Qiao Xin ultimately did not personally see them off, which left Qiao Yunxin and Qiao Yunting feeling uneasy.

They knelt outside Qiao Xin’s door to bid farewell.

“Take care of yourselves. I’ll be here at home. If you have time, send a letter!”

Qiao Yunting took the luggage and saw that everything was well-prepared.

His eyes instantly turned red. “Second Brother, do you think Mother is angry with us?”

“No, otherwise she wouldn’t have prepared everything so thoroughly. With two of us leaving at once, she just needs some time to adjust.”

Then, he looked at their eldest brother, who was silent with his head down, and said, “Mother said that military life is tough, so there’s no need to send your salaries home. We don’t need that money. Use it to buy yourself good food. But remember one thing—no gambling or brothels. Also, you must memorize an article every day.”

Hearing this, the brothers could no longer feel sad. “We’re joining the army, and we still have to study?”

Qiao Yunqing grinned slyly. “Of course! Each of you has a book in your backpack. Before you return home next time, Mother will surely check. If you haven’t memorized it, you might not be able to step back into the house.”

Qiao Yunting instantly slumped like a deflated balloon.

He had volunteered for the army partly to escape studying, but Mother had seen right through him!

No wonder she didn’t want to see him—she was probably afraid he’d change his mind!

He really was like the Monkey King trying to escape from the Buddha’s palm.

..

Upon arriving at the military camp, Fan Boqing announced that Qiao Yunxin was appointed as a Ren Yong Captain and Qiao Yunting as a Pei Rong Captain, both holding the official rank of eighth grade. Each was given a squad to train.

The general and deputy general had just returned from a trip and brought in two newcomers, who were immediately granted officer ranks. This made many soldiers jealous, envious, and resentful.

Rumors spread quickly, with people speculating that Fan Boqing was using this opportunity to insert his own trusted aides, snatching positions that should have belonged to others.

Naturally, some were dissatisfied, though no one dared to voice their complaints openly. Instead, the Qiao brothers were frequently targeted with small tricks and petty harassment.

“General, should we intervene?” someone asked.

Fan Boqing waved it off. “No need, it’s just the beginning. In the army, strength speaks louder than anything. Whether they can keep their positions and establish themselves depends on their own abilities.

If we interfere, no matter how we handle it, people will accuse us of favoritism, which would only harm their future.

They’re smart enough to find a way to deal with it. We can help them for a while, but not forever.”

He then added, “The Qiao brothers aren’t as weak as you think! As long as it doesn’t turn deadly, just watch—don’t interfere!”

“Yes, sir!”

Earning Respect in the Army

Having endured Qiao Xin’s hellish training, the Qiao brothers found Fan Boqing’s so-called “new recruit training” to be child’s play.

Not only did they exceed daily training quotas, but they also got up before dawn to run laps, practice archery, and spar with spears. Even before bed, they would recite an article.

Their relentless energy left their fellow soldiers stunned.

Qiao Yunxin had the physique of a born warrior—tall, strong, and imposing. Others could accept that they couldn’t compete with him.

But Qiao Yunting was different. He was thin as a pine tree, with delicate skin that made him look almost like a woman at first glance. Yet he was still unbeatable, which made things even more frustrating for their challengers.

Not only was he skilled, but his fighting style was also unpredictable and ruthless. His sharp tongue was even more lethal—every time he argued, he left his opponents speechless and humiliated.

The brothers were also unusually united.

They couldn’t be argued with, and they couldn’t be defeated in a fight. Those who tried to target them quickly grew frustrated.

To make matters worse, the brothers began winning over their comrades.

Most of the soldiers were rough, uneducated men. Knowing this, the Qiao brothers set up a calligraphy stand in the barracks during their rest days, offering to write letters home for free.

Fan Boqing hadn’t expected them to do something like this and called them over to ask about it.

Qiao Yunxin answered shyly, “Mother said we must keep up with our studies, and our handwriting must be good. She hopes we can take the scholar’s exam one day.”

Qiao Yunting added with a grin, “Mother said, ‘A military officer running his legs off is no match for a civil officer with a sharp tongue.’ Most generals suffer because they lack education.

If we get framed in the future and can’t even write a petition to defend ourselves, won’t we just let others slander us however they like? That’s why literacy is extremely important.”

The gathered officers were dumbfounded. That made a lot of sense!

And who knew how many secretly started picking up brushes and practicing writing afterward?

Before long, the Qiao brothers had built strong relationships throughout the camp. The petty harassment against them gradually faded.

Proving Themselves in Battle

Of course, some still refused to acknowledge them, believing that all this was just trickery. In the army, real skill was proven in battle.

Soon, an opportunity arrived.

Fan Boqing received orders from his superiors to eliminate bandits in the southwest and reopen the route to Shu Province.

After some thought, he sent the Qiao brothers on the mission.

They did not disappoint.

With their rich experience in forest combat, they advanced like an unstoppable force. Their archery was so accurate that they could hit a target from a hundred paces away, and their spear techniques were swift and unpredictable, making it nearly impossible for enemies to defend against them.

Again and again, they took down enemy leaders and racked up military merits.

The soldiers who fought alongside them were completely convinced by their prowess. The rumors of their skill spread like wildfire—one was a master archer, and the other a spear-wielding demon.

When Xu Yuan received reports from the scouts, he couldn’t help but laugh. “Congratulations, General! You’ve gained two formidable warriors at once!”

Fan Boqing, seeing the Qiao brothers’ stellar performance, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The pressure he had faced these past weeks was no less than theirs. The army had factions, and many were dissatisfied with the Qiao brothers’ quick promotions. But now, with their undeniable battlefield achievements, what could anyone say?

Xu Yuan hesitated. “But if they keep rising this fast, won’t others become even more envious?”

Fan Boqing snorted. “They earned their merits—why shouldn’t they be rewarded? Do people really think they have no backing?”

Xu Yuan was taken aback. “What do you mean, General?”

Fan Boqing didn’t hide it. “The Madam of the Qiao family not only saved my entire family’s lives but also once rescued the eldest son of the Duke of Dingbian. While recovering at the Qiao household, he became sworn brothers with Yunxin and Yunting.

Even though he has returned home, he still keeps an eye on them. Believe it or not, if we deny their promotions today, this matter will be on his desk by tomorrow.”

Xu Yuan was stunned. “Then… did the young duke arrange for them to enlist?”

“No, I chose them myself. But even without these connections, they still earned their military merits fair and square.”

Xu Yuan thought about it and had to agree. The Qiao brothers had climbed the ranks step by step, leaving no room for doubt.