Chapter 1803 - 1789

The Old Gang Leader stood there with his hands on his hips, stretching his muscles. He chuckled and said, "But it’s time to get up. The fishermen set out early to sea, we should depart now."

He moved a little, then went back to wash up. After finishing, he bid farewell to Chu Ge, "I’ll leave things to you here."

"Don’t worry."

Thankfully, last night’s ruckus put things in order. Now they dare not act recklessly, plus there is no war at the moment and not many injured, so things are generally calm during the day.

The main concern is if the Prince suddenly calls for people, and if he calls and they don’t show up, that would be a problem.

After seeing off the Old Gang Leader, Chu Ge went to exercise on the beach, using methods different from those of the soldiers.

The boxing technique he practiced was his own creation. His movements were agile and energized, his punches powerful. After completing a set, he felt warm all over, covered in sweat.

Finishing his boxing practice, Chu Ge saw that quite a few people were looking his way.

He didn’t know what they were looking at, nor did he bother to find out.

Suddenly, a man, seemingly a leader, walked over to him, "You must be Mr. Chu?"

Chu Ge nodded slightly. Sure enough, after scolding them last night, their attitudes had changed.

The man’s smile was honest, unlike the crafty looks of the old soldier he saw yesterday. He looked at Chu Ge with a cheerful grin, "Mr. Chu, I’m also a Beggar Sect Disciple. I’d like to meet our Old Gang Leader. Could you perhaps introduce me?"

So, he was from the Beggar Sect.

"The Old Gang Leader has business today and can’t make it. Maybe another day?" Chu Ge replied honestly.

"Huh, I don’t mind waiting as long as it takes. I just heard that our Old Gang Leader and Miss Feng Luo came to the camp. I’m quite excited. Thanks to the Old Gang Leader and Miss Feng Luo for handling yesterday’s situation; otherwise, life for us Beggar Sect Disciples here would have been tougher."

As he spoke, a layer of worry appeared on his face.

"What’s your name?" Chu Ge asked.

"My name is Liu Erniu. I used to be at the Beggar Sect’s Suzhou branch. Later, a few of us who got along well decided we wanted to join the army, so we came. We didn’t expect..."

The more he spoke, the more helpless he looked.

"We’ve all been through that stage. Some couldn’t endure the humiliation and wanted to file a complaint, but the officials protect each other. Nobody would stand up for us, and in the end, some couldn’t bear it and committed suicide."

Chu Ge was astonished as he looked at him. He hadn’t heard about this from anyone else yesterday, "After they committed suicide? Were they ignored then?"

"A nameless soldier who commits suicide isn’t attended to. Even the bodies are taken to the chaotic burial mound."

Chu Ge was silent for a moment, then said to him, "Liu Erniu, it’s fine to say these things to me, but you mustn’t tell the Old Gang Leader and Miss Feng Luo, understand?"

Liu Erniu was puzzled, "Why not? The Old Gang Leader and Miss Feng Luo finally came to the camp. They are our saviors. If we don’t tell them, how will they know what we’re suffering here?"

"Have you considered that after the Old Gang Leader and Miss Feng Luo came to the camp, their status and position are the same as yours? Here, no one distinguishes if you’re the Old Gang Leader. All identities are highly esteemed."

"..." Liu Erniu fell silent.

"Besides, to be blunt, even if the Old Gang Leader is on good terms with the Emperor or if Feng Luo is favored by the Emperor, do you think they can compare with Prince He Shuo, who has a blood relationship with the Emperor?"

Liu Erniu hung his head lower, "Then what should we do? We genuinely want to serve the court, but those people are too bullying."

"I know you’ve suffered a lot in the camp. If you told the Old Gang Leader and Feng Luo about these things, they would surely stand up for you. But have you thought about what might happen if they offend the Prince?"

Liu Erniu lifted his gaze suddenly, tightly pressing his lips as he looked at Chu Ge, "I hadn’t thought of that."

He couldn’t figure out what the consequences might be, but he knew they wouldn’t be good.

"Actually, to be honest, the reason Feng Luo and the others came to the camp was because they heard outside about your bullying here and tried their best to get in. Now that they’re here, they won’t ignore your grievances, but there has to be a way to manage it."

Chu Ge spoke slowly.

Liu Erniu was a straightforward man, unable to think around corners, and Chu Ge’s words made him ponder for a long time. Eventually, he reached one conclusion, which was not to speak of it.

"But Mr. Chu, if I don’t speak of it now, when would it be appropriate to do so?" Liu Erniu asked puzzledly.

"When the time is right, it will naturally be said."

Chu Ge’s words were profound, and Liu Erniu couldn’t understand them.

They had been chatting for quite a while, and on the other side, some couldn’t stand it. It was because of them, plenty of trouble was caused by the Beggar Sect yesterday, resulting in hardships for them now.

A tall and stout man slowly walked out from the ranks, "I say Liu Erniu, why are you babbling on with this person like he’s your own father?"

Upon hearing the voice, Liu Erniu instinctively shivered and quickly turned around, only to see that the man was already standing not far behind him, just three or four meters away.

Chu Ge noticed that Liu Erniu seemed very afraid of this person, but he found it strange. If he wasn’t mistaken, Liu Erniu was standing at the very front of the lineup just now, a position that should hold military rank, yet now he seemed afraid of this man?

"Liu Erniu, who is this person?" Chu Ge asked.

"He... He’s Zhang Erpang. He often bullied us Beggar Sect Disciples before." Liu Erniu’s voice quivered.

"Did he bully you before?" Though phrased as a question, Chu Ge’s tone was affirmative.

Liu Erniu nodded, "As long as you’re from the Beggar Sect, he bullies."

"But from what I saw earlier, your military rank seemed to be higher than his. Why are you so afraid of him?"

"Haha, what’s the use of a higher military rank?" Zhang Erpang snorted, very disdainfully, "Even if the rank is higher, it doesn’t change the fact that he’s a Beggar Sect Disciple. As long as you’re from the Beggar Sect, no matter how high your rank, you’re the lowest class!"

With Zhang Erpang’s voice falling, the people who heard them from a distance laughed loudly.

Chu Ge’s face slightly darkened, "It seems that the lesson taught by the Prince last night wasn’t deep enough, didn’t hit close enough to you, so it didn’t leave a mark?"

His voice was loud, ensuring that those in the distance heard clearly.

Zhang Erpang’s face showed panic for a moment, and he swallowed, "Liu Erniu! Stop slacking off! Hurry up and get back to training!"

He saw that Chu Ge was not someone to be trifled with and dared not provoke him, only directing his anger at Liu Erniu as he found an excuse to slip away.