Chapter 1031: A Warning from the Past

"Keep this note safe. When you return to the Xuanyuan Tribe, I will have many things to do and might not remember so many details, or even remember you. But as long as you bring this note, there will be no problem. If you lose it, the two jars of Soybean Oil I promised you might be gone. Alright, that is all I called you here for; it is to reward you. You are lucky enough, and I like people who are lucky."

The person being rewarded hurriedly took the small slip of paper. He did not recognize what was written on it, but the Huaxia had never defaulted on the food they promised him. Whenever they mentioned rewards in the past, they were honored immediately upon returning, or rather, honored as soon as the Huaxia supplies were delivered. He did not doubt the credibility of this note from Changle; it was certain to be honored.

So he carefully folded it, tucked it into the pocket at his collar, and after thanking Changle repeatedly, he looked at Lei with an inquiring gaze, asking if he could leave.

Lei stepped aside to make room for him: "Go on and get busy; there is nothing left for you to do."

"Alright, alright."

Only then did Changle ask Lei: "I just heard you all saying 'agreed, agreed.' What on earth is the matter that requires agreement? Is it about digging for Gujiao? The terms I gave were so good; isn't it just going into a mosquito nest to dig up some Grass? Is there anything to disagree about there?"

As soon as Changle asked, Lei became a bit fidgety, quite different from how he looked when speaking to everyone just now; he was very restrained.

"Enough, if you have something to say, then say it. Why are you being so fidgety? Is there anything that cannot be told to me?"

Lei suddenly knelt down to Changle, which gave Changle a start: "What are you doing? Get up and speak."

Lei still did not get up, and then said: "Prince, I have a request for you."

Hearing that there was a request, Changle did not make Lei get up again. After all, one still had to pay attention to status and rank at this time, so Changle's expression became a bit more serious: "What is it? You speak first, and then I will see if I can agree. I cannot just agree because you knelt down."

"Prince, it is like this. You said that for those going to dig for Gujiao, we and the people of the Xuanyuan Tribe should both have spots. But I thought, this is an opportunity to earn a Third Class Merit. For our Soldiers, it is truly too difficult and too rare. Even if it is just a word from you, for us Soldiers, it is very rare."

"So, I thought about striving for them. The quota remains unchanged, ten people, but we are willing to trade for the spots from the hands of those Xuanyuan Tribe people. The Soybean Oil, you do not need to give it to them; we will give it ourselves."

"In this way, the good deed still takes care of the Xuanyuan Tribe people, they also gain benefits, and it will not appear that you, Prince, are biased toward us and not good to the Xuanyuan Tribe people. At the same time, our own Soldiers also gain an opportunity to earn merit. So, I asked the Xuanyuan Tribe people if they agreed, and they agreed; only then did I dare to come and tell you."

After listening, Changle did not know whether to be angry or what, but doing this was indeed wrong. After being silent for a long while, Changle finally said: "Lei, you have a lot of nerve. Do you think that because you are my personal guard, you can guess my thoughts, make decisions for me, and then finally notify me?"

Upon hearing this, Lei immediately pressed his head to the ground. He suddenly remembered that it was because Chai had made decisions for Changle on his own that a mess of trouble had been created, and Chai had been punished for it. He had only considered his own Soldiers and failed to consider this point, committing the same act and making the same mistake.

Now there was nothing else in Lei's heart, only the repeating thought: "It's over, it's over, it's over..."

"Huh? Lei, come tell me, how did I instruct you? Is your nerve really this big now?"

"Never mind a Third Class Merit, even if it were a First Class Merit or a Special Class Merit, do you think that with my status and position, I could not get them for you?"

"I give you a few Third Class Merits, and you should take a few Third Class Merits. This is an opportunity I give you, not for you to take this opportunity to conduct trades, understand?"

"If in Huaxia, even merit can be priced and traded, wouldn't that mean Nobility could also be priced and sold to you?"

"Having nerve is a good thing, and being able to think of your Soldiers is also a good thing. But things are not done this way. You must also see your own position clearly and not make decisions for me at will. Do you understand?"

Lei kowtowed on the ground repeatedly: "Prince, I was wrong, I was wrong. I will never dare to do it again, and I will never do this again!"

Changle sighed: "It is fortunate that you still considered that you should ask me if I agreed first. It counts as not having caused serious consequences, and it counts as you still holding me in regard. This time, I will not punish you."

Sweat had already flowed from Lei's back to his chest. Hearing that he would not be punished, he finally breathed a slight sigh of relief. If he had been punished, or if this matter had been treated more seriously, his bright life would have completely headed toward darkness.

"Lei, I tell you, merit can never be used for trading, not even a spot that might earn merit. However, since you have already spoken, and it shows the difficulties of you Soldiers, I cannot be too harsh."

"But I tell you, the number of spots I say is the number of spots there are. Merit in Huaxia is not so easy to get."

"I will give you four more spots. Including you, ten people will go. The five people from the Xuanyuan Tribe must also go. Their rewards will be deducted from your wages, and you will not be counted in the Collective Third-Class Merit for this trip. Do you understand?"

Lei was relieved: "I understand, I understand. Thank you, Prince, thank you, Prince."

"Sigh, actually I have already given you a great benefit. Think about it, it is just a few stalks of grass. How many people do I need to go into the water to pull them? Are there crocodiles or tigers guarding that swamp? Giving you five spots was already enough."

"Alright, Lei, you go. You must admit your mistake to everyone and explain that merit in Huaxia cannot be traded. This is using your example to warn everyone. It is fortunate that it was me; if it were my father, what do you think the outcome would be?"

Lei stood up from the ground, but his knees were still bent. He had not gone into the water, but his body was already soaked. The precedent of Chai was right before his eyes, yet he had not learned any lesson from it. If this matter reached the King, he feared his whole life would be over.

"There is one more thing: there is no need to pull too many, pulling a dozen or so is enough. You must pull them up by the roots. I mainly want to see if all the root systems are the same as this one. You must not destroy the rest; those might be our future seedlings. Do you hear me clearly?"

Lei nodded repeatedly. This tall man was now extremely humble and did not dare to have any emotions.

"Go quickly, and return before it gets dark."