Chapter Nine, Expedition

In order to no longer fear individuals like Takulai in the future, one must make a mark in this expedition. An old warrior named Rong Banding, who failed to be selected for the expedition, had quietly approached me before. This distant relative, who shares some blood ties with Hamuham, spent an entire night explaining the common knowledge of expeditions to me. All the Di people in the village now regard Hamuham, who has been specifically placed in the expedition team with his armor, as a hope for future elevation of status.

A warrior clad in breastplate sounded a brass trumpet, and everyone immediately assembled by unit. The military regulations of the empire stipulated the meanings represented by various sounds. The rank-and-file were equipped with bamboo whistles, the thousand-man commanders used trumpets, and above them were waist drums and large drums. On the battlefield, if the rank-and-file misheard the drum signals, they would face execution; however, these soldiers only needed to clearly understand the commands from the rank-and-file and the two types of drum signals for assembly and charge

Several officers came to discuss their relationships with Ouyang, as they were all colleagues and would be going to war together. Ouyang naturally would not show a displeased expression to others, which in turn garnered considerable goodwill from several officers.

Bless me, Father. I will surely become a warrior like you and take good care of my younger siblings

Takurai was deeply grateful for this, but he did not dare to fully trust General Huang Qian's promises. No one would offend a citizen-level armored individual for a new slave like him; he thought it would be good enough if General Huang could speak a few good words for him when the time came. His future still had to be earned from his legitimate master.

General Huang Qian also promised Takulai that if he could truly find those Di people, he could consider granting Takulai additional merits based on the situation. If Takulai were to become a commoner and Ouyang was unwilling to release him, General Huang Qian would use his own private slaves to exchange for him

More importantly, the bow and arrows borrowed by Ouyang must include a set for Takulai. If he takes one set, naturally, there will be one less person in the village equipped with a war bow and iron arrows. Several slaves, whose archery skills hover around the top 10 in the village, are anxious, all fearing that Takulai will take their set.

At this time, Anxi Town appeared much more lively than usual. The garrison of the Anxi Town's thousand-man regiment is divided into 8 companies, each deploying 20 soldiers, along with more than 10 accompanying personnel. In addition to the 38 directly under the command of the town's thousand-man commander and the various thousand-man commanders and their companies, a total of 320 soldiers were dispatched this time. They were organized into 9 teams based on their respective villages and towns.

The beginning of October in the 30th year of the Republic

Perhaps it was due to a lack of eloquence, or perhaps it was simply unnecessary. Huang Qian did not utter any grandiose words to inspire morale; he merely raised his hand abruptly and shouted, "March out!"

Ou Yang let out a bitter laugh and ceased to respond; the rivalry between civil and military officials surprisingly existed even among this group of insignificant minor officials

Liu Chenyong chuckled twice, lowering his voice to say to Ouyang: "He claims to disdain associating with beasts, yet at home he keeps several barbarian girls to warm his bed. Where is his refinement?"

Beep... beep... beep.

The trumpet-playing warrior is none other than General Huang Qian's most beloved eldest son, who can now only serve as a messenger by his side. Fortunately, if this campaign yields good results, he will have the opportunity to secure a rank and armor for his son. Therefore, this expedition is of great significance to General Huang Qian; he will not allow the commoners and slaves beneath him to cause any trouble for his campaign. Moreover, the military laws of the empire are strict, and it is not uncommon for General Qian to execute a few individuals.

Huang Qian stood on a temporarily constructed platform with several officers, fully armored, leaning on a genuine steel long sword, coldly observing the chaotic ranks below. This time, he had summoned his subordinates in the name of a formal expedition, which was different from previous hunting trips. Unless a higher-ranking officer issued new orders, he held absolute authority within the ranks.

Ouyang tested Takurai's strength, and it was indeed impressive. His archery skills may not match those of Ukeshan, but he ranks second in the village. In hand-to-hand combat, he may not be as strong as Heheli and Batu, but he is stronger than the others, making him arguably third. Overall, he can be considered one of the strongest among Ouyang's subordinates, and all the benefits, including himself, are counted as private slaves under Ouyang's name. It can be said that he is the most trustworthy person in the village for Ouyang, who does not have family with him.

Liu Pai Jia's voice was not small, and everyone on the stage heard him. 7 Jia's Pai Jia Song Wenmu replied: "You know the Di Yi are like beasts, yet you mingle with them, truly a disgrace to civility." This Pai Jia, who was from a well-off family in the interior, was said to have had several jinshi in his family. He himself studied for several years, always considering himself a scholar, yet he had never obtained the qualification of xiucai. He came to the western regions to settle on the border, perhaps with the intention of gaining extra points for examinations. He was the kind of Pai Jia who particularly disliked hunting, and he never showed a good face to his subordinates, the Di Yi commoners and slaves.

At this moment, the soldiers below shouted together, "To battle!" "To battle!"

General Huang Qian sent someone to return Takulai to Ouyang at 8 Jia. This foreigner has already recruited the remaining dozen or so members of his tribe to serve under General Huang, and his usefulness has relatively diminished. Since it has been decided that each military unit must have a guide, it would be better to return this person directly to Ouyang. According to the moral standards of this era, Takulai sought to sell himself and pledge allegiance to Ouyang, which should be considered as becoming Ouyang's private slave. Therefore, General Huang also sent a document stating Takulai's status as a slave. According to the moral standards of this era, Takulai sought to sell himself and pledge allegiance to Ouyang, which should be considered as becoming Ouyang's private slave. Therefore, General Huang also sent a document stating Takulai's status as a slave. However, this slave identification document for Takulai also notes that he has 2 merits, which serves as a reward for his recruitment of a dozen strong slave laborers for General Huang.

Including Ouyang, among the 8 members of the brigade, only 4 are citizens. Furthermore, among those who truly possess the qualifications of a scholar, only Ouyang himself qualifies. Although the imperial law states that all citizens are equal, the unspoken rule that scholars are held in higher regard still holds sway in this region. In this context, it can be said that Ouyang is already one of the top three figures in the Qian General's team in Anxi Town

The one who raised the flag for Ouyang was Heheli, as he was the only common soldier among the 8th squad. This also served as a benefit for him, as the imperial military law stipulates that those who maintain order during fierce battles, including the officers and soldiers who handle the flags and drums, are each awarded a merit. Given the current military strength of the empire, this merit is almost given away for free, not to mention that the pointed steel spear is also a valuable luxury for Heheli

Hundreds of old hunters were intimidated by the cold expression of General Huang Qian, and the noisy crowd gradually quieted down, forming 9 small square formations by village and town. Horses, sleds, and handcarts were neatly arranged behind the formations, managed by the drivers and carters from various departments. In front of the formations stood a soldier leaning on a flagpole, with General Huang Qian's flag being a small red flag bordered in black, while the badge was a triangular red flag also bordered in black

Liu Chenyong forced a rather unpleasant smile and said to Ouyang: "The Diyi are all like this, no different from beasts. However, for us martial artists, being a bit barbaric is fine; using them as cannon fodder is quite suitable. There is no need for you to take offense at the Ouyang armor."

Ouyang detested the inhuman and ghostly shrieks of such people. He had once prohibited such sounds in his village of Paijia. However, Huang Qianzong and the other Paijia people clearly did not mind. Ouyang saw that the people in his armor were also crazily shouting along, and he felt that his efforts to lead them towards the path of civilization had failed. He softly cursed, "A bunch of savages"

Hamuham did not know whether to hate the Tatars or the Han people who drove them to the west. Or perhaps, he did not dare to hate at all

On the ground, various departments lined up and set off in succession, with the roadsides crowded with residents of the town. Primarily consisting of the families and slaves of the warriors, they came to bid farewell to the departing troops, occasionally engaging in quiet conversations about the good game that previous hunting parties had encountered, punctuated by bursts of light laughter.

Hamuha has made up his mind; regardless of whether he is facing a group of Diqiang with ram horns, even if it is the tribe of the Qiangrong, he will show no mercy.

This remark was unexpectedly overheard by the nearby soldier, referred to as 1 Jia. This individual, named Liu Chenyong, is considered the second military official after General Huang Qian in Anxi Town. Having recently retired from regular military service, he is clad in a set of heavy infantry plate armor, with a medal of loyalty and bravery hanging on his chest at all times. This man has a face full of flesh, and a scar running from his forehead down to his jaw on the left side of his face gives him a somewhat distorted and particularly fierce appearance

The empire is predominantly red, with all flags featuring a red background. The distinction is made by specifications and inlaid colors, with black borders serving as the emblem of the stationed troops

The most recent example is that newcomer, Taklai. It is uncertain whether it is due to the enmity between the Di people and him, but this barbarian has repeatedly provoked several Di slaves in the village during his few days here, and on one occasion, he nearly killed one of them. Baijia was quite furious, but he only punished him with 20 military lashes, simply because he was still useful and was also Baijia's private slave. Hamuham had long known that such a person was not to be trifled with by the Di slaves, so he endured several provocations directed at him. Baijia was quite furious, but he only punished him with 20 military lashes, simply because he was still useful and was also Baijia's private slave. Hamuham had long known that such a person was not to be trifled with by the Di slaves, so he endured several provocations directed at him.

Hamuham was not formally selected, but could only be considered a supporting soldier. However, he received two 3-liang heavy flatbreads and a bowl of lamb soup. He could no longer remember the last time he had eaten meat; it must have been when his parents were still around. In Hamuham's gradually fading memory, his father was a powerful hunter, and his mother was a renowned beauty. Every evening, his mother would roast fragrant rabbit meat for him and his siblings, and the whole family would gather around the fire pit to listen to his father's tales of hunting skills. In Hamuham's gradually fading memory, his father was a powerful hunter, and his mother was a renowned beauty. Every evening, his mother would roast fragrant rabbit meat for him and his siblings, and the whole family would gather around the fire pit to listen to his father's tales of hunting skills.

Ouyang led the selected 32 individuals (including Hulan Mountain, who was responsible for driving the carriage, and the newcomer Takulai) back to Anxi Town once again. If Ouyang were to lead a hunting expedition on his own, he could depart directly from his village; however, this time, it was under the command of the Qian General, who had summoned people in the name of an expedition, which was a different nature. Everyone had to gather in the town first before setting out together

September 15, 30 of the Republic

Ouyang did not wish for the main officers to clash over a careless remark at the time of departure, so he had to smooth things over by saying: "What you say is indeed correct, but these Di barbarians are merely beasts raised by the Son of Heaven. To put it bluntly, we are merely herding these livestock for the Son of Heaven, and mingling with them does not constitute a disgrace to our culture"

On the second day, before dawn, each team started to make fire and prepare meals. General Huang Qian distributed a slaughtered sheep to each team of the various banners, and the soldiers (who were actually the 20 individuals selected by each banner, considered as soldiers by unspoken rules) were each given a steamed bun made of white flour. This meal, which is rarely seen even during the New Year, sparked waves of cheers.

Ou Yang has indeed obtained the qualification of a scholar, a true intellectual, and he has left a way out for both parties in his words Song Wenmu did not continue the subtle mockery, but simply clasped his hands and said: "What you said, Brother Ou, is indeed correct, I have learned from it."

No matter where it is, the principle of the survival of the fittest has long been understood by Hamuhar.

This dreamlike and blissful life was shattered by the westward migration of the Tatar army. All the surviving young men and women from their own tribe were captured, while the elderly and children were left to fend for themselves—these Tatars, who had become like stray dogs, were even unwilling to waste time killing these useless individuals, as the imperial army was right behind them

In the crowd marching in formation on the road, Hamuhua tightly clutched a pendant made from a half canine tooth. It was the tooth of his father, who bravely attempted to protect his wife and children with a stone axe against the Tatar cavalry.

When the Tatar Khanate existed, the Hamuhaha tribe was a target of plunder. After the Tatar Khanate ceased to exist, they continued to refer to themselves as "servants" without hesitation, even while being slaves to the Han people. This was because the Tatars, being mostly skilled in archery and horsemanship, were more favored by the military officials than the Di people.

Perhaps due to the difficulties in logistical support, the imperial pursuit forces halted not far after passing the Congling Mountains. They also captured the children of various tribes abandoned by the Tatars, who could not afford to care for them during their westward migration, but for the empire, this was a good source of slaves. Hamuhah and his siblings were among them, and miraculously, none of them were lost.

Takurai even incited jealousy among the slave laborers. The saying goes that local officials are not as good as the current managers; the private slaves of the banner always receive more benefits during hunts, and they are not accounted for in the imperial estate, thus having no logging tasks. Although they do not receive the meager rations each year, they have more free time, and just from gathering firewood, they can produce an unknown surplus.

However, this jealousy does not affect Ouyang; he only needs to distribute the weapons according to their levels, and no one dares to question the decision of the card armor