Chapter 127: Squad Training

Niu Da said earnestly, "Boss, spearmanship relies on techniques like thrusting, poking, flicking, parrying, blocking, pressing, and chopping. Since we are training, we must be comprehensive. If we only practice one or two movements, can it even be called spearmanship?"

Xu Mo smiled and replied, "Niu Da, I understand your point, but we don't have enough time to teach everything. We need to focus on rapid results, you see? We can teach the thrusting, flicking, parrying, and blocking techniques slowly later on."

Niu Da still disagreed, frowning and shaking his head. Niu Er and Niu San, having overheard the conversation, sided with their elder brother, believing that spearmanship should be learned as a complete set of skills.

Xu Mo pondered for a moment before suggesting, "Niu Da, Niu Er, Niu San, how about this? Instead of just talking, why don't we have a match? Whoever wins, we follow their method. How does that sound?"

Upon hearing the challenge, the three brothers looked at each other, quite surprised. Xu Mo could have simply used his authority as the employer to make the final decision, but he didn't want anyone to be unconvinced, so he came up with this solution.

Niu Da quickly asked, "Boss, what are we competing in? How will we compete?"

Xu Mo said, "We will divide the team into two. You train one group, and I will train the other. By sunset, we will have a face-off. Whoever wins, we follow their way. Deal?"

"Deal!" Niu Da agreed without a second thought, finding it perfectly fair. Niu Er and Niu San nodded immediately; in their eyes, their eldest brother was sure to win. The reason was simple: their brother had studied spearmanship, while Xu Mo knew nothing of martial arts. How could someone trained by him possibly defeat their brother?

Xu Mo nodded and announced the plan to everyone, beginning the division immediately. He first asked for volunteers, letting those willing to train under him stand on the left side of the open ground. Soon, over a dozen men from the delivery team stepped out and gathered on the left. Xu Mo then handpicked a few more to complete his squad.

However, when the two groups were compared, it was clear that Xu Mo’s team was generally half a head shorter and physically weaker than Niu Da’s. Niu Da suggested swapping a few members to balance the strength, but Xu Mo firmly refused, saying that the current arrangement was fine.

The open ground was then divided into two, with the left half for Xu Mo’s team and the right for Niu Da’s. Assisted by his brothers, Niu Da began teaching spearmanship, demonstrating each move with great seriousness, while his team learned with equal focus.

Things were entirely different on Xu Mo's side. He started by ordering everyone to put down their bamboo poles and practice moving forward and backward empty-handed. When Xu Mo shouted "One," the team stepped forward; when he shouted "Two," they stepped back. His requirements were simple: everyone’s movements had to be uniform and without hesitation. At first, the team was uncoordinated, with some moving too fast and others too slow, looking quite chaotic. Xu Mo, however, didn't get angry. He guided them patiently and demonstrated repeatedly, and as time passed, their movements gradually became synchronized.

The morning passed quickly. Xu Mo’s team had only practiced moving forward and backward, never once touching their bamboo poles. Conversely, Niu Da’s team had already learned half the spearmanship routine. Several young men with natural talent were already performing quite well, which delighted the three brothers, who felt the victory was already in the bag.

After lunch, training resumed. Niu Da continued teaching the remaining moves, while Xu Mo finally allowed his team to pick up their bamboo poles.

Demonstrating with a pole, Xu Mo said, "When I shout 'one,' you thrust your spear forward with all your might. No hesitation!" He lunged with the pole, his movement powerful and his gaze resolute. "When I shout 'two,' you retract it immediately, also with full force. No dragging!" He pulled the pole back with a clean, swift motion.

"Do you understand?" he asked loudly.

"Understood," the villagers replied, their voices lazy and uncoordinated.

Xu Mo was dissatisfied. "Did you not eat? I can't hear you!"

"Do you understand?"

This time, the villagers raised their voices, shouting, "Understood!" It was better, but still not enough for Xu Mo. He made them repeat it three more times, and only on the third attempt did their perfectly synchronized response satisfy him.

The rest of the time, Xu Mo had them practice thrusting and retracting, taking a fifteen-minute break every hour. Chen Miaoyi, Xu Hui, and Qin Mutou took a break from their work to watch the training. Seeing how simple and tedious Xu Mo’s drills were, they were baffled. Xu Hui felt anxious and wanted to ask Xu Mo why, but Chen Miaoyi stopped her, telling her not to disturb him. She believed Xu Mo had his reasons and firmly trusted that he would win.

As evening approached, the villagers gathered around the open ground, the atmosphere buzzing with excitement. Everyone wanted to see whether the team trained by the former soldier Niu Da or the one trained by the martial-arts-illiterate Xu Mo would prevail.

Among the crowd were Chen Miaoyi, Qin Mutou, and the Xu Tieshu family. Xu Hui asked Chen Miaoyi excitedly, "Sister-in-law, who do you think will win?"

Chen Miaoyi replied without hesitation, "Naturally, your cousin."

Xu Hui shook her head. "Sister-in-law, I feel like Niu Da will win. Cousin doesn't even know spearmanship, what could he possibly teach them? Right, Mutou?"

She looked at Qin Mutou, who scratched his head and said, "Huihui, I think either side could win, hehe..."

"Useless, that's as good as saying nothing!" Xu Hui rolled her eyes at him.

Soon, both teams took their positions. Niu Da’s team used free positioning, allowed to move however they pleased to win. Xu Mo, however, employed a circular formation, with half the men forming an inner circle and the other half an outer circle, standing in staggered positions. This allowed the inner circle to thrust their spears through the gaps in the outer ring. Xu Mo stood in the very center to issue commands and fight alongside them, boosting their cohesion and confidence.

Seeing that Xu Mo knew how to use a circular formation, Niu Da, having been a soldier, stopped underestimating him. Determined to win, he promised his men a live chicken each as a reward if they succeeded. His team became as excited as if they had been injected with adrenaline, looking at Xu Mo’s men as if they were already roast chickens.

Xu Mo, not to be outdone, announced that if his team won, they would each get a live chicken plus two pounds of mutton. His team erupted into cheers.

A moment later, at the village head's command, the confrontation began. Niu Da let out a shout and led his men in a charge, attempting to surround Xu Mo's team at top speed. Xu Mo remained calm and shouted, "Don't panic! Hold your weapons tight and listen to my command!"

Niu Da roared again, and his men began their assault with their bamboo poles...