Chapter 703

Chapter 703: Military System of the Dynasty

At the border fortress.

As Li Yincheng walked out of the lieutenant’s quarters, a faint white light began to appear on the horizon, gradually dispersing the night as the new day approached.

Li Yincheng glanced at the hazy white sky and felt the chill of early morning as he headed toward the courtyard treating the wounded soldiers.

“Captain, how did it go? Did that old man say anything about future rewards?” A young man with a bandage around his arm approached him. He wore similar white clothes to Li Yincheng, and his pale complexion indicated he was half-human and half-Chi bloodline.

“Don’t call him ‘old man,’ that’s Lin Bo. He takes good care of us. Even if you must call him something, it should be ‘Mr. Lin,'” he replied helplessly before asking with concern, “How are your injuries?”

“Not too bad. I’ll be fine after a few days of rest. So, are there any rewards?” The young man, barely over twenty, had an impatient demeanor.

“There are. I’ve recorded your service, and some silver will be given to you,” said Li Yincheng as he took out a dozen silver rings from his pocket and handed them to the young man.

“Use this money to buy some food and take care of yourself. Don’t leave the border for a while,” he added.

“Thank you, Brother Li,” the young man said excitedly, counting the silver rings before stepping back.

Afterward, Li Yincheng visited several other injured comrades, giving them some silver for their recovery, then left the fortress.

The fortress was a military base with no permanent civilian residences. He usually lived in a small town near the border, the same town that Lolan Hill had passed through earlier, called Youcen.

Back in the town, he encountered many familiar neighbors, waving and greeting them.

“Is that Yincheng returning?” asked a middle-aged woman sorting vegetables by the door.

“Yes, Aunt Liu,” Li Yincheng responded, pausing for a moment.

“It’s been a while since I last saw you. How have you been? Patrols outside the border are dangerous, let me see if you’re hurt,” she said, approaching him.

“I’m fine,” Li Yincheng shook his head. This woman had taken care of him when he was young, so her concern was not unusual.

“That’s good,” Liu Aunt said, scrutinizing Li Yincheng closely.

“You’re almost thirty now,” she remarked.

“Yes,” Li Yincheng thought uneasily.

“You should think about settling down. If you wait too long, no girl will want you,” she continued.

“You were so fair-skinned when you were little, and many girls in the neighborhood liked you. But as you grew up, despite everyone knowing about your different bloodline, a few still wanted to marry you. Yet, you ignored all of them. Now, they’ve all married off, leaving you alone,” she chattered on, as older generations often emphasized family and posterity.

“Think about saving some money to move inland and settle down. Last year, Uncle Wang’s family moved to the city, and their new home was beautiful,” she added without end.

“Cough, Aunt Liu, I know. I am already saving money,” Li Yincheng had to interrupt and explain.

He had once planned to visit the interior of the dynasty but faced discrimination due to his bloodline, leading him to return.

While half-human and half-Chi bloodlines were rare in the interior, they were more common at the border. Their unique bloodline made them less susceptible to the influence of the dark energy from the mountains at dusk, allowing them to patrol safely. As a result, they were recruited by local authorities to form a special night patrol team to deal with monsters and spirits at the border.

After joining the night patrol team, the military provided them with exclusive ‘Winter Weapons,’ a slender cold moon longsword, and a white moon robe.

The longsword was a silver-grade creation by the Qipo Workshop under the Winter Office, effective against souls and spirits, with a minor purification effect. The white moon robe, also from the Qipo Workshop, primarily served to attract spirits, though its defensive capabilities were limited.

The wilderness was vast, and patrols sometimes didn’t encounter any prey. Thus, attracting spirits and monsters was crucial, and the white robe helped achieve this with its distinctive aura. In the dark, white would stand out, making it easier for allies to identify and seek help, as well as for monsters to spot them.

Li Yincheng had mixed feelings about being recruited by the military. On one hand, he was grateful for the opportunity to use his martial skills, receive decent pay, and gain respect in the border town. On the other hand, he understood that the military treated them merely as disposable tools.

Those with special identities weren’t officially registered in the military. In case of casualties, no official reports were made, and families received only a token compensation. However, regular soldiers like the ‘Xuan Bao Riders’ were different.

These elite soldiers came from military households in the interior. Many of these households were registered, and if a male member died in battle, the dynasty would support his family, exempt them from corvée labor and taxes. Fellow soldiers would assist if their wives or daughters were mistreated, and local officials would look after the families of fallen heroes.

This ensured the army’s honor and combat effectiveness. Without such measures, the dynasty wouldn’t maintain peace amidst countless dangers and wild territories.

Similarly, officials and generals stationed far from the capital often recruited personal bodyguards from their hometowns. These loyal guards, bound by shared interests, were highly dependable and served as trusted confidants. The Xuan Bao Riders were the current governor’s personal troops, hence their arrogance.

In a world with extraordinary powers, even scholars could be disrespected without any martial prowess. However, officials might lack the talent or time to train personally. The existence of personal bodyguards solved this problem.

Bodyguards trained in the ‘Lubing Dao’ (War Sequence) were typically the best-equipped, most loyal, and most battle-hardened forces, demonstrating formidable combat strength once synchronized in formation.

The founder of the House of Plantagenet had two personal troops during his reign: the ‘Crimson Sparrow Dragon Riders’ and the ‘Golden Flower Suspended Flowers.’

On the battlefield, these personal troops charged alongside the general, protecting high-ranking officials from extraordinary beings and intimidating local troublemakers, ensuring officials weren’t left without support and at the mercy of local factions.

Li Yincheng paused his thoughts and chatted with the neighbor to escape her inquiries, returning to his house.

“Ah, no point thinking too far ahead. Let’s solve my personal issues first,” he muttered to himself, then relaxed.

Though the night patrols were perilous, returning to the town brought tranquility. After submitting so many demon heads, he received a generous reward and could rest for a few days, which was fortunate.

Thinking thus, Li Yincheng reclined on a chair under the shade of a tree, watching the flowing clouds in the sky, preparing for a brief nap, as he hadn’t slept all night.

The afternoon sun cast half its light on him and half was blocked by tender green leaves. Sparse bird calls and human voices occasionally drifted in from afar, bringing the small courtyard into a peaceful midday moment.

Knock-knock—

Just as Li Yincheng was drifting off, a sudden knock on the door interrupted him, followed by a female voice.

“Excuse me, is this Li Yincheng’s home?” The accent carried a hint of official tone, suggesting she came from a distant part of the dynasty.

(End of Chapter)