Chapter 6: Life and Death (Middle)

It seems that the title of general was flattering, making him feel somewhat pleased, and his tone was no longer so rigid and severe

The matters handled by the family-run establishment of Zashe are not merely about opening a benevolent pawnshop

The Yi Prefecture or the Fusang Prefecture

The method of selection and identification is quite simple; it involves digging a trench. If you can jump over it or lift a round stone with both hands, you pass the test during this process

He squinted his eyes and scrutinized me carefully before suddenly speaking up

I have just noticed that although everyone appears to be in a disheveled state, the teeth revealed when others open their mouths to eat are mostly severely worn black and yellow molars, which clearly contrasts with my well-maintained teeth nurtured by good habits

Looking at me in a flattering manner, the chief mumbled hesitantly as he drew several large characters and symbols on the table with a charcoal stick

At first glance, I felt that this was a veteran who bore the marks of time. He was wearing an old chainmail vest, a rarity for someone of his status, with several rings already fallen apart. His body was wrapped in large tattered pieces of cloth resembling burlap, and only his boots appeared somewhat decent, yet the suspicious bloodstains on them were quite alarming.

Using a fine carbon pencil, each character was carefully identified and transcribed onto a wrinkled piece of paper, the origin of which is unknown, and then bound into a booklet with coarse hemp thread.

Dare to complain ... ...

It seems as if I have heard it on those islands in the Southeast Sea

Well, I was somewhat surprised, yet I sighed. Is it possible that such things are still in vogue in this world? Well, I am no longer as astonished. I later learned that there exists a type of ancient script with more strokes (traditional?), which is a high-end choice for official use and the gentry. In contrast, the so-called shorthand invented by Liang Gong (simplified?) was designed for the convenience of military officers and common folk who have a basic understanding of literature, and it has been passed down through the ages

That is a child of the sea, having no connection with those northern dogs or western bandits

After more than a hundred people were distributed, I, who had been long tormented by hunger and felt as if a train could run through my stomach, managed to grab a piece of bread that was somewhat acceptable in shape. I bit into it with force, but could not help but spit it out with a loud sound. It contained too much bran and other impurities, and the sound of friction between my teeth and tongue was like chewing on crumpled sandpaper, completely extinguishing my appetite

However, temporarily distancing myself from the gentle breeze, the sun's rays, the rain, as well as the ill-intentioned crowds and the threatening scavengers, lying on the clumps of grass that serve as fodder for livestock, I found myself completely unable to sleep. This was not merely due to the pungent odor of the livestock above, nor the incessant rustling of the busy rodents all around, nor was it because of the prickly hay that creaked under me.

I do not know whether you are from the Xinghua Party or the Reform Party

Hearing this sentence, I couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, glancing at the swords and daggers strapped to their waists; this hurdle has finally been overcome

A leader of the on-site supervision, wearing a cloth cap, strode over, fiercely raising the scabbard of his sword.

Another voice came through

This chaotic and overcrowded camp is actually not large; one can see inside at a glance. After navigating around a few dilapidated tents and dispersing a group of soldiers blocking the path, it wasn't long before I heard.

With several books filled with haphazard scribbles, something resembling an account book was tossed into my arms. Thus, I found my first place to settle, a shed in the camp with three sides exposed to the wind, which, although it appeared equally precarious, was also quite unreliable

They love to take it and roll it away

A bowl of vegetable soup that is completely devoid of meat flavor after dinner, one can soak it to take two more pieces than others, yet the bread remains stubbornly hard. After softening, it is eaten by hand along with the soup. Under the shed, there is a solitary grass mat, no longer needing to squeeze together with those previous refugees, exposed to the elements and the foul smell.

As I pondered, I drowsily forced my eyelids shut, bringing an end to my first day in the military camp

Do you want to eat better

It seems that the voice was accidentally too loud, immediately drawing attention

I seemed to sense that the other person's gaze flickered for a moment, and their tone became more eager.

There is no surplus grain... If you have the ability, go to those walled fortresses yourself to demand it...

When I stood up slowly from the ground, panting heavily, I found myself blocked once again

What was sent this time is not the suspicious black lumps, but rather gray cakes that somewhat resemble food. Well, at least it looks somewhat decent. There is also a spoonful of soup paste made from chaff and wild vegetables. There are no containers available, so one can only use their hands, tiles, mouths, or anything they can find to hold it. Occasionally, someone gets burned and cries out, yet they are reluctant to spit it out or let go.

And follow me

dog offal

I remained silent and motionless, appearing as if turned to stone, yet my heart was filled with inexplicable shock. What is this all about? How could even the reform movement emerge in this context

The half-worn paint scraper sheath and the bow wrapped in cloth strips, along with the wrinkles on his face, indicate that he is no longer young. In summary, he is an old fellow exuding an air of danger

Looking at the weapon in his hand and the quiver on his saddle, the pangs in my empty stomach made me hesitate for a moment, yet I ultimately abandoned the thought of resistance or immediate escape

"Reporting back to the General..."

What abilities do you possess

Suddenly, he was stopped by another powerful arm. This was another man with a beard like weeds, who appeared quite authoritative. The man with the fierce demeanor and a turban quickly retreated to the side without even attempting to argue.

Your teeth are in excellent condition

At this moment, I couldn't help but think of a certain cold-faced man, burdened with deep-seated enmity, yet constantly pursued by women, evoking feelings of envy and jealousy in others

The sound of murmuring directly reached my ears, causing me to shiver involuntarily as I struggled to swallow, completely extinguishing my appetite. It reminded me of the legendary heroes of Water Margin, akin to certain professional preferences of Bear Grylls.

This fellow is much cleaner than those who lie in the streets, with not a single callus on his hands, feet, shoulders, or back

Having virtue, truly a good brand

A middle-aged man, sitting cross-legged on a weathered wooden stool, with long hair cascading down and a cloth band wrapped around his forehead, is intently focused on dealing with the leg of a half-unknown animal, his sweat-soaked chest exposed. The tantalizing aroma of the barbecued meat, dripping with juices, makes my mouth water and my stomach quiver, even though it is still covered in dust and sand

However, the person beside me suddenly furrowed their brows, causing my heart to leap.

Unlike other novel protagonists who traverse into different worlds, where they can casually hunt wild chickens and rabbits in the mountains and forests as if they were in their own vegetable garden, or easily persuade other animals to their demise with mere words, thereby acquiring a super pet with maximum loyalty.

What use are you then

"Go on, with your physique, you can still run so well..."

My reaction caused the expression on the shore to suddenly drop, and in great disappointment, he waved his hand dismissively, shooing me away like a fly. After being persuaded by the veteran and muttering a few words, he finally turned his head back.

Shorthand and hard pen writing... still have some usefulness...

In the end, I could only touch the swollen lump on my head that still had blood on it, stammering and pretending to be ignorant

That... General, my name is Shaya, um, my courtesy name is Youde

Then can you read, write, do arithmetic, and keep accounts

Motherf***er, quickly bring back the meat that was so hard to get

Under a grass hut surrounded by cloth curtains, I encountered this so-called leader of the unidentified armed group

So it turns out they are sea dwellers

The East China Sea or the South China Sea approach

The remaining individuals were given a wooden stick, uneven in length and sharply pointed at one end, and were filled with a lot of empty talk about "seeking fame and fortune, and achieving great things," thus becoming members of this "righteous army"

Although the construction was quite hasty, at a glance, it appeared to consist of only about a thousand people. The weapons were of various types and lacked standardization, and most individuals were without armor, merely wearing one or two additional pieces that made them look bulkier. As more people joined in, the crowd suddenly grew significantly larger, becoming even more chaotic.

An unidentified flying object nearly brushed against the tip of my nose, rolling down into the dust, and then I saw a figure pounce on it like a hunting dog, followed by shouts and curses.

The leader leaned against the shore, wiped the grease stains from his chin with the hem of his garment, and sat cross-legged with his arms crossed, speaking in a low voice

... ...

... ...

It is merely that youthful voice change, which somewhat undermines the fierce and solemn atmosphere that has been painstakingly created

This accent

Thus

Along with a few individuals nearby who do not appear to be of good character, I reflexively ignored them for the time being. My body, however, has been hungry for more than 24 hours.

Previously pursued by robbers to the point of losing one's life, one crashed down a cliff, sustaining severe head injuries and forgetting many things

The veteran walked up, whispered a few words softly, and then they began to discuss among themselves.

At last, a voice called out to me, but it was the same boy who had just been scavenging like a hunting dog. He stood beside the leader known as Jiang'an, feigning a fierce tone.

When I leaned on my aching legs and feet, finally able to stop and catch my breath, easing the burning sensation in my chest, I found myself in a small-scale campsite by the roadside in the wilderness, where felled tree branches were tied together in a row and roughly arranged into an irregular shape.

I do not know why such thoughts surged in my mind. As the one who performed the best among them, or rather the leader, I was granted the right to assist in distributing food. Several baskets of cold items were brought before me, to be distributed according to the number of people.

There are also some individuals who are clearly unqualified in terms of age and physique, or those who are merely trying to take advantage of the situation, who have been eliminated. Regardless of their pleas or their loud cries, they cannot elicit even a shred of compassion. After being beaten and kicked, they are pushed aside like corpses.

Indeed, it is the so-called "righteous army," which is even inferior to the ordinary government troops and local militia, existing in a gray area between rebels, bandits, and armed groups.

The other party made a gesture with a long knife.

Is it the Respect and Defend faction or the Imperial Authority faction

Although I did not originally study accounting, but rather chose to take courses in law with the aim of participating in the judicial examination and integrating into the system, I can at least understand the income and expenditure accounts at the level of a small grocery store owner

That man, the one in the upper seat, is the one who commands the shore and the master; you must respond appropriately

He will make a good soldier, and who knows, he might even become a commander

From today onwards, you might as well try being a bookkeeper

What is your surname and given name, and where are you from