Sending souls back to their hometown is a nice job. You can get military honors for completing the mission and you can also go back to your hometown. It can be said that everyone likes it.
And the security commander only needs to run around to have the opportunity to enter the palace to meet the saint, which is even more exciting.
However, the hierarchy in the military is very strict, so these benefits naturally go to senior generals first.
The Starfall Legion that Ren Ning belongs to is one of the most outstanding legions in the empire, and its generals and bodyguards are among the best in a million.
Although its military rank is not high, it is essentially equivalent to the Qian Commander (battalion commander) of other legions. When necessary, the general can directly let his personal guards lead the troops in battle instead of the Qian Commander or battalion commander.
Therefore, the only people who can challenge Ren Ning on stage are the general's personal guards or the commanders and battalion commanders of other legions.
Low-level soldiers like Gu Datou, even if they are brave and resourceful, have no chance of challenging.
However, this kind of challenge is just a formality, and basically no one will participate.
The candidates on the stage are selected by the senior officials of the fortress or legion from the generals who signed up. Not to mention whether the others can fight or not, it is troublesome to annoy the opponent's backstage.
The reason why this challenge scene has always existed is not only to show the significance of fairness and justice to the outside world, but also to inform the fellow soldiers.
Look, this is your safety command order for sending souls back home this time. Don’t get the wrong person.
Because the soldiers escorting the heroic spirits did not know each other. Most of them happened to be on vacation just like Ren Ning, and a few from the east and a few from the west gathered together.
Challenge time is a stick of incense.
After the incense is burned, if no one comes on stage, the hot safety commander will fall into the hands of the five people on the stage.
However, this time the incense had just been lit when a middle-aged man with a full beard came onto the stage carrying a dark and heavy machete.
"Ma Dali, what are you doing?" After a period of silence, someone in the audience shouted.
Someone didn't think it was a big deal and asked, "Who do you want to challenge, Ma Qianchang?".
Ma Dali walked straight to the youngest Ren Ning without looking back.
He cupped his hands and said in a loud voice: "Yingchuan, Ma Dali. My little brother is offended."
Ren Ning was slightly startled. He was not angry and returned the favor, "Xing Luo, Ren Ning."
"Is Ma Qianchang bullying me for being young, or what does he mean?" Ren Ning asked.
Ma Dali laughed, his smile a little cold.
It is said that people are more irritating than others. He has been vigorous and ruthless for half his life, and he has been through hundreds of battles for nearly forty years before he became a thousand-year-old man. How can this boy with a hairless mouth and an incompetent work in front of him be on an equal footing with him? Or even be able to do so?
Gain the favor of the fortress and prioritize him as a security commander.
Ma Dali, who also signed up, was full of dissatisfaction.
In addition, a few days ago, Gu Qishui of Yingchuan County led ten Yingchuan soldiers out to collect the remains of the martyrs, but they were summarily beaten by Ren Ning and his Xingluo soldiers without any resistance.
This incident caused an uproar and spread throughout the fortress that day.
In particular, Ren Ning's own martial arts, together with the healing elixir he produced called Life-Chasing Powder, were astonished by many witnesses present and made the world go crazy.
I don't know what others are thinking about Ma Dali. Anyway, he has been feeling unhappy these days.
After walking around the camp, the topic in the fortress besides sending souls back home was how Ren Ning beat Gu Qishui until he was unable to fight back. How the other Xingluo people defeated the Yingchuan people in three strikes and five divisions.
Obedient and obedient.
Ma Dali became angrier the more he listened.
It was only later that Gu Qishui was found to be a spy, so he didn't dare to speak out to defend himself, so he had to hold his depression in his stomach.
After a few days, especially when he found out that he failed to choose a security commander, he almost exploded with anger.
hey-hey.
Ma Dali's face was expressionless.
"Since the fortress has set up an arena, it means that others are allowed to take the stage to challenge."
"You and I happen to be at the same level, and Lao Ma feels that both in terms of qualifications and strength, he is more suitable to be the security commander than you, the personal guard."
"So here comes the challenge." He asked, "Any more questions?"
"No." Ren Ning was not surprised.
He pulled out his saber with his backhand and walked out, "Shall we start now?"
Ma Dali hesitated for a moment, then looked at the school referee and nodded, "Let's start like this."
He is a strong man on horseback, and all his skills are on horseback. However, one look at his face shows that Ren Ning is much younger than him.
Ma Dali shamelessly asked to bring his war horse with him.
"You two wait a moment, don't be impatient."
Seeing the excitement, many soldiers in the audience became energetic and started shouting for gambling.
"Let's bet, let's bet. Xingluo Renning will pay five to one, Yingchuan Ma Dali will pay one to one..."
The fortress cannot prohibit gambling, nor can it prohibit entry.
However, small gambling is good for pleasure and big gambling is harmful to the body. Big gambling such as risking one's family and one's life is not allowed.
"I'll bet five taels, and let Ning win if the star falls." Gu Datou's duck voice sounded soul-stirring.
Ren Ning wiped his sweat.
Five taels of silver, which is almost half a year of Gu Datou's military service, is definitely a lot.
He looked around, had no choice but to withdraw his saber first, smiled at the audience and handed over his hands, indicating to everyone to place their bets first.
Ren Ning is not in a hurry.
After signing up to compete for security commander, he can stand on the stage first. He has already been recognized by the fortress and the legion.
Ma Dali is now challenging not only him, but also the entire fortress behind him. He is under greater pressure than Ren Ning.
Sure enough, several coughs sounded majestically below.
Ma Dali suddenly felt sweat on his forehead.
But after reaching this point, he could no longer look back and had no choice but to hold on.
The news spread quickly, and there was a lot of commotion. More and more soldiers were paying attention in the audience. The soldiers outside could not squeeze in, and the ones inside came out again, so we had to open a few more markets.
The fortress is too big, and not many people have seen Ren Ning and Ma Dali. However, in recent days, Ren Ning's fame has greatly increased, and his name frequently rings in the ears of the soldiers. He is much more famous than Ma Dali, an unknown thousand-year-old man.
many.
"Is he Ren Ning?" Later, Ren Gui pointed at the bearded Ma Dali, "Sure enough, he looks majestic and domineering. I will keep him."
Ahem!
Someone next to me reminded, "The younger one is the one."
Everyone was in an uproar.
I go!
He looks so young, he must have just joined the army not long ago.
The fortress has been vigorously promoting it. Could it be that this guy is a second-generation official with a great background?
What I hate most in my life are these second-generation officials.
But it doesn’t matter what your background is, if your subordinates see the truth in the ring and Uncle Beard calls him Dali, they will take care of him.
People who know Ren Ning only care about the Eighth Cavalry Battalion where Datou is located. However, a battalion of cavalry only has 800 to 1,000 cavalry. It is inconspicuous in the fortress of 150,000 people.
The others thought about it, thought about it, and almost unanimously chose to bet on Ma Dali.
After another round of tossing, I finally decided to leave. Thousands of eyes were cast on the two people in the field.
cough!
Ma Dali coughed.
He said loudly: "Thank you all brothers for your love and willingness to bet on me."
"But the old horse is a cavalry, and it is only on horseback that it has the greatest combat power." He chuckled and handed over to the countless soldiers in the audience, "Brothers, do you mind if I summon the mount?"
"Of course I don't mind."
"Ma Qianchang has superb riding skills and is invincible on horseback. Naturally, he must be paired with a mount to get down to business."
…
Amid the commotion, many people remained silent.
The cavalry was expensive, and the proportion of infantry in the entire fortress was much larger. Among the soldiers in the audience, many people looked down on the cavalry. However, most people had already placed their bets on Ma Dali, so naturally they had no choice but to support him.