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墨書 Inktalez
In the quiet Southern Mountains, a small village is hidden among the rarely trodden peaks. Unlike a typical village, there are no women or elderly people here. Moreover, the entrance is tightly guarded by Soldiers. With such a setup, even a blind person could tell that this place is a secret base of some Feudal State.
"Thud!"
When the guards at the gate heard the sound of a Bowstring, an arrow carrying a swift wind had already approached. As per the usual practice, whoever was targeted by the sharp object was responsible for dealing with it. If one failed to react in time, being shot dead was their own fault! The instructor had made it clear!
Anyone who could reach this place was no novice!
On the left side of the gate, a Soldier did not draw his sword to block but instead raised his hand to catch the incoming object, discovering it was an arrow that had its tip removed. Wrapped around the shaft was a small package; squeezing it revealed that it contained a bundle of Bamboo Slips. Communication typically occurred on such materials. Considering its size made it inconvenient to carry, someone had invented these smaller Bamboo Slips, about the length of a finger. Occasionally, lightweight silk fabric would be used, but cost concerns were always a factor.
It is well known that ancient postal communication relied on two methods: one was human couriers, and the other was carrier pigeons. If documents were highly confidential, Soldiers had to be dispatched for delivery. This posed challenges for long-distance travel since couriers needed rest and food along the way. Consequently, official relay stations were established.
The remnants of relay stations from our country are mostly intact from the Ming Dynasty period. However, the absence of physical evidence does not imply that such official lodgings did not exist before the Ming Dynasty. Historical records indicate that after unifying the realm, Qin Shi Huang established pavilions every ten miles. These pavilions served not only as administrative offices but also played a role in transmitting Military Situation documents.
The Soldier who caught the arrow noticed that the package bore the name of General Meng and naturally did not dare to delay. After instructing his fellow guards to remain vigilant, he hurriedly turned and ran into the Village. As for where the general conducted business, he could easily navigate there without hesitation.
"General! You have a letter!"
Since receiving secret orders to form a specialized military unit, Meng Wu had been selecting elite individuals from various departments to establish training camps in the mountains. As everything fell into place and began to operate smoothly over several years, he realized that many excellent Soldiers were past their prime training age. Although they were all top-tier talents, their martial skills varied greatly across regions. Additionally, many relied on inherited techniques that made training them more laborious than starting from scratch.
During this time, rather than enhancing individual skills, he found himself constantly revising and re-revising training methods. At times it felt like creating a Military Map; once problems arose and modifications were made, they often backfired. He suggested several times to higher-ups that he personally seek out talented children from among the populace; however, each report seemed to vanish without a trace. To put it bluntly, many of the recruits sent over were already worn out from training; starting anew would be exceedingly difficult. In light of his responsibilities and salary, he decided to submit another report.
Today he was meticulously drafting documents when he unexpectedly received a letter. Fortunately, he was nearing completion of his work and chose to ignore it for now. Only after sealing it did he signal for it to be presented to him. It had been quite some time since he received any correspondence here; seeing an arrow-delivered package piqued his curiosity. Initially thinking it might be an official document from above, he quickly realized this format was different. He gestured for the delivering Soldier to step back and pulled out the Bamboo Slip from the arrow shaft to read its contents.
"After a hasty farewell for several years, I hope the General is well. I have heard that the General's efforts in organizing the troops are beginning to show results, which is truly commendable..."
With such calligraphy, only Luzi could accomplish it! Meng Wu didn't need to look at the signature at the end to know who it was. Ah, it's nice to have someone thinking of you!
At the time of parting in the Korean Capital, he realized that Luzi had indeed found him a distinguished lady. This was truly unexpected! Thanks to Luzi's thoughtfulness, Jiao Niang was not a woman from any noble family in Korea. Although the Qin State has always embraced a policy of inclusivity, there are still strict regulations regarding political marriages. Especially for civil and military officials, they must obtain permission from the King Qin. Nobles are less restricted since it pertains to business dealings. Trade and commerce cannot do without merchants.
His prospective in-laws were rather unfortunate, as their family's fortunes had declined due to the current uncertain situation. To make matters worse, continuous rainy weather had led to conflict between Korea and Wei over a piece of land. The properties originally in Wei Kingdom were ordered by Young Master Wei to be confiscated entirely, resulting in a truly lamentable outcome. Just when they were planning to sell land and houses to cover their losses, Luzi personally came to propose a match.
Finding a good family at this time was quite satisfying; now it seemed like a stroke of luck. Anyone who could have this top figure from an international conglomerate personally handle matters would surely not be lacking in virtue! Missing this opportunity would mean losing out entirely! The in-laws readily agreed and suggested that the day after tomorrow would be an auspicious date, so there was no need to consult anyone else about it!
Luzi also did not expect things to go so smoothly; hearing their willingness made him happy as well, so the engagement was settled just like that. Mother Meng had already urged Meng Wu about his marriage several times, making Luzi feel embarrassed to visit. Now that this major life event was confirmed, he could at least return home to see his mother with confidence.
The groom, upon receiving such joyful news, was momentarily dumbfounded and repeatedly insisted that he must return home to get his mother's permission first. Luzi couldn't argue against him and had no choice but to present Mother Meng's letter as proof. It stated that my son's marriage matters were fully entrusted to Luzi; being abroad is expedient. Seeing this letter is like seeing my mother's command; disagreement is not an option. How could he dare disregard his mother's words!? Thus, he reluctantly agreed to follow Luzi's arrangements.
However, truth be told, Meng Wu had only recently been appointed as a general. Aside from being a lone commander with nothing else to his name, his salary was pitifully low despite holding this position. Even so, it was still too early for bonuses since he had just taken office. Moreover, rewards from the Qin State were substantial but depended on military achievements; if there were no opportunities for merit, there was no need to consider them. Alas! Had he known things would be so tight financially, he should have quit drinking long ago! Not drinking for a day could save him several Knife Coins; over years, that would amount to dozens of taels of silver! But now he couldn't even come up with a decent betrothal gift!
Luzi naturally understood his brother's unspoken difficulties and held his hands tightly while saying that he need not worry about this matter. Aside from spending the wedding night together, all other arrangements would be handled by this Prime Minister!
The head of this conglomerate was indeed generous; Meng Wu's wedding day turned out more extravagant than when the Korean Sovereign married off a princess. Unexpectedly, His Majesty didn't care about such matters at all and even sent someone with congratulatory gifts. Which minister's relative isn't involved in business!? If one could use this opportunity to connect with the father-in-law of this elusive wealthy figure's brother-in-law, then any future favors would not be insignificant! Thus, acquaintances and strangers alike sought connections and flocked to celebrate. Those who weren't initially invited simply brought congratulatory cards later; what was the big deal!
The bustling scene transformed what was originally planned as fifty banquet tables into nearly three hundred. The streets surrounding the residence were filled with tables and benches; they consumed all the food from the capital's Great Taverns without leaving any leftovers from yesterday’s dishes. Even years later, taverns still reminisced about that event. In truth, everyone knew that no one cared about the quality of the dishes at that time. Anything served on that day became a topic of envy and jealousy.
As for what they called family decline, it seemed unimportant now. The betrothal gifts received that day were enough for Elder Meng's family to enjoy delicacies for ten lifetimes or even more than enough—truly unbelievable! Meng Wu wasn't unreasonable; after finishing up with major affairs, he wanted to settle accounts with Luzi. After asking around everywhere, he learned that Luzi had already left long ago. He had come by at noon just to support his brother; after all, it wasn't proper for the matchmaker not to attend.
This bond cannot be measured by money. However, the assistance given back then still needs to be repaid; this is the basic principle of being a person. Unexpectedly, years have passed, and today I finally have the opportunity to uncover the true identity of this benefactor, which is quite astonishing! Meng Wu reminisced about the past while flipping through the Bamboo Slip, but the more he read, the more alarmed he became. The letter mentioned that the Chu people were skilled in divination, and from the Shaman's mouth came the revelation that Luzi was a spy sent by the Qin State.
If such an identity were to be exposed, there would be no way to escape through mere agreements. Generally, countries deal with spies by secretly executing them. The sending country can only remain silent and suffer in silence. Admitting that someone has been captured means handing over leverage to the enemy, while denying it only allows one to watch helplessly as captured personnel are executed without any means of response.
Those who are revealed must die! This has long been a consensus among spies and scouts, and they are always prepared for their inevitable fate.
At this moment, what Meng Wu worried about was not anything else but his inability to achieve a superlative level of trust with his troops! With Luzi's skills, it wouldn't be easy for just anyone to capture him. What concerned him were the deeper implications mentioned in the letter. Training troops! Although it wasn't explicitly stated in the letter, he still believed that a Royal Decree would soon arrive.
The Chu people have long been known for their martial prowess; in recent years, many heroes have emerged. They have always taken pride in serving their country loyally and often speak of Martial Valor in Death—what is there to fear!? Unexpectedly, they encountered a formidable enemy in their first battle; how could this not stir one's emotions!
It is said that raising troops for a thousand days is for use at a moment's notice; since that is the case, it is time to test their firepower! Worrying is often unnecessary; seeing this official document is not a bad thing. Trying it out firsthand will allow for accurate assessment! After making up his mind, Meng Wu stood up, took down a three-foot Qingfeng sword from the rack and hung it at his waist, shouting loudly: "Relay the order! All units assemble!"
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