7: Reward according to merit

“Whoosh~ Whoosh~”

Time passed without knowing how long, and Gu Chang finally felt like he was alive again.

At this time, the Auxiliary Army behind them also arrived at the city wall and began to clean up the battlefield.

Seeing this, Gu Chang no longer cared about resting and immediately began to collect weapons, armor, and other equipment from the surrounding corpses.

These were all his spoils of war, and he might have to rely on them to survive in the future!

At the same time, the old soldier beside him and the two surviving child soldiers followed suit.

Although this siege battle was over, it was obvious that the killing in this chaotic world was far from over, and there would be plenty of times to fight for their lives in the future.

“Get lost!”

A few Auxiliary Army soldiers saw the three of them, old, weak, sick, and disabled, and wanted to take advantage. Gu Chang would not give them a good look, and instantly roared at them with bloodshot eyes!

At this time, Gu Chang was covered in blood, his face resembling a demon from Hell, and he even had several arrows stuck in his body, making him look incredibly fierce and malevolent.

“Yes, yes!”

The few Auxiliary Army soldiers who wanted to take advantage immediately scattered, scrambling away after being roared at by him.

This was the prestige that arose after truly seeing blood and killing people!

Even if ordinary people knew that Gu Chang was extremely weak at this time, they still did not dare to confront him head-on.

“Someone! Quick, someone!”

“Treat the wounded!”

“…”

Immediately after, Gu Chang handed the spoils of war to the child soldier who seemed to be in relatively good physical condition to guard, and then he shouted loudly to the others. Although he did not suffer serious injuries this time, he had many minor flesh wounds.

Soon, a military doctor came to apply medicine powder to his wounds and bandage them. After regaining his mobility, Gu Chang led the other three back to the team.

At this time, the army was still occupying Pingshan City, but it was obvious that there was no longer any resistance in the city. Most places were just soldiers looting and smashing.

Rebel armies, in the end, are like this. Especially those impoverished Auxiliary Army soldiers, the only way to get rich is basically through looting. As for fighting desperately on the battlefield? Most Auxiliary Army soldiers are not very capable.

The occupation of Pingshan City continued until evening, when the general finally ordered a stop to the looting. Then the military camp began to move, and all the soldiers and supplies were transferred into the city by night.

For the next few days, Gu Chang spent his time recuperating and training. However, during this period, something happened that made him feel heavy-hearted.

That was, after the old soldier Qian Dazhi was injured, his body finally couldn't hold on. Due to the worsening and incurable injuries, he eventually died in the casualty camp.

“Son! Don’t try to stand out in the future. In this chaotic world, survival comes first. Live, and live well!”

This was the last thing the other party said to Gu Chang before he died.

Although the two were only fellow villagers, the care this old soldier gave him was genuine, not fake.

“Don’t worry! Not only will I continue to live, but I will also definitely live better!”

After burying Qian Dazhi, Gu Chang swore to himself in his heart. Of course, this was mainly directed at his own body’s situation.

It wasn’t until five days after the siege battle that the army assembled again!

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

“For this siege, all you soldiers and generals did well!”

“This general always keeps his word!”

“Next, we will begin to reward those with merit!”

On the high platform built of wood within the military camp, a majestic general, clad in iron armor, with a curved saber at his waist and a long spear in his hand, scanned the numerous soldiers below, then loudly announced.

“Boom!”

Hearing him say this, the soldiers below immediately became lively, with every single one of them filled with anticipation.

After all, wasn't fighting on the battlefield for this moment?

In fact, Gu Chang also seemed quite expectant at this time. Three days ago, a military scribe came to him to verify his merits. Apparently, his previous ascent of the city wall and bloody struggle had finally paid off.

“Elite Troops Colonel Zhang Hu, leading the Elite Troops to break through the city wall and capture the city gate, receives a superior great merit, rewarded with five thousand gold, three hundred mu of land, two beauties, and can be granted two layers of Xuan Tian Battle Merit!”

“Xuanjia Army Colonel Zhou Yun, leading the Xuanjia Army to occupy Pingshan City and capture the enemy officials and generals, receives a medium great merit, rewarded with three thousand gold, two hundred mu of land, one beauty, and can be granted the complete Xuanbing Blood Fiend Skill!”

“…”

“Auxiliary Army Platoon Leader Gu Chang, leading his soldiers to ascend the city wall, fighting bloody battles without retreating, receives a lower great merit, rewarded with a thousand gold, a hundred mu of land, promoted to Platoon Leader, and can be granted the first three layers of Xuanbing Blood Fiend Skill!”

Finally, it was Gu Chang’s turn. It must be said that his desperate struggle had finally paid off.

This public reward instantly gave all the soldiers hope, especially since Gu Chang was just an ordinary soldier like them, yet now he was directly promoted to Platoon Leader.

Although a Platoon Leader is only the lowest-ranking military officer, belonging to a centurion, he also has over a hundred people under him and is qualified to be taught military martial arts. If he can achieve more merits in the future, he might even be promoted to Colonel.

Soon the rewards ended, and the bounty was almost directly distributed on the spot.

However, the so-called “thousand gold” was not actually a thousand taels of gold in the true sense, but a thousand shiny copper coins…

As for the adjustment of positions, it would have to wait until the army was reorganized, and the sick, new recruits, and veterans were re-counted, just like the situation Gu Chang had encountered before.

“Big Brother, you’ve finally made a name for yourself!”

“Big Brother, we also received rewards, but Little Six and the others are gone.”

After the rewards ended, most of the soldiers returned to their tents to rest.

The faces of the two child soldiers, Wang Da Niu and Li Ergou, were also full of joy, because they were also promoted to squad leaders this time.

However, the two of them couldn't help but think of the deceased child soldier and the old soldier Qian Dazhi.

The dead were destined to receive no rewards, and even the so-called pensions were pitifully small. Whether they would even reach their families was a question.

“Don’t worry, when I return home in the future, I will give some money to their families. Also, the land rewarded this time can also be given to their families to work on. I must not let the brothers who fought with me be unable to rest in peace even in Hell.”

Gu Chang was silent for a moment when he heard this, then said to them.

“Thank you, Big Brother!”

“Big Brother is kind-hearted!”

The two became much happier upon hearing Gu Chang say this, after all, they didn't receive many rewards this time, and even the spoils of war they got were far less than what soldiers obtained after the city was breached.

After all, the fastest way to get rich was through looting. How much money could one get from fighting on the battlefield?

Soon, two or three days passed, and the army was reorganized. Gu Chang also naturally became a Platoon Leader, commanding over a hundred people, and gaining the qualification to learn military martial arts.

In a separate barrack within the military camp, Xuanjia Army Colonel Zhou Yun, tall and sturdy, clad in Xuanjia armor, with Qi and blood like a furnace, spoke with a roar like a massive bell, his voice directly resonating into everyone's hearts.

“Remember, this Cultivation Technique cannot be leaked, otherwise, offenders will be killed without mercy!”

After casually demonstrating his strength, he warned the Platoon Leaders like Zhou Qing, and then began to explain in detail to them.

As the saying goes, practicing martial arts without Internal Skill leads to nothing, and what the other party was teaching now was the most crucial “Internal Skill”!

“Xuanbing Blood Fiend Skill, this Cultivation Technique originates from the Mu Royal Mansion. Its power is fierce and overbearing, making it a powerful Cultivation Technique for battlefield combat. Once mastered, not only will one possess immense strength and long-lasting stamina, but one can also integrate with other martial artists in the army, making them unbreakable by ten thousand armies!”

“To cultivate this Cultivation Technique, one must first temper the physique, supplement with meat, and assist with secret medicines to lay the foundation. Only then can one strengthen blood, refine skin, Flesh Refining, Refining Bone, and Marrow Refining, opening up all twelve main meridians and eight extraordinary meridians throughout the body, allowing Qi to reach the divine and blood fiend to surge!”

“…”

Zhou Yun’s words were clear and easy to understand. While introducing the Xuanbing Blood Fiend Skill, he also briefly explained some common knowledge about martial arts to Platoon Leaders like Gu Chang.

It was only then that Gu Chang realized that martial arts actually had so many Realm divisions. At the same time, he understood even more that practicing martial arts was probably not easy. Aside from talent, the most crucial factor was various resources.

For example, if this military Cultivation Technique were given to ordinary farmers to practice, without rich meat to nourish their bodies and without secret medicines to catalyze their Qi and blood, then even if they knew how to practice, they would probably end up practicing themselves to death!