Chapter 84: Looking Up at the Sky (II)

Mixed populations of Hu and Han had always been the norm in the border troops, and the current situation left no room for hesitation. For Gao Xianzhi, there was no choice left—his only option was to quickly strengthen his forces to withstand the full-scale assault of the Arabs. His reputation, future, and even his life depended on this battle, and he could afford no failure.

Of course, having suffered the bitter pain of the Göktürks’ betrayal on the battlefield, Gao Xianzhi had learned his lesson well. Although this recruitment did not set obvious thresholds nor verify the backgrounds of each applicant, it did not mean he would relax his surveillance over these Hu soldiers. Having just joined the Anxi Army, they still had no strong loyalty to it. Under normal circumstances, Gao Xianzhi would have allowed them time to build camaraderie, but now he had no such luxury. He needed these Hu men to immediately feel a sense of belonging and recognize themselves as part of the Anxi Army!

The best way to make them accept their new identity was to integrate them with the existing Anxi soldiers, eliminating separate camps. The greatest advantage of this approach was that the older Anxi soldiers could subtly influence the Hu troops through their words and actions, helping them adapt to the army’s discipline more quickly. Since the high-ranking officers in the Anxi Army were all Tang people, Gao Xianzhi could maintain tight control over the troops through a hierarchical structure. This mixed composition also prevented the Hu people from forming cliques, thus ensuring that a betrayal like that of the Göktürks would never happen again.

In fact, the real barriers to recruitment lay within the army itself—only after enlisting would these Hu men discover them. Once they joined, it would be impossible to leave without facing severe consequences. Gao Xianzhi needed this fresh influx of Hu soldiers to fight with their own bodies against the Arabs’ fierce attacks.

As such, the demands on these Hu soldiers naturally increased. What used to be one training session per day for new recruits became two, and sometimes they were even pulled out for drills at night. These Hu men had thought joining the army would mean a comfortable life, with plenty of food. But Gao Xianzhi was ruthless not only in battle but also in training. Within just a few days, their bodies were exhausted, and they no longer enjoyed the ease they had before.

At dawn, at the hour of Mao, they had to go to the military training ground for exercises, and after having breakfast, they would immediately start basic formation training. Fortunately, this training just involved standing in formations and changing arrangements, requiring not too much mental or physical effort—otherwise, everyone would end up vomiting up the steamed buns they had just eaten.

The most grueling part was the armed training in the afternoon. The land along the rivers was different from the Central Plains; even though it was already October, the autumn heat remained intense. Training on the open training ground lasted for an entire hour or so, with no breaks for water, leaving people almost dried up from the sun by the end of the day.

Although, considering the actual situation, the Anxi commanders provided the Hu soldiers with wax-covered poles and wooden knives, which were much lighter than real military weapons. Even with such leniency, the new Hu soldiers still complained bitterly after the armed training.

This wasn’t surprising. The Hu people in this region were not as warlike and brave as the nomadic tribes; most of them were merchants who made a living through small trades. You couldn’t expect them to have excellent physical fitness. It was unrealistic to expect them to serve as soldiers without training. Drawn by the generous treatment offered by the Tang army, they hoped to live off the army’s resources, only to find that things were not as they had imagined. If they had to train like this for a year or two, not only would they fail to build strength, but even their already frail bodies would be completely exhausted.

However, the Anxi army commanders showing them training showed no sign of relaxing their demands. Whether it was two sessions a day or more, if the Hu soldiers failed to complete their tasks, their dinner would be canceled that night, which made them extremely frustrated. The supervisors in the camp continued to walk among the Hu soldiers with whips, striking mercilessly anyone who slacked off, leaving visible blood marks on their chests and backs.

Gradually, the Hu soldiers realized that the tactics they had used successfully in business couldn’t work in the Anxi army. After suffering many losses, they finally understood the bottom line set by the Tang instructors, and any attempts at slacking off naturally disappeared.

With unified minds, the efficiency of training improved. Those Hu soldiers who had trembled even when holding a kitchen knife at home could easily wield the standard Tang swords after just four or five days.

“I tell you, Ba Wei’er, this spear isn’t used this way. You need to stabilize your lower body, hold the spear shaft at the upper and lower one-third points with both hands, and respond promptly to your opponent’s attacks.”

Li Kuo used his long spear to knock the opponent’s spear aside and gave him guidance. Unlike other Hu soldiers, Ba Weier would voluntarily come to the training ground after daily drills to review what they had practiced. Noticing this, Li Kuo admired his diligence and set aside some time to spar with him personally.

After a day of practice, the young man finally understood why Ba Weier had struggled to grasp the essentials despite practicing for so long. Like many Hu soldiers, Ba Weier had great strength but couldn’t apply it where it was needed, which left him stuck in the same place.

“Don’t rush to attack. First, hold your breath, focus, and take a deep breath.”

The young man steadied his long spear and demonstrated for Ba Weier. “Like this—when thrusting, don’t put your weight on just one foot. That way, even if the enemy changes tactics, you’ll have enough time to react.”

On the battlefield, the slightest mistake could be fatal, so regular basic training was essential. The stronger one’s foundation, the longer they could survive in battle. For these Hu people from humble backgrounds, learning to protect themselves was key to survival.

“I… I can’t do it!”

Ba Weier stomped in frustration, sat down on the training ground with his arms wrapped around his knees, and said, “Commander Li, this spear feels so light and lacks power. When I thrust it, I don’t even need to use much strength. Look, with just a light lift from you, you can counter my full-force strike.”

Li Kuo shook his head. “It’s because you’re not getting it right. Using a spear isn’t about brute force; it’s about observing the situation and responding accordingly.”

The young man carefully explained every word that Fei Lin, the instructor in Chang’an, had said, hoping Ba Weier would quickly understand the essence of spear fighting.

“As for your issue with the spear feeling light, it’s because your balance is off. Try stepping inward—there won’t be any problems!”

The young man stepped inward, lifting a clump of yellow soil. Holding his breath and focusing, he thrust his long spear forward like a serpent in an instant, with the red tassel at its tip fluttering in the wind.