Chapter 5: The Qin Laws are Targeted at Commoners!

"If you truly have the ability, if you truly possess the opportunity to climb higher, then climb. Climb higher at any cost."

"This world is a man-eater."

"If you lack power and status, even if you return to your hometown, you will eventually be bullied. Your fields may be seized by force or trickery, and your loved ones may even be forced into slavery."

"Put away your naivety. Put away your wishful thinking."

"You are still young, and you simply haven't encountered it yet. But if you do, and you have no power or status, it is a dead end."

Under the cover of night.

Wei Quan stared at Zhao Feng, his voice grave.

Feeling the weight of Wei Quan’s serious gaze, the smile on Zhao Feng’s face gradually faded. He could tell that Wei Quan was being sincere.

"Brother Wei."

"Did something happen to your family?" Zhao Feng couldn't help but ask.

"Me? Heh."

"I watched with my own eyes as my younger sister was abducted by the powerful elites in the county seat. She was raped and has now gone mad." A look of hatred surfaced in Wei Quan’s eyes.

"Brother, didn't you report it to the officials?"

"The crime of rape should be punished by castration," Zhao Feng said, shocked.

"Report it to the officials?"

A look of mockery appeared in Wei Quan’s eyes: "The whole world knows that the Qin laws are strict, but they don't know that the Qin laws are held in the hands of those powerful elites. If you are just a commoner, then naturally they are strict. But if you are from a powerful family, what do those strict Qin laws amount to?"

"Perhaps for the King, he governs the world with Qin law, but my home is in the Shu region, too far from the capital. The majesty of royal power cannot reach there."

"My father and I went to report it, but we were harmed by that noble young master. My father was beaten to death by him, and I was beaten until I was severely injured."

"And he remains at large, with no one able to hold him accountable."

"Officials?"

"Qin law?"

"Perhaps in Xianyang, and around Xianyang, the Qin law is the law of heaven, and no one dares to defy it. But the more remote the place, the more useless the Qin law becomes."

"Punishment does not extend to the high officials!"

"The Qin law is aimed at the commoners."

"Little Zhao, don't be too naive."

Hearing this, Zhao Feng fell silent.

He had been reborn into this world for over fifteen years.

But his understanding of this world was limited to his hometown and this military camp. In his hometown, the villagers looked out for one another, or rather, in this era, Zhao Feng had not encountered the things Wei Quan spoke of.

He thought of how the Qin laws were famously strict in this era, so much so that in later generations, they were referred to as the "Tyrannical Qin."

But now, Wei Quan’s words had shocked Zhao Feng.

"The Qin law is aimed at the commoners."

"Punishment does not extend to the high officials."

Zhao Feng muttered, as if he were truly coming into contact with the real world, the real era, for the first time.

"Alright."

"Little Zhao, don't overthink it. I just wanted to tell you not to see this world too simply, not to see it too favorably."

"I almost met the King of Hell today, so I'm going to sleep. You should get some sleep too."

"We leave for Yangcheng tomorrow." Wei Quan smiled slightly, patted Zhao Feng on the shoulder, and turned to walk toward his own tent.

Zhao Feng sat before the small campfire.

Wei Quan’s words echoed in his mind.

"Perhaps I have been too naive."

"But in two years, the attributes I've gathered are enough for me to protect my mother and sister. If anyone dares to bully them, I will wipe out their entire clan."

"As for now, being in the logistics army is fine."

"When it comes down to it."

"The Qin is indeed very powerful right now. The Qin State will unify the world, and the King of Qin will become the First Emperor of Qin, the first emperor in history. But who knows that such a powerful Qin will perish in the second generation?"

"I am just an ordinary person. I may have the cheat of rebirth, but my current strength is not enough to influence the world. I must become stronger to have a future."

"Rising in rank and title, getting ahead... thinking is one thing, but I should take it one step at a time. Staying alive is what matters most."

After being lost in thought for a long time, Zhao Feng thought to himself.

Wei Quan’s words had stirred something within him.

"Open the Tier 1 Treasure Chest," Zhao Feng commanded.

"Tier 1 Treasure Chest opened. Obtained Tier 1 Spirit Fruit: 'Heavenly Fragrant Cardamom'," the panel prompted.

"Heavenly Fragrant Cardamom. Consuming one can keep the heart pulse from failing and induce a deep sleep, but without the subsequent two, it's useless."

"What a waste of a chest."

Seeing the Heavenly Fragrant Cardamom, Zhao Feng felt a bit disappointed.

"Open attribute panel."

It appeared before his eyes.

Host: Zhao Feng Age: 15 Strength: 336 (The higher the strength, the more power can be unleashed.) Speed: 216 (The higher the number, the faster the speed.) Physique: 218 (The higher the physique, the faster the recovery from injury, and the more inexhaustible the stamina.) Spirit: 211 (The higher the spirit, the clearer the mind and thoughts. When it grows to a certain level, one can sense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.) Lifespan: 86 years and 88 days Personal Space: 2 cubic meters

Three days of carrying corpses on the battlefield, moving hundreds of bodies one after another, had allowed Zhao Feng to reach his current attributes.

"Going to Yangcheng tomorrow. History records it as a major city where the Han State resisted the Great Qin. The casualties there will definitely exceed tens of thousands, several times higher than this border battle."

"Attributes, oh attributes."

"I'm coming for you tomorrow."

Thinking about going to Yangcheng tomorrow, Zhao Feng couldn't help but feel expectant.

The next day!

Early in the morning.

The cooks were busy preparing breakfast.

The brothers of the logistics battalion naturally prepared to move out after eating.

In front of Wei Quan.

More than ninety logistics soldiers stood in formation. None of them wore armor, but they all carried swords at their waists.

In this era, the cost of armor was high, and not every soldier possessed it, even in the powerful Qin State. Logistics soldiers were issued weapons but not armor; only the elite soldiers with titles had armor.

"Where is Zhao Feng?"

At this moment, the military officer (Junhou) to whom Zhao Feng belonged walked over quickly, holding a bamboo scroll.

"Here, here, here!"

Wei Quan immediately turned and replied loudly.

All the soldiers in the small camp looked over. Seeing this scene, they naturally guessed that Zhao Feng was about to receive a reward.

The Junhou walked over quickly, followed by two soldiers carrying boxes.

"Order from the General-in-Chief."

"Zhao Feng, a soldier of the First Logistics Battalion, beheaded the Han General Bao Qiu and performed a great service."

"According to our Great Qin military merit system, he is promoted three ranks to become a Tunzhang (Squad Leader) and granted a title of the first rank."

"He is also awarded armor and a sword."

The Junhou stood before the nearly one hundred soldiers, holding the reward scroll, and announced it loudly.

"Zhao Feng."

"Why haven't you thanked him yet?"

Wei Quan immediately shouted at Zhao Feng.

Zhao Feng stepped out quickly, his expression very calm as he bowed: "Zhao Feng thanks you for the grace."

The Junhou walked slowly to Zhao Feng, took a sword from the soldiers behind him, then picked up the armor, and handed them to Zhao Feng along with the reward scroll.

Zhao Feng received them with both hands.

The Junhou smiled slightly: "Zhao Feng, you are very good. This time you have brought great honor to my logistics battalion in front of the General-in-Chief. A Han general, and the son of a Han General-in-Chief at that, died at the hands of a soldier from my logistics battalion. This is a big deal."

"This was just luck, sir," Zhao Feng replied.

"Luck, perhaps, but the deed is done."

"My name is Luo Chao. If you need anything in the future, you can come find me." The Junhou patted Zhao Feng on the shoulder, then turned to look at the logistics soldiers nearby.

"Zhao Feng has achieved the merit of beheading a general and has been promoted and granted a title. This is the military merit system of our Great Qin."

"No matter who you are, as long as you can kill the enemy and perform meritorious service, there will be rewards. I hope you all can perform meritorious service for the country just like Zhao Feng," the Junhou encouraged loudly.

...

(End of chapter)