Chapter 4: Activating the System

  The pasture obtained from Fu's hand is located on the northern border of Beidi County. Here, as a branch of Helan Mountain, the mountain range is not high and large, but it can be considered dense, which is a natural barrier. Further north is the grassland, which is the territory of the Xiongnu people.

  A journey of over 50 li, setting out at noon and arriving only when it was getting dark.

  One is because the horse-drawn carriage loaded with 100 shi of grain slowed down, and the other is because one-third of this section of road was already mountainous.

  The five people who went to Lingzhou to buy tools and daily necessities had already returned before, they were few in number and didn't have many things, so they quickly caught up.

  Arrived at the pasture, the sky had completely darkened.

  It's autumn now, and in the north, the weather gets colder after dark.

  Zhao Wu ordered the household slaves to form a circle with the carriages and light a fire, which finally brought some warmth.

  They buried the pot and had a good meal. Li Jing let everyone gather around the fire pit in a circle, preparing to communicate with them and get familiar with each other.

  This makes most people somewhat unaccustomed.

  There is distinction between superior and inferior, let alone these lowly domestic slaves?

  Li Zhong saw the situation and didn't say anything. In fact, no matter what era it is, aren't they all the same? Even in his world, where people keep talking about equality and human rights, isn't that just nonsense?

  Even when meeting with leaders, still have to bow and scrape, be a yes-man.

  It's just that it's more direct here, the essence is all the same. Even Li Zhong feels that this obvious hierarchy system is much better than that hypocritical equality - it was originally like this, and covering up is not as good as being open and honest, at least it's more real.

  "From today on, we are all one family!" Li Zhēng's face flickered in the firelight: "I promise you now that I will do this and that in the future, but you may not believe me. But I tell you, follow me, and later you will definitely have no worries about food and drink, I can guarantee it!"

  If it's just painting a big cake and promising something that will fly high, it's too illusory. If Li Zhong says so, it would make them feel more down-to-earth and more acceptable.

  In this chaotic world, isn't being full and content the greatest luxury?

  Li Zhong smiled and chatted with them about some ordinary life matters. Of course, this was also intentional.

  He was new to this place and didn't know much about the situation here. Except for roughly understanding what era it was, he knew nothing else. He wasn't a history buff, apart from some famous figures and events that changed the course of history, he didn't know more than a deaf or blind person.

  These people are now the source of information.

  When Li Zhēn first met Zhang Shan, he didn't blindly ask questions - at that time, he lacked a sense of security. But now the situation is different, as the master, he can ask whatever he wants.

  Whether it was Zhang Shan or Zhao Wu, as well as a group of family slaves, they all answered questions one after another. Zhang Shan had seen and heard a lot, while Zhao Wu had served a noble family for many years, so their knowledge and experiences were naturally extraordinary. Even these family slaves each had their own sources of information.

  Putting it all together, Li Zhong roughly understood some of the situation in Beidi County and Liangzhou.

  Generally speaking, Liangzhou is in a state of great disorder now, and the southern counties are still at war. Since the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, the Qiang people in western Liang may have seen an opportunity to rise up in revolt.

  It was started by Li Wenhou, Bian Zhang and Beigong Boyu, and now Han Sui is pressing in on Guanzhong. From the first year of Zhongping to the present third year of Zhongping, the flames of rebellion have been burning more and more fiercely, with big and small battles never ceasing.

  The rebel forces were very strong, and the Han court repeatedly dispatched high-ranking generals to come and go, with victories and defeats, but it was difficult to pacify.

  The war destroyed the already fragile order of Liangzhou, and the Han court had completely lost control of the situation in Liangzhou.

  From a civil perspective, apart from some counties dominated by powerful families and clans, everything else in other places almost completely collapsed.

  The land is uncultivated, the fields are desolate, and the people are killed, plundered, and displaced, leaving no place to live.

  As the war continued, the supplies in Liangzhou became increasingly scarce, and the prices of various goods skyrocketed. For example, grain, before the Yellow Turban Rebellion, was already more expensive in Liangzhou than in the Central Plains, but it was only around 80 coins per stone. Now, it has exceeded 100 coins.

  The rise in prices has made the common people even more miserable, and many ordinary citizens have become refugees. Some even actively sell themselves into slavery or join bandits, mountain robbers, or rebel armies.

  Just like the thirty people under Li Zhēng's command now, most of them became Fu's family slaves in the past two or three years. They were also commoners and self-cultivating farmers before, but because of the war, they could not make a living and had to sell themselves into slavery.

  But they were all fortunate that if it weren't for Fu's family taking them in, they would have become a pile of white bones in the wilderness long ago.

  Better be a dog in peaceful times than a hero in chaotic times!

  Li Zhong is now deeply moved.

  But for him, the current environment of Liangzhou is the best. Although it's a bit cold-blooded, it's good to fish in troubled waters. Chaos and war are the cradles of opportunity.

  Of course, to participate in the great trend of Liangzhou and go against the tide, Li Zhong is far from qualified at present. However, he believes that it won't be long before no one in Liangzhou or even the entire Great Han dares to underestimate him!

  You spoke one sentence, I spoke one sentence, and the seven mouths and eight tongues passed two hours. As soon as the hour of nine had passed, the chill in the air became more severe, and after a day's fatigue, many people began to doze off leaning against each other. Li Zhēn waved his hand and let them rest separately.

  Huddled in a horse carriage, Li Zhong did not fall asleep.

  Many thoughts entwined in his mind, making it hard for him to calm down. Before coming into this world and this era, Li Zhēn was not a simple person either. He detested pretending to be a good boy, was tired of nodding and bowing, and yearned for true freedom.

  But freedom has always been an illusion, and he knew that deeply. He just wanted to be his own master, not willing to be manipulated, so he climbed desperately upwards, but couldn't see the end.

  However, this unexpected event actually gave him an opportunity.

  Heaven didn't abandon him, sent him here and even gave him capital.

  He is also an ordinary person, and there are all kinds of evil factors. Laziness, fear, etc. After understanding the background of this era, he even thought about relying on some foresight and his own experience to find a patron in the future and live a comfortable life.

  But this idea was soon abandoned.

  What's the difference then? Can't make decisions for oneself and live in fear under someone else's control?

  Nothing can go against the rules, and forward-thinking ideas and ambitions dare not be implemented, otherwise they will be suspected and face the danger of losing their heads. This choice is not taken by Li Zheng!

  Anyway, he has nothing to worry about, alone and free, with the capital given by heaven, so just be your own master. If you fail, it's okay to reincarnate once, if you succeed, then you'll be greatly at ease!

  Li Zhong believes he absolutely won't be worse than anyone else!

  Li Zheng closed his eyes, concentrated his mind, and clearly felt the faint light floating in his brain.

  The intangible consciousness gently touched the faint light, and some information emerged.

  War Horse System Version 0.1 (Not Fully Opened Yet)

  Host: Li Zheng

  Quality: Zero-order

  Apart from this little information, only the package has been opened, and inside it shows a sum of 498 yuan, which is exactly the number of gold bars in Li Zhēng's hand.

  In addition to this, there are four major items: mount fusion cultivation, food research and development, armor research and manufacturing, and war riding skills. All four of these are grayed out, apparently not activated.

  After these four options, there are a few more mysterious options, also grayed out.

  Finally, there is another hint: when the system startup conditions are met, does the host need to spend 100 gold coins to activate the system?

  This is the capital given by God to Li Zhuo, and it is also the source of his confidence and strongest backing.

  When this system happened unexpectedly, the mobile game he was playing at that time had some similarities with it, but there were also many differences. All kinds of functions needed him to re-experience and explore again.

  But thinking of that mobile game, those perverted skills and mounts, this possessed system, even if there are some changes, it shouldn't be too different.

  The "Dragon Horse" he sold to Fu's family was actually the only free trial given by the system to the host.

  It was he who, with a mediocre horse as the base, merged with a snake to become the lowest-ranking warhorse. That's why there are scales on the horse's neck, and they're not dragon scales, but snake scales.

  Of course, the merged warhorse naturally has extraordinary qualities. At least Li Zhēn didn't deceive Fù Shì - that was indeed a rare and excellent horse, having the characteristics of both horses and snakes. Its strength, endurance, speed, and agility must have increased greatly. However, whether that horse inherited some weaknesses from the snake, Li Zhēn wasn't quite clear about - after all, it was only one trial opportunity, and he couldn't fully examine the warhorse's information. Maybe that horse would hibernate, who knows?

  Li Zhēng had long known that to activate this system, apart from requiring a considerable amount of money, the most important thing was territory, completely belonging to the host's own territory.

  For the time being, after Li Zhuang activated the system, for at least a period of time, the warhorses he cultivated would be mainly battle horses. This was also why Li Zhuang asked Fu Shi for pastures.

  Satisfying the activation conditions at the same time also provided a place for raising war horses. Killing two birds with one stone.

  As soon as he touched this prompt, his consciousness conveyed the confirmed information, and in a daze, he saw a brilliant light burst out, illuminating the entire brain. A warm power flowed, and Li Zhēng involuntarily fell into a deep sleep.

  The sky brightened up and the long-absent sun dispersed the heavy clouds that had been lingering for a while, shining its precious rays onto the earth.

  Li Zhuang came out of the carriage when Zhang Shan and Zhao Wu had been directing the servants to work for a while.

  He beckoned to Zhao Wu and Zhang Shan, who put down their work and hurried over.

  Looking at the row of abandoned wooden houses under the distant hillock, Li Zhēn said to the two: "From today on, this pasture will be our base camp, so repairs cannot be sloppy. Wooden ones are not strong enough, and all necessary buildings must be built with stone. That row of wooden houses can be slightly repaired first, used as a temporary residence. As for the layout and specifications of other buildings, we need to see the specific situation of the pasture before deciding."

  Li Zheng paused for a moment, then continued: "Zhao Wu used to be in charge here, so he must be very familiar with this pasture. I need to take a look at the overall terrain of the pasture first, and then listen to your opinion."

  "In that case, I'll lead the way and take Master around for a stroll."

  Zhaowu replied.

  Li Ding nodded and let Zhang Shan lead the way to repair the wooden house, then followed Zhao Wu's guidance to climb to the top of the hillside.