Reborn as a Noble's Son

“Chapter 87: The Show of Authority

The whole place fell silent. ‘Newbie noddles,’ wasn’t a kind term. In fact, it reflected the old soldiers’ scornful attitude towards new ones.

Nie Zhenbang’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. In his previous life, Nie Zhenbang had never had such an opportunity. Except for some past major incidents, Zhenbang’s current path was entirely new.

Just then, a man dressed as an officer jumped down from the truck and addressed approximately four hundred new recruits in a stern voice, “Newbie noddles, from today, you are soldiers of the 18th Group Army’s first infantry division in the Xibei Military Region. Our base is over one thousand three hundred kilometers away from here. I command everyone to turn left and board the plane!”

The military transport aircraft’s large cabin door was opened. The soldiers lined up in two columns and orderly boarded the plane. These newbies, having gone through a basic training at their respective county’s military department, could understand military orders.

Once more than five hundred people had boarded the plane, the aircraft slowly moved onto the runway and gradually increased its speed to take off. After approximately two hours in flight, the plane landed again.

At that moment, in the military airport located in the suburbs of Kashi in Tianshan, a dozen military trucks were parked along the side. The officer reappeared and as usual, began with the same line, “Newbie noddles, get in the truck. Let me introduce myself as your new recruits instructor. My name is Yao Yuan. Starting from today, I will be accompanying you through unforgettable three months.”

The truck quickly left the airport. Kashi was completely desert. Dust billowed behind the truck as it sped down the dirt road.

After about half an hour’s drive, the truck arrived at the military base. Many soldiers were training on the large training field.

As soon as the recruits got off the truck, Yao Yuan’s expression once again became serious, and he roared, “All of you gather together, run around the entire training field ten times!”

As soon as his words fell, all the new recruits started protesting. At that moment, they were essentially civilians who had just put on military uniforms. Concepts like regimentation, military discipline, and the weight of military orders, weren’t in their minds yet.

At this moment, in the eyes of the newbies, the instructor was completely overbearing. They had just arrived after a long journey, and they should have been welcomed with a solemn ceremony of admission, assigned their barracks, and given a good meal and rest. This was simply ridiculous. They had hardly arrived and had yet to do anything before starting to run.

Among the crowd, a few city recruits who had some insights started whispering, “Standard track, four hundred meters per lap, running ten laps is four kilometers. Is this bastard trying to kill us with exhaustion? We won’t run.

We demand fair treatment.’

“Exactly, before coming here, I heard from some soldiers that the first thing you do is get assigned a barracks. That’s not how it works here. We won’t run, let’s see what he can do to us.” Yet another audacious guy chipped in.

At this moment, Nie Zhenbang was also slightly frowning; this situation was rather unreasonable. Although Nie Zhenbang had never been in a military camp before, he had heard and indirectly learned some things. Furthermore, when Nie Jiamin had been sent to the Xibei Military Region, he had called Nie Zhenbang and shared his gripes. But Nie Jiamin hadn’t undergone immediate physical training upon his arrival there.

Looking at Yao Yuan who was standing in the front, Nie Zhenbang’s lips curled into a cold smile. Nie Zhenbang then realized something. It seemed like this instructor was no ordinary person. Yao was demonstrating his authority to Nie and the others.

Indeed, right as Nie Zhenbang was speculating what Yao Yuan was planning to do next, Yao Yuan stepped forward and declared in a deep voice, “Do you think it’s unfair? Yeah? Well! I’m telling you that for the next three months, there will be no concept of fairness here.”

“Just now, those who questioned me, you, you, you, and you as well. What are you hiding for? Did you think I couldn’t see you? All of you who protested the fairness of it, run an additional three laps each. I’m telling you, this is a military base, not your home. You newbie noddles!”

Yao Yuan had a casual, cussing demeanor. After speaking, he himself donned full combat gear, looked around at everyone and said, “New recruits, pay attention. I am fully equipped, with a load of forty pounds. This time, I will complete the entire run with you. Don’t say I’m being unfair to you.”

However, at this moment, a new recruit suddenly shouted from the crowd, “Reporting.”

Upon glancing, there was a young man, about eighteen years old, about 1.73 meters tall, thin, but his whole demeanor was strong and tanned. Speaking in accented Mandarin with a southern dialect, he said, “Instructor, on what grounds do you disregard us new soldiers? I will compete with you. Isn’t it just ten laps? I will also carry forty pounds. After all, I’m used to running on mountain roads.”

This statement surprised Yao Yuan. Looking at the young man with an amused smile on his face, he said, “Fine, we’ll do as you propose. However, if I surpass you by two laps, you will have to run an extra ten laps. Fall in.”

If this were any other time, Nie Zhenbang might have stepped forward. However, Elder Nie’s words had sunk in. At this moment, Nie Zhenbang did not voluntarily stand up, but quietly prepared. Under Yao Yuan’s command, the five hundred new recruits began running.

After one lap, those who started the fastest had almost all slowed down. By this time, Nie Zhenbang and the young man who had just competed with Yao Yuan closely followed behind Yao Yuan.

After three laps, a good number of city soldiers with insufficient training had already started walking.

At this point, Nie Zhenbang and Yao Yuan were neck and neck. The young man who had been closely following Yao Yuan for four laps started slowing down under the same weight load. He was already panting a bit.

Looking at Nie Zhenbang, a spark of interest flashed in Yao Yuan’s eyes, and he said, “Kid, not bad. Much smarter than that guy. You know how to capitalize on your strengths and avoid weaknesses. You are a good prospect. Next, I will speed up. Are you still up for the challenge?”

Nie Zhenbang sneered in his heart. This Yao Yuan appeared carefree, acting as if he were superior, but in reality, he was incredibly cunning. Four kilometers of armed running was nothing to an old soldier like Yao Yuan. After all, the Huaxia army excelled in physical training.

Those who usually undertook ten or even twenty kilometers of armed cross-country running, putting all of their energy into this four-kilometer run, could naturally increase their speed considerably.

Also, this guy was insidious. He knew that talking during a run was the last thing one should do, but he intentionally provoked Nie Zhenbang into speaking to disrupt Nie Zhenbang’s breathing rate. He was certainly unscrupulous.

At this moment, Nie Zhenbang merely glanced lightly at Yao Yuan, raised his eyebrows, showing a hint of challenge in his gaze. Instead of responding, he increased his speed to temporarily overtake Yao Yuan and take the lead.

At that moment, on the top floor of the First Infantry Division’s office building, two officers were standing in front of a window, observing the situation on the drill ground through binoculars.

One of the middle-aged men, who looked very amiable, seemed like a gentleman. He turned to another middle-aged man with a very serious face and said, “Division Commander. What is Yao Yuan doing? As you said, the military region could have held a selection throughout the entire region, so why did they have to assign him to our division? Why not just keep him in the 84th regiment of the 21st army?”

The division commander put down the binoculars and said in a deep voice, “Chief of Staff, we can not decipher the intentions of the military region’s leader. This is a death order from the group army commander. Our task is just one, to fully support Comrade Yao Yuan.”

Speaking of this, the division commander looked somewhat envious, and sighed, “Chief of Staff, Yao Yuan comes from the Laoshan frontline and was the Soldier King of the 84th regiment of the 21st army. This time, the 84th regiment suffered heavy losses in the Laoshan defense battle. Our elite troops were lost. I heard that the Vietnamese secret agents caused us a big loss. Now it seems that the leaders of the military region are determined. Yao Yuan’s mission has received the personal approval of Deputy Commander Nie from the military region. Our job should be to wholeheartedly support him..”