Invincible by Picking Attributes

Chapter 4: Chapter 4: I Have No Aspiration for Promotion; Survival Matters Most



The Qin military merit system is extremely strict.

In addition to soldiers monitoring each other, there are specialized officials responsible for overseeing military merits. If anyone dares to falsely claim or seize another's achievements, they are immediately reported to the Qin King for harsh punishment.

In the early days of the merit system, some powerful figures might have risked violating it, but now no one dares to do so.

"Are you saying that a soldier from your logistics unit killed Bao Qiu?"

Standing nearby, Wang Ben appeared astonished.

"Reporting to General Wang, it is true," the logistics officer replied promptly.

"Bao Qiu had shed his armor and was playing dead in a pile of corpses. When one of our logistics soldiers approached, Bao Qiu suddenly attacked and killed two of our men. Fortunately, that soldier managed to kill him."

"Bao Qiu, dying at the hands of a Qin logistics soldier... what a disgraceful end," Wang Ben remarked, looking at Bao Qiu's wide-open, unyielding eyes.

Logistics soldiers were not combatants. Their duties were to clean battlefields and tend to the wounded. For a Han general to fall to a logistics soldier was indeed humiliating.

Wang Jian glanced at Bao Qiu's corpse but showed little interest.

"Take him away and bury him with the other Han soldiers. As for the logistics soldier who killed Bao Qiu, follow the merit system for promotion: raise his rank by three levels and his nobility by one," Wang Jian ordered before turning back to his tent.

To him, as the Supreme Commander, this was a minor event a twist of fate for Bao Qiu and good fortune for the soldier.

"Understood!"

The logistics officer accepted the order and withdrew immediately.

"Have the battle losses been tallied?" Wang Jian asked.

"The reports have been compiled and will be sent to Xianyang today," Wang Ben replied.

"Include a note about Bao Qiu being killed by one of our logistics soldiers. It's an interesting anecdote," Wang Jian added with a faint smile.

Wang Ben nodded. "Understood."

"By the way, where's Yan'er?" Wang Jian suddenly inquired.

Wang Ben hesitated, unsure how to answer.

"Hmm?" Wang Jian frowned, his voice turning stern. "Speak!"

"She went to Yangcheng with General Li Teng," Wang Ben finally admitted.

"Why didn't you stop her?" Wang Jian growled.

"Father, you know her temperament. How could I possibly stop her? Besides, you shouldn't have agreed to let her join the campaign in the first place," Wang Ben countered.

Hearing this, Wang Jian sighed in exasperation, his stern demeanor softening.

"Do you think I wanted to bring her along? Ever since she heard about the campaign, she's been pestering me non-stop," Wang Jian grumbled.

"Don't worry, Father. She has your 500 elite guards protecting her, and General Li Teng is also looking after her. She'll be fine," Wang Ben reassured him.

"Fine, let her have her fun. But once we return, I'm marrying her off! Let her husband deal with her," Wang Jian said, clearly annoyed.

Wang Ben chuckled. "Do you have the heart to marry her off? Besides, with her temperament, everyone in Xianyang knows about it. Who could win her approval?"

Late at night.

The bodies on the battlefield had all been cleared, and thousands of logistics soldiers had returned to camp for rest.

Outside the tents, under the pitch-black sky, a small fire crackled. Beside it sat Wei Quan and Zhao Feng, roasting a piece of meat.

"Zhao, my boy," Wei Quan broke the silence.

"What is it?" Zhao Feng replied casually.

"Are you not anxious at all?" Wei Quan asked.

"Anxious about what?" Zhao Feng seemed puzzled.

"Today, you killed Bao Qiu and earned great merit. That could mean a promotion by three ranks and a noble title! How are you so calm?" Wei Quan asked in disbelief.

"I don't have much interest in promotion," Zhao Feng answered honestly.

Hearing this, Wei Quan's face showed genuine surprise, even in the dim firelight.

"Do you realize that promotions mean higher stipends? A noble title means land!" Wei Quan pressed.

"I know," Zhao Feng replied with a grin. "But what's the point of a promotion? I'm only serving for two years before I return home. My mother and younger sister are waiting for me to take care of them. I can't risk dying on the battlefield."

"You're something else," Wei Quan said, both admiring and amused.

"This isn't anything special; I just value my life more than anything else. No rank or title is worth more than staying alive," Zhao Feng said plainly.

"How long have you been in the military, Wei Quan?" Zhao Feng asked, changing the subject.

In the army, Zhao Feng maintained a friendly demeanor with everyone, but the only person he truly bonded with was Wei Quan.

"I was conscripted at 15, so it's been about eight years now," Wei Quan replied.

"If possible, I'd stay in the military forever. The stipend is enough to support my family, and life outside is even harder. If it weren't for my military pay, my family would have starved long ago," Wei Quan said with a hint of sadness.

Zhao Feng didn't respond immediately.

In this era, food was scarce. Starvation and freezing to death were common, especially in winter.

At home, Zhao Feng's family had a small plot of land, enough for their needs. Thanks to his strong physique and skills from his previous life, he could also hunt efficiently, using advanced traps to bring in a decent haul. His family's life was modest but secure.

"Zhao, my boy," Wei Quan spoke again.

"What is it, Wei Quan?" Zhao Feng replied.

"Don't call me 'Wei Quan.' I'm nearly ten years older than you. Call me 'Brother Wei,'" Wei Quan said with a smile.

"Brother Wei," Zhao Feng called out immediately with a laugh.

"Ah, that's better," Wei Quan replied, pleased.

Then, leaning closer to Zhao Feng, he continued, "Since you've called me 'Brother,' and because you saved my life today, I'll teach you something useful. Do you want to hear it?"

"Of course, Brother Wei. I'm listening," Zhao Feng said earnestly.

"That strike you made today I saw it."

"A sword was thrown from ten paces away, hitting Bao Qiu squarely and killing him. Your skills are impressive, even better than some of the real combat soldiers."

"In the training camp, you must have held back, or you'd have been assigned to the frontlines," Wei Quan said knowingly.

Zhao Feng laughed but didn't confirm or deny it.

Back in the training camp, Zhao Feng had indeed concealed his abilities. Showing too much talent would have landed him in the main combat units. To avoid the high risk of death, he deliberately underperformed and ended up in the logistics unit.

"Zhao, as someone who's been oppressed by those in power, let me give you some advice…"

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