The dust kicked up on the parade ground, but it couldn't obscure the busy activity of the crowd. The soldiers, all under the command of the captain, had been summoned early today to line up and receive orders.

Chen Mo stood among the others, part of the group of grooms who had gathered for the occasion. Naturally, the line wasn't very orderly—some soldiers were whispering, others were wandering aimlessly.

The captain's personal soldiers had already made several attempts to enforce discipline, but without their constant oversight, the scene would have been even more chaotic.

"Brother Mo, I think the examiners will be here soon," Ma Cai murmured, his voice low, though the excitement in his tone was unmistakable.

He had been waiting for this moment for a long time, and now it was finally here.

"Yeah," Chen Mo responded with a simple nod, not wasting any more words.

His injuries had healed long ago. Recently, he'd even tested his strength in private. While he couldn't be sure of the exact number, he estimated his strength to be around five or six hundred jin, possibly more.

Without proper equipment to test himself accurately, he could only make a rough estimate. Even so, his strength far exceeded that of most men, and it would be no exaggeration to say that he was born with extraordinary power.

Before they could continue their conversation, a cloud of dust appeared from the north. Three soldiers, dressed in leather armor and carrying long swords, rode their horses directly onto the training ground.

"They're riding fine horses!" He Maguan couldn't help but whisper in admiration as he watched the riders approach.

Mo Hu reined in his horse and swept a contemptuous glance over the soldiers lined up below.

A ninth-rank captain like Captain Wang should command at least 450 soldiers, but looking at the ragtag group of no more than 300, it was clear that these soldiers were under-trained and ill-prepared.

After all, garrison troops stationed locally were different from those on the borders. These men were collecting pay without doing much of anything, and that inefficiency was apparent in their lack of discipline.

"Are you part of General Sun's army?" Captain Wang asked, stepping forward with his personal soldiers to greet the newcomers.

Although the soldiers who arrived didn't wear identifiable ranks, it was well known that anyone chosen to select personal guards must have the general's favor. Their status could easily rival that of a captain like him.

"Indeed. We are here on the general's orders," Mo Hu replied coolly.

"I've already gathered my men, and the test can start anytime. I've also prepared food and drink for you. Since you've come such a long way, why don't you take a short break first?" Captain Wang suggested, his plump face beaming with forced cheer.

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Though General Sun's direct recruitment might be seen as poaching Captain Wang's best soldiers, there was nothing he could do. After all, the general was of much higher rank, and if he refused to cooperate, Captain Wang's own position could be in jeopardy.

So, even if he was inwardly unhappy about it, Captain Wang smiled and pretended to be amiable.

"No need. We'd prefer to complete the general's orders first," Mo Hu responded without hesitation.

"Very well. If you'd like, we've also prepared some gifts for General Sun and his officers. Perhaps you could take a look at them in the tent," Captain Wang offered, clearly trying to curry favor.

The idea of giving a gift to General Sun had been on his mind since the general's transfer to the area. It was a chance to ingratiate himself, and even if it didn't result in a promotion, failing to give the gift would almost certainly ensure he was remembered for the wrong reasons.

"Oh? In that case, let's go take a look." Mo Hu suddenly seemed interested, his expression changing as he considered the offer.

"Right this way, please," Captain Wang replied, a satisfied grin spreading across his face.

A few moments ago, he had thought Mo Hu was the type to be stubborn and difficult. But now, seeing him take an interest in the gifts, Captain Wang relaxed. It seemed that, like him, Mo Hu had his weaknesses.

The group walked into the barracks, chatting and laughing, leaving the assembled soldiers standing in their disorganized lines.

With no formal training and little direction, the soldiers' morale quickly began to fray. They shifted restlessly, some chatting amongst themselves, while others simply looked around aimlessly.

Still, they were careful not to disobey the captain's soldiers, and the line held—barely.

Half an hour passed before Captain Wang and several of General Sun's soldiers returned, their faces bright with smiles.

"Quiet!" Captain Wang's previously jovial expression faded as he saw the chaos unfolding before him.

He had no real expectations of his soldiers' discipline, but being scolded in front of outsiders was a blow to his pride. He couldn't afford to show his anger outright, though.

"Quiet down, you idiots!" one of Captain Wang's personal soldiers shouted, cracking a whip in the air.

The sound of the whip combined with the sharp orders quickly brought the soldiers back into line, although the atmosphere was far from calm.

Mo Hu observed the scene, unfazed. He had encountered the lax discipline of local garrison troops before, especially after his time on the border. The chaos was expected.

He could only hope there weren't too many recruits who met the selection criteria, as training them would be a headache.

"Today, I come on behalf of General Sun to select personal soldiers from among you," Mo Hu announced in a commanding voice that carried easily over the crowd.

"Anyone who can lift a 200-jin stone wheel will enter the barracks for further training. Those who can lift 300 jin will be directly admitted into the personal guard camp."

The crowd shifted, some hopeful, others nervous. Lifting 200 jin of stone was no small feat, but it was within the reach of many strong adult men. Those who could manage that would undergo additional training before a chance to enter the personal guard camp.

However, lifting 300 jin was a different matter entirely. Few people could achieve such a feat, even among seasoned soldiers, as it required not only strength but technique—often honed through years of martial arts training.

As soon as Mo Hu finished speaking, the 200-jin stone wheel, long neglected and covered in dust, was pushed into the center of the parade ground.

The wheel was roughly the size of a barbell, though made entirely of stone. It was rolled into position, and one soldier after another stepped up to test their strength. Most of them couldn't even lift the 200-jin stone. Some couldn't even manage to budge it.

Their faces fell with each failure. They knew that being selected by General Sun could change their lives, but for many of them, this was as far as they would ever get. A few had trained harder than the others, and they managed to lift the stone, but not without difficulty.

Chen Mo watched carefully, sizing up the situation. After a moment's thought, he made his decision.

Without hesitation, he approached the 300-jin stone wheel.

End