Chapter 187 - 137: Not Knives or Swords, Use This

Zhao Zun and Hua Tianyou also picked up their baskets and turned to leave.

After walking a while, Zhao Zun looked back at the gradually receding Xuzhou Army, a mysterious smile playing at the corner of his lips.

He raised his hand to pat Hua Tianyou on the shoulder, and said in a low voice, "Tianyou, you did well this time."

Hua Tianyou chuckled proudly, saying, "Heh, you should see who I am. There’s nothing I can’t do when I’m on the move."

Zhao Zun laughed heartily, "Yes, yes, you are my little master."

Hua Tianyou put away his smile and looked seriously at Zhao Zun.

"Are you really planning to go to the battlefield again? Then I must go with you."

Zhao Zun shook his head, saying quietly, "No, you can’t go. I have a more important task for you."

Hua Tianyou’s eyes lit up as he hurriedly asked, "Oh, what task?"

Zhao Zun smiled mysteriously, "We’ll talk about it when we get back."

The two spoke as their figures gradually disappeared into the wilderness, eventually vanishing in the twilight glow...

On a vacant lot near the cement factory, several hundred newly recruited soldiers were busily learning how to set up camp.

This lot was separated from the cement factory by a hillside, the terrain was wide and flat, surrounded by dense woods, making it exceptionally hidden, suitable for building an encampment and training new soldiers.

Han Lei stood at a high point, overlooking the campsite, feeling secretly satisfied in her heart.

These new recruits were all young, strong men from poor families in Fufeng County.

Although there were fewer than four hundred, and each looked sallow and thin, malnourished, fortunately, they were still spirited and ambitious, with a little training, they could become a powerful force.

"Princess Consort, the tents have been set up, and the solar lamps have been distributed as you requested."

Xiao Zhengfei hurried over, his face showing signs of fatigue, but his eyes remained sharp.

Han Lei nodded, her gaze sweeping over the soldiers curiously fiddling with the solar lamps.

"Hehe, they’re quite interested in these new things."

Xiao Zhengfei followed her gaze and laughed, "Yes, these lads have never seen such things before, they even treat toothbrushes and toothpaste as treasures."

Han Lei sighed softly, "Kids from poor families, having the chance to leave their village is already a rare opportunity. I hope they cherish this opportunity and train well."

Xiao Zhengfei nodded in agreement, then asked, "Princess Consort, the wooden sticks for training instead of swords are ready, do you think we can start training tomorrow?"

"No, not with swords. Use this."

Saying so, Han Lei took out two Walter pistols with fifteen-round magazines from her space and handed them to Xiao Zhengfei. These pistols were the ones used by Hua Tianyou and Ping Chuan.

"This... is this a pistol?" Xiao Zhengfei’s eyes widened immediately.

Since the last sneak attack on the Turkic army, they had personally witnessed the power of Hua Tianyou and Ping Chuan using pistols to kill the enemy, everyone hoping they could themselves wield such powerful weapons.

Unexpectedly, such powerful weapons were now right in front of him.

Xiao Zhengfei carefully took them, caressing the gun body like a treasure.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, I can finally touch them myself." Light shone in Xiao Zhengfei’s eyes.

After touching them for a while, he suddenly reacted, "Princess Consort, do you mean... all the soldiers will be equipped with pistols in the future?"

"Yes! That’s the Prince’s idea." Han Lei nodded lightly.

"Wow!" Xiao Zhengfei looked at those soldiers who knew nothing, feeling a bit jealous, "These guys are so lucky, just arrived and get pistols."

Han Lei laughed, "Go ahead, don’t be jealous, later your trusted aides camp will not only have pistols, but also this."

Before she finished speaking, Han Lei had already dragged out a big item from her space — an M16 automatic rifle.

The barrel of this rifle is 507 millimeters long, designed with precision, stable firing, long range, and high accuracy, especially suitable for close and long-distance attacks.

Most importantly, its weight is only about 2.8 kilograms. In this era of inconvenient transportation, using such a rifle that is small and light is suitable for long march.

"Wow! There’s more?"

Xiao Zhengfei’s eyes were almost popping out.

Han Lei curled her lips, "I’ll teach you how to use these two firearms now, once you learn, you can train them."

As night fell, Zhao Zun and Hua Tianyou returned here.

The several hundred soldiers were divided into many small teams, with the trusted aides assigning tents to them, Han Lei had just taught Xiao Zhengfei how to use the two firearms.

After Zhao Zun and Hua Tianyou returned, everything seemed to grow tense. Zhao Zun said nothing more, only issuing a series of commands.

Since Hua Tianyou had spent months in the military camp, he had become very familiar with the subjects of soldier training.

Zhao Zun assigned Hua Tianyou to take over the soldiers recruited by Xiao Zhengfei, staying here with the trusted aides to train the soldiers’ physical subjects.

As for the use and practice of modern weapons, Zhao Zun entrusted it to Han Lei.

Then, Zhao Zun summoned Mr. Meng and twenty other personal guards, instructing Xiao Zhengfei to teach them how to use the two firearms as quickly as possible.

Then, Han Lei gave them some practice rounds to seize the time for shooting practice.

Only after dining with the new recruits, did Zhao Zun and Han Lei lead the twenty personal guards back to the mansion in the county city.

Upon returning home, Zhao Zun’s courtyard had its doors closed tightly, Han Lei, Xiao Zhengfei, and the twenty personal guards gathered together, secretly discussing the upcoming plan, until very late...

No one knew what they were doing inside, nor what they were discussing.

The next day, after resting and organizing at home for half a day, Han Lei headed to the County Magistrate’s office to pick up the newly recruited laborers and craftsmen, and together they took a carriage to the cement factory.

She was going to teach the new craftsmen how to use concrete to pave the ground, building a military camp for the five hundred soldiers.

Meanwhile, Zhao Zun, accompanied by Xiao Zhengfei and the others, dressed in military uniforms, rode horses to catch up with the Xuzhou Army, heading to Beiguan together.