Chapter 3, Future Identity

Soldiers of the Qin Dynasty did not receive military pay before obtaining a noble title, but they could receive approximately 40 jin of rations each month. For a single man like Fu Ge, if he could eat enough, his entire family would not go hungry.

In order to survive, Fu Ge had no choice but to sell the only asset left to him by his parents—the house

When a prostitute and her client are fighting in bed, Fu Ge carries a crossbow bolt on his shoulder. In fact, there is no need for Fu Ge to actively request to join the army; his name has long been circled in the household registration. Over the years, the Great Qin has been engaged in continuous military campaigns. In the northern region of Shangjun, 300,000 elite soldiers of the Great Qin Northern Army are currently battling the fierce Xiongnu tribes near the Great Wall. In the south, in Nanhai and Xiangjun, 500,000 soldiers of the Great Qin Southern Army are busy quelling the rebellion of the Man-Yue. The military strength of the Qin state has never been as strained as it is now. 300,000 elite soldiers of the Great Qin Northern Army are currently battling the fierce Xiongnu tribes near the Great Wall. In the south, in Nanhai and Xiangjun, 500,000 soldiers of the Great Qin Southern Army are busy quelling the rebellion of the Man-Yue. The military strength of the Qin state has never been as strained as it is now.

Seventeen years old is the mark of a man's coming of age, at which point he can be conscripted into military service

When Fugo took over the crossbow, the captain in charge of recruiting new soldiers habitually encouraged him

As the father of a soldier, he brought Fu Ge back home. He had no other children, so Fu Ge naturally became the only beloved child. The memories of childhood are joyful; although Lintao is remote and not prosperous, it has companions from similar backgrounds as Fu Ge, the warhorses that Fu Ge loves the most, and the vast Gobi desert beyond the Great Wall.

Fortunately, at this time, Fu Ge was already seventeen years old

Not only Fu Ge, but also the three hundred crossbowmen accompanying him, are equally the sacrificial offerings of this great battle

These assumptions are now completely meaningless

When the money from selling the house was also exhausted, Fu Ge had no choice but to sell his own body

Late at night, Fu Ge and the soldiers who were guarding them were driven to a corner in the west of the city

It is fortunate that Fu Ge is still alive; this is the best outcome. Among the new recruits who joined the Southern Army alongside Fu Ge, very few survived this battle. Fu Ge is the luckiest one, and he doesn't even have a single injury on him

However, when Fuge was twelve years old, his father did not return after fulfilling a military mission. His mother, who lost her source of livelihood, and Fuge lived a very difficult life. Three years later, his overworked mother also left Fuge. In the following two years, Fuge often went hunting with his companions, relying on selling the game to make ends meet.

In fact, Fu Ge was well aware that if it had not been for his childhood spent alongside his father in the military camp, if it had not been for the bit of experience gained during hunting, and if it had not been for the rigorous training over those three months where he practiced the skills of combat, evasion, and survival with all his might, his fate would have been the same as that of his deceased companions

Selling oneself—yes, there have long been such rumors in the army of the Great Qin: women can sell their bodies at brothels, while men must go to the military to sell themselves

In the desolate wilderness beyond the Great Wall, packs of wild wolves roam, and one often encounters the cavalry of the Di people. The underdeveloped Fuge does not dare to venture too far from Lintao, and the available game is scarce. Prolonged hunger has made Fuge appear much weaker than his peers.

This night was a difficult and painful twelve hours for Fu Ge and his companions

After retreating into the inner city, the crossbowmen were swiftly disarmed by Li You's personal guards. At this critical moment, which should have been one of unity in defending the city alongside the scholars, Li You instead acted treacherously from behind. Meng Ping's death on the battlefield, for a soldier, is not without its merits as a final resting place; it is certainly far better than dying unjustly in prison.

The cold wind howled as it swept through the gaps in the city wall, causing the blades of grass to temporarily bend down. Nevertheless, they did not yield; as soon as the wind weakened slightly, their frail bodies stood upright once more

Fu Ge joined the Qin army in the year of the First Emperor's death, at the age of seventeen. Prior to this, Fu Ge lived in Lintao, a small city on the western border of Qin. Most of the inhabitants stationed there were soldiers, and Fu Ge's father was one of the squad leaders. Fu Ge's mother was not from the Central Plains; she was a captive taken by his father during battles against the nomadic tribes beyond the Great Wall. In a remote and wild border area like Lintao, women were rare and considered precious treasures. It was no secret that the Qin army treated female captives as spoils of war, rewarding them to officers and soldiers for their merits.

Young Fuge did not exhibit extraordinary intelligence; at least in the eyes of his parents, Fuge was no different from other children of the same age when it came to books. His intellect was merely slightly more developed, which allowed him to thrive among his peers and undeniably become their leader

Li You gave the crossbowmen a night to consider. Tomorrow—tomorrow morning, if the crossbowmen still do not obey his orders, they will be thrown off the city walls to become trophies for the rebels.

There are no retests on the battlefield; life and death are determined in a single instance. Students who lack the necessary skills will all perish. This is a bloody school of slaughter

Lintao is located at the western starting point of the Great Wall. Geographically, soldiers stationed here should be assigned to the Northern Army Group of the Great Qin. However, due to the unfavorable situation in the southern front, there was an urgent need for reinforcements. This batch of over 2,000 new recruits, including Fu Ge, was incorporated into the southern army sequence after only three months of training. The unit they belonged to was named "Lintao". During this new recruit training, Fu Ge's outstanding archery skills caught the attention of the commanding officer, Meng Ping, thus he became a true crossbowman. This batch of over 2,000 new recruits, including Fu Ge, was incorporated into the southern army sequence after only three months of training. The unit they belonged to was named "Lintao". During this new recruit training, Fu Ge's outstanding archery skills caught the attention of the commanding officer, Meng Ping, thus he became a true crossbowman.

To be more precise, Fu Ge does not actually belong to this era; his soul originates from the twenty-first century, over a thousand years later. Due to certain reasons beyond intention and *illustration*, it has traversed time and attached itself to Fu Ge's body

Although, if Li You's reinforcements had arrived earlier, he might not have died, and the outer city of Xingyang might not have fallen.

Fu Ge's first expedition was altered in location due to the emergence of rebel forces. The brutal battle to defend Xingyang City made Fu Ge truly experience the fear of death

In this great battle, Fu Ge is merely a foot soldier, a soldier stripped of even his weapon. On this battlefield where thousands of people fight and die every day, Fu Ge's life is insignificant.

However, Fu Ge is not their biological child

Enlisting in the military is a supreme honor

The rebels have successfully occupied most of Xingyang City. If there are no unforeseen circumstances, after a brief period of rest, they will concentrate their forces to attack the inner city. By that time, what means will Li You have to defend the city

For the people of Xingyang, it was indeed the darkest night of their lives

Fuge was brought back by his father during a hunting trip. It is said that Fuge was discovered among a group of wild camels; at that time, he was just over three years old, lying on a female camel and greedily drinking camel milk.