Want to be an official?

Then you have to come from a prominent family first, and then have connections and backing in the court. Under this premise, you have to spend money or use favors to ask for favors in order to stand out from countless competitors and enter the officialdom.

Want to get promoted based on your merit and ability?
Innocent!

Throughout the dynasties, the country was able to prosper in the early days of its founding because it recruited talented people and valued ability and talent more than background and connections.

But as time goes by, the criteria for selecting talents will gradually become more aligned with background and connections, which will lead to a group of people who are in power but do nothing. Eventually, the government will become irreparably corrupt, and any natural disaster or man-made disaster will lead to a complete collapse.

Wang Jing knew very well that the key to the combat effectiveness of the army was first ideological construction, followed by the promotion mechanism, and then logistics support and skills training. Therefore, when Wang Jing established the new army, he set about opening up a promotion path from ordinary soldiers to the captain level, so that even a soldier of humble origin could have the possibility of becoming a general.

After the implementation of this system, the morale of the army has indeed improved a lot.

The soldiers' enthusiasm for learning also generally increased. After all, officers had to recognize at least 300 commonly used characters, be able to recite military regulations, and be tested on common knowledge of military tactics. Without any skills, they would not be able to hold their positions firmly.

Wang Jing took Gao Shun and Lu Bu with him, and before they had time to say a few more words, he went on a secret visit alone to the camp to investigate the situation and see how the new military system was being implemented.

Walking into a camp on the north side, before entering, Wang Jing heard the sounds of weapons clashing and noise in the camp.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Yang Ye, the captain of the Zhonglei Camp. He was born in the Hongnong Yang family and served as the Tunqi Cheng during the reign of Emperor Ling. He had followed Zhang Wen to fight against the Xiliang rebels. Later, in the fight between Wang Jing and Dong Zhuo, he decisively defected to Wang Jing. After Wang Ling became the prefect of Hedong, he took over the Zhonglei Camp of the Eight Camps of the Northern Army and had been assisting Gao Shun in guarding the capital.

Yang Ye was a tall and strong man with extraordinary skills, but he was a bit lazy and timid, making him unfit for important tasks.

But the good thing is that such people often have no ambition and don't like to make trouble. After joining Wang Jing, Yang Ye has always been law-abiding and likes to entertain himself with a group of subordinates when he has nothing to do.

Seeing Wang Jing coming, Yang Ye quickly put away the weapon in his hand and stepped forward to pay his respects.

Wang Jing looked around and said with a smile, "What day is it today? Why is it so lively?"

When Yang Ye spoke, his eyebrows were raised, but he was quite rebellious and bold: "My lord, the soldiers have not yet been deployed. These people come from all over the world, and there are many brave men among them. When they are free, they will compete with each other in martial arts. Is my lord interested in watching?"

"Okay, today is a good opportunity to see the quality of these new recruits. You lead the way. Oh, by the way, don't tell the soldiers my identity for now."

Wang Jing reminded Yang Ye that how could he not be interested in these powerful soldiers who had just been mobilized from other counties?

Taking this opportunity, he would naturally observe it carefully and test its quality.

After receiving the order, Yang Ye naturally obeyed it. He took Wang Jing into the training ground.

At this moment, the soldiers were seen gathered in a circle, fighting each other. When one side lost, another would take over immediately. These people were different from the refugees and bandits who could not even get enough food, and their bodies were relatively strong.

Although not all of them are majestic and strong, at least they are not skinny and will fall down at the slightest breeze.

Such soldiers are still full of energy and spirit, and their title of elite is well-deserved.

Wang Jing observed carefully again and immediately realized that most of the soldiers who were keen to show off themselves on the parade ground were hunters with martial arts skills. They fought with wild beasts in the mountains all year round. No matter in fighting skills or basic cultivation, they were much better than other soldiers. Wang Jing was very interested.

Even if we really talk about the quality of individual soldiers, some of them are not inferior to the elite soldiers under his command.

The king nodded secretly, it seems that one should not underestimate the heroes of the world.

At this time, Lu Bu came to the field. Lu Bu, who was born in Bingzhou, was indeed a peerless warrior. He was tall and strong, different from ordinary people. His eyebrows and eyes were like those of a ghost. When he glared at people, it was as if they were being stared at by a wild beast, and they trembled with fear all over.

The weapon Lu Bu used was naturally his signature weapon, the Fang Tian Hua Ji. As soon as he entered the battlefield, he defeated more than ten people in a row: "Hahaha, what a great time. Anyone else wants to come up?"

Born in Bingzhou and with a fierce reputation as a tiger, Lu Bu naturally has a brave and aggressive nature.

Ever since he came back from the expedition to Jizhou, he would come to the training ground almost every day to show off his skills. It not only relieved his boredom, but also helped him to establish his prestige in the army. Why not do it?
Lu Bu was so brave that no one dared to go on the field.
Seeing the soldiers looking at him with awe and admiration, Lu Bu, who had been bullied many times by the dignitaries in the court, immediately looked pleased. He kept urging his men to go on the field again, without any sign of fatigue on his face.

Lu Bu was of humble origin and had participated in the killing of Ding Yuan. Although he had now joined Wang Jing and had made many military achievements, he was still marginalized in the officialdom, so he had to regain some sense of existence from these small soldiers.

Lu Bu was seen waving his Fang Tian Hua Ji and showing off his might on the field, completely unaware that Wang Jing had been hiding nearby and secretly observing him for a long time.

Wang Jing sighed in his heart: "I was just worrying about who to use to establish my authority and win the hearts of the army. I didn't expect that you, Fengxian, would be so understanding and willing to sacrifice yourself."

Lu Bu suddenly felt a chill down his spine for no apparent reason, and he secretly became alert: "Why do I suddenly feel a chill down my spine on such a hot day?"

He was wondering when someone outside the training ground, who had no one to respond to, suddenly shouted, "Fengxian, how about I be your opponent?"

After seeing that Lu Bu had defeated dozens of men in a row and intimidated the entire army, Wang Jing also wanted to show off some of his skills to calm the situation.

In terms of pure military strength, Lu Bu was really no match for him. Wang Jing did this purely to establish enough prestige in the army by demonstrating his invincible combat power that could crush Lu Bu.

After all, for the soldiers, a capable general will undoubtedly leave a more impressive impression on them and make them convinced.

"This...please!"

When Lu Bu heard that someone else was willing to fight, he was happy, but when he turned around and found that it was Wang Jing, he immediately became upset.

You have to know that Wang Jing was traveling incognito this time, wearing coarse linen clothes, and his dress was almost the same as that of ordinary soldiers. Lu Bu thought that he was not here but somewhere else. Unexpectedly, he was caught just as he started to show off.

But how could Lü Bu refuse Wang Jing's request? He could only bite the bullet and accept the battle. Lü Bu clasped his fists and saluted, his expression extremely serious: "In this case, I have overstepped my bounds."

"Don't worry! Fengxian, you have already spent a lot of energy. If I don't take advantage of you, wouldn't it be an unfair victory? So Fengxian, you should take a rest for a while, and then we can fight again."

If you want to fight, you must win honorably and beyond reproach.

Wang Jing had already figured it out in his mind. As for how annoying the tool man Lu Bu would be, was that kind of thing important?

"Yes, I will do my best."

Lu Bu was in a very depressed mood. Among all the generals in the army, he was the best in terms of personal bravery. Even Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, who were capable of fighting thousands of enemies, acknowledged this.

But even so, Lu Bu is by no means a match for Wang Jing. After all, a genius cannot beat a stupid person.

Therefore, whether Wang Jing lets him rest or not, the result will not change.

Sitting down and resting for a while, Lu Bu adjusted his condition to the most perfect level: "My lord, I have adjusted my breathing and can start the duel at any time. I wonder what weapon you want to use?"

In just a cup of tea, Lu Bu's current condition was at its peak.

When he stood up from the ground, he took a stance, and suddenly the blood in his body surged like a rushing river, his eyes gleamed with brilliance, giving him a terrifying feeling as if he was a tiger standing high on a dangerous peak, ready to pounce at any time.

Even when facing Wang Jing, Lu Bu still had the courage to fight, because that was his dignity as a military general.

At this moment, Lu Bu had a calm expression and a slender figure. He was no longer as exaggerated and anxious as before, which made Wang Jing nod his head repeatedly.

Wang Jing picked up a stick that reached his eyebrows, held it in his hand, and tried to dance with it a few times.

Although this is a training ground, with all kinds of weapons, the most suitable weapon is naturally a sword, but Wang Jing is not going to kill, just a fight, just a little bit. Wang Jing took the Qimei stick and weighed it. Although it was a little lighter, it was barely suitable. He shook the gun and said to Lu Bu: "Fengxian, I will choose this Qimei stick as my weapon, let's fight!"

Wang Jing shouted the word "come" loudly, as if a tiger roared in the mountains, with great majesty.

At the same time, he pointed one end of the stick directly at Lu Bu's face. The terrifying aura displayed by Wang Jing at this time was completely different from when he was standing low-key before.

Lu Bu himself is a master of martial arts. He has already entered the sixth realm of martial arts, reached the pinnacle, and stood at the top of martial arts.

As the saying goes, an expert can tell the effectiveness of a move with just one move. Facing Wang Jing's extremely powerful attack, he immediately looked solemn.

Not only is his martial arts skills superior to anyone else's, his ability to judge people is first-rate. Just from the moment Wang Jing raised the stick to his eyebrows, to now when he was ready, his movements were as smooth as flowing water, and he was attacking with ease!
Even though he knew that Wang Jing was the strongest enemy he had ever seen, he was still shocked by the strength he displayed: "How come after not seeing you for a while, my lord has become even stronger?"

But this also aroused Lu Bu's competitive spirit. The stronger the opponent, the more he would fight: "I, Lu Bu, will not stand still. Even if I lose, I will let my lord see my ability clearly!"

At that moment, Lu Bu stopped talking and swung his Fang Tian Hua Ji freely, creating a streak of silver light in the sky, which went straight to Wang Jing's face like a comet hitting the moon, with wind and thunder accompanying it faintly.

Wang Jing wanted to establish his authority, so when he saw Fang Tian Huaji coming towards him, he refused to give in.

The stick in his hand came out swiftly, like a dragon, with a sharp sound cutting through the air, and in an instant it hit Lu Bu's Fang Tian Huaji seven times in a row. Then there were seven crisp sounds on the side, connected into one. The already powerful and strong force was added with the finishing touch by Wang Jing, using the power of his wrist. Not only was the attack extremely swift, but the power was also overwhelming.

Originally, Lu Bu was inferior to Wang Jing in strength, and was forced to take a step back before he could steady himself.

Surprise flashed in his eyes, but at the same time, Lu Bu was even more excited. From Wang Jing, Lu Bu saw that the road of martial arts has a higher level of scenery!
Lu Bu did not hesitate any more, and rushed forward again. His Fang Tian Hua Ji unfolded an airtight silver light curtain, and his moves were extremely exquisite!

The previous attack had proved that Wang Jing's strength had become even greater, far superior to his own, so Lu Bu changed his tactics. He was a combat genius and would not rely solely on brute force.

"Fengxian is right. He knows he can't defeat the enemy, so he adopts the strategy of avoiding the strong and attacking the weak. It's a pity that although your moves are exquisite and unparalleled, one force can defeat ten skills. If you want to defeat me with this, it is absolutely impossible!"

Wang Jing smiled indifferently, then swung his stick again to meet Lu Bu's weapon.

This time, both sides used softness against softness, and speed against speed. The Qimei stick and the Fang Tian Huaji were used back and forth, causing the sky to collapse and the earth to crack, bricks and stones to fly everywhere. The intensity of the battle left the onlookers dumbfounded.

Although there were many brave men among the spectators, when they saw the fight between Wang Jing and Lu Bu, they all showed admiration on their faces and realized how terrifying a truly peerless warrior was!
I don't know who took the lead in cheering, but for a moment the shouts and cheers became louder and louder, making the scene even more lively.

After fighting for more than forty rounds, the two were still tied. At this time, Wang Jing had a full understanding of Lu Bu's recent improvement in strength.

Although the outcome was still unknown at this point, Wang Jing knew that he already had the absolute upper hand.

It can even be said that from the beginning when both sides were attacking and defending to now when I was attacking fiercely and the opponent could only barely resist, the outcome of victory or defeat was already determined from the beginning.

It's just that Lu Bu is a fighting genius after all. He is gifted in martial arts and few people in the world can match him. Such talents should be taken care of and not be attacked too much.

Once Lu Bu entered combat mode, he was no longer the brainless reckless man he usually was. The more he fought against invincible warriors like Wang Jing, the more meticulous and steady Lu Bu's performance became, and he could even be described as being full of resilience.

"Okay, I'll take a look at your recent progress, Fengxian, and see how much fighting resilience you have honed!"

When the fight was at its most intense, Wang Jing laughed out loud and shouted, and the direction of the stick in his hand immediately changed. He abandoned the exquisite stabbing and instead used every move vigorously and fiercely, like a gust of wind, sweeping towards the opponent.

This fighting style aims to win by force, and it's just a few vertical and horizontal moves, but the speed and strength are both perfect, making it impossible for people to avoid it and they can only fight hard!
Wang Jing's stick technique is a real killer move on the battlefield. It does not have so many fancy moves, but is full of domineering and unparalleled fighting styles. It makes the spectators' blood boil, and the cheers resound through the sky!
For a moment, Wang Jing's offensive was like a raging storm, while Lu Bu was like a light boat, drifting with the current, as if he would capsize in the storm in a moment.

Although Lu Bu still refused to admit defeat in his heart, he had to admit that Wang Jing's strength was still far beyond his. He had no shortcomings in physique, true energy, and even in mind. Even though Lu Bu had already reached the ultimate realm of power like his master, the halberd maniac Li Yan, he still could not compare to Wang Jing.

The surging shadows of the sticks seemed like a never-ending wave, bringing him great pressure.

Lu Bu could feel that his Fang Tian Hua Ji had been compressed to the point where it could only defend three feet around him, and he had no ability to fight back. If the opponent could sustain this fierce attack for another ten rounds, he would surely be defeated.

Wang Jing was in high spirits, his long roar shook the sky, and he stabbed Lu Bu with a lightning-fast stick.

This attack was as powerful as thunder and lightning, and its force could move mountains and rivers. How could a mortal man resist its might?
This strike was powerful enough to split mountains and rocks. Once this move was made, the sky was filled with the shadow of Wang Jing's stick.

Even if Lu Bu could find the real source among the heavy shadows of sticks, he would probably be unable to resist.

At this moment, Lu Bu only felt the silver light in front of him, and the icy wind from the brow-high sticks made his cheeks hurt. It seemed that everywhere he looked, there were brow-high sticks everywhere, and it was uncertain whether they were real or fake, and it was hard to predict life or death!
Just to protect himself, Lu Bu had to use all his strength to withstand this terrifying and earth-shattering attack.

Just when Lu Bu wanted to breathe a sigh of relief, he suddenly felt a numbness in his palm and felt a powerful force coming through the Fang Tian Huaji in his hand.

Just the first one was already heavy enough, but there were six more attacks after that. The attacks were continuous, each more powerful than the last. Exhausted, he could no longer hold the weapon in his hand, and the Fang Tian Hua Ji flew out of his hand.

The winner was finally decided.

"Fengxian, you are very skilled in using the Fang Tian Hua Ji, and your moves are exquisite. You have both strength and speed, but there is still room for improvement. Keep working hard. Sooner or later, you will become stronger."

Since he had won, Wang Jing certainly didn't mind showing off his generalship, but he was also telling the truth.

"My lord, your divine power is invincible. I am convinced of your defeat."

At this time, everyone finally remembered Wang Jing's identity.

"It's Lord Qi!"

"Really Qi Hou?"

"It is rumored that Marquis Qi is the best fighter in the capital. I thought he was just bragging, but I didn't expect that he actually deserves the title!"

"Wait, isn't the best master in the capital Sword Saint Wang Yue?"

"Tsk, you know shit!"

"Get lost, I don't know more than you do?"

"You are so arrogant, are you willing to practice with me?"

When Wang Jing's identity was learned, there was an uproar and much discussion.

Hearing the people below arguing, Lu Bu was also very curious: "My lord, if we were to have a duel, who is stronger, you or the Imperial Master?"

Wang Jing thought about it and smiled calmly: "If it is a sword fight, the Emperor Master is already at the level of a god, and his swordsmanship is extraordinary and saintly. I am naturally inferior to him. But if it is a fight to the death, he dies and I live."

Lu Bu was also a warrior, and he immediately understood what Wang Jing meant.

In terms of martial arts cultivation and martial arts realm, Wang Yue is naturally higher. After all, he is one of the four martial arts masters who have reached the highest level of skills.

But in a real fight, it is not certain whoever has the higher cultivation level will win. Differences in tactics, status, weapons, and the strength of the foundation will have unpredictable effects on the outcome of the battle.

Wang Jing has the peerless divine weapon, the Hongming Sword, and can use the ritual sword Chunjun to mobilize the White Ape Sword Formation for support. Unless Wang Yue can truly control the Emperor Sword Chixiao with his emperor's status, he probably won't be able to kill Wang Jing, the giant sky-devouring snake.

(End of this chapter)