Chapter 5, so it is

Lu Zhe discovered that a neatly arranged tent can accommodate five people, which means one tent is designated for a group of five. Furthermore, one hundred people form a base point, creating a mouth-like shape. Then, five groups of one hundred people form a distinct arrangement, with the stationed tents taking on a small angular shape. There are a total of ten such small camps, all surrounding the city in an elliptical formation to guard the center. He cannot see the very center, but it must be the central army, which is where the general's tent is located. There are a total of ten such small camps, all surrounding the city in an elliptical formation to guard the center. He cannot see the very center, but it must be the central army, which is where the general's tent is located.

In his view, the so-called readiness for battle is not surprising, as soldiers will always keep their weapons within close reach, and the bundles brought when summoned also need to be protected at all times. Therefore, a typical long spear is usually pressed down by the bundle, which is then used as a pillow.

The variety of food available at the stall is limited, with the majority being steamed dishes made from flour. Notably, there are boiled pieces of meat. Occasionally, individuals approach to bargain with the military vendors, and then they take out knife coins to purchase the food.

Lu Zhe was at a loss for words

Do you mean to say that they are prisoners of war

Lu Zhe understood that those who were building the straight road were prisoners of war captured during the period of the Six States' destruction. No wonder they displayed hostility both overtly and covertly upon seeing the Qin army, yet felt fear when the Qin army demonstrated its military might

The directions in which these soldiers advance are not consistent, and the sound of wooden collisions and friction can be heard as they walk, due to the leather pouches hanging from their waists

This walk took several dozen minutes, and Lü Zhe had a good sense of direction. He was somewhat puzzled about what the purpose was in walking from the military camp in the east to the south. It was not until he caught a whiff of food from afar and saw soldiers lining up to receive their meals, with many food stalls set up nearby, that he felt a sense of surprise

Currently, the Qin Dynasty is mobilizing troops to the north, but this is merely a movement and cannot be used to determine the date based on the time the troop mobilization began

After receiving his rations, Lu Zhe stepped aside and noticed that the distribution of provisions by the cook was entirely unequal. Ordinary soldiers only received bean porridge and a bowl of soup containing only yellow vegetable leaves, while officers were further divided by rank. Some officers not only received millet porridge and meat soup but also one to three pieces of bread (such as steamed buns). Clearly, each rank within the twenty ranks of the Qin had its own entitlements.

The cook saw Lu Zhe staring blankly and smiled again, pointing to the leather pouch at someone's waist

As he thought of this, a sound of a horn echoed in Lü Zhe's ears, causing him to pause for a moment. The reason? If one does not count watching television (movies), this was the first time he had heard such a long and lingering sound, which seemed to conceal the desolation of hundreds of years within it

Lu Zhe stepped out of the tent, and as far as the eye could see, there were soldiers lined up and marching out.

Yes!

He then looked towards the nearby stalls and, upon approaching, realized that they were not military provisions at all. These stalls were operated by authorized vendors accompanying the troops, and they were a blessing for the soldiers who wished to improve their meals

Oh!

The military camp established next to the straight road under construction is not as magnificent as depicted in films; one could say that there is hardly anything vibrant in color to be seen

The sturdiness of the roads in the military camp is considered a matter of great importance by renowned generals. If it suddenly rains during a battle, muddy roads can prolong the time required to assemble troops, and the speed of troop assembly during combat often determines success or failure

Lu Zhe stood in place for a long time, and finally had to exclaim: "So this is how it is..."

The State of Qin was established in 857 BC, and Ying Zheng became the King of Qin in 246 BC. He proclaimed himself Emperor in 221 BC. Therefore, how many years have passed since Ying Zheng became Emperor?

Lu Zhe quickly untied the leather bag and rummaged through it, actually having no idea what to do, looking at the cook in confusion

When it was Lü Zhe's turn, the cook seemed to pause for a moment

The entire irregularly shaped camp is surrounded by wooden stakes. To prevent possible enemy raids, several prominent corners have tall watchtowers erected. The tents are also spaced about 150 meters apart from the fence, within which stand numerous tents.

All along, he has been eating food brought from home or purchased in the counties, and he thought that the Qin Dynasty would not provide rations at all

Lu Zhe, who does not have a deep understanding of history, pondered for a long time but could not comprehend one point: why did Emperor Qin, after conquering the six states, disregard the unstable sentiments of the newly acquired territories and immediately gather troops to march north and south

It is not that the high-ranking officials of the state are unable to understand why the ruling class makes these decisions, but since events have transpired, there must be a reason behind them. The only question is, why would such a drain on national strength occur precisely at the wise center that has the capability to annihilate the six states

In conjunction with everything observed along the way, the labor and service of the Qianshou people, there was no sign of chaos whatsoever

It was a bowl of soup with a sheen of oil and the aroma of meat, though there was not much meat in it; mostly, it contained some yellow leafy vegetables. However, it smelled absolutely delightful

Oh... He has just learned that the highest commander of his troops is a 'thousand-man'.

The soldiers looked at the officers' food, their eyes filled with envy, and for the first time, he deeply understood the implications of the hierarchical system. To change one's status and treatment, one must achieve merit, and achieving merit means needing to kill more enemies to gain military honors and ranks. The desire for battle within such an army is evident.

Lu Zhe also discovered one thing: the soldiers of the Qin army would not unfasten the leather pouch at their waists unless necessary. He also had such a pouch, which contained utensils for dining with books, as well as a bamboo tube prepared by an elder. He did not know the purpose of that bamboo tube, but it was clearly not meant for holding water. There are specialized pouches for carrying water.

The cook pointed to that bamboo tube

The journey lasted intermittently for about a month and a half. He calculated in his mind that he had probably traveled over 300 kilometers. The labor of the local people along the way was not particularly harsh, and judging by their clothing and expressions, it seemed that they were living relatively well

The soldiers do not traverse the paths lined with tents; instead, they walk on designated walkways. If the camp has been established for a long time, the paths will naturally become firm with continued use.

He recalled the hostility of those who built the straight road; even a fool could understand that the subjects of the six states had merely been conquered, yet in their hearts, they had not truly submitted.

The organization of the Qin army's infantry is divided into six levels, namely: five men form a "wu," with one "wu leader"; two "wu" form a "shi," with one "shi leader"; five "shi" form a "tun," with one "tun leader"; two "tun" form a "bai," with one "bai general"; five "bai" form a "wu bai," with one "wu bai leader"; and one thousand men form two "wu bai," with one "two wu bai leader." Among these, the "two wu bai leader" is also referred to as "thousand men" and is classified as a mid-level officer.

In film and television works, tents are often equipped with rows of weapon racks, but Lü Zhe did not see anything of the sort upon his arrival, as the military would not waste resources on such superfluous items

Soup

Lu Zhexu smiled with a sense of inertia, but inside he was questioning whether the cook had made a mistake. While the other soldiers received food consisting of yellow and black beans, why was he given millet rice (a type of rice)?

Meng Tian's northern campaign against the Xiongnu seems to have occurred in 221 BC (this is not a typographical error; Meng Tian's northern campaign against the Xiongnu actually took place in 214 BC)

Since ancient times, the establishment of military camps has been a matter of study. The higher the military talent of the commander, the simpler and more unadorned the military camp they establish. The so-called simplicity refers to the pathways set up between the tents, and unadorned does not pertain to character but rather to the solidity of the pathways

The internal structure of the tent is not complex, consisting of grass mats on the ground, gray blankets, and hooks hanging from the beams, all of which are supplies prepared by the military

However, he does not quite understand. Qin successively destroyed Han, Zhao, Yan, Wei, Chu, and Qi, taking a total of ten years. The youngest of those war captives was about seventeen, while the oldest was already over sixty. How many years have passed since the Qin destroyed the six states?

Of course, Lü Zhe's starting point is in the Qin territory, and he did not pass through the newly conquered areas. The places and people he encountered are all from the old foundation of the Great Qin, making it impossible for him to understand the situation in other regions

At this time, the Qin state is not only mobilizing troops, but it also seems to be simultaneously constructing several straight roads

The cook glanced at Lu Zhe's armor and the long sword at his waist, lifted another large jar, and with a smile, gave a loud "pop" as yellow grains of rice filled the wooden bowl