Chapter 6: Earning Merit Again

Wang Gui gave a helpless laugh-and-cry reply: "Count... of course it counts! Capturing an enemy scout is a great merit. Come on, let's go report!"

The two were escorting the prisoner, but actually Shiniu was dragging him, Wang Gui followed behind, and then they went to the Central Command Tent.

On the way they startled many patrolling soldiers, who gathered around to watch the spectacle.

"Hey, Wang Gui, Shiniu, what's going on?"

"We captured two spies, Shiniu caught them alone..."

"Awesome!"

Upon reaching the Central Command Tent, the guard went inside to report.

Not long after, Chang Yuchun came out wearing his outer garment, with Li Cheng following behind.

"What's going on?" Chang Yuchun asked.

Wang Gui stepped forward to report: "Reporting to General, while on duty with Shiniu, Shiniu spotted the enemy situation, went alone to investigate, found three scouts, then killed one and captured two."

Chang Yuchun looked at Shiniu, then at the two prisoners on the ground, his eyes lighting up: "Shiniu, you captured them?"

"Yeah, they wanted to kill me, so I caught them." Shiniu said, nodding.

Chang Yuchun laughed loudly: "Good! Good lad! You're not hurt, are you?"

Then he walked over and patted Shiniu on the shoulder.

"No."

Chang Yuchun then examined the prisoners, especially the one with broken ribs, nodded and said: "Neat technique, you left a live one. Li Cheng, take them down for interrogation."

"Yes." Li Cheng had people drag the prisoners away.

Chang Yuchun looked at Shiniu, growing more pleased, and quickly said: "Shiniu, you've rendered great service this time. By military law, capturing an enemy scout earns one merit and a reward of ten taels of silver."

Shiniu's eyes lit up: "General, the reward silver... how many roasted chickens can it buy?"

Those around laughed.

Chang Yuchun also laughed and said: "It can buy twenty! But there's no roasted chicken in the army now; after we finish the battle and return to Responding to Heaven, I'll treat you to your fill!"

"Thank you, General!" Shiniu grinned.

Chang Yuchun gave a few more instructions, then let them go rest.

On the way back to the tent, Wang Gui kept muttering: "Ten taels of silver! Shiniu, you've struck it rich. When you get the reward, you gotta buy me a drink!"

Shiniu nodded seriously: "Sure, I'll treat you, Brother Wang."

Back in the tent, the other imperial troops were awake, surrounding Shiniu and asking questions.

Shiniu couldn't tell stories, so he simply gave a brief account.

Everyone listened, clucking their tongues in amazement.

"Shiniu, your guts are huge—you dared to sneak over alone!"

"How did you know someone was there?"

"I smelled them; they had an odor." Shiniu said, scratching his head.

"What kind of smell?"

"Sweat, leather armor, and horse stench—different from our camp's smell." Shiniu said after thinking.

Everyone looked at each other. This nose is too sharp.

After a commotion, the sky was about to dawn.

Shiniu lay back on his bunk but couldn't sleep.

He kept replaying that scene in his mind—the sound of the hammer striking the chest, the bones breaking, the anguished cries.

He lifted his hand and looked in the darkness. It seemed there was still blood on it, but in fact it had long been wiped clean.

This was his first time killing someone.

Although that person was an enemy, although he struck first... but after all, it was a life.

Shiniu turned over and closed his eyes.

But as soon as he closed his eyes, the image of that person flying out and hitting a tree appeared.

"Shiniu, asleep?" Wang Gui from the neighboring bunk whispered.

"No."

"What are you thinking about?"

"Thinking... about what just happened." Shiniu said.

Wang Gui fell silent for a moment: "They're enemies, they came to kill us. If you didn't kill them, they'd kill us, kill General Chang, kill our fellow soldiers."

"Yeah! I know." Shiniu nodded back.

"Knowing is good. War is like this; you'll have to get used to it from now on." Wang Gui sighed.

Shiniu said nothing.

He recalled what Shi Laosan had said before he died: "Shiniu, in life one should avoid killing if possible, but if someone wants to kill you or someone you care about, you can't go easy."

"Father, I today... didn't go easy."

When the sky was just turning light, he finally drifted off to sleep.

The bugle sounded; it was time to get up and train.

Shiniu got up, dressed, and picked up his hammer.

The feel of the hammer handle in his hand was solid and heavy, like holding a mountain.

Stepping out of the tent, morning light shone on his face.

A new day began.

During morning training, the story of Shiniu capturing the scout had spread throughout the camp.

Many soldiers looked at him differently now—some with admiration, some with curiosity, some with envy.

Zhao Xiong's group didn't come looking for trouble again.

Li Cheng trained Shiniu more strictly, but his attitude also improved.

He even privately told Shiniu, "Shiniu, you're a promising seedling; train well, and you'll become a marshal in the future."

Shiniu didn't know how to be a marshal, but he trained earnestly.

In the afternoon, Chang Yuchun summoned him to the marshal's tent and gave him a small cloth bundle.

"This is reward silver, ten taels. Keep it safe; when you return to Responding to Heaven, go to the money shop to exchange it for copper coins, or save it." Chang Yuchun said.

Shiniu took the cloth bundle, which felt heavy.

He opened it and saw two silver ingots, each weighing five taels.

"Thank you, Marshal!" Shiniu said quickly.

"This is what you deserve. Moreover, starting today, you are promoted to squad leader, in charge of ten people—the ten in your tent—and they will be under your command." Chang Yuchun said.

Shiniu blinked and said, "Marshal, I... I don't know how to manage people."

"Learn, let Wang Gui help you; he's served many years and knows the rules." Chang Yuchun laughed.

"Oh."

Leaving the marshal's tent, Shiniu still felt a bit dazed.

He had become a squad leader...

In charge of ten people.

But he himself was still a rookie!

Returning to the tent, Wang Gui already knew, and he came over grinning, saying, "Squad Leader Shiniu, please look out for me from now on!"

The other Imperial Troops also chimed in, "Squad Leader Shiniu, Squad Leader Shiniu!"

Shiniu could only scratch his head foolishly.

Wang Gui patted his shoulder and said, "Alright, no more fooling around, Shiniu. The marshal appointed you squad leader because he values you; don't worry, I'll teach you the rules—just focus on training your brothers."

Shiniu nodded and said, "Mm, thanks, Brother Wang."

At night, it was their turn to stand watch again.

This time Shiniu was the leader, bringing Wang Gui and another Imperial Trooper.

The watch post had been moved to the east side of the camp.

This spot is near the grain and fodder storage, making it more important.

The moonlight was good, allowing clear vision far into the distance.

Shiniu stood at the watch post, gripping his spear, staring into the darkness afar.

Wang Gui whispered beside him, "Shiniu, don't dwell too much on what happened today; in war it's like this—either you die or I perish."

Shiniu didn't speak.

He looked at the spear in his hand; its tip glowed with a cold light under the moonlight.

From afar came a long, mournful wolf howl.

The night wind blew, bringing the scent of the wilderness.

Shiniu sniffed and suddenly frowned.

"Brother Wang, there's that smell again."

Wang Gui immediately became alert and asked, "What smell? Where?"

Shiniu pointed to the southeast and said, "Over there, in the grass thicket—it's the same smell as last night."

Wang Gui squinted for a while but saw nothing.

But he trusted Shiniu's nose and said, "Should I go call someone?"

"Wait, let me go check first—just in case it isn't!"

"Be careful."

Shiniu picked up his hammer and slipped back into the darkness.

This time he was more careful.

The three scouts from last night were encountered by accident; if there truly are enemies tonight, they will definitely be more cautious.

He bent low and moved through the grass thicket.

His nose kept twitching, tracking that scent.

Getting closer and closer.

In the grass thicket, sure enough, two people were lying prone.

They were even more concealed than last night's, almost blending into the grass.

Without that smell, Shiniu would never have noticed them.

Shiniu quietly circled to their flank.

The two were whispering; Shiniu couldn't understand what they were saying.

But from their movements, it was clear they were observing the camp's grain and fodder piles.

Shiniu gripped his hammer tightly, took a deep breath, and then stood up.

"You guys, what are you up to again?"

The two snapped their heads back, saw Shiniu, and their faces instantly changed.

But unlike the three from last night, they didn't attack outright; instead, they both retreated, trying to flee.

Shiniu stepped forward, crossed his Double Hammers to block the way.

"Don't run; come back with me."

The two exchanged a glance, then suddenly split up and fled.

Shiniu was stunned for a moment, then chased the one on the left, caught up in a few steps, and hammered the back of his knee.

That person fell face down on the ground.

Shiniu looked back; the one on the right had already run several dozen feet away.

He picked up a stone from the ground, weighed it in his hand, and threw it hard.

The stone arced through the air and struck the man squarely on the back of the head.

Thud!

The man swayed, then collapsed.

Shiniu walked over to check; the man was still alive, just knocked out.

He tied up both men, dragged one in each hand, and headed back.

Wang Gui, watching from the lookout post, saw him dragging two men back and wryly said, "Shiniu, are you… catching scouts like rabbits?"

Shiniu threw the prisoners to the ground and said, "These two are smarter than last night's; they tried to run."

Wang Gui checked them and found a map and charcoal pencil on their persons; the map marked the location of the grain and fodder stores.

"Damn, they really came to scout the grain and fodder, Shiniu—you've done a great job!" Wang Gui swore.

This time, Chang Yuchun personally interrogated the prisoners.

After the interrogation, his face grew solemn.

"The Northern Yuan knows we're heading north; they've sent scouts to feel us out. Order the army: strengthen vigilance, break camp early tomorrow, and march north at full speed!"

Chang Yuchun said to Li Cheng.

"Yes!"

Chang Yuchun then looked at Shiniu, his eyes complex, and said, "Shiniu, you've captured five scouts these past two nights, saving the whole army—this merit… I will remember it."

Shiniu scratched his head and said, "General, I was just on watch…"

"Being on watch is your duty, but being able to catch scouts is your skill. Go on! Get some rest—we have to march tomorrow." Chang Yuchun patted him on the shoulder.

Returning to the tent, Shiniu immediately fell asleep.