Chapter 5 Wang Jian's Campaign Against Chu (Bug Fix) Keep up the good work!

The Qin Dynasty military camp during the campaign against Chu.

Hei Fu vanished in broad daylight, witnessed by many. Amidst the panic, the news naturally reached the ears of the highest-ranking general, Wang Jian.

Wang Jian's campaign against Chu employed a tactic of striking when the enemy was exhausted. The Chu people had become complacent in recent days, so Wang Jian launched his attack. These past few days of relentless pursuit of the Chu forces were at a crucial juncture in the war. As the general commanding 600,000 men, Wang Jian bore immense pressure. Then, at this critical moment, his soldiers reported that something strange had occurred.

"What's so strange? Did a meteorite fall from the sky and wipe out the Chu people?" A general in battle needs to maintain peak concentration, and under pressure, tempers naturally flare. If someone comes along at this time, isn't it just asking for trouble?

The soldier who came to report hesitated and refused to speak, but after being reprimanded by Wang Jian, he couldn't care less. It was something that happened in broad daylight, and so many people had witnessed it.

"Sir, a soldier disappeared during the day... disappeared. Everyone says it's the work of a dead Chu man." After saying this, the soldier nervously swallowed, his pupils constricting with fear.

The people of Chu revered witchcraft and spirits. They believed that as long as there were omnipotent gods in the world, there were also malevolent ghosts. Where did these ghosts come from? The dead... On the battlefield, the dead were the least of their worries. A comrade who had spoken in the morning might die before the last rays of the setting sun, and each of them had the blood of the people of Chu on their hands.

The soldier, overcome by fear, lost some of his strength. Although he was kneeling, it looked as if he was lying face down on the ground, and he hesitated to lift his head.

"Don't spread rumors! Anyone who spreads such rumors within the military camp will be punished according to military law." The war has begun, and the lives of 600,000 people rest on Wang Jian's shoulders. At this moment, not a single step can be deviated from the right path. Wang Jian frowned in deep thought. If such rumors were to spread further within the military camp, the soldiers' morale in going to battle would vanish. Imagine, even if the enemy is dead, they could return as vengeful ghosts; what soldier would then be willing to raise their sword?

"But...but everyone saw it," the soldier mustered his courage to retort to the general. He didn't want to be haunted by ghosts, nor did he want to kill anyone more.

It seems we have to investigate this matter thoroughly.

"Summon everyone who saw this. Does the missing soldier have any close relatives? If so, bring them here as well."

After witnessing his older brother's disappearance, Jing was completely distraught, hanging his head and refusing to answer any questions, keeping his mouth tightly shut. This continued until he was brought before Wang Jian.

Wang Jian stared at Jing, and the soldier beside him added, "This man's name is Jing; he is that man's younger brother."

Blackie's name wasn't hard to find in the army, but he dared not mention it. A living person could disappear in broad daylight, which meant that witchcraft might be everywhere. Having said that, he continued to lower his head. Hmm... this had nothing to do with him.

Jing Gang was brought in, and his and Hei Fu's battle records were also presented. Wang Jian looked through them, deep in thought. If it really was witchcraft, why would they target such an ordinary person? Hei Fu wasn't even a centurion.

"Do you know why your brother disappeared?" Wang Jian put down the bamboo slip in his hand and asked gently.

Startled, he knelt on the ground and shook his head repeatedly. Although he had witnessed the betrothal letter falling from the sky, he hadn't been in the mood to understand it clearly at the time and hadn't pressed for details, which was why he could only shake his head now that Wang Jian was asking.

However, Jing did know one thing, which was...

He looked up abruptly, revealing an ordinary face. His usually unremarkable face was now burning with passion. He had seized upon this glimmer of hope, and without thinking twice...

"General, my brother said he will come back. We'll know when he returns." Yes, Jing still remembered Hei Fu's words. Just wait for her brother to return.

As dusk fell, Wang Jian put down the bamboo slips in his hand. Wait? How long? Was it the work of a sorcerer? These were all unknowns. And what a general hates most is the unknown; the unknown is danger.

Hei Fu's disappearance was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples. Despite Wang Jian's strict order to keep the news under wraps, rumors still circulated throughout the army.

"Have you heard? Hei Fu was taken away by a ghost!"

"Have we angered Heaven? Will our campaign against Chu this time..."

Shh! Don't talk nonsense, or the general might hear you!

Wang Jian stood outside the tent, listening to the soldiers' whispers, his face grim. He knew that morale was beginning to waver. If this matter wasn't resolved quickly, the morale of the 600,000-strong army would plummet.

Suddenly a commotion arose outside the tent.

Just then, a bodyguard rushed over and whispered, "General, Heifu... Heifu is back!"

Wang Jian's fingernails dug deeply into the carvings on the sword hilt. His pupils reflected a figure in the northwest corner—Hei Fu was looking down, holding something.

The object was as white as snow, its whiteness even illuminating the dim night. It was a gift from Magistrate Jiang before he left duty, described as a product introduction manual for some kind of system store. It was for the convenience of those without access to the store, and also to prevent Hei Fu from being mistaken for a witch.

"Form a formation!"

The shouts of the guards startled the dazed soldiers. A cage of spears and halberds surrounded Hei Fu, and Wang Jian couldn't help but squint.

The sound of Heifu kneeling on the ground startled the fireflies among the blades of grass. He held the manual high above his head.

Wang Jian's sword tip lifted the pristine white paper of the manual, the colorful printing process bringing each item to life before everyone's eyes.

Seasonings, toys, food, medicine... all of these were completely out of place in the Qin Dynasty. Snow-white refined salt, amoxicillin, bicycles, toy guns, and walkie-talkies. Each item had its effects listed on the back, unlike what an ordinary soldier like Hei Fu would possess.

Looking up again, the strong, dark-skinned man in front of him was nothing special; he looked exactly like any other soldier from the Qin Dynasty.

Wang Jian's sword tip peeked at the title page of the manual, the firelight casting flickering shadows on the paper. Hei Fu crawled half a step on his knees, his calloused fingers tracing a page from the "Armaments" section: "General, please look at this."

On the paper was a finely crafted crossbow bolt, the torchlight illuminating the paper.

Dazzled and mesmerized.

Wang Jian's pupils contracted slightly—as the commander-in-chief in charge of an army of 600,000, he knew better than anyone how precise this thing was and how important it was to the battlefield.

"What is the rate of fire of this crossbow?" The old general's Adam's apple bobbed.

“Several arrows are fired every breath.” Hei Fu deliberately lowered his voice: “The arrows pierce through here, propelled by gunpowder…” He suddenly stopped, Wang Jian’s sword sheath pressing against his knuckles.

"This humble general is serving in Songyang County today..." Hei Fu's voice sounded like it was rolling through gravel.

"No matter what, you must remember that you are a soldier of Great Qin!" The volume was not loud, but the voice was like thunder.

Hei Fu lowered his head, as if squeezing the words from deep in his throat, "Songyang County does not belong to the Great Qin, nor to the State of Chu. It seems to be several hundred years later, or perhaps in another world."

If it's not the work of witches or ghosts, then what is it?

An immortal?!

Why would the immortal choose Hei Fu?

Wang Jian couldn't understand it, so he asked.

The honest-looking Hei Fu scratched his head shyly and whispered, "Magistrate Jiang said... said I would be very famous in later generations."

"You?" Wang Jian didn't know whether he believed it or not. His mind was racing, but he still had a smile on his face. He even patted Hei Fu on the shoulder like an elder.

"Hei Fu, you must listen to the immortal's words. The future of our Great Qin people depends on you."

Hei Fu's return calmed the rumors in the military camp somewhat, but Wang Jian's doubts did not disappear.

Therefore, he decided to interrogate Hafee himself to find out the truth.

"Hei Fu, tell me in detail, what exactly is Songyang County? And who is Magistrate Jiang?" Wang Jian sat in the tent, his eyes blazing, his tone carrying an unquestionable authority.

Hei Fu knelt on the ground and respectfully replied, "General, Songyang County is a strange place, belonging neither to the Qin Dynasty nor the Chu Kingdom. Magistrate Jiang is the person in charge there, and he... he seems to be an immortal."

"An immortal?" Wang Jian frowned, half believing and half doubting. Although he did not believe in ghosts and gods, Hei Fu's return and that strange manual forced him to reconsider.

“Exactly.” Hei Fu nodded. “Magistrate Jiang has many rare items, such as the crossbows described in this manual, which have an extremely fast firing rate and amazing power. There is also the Treatise on Febrile Diseases, which can cure typhoid fever. He also said that if we can complete his task, we can obtain these rare items.”

No one is kind to others for no reason unless they want something in return. Wang Jian pondered for a moment and asked, "What is his mission?"

Hei Fu replied, "Magistrate Jiang hopes that we can help the people of Songyang County live a prosperous life. He said that if we can do it, he will bestow these wonders upon us."

A glint of light flashed in Wang Jian's eyes. If what Hei Fu said was true, then these strange objects would undoubtedly be a huge help to the Qin army.

“Very well, Hei Fu, I will trust you on this matter for now,” Wang Jian said in a deep voice. “But you must remember that you are still a soldier of the Great Qin. I will petition His Majesty for permission to grant you one hundred yi of gold, fifty qing of land and houses, ten servants, and the title of Gongshi, in recognition of your loyalty and bravery.”

Hei Fu quickly kowtowed: "This humble general will certainly not fail the general's trust."

A note from the author:

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