Wei School's Three Good Students

Chapter 11 What is "Inhumanity"?

Inside Yongji Pass, the checkpoints and entrances underwent reforms. The new batch of cart drivers entering the pass discovered something new: the way the soldiers guarding the gate inspected the goods had changed.

In the past, when a caravan wanted to enter the pass, the soldiers would check each caravan one by one at the city gate, and would often demand bribes or favors.

Now, the soldiers at the city gate, carrying bamboo slips, were checking the goods reported by the merchants against the guarantors of each cart. Before verification, the soldiers made marks on the bamboo slips with knives; after verification, the slips were broken in two along the marks. Once the carts entered the city, they were separated by the soldiers on duty and led to different passages to declare the goods according to the types of goods listed on the merchants' "postage stamps."
The passage leads to different barbican areas. Once the convoy arrives at the area, the "checkpoint manager" of that area will begin inspecting the goods.

At each checkpoint, which is divided into postal zones, the customs officers are all specialists in their respective fields.

For example, checkpoint number one checks whether salt contains contraband such as sulfur saltpeter. Customs officers who deal with salt frequently can naturally spot any suspicious activity.

At checkpoint number two, the inspectors in the "cotton cloth" channel, over time, also became familiar with the weight of a cartload of cloth and cotton. They could also sense whether hard goods (ironware) were mixed into the cotton cloth by glancing at the force of the cart wheels crushing the sand and by tapping the cart.

As for checkpoint number three, in the "timber" and "jade" passage, when two jade merchants looked at each other in bewilderment, the soldiers who had some experience in inspecting such goods awakened their "hunter's senses" and subsequently discovered the jade hidden in the hollowed-out wood of a cart of miscellaneous timber.

This situation did not exist when goods were inspected together in the past. At most city gates, after checking one or two vehicles, the gatekeeper would say a few kind words like, "Sir, we are in a hurry, could you please do us a favor?" and give a bag of copper coins. The gatekeeper would then wave his hand slightly and tell his men with guns to let them pass. Hence the term "to sneak through the gate".

Now that Yongji Pass has been restructured, and several merchants were found to be smuggling and had their vehicles and people impounded, the merchants are less likely to try to be clever in this regard.

Because reality made them realize that the cost of hiding goods was starting to exceed the cost of customs declaration!

The checkpoint personnel who inspected the goods didn't accept any money, as they wore neat, fitted uniforms similar to night clothes, without a single pocket. If they found any instances of smuggling or misdeclaration, a bamboo tag would be handed over, and a monetary reward would be issued after the shift ended that night.

…The dividing line for time travelers…

Xuan Chong didn't know what a "modernized" customs system looked like, but coming from modern society, he had seen that issuing a ticket on the spot by traffic police and paying a fine at the brigade were two different procedures, and that accounting and cashiering were also two different processes.

Xuan Chong: Modernization means separating functions, refining the division of labor, and then supervising each other.

Once people understand what the system is addressing and what goals it is built upon, those who embrace modern thinking and are committed to it can explore and build it according to the circumstances.

…Anything that contributes to order is being tried. …

Nowadays, after the convoys declare customs separately, they are guided by postal stamps. The vehicle owners use the stamps to find the signs and arrive at the designated area. Different convoys carrying different goods are led to different checkpoints. After going through a customs declaration process, they receive the postal stamps, pay taxes, and take their goods through customs.

Merchants went through the procedures outside the wooden railings of the office. Inside the railings were more than forty accounting offices on five city towers within the checkpoint, divided into eight offices to handle accounts. The types of goods and the amounts leaving the checkpoint were all recorded in books.

After the first month of operation of this "trade checkpoint," Wu Fei witnessed all sorts of strange and unusual situations.

Before turning on the scale, Wu Fei thought the main tasks would be "salt" and "ironware," with a little attention to sulfur and saltpeter. But once everything was weighed, Wu Fei exclaimed, "These merchants are really ruthless."

Sure enough, a customs officer came to ask how to handle a special situation: a certain merchant reported an unusually large number of "female relatives".

At first glance, this might seem like a case of having many female relatives, but what's the big deal? We're checking goods at the checkpoint, not interfering in people's private lives.

However, Wu Fei knew from the expressions on the customs officers' faces that this was definitely not a simple matter.

Upon closer inspection, good heavens, these weren't women at all, but human traffickers! The customs office is now reporting this matter because they want to know how to tax this trade, since the young general's customs system is generating a lot of money every day, all of which is related to the brothers' interests.

So trucks that used to be let through without being checked are now being investigated!

This presented Wu Fei with a dilemma, because according to his memories from his previous life, his own customs office did not have any tax rates for human trafficking. What legitimate customs office deals with such goods? —Oh, America's should have experience in this area.

In this feudal era, this is still considered "trade," and Wu Fei has never thought of banning it. Look, he can't even shut down the brothels behind the checkpoints.

You should know that when I first joined the army, I was ordered by my uncle to investigate the illegal brewing of liquor, and the lesson I learned was very profound! That is, don't assume that a single decree can be fully implemented at the grassroots level.

These days, soldiers conscripted from the countryside are often described as "leaving home young and returning old." What makes these men dedicate their lives to the frontier? Etiquette and morality? Or perhaps we should look at the emperor and aristocratic families in the distant capital, enjoying luxurious lives and beautiful women.

Xuan Chong: Fairness is necessary, but those who can wield a knife should have priority in receiving fairness compared to other groups.

...Only when those below eagerly await its approval can an authority truly be considered an authority...

Under the watchful eyes of the customs guards offering their "loyal advice," Wu Fei reluctantly established customs standards for the human trafficking trade. Male slaves were to declare the weight of objects they could lift, and the slaves' food and clothing were no longer the responsibility of the owners, but rather the responsibility of the customs offices. This was to prevent owners from having male slaves lift less weight to evade customs duties.

At this point, the system timely sent a copy of historical data.
Xuan Chong compared the details: "Hey, America's side really has a lot of details I haven't considered. We need to check for tooth wear, rinse them with clean water after each time they're taken out and returned to their cages to prevent infectious diseases, and cover them with cotton cloths. As for their diet, they need to be given fried chicken every time they enter the slave trading area. Hmm, chicken is too expensive, so fried tofu is a good alternative to replenish their energy." As for the assessment and price guarantee of the "female goods" (omitted).

…one month later…

Another day of checkpoint work came to an end. Xuan Chong looked around the "people and goods" area. Inside the wooden cages, slaves were categorized, stripped naked, and huddled together. Outside the cages, buyers and sellers were orderly inspecting the goods at the platform. Hundreds of meters away, the stench of human flesh was overwhelming. He'd heard that ruminant smell at livestock markets before, but he'd never imagined people could smell like that! In his previous life, those people always bathed, and when they gathered together, all that could be heard was the smell of shampoo and laundry detergent.

Xuan Chong sighed silently and nodded.

While it is certainly inhumane to "demote people into slavery," the most inhumane thing to do is to lose control of "the violence of war."

Xuan Chong: One day in the future, after my army suffers heavy casualties at the foot of a fortified city, I will finally break through the city walls. How will I prevent my soldiers from demanding "blood money" after the victory?
Throughout history, many generals have answered with "a three-day search" and "entering the city without sheathing their swords."

But what if the general, after breaching the city, linked the survival of the city's inhabitants with the interests of the soldiers who had captured it? He probably wouldn't have killed indiscriminately.

Wu Fei (Xuan Chong) dislikes the "slave trade," but in this era, he knows he can't accept the chaotic and rampant looting after conquering a city!

It's better for the whole city to be enslaved than for the city to be filled with skulls.

Wu Fei glanced at Zhao Tu, the loyal guard standing beside him. This guy wasn't interested in money; his only passion was taking heads on the battlefield. Wu Fei had to keep an eye on him.

Wu Fei tallied the warehouse's silver and began purchasing supplies; he was far from being able to rest easy. In fact, as long as he commanded troops, he would always be on edge about the military camp, a powder keg. While he still held considerable influence, he needed to prepare contingency plans to ensure he could overcome the next hurdle.

Just as Wu Fei descended the city wall, a guard delivered a letter from home. After reading the bamboo slip, Wu Fei muttered, "Another attempt to force someone into a family."... The dividing line between malevolent and spiritual energy...

On Mount Qinghua, streaks of sword energy cleaved through the sky. This was a place that someone forced to accept the "military" lineage longed for.

Even without using the "Ascension Gate" to travel to other worlds (planet), this world is vast and boundless for humanity. The area surrounding Da Yao is teeming with ferocious beasts and birds of prey, poisonous miasma, and barbarian tribes who live by hunting and gathering, making it sparsely populated. Even within the Central Plains, nestled among mulberry fields and farmhouses, lie mountains and valleys inaccessible to ordinary people.

Inside a secluded hermitage on Mount Qinghua, a young man with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes was gazing out the window. Suddenly, he seemed to discern something from the clouds in the valley, and a silver spear appeared in his hand.
With the spear in hand, the spearhead extended hundreds of feet in an instant, like lightning, until the spear tip reached the sea of ​​clouds and accurately hit the vortex within. As the vortex was punctured, the mist in the valley melted into the breeze.

After a short while, sunlight filled the valley. Disciples who were flying on their swords inside and outside the valley saw this scene and instinctively moved away, while some inner disciples were used to it.

Some disciples even joked, "Senior Brother Hengyu is having another contest with the flowers and plants in the valley."

On Mount Qinghua, Wu Hengyu was an anomaly; while others flew on swords, he wielded a spear.

However, this time, after shattering the mist in the valley, Wu Hengyu, who was trapped in the hermitage, received a message from the "Crane Messenger".

The crane, with a wingspan of three zhang (approximately 10 meters), circled above the hermitage. Its long beak, like a swordsman's, poked at the protective barrier above the hermitage a few times, as if a key were being inserted into a lock. The cloud-like barrier that shrouded the valley unfolded like flower petals, returning layer by layer to the slopes on both sides. And within the once white, misty valley, a hidden paradise suddenly appeared.

Wu Hengyu, who was originally reflecting on his mistakes within the restriction, immediately stepped out onto the clouds after the restriction was lifted. However, his dashing appearance lasted only three seconds. With a slight poke from the crane's beak, Wu Hengyu fell to the valley entrance like a wild goose landing on the sand.

Wu Hengyu flattered the crane, saying, "Senior Brother Cangtian, please don't hit it."

The crane landed on a pine tree, its long legs brushing against the clouds hanging on the branches. From its beak came the cool, aloof voice of a young master: "The Reflection Pavilion is meant to calm the minds of restless disciples within the sect, but your agitation has disturbed this tranquil place. Come on, your master wants you to go there."

…Clouds and mist drifted by, a crane and a human figure circled the mountain upwards…

Wu Hengyu knelt inside the sect's main hall, while outside, lightning flashed in the clouds.

Looking at his impetuous disciple, Hua Yun Daozun sighed, "Hengyu, how many years have you been on the mountain?"

Wu Hengyu: "I have been on the mountain for five or six years."

Hua Yun sighed, "It's been almost six years. When you first joined us, you were so full of raw power that you couldn't control it. Many years have passed, but your strength is still growing."

Wu Hengyu: "It is because this disciple is dull-witted."

Hua Yun Daozun: "Enough. The world is about to undergo a great change. You should go down the mountain."

Wu Hengyu raised his head, his face blank.

The Daoist Master added, "The path of the Patriarch is not suitable for you. Go down the mountain and find your own opportunity."

Wu Hengyu, who had been abruptly driven down the mountain, wanted to say something.

Hua Yun Daozun waved his whisk, "No matter what, you and I have a master-disciple relationship. I will give you three items to help you achieve success after you leave the mountain."

In the main hall, a golden spear stood before him—the "Starry Sky Spear," weighing six thousand catties, capable of changing size at will.

Wu Hengyu was immediately captivated by its appearance and tentatively asked, "Is this a 'treasure artifact'?!"—Second-generation disciples of sects typically use spiritual artifacts, but treasure artifacts are a higher level, characterized by their immense weight and the fact that only their owner can wield them. Daoist Hua Yun nodded.

Wu Hengyu gripped the Starry Sky Spear with both hands, silently chanted an incantation, and the spear transformed into golden light, shrinking and disappearing. Wu Hengyu then looked at his arm and saw that the spear was tattooed on his arm.

With a thought, the gun reappeared in his hand.

Immediately afterwards, a box appeared in front of Heng Yu. Wu Heng Yu opened the treasure box, and inside was a suit of armor. This time, without the Daoist Master's introduction, he knew the name of the item as soon as he touched the box: "Quenching Yang Armor", a high-grade spiritual weapon, whose characteristic is that it is not afraid of water and fire (immune to most elemental damage).

After changing into his armor, Wu Hengyu looked up at his master, waiting for the third treasure.

At this moment, the wind and thunder outside the main hall were getting closer and closer, and the restrictions seemed to be ineffective, but Daoist Huayun smiled and said, "They're here."

Amidst the gathering of wind and thunder, a colossal creature, three zhang tall and eight zhang long, stopped outside the main hall. Its hair was black, and its eyebrows were white. It was crawling down, waiting.

As Wu Hengyu and the divine beast, whose head was the size of a carriage, gazed at each other, it was as if they could see into each other's very souls—the Dao Ancestor's voice rang in Wu Hengyu's ears, "It has the bloodline of a 'Suanni,' you can call it Wuzhui."

Wu Hengyu looked up at the divine beast. The Suanni's large, black, gem-like eyes reflected Wu Hengyu's. Confusion flickered in the beast's eyes, but then transformed into acceptance. Wu Hengyu, however, was confused, for in his bewilderment, he felt as if he possessed another self. But he couldn't quite recall it for the moment.

With the guidance of Daoist Huayun, the enormous divine beast began to shrink, transforming into a divine steed with a base color of black and a pale, mixed color.

……

At Yongji Pass, Wu Fei, who was entertaining another stranger, felt the system suddenly activate.

System: "The obsessions of the heavens have invaded, and the investigation is underway. It is suspected that a nomadic faction has appeared. We are preparing to activate the Level 2 campus security facilities."

Xuan Chong: "What's wrong?"

System: "It's okay, just focus on your studies. I'll let you know if there's anything I need to pay attention to."

Xuan Chong: "Are you in trouble?"

System: "You'd better not gloat, or I'll abandon you."

(End of this chapter)