Robbery as Honor, Labor as Shame?

"Take Brother Qiu to the military camp for a visit, and do as you are asked if anything is needed."

Xiao Lan's words greatly surprised the young man named Xiao Jian. Military camps were heavily guarded; how could just anyone enter?

Moreover, Xiao Lan Xiao Jian quite surprised by how Xiao Lan addressed Qiu Yan, but he didn't ask. Responsible for his father's authority, he could only nod and accept the order with a heart full of doubts.

"Thank you for your kindness, Governor." Qiu Yan clasped his hands in thanks, rose, and calmly withdrew.

After the two had left and walked a distance away, Xiao Lan breathed a sigh of relief and turned to look at the old man. "Elder Xu, how are you?"

Elder Xu nodded slightly. "There should be no mistake. Previously, when we confronted each other from a distance, we could only get a general sense of the situation. Now that we are so close, we can grasp the subtle changes within it. Qiu Yan has definitely mastered the Military School Order."

"But when we were standing beside him, we didn't feel any imposing Military School aura. It was only after being provoked by Elder Xu that he released a little bit of his aura, similar to that of a cultivator. Didn't our spies in the Imperial City say that this Qiu Yan is a cultivator with Divine Ability?"

The speaker was a burly man named Lu Jiang. He Natural-born God and was currently the commander of a guard, in charge of the soldiers of the two guards in the north of the city. He was often at the forefront of battles and served as the vanguard during advances, making him a fierce general.

"Lu Jiang, that's not the aura of a cultivator, but the aura of Military School that can only be gathered by leading troops into battle!"

At this moment, Yuan Xing spoke again, "Moreover, his aura is smooth and refined, clearly the result of long-term training. Most new recruits on the Sand Battlefield, even if Natural-born God and strategic skills, or possess unique abilities, will show off their talents when they first arrive at the military camp, unlike Qiu Yan. However, where did Qiu Yan lead his troops? Wasn't it said that he was a scholar before?"

Human Path else said, "Perhaps he gained his insights from military books. Didn't he write a military strategy during the Provincial Examination, Metropolitan Examination?"

Human Path else said, "Qiu Yan's hometown is said to be on the Southern Border, directly facing the Marshfolk. His father was reportedly killed by Marshfolk. He must be on the front lines to have such a unique perspective."

"Indeed," another general nodded. "From the frontier scenes and military records, one can deduce the true meaning of Order and ultimately Thought-Convergent Order. Only someone like that can achieve this. Otherwise, wouldn't there be people Thought-Convergent Order everywhere?"

Hearing this, Yuan Xing suddenly said somewhat uncertainly, "Speaking of which, the young lady from the Anyang Marquis's family seemed a little different when she traveled with us, unlike her previous flamboyant self. Although I didn't observe her closely, I did sense a slight change in her demeanor. However, she didn't become more reserved; rather, she seemed to be preparing for battle. I wonder if it's just my imagination."

"It's not an illusion." At this moment, Elder Xu spoke up, "The Pang family girl's aura has indeed changed. She has clearly experienced the trials of battle and is no longer the same as before."

"That's strange..." Yuan Xing pondered.

Xiao Lan said, "Don't overthink it. Now that we've confirmed Qiu Yan's mastery of Military School Order, we should proceed with the rest. He broke through Elder Xu's test, clearly showing he's unwilling to be subservient to anyone. It's evident that although he outwardly studies Confucianism, he still possesses the pride of Military School at heart. Once we understand his character, those manuscripts will naturally be handed over to him."

He smiled and said, "Isn't Qiu Yan going to compile a military treatise? With the manuscript, I believe his treatise will be even more advanced. It will also show those civil officials that we Military School are not their lackeys! If it weren't for the sake of the country and the nation, how could we allow them to act this way?"

"Mr. Qiu, this way please..."

On the other side, Xiao Jian led Qiu Yan out of the back gate of the Military Governor's Residence, through a street and alley, into a market, and headed north.

"Could this military camp be located north of the city, beyond the Great Wall?" Qiu Yan asked as he spoke.

Xiao Jian nodded and said, "There are military camps in both the south and north of the city, but the north is closer in terms of distance. When I left the mansion, I already instructed someone to bring a horse over. Mr. Qiu... will need to ride over later."

Qiu Yan was about the same age as Xiao Jian, but in terms of status and identity, he was inferior to the latter. Although Xiao Jian was a descendant of Xiao Lan and the young marquis of Maishan, he usually maintained an air of authority, but he couldn't put on airs in front of Qiu Yan. As a descendant of Military School strategist, he understood the importance of the Military School Order, and even his father, Xiao Lan, addressed Qiu Yan as "Brother Qiu," clearly implying an equal relationship. How could Xiao Jian dare to be negligent in his address?

As they walked, a pretty figure was already waiting ahead. It was Pang Qianru. She had changed her clothes at some point. She was also in military uniform, but it had obviously been modified to better suit her slender figure.

Upon seeing the two of them, she walked over and said, "Xiao Jian, I heard you're taking Qiu Yan to visit the military camp. You don't mind if I come along, do you?"

Xiao Jian frowned slightly, initially wanting to refuse. After all, with Xiao Lan's approval, Qiu Yan could go to the military camp, but that didn't mean just anyone could. However, after glancing at Qiu Yan, a thought struck him, and he actually agreed.

"Since Miss Pang is interested, that's fine. However, we'll need to wait for my instructions to have an extra horse prepared..."

He was interrupted by Pang Qianru.

"No need for that trouble, I've already prepared the warhorses." Pang Qianru waved her hand and walked alongside the two of them.

Xiao Jian didn't say anything more.

The three traveled together. Xiao Jian's identity was known to everyone in the city. Qiu Yan's reputation had spread, but few people knew his appearance. However, the temperament he had cultivated through his studies made him stand out in Dingchang City. As for Pang Qianru, she was a beautiful woman, and wearing a specially made military uniform made her even more heroic and attracted everyone's attention.

The eyes are the windows to the heart. Following the gazes of each person, Qiu Yan had already seen through their eyes and discerned a trace of their innermost thoughts.

"There are quite a few Hu people here." As he looked around, Qiu Yan noticed something amiss. He noticed that although some of them were dressed in Central Plains attire, their hair was disheveled and their eyes held a hint of wildness, indicating that they were not from the Central Lands.

"Yes, this is an important border town, and merchants are not prohibited from traveling here. After all, supporting an army also requires money," Xiao Jian said briefly, only scratching the surface.

Qiu Yan understood the situation and didn't press the matter about the imperial army's pay. Grain and provisions were allocated and passed down through the ranks, with each level taking a cut. In the end, a deficit was inevitable. The soldiers on the frontier couldn't starve, so they naturally had to find ways to generate income.

However, since Qiu Yan was writing the "Essentials of the Military Classics," he inevitably needed to understand the potential situation of the border military towns. Therefore, he added, "However, this would inevitably pose a hidden danger if Hu people spies entered the city."

"Nothing in this world is truly perfect; there will always be risks. All we can do is try to control the variables," Xiao Jian said, pointing to the distance where the North Gate was located. "Like this city gate, it's only open for two hours a day. You and Miss Pang should have already noticed when you came that even during the day, the city gate is still tightly closed, and people coming and going are subject to strict checks, have to pay a deposit, and register their names, origins, or tribal affiliations."

At this point, he murmured, "The court won't agree to these things, but even if the garrison doesn't do them, someone else will, and things will get out of control. It's better for us to take over."

"Oh? It does look very well-prepared." Qiu Yan nodded, then glanced at the surrounding market, noticing many stalls selling livestock hides, meat, and game. "I remember Historians' School records saying that in the Great Desert, it is cold and windy, and people herd livestock and hunt for food, wear furs for clothing, and travel by foot, using carts and horses as their homes. I imagine that the Hu people who come here exchange these things most often."

"That's right. The top scholar is indeed very learned, even knowing the customs of the Northern Frontier. Although what you said is also in Historians' School records, it was basically not covered during the Imperial Examinations, so few people would pay attention to it," Xiao Jian praised.

Qiu Yan smiled and shook his head, "Young Master Xiao, you are mistaken. In the past, the Imperial Examinations might not have covered these topics, but now the emperor is very concerned about them. Perhaps there will be related questions in the next Imperial Examinations."

Li Kun intended to reform the military system, which was well known to the officials in the court and even the military, but basically no one would agree to it because it would affect the interests of the military, especially the border troops.

Xiao Jian simply smiled upon hearing Qiu Yan's words, offering no further comment. Instead, he pointed to the stalls set up by several Hu people and said, "Most of the Hu people in the north are under the rule of the Rouluo. Besides killing, plundering, and looting, they also raise cattle, sheep, horses, and camels. Their pastures are divided into winter and summer. In the summer, they graze their livestock in the South of the Desert, and in the winter, they migrate to pastures where firewood is readily available and which are sunny and sheltered from the wind. Now that summer is approaching, there aren't many Hu people outside the city, and only a few have come to Market Exchange."

Qiu Yan nodded and said, "Avoid the cold in autumn and winter, avoid the heat in spring and summer, follow the water and grass, hunt and fish, and do this year after year. These sentences in the book can only be understood after experiencing them firsthand." As he spoke, the colorful concepts brewing in his mind became clearer and clearer, with lines of thought extending from them.

Xiao Jian praised Qiu Yan's insight again, while Pang Qianru seemed to be deep in thought.

And so, the three arrived at the city gate. The guards, seeing the token Xiao Jian produced, opened the gate. But as the gate opened, a commotion from outside drifted in—

"We Rouluo people come to the city to sell our goods, and we have to be controlled by the Central Plains people? What a joke! What skills do you Central Plains people have besides farming? You can't even beat us in battle, you don't know how to rob money and grain, you only know how to silently accumulate wealth, aren't you just pigs? Even your emperor has to appease my Khan, and you tremble with fear at the slightest movement of our tribe. Now you dare to speak so arrogantly and ask me to hand over some goods as a deposit? If you anger me, I won't sell anymore, I'll just rob you!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jian's expression immediately changed, while Pang Qianru showed interest.

"To take pride in robbing and be ashamed of labor? What an arrogant and unreasonable principle! To utter such infuriating words in front of the gates of a city in the Central Plains—does he have a death wish?"

On the contrary, Qiu Yan narrowed his eyes, a strange feeling rising in his heart. He caught a Human Path different from that of the Central Plains, and a nameless anger rose from him, stemming from the instinct of his Fleshly Body.