100 The Beginning of Training

ier.Feng Three worked quickly; by the afternoon, news of North Rong's Seventh Prince reaching Chu Capital had spread throughout the city. Even the inn where Yelv Ye was staying knew about it. Original...100. Start of Special Training

100. Start of Special Training

Duchess...

Qin Feng looked at the gentle and smiling woman in front of him, feeling his scalp tingle repeatedly. He didn't dare to move a step from where he was standing; he didn't want to use his body to test whether every inch around him was filled with traps. Looking at the clear and tranquil lake surface which gave no hint of danger whatsoever, Qin Feng swore that seeing arrows densely covering the lake surface just now wasn’t an illusion. If someone really thought it was a good idea to jump down from there relying on their superb light-footedness skills, they would probably end up becoming a giant hedgehog.

Ye Li smiled and said, "Don't be nervous; I was only joking. It's usually not like this."

Qin Feng remained silent. He believed that it would be even more dangerous when things were normal around here.

Ye Li turned around to point at the endless forest behind them and asked with a smile, "Have you ever come here" Qin Feng looked at her for a moment before shaking his head hesitantly and said, "It's not convenient to practice military drills near Jingcheng. The Black Cloud Cavalry usually trains hundreds of miles away from the city. Moreover, they are cavalrymen; even in training, it’s mostly done on wide open areas or deserts. A forest is completely unsuitable for cavalry maneuvers." Ye Li smiled and said, "When can I get the people I want" Qin Feng hesitated before saying, "It should take about an hour." He wasn’t very confident about this; Duchess only gave a pile of simple maps that were different from each other. Although the Black Cloud Cavalry is also good at tracking, it took him several hours to roughly determine the location based on that map which was as difficult as Heavenly Scriptures. He didn't know if those guys could find the place or not. As for what Duchess said about being eliminated if they were discovered by nearby civilians, Qin Feng hadn’t even thought of it. Black Cloud Cavalry soldiers, including new recruits, would never be spotted by ordinary people.

How many can come

The fifty elite soldiers chosen from both the Black Cloud Cavalry and the Dark Family Army near Jingcheng should at least have seventy or eighty arriving without any problem. After pondering for a moment, Qin Feng said, “Duchess…” He hesitated before deciding to clear up some questions that had been bothering him for days. As the commander of the Black Cloud Cavalry, even though it wasn’t his highest rank and he only commanded two thousand men, he still felt responsible for those elite soldiers of the Black Cloud Cavalry. If Duchess didn't like the Dark Guards, she should have them rigorously trained before choosing better ones instead. Although taking fifty elite warriors would not affect the combat strength of the Black Cloud Cavalry much, what exactly were they here to do If it was to serve as Dark Guards, seventy or eighty people would be too many, and there already were Dark Guards in Ding王府 itself. Poor communication could easily cause conflicts between Dark Guards and the Black Cloud Cavalry. If used on the battlefield, seventy or eighty elite soldiers wouldn’t have significant impact; after all, one person fighting thousands of enemies was essentially equivalent to a pointless death.

You're overthinking this," Ye Li said with a helpless smile when she saw Qin Feng's hesitant expression. "Don't worry about it. I've also dispatched thirty Dark Guards from my own men. Let's see who arrives first, shall we"

Qin Feng remembered that he once heard from the Dark Guard Third that Duchess was an expert in gambling skills. After some thought, he firmly said, “Black Cloud Cavalry.” There was no doubt about it; among the three groups of people, the Black Cloud Cavalry’s combat and mobility capabilities were far superior to others’. Although their martial arts might not be as good as certain members of the Dark Guards, when it came to courage and boldness, the Dark Guards weren’t all experts in martial arts. But every member of the Black Cloud Cavalry had undergone rigorous training and was accustomed to fighting together. Ye Li raised an eyebrow and said unconvinced, “I think the Dark Guards will arrive first, followed by the Black Cloud Cavalry, but more people from the Dark Family Army should be here.”

This is impossible! Qin Feng firmly disagreed. He didn’t look down on the Dark Family Army, but he couldn't deny that in his heart, the Black Cloud Cavalry was indeed stronger than the Dark Family Army. At least fifty against fifty, the Dark Family Army could never win over the Black Cloud Cavalry.

We'll see then,

Ye Li removed most of the traps under the lake and cliff. The design of these traps and pitfalls impressed her greatly; she couldn’t underestimate the wisdom of ancient people. Originally, she had considered whether to prepare unconventional defenses for this valley in advance, but it seemed unnecessary now.

If all the traps in this valley were activated and they hadn't known beforehand, even she wouldn’t be sure if she could come out unscathed. The temporary shooting range structures that had been put up before had already been removed and replaced with a neat row of wooden houses to prevent snakes, insects, rats, and beasts from the forest from attacking by surprise. It took nearly ten months to complete all this work; it was only just finished a month ago, spending all the silver that Prince Hanguang’s mother-in-law and Ye Li had brought as dowry. However, after one trip to Qingfeng Mingyue Tower, she earned a lot of money back, so now when she saw everything before her eyes, Ye Li felt content without any regret.An hour later, a black-robed figure leaped down from the cliff looking somewhat disheveled upon landing. Qin Feng glanced at him and recognized that he was one of the Dark Guards. He snorted with disdain in his heart; if not for Princess Consort Wang removing the traps beforehand, that guy would have been shot through by then. However, he also understood that if it hadn’t been for her previous warning, he wouldn’t be much better off than that fellow."I am subordinate Dark Seventeen, reporting to Young Master."Ye Li nodded and gestured for him to take a rest to the side. Not long after, another figure appeared; this one was also from the Dark Guards. Then came the Black Cloud Cavalry followed by the Mo Family Army. Qin Feng quickly noticed the difference: most of the Dark Guards and Mo Family Army arrived individually but their soldiers arrived in groups of four or five, though they didn’t have the agility of the Dark Guards and Mo Family Army members, they were definitely more numerous. After two hours, Ye Li clapped her hands to signal everyone to stand up."I am reporting to Young Master."Ye Li nodded and glanced around; there were only sixty-three people in total: twenty-eight from the Mo Family Army, twenty from the Black Cloud Cavalry, and fifteen Dark Guards. She then ordered them to mix their formations so that they would not be standing next to those they recognized or who belonged to the same group. Although her subordinates didn't understand Ye Li's intention, they still followed orders and quickly rearranged themselves. Satisfied with what she saw, Ye Li pointed at the wooden houses behind her: "Starting today, you will reside here for the next three months. Those who pass the final test may stay; the rest should return to their original places. Get acquainted with your instructors… the coaches!" Ye Li clapped lightly and eight men of varying heights and ages approached her and said in unison: "Young Master."Qin Feng, standing beside Ye Li, raised an eyebrow as he observed these people who exuded a powerful aura despite not knowing their backgrounds. They were all top-notch experts.Satisfied with them, Ye Li nodded with a smile: "In addition to the daily training I arrange for you, these individuals will provide specific guidance. Of course, if any of you can match up directly with any one of these coaches, you may skip this stage. How about it Would you like to give it a try"Her words carried a hint of challenge, and soldiers from any era were undoubtedly the most passionate group among all people. Almost immediately, someone leaped towards what appeared to be the most robust man among the eight figures, while others chose their own targets. The sound of thuds, cracks, and bangs followed as everyone who tried was swiftly defeated and fell down unable to get up.One of the youngest men clapped his hands disdainfully at Ye Li: "Young Master, are these people too weak" Ye Li smiled indifferently: "They were never martial arts experts. I don’t need a group of top-notch experts." The young man raised an eyebrow in puzzlement—what was the point if they didn't have to be skilled warriors "And can you train them into such experts within three months, sir" Ye Li asked with a smile.The young man fell silent; no matter how arrogant he was, he knew that mastering martial arts wasn’t something that could happen overnight. Even he, who had been praised from childhood as a prodigy with exceptional talent and bone structure, had spent over ten years of hard work to achieve his current status."Although we don't understand His Highness's purpose for us here, if he instructed us to follow you, then we'll do as you say," said the older man.Ye Li nodded with a smile: "I didn’t expect that there would be such experts under the Prince’s command. But rest assured, it won’t take much of your time; just some guidance on techniques for these two months will suffice. What do you think Would anyone like to try"After seeing how badly the first attempts ended up, no one else was willing to test their limits. Ye Li smiled in satisfaction: "Then… let’s start with a run." She pointed at the courtyard grounds and said: "You saw those fields outside; I had snake-repellent grass planted there for your safety. There won’t be any beasts attacking you during the day, so go around the yard for some exercise.""You mean to say that there will be wild animals at night" everyone exchanged glances.Qin Feng looked down and asked: "Pr… Young Master, how far should we run"Ye Li smiled brightly: “Until you collapse.”So this group of bewildered elite soldiers was led out to run, though they didn’t understand the point. They were still disciplined enough to follow orders as soldiers. The eight experts flanked them, and a line of dozens started running in circles. Qin Feng remained where he stood.

Staring at Ye Li with a seemingly good mood, Qin Feng was left feeling rather confused. Ye Li smiled and waved at him, saying, "Take these and have a look. Adapt to them for the next seven days; I'll make adjustments afterward."

Qin Feng looked down at the files in his hand. The neat handwriting was easy to read, but he could not understand what it meant. He understood that shooting arrows daily morning and evening, as well as wrestling and running, were likely part of some routine training. However, this parallel bar, push-ups, and other activities—what did they mean

Ye Li smiled, saying, "It's okay if you don't understand. It's also fine if you can't do them. I'll have Dark Two and Dark Three teach you when they're free." Originally, she had planned to let Dark Two take charge of these people; however, since Qin Feng himself was the leader of the Black Cloud Cavalry, he would certainly be more experienced in leading troops than Dark Two. Therefore, "Remember to catch up on your own training during your spare time."

Seeing this handsome young man with an innocent and sincere smile, Qin Feng felt a chill run down his spine, intuitively sensing that these next few months would not be easy for him.

The two leapt onto the roof and could see outside the courtyard. Ye Li clapped her hands, sat on the roof, and shook her head as she watched people running around breathlessly. "Is this all you can do Are your elite members of the Black Cloud Cavalry not up to scratch"

Qin Feng clenched his teeth; at least fifteen out of twenty Dark Warriors were skilled in martial arts, okay

"Whoever dares to use lightness kung fu should fly up and down the cliff twenty times," Ye Li said with a sweet smile as she stared at those Dark Warriors who had tried to take shortcuts.

The legs of those Dark Warriors, who had been secretly admiring their companions' miserable state, weakened; they almost fell to the ground.

Regardless of whether he understood or not, when Qin Feng followed Ye Li out in the evening, he could not help but look back at the elite members of Ding King's Mansion who were still lying outside the walls and struggling to get up. Hearing wolves howling and unknown beast roars from a distance, Qin Feng wondered if they had really angered heaven by finding such a place so close to the capital city.

"Lady Wang, do I need to stay behind to supervise" Those experts were indeed skilled, but none of them seemed capable of managing those proud elite soldiers. If any conflict arose, it would be problematic. Ye Li smiled and said, "Don't worry; they won't get out without permission. Anybody who tries will be treated as a deserter!"

"Am I worried about their escape"

Ye Li continued, "I'm not free to watch them all day long. It's okay for them to roughhouse at the beginning, but they shouldn't cause injuries. After seven days, Dark Two and Dark Three will take turns teaching them."

Qin Feng fell silent before asking, "Lady Wang, I don't understand what you plan to use these people for."

"They can do many things," Ye Li replied, "assassinations, intelligence collection, protection, reconnaissance, infiltration, hiding, rescue operations, interrogations. Whether on land, water, wilderness or urban warfare, there's nothing they can't learn." Qin Feng felt a bit dizzy; even the soldiers of his Black Cloud Cavalry couldn't possibly know so much about all these things. Assassinations and intelligence gathering were supposed to be Dark Warriors' work. Why train other people for that "Is Lady Wang not satisfied with the Dark Warriors"

Ye Li smiled as she looked at Qin Feng's perplexed face, saying, "It is indeed better when everyone fulfills their roles, but I prefer a team capable of doing everything."

"If we could achieve what you've said, our combat capabilities would certainly see significant changes," Qin Feng thought.

Shaking her head, Ye Li said, "Elite troops are always few in number. Like the Black Cloud Cavalry, they learn skills not all soldiers can master. Moreover, there's no need for so many; more means wasted resources. You should remember that I had you choose people who could read and write. This is something most soldiers cannot achieve." Qin Feng nodded; even among elite troops like his Black Cloud Cavalry, those who could read were a minority.

He gradually understood Ye Li's intention—she wanted to cultivate an army of versatile individuals with both literary and martial abilities. However, the immediate benefit of such a goal was still unclear to him.

"Qin Feng," as they approached the city gate, Ye Li reined in her horse and looked at him, "Since you were originally the leader of the Black Cloud Cavalry, there's one rule that should be familiar to you."

"What is it"

"Confidentiality. Everything you see today and experience over the next three months must not be disclosed without my permission." Including His Highness

Ye Li nodded.

...

"I'll follow your orders."

When they returned to the mansion, night had already fallen. Qin Feng was somewhat shocked today and went straight to Dark Two and Three for guidance upon returning home.

Upon entering their room, Mo Xiuyao was reading a book by candlelight. He looked up when he heard Ye Li's footsteps, "You've gone out"

Nodding, she turned to wash up before coming back to see that the table had been set with hot meals.

"Not busy today Usually you spend time in your study," Ye Li remarked as Mo Xiuyao gestured for her to sit down and eat. Seeing all her favorite dishes on the table made her smile gratefully at him. Though she wasn't hungry, it felt good knowing someone cared enough to prepare meals just for her.

"The Emperor summoned you this morning," Mo Xiuyao noted lightly as he pulled Ye Li into a seat and gestured for her to eat first. "There's not much to do; His Majesty enjoys discussing matters with officials lately."

Ye Li nodded, finishing most of the meal before saying, "His Majesty plans to entrust all matters related to the alliance with Northern Rong to me."

To leave it to you Ye Liyu frowned, finished the last sip of soup and had the servants remove the dishes. She looked at him in confusion: What do you mean by leaving it to me

Mou Xiuyao smiled faintly and said, It means that I will be fully responsible for everything, including receiving the envoys from Beirong, determining the princess who will marry into Beirong, preparing her dowry, and sending her off.

Upon hearing Mou Xiuyao's words, Ye Liyu couldn't help but feel exasperated. Letting you receive the Beirong envoy also means that I have to determine the princess who will marry into Beirong Mou Xiuyao smiled at her and said, In fact, determining the princess who will marry into Beirong is something you need to do. Therefore, these few days might be very busy for you and you won't be able to leave the city. Ye Liyu waved helplessly, knowing without imagination what kind of situation would arise once this news spread. Who in the capital's nobility would want their daughters to marry into Beirong, a wild land Tomorrow, people who come to plead might have already broken through the threshold of the Dingguo Mansion. The worst thing was that she couldn't choose none of them, but no matter whom she chose, it would definitely offend someone. So, is Emperor really trying to create more enemies for the Dingguo family

Someone over there thought I didn't need to run outside the city every day, but what do you think about marrying into Beirong

Mou Xiuyao pondered and said, The emperor hints that Miss Hua is the most suitable choice, but the empress dowager prefers Princess Yonghua. However, she can't say anything right now. There are also other options such as Lady Liu San and the princesses of Shuncheng Hou's family. But they don’t stand out much, so Beirong might not agree to them. Ye Liyu frowned and said, So it’s likely that the final choice will be between Tianxiang and Yonghua Why doesn't Emperor issue an edict if he favors Tianxiang Mou Xiuyao laughed and said, He is currently troubled by this matter, so naturally, he hopes we can do it. I know you're good friends with Miss Hua; taking her off the list won’t be a problem. Later on, just pick one from those princesses in the royal family.

People are selfish at heart. Ye Liyu and Tianxiang were close friends, so she naturally didn't want Tianxiang to be chosen for marriage into Beirong. She was still annoyed by this matter of choosing someone for marriage into Beirong that had been assigned to her, because it was uncomfortable no matter who she chose. She would rather die on the battlefield than deal with these matters. Seeing Ye Liyu frowning, Mou Xiuyao just shook his head slightly and said calmly, Being in the royal family and supported by the people, whether marrying into Beirong or dying on the battlefield is their fate. Aly won't feel guilty about it.

Ye Liyu shook her head and said helplessly, These princesses and noble ladies from the royal families are all spoiled brats raised in deep閨房 (halls), how many hardships will they suffer if sent to Beirong If both countries genuinely want a marriage alliance, it would be fine. But this... It's obviously just to stall for time. Both countries know what’s going on, and the princesses being married off are mere sacrifices without any use. Not marrying into each other doesn't mean they will start fighting immediately either; even after a marriage alliance is formed, they won’t stop fighting. It’s simply that neither side is prepared yet. Ye Liyu isn't someone who can't make decisions, but she deeply dislikes such meaningless sacrifices from the bottom of her heart.

Knowing she was in a bad mood, Mou Xiuyao didn't continue on this topic and smiled instead: What did you go out of town for today You borrowed eight experts from me, and then called people from the Black Cloud Cavalry and the Dark Guard under my family's army. Are you planning to do something Aly really doesn’t want to tell me

Ye Liyu smiled lightly as she raised her eyes: I’m still in the experimental stage myself; see what results can be achieved within these few months. If there are any results, I'll inform you. Otherwise, I’ll return them to you. Mou Xiuyao thought for a moment and said, Aly wants to train a group of people to do something Your Dark Guards are well-trained already, the Dark Guard leader even asked if you could help him train his men too. They heard that in Yonglin, those two around you managed to handle my Dark Guards

It was just an ambush. Ye Liyu laughed.

Being able to ambush them wasn’t easy either. As dark guards themselves, they were already accustomed to being in the shadows and staying alert at all times; that such people could still be ambushed by two men proves that those two are indeed stronger. Ye Liyu smiled as she turned her head: Once these people come out, I can allocate a few of them to be your bodyguards. Mou Xiuyao nodded and said, I’ll wait with anticipation, if Aly really trains a group of experts, then they will become your guards.

That would waste their potential. Ye Liyu shook her head as she laughed: At that time you'll know what use these people are; just don’t try to poach them from me. I hope they can exist openly in the army. Mou Xiuyao was surprised and raised his eyebrows, thinking Aly hoped for them to be a covert force.

Ye Liyu smiled faintly: Of course, being covert is important, but hiding their numbers, bases, true strength, and detailed identities isn't enough; it's also about concealing the recognition of their contributions and presence. If they truly can achieve what I envision, their existence will inevitably be known eventually, making them impossible to hide. I hope they can receive rewards for their merits and promotions based on ability like regular soldiers do. The Black Cloud Cavalry is still an official army; Dark Guards are a different story though. Apart from a few exceptional individuals who stand out, most Dark Guards will spend their entire lives as such without proper identity, career advancement, honors, friends, even marriage or children. Most of them grow too old to be Dark Guards and end up being supported by the family manor when they're already quite advanced in age, with much of their life ruined. Such loyalty and sense of duty among the Dingguo Mansion's Dark Guards is indeed admirable.

Mou Xiuyao pondered for a moment before saying, Aly has never viewed those Dark Guards around you as mere covert agents from the start; once Dark One goes to Xiling on business and Dark Four stays with you handling some surface tasks, it’s only natural for him to eventually rise above others based on his strength.

Ye Liyu smiled: In terms of both ability and intelligence, they are far superior to most people. But they've spent their lives hiding in the shadows, which I find a waste of talent. Moreover… human hearts can be hard to fathom; perhaps one day they don't want to hide anymore If that happens, the consequences might even be worse than if there were no Dark Guards at all. So, as long as they're willing and capable of serving me, I will treat them well. Naturally... if anyone wants to betray me, I won’t show mercy!

Mou Xiuyao seemed thoughtful and said: Aly's words make sense indeed; however… Aly might not know that many noble families secretly harbor forces like this too, particularly the close bodyguards who know too much about their masters' secrets and thus are controlled very strictly. In some cases, dark guards who know too much end up being silenced.

Ye Liyu said: Then there's no possibility of granting them similar military ranks or other levels with clear rewards and punishments After serving for a certain period of time, transferring them into the Black Cloud Cavalry or Mou Family Army

Mou Xiuyao was intrigued as he smiled: How does Aly envision this working out

Ye Liyu said: If I'm satisfied with my training results this time, their service years should be until thirty-five. After that age, they must stay within the same level and transfer into the Mou Family Army or Black Cloud Cavalry. Of course, if they have other talents and interests, civilian careers could also be considered. This is just an idea at present; we still have plenty of time to consider it since I haven't even trained anyone yet.

Mou Xiuyao raised his eyebrows: I see, Aly wants to pave a path for their future

Ye Liyu nodded and said seriously to Mou Xiuyao: There's an old saying that soldiers who have bled for the country should not be made to weep. The retired veterans and injured soldiers don't live well either; but I can't manage all of them now, so at least I want to take care of my own people. Because she was once a soldier herself, knowing how much better off they were in her previous life than today's soldiers who aren’t seen as an honorable profession.

Although he doesn't know where Aly got such thoughts from, he will carefully consider them. Mou Xiuyao said softly to the contemplative woman.

— Extra —

In fact, Feng sincerely believes that special forces in ancient wars are rather irrelevant without modern high-tech weapons; however, they do look cool. A certain fan mentioned wanting to use these characters for a story, but it’s too early to decide now. I hope you can understand and support my work.

— Chapter End —e busy dealing with state affairs while Sister Li feels lonely!"After personally sending Xu Qingze and the other three back to their courtyards for rest, Ye Li looked at Mo Xiuyao with a disapproving...