♂?，，

  Several hesitant soldiers looked at each other and simultaneously turned their gaze towards Liu Feng.

  "So it was just an old trick of gathering urgently after all."

  Liu Feng finally understood Ma Chao's intention, feeling a bit disappointed and unenthusiastic. However, in order not to dampen Ma Chao's enthusiasm, he glared and shouted: "Are the military officers deaf from beating drums?"

  Liu Feng exerted his authority, and the soldiers didn't dare to delay any longer. They quickly rolled up their sleeves, picked up the wooden mallets, and struck the seven-faced cowhide drum with all their might.

  The black night was like a mirror, the silence shattered in an instant, the rumbling drumbeats echoed across the land, and Liu Feng's ears, which were close by, were also slightly painful.

  The soldiers who were still asleep were suddenly awakened by the drumbeat, and each camp was noisy. No one could sleep with blurred eyes, hastily putting on clothes and armor, finding weapons, and rushing out of the tent.

  According to the "Marching Order", when soldiers go to bed at night, upon hearing the first drumbeat, they should immediately get up and put on their armor and take up their weapons. After the second drumbeat, they must exit their tents and gather in the direction of the flag. By the end of the third drumbeat, they must complete their assembly.

  In the center of the platform stood a long pole dozens of feet high, with iron basins at the four corners burning fiercely, illuminating the giant flag hanging from the top of the pole. According to military law, this was where soldiers gathered.

  At the sound of the third drum, Liu Feng stood under the platform, gazing coldly at the scene before him. Less than fifty men had arrived at the assembly point, while the rest were still emerging from their tents, rushing towards him in a frenzy. Those who were slower were either still searching for their clothes or hadn't even found their weapons yet.

  Liu Feng slightly shook his head, a hint of disappointment on his face: "They can't even gather on time, and on the battlefield, military orders change in an instant. I'm afraid they'll be even more unable to keep up. It seems that training them into elite soldiers still has a long way to go."

  Ma Xiao's expression didn't look too bad: "The young master is right, but in my humble opinion, their reaction ability is not far from what I expected. Moreover, the content of our training tonight is not just to practice their reaction ability."

  Liu Feng had previously thought that he just wanted to train for emergency assembly, but hearing what he said at this time, it seemed that there was another intention. Liu Feng suddenly became interested again.

  Before they knew it, the three rounds of drumming had come to an end.

  Liu Feng took a rough glance and saw that only over 130 people had arrived on time, with another 70 or 80 still rushing towards them.

  At this time, Ma Su hurriedly shouted: "Those who did not arrive on time will stop in their tracks and stand over there. The two groups are not allowed to mix together."

  Suddenly, Liu Feng understood the meaning of Ma Chao's words.

  The so-called military law is like a mountain, he intentionally separates the late soldiers and mostly wants to punish those who fail to arrive on time, establish military prestige through punishment, and instill the idea of strictly following military discipline in these slow and accustomed soldiers.

  Having understood this, the small expectation in Liu Feng's heart also disappeared. Ma Su's move was naturally seen by Liu Feng as well, and it seemed that there was nothing new about it. If he just relied on this method to train a fine army, then Liu Jue's expectations for Ma Su were probably too high.

  "Your Highness, please give your orders now."

  Ma Su is indeed clever, when he was showing off his military prowess, he personally wielded a sword, now that he wants to punish someone, he lets him take the fall.

  Liu Feng showed a hint of displeasure but didn't express it, forcing a smile at the corner of his mouth: "As you see, how should I punish those who are unqualified?"

  "Didn't you say we wouldn't punish them?" Ma Xiao was a bit perplexed.

  Liu Feng was somewhat perplexed and doubted, "They didn't follow the military order, gathering in San Tong Gu is clearly against the rules, not punishing them would be equivalent to rewarding them?"

  Ma Chao's mouth slightly raised, and he chuckled: "That's exactly what I mean."

  "I didn't hear wrong, did I? They want me to reward them!" Liu Feng's face showed surprise.

  Ma Chao coughed lightly a few times: "The young master may have misunderstood, the subordinate's intention is to let the young master reward those who gather on time."

  Ma Chao's words were indeed beyond Liu Feng's expectations, and for a moment he found it hard to understand such an eccentric practice. As the saying goes, military orders are like mountains, and soldiers following orders is their duty, if it is their duty, why should they be rewarded?

  If following Ma Chao's idea, the soldiers would only need to obey military orders to receive rewards. To drive them to kill enemies and win on the battlefield, wouldn't they need astronomical numbers of rewards? From ancient times to the present, where has there been such a way of governing the army?

  "Ma Junsi, are you sure you know what you're doing?" Liu Feng did not follow through without hesitation this time. He was not as easily deceived as Liu Qi. For anything he did, it had to make logical sense, that was his guiding principle.

  Ma Chao's expression was quite calm, facing Liu Feng's questioning, he only said lightly: "Young master, these soldiers were originally the troops of Zi De Gongzi, although they have become our troops in name, but to make them willing to risk their lives, relying solely on strict military law is far from enough."

  As soon as he heard this remark, Liu Feng suddenly recalled the scene of the mutiny in the Northern Camp.

  Does anyone still remember that time, in the chaotic situation of Beiyuan, Liu Feng decisively used killing to establish his authority. At that time, Liu Qi was still complaining that he shouldn't have killed without investigation and then ruthlessly killed that suspicious soldier.

  If the soldiers are not yet close to you but you punish them, they will not submit; if they do not submit, it is difficult to use them. If the soldiers have already become attached to you but punishments are not enforced, it is impossible to use them.

  Liu Qi's soldiers had already become attached to him, which is why he needed to use strict military law to restrain them. At the time, Liu Feng's approach was in line with the saying "If the soldiers have already become attached and punishments are not enforced, then they cannot be used." So now, Ma Chao's approach is...

  "If a subordinate has not been personally instructed and is punished, he will not submit. If he does not submit, it will be difficult to use him."

  Ma Chao's eyes flashed with surprise, not because Liu Feng could appreciate his painstaking efforts, but because the young master in front of him could actually use the principles of "Sun Tzu" to verify his actions, which was quite difficult for a 16-year-old.

  "It seems that the young master has also made a deep study of the art of war. Since the young master has already understood the intention of his subordinate, then I will say nothing more."

  If it can be said that Liu Feng had a "doubtful" attitude towards Ma Chao's abilities before, then now, Liu Feng has truly recognized the capabilities of this young man who is only a few years older than himself.

  Understood the intention, Liu Feng's heart suddenly became clear as a mirror. He burst out laughing and immediately announced that for those soldiers who gathered on time, they would have meat added to their lunch at noon.

  The reward was announced, and the crowd erupted in cheers. The group of soldiers who completed the assembly on time were overjoyed, while those who failed to qualify were worried about being punished, but they couldn't help feeling a little downhearted thinking that others would be rewarded with meat while they could only drool, wishing they had known earlier and should have been quicker when they heard the drumbeat.

  Looking at the soldiers on the platform who were not all happy, Liu Feng suddenly realized that Ma Su's strategy of making the soldiers close to him still had loopholes.

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