You have truly caused me great suffering!

Chapter 6 Human life is as cheap as grass

Chen Shao couldn't sleep.

Outside the tent, the mountain wind howled, carrying a strong chill.

The fish he ate for dinner was mashed up and mixed with wheat rice, and the taste was really strange, which kept him tossing and turning and unable to sleep.

Chen Shao sat up and sighed. He had transmigrated into the body of a military household, and his only way out was to fight for a better life on the battlefield.

However, this path now seems incredibly difficult.

Promotion based on military achievements?
Han Shizhong suddenly became like a human-shaped Gundam, having accomplished all four great feats: beheading generals, being the first to scale enemy lines, breaking through enemy lines, and capturing flags. Yet, his official rank is still lower than mine.

He currently commands over fifty supply troops, none of whom are truly loyal to him; they are merely under his temporary command.

His only true confidants were the personal guards he had brought from the four villages.

What can four people do?
Nothing can be done!
He did try to subdue these supply troops, but they were all seasoned veterans, not as easily fooled as the young men in the village.

If you don't see any benefits, people won't pay any attention to you.

Moreover, they treat you with utmost respect, making it impossible for you to find any fault with them.

Since I have nothing to offer them now, I shouldn't even think about recruiting followers.

In the past, it was simply a fantasy that someone could attract countless people to pledge their allegiance just by flexing their muscles.

No wonder people say, "He who wins the hearts of the people wins the world."

I used to think this sentence was just a light and airy statement, a bit pretentious and empty. Now I realize how valuable it is; every word carries the weight of Mount Tai.

Because winning people's hearts is really too difficult.

After the Jingkang Incident, there was a brief window of opportunity in the north, during which many military leaders emerged.

These military leaders, taking advantage of the chaotic times, rapidly achieved upward social mobility.

Chen Shao came here specifically for this opportunity, which is why he was so eager to go to the front lines.

During this period, he needs to be patient and wait, and seize every opportunity to enhance his reputation.

After opening the tent and stepping outside, Chen Shao didn't dare to stray too far.

A gust of cold wind blew in, and he felt a surge of energy, quickly tugging at his robe.

The only thing I can use now is that I am a time traveler and know that the Song Dynasty's rulers and ministers are going to ally with the Jin Dynasty to attack the Liao Dynasty.

The alliance with the Jin against the Liao was something that Zhao Ji, Tong Guan, Liang Shicheng, and others had been thinking about all along. Since it was impossible to stop them, it would be best to make use of it.

Among all the officials in the court, Tong Guan valued this matter the most.

Because he had already reached the rank of one of the Three Dukes, there was no higher position he could be granted; his career as an official had come to an end.

The only chance to go further is to reclaim the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun.

The Song court had an ancestral rule that whoever could reclaim the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun would be granted the title of king!
It is true that Tong Guan was an incompetent eunuch, that his character was despicable, that he later took credit for others' work and shifted blame for others' mistakes, and that he brought disaster to the country and the people.

But now that he wields immense power, seeking an opportunity by siding with this eunuch might be the best option.

Using his knowledge of Chen Shao's desire to ally with the Jin dynasty to attack the Liao dynasty, and then seeking a path to advancement through him, was the most feasible approach Chen Shao could think of.

However, it's crucial to maintain a proper balance and cut ties with him quickly when necessary.

After all, Tong Guan's fate was not good; his head was cut off and brought back to the capital to be displayed to the public.

Of course, how to cut ties with him is a minor matter. If things really don't go well, just find an opportunity to cut him off in advance.

The most pressing issue now is how to get in touch with him.

Given Chen Shao's status, he wouldn't have many opportunities to meet Tong Guan.

Tong Guan had many weaknesses; he was greedy for money, power, merit, and fame. These could all be exploited.

Thinking of this, Chen Shao quickly unscrewed the water pouch and rinsed his mouth to alleviate the acidic taste, then forced himself to clear his mind and continue sleeping in the tent. Now was the time to do great things, and he needed plenty of energy and stamina.

If you can't eat or sleep well all day, you'll have a hard time seizing opportunities even when they come your way.

This is just as Sima Yi said: "With little food and many tasks, how can this last long!"

The next morning, the group got up and continued their journey; they had already entered the Hengshan Mountains.

The weather has been unusually cold these past few days, and there have been several autumn rains.

At night, they dared not light a campfire for warmth or to boil water, for fear of attracting the summer thieves.

The group ate dry rations with cold water and dragged their tired bodies on their way.

Chen Shao was struggling to stay afloat, riding horses during the day and using a small tent at night.

They traveled for another three days.

The mountain road was muddy and becoming increasingly difficult to traverse. Chen Shao, with his riding whip dangling, cautiously surveyed his surroundings.

Suddenly, one of the laborers in front of them fell to the ground.

When Chen Shao rushed over, he saw that the laborer being held in his companion's arms was about forty or fifty years old. He had a beard on his cheeks, rough skin, and his face was tanned yellow and black.

At this moment, his lips turned white and his body trembled.

When I reached out and touched it, my forehead was burning hot; it looked like I had caught a cold.

He was wearing only a single layer of clothing, which was full of holes and made stiff by the grease and mud. You can imagine how uncomfortable it must have been to wear it.

Before Chen Shao could speak, someone from the supply corps approached, holding a sheathed sword, and raised his hand to strike.

Chen Shao reached out to stop him.

The man's face froze for a moment, quite surprised. After a pause, he laughed and said, "Boss Chen, these scoundrels are the most cunning. He's just faking illness. Don't be fooled by him."

Whether the laborer was faking illness or not, anyone could tell. Chen Shao certainly knew that he was saying it on purpose.

In fact, some of the supply soldiers had told him about it when he first arrived.

If these laborers fall ill on the road, the best way to deal with it is to whip them and make them continue carrying their loads.

It might even make him more tired.

The best solution is to wear him down until he dies.

If you leave him to recover in the same place, not only will he take the opportunity to escape, but all the other laborers will also try to get sick.

If you take them with you to take care of the grain, but you really don't have the means, you will be a burden to more people. If the grain transport deadline is delayed, everyone will be subject to military law.

The only way to kill him is to minimize the cost; all that's needed is to report the loss of one laborer.

Human life is as cheap as grass.

Chen Shao glanced at the laborers, and his expression suddenly changed, filled with obvious helplessness, fear, and panic.

Clearly, he was aware of the unspoken rules involved.

The supply troops were right, but Chen Shao simply couldn't do it. Perhaps such things are common nowadays, but they have far exceeded his moral bottom line.

His companion, who was holding him, seemed to sense Chen Shao's compassion and whispered, "Sir, I can push him around."

Chen Shao nodded, returned to his horse, took off his wine bag, and gave some dried meat to the volunteer laborer.

The supply soldier holding the sword didn't speak, but just watched coldly, his eyes filled with contempt as he looked at Chen Shao.

Chen Shao instructed Dong Dahu to take on the burden of the sick laborers, and the procession continued on its way.

　Don't forget to vote, everyone! ~bowing in thanks.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)