Chapter 12

Morning.

Xia Zuoyi woke to the cries of seabirds. He slowly climbed out of bed and mumbled in a sleepy nasal voice, "Judith, I'm up."

"I'm here, my lord."

Judith's voice came from the foot of the bed.

Xia Zuoyi turned around and looked over groggily. He gave a small yawn and sat up, his soft sleepwear clinging to his body, the hem curling up slightly to reveal his pale little belly.

Judith walked to the bedside and gently pulled his sleepwear back into place. "Are you ready to wash up, my lord?"

"Mm." Xia Zuoyi nodded softly.

Judith immediately rang the bell.

Not long afterward.

Kelly pushed open the door, carrying a basin of water and washing supplies. Toby followed behind her with a towel in his hands.

After Xia Zuoyi finished washing up, he took the towel and wiped his face. "Does Gibran have a math test today?" he asked indistinctly.

Toby said, "Yes, my lord. My brother got up very early and went to Grandpa Nick's."

Nick was the old accountant's name.

To help Gibran study more efficiently, Xia Zuoyi had subtly given the old accountant a few pointers, telling him to turn the material to be tested into exam papers.

There was a small test every half month and a major test every month.

Gibran's daily studies were packed full—literacy, mathematics, business management, and more.

Sometimes, Xia Zuoyi went to class with him and put on a show of studying too. After all, a lord could not be illiterate.

Yet despite studying halfheartedly, he still managed to get perfect scores on the tests.

All the castle servants agreed—young Lord Xia Zuoyi was a genius!

After helping Xia Zuoyi get dressed, Judith asked, "My lord, are you going to the test today?"

Xia Zuoyi shook his head. "No. Tell Nick to save the test paper for me. I'll do it when I have time. I'm going to the alchemy room today."

He needed to gradually reveal the effects of medicinal herbs under the pretense of conducting alchemy experiments.

Before that, he had first ordered people to dig up some uncommon or rare plants from Par Mountain and bring them back to the castle.

After some time had passed, he would have the knights post notices throughout the city.

The notices stated that if commoners or slaves found or picked plants whose species and names they did not know, they could bring them to the castle in exchange for a certain number of copper coins.

Over time, almost everyone in Visas learned that their lord seemed to be researching an alchemical art related to the uses of plants.

Afterward, commoners and slaves often went up the mountains or searched elsewhere for plants in order to earn copper coins. The number of plants delivered to the castle began to multiply.

Xia Zuoyi's method was remarkably effective.

By comparing them to the illustrations in Illustrated Guide to Chinese Medicinal Herbs, he soon identified mugwort, plantain seeds, nettles, and other medicinal herbs among the many plants.

These past few days, he had immersed himself in the room used for alchemy experiments, researching how to turn medicinal herbs into potions or salves.

For this, he had specially exchanged reputation points for Chinese Medicinal Herb Potion Recipes and Complete Guide to Chinese Medicinal Herb Salves. His sporadic study time gradually passed as he read through the system.

He was actually very diligent and hardworking :)

Before going to the alchemy laboratory, Xia Zuoyi asked, "How much longer until the recruits' first round of training ends?"

"More than half a month, my lord," Judith said.

Xia Zuoyi said, "I remember that over two months ago, Fernandi and Walker told me that some knights also wanted to join the training. Did they keep at it?"

"They have persisted, and they want to compete for platoon leader or company commander positions."

"Oh, is that so?" Xia Zuoyi said. "They'll be assessed together once training ends. I just hope they don't embarrass themselves."

They had better not lose to commoners and slaves.

The soldiers trained for five days and rested for two. They were not allowed to leave the training camp freely.

During those two rest days, soldiers could return home to visit their parents and families. However, no more than thirty people could leave at a time, and they had to take turns after receiving approval.

At first, many commoners and slaves struggled to adapt to the intensive training, using the two days to rest and recover their strength.

After gradually getting used to it, some commoners and slaves did not relax their training even during rest days in order to compete for squad leader or even platoon leader positions. They refused to let themselves slack off in the slightest.

Mike Andrew was one of them.

He had not been home for more than half a month. Taking advantage of his day off today, he submitted a request and was quickly approved.

When passing a butcher's shop in the city, Mike Andrew spent eight copper coins to buy some pork to bring home.

Mike Andrew's neighbors were also slaves who had come from Komoy Fort. Their son was also in the recruit training camp, but he had not returned today.

When their neighbor, Uncle Mock, saw him, he greeted him. "Mike, your parents are working at the salt-drying yard today. They won't be home until before sunset."

Mock worked on the refined salt production line and received one day off every six days.

Today was his day off.

Mike Andrew's parents, meanwhile, would not have their day off until tomorrow.

Mike Andrew nodded. "Thank you, Uncle Mock."

"No need to thank me. Hurry inside. Old Andrew will definitely be very happy to see you back." Mock laughed loudly.

After chatting a little longer, Mike Andrew finally entered his home.

The place they lived in now had long since changed tremendously from when they had first arrived in Visas.

Old Andrew was skilled at carpentry.

At first, there had only been a crude bed in the house, without even a table.

Now it was cozy and well furnished, filled with necessary furniture and decorations. A few wildflowers adorned the window, their petals trembling slightly in the gentle breeze, while a faint fragrance drifted through the air.

Mike Andrew was in an especially good mood. Seeing this, he could not sit still and began tidying up the house.

Before sunset, Old Andrew's hearty voice rang out from outside the door.

After the initial excitement.

Mike Andrew chatted with his father while his mother went to prepare dinner.

Old Andrew said, "I heard from Myle that you've added quite a few new training exercises. You're exhausted every day, and you can eat two huge pieces of black bread in the cafeteria. They even provide some meat there, is that right?"

Myle was Uncle Mock's son.

Mike Andrew gave a sound of agreement. "There's plenty of food in the cafeteria, and we can eat our fill every day. The training exercises have indeed been gradually increasing, and some knights have joined as well."

That was precisely why he felt such urgency. He was afraid he would not even meet the standard to become a squad leader.

Old Andrew asked curiously, "You said before that the training exercises were all set by the lord. What did they add this time?"

Mike Andrew said, "A five-thousand-foot run around the mountain, two-hundred-foot sprint drills, sit-ups, push-ups... wrestling, grappling, greatsword practice, spear thrusts, crawling, climbing... I kept up with all of them."

Mike Andrew listed many exercises. Old Andrew listened with a complicated expression, heartache and relief mingling with overwhelming pride in his son.

Since entering the soldier training camp.

He had watched his son undergo visible changes every time he returned home. He had grown taller and stronger, walked with his back straight, and somehow looked far more spirited.

Not only had his son changed; their changes were equally obvious.

They were still slaves, still working for an estate owner.

But in Visas, they had set working hours, one day of rest every six days, and earned far more copper coins than before. Such a life had once been more wonderful than anything they could have dreamed of.

"Oh, thank the lord. Thank him for his mercy!" Old Andrew could not help saying.

Now, every day, he prayed to the Creator God, hoping that the lord would remain healthy and grow up safely.

"Yes, thank the lord!" Mike Andrew said devoutly.

The three months of training came to an end.

Xia Zuoyi came once more to inspect the results.

The reserve soldiers, all dressed in black, stood in neat ranks behind Fernandi Edward. The regular soldiers, all dressed in white, stood in neat ranks behind Walker William.

Xia Zuoyi waved his little hand, and the greeting rang out in perfect unison, echoing through the mountains and forest.

It was Gibran's first time coming along, and his eyes widened involuntarily.

Toby was even more stunned, his mouth hanging open in amazement for a long while.

Sitting on the raised platform, Xia Zuoyi looked down and said, "You may begin."

The reserve soldiers performed first, in groups of twelve. Fernandi Edward recorded the first-place winner of each exercise. The regular soldiers followed, with Walker William likewise recording each first-place winner.

By the time the exercises finally ended, the sun was already close to setting.

Judith brought the parchment bearing the recorded names to Xia Zuoyi.

Xia Zuoyi took the parchment, rose from his chair, and walked to the edge of the platform. "I am very satisfied with the results of your exercises this time. I believe you can all feel just how much you have improved..."

"In my hand is the list of the first-place winners from each exercise. Each of them will receive a reward of twenty copper coins..."

Before he could finish speaking, the crowd below immediately erupted in excitement.

Walker William struck a bronze gong, telling them to quiet down.

Xia Zuoyi continued, "Fernandi and Walker each have another list in their hands."

"It records how each of you performed in your daily training and your results over the month... Your officers will use these two lists to assign you into squads. Those with the most outstanding performance will become the squad leaders."

"As for platoon leaders and company commanders, unfortunately, only a very small number of knights have met the standard."

Yet the commoners and slaves did not feel disappointed. Instead, their competitive spirits were stirred.

Especially those who had only narrowly failed to meet the standard for squad leader. Those who had placed second in the exercises were even more frustrated.

Xia Zuoyi said, "The positions of squad leader and company commander are not fixed forever."

"Each quarter's assessment will be divided into regular performance and exercise results. If a squad leader fails to qualify, or if your results surpass the squad leader's, then you can become a squad leader or even a company commander."

"As long as you are willing to work hard, anything is possible."

The soldiers below listened with surging excitement.

Fernandi and Walker spent some time dividing them into squads and announcing who would serve as each squad leader.

Mike Andrew's name was among them. He had become the squad leader of the first squad.

Finally, Fernandi Edward stepped forward and shouted, "I hope you do not forget who gave you the honor you have today. It is because you live in Visas, because you have a wise and tolerant lord!"

"Swear your oath! You shall remain forever loyal to Lord Desinia!"

The soldiers on both sides straightened their bodies, placed their right fists over their left chests, and solemnly swore their oath.

—"I shall be loyal to Lord Desinia for my entire life! Until death, I shall defend Desinia's honor and glory!"