Chapter 4: This is the Fierce Qin

Special Note: In this chapter, the term "migrant workers" carries no other connotation

The soldiers are marching, the earth is trembling, and the footsteps that can connect with the soul synchronize the rhythm of breathing. Those who are present will understand that feeling; even the most ridiculous person will become serious and feel a sense of mission.

One must not underestimate the brutality of close combat with cold weapons, as it is far more gruesome than killing from a distance with firearms. Engaging in combat with cold weapons demands a high level of courage, and those who have not experienced it often find it unbearable

You

After the commoners of Qian (the term used to refer to the people during the Qin Dynasty) left, it did not take long for the soldiers to begin to act on their own initiative

The middle-aged man raised his hand to point at a position, and Lü Zhe, not being foolish, quickly ran over and stood tall with his chest out. This position happened to be at the forefront of the entire soldier formation. Looking at his attire—holding a spear, gripping a sword, and wearing armor—it was evident that this was the place where an officer should stand

Officers generally find it less likely to be killed in action, and someone who feels somewhat safer no longer has trembling calves, standing at attention with a commanding presence, seemingly with a hint of pride on their face. Amidst a group of soldiers with serious expressions and stern faces, this person appears increasingly out of place.

The various square formations kept moving, and even though the dazed Lü Zhe did not know how to command, he and the formations behind him surprisingly did not fall into disarray as they flowed with the current

During the march, Lu Zhe often saw large groups of people carrying baskets filled with soil passing by, and occasionally soldiers riding horses galloping to and fro, which made him feel quite curious

The reforms initiated by Shang Yang in the state of Qin, originally surnamed Wei and later adopting the surname "Shang" based on his fief, established a social system centered on agriculture and warfare. The elderly would remain at home to farm, while the young and strong would serve in military campaigns. The twenty ranks of nobility were a product of Shang Yang's reforms

The scene of parting was not filled with excessive sentimentality; the soldiers about to step onto the bloody battlefield were more filled with excitement and anticipation. Of course, Lü Zhe was not among them

On the other side, the uncle quietly watched Lu Zhe, as if he wanted to say something but then gave up.

Departed, farewell, dear bandit... I shall never again see your expressive eyebrows, nor those thick, hairy toes

The above is a chant.

The Qin Dynasty prohibited private duels and deemed it unacceptable to seize from within. Therefore, one could only seize from the enemy under the call of the state. From this point on, the Qin Dynasty placed great importance on military achievements. For the people of Qin, the heads of enemies represented wealth; the more enemies one killed, the more land one would possess, and one's status and position would also be elevated

A certain person, having come to his senses, suddenly became clever. He gripped the spear tightly in his left hand and raised his sword to the sky with his right hand, using a hysterical tone: "Victory to all! Victory to all! Great Qin, victory to all!"

Turning around, Lü Zhe glared angrily at a middle-aged man

A powerful and resonant chant seemed to echo from heaven to earth, causing Lü Zhe's head to ring with a long buzz, and his entire body was jolted, making the hairs stand on end.

Imagine the majestic sounds that resonate as the formations pass during the Republic's military parade; those are the military horns that evoke excitement and fervor. It feels as if he has been struck by some kind of spell, involuntarily stirred, becoming exhilarated alongside the crowd.

From beginning to end, Lu Zhe did not see a single high-ranking official; only grassroots and mid-level officers from various regions were guiding the process. The orderly and systematic movements, from formation to camp settlement, all seemed so natural.

He originally intended to shout a few phrases in his halting "dialect" such as "I will definitely kill more enemies," "For the great Qin, I have no regrets even in death," and "I would rather die than not take the enemy down with me" to bolster his courage, hoping to make his trembling calves not shake so violently.

Lu Zhe stood in place, somewhat bewildered, watching the people beside him form a queue. Before he could react, a square formation of approximately one hundred soldiers had already taken shape directly in front of him. The soldiers then stood still, their eyes wide open, staring back with a gaze filled with murderous intent.

During a series of adjustments in the formation, there was no noise, only the orderly sound of marching steps. The soldiers knew what they were supposed to do, and even though Lü Zhe had never experienced such a situation, he was guided into the correct position to stand. At this moment, the discipline of the Qin army was undoubtedly evident, once again proving that they were indeed a formidable and battle-hardened force.

Since Lu Zhe's crossing, he has always had an uncle accompanying him. In a strange environment, having someone slightly familiar naturally leads to a sense of dependence (this is unrelated to gender). Now that they are about to part ways, is the "chick" about to leave the "mother hen" and looking quite nervous while gazing at the books?

Uncertain of the reason, Lü Zhe, standing in the ranks of soldiers, felt a strange sensation rise within him, akin to the pride shared by his comrades in being part of a collective, and a disdain for those whose faces betrayed fear... even if he lacked the qualification to feel this way

Lu Zhe quietly turned his head to look behind him. The soldiers standing behind him had expressionless faces; they were merely dressed in coarse black garments and were not wearing armor. Looking down at the bronze armor on his own body, he felt a sense of satisfaction in his heart: "So it turns out I am an official"

But uncle ... ... , fine, what a pity

Gradually, the tremors of the earth diminished, and hundreds of formations transformed into ten. Lü Zhe, who originally thought of himself as an official, was unaware of when he lost his "special position" and instead stood in line with the soldiers.

How can one quickly acquire wealth? Of course, by using violent means

They seemed to know what they were supposed to do, without loud shouts or the urging of officers, forming orderly squares of various sizes in a well-organized manner

In an era with limited farming methods, the quality of the harvest depended on the whims of nature. Favorable weather conditions were certainly ideal, but in the face of a poor harvest year, one would have to suffer greatly

This unknown place appeared to be bustling with activity, as countless individuals were using various tools to excavate or level the land. With his somewhat halting Mandarin, Lu Zhe inquired and learned that these people were constructing a straight road

From a high vantage point, one can see a series of black rectangular formations and a phalanx of soldiers standing on the ochre-colored ground. Almost all of them wield a spear, with only a few individuals carrying a sword at their waist. The junior officers holding swords and spears stand at the front line of the soldiers, while the mid-level officers, who do not hold spears, move through the gaps in the formation, occasionally adjusting the positions of certain individuals

The officer ordered the troops to set up camp, and the relatives of the soldiers could only accompany them to this point, where partings were evident everywhere. However, there seemed to be little in the way of life-and-death farewells

Someone nearby scoffed disdainfully, saying: "Those who have lost their country, humph!"

The "engineers" who have been watching from a distance seem to have somewhat unusual expressions on their faces

When all the soldiers in formation stood still, Lü Zhe, who lived in a formalistic society, finally came to his senses. He speculated that there should be high-ranking officials delivering a series of speeches, flaunting their so-called authority. ... However ...! ... There was none. All that followed was another resounding chant, and then the soldiers, one row after another, marched into the barracks.

After continuing to walk northwest for approximately half a month, several groups joined along the way, seemingly having reached their destination. The entire group came to a halt on a vast plain

The wife, in a reassuring tone, instructed her husband, saying, "You already have descendants, so go to the battlefield and strive to obtain more heads! Earn more land for our offspring!"

In the end, the uncle finally spoke. Lu Zhe listened closely, and it sounded very much like he was saying something along the lines of "stay alive on the battlefield," which left him both astonished and surprised

In fact, Lü Zhe did not know that the Qin army would not shout any slogans during battle; they always held their breath under the command of their officers, like ghostly soldiers crawling out from the underworld, remaining silent as they brought death to their enemies, until they themselves perished

Indeed, Lü Zhe also noticed it; that expression, that gaze, that posture, the migrant workers were clearly cursing something in circles. However, the sense of immersion was too weak, and he did not quite understand what it was for.

Under this system, the Qin people rejoiced at the prospect of war, eagerly anticipating that the state would continuously organize activities akin to "group robbery." In the midst of violence, they could gain both reputation and wealth, leading to the unfortunate downfall of the six states. The issue is... Lü Zhe is quite familiar with the sound of "bang bang bang," but has never experienced the sound of "ping ling pang lang." He has played with firearms during military training but has never tried cold weapons. How can he bear this?

In those years, the elderly commoners loudly urged their younger generation to kill more enemies on the battlefield; once they had severed a few heads, they could return home and marry beautiful brides.

The scene he anticipated, where the soldiers would shout "Victory to Ten Thousand", did not occur; instead, there was a profound silence, with most of the soldiers looking at Lü Zhe with strange expressions. When he began to doubt whether his "dialect" was incorrect, the soldiers' momentum only intensified, frightening him to the point that he nearly collapsed on the spot. Thus, it can be said that living in a society characterized by formalism is truly detrimental.

As he reached the gate, Lu Zhe turned his head back, and the migrant workers who had been cursing in circles no longer displayed the previous resentment and malice; their hands trembled, and their faces were filled with fear