Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Conscription Order

The issue of military service was like a mountain, weighing heavily on the couple, suffocating them.

In recent days, Shen Yuan constantly hoped for guidance from the hexagram, even considering depleting his lifespan to perform divination, to see if his child would face any danger after being conscripted.

However, as soon as this thought emerged, a line of scarlet text appeared on the turtle shell in his sea of consciousness.

[Deducing this matter requires the consumption of one hundred and thirteen years of lifespan]

The terrifying cost forced him to abandon the idea in his heart.

More than a hundred years of lifespan; that was practically asking for his own life!

Yet, for this reason, Shen Yuan vaguely speculated that his son’s time in military service might not end in the way he feared, dying on the battlefield.

After all, if it were just a matter of death, the turtle shell likely wouldn’t require so much lifespan.

Over the years, he had roughly figured out the workings of the turtle shell; the greater the uncertainty, the higher the level involved, the greater the price to pay.

Looking at it this way, could there be another opportunity if his son joined the military?

With a heart full of anxiety, they waited half a month before Village Chief Yang Changlin finally struck the copper chime.

The common people heard the sound of the copper chime and gathered at the square in front of Yang Changlin’s house, faces full of curiosity.

It wasn’t even tax collection time anymore. Why had the copper chime suddenly sounded?

When Shen Yuan and his son Shen Wenxing arrived, Zhao Shuan was standing on tiptoe, craning his neck to see ahead.

“Uncle Zhao,” Shen Wenxing called, and Zhao Shuan turned around, smiling, giving him a playful punch to the chest, “You rascal, you’ve grown taller again.”

“Ah Yuan, what do you think the village chief is calling everyone for at this time?”

Zhao Shuan wasn’t as well-informed, so he naturally didn’t know about the “military service” issue.

“Perhaps there’s another decree from above,” Shen Yuan didn’t explicitly say.

Just as he finished speaking, on the high platform in front, Yang Changlin struck the copper gong.

“Quiet, everyone! The upper officials have an important announcement!”

With his words, a robust soldier, clad in leather armor, stepped forward holding a cyan yellow scroll in his hand.

“By His Majesty’s decree, from today onwards, recruitment for the military begins.”

“All adults of the Great Yu, one in three males, two in five males, all those aged fourteen and older and not yet forty, are subject to military service!”

“The Government Office has the Fish Scale Register as proof. I advise you against thinking of evading service, or else you will be severely punished!”

After the soldier finished speaking, the common people below were astounded!

Among them, aside from some elderly, many had never served in the military, let alone performed any service; this sudden imperial decree left them feeling panicked.

“Military service… The court must be preparing for war again…”

An elderly villager, upon hearing of military service, shook his head and sighed.

“With war, who knows how many young men will be buried on the battlefield, such a pity for these children…”

An old man with one arm looked around at the familiar faces.

Decades of peace, with heaven’s favor and harvests year after year, had allowed Jinliu Village’s population to grow significantly.

But after a war, how many of these young ones would return alive?

Amid the villagers’ discussions, the soldier on the high platform became a bit impatient, barking, “Everyone shut up!”

“Before the start of next month, all those with military obligations should gather at the County Captain’s Office willingly; those who fail to do so will be deemed to be evading service!”

A few soldiers left, seemingly headed to the next village to announce the decree.

Seeing this, the village people crowded in front of Village Chief Yang Changlin, clamoring.

Yang Changlin, with a wry smile, explained, “This is an imperial order; an old man like me can’t make the decisions. Folks, it’s best you go home and prepare.”

The villagers, having no other choice, slowly dispersed.

By evening, Zhao Shuan was knocking on the door of Shen Yuan’s courtyard.

At first sight, Shen Yuan saw he was full of worry; Zhao Shuan had two sons, his eldest, Zhao Jinhua, had just started a family and had a son, while his youngest was just ten years old.

According to law, he himself was not yet forty, and his eldest son Zhao Jinhua was over fourteen, so both had military responsibilities.

One in three males, meaning one of the father and sons had to serve.

“Ah Yuan, what are you going to do about this?”

Zhao Shuan casually asked.

In Shen Yuan’s family, there were four males, but all three brothers were under fourteen. For this military service, it seemed only he would have to go.

The two families were on good terms, so Zhao Shuan naturally felt a bit concerned.

“Uncle Zhao, I’ll go serve on behalf of Ah Die,” said Shen Wenxing, who was practicing martial arts nearby, with a smile.

“You?” Zhao Shuan’s brows furrowed slightly as he looked at Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan smiled faintly, “This rascal wants some experience, so I’ll let him go.”

Now that the conscription order had been issued, there wasn’t much to think about; he planned to take Shen Wenxing to town in the afternoon, asking Huang Yunxiao for help to quickly arrange his son to be under Zhang Bin.

“Indeed…”

Zhao Shuan, somewhat envious, said, “Shi Tou might be young, but he has martial skills and is quite sensible.”

“Sigh…”

After chatting for a while, Zhao Shuan got up and left.

That night, there was another knock on the gate, this time from a young man as sturdy as an ox.

“Brother Jinhu?” Shen Wenxing opened the door, seeing it was Zhao Shuan’s elder son Zhao Jinhua, and quickly invited him in.

“Uncle Yuan, Aunt,” Zhao Jinhua entered the courtyard, greeting Shen Yuan and Hu Yufen with a cheerful smile.

“I’m here to see Shi Tou.”

Once Zhao Jinhua sat down, he looked at Shen Wenxing.

“Jinhua, have you eaten?” Hu Yufen asked, “Auntie will get you a bowl of rice.”

“I have, Auntie, no need to trouble yourself,” Zhao Jinhua quickly stood to stop her, then turned to Shen Wenxing, “I heard you’re going to take Uncle Yuan’s place to serve?”

Shen Wenxing nodded.

Zhao Jinhua pondered for a moment before hesitantly saying, “My father’s too old; if he goes to serve, he might not survive.”

“Shi Tou, brother knows you’ve trained hard in martial arts over the years. There’s a favor I want to ask.”

Shen Wenxing didn’t speak, slightly glancing at his father.

Shen Yuan didn’t seem inclined to speak, busily helping Hu Yufen tidy the tableware.

“Brother Jinhu, go ahead and say it.”

Zhao Jinhua rubbed his hands and sighed, “I also intend to serve in place of my father, but… you know, my wife just had a baby, and the child shouldn’t have to grow up without a father.”

“So I came to ask if you have a way to secure a position that doesn’t require going to the frontline, at least to stay alive.”

Shen Wenxing hesitated.

Zhao Jinhua had once studied martial arts for a few years at a town martial arts hall, but without consuming any medicinal meals, he just learned some skills without even breaking into the Postnatal Realm.

The Barbarian Race was fierce in battle, and he himself might not even save his own life, let alone promise to help.

“Heh…”

Seeing the difficult expression on his face, Zhao Jinhua chuckled awkwardly, “Perhaps brother’s asking too much.”

“How about this — can you find a way for us brothers to be assigned together, at least we can look out for each other.”

“I’ll take care of whatever bribes need to be paid!”

The grim reality of war; though he was uncertain of Shen Wenxing’s current realm, he heard from his younger brother that Shen Wenxing was now a master at the martial arts hall. If they could be grouped together, with the family ties, they’d at least have a better chance of survival on the battlefield.

To be assigned together?

Shen Wenxing thought about it and felt it shouldn’t be difficult.

Huang Yunxiao was the County Captain of Anyang County, responsible for arranging all the military service in Anyang; mentioning it to him so that Zhao Jinhua could be assigned under Zhang Bin shouldn’t be a problem.

“Brother Jinhu, let me inquire first, and if it works out, I’ll let you know.”

Zhao Jinhua quickly cupped his fists, “Alright! Then I’ll count on you. If we make it back alive, brother will treat you to drinks!”

After seeing Zhao Jinhua off, Shen Wenxing approached his father, “Ah Die, did I do something wrong?”

After reflecting a moment, Shen Yuan said, “When pressed, save yourself; when prospering, aid the world.”

“Given our relationship with Uncle Zhao’s family, helping them isn’t wrong, but remember in the future, a gift of food can turn into resentment; sometimes helping others should be within your means.”

In a previous life, there was a famous psychological paradox known as the Recipient Resentment Theory.

These principles of dealing with the world were essential for the children to understand.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep