Chen Ye strode out of the central command tent and was just about to head toward his own camp.
"Commander Chen! Wait, wait!"
A military clerk who had been in the tent moments ago hurried after him, his face wreathed in smiles.
"I am Peng Junfu, currently serving as a military aide in the camp and responsible for the distribution of provisions."
In the Great Jing Kingdom, a military aide was a subordinate official who had yet to receive a formal appointment from the imperial court and had instead been recruited independently by a military office.
Generally speaking, this position was held by retainers of influential lineages, members of poor families, or descendants of military clans. It was one of the paths through which many low-ranking scholars entered the military offices and took up official posts.
"So it's Clerk Peng. My apologies for not recognizing you."
Peng Junfu's face was covered in smiles as he said courteously, "I heard just now that Commander Chen has already reached the tenth Mortal Shedding. It truly is astonishing!
"For someone as young as Commander Chen to possess such cultivation, your future is surely boundless. You and I both serve under Lord Cui, so we ought to become more familiar with each other."
"Clerk Peng, you're too kind."
"When we get some free time, I must invite Commander Chen to share a few cups of wine. I hold a minor position in the camp, so if you ever need anything in the future, Commander Chen, just send someone to pass along the word."
Chen Ye remained calm. He gave a slight cupped-fist salute and said, "Very well. I'll certainly trouble you in the future."
After seeing Peng Junfu off, he turned around and found that several more people had gathered outside the tent at