Blue, Red and White Dark Abyss Cauldron

The military regulations of Bicheng explicitly prohibit soldiers from verbally abusing each other, and even more so from fighting each other. Everyone had memorized them by heart when they were in the Zhongjing Army.

Therefore, although they were not full and were angry, they did not dare to curse or hit. The ten people had to swallow their anger, ate their food in a few bites, and prepared to go back to the barracks to lie down and sleep.

But Zhang Hou walked in with a smile, holding a ceramic bowl as big as a basin in his hand.

Everyone looked at the ceramic bowl in Zhang Hou's hand, and saw that there were two bread pieces and a piece of meat in his bowl at some point. They all asked him what tricks he had used to get so much more food than the other nine people.

Zhang Hou smiled but did not answer. He took out two dry biscuits, carefully tore them into ten pieces, and shared them with everyone. However, he was reluctant to share the piece of mutton.

The other nine people were drooling with envy, but they didn't know what to say.

Chu Xiaomu and Zhang Hou had no beds, so they had to use a few sets of clothes as pillows and lie on the floor with their clothes on.

They were all at an age where they had big appetites, but they didn't have enough for dinner, so their stomachs were growling with hunger all night.

For three or four days, no one came to inform Chu Xiaomu and others about their incorporation into the camp.

Everyone was not idle either. Led by Chu Xiaomu, they practiced horse riding at the racecourse, archery at the martial arts school, and spear and sword techniques at the straw man formation. They felt very fulfilled and were even happier to be free and unrestrained without any supervision.

Fortunately, the fireman knew that a new soldier had arrived, and perhaps he had received a notice from Zhou Bo or someone else, so he prepared enough meals and everyone was no longer hungry.

However, Chu Xiaomu was very dissatisfied, thinking that Zhou Zhongjun must be very unhappy that he ignored his group, and he didn't know why. He wanted to rush into the central army tent several times to ask for clarification, but he saw that the curtains were always tightly closed and the guards on both sides had serious faces, so he had to hold back.

Another day passed, and finally the short soldier came running over again and informed everyone, "Vice-General Xiao has summoned you, so hurry over."

When everyone heard that Deputy Central Army Xiao Zhenrong had summoned them, they guessed that the matter of being incorporated into the camp had been settled, and they were all very happy. They straightened their robes and went happily.

The tent of Deputy Commander Xiao Zhenrong was in the middle of the camp, and they arrived soon. After the messenger went in to report, everyone opened the tent curtain and entered in a line.

I saw a slightly fat, yellow-faced man sitting in the middle of the big tent, with his eyes slightly narrowed and a smile on his face, looking very kind.

After the ten people introduced themselves, Xiao Zhenrong stared at Chu Xiaomu without blinking and asked, "I heard that you are from the island of Water Country?"

Chu Xiaomu shouted: "Return to the central army, yes!"

"But you are from Cangmu Country." Xiao Zhenrong said, "Why did you come to my Bicheng?"

"My ancestors were from Cangmu, so I am also from Cangmu. I was originally a slave in the Jiaoshan Mine in Jinyang City, and I fled to Bicheng to survive."

Xiao Zhenrong nodded, without commenting. Then he asked Yingdan, Lin Zhen and others, and they all gave roughly the same answer, saying that they were afraid of being beaten to death in Jiaoshan, so they had no choice but to flee to Bicheng.

Xiao Zhenrong said: "You have been in the Nanding Army for a few days. It is time to arrange some military affairs for you to do."

When everyone heard that Deputy Commander Xiao was going to arrange military affairs, they were very happy.

Zhang Hou said, "Deputy Commander Xiao, just order us around. We were all born slaves, so we are good at everything, whether it's chopping wood and lighting fires, serving tea and pouring water, or fanning and massaging backs, or talking to relieve boredom."

Xiao Zhenrong put away his smile, glared at him, and said, "You are so smooth-talking, be careful or I will punish you by military law!"

Zhang Hou was so scared that he shut his mouth immediately. He didn't expect that his eloquent mouth, which was popular everywhere, would be useless when he came to the Nanding Army.

Xiao Zhenrong ignored him and said, "Although you were personally recommended by the general to join my Nanding Army, it is the General Zhou and I who are in charge here, so the general's words are of little use. In my Nanding Army, you must first obey the orders of the General and me, and you must not disobey them in the slightest; secondly, you must abide by the military regulations. No matter which one you violate, you will be strictly punished by military law, and there will be no leniency!" He asked again, "Have you read the military regulations of my city?"

Everyone said they had seen it. Zhang Houben had not seen it, but he followed the crowd and said he had, his voice was louder than others. Everyone laughed secretly.

Xiao Zhenrong said, "That's good." After a pause, he continued, "Now that Humu Pass is stable, it is rare to see strange beasts and evil spirits at the foot of the beast mountains. Moreover, our army's border patrol soldiers are already full, and we don't need more manpower for the writing officers and clothing officers. Besides, you can't do it... The army is relatively idle." He began to frown and think, and it seemed that this matter was very difficult to handle.

When everyone saw his expression, they began to worry again, wondering what kind of hard work was left for them to do. Could it be that after serving as a biological slave in Jinyang City, they would have to go to Bicheng to serve as a military slave?

As expected, Xiao Zhenrong said, "Well, you all know that General Zhou brought his daughter Jinglan to our Nanding camp. Jinglan has difficulty walking and needs someone to take care of her all the time. She also needs help sweeping the floor, brewing tea, lighting the fire, and cooking. General Zhou's guards haven't been around recently, so I'll arrange for two people to go to his tent to follow his orders. The rest of you will go to the horse officer to help first, and we'll make other arrangements after General Zhou's attendants return to the camp."

When everyone heard that Xiao Zhenrong actually arranged for two people to do some small tasks such as sweeping the floor and making tea in Zhou Bo's central army tent, this was far from everyone's expectations of joining the army, and it was no different from being a servant in a wealthy family. Others were even more unlucky. Everyone had seen the work of the horse officer. In addition to daily horse walking, brushing horses, and feeding hay, they also needed to clean the stable, trim horse hooves, carry manure, deliver foals, etc., all of which were dirty and tiring...

"What kind of military duty is this? It's just something for slaves!" Everyone was furious, but they didn't dare to say a word. After all, Xiao Zhenrong had said that the Nanding Army was under the control of Zhou Bo and him, and even the general had no control over this. Moreover, this was an absolute military order, and disobeying it would be punished by military law.

Seeing that no one said anything, Xiao Zhenrong ignored them and wrote a note and handed it to Chu Xiaomu. He pointed at him and Yingdan and said, "After you two have your meal, report to the central army tent. Someone will make arrangements there." He wrote another note and handed it to Lin Zhen, saying, "Give the note to the horse officer and go to help him."

Chu Xiaomu and Lin Zhen took it obediently, cursing Deputy Commander Xiao seventeen or eighteen times in their hearts.