with his colleagues. He is broad-minded and magnanimous. Even Yu Fan, who is good at talking, is willing to get along with Lü Meng.

He was also listed alongside Zhao Yun of Shu and Xiahou Dun of Wei in Chen Shou's writings as a model of national heroes.

Now that these two figures share the same name as the great god from the late Han Dynasty have appeared, Shen Lang is starting to wonder if this is a prank.

"Very well, since you two ladies are not satisfied, then you can run ten more laps with Miss Zhang."

Upon hearing this, the three men's faces were filled with dissatisfaction.

"If you don't want to, then you can get out. I don't keep disobedient trash here."

The three exchanged glances, and finally gritted their teeth and began running around the training ground.

After this incident, the remaining five thousand people no longer dared to provoke this smiling tiger, and the scene immediately fell silent.

Shen Lang cleared his throat and addressed the group, "Girls, since this is your first day of training, I won't make things too difficult for you."

I'll only teach you the basics of formation and marching, to familiarize you with the new army's standards. Now, everyone stand at attention, eyes to the right.

"Within forty breaths, I want to see you all standing upright in the sun. If you can't, then crawl out of Shanglin Garden and go home to farm!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd scattered in all directions like headless flies.

For a moment, shouts, curses, greetings, and groans echoed in the crisp morning air...

Noon at the exact time.

"Alright, girls, take a break. You look like you're about to live in Bengbu."

As soon as Shen Lang finished speaking, the new recruits who had been standing at attention for more than an hour immediately began to complain.

Shen Lang glanced at his notebook and saw that 227 people had been eliminated in just one morning.

Those who left were mostly seventeen or eighteen-year-old farmers.

Surprisingly, none of the young scholars backed down; they all persevered.

"After a 15-minute rest, line up and go to the dining hall for lunch! We will continue with an hour of drills in the afternoon."

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately groaned in despair.

I thought standing at attention would be easier than I remembered, but I never expected it to be so tiring.

"report!"

At that moment, another sixteen-year-old boy raised his hand.

Shen Lang nodded: "Meng Gong, is there anything you want to say?"

Meng Gong asked, "Instructor, how long will we be training like this? Can you tell me what the purpose is?"

Shen Lang smiled and said, "How long? Until you can distinguish left from right by following the slogans."

Only when the marching drill is standardized and uniform can I prepare for my next project.

As for its use? The New Army values ​​discipline most, so remember that, girls!

Every drop of sweat you shed today will be rewarded on the battlefields of the future!

After saying that, Shen Lang waved his hand and walked directly towards the dining hall.

For an army lacking a fundamental ideology to undergo a qualitative change, it must take an unconventional path.

On the other side, in the Imperial Study of Weiyang Palace.

"Your Majesty, the Xia Kingdom has sent a letter urging the Chu Kingdom to send grain. This old minister has come to ask Your Majesty for your consideration."

"Since the King of Xia has taken the initiative to ask me for help, I cannot sit idly by. I have instructed the Ministry of Revenue to allocate 500,000 shi of grain to Xia to relieve its urgent needs."

"Old minister, take your orders."

After performing the court etiquette, Ye Mo said, "Your Majesty, this old minister has another matter to report."

Jiang Mengxuan closed the book: "Is there anything else, Prime Minister Ye, to report?"

Ye Mo: "Your Majesty, regarding the selection of the governor of Jingzhou, this old minister believes that my son is not up to the task, and it would be better to choose another virtuous and capable person."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Mengxuan was greatly surprised: "What do you mean by that, Prime Minister Ye? Your son has not done anything wrong in his post, so why is he deemed unsuitable for the position?"

Ye Mo: "My son is too unruly and acts with extreme arrogance. He is no longer fit to continue handling affairs in Jingzhou."

I humbly request Your Majesty to relieve him of all his duties, so that this old minister may properly discipline him.

Jiang Mengxuan couldn't quite figure out what Ye Mo was trying to do; judging from his expression, he didn't seem to be faking it at all.

What secrets did this happen that I don't know about?

"We hope Your Majesty will grant your request."

Ye Mo's pleading voice came again, and Jiang Mengxuan had no choice but to agree.

"Who would be suitable to fill the position of Prefect of Jingzhou?"

Ye Mo raised his eyes and replied, "Although Jingzhou is not on the front line, it is crucial to the canal transport in the north."

This old minister believes that capable individuals should be selected from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Rites. Wang Xuance, a candidate for the Ministry of Rites, and Xue Yongli, a candidate for the Ministry of Revenue, are both suitable candidates. Your Majesty may decide.”