Chapter Twenty-Three: What Reason Is There Not to Persevere?

At the first light of dawn, while the mist around Tong Pass had yet to dissipate, a piercing whistle echoed over the training camp nestled in the valley outside the western gate. It was immediately followed by thunderous shouts ringing out from outside every tent: "Rise and shine! Up now, emergency assembly!"

The soldiers were startled from their slumber. It took them a long moment to comprehend what was happening, and everyone scrambled to pull on their clothes and boots in a panic, hurrying to assemble. Chaos erupted from the tents, followed by the sound of disorderly footsteps. It took quite some time for these hand-picked soldiers to finally line up in the center of the training ground, though the formation was so ragged it could only be described as a complete mess.

Yang Xi, accompanied by a few dozen fully armed personal guards, stood on the training ground, his face cold as he surveyed the disorganized mob of soldiers. Unsurprisingly, there was no order to speak of in this first morning assembly, let alone any semblance of reaction speed.

After the squad leaders had managed to get their groups into some form of formation, Yang Xi walked to the front. Standing tall and imposing, he delivered his reprimand: "Today is the first day of training. This morning's assembly has left me very disappointed. However, since this is the first emergency drill, I will not dwell on it. Let me tell you this: in the training to come, emergency assemblies may happen at any time. If future assemblies are as chaotic as this, I will impose severe penalties!"

Yang Xi pointed to an hourglass nearby. "From now on, all assemblies will be timed by this hourglass. Anyone who exceeds the time limit will be punished. You may be unfamiliar with the upcoming training, but you must get used to everything as quickly as possible!"

The hourglass Yang Xi had set allowed for roughly five minutes—a duration based on modern military emergency assembly protocols. Within this short window, they were expected to wake up, dress, organize their gear, fall into formation, and prepare to move out. Once the soldiers adapted, he would gradually shorten the time even further.

The squad leaders had been informed the previous night that there would be an emergency assembly, and they had not missed their cues; it was their voices shouting outside the tents. Hearing Yang Xi’s announcement, they were the first to respond, and the other soldiers followed suit in a deafening, unified shout.

"Today's training objective is a five-li cross-country run. Move out!" Yang Xi issued the command for the morning's training plan with characteristic brevity.

To begin special forces training, physical conditioning was the first priority. Only with strong bodies could subsequent modules be expanded upon, and distance running was one of the best ways to build that foundation.

The day's training finally came to an end. After a hearty dinner, the whistle blew, and it was time for bed. Soon, the barracks were filled with the sound of deep snoring.

Today's training schedule was not extensive, but it was physically grueling. Some struggled with the morning run, but ultimately, everyone persevered. Beyond the run, there were many other tasks, including drill maneuvers and standing posture training.

Yang Xi highly valued the drill training used for new recruits in later eras; obedience and discipline began with these most basic, monotonous movements. If the soldiers could not master these simple formations, there was no hope for them in more advanced modules.

Although drill training seemed simple, the long, repetitive monotony was exhausting and mentally draining. Many could not withstand standing under the scorching sun, and more than a few fainted. Yet, Yang Xi maintained his ruthless demands. He told them that if anyone could not hold on or did not wish to train, they were free to leave at any time without penalty.

However, no one voluntarily quit; everyone gritted their teeth and endured.

Yang Xi remained with them throughout the training, and his dedication won the soldiers over. No one wanted to be a coward. Deserters were a disgrace, and the memory of those who had been executed on the walls of Tong Pass served as a grim lesson. While Yang Xi claimed he would not hold them to it, no one knew for certain if that was true.

Whether they persevered or handled it with ease, everyone felt utterly exhausted. After dinner, the soldiers returned to their tents and collapsed like corpses, all falling asleep almost instantly.

But inside this training camp, no one was destined for a peaceful night's rest. While the soldiers were in the midst of deep sleep, a sharp whistle suddenly pierced the air. Just as in the morning, the squad leaders were shouting frantically outside the tents: "Up, get up! Emergency assembly, move!"

Startled from their dreams, many soldiers could not react immediately, sitting up in a daze, unsure of what to do. Most, however, after a moment of panic, scrambled into their clothes and rushed to the training ground. Many cursed Yang Xi’s relentless torment, feeling as though it would be the death of them—they hadn't even had a decent night's sleep after a day of grueling training!

Looking at the disheveled soldiers before him, Yang Xi uncharacteristically offered no reprimand. No matter the unit, the result of a first midnight emergency assembly would never be ideal, especially for these soldiers who had just been selected and had yet to adapt to high-intensity training.

They would get used to it in time.

"Attention! Parade rest!" After the squad leaders had organized their units, they waited for Yang Xi's command.

The training ground was pitch black, lit only by the torches held by Yang Xi’s personal guards and a few scattered bonfires around the perimeter. The fires were insufficient to illuminate the entire field, and the soldiers could barely see one another's faces.

Yang Xi walked to the front of the lines and shouted: "Nighttime emergency assemblies are designed to train your rapid response capabilities in the dark. In the event of an urgent tactical need, an emergency, or if we are suddenly discovered or attacked by the enemy, we must be able to concentrate rapidly and strike back swiftly as a special combat unit. Whether it is day or night, we must maintain vigilance and be ready for battle at all times."

Facing the group of bleary-eyed and terrified soldiers, Yang Xi raised his voice. "In future training, nighttime emergency assemblies will be held at irregular intervals. Tonight was the first rehearsal; in the future, you must be prepared to carry your weapons and equipment. I now announce: squad leaders, take your men back. Dismissed!"

"What?!" Yang Xi's order shocked the soldiers. Was this some kind of sick game?

They soon learned that Yang Xi was not playing games at all.

In the training period that followed, such emergency assemblies became a routine occurrence. Moreover, they were never dismissed immediately after these midnight drills; high-intensity training, specifically cross-country running, would be waiting for them.

Adaptation is a human instinct. Most of these selected soldiers had previous combat experience and excellent physical stamina. After the initial discomfort and complaints, they endured. They saw that Yang Xi trained right alongside them, never missing a single task. Even during drill training, he never sought shelter in the shade for long.

This commander of the Tong Pass garrison was also busy handling military affairs. If their commander, who bore a greater physical burden than they did, could persevere, what excuse did they, as ordinary soldiers or low-ranking officers, have to give up?