Chapter 37

The first assessment for the new recruits was very strict. But the results were still satisfactory. Less than five percent of the people were cut. Over ninety percent of the people passed.For the first month of enlistment, the training was all martial arts and physical fitness. The assessment standards were also simple and clear. How many times they could lift the stone locks, how many stones they could pull on the bow... Whether they passed or failed was obvious. There was no room for cheating or special treatment.

As the Ye family promised, the army really did provide enough food to eat. Even those who failed and were cut still became stronger after a month of eating their fill and undergoing high-intensity training.

Those who were cut were inevitably disheartened. Fortunately, even if they couldn't become soldiers, they could still work as civilian laborers for the army. They would still have food to eat. Unlike the soldiers who not only got rations but also extra pay.

I heard that in the future, the Prefect would also select personal guards. The treatment for personal guards would be even better.

For those who passed the first assessment, especially those with excellent results, their hearts were burning with anticipation these days. The most talked about topic was whether they could enter the personal guard battalion and what the treatment would be like.

When the third day of assessment was over, there was actually meat for dinner!

Everyone was even more excited.

Not just them, even the Ye family members were excited. The entire Ye Family Fort was passionate.

After all, even common folks like Wang Ada who sold vegetables on the street, Zhao Sao who washed clothes for others, and Li Wu who beat the night watch - they all knew, the more soldiers their Prefect had, the more stable Dengzhou would be, and the more settled their lives would become.

Now entering the eighth month, Xian Ling of Guan County, Sun Xiangxue, had sent over a visit request, saying he would come to pay a visit on the eighth day punctually.

Ye Suijin thought he had some business, but it turned out he came to suggest repairing the Xuanhua Military Governor's Mansion.

In short, he came to flatter.

Of course Ye Suijin would not fall for this. She directly rejected it, and the reason for rejection was simple: "Inauspicious."

That young Prefect died with his troops scattered, it was truly inauspicious.

Sun Xiangxue's face froze instantly, repeatedly apologizing. Deeply feeling that his flattery had kicked the horse's leg.

Unexpectedly, Ye Suijin stared at him for a long time, and suddenly smiled: "Ling Sun... you must be very familiar with the affairs of yamens and officialdom?"

Sun Xiangxue was stared at by her gaze until he broke out in cold sweat. He deeply regretted meddling and coming to flatter Ye Suijin. He stammered: "Yamen affairs... are the responsibility of this official..."

"Good." Ye Suijin was very happy. "Ling Sun, please help me take a trip to the capital."

Sun Xiangxue: "..."

Really, he really shouldn't have meddled and made this trip!

Sun Xiangxue forced himself to calm down: "This official is a county magistrate. By law I cannot leave my post without authorization..."

Ye Suijin didn't care: "Laws from Former Wei?"

Sun Xiangxue: "..."

Sun Xiangxue left Ye Family Fort and hurried to Neixiang County to complain to the county magistrate there, He Zhou.

He Zhou wondered: "Why did you go to Ye Family Fort?"

"Cough..." Sun Xiangxue didn't want to say he abandoned He to flatter Ye Suijin alone, and equivocated, "I was late in delivering grains...just walking around..."

They were both experienced officials, so He understood at once. But he didn't hold it against Sun. He just asked: "What exactly does she want you to do in the capital?"

Sun Xiangxue said bitterly: "She wants me to ask the Emperor for something. She didn't tell me specifically what to ask for, just said it was something for the winter. You tell me, she just got her official post from the Emperor, how could she dare ask for more things again?"

He Zhou: "..."

Our Governor really has thick skin and guts.

"Don't worry," He Zhou comforted him, "It's just a few days’ travel from Dengzhou to the capital. Those bandits and rogue soldiers, the commoners are afraid of them, but we officials surely aren't. Naturally it will be safe for you."

Sun Xiangxue also knew this. But there were always dangers in long journeys, never as safe as staying in Dengzhou.

He couldn’t help but sigh.

He Zhou asked: "How are things with Zhao Langjun? I heard he left Dengzhou?"

"Yes, he went to Xiangzhou," Sun Xiangxue said. "The last message he sent back was on the first day of the eighth month. He beheaded some people, and went chasing farther out." He added resentfully, "With him gone, things have settled down on my side."

He Zhou asked: "Shouldn't he have come back by now?"

Still upset about being sent on official travel, Sun Xiangxue dismissed it: "What business is it of ours. "

At this moment, Zhao Jingwen was chewing on a hardtack biscuit.

They traveled light with only cavalry, focusing on high mobility without much baggage. The rations they brought were already finished. Now they survived on what the land provided, either buying from locals or just snatching from others outright.

"Others" mainly referred to rogue soldiers. And wherever rogue soldiers loitered, public security was surely already beyond hope. Many hoodlums would also take advantage of the chaos. If left unchecked, it would likely become something like Fangcheng.

On their way here, they had killed many rogue soldiers, and did not harass or plunder the commoners. After discovering this, the nearby peasants took out the food they had hidden and thanked them profusely.

Xiang Da came over to talk to him: "Should we head back now?"

Just yesterday, Ye Mancang had also asked when they would be going back. They had collected quite a few heads. Bringing those back should at least earn him an acting aide-de-camp rank.

This revealed the difference between people.

If the leader of this expedition was Third Master Ye, upon arriving here, the mission would be considered accomplished. Third Master would decisively turn back for Dengzhou without hesitation.

But the leader this time was Zhao Jingwen.

And Zhao Jingwen didn't want to go back yet.

When he first set out, he didn't think too much about it. Limited by his status, Ye Family Fort didn't allow room for advancement, so he thought to accomplish more merits by killing more enemies outside.

But now that he was actually out here, he tasted an unprecedented feeling. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the ɴ0velFɪre.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

Although back in Ye Family Fort, his wife had been extremely generous, providing him with the best food, clothing, and supplies. But in everyone's hearts, he was still inferior. The Ye clan members, retainers, even the more presentable stewards, only showed him face superficially, and didn't actually see him as an equal at all.

Although he had fought bravely at Fangcheng, charging ahead of others, he only followed orders and commands.

He was just one of many.

This was the first time.

Although Ye Suijin had only given him one company, this company truly listened to his command and followed his orders.

When he clenched his fist, he could feel a strong sense of power in his palm.

It made his whole body tingle excitedly.

But if he went back, back to Ye Family Fort...

"Langjun?" Xiang Da looked at him puzzled.

Zhao Jingwen was silent for a moment. He swallowed the biscuit in his mouth and called Ye Mancang over: "Mancang, come talk together."

Ye Mancang came over: "Langjun?"

The two sat down on the felt blanket. They both thought Zhao Jingwen was going to discuss arrangements for the return trip. After all they had been out for over half a month, it was about time to go back.

"Mancang," Zhao Jingwen asked Ye Mancang first, "Do you think the heads we’re bringing back are enough to earn you an Aide-de-camp rank?"

Ye Mancang waved his hand: "Aide-de-camp might be a stretch. Deputy aide-de-camp I think is possible, no?"

Zhao Jingwen then asked Xiang Da: "Enough to promote you from Benevolence and Bravery Captain to Withstand Humiliation Captain?"

"Wishful thinking. That's definitely not enough," Xiang Da laughed openly. "The higher the rank, the harder to get promoted."

Zhao Jingwen also laughed.

Ye Mancang envied even more: "You're already a Benevolence and Bravery Captain."

While he was still nothing, just a steward. Need to gain an official rank for prospects and to change his descendants’ status.

Zhao Jingwen smiled, then restrained his smile and looked up: "Then what if we don't go back?"

Xiang Da and Ye Mancang were both stunned: "Huh?"

"Not go back?"

"What do you mean not go back?"

Xiang Da was shocked: "Langjun! Langjun, you can't be thinking of defecting, right?"

Zhao Jingwen smiled and said: "My wife is Prefect of Dengzhou, General Who Upholds Authority, Governor of Dengzhou. How could I defect?"

Only then did Xiang Da feel relieved.

Ye Mancang blinked: "Then Langjun, could you be thinking of... going independent?"

Xiang Da became anxious again.

Zhao Jingwen was a son-in-law by marriage. There were some cases where these husbands had taken their wives’ family wealth and ran off.

"How could I betray my wife, that's impossible." Zhao Jingwen immediately rejected the idea wholeheartedly.

Xiang Da and Ye Mancang looked at each other, and asked together: "Then what does Langjun mean...?"

Zhao Jingwen stared at Xiang Da for a while, then stared at Ye Mancang for a while.

"Let's go back. There are so many people in Ye Family Fort, when will it be our turn to stand out?" he said, "From my understanding of my wife, next time something happens, she will definitely choose some people who did not go to Fangcheng last time to earn merit. Master Mancang said there may be a chance, or may not be, after all there are so many people in Ye Family Fort, it's hard to say whether it will be your turn or not. Old Xiang, you probably won't get to go. We have to give others a chance, otherwise people will say my wife the military governor is unfair in appointing people."

Xiang Da and Ye Mancang were not foolish men. Otherwise, Zhao Jingwen in his previous life would not have taken the initiative to draw them in.

The two looked at each other, and Xiang Da, being of slightly higher status, spoke first: "Young Master, just say what you have in mind."

With these few sentences, Zhao Jingwen's mind was completely made up.

"I'm not going back," he said. "Ye Family Fort won't miss the three of us, or this company of men. We don't have to go back. Of course, it's not that we'll never go back. No matter what, I'll live and die as my wife's man. I'm definitely going back."

"But not now." He convinced himself, and his emotions gradually rose. "This is such a rare opportunity we have now. We have men under us, we're out on assignment."

"Not enough military exploits to get promoted? Then keep earning more!"

"Not enough heads? Keep chopping heads until there are enough!"

"It's better than going back and getting buried among the crowds doing nothing, don't you think?"

He looked sharply at the two men with his beautiful eyes.

His words stirred their hearts.

On careful thought, he was right!

With so many people, it would be difficult to stand out. One had to be assigned tasks in order to have opportunities to earn merit. After going back this time, who knew when they would get assigned something again.

Those who were assigned tasks and followed along to Fangcheng last time all got official positions, precisely because they earned merits by following along.

In fact, the family servants had been satisfied just to become stewards before, and the retainers were content just to find a place where they could get fed.

But suddenly, their master and patron went from being a little country fort lord to the military governor of Deng Province, and their hearts expanded along with his.

It seemed Young Master Zhao was thinking the same way.

Xiang Da and Ye Mancang both felt they understood why Zhao Jingwen would have this idea.

It was public knowledge, not a secret - the first batch of appointments did not include Zhao Jingwen's name. Everyone had privately discussed it already.

Mistress Ye's intention to avoid nepotism was very clear. Of course everyone wanted to see a fair superior, but for Zhao Jingwen himself, it was still unfair.

Xiang Da rubbed his knees with his rough hands: "Yes, yes, we were thinking, Young Master, if you earn enough merits and accomplishments, Mistress will give you an official post, and others won't be able to say anything. That's the idea, right?"

Zhao Jingwen smiled slightly: "Brother Xiang understands me."

Ye Mancang was also moved. More than anyone, he wanted to improve his status.

But he was also worried: "But if we don't go back for a long time, and the Master gets angry at us..."

"You'll have me," Zhao Jingwen said magnanimously. "I'm in charge on this assignment out here. Everything will be decided by me, including not going back. You two just have to follow my orders. If Mistress blames us, hmm... I'll kneel and accept punishment."

The two men laughed loudly.

After the laugh, their hearts were also put at ease. Indeed, Zhao Jingwen and Ye Suijin were husband and wife. They may fight but they would make up. With him shielding them, what did they have to fear?

"Alright!" the two said, "We will follow Young Master's orders."

Zhao Jingwen stood up: "Then follow me."

Zhao Jingwen had thought it through. He could no longer keep chopping off heads.

Taking heads was useful for others, but not for him. What he needed were living people. He needed troops, more troops.

In this world, with troops in hand, one could have a say.

Just like his wife, rising high as soon as she took office, the position of Deng Province's governor easily falling into her hands.

Under his orders, the company packed up and set off south again.

Zhao Jingwen sat on his horse and looked back northeast, towards Ye Family Fort.

Suijin, wait for me. I will definitely make you look at me with new eyes.

I will make you shine with pride because of me!!