Chapter 501

“How is this possible?” Lu Su muttered. He had already tested over a hundred people in the crowd. All of them could read and write. Although their handwriting was a mess, the fact that they could all read remained.

If they were all considered scholars, there would already be more scholars here than Jiangdong. However, their quality as a scholar was terrible. They could only read and write a few words. On the other hand, the scholars elsewhere had read scriptures for years and would naturally be more knowledgeable.

“What do you think?” Cheng Yu asked. The Urban Army may not have detailed knowledge but they had already learned how to read and write in the past few months.

“What about them?” Lu Su asked as he pointed at the people who did not step forward. When he tested them, he found out that these people could also read despite claiming to be unable to. Being an honest person, he tested everyone using common words.

“Li Erniu, step forward!” Cheng Yu looked at one of the sergeants amongst the group Lu Su pointed at.

“Yes!” The sergeant replied and stepped forward.

“Tell him why you did not step forward earlier!” Cheng Yu ordered loudly.

“This is because I could not recognize every word yet.” Li Erniu replied, feeling embarrassed.

“Could not recognize every word?” Lu Su was stunned.

“Yes. I could not read about ten of the words he wrote earlier!” Li Erniu replied.

“Ten?” Lu Su looked back at the words he wrote. There were about a hundred words there. Li Erniu could not read these ten but the ones he could read were all common words enough for him to write a letter.

“If you don’t believe him, you can have Li Erniu tested.” Cheng Yu said indifferently.

His expression made Huang Xu want to laugh. Before this, the Urban Army had an argument with Liu Mang. At that time, Cheng Yu claimed that a soldier only needed to follow orders. However, after being punished for a month, Cheng Yu had changed. He was now able to speak in a more scholarly manner instead of his usual uncouth manner.

“No need!” Lu Su replied knowing that Li Erniu would be that good if Cheng Yu was this confident. He had a complicated expression because if he were to lose the bet, he would have to publicly apologize to thousands of uncouth people. This would be a huge loss of face.

“Master Lu Su! You do not need to take the General’s words to heart! His words are said in a moment of anger!” Huang Xu took this opportunity to try and reconcile the two with each other. Lu Su who had gain Liu Mang’s attention would definitely end up in an important position if he were to join Liu Mang. At that time, he would be able to make Cheng Yu’s life miserable.

“Master Lu Su. We are all ordered to learn how to read and write by our Lord. A few months ago, we were all illiterate but now we all know at least a hundred words. However, we can only recognize the words. Writing it is still difficult.” Huang Xu explained. Liu Mang had ordered them to learn how to read. The higher their position, the more words they needed to know. The most basic thing they needed to know was how to write down the number of enemies. A 1000-man commander also needed to know how to write a basic letter. Besides that, they also needed to know how to read maps.

These were all rules set by Liu Mang. Those that cannot learn would be demoted and eventually expelled from of the Urban Army. Li Erniu was once a 100-man commander who got demoted to a troop leader commanding five people. If he had not been one of the more valiant and fiercer warriors, he would have already been expelled from the Urban Army.

“Your Lord ordered this?” Lu Su could not understand why a soldier needed to learn how to read and write. Soldiers only needed to listen to orders while generals must also be able to command. Most generals also did not know how to read. Could it be that they all wanted to become secretaries? This is clearly not the case.

“I’ve already said it before. The Lord said that soldiers who did not want to become generals are worthless soldiers! Ask them and see! Li Erniu! Do you want to become a general?”

“Yes! I have been dreaming of it!” Li Erniu replied loudly. In other armies, a general was already predetermined. If it was not the child of a noble, it would be the child of a general. Anyone who wishes to be a general was just daydreaming. However, things were different in the Urban Army. Anyone with the ability can become a general. In fact, all of them in the Urban Army were capable of becoming officers.

“Those that want to become generals need to learn how to read and write?” Lu Su was stunned. It was true that a general needed to be able to devise strategies as well. Learning how to read and write would be useful. But there were thousands of people that could read. Does Yangzhou have so many armies that needed so many generals?

Huang Xu did not say more except confirm with Lu Su that all of the soldiers here wanted to become generals. This is because anything more involved Yangzhou’s secrets. Liu Mang already had plenty of trump cards such as the Black Flag Army and the White Horses. There would be even more if one count Lu Bu’s Wolf Cavalry and Formation Breaker. What he wanted was for the Urban Arm to become a training camp

Yangzhou had a three hundred thousand soldiers in reserve. They did not need to fight if there were no emergencies but if they needed to fight, these group of people would not be any inferior to others as they all be led by 100-man commanders from the Urban Army.

The Urban Army was becoming a military school and Liu Mang wanted Lu Su to teach tactics to them. Liu Mang initially wanted Jia Xu to do it since the matters at Jingzhou was almost finished and everyone else was busy but then Lu Su was captured so he decided to make use of Lu Su instead.

“Five thousand generals?” Lu Su muttered. Yangzhou truly had high ambitions.

“That is why you need not quarrel with General Cheng. Just leave it be and teach. We will listen!” Huang Xu tried to ease the tension between the two. Cheng Yu was initially unwilling but was eventually persuaded. Lu Su was already a prisoner, there was no need to quarrel with him.

“No.” Lu Su suddenly said just as Cheng Yu was about to bury the hatchet.

“Do you still not believe me?” Cheng Yu harrumphed thinking that Lu Su was still unwilling to give up “We can gather the remaining three thousand from the Urban Army to prove it to you!” 

“No need.” Lu Su shook his head. He was already convinced that these people were literate soldiers. He straightened his clothes and stepped in front of the stage. He then lowered his head and cupped his fist.

The soldiers who were observing him murmured in surprise. They had heard that the person sent by their Lord and their Military Advisor was a talented scholar worthy of respect so they were confused when said scholar ended up showing them respect.

“This ignorant one from Jiangdong apologizes to everyone.” Lu Su was a man of his word.

When Cheng Yu saw this, he finally understood why Liu Mang sent Lu Su to teach the Urban Army. As an enemy, Lu Su was a frightening individual but as an ally, he would be very reliable.

“Let’s go.” Cheng Yu said to Huang Xu.

“Hm? Go where?”

“We need to find a seat to listen to his lecture.” Cheng Yu replied with a smile.