Chapter 4: The Soldier's Duty

  At the fifth watch, Gaoxing arrived at the military camp on time. The "boom boom boom" of the drum shook the sky and started to sound, but it was Shang Buqi who was beating the drum.

  The whole camp was tense, the three drums were finished, and everyone stood in formation according to yesterday's arrangement. Nodding his head with satisfaction, he walked up to the commanding platform.

  "You've done a great job." He praised with a smile, then seriously said: "Training starts next, those who don't meet the standards are not allowed to eat!"

  Everyone held their breath tightly, they hadn't attended training for some days, and they didn't know what the standard of excitement was like.

  Excitement didn't give them much time to think, leaving the rear soldiers to cook after, then in formation, with a team like a long dragon, they rushed out of the military camp and started running.

  After running, eat. Those who fail to meet the standards or violate team discipline will be deprived of their right to eat immediately.

  Then comes the queue training. If an individual makes a mistake, it will affect the same class, even the same row, so all soldiers dare not to slack off, fearing public anger.

  The sun beats down on their heads, sweat dripping from their brows. The late April sun is already quite scorching, and standing at attention without moving a muscle is an excruciatingly painful thing to do. Just when they can't help but wish they could just pass out and escape this dull and tedious training, Gao Fu arrives at the barracks, bringing with him chicken, duck, fish, and wine.

  "Those who fail to meet training standards and violate military orders will have no meat to eat, let alone wine to drink!"

  Everyone's face tightened, each puffed out their chest, looking serious and solemn, as if they had taken a stimulant, with high morale.

  It wasn't until the sky was about to darken that a day's training would come to an end. The thick aroma of meat and wine wafted through the entire camp, with sounds of slurping and gulping everywhere. Those who were happy to speak out had to put their words into action, and roughly thirty people who were lazy in training and disobeyed military orders could only drink a bowl of soup, and naturally they would not get any meat or wine.

  After dinner, he gathered all the troops together on the drill ground and addressed them: "Soldiers, the first day's training is over. Your performance can only be said to be mediocre. I don't criticize you because in my heart you are just new recruits. Tell me, what is a soldier's duty?"

  "Protect our homes and defend our country." Some people replied loudly.

  "Wrong!"

  The crowd gasped in amazement and shouted loudly: "A soldier's duty is to obey orders, obey, absolutely obey!"

  "Absolute obedience!" Shang Buqi echoed in agreement.

  "Absolute obedience! Absolute obedience!" The others also followed with loud shouts, the rolling waves of sound shaking the ground violently.

  After a day of hard training, the fatigue and resentment were largely dissipated in the shouting voices. When everyone's emotions had calmed down a bit, Gao Xing continued: "You can forget who you are, but you must never forget that you are a soldier, your duty is to obey orders. If you want to eat meat every day, then train hard, those who don't work hard only deserve to eat bran, do you all understand?"

  "I understand——"

  After dismissing the troops, it was already very dark, and happily ran all the way back home.

  As soon as he entered the door, Zheng's complaining and anxious voice came: "Xing Er, why did you just come back? Let mother worry for a while! Come and eat quickly!"

  "Sorry, son is no good, making mother worry. You eat quickly, son has eaten in the army camp."

  "The food in the army camp can't compare to home, it's all your father's fault, you're still so young and yet you have to suffer so much." Zheng Shi complained to Gao Zhanggong.

  "Madam, Xing'er is in the army camp eating big fish and meat, and he's doing just fine!"

  Delighted, he raised his eyebrows and puffed out his chest, saying loudly: "Mother, Gan Luo was matched at the age of twelve, and I'm already thirteen! A good son should ride horses and wield swords, galloping across the battlefield, achieving great merits that will be remembered for generations!"

  Zheng sighed helplessly and said, "Dad and Mom only have you as their child, how can they bear to see you suffer?"

  "Daughter, don't worry, I'll take good care of myself. You go eat first." Gao Xing immediately promised and then bid farewell to hurry back to his room. Zheng Shi thought Gao Xing was exhausted and looked at his back with a painful expression on her face.

  Look at the already deep night color, and then look at Gao Xing's shadow that is seriously writing on the window. Zheng Shi frowned, lightly biting her lower lip, wanting to go in, but fearing to disturb Gao Xing, she looked at Gao Chang Gong beside her instead.

  Gao Zhang Gong gently shook his head and said with emotion: "Xing Er has grown up, we should be happy instead. It's late, madam, go to bed early."

  Gao Chang Gong took a deep look at the dimly lit lamp, and then gently pulled Zheng Shi away from the joyful courtyard with a worried expression.

  The next morning, Gao Xing appeared in the military camp on time and ordered the training tasks to be the same as yesterday. He entrusted Shang Buqi to supervise the training. Gao Xing believed that with the stimulation of wine and meat, and Shang Buqi's strict supervision, the soldiers would definitely not dare to slack off. After staying in the camp for a while, Gao Xing returned to the city.

  At this time, daylight had already become very bright, and the pedestrians on the streets had also increased, but with war approaching, the city was not as lively as before, it was depressing and desolate.

  As soon as he entered the inner court, Gao Fu came forward and said, "Young Master, I have found the person you told me to find."

  "Ha ha, Uncle Fu, you've worked hard! You even personally delivered the goods yesterday. Where is he? Take me there quickly!"

  Gao Fu nodded and followed him out the door. They walked through streets and alleys, and after a while, they arrived at a dilapidated courtyard on the outskirts of the city.

  Gao Fu knocked on the door, and it opened. A man in his fifties came out. He was not tall, with a yellow complexion and thin skin, and there were still some wood shavings stuck to his disheveled hair. His clothes had been patched up many times and their original color could no longer be seen, clearly showing that he was living a very difficult life.

  "Who are you looking for?" the man asked in puzzlement.

  "Hello sir, I'm glad to meet you." Before Gaofu could introduce himself, Gaoxing rushed forward and said: "Excuse me, are you Lu Ping, the master craftsman of Yangzhou?"

  The old man shook his head and sighed: "Lao Ru Ping, Shen Jiang dare not, barely mixed a mouthful of rice to eat, what's the matter with you, young master?"

  Delighted, he bowed and said: "Mr. Lu, I'd like to ask for your help in making something, this is the deposit." As he spoke, his hand already held a bulging pouch of money.

  "What is it that you want to create, sir?" Lu Ping asked with a smile, having only glanced at the money bag before looking away.

  "What's the point of asking so many questions? Just take it!"

  In the midst of his excitement and astonishment, a somewhat pale hand suddenly snatched the money bag from his hands and tightly hugged it to his chest. The owner of the hand was a young man in his early twenties, with a pale complexion, floating footsteps, bloodshot eyes, and an excited and greedy gaze that was slightly manic.

  "Rebellious son, what are you doing? Quickly return the things to the young master!" Lu Ping shouted in anger, his face trembling with rage, his whiskers quivering wildly.

  "You're immortal, so go ahead and make things for others, I'm leaving." The young man didn't even bother to respond, just threw down a sentence and strode away.

  "You——" Lu Ping's face turned red with rage, and he started coughing violently.

  "Sir!" He walked up excitedly and gently patted his back.

  After catching his breath, Lu Ping's face turned gloomy, and he let out a sigh. With a guilty expression, he looked at Gao Xing and said: "Young Master, whatever you want to create, I'll do my best! Please come in and speak, my humble abode is simple, forgive me."

  "You're too polite." He happily shook his head and smiled as he entered the courtyard.

  After leaving Lu Ping's house, Gao Xing returned home, rushed into his own room, buried his head in his desk and wrote hastily.

  "Master, Master Hou is calling for you in the front hall!" Fu Bo's voice rang out.

  "Alright, Uncle Fu." Delighted, he put down the brush in his hand, stretched his body and sighed: "It's been ages since I've written so seriously!"

  As he arrived outside the hall, Gao Xing was delighted to find that apart from Gao Chang Gong, there were ten other people inside. They were a mix of old and young, fat and thin, but they all had one thing in common: they were all dressed in luxurious attire, with shiny faces, and looked like they lived very comfortably. Gao Xing quickly scanned the room with his eyes, and the smile at the corner of his mouth grew several degrees brighter as he strode confidently into the hall with his head held high.

  "Gentlemen, this is my son's delight." Gao Chang Gong smiled and introduced to everyone.

  "Have met Gao Gongzi." Everyone stood up and paid their respects, a harmonious atmosphere.

  "You're too kind." He smiled and made a fist with one hand, his warm eyes lightly meeting each person's before withdrawing.

  He is one of the richest men in Xuyi County and has a certain influence in Xuyi County.

  After the courtesy was over, he sat at the end with a smile and looked at Gao Changgong. Gao Changgong nodded slightly and coughed softly before speaking: "Everyone is a prominent figure in Xuyi City, and today the official has invited you all to come, but there are some things that need everyone's help."

  "Your Excellency is too polite, if there's anything you need, just say it, as long as we can do it, we won't decline." The person sitting below Gao Zhang said with a smile, and while smiling, exchanged glances with the other nine people.

  His name was Zhang Cha, about sixty years old, with a dark and shiny beard, a ruddy complexion, and a spirited appearance. A faint smile always hung on his face, his eyes seemed slightly dull, but occasionally opened to reveal a glimmer of wisdom.

  He was the oldest of ten people and also the richest merchant in the entire Xinye County.

  "Mr. Zhang said that we will still have to rely on Master Hou in the future!"

  "His Excellency speaks directly." The others all echoed in agreement.

  "Alright, I'll speak plainly." Gao Zhanggong sat up straight, the smile on his face gone, his eyebrows furrowed into a "川" shape, and he said in a deep voice: "The 100,000-strong Chen army is pressing at our borders, their momentum like an unstoppable storm. They have already approached within several hundred li of Shiliang City near Xuyi. The garrison troops of Xuyi County, excluding the old, weak, sick and disabled, only number 3,500 people. Those men are usually lax in training, with low combat effectiveness, and Xuyi City is not a strong fortress. When the Chen army arrives at the city gates, I fear they won't even be able to hold out for a day!"

  Everyone looked at each other, their faces somewhat solemn, apparently, they had an idea of the situation in Xuyi City.

  Still bowing his head, Zhang Cha spoke up: "Your Excellency, as you are in charge of the entire Huaiyang military and government, what do you think we should do?"

  Gao Zhang Gong said: "As the head of a prefecture, I am responsible for safeguarding this land. Therefore, I want to recruit brave and capable men within the city, form an army, train them, and prepare to resist external threats. At the same time, repair the city walls, stockpile supplies, and make early preparations."

  Everyone nodded in agreement, but Gao Zhanggong shook his head and sighed: "Alas, the treasury is empty, and there is not enough rice, this official is really powerless." As he spoke, Gao Zhanggong stood up and bowed to the crowd, startling everyone into standing up and hastily returning the courtesy.

  "Master Hou, what are you doing?"

  "Please get up quickly, don't kill us."

  Gao Changgong looked at the crowd with a burning gaze, and sincerely implored: "Everyone, for the safety of tens of thousands of people in Xuyi County, I, this official, humbly request your assistance!" After finishing speaking, Gao Changgong deeply bowed to the crowd.