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After leaving the armory, the steward led the three towards the southeast corner of the camp.

The oppressive, chilling atmosphere in the air was gradually replaced by a faint scent of herbs. A relatively quiet area appeared before them, with a small herb garden enclosed by a bamboo fence, planted with common hemostatic and bruise-reducing herbs.

Several rows of spacious and bright brick houses stand here, with eye-catching white flags hanging at the entrances, bearing a huge red cross.

Contrary to the imagined scene of wounded soldiers wailing and the stench of blood, this place, though filled with the smell of medicine, was unusually clean and quiet. Those entering and leaving all moved slowly, and most of them appeared to be doctors and assistants dressed in clean white robes.

The steward whispered, "Generals, please follow me and try not to make any noise."

The group quietly entered one of the largest wards. The room was brightly lit and well-ventilated, with dozens of beds neatly arranged and sheets that were spotless white. Many wounded soldiers lay on the beds, some asleep, some awake, but few groaned or cried out. Several medical officers and nurses in white smocks moved about quietly, changing dressings, feeding water, and recording patients' conditions.

Xu Shiji immediately noticed that the bandage on the broken leg of one soldier was clean and neat, and the splint was very well fixed. Another soldier with chest and abdominal injuries was breathing steadily, clearly having received good pain relief and treatment.

"this…"

Wang Bodang was stunned.

Having commanded troops for many years, he was accustomed to the hellish scenes in wounded soldiers' camps—a lack of medical care, widespread suffering, and survival largely a matter of luck. He had never seen such…such “decent” and professional battlefield wound care.
An elderly man who appeared to be the head of the medical officers noticed them and walked over. The steward stepped forward and explained their purpose in a low voice.

The old medic stroked his beard and sighed, "These are all rules established by the Alliance Leader. The Alliance Leader once said, 'Soldiers bleed and risk their lives; how can we let them be disheartened by their bedside?' Therefore, the Alliance attaches great importance to battlefield medical care. There is a 'Military Medical Department,' which recruits famous doctors and apprentices from all over the country, and even... even recruits many midwives and Taoist priests who know how to treat external injuries, and trains them. Every team of more than one hundred men must be equipped with at least one trained first aider, carrying hemostatic powder, bandages, and other supplies. The seriously wounded are sent to such medical camps as soon as possible."

He pointed to the nursing staff: "These 'nurses' are also named by the leader of the alliance. They are mostly recruited strong women or skillful young men who are trained to specialize in nursing. In addition to traditional herbal medicines, the leader of the alliance also provided several extremely effective anti-inflammatory and tissue-regenerating powder prescriptions, which are uniformly purchased, prepared and distributed within the alliance."

The old medic's eyes gleamed: "Since this method was implemented, the survival rate of our wounded soldiers has increased several times over compared to the past! Soldiers all know that being wounded can save their lives, so they are braver in battle and rarely flinch!"

Xu Shiji, Wang Bodang, and Cheng Yaojin were deeply moved and remained silent for a long time.

They knew all too well what this meant! It wasn't just mercy; it was real fighting power! How terrifying would the fighting will and resilience of an army that wasn't afraid of being wounded and knew that it could be healed if it was wounded!
Leaving the medical station and walking along the clean roads of the camp, Cheng Yaojin finally couldn't help but rub his stomach and say, "After seeing all this, I, Old Cheng, have truly broadened my horizons... It's just that my stomach is rumbling a bit. I wonder how the food is in this alliance?"

Upon hearing this, the steward smiled and said, "General Cheng is right. It's almost noon, which is the time for the various camps to eat. If the three generals would like to take a look, they can come with me to the 'C' cooking area."

As he spoke, he led them to another area.

Even before approaching, the aroma of food wafted through the air. In an open space, dozens of enormous military cooking stoves stood neatly arranged, steaming hot. Hundreds of cooks, dressed in matching aprons, busily and orderly distributed the food. Even more astonishing was that the soldiers coming to collect their meals lined up in orderly queues, without cutting in or making a sound!

Each soldier carried a large, double-layered metal mess kit and a soup bowl. The steward explained, "These are also issued within the alliance; each person receives one and is responsible for its own safekeeping."

They went closer to take a look and saw that the food was very generous: the brown rice was piled high, a large spoonful of stew mixed with minced meat and pork cracklings, and even a small piece of salted fish or a few slices of cured meat! The soup was a bone broth with oil and vegetable leaves floating on top.

"Is it like this every day?"

Wang Bodang was filled with doubt and apprehension. Even at the height of Wagang's power, it was impossible for ordinary soldiers to see meat every day.

The steward said sternly, “The Alliance Leader has strictly ordered that the soldiers' training is arduous and their physical strength is greatly depleted, so their food must not be skimped on. They must have meat, fish, or eggs every day, at least one of each. Every five days, they must have a full meal of meat. This is an ironclad rule. If any official in charge of supplies or cooks dares to embezzle or misappropriate any of it, they will be executed without mercy!”

He looked at the soldiers squatting to the side, eating their meals with relish, and said in a low voice, "The leader of the alliance once said, 'The emperor does not starve his soldiers.' Soldiers who are well-fed and warmly clothed, with sharp weapons in their hands and strong armor on their bodies, who are treated when wounded and comforted when they die in battle, will be willing to fight to the death and will be invincible in battle."

"Death in battle...is there any compensation?"

Xu Shiji keenly grasped this word.

"Exactly."

The steward's expression turned solemn: "There is also a 'Relief Department' within the alliance. For those who die in battle, their families will receive three years' worth of full pay as compensation. Their children will be supported by the 'Hall of Honor and Martyrs' established within the alliance until adulthood. If they are qualified, they can be given priority to enter the alliance's academy or workshop as apprentices. The wounded will receive compensation according to their level of disability and will be assigned to jobs within their capabilities to ensure their survival."

The sunlight shone on the satisfied faces of the young soldiers, on the neat barracks, the well-equipped soldiers and armor, and the efficient medical camp. It also shone on the hearts of the three generals from Wagang, stirring up a storm of emotions.

They finally understood why the Heavenly Alliance's army possessed such terrifying discipline and combat power.

This is not only because of extraordinary figures like Song Que and Wuming.

Furthermore, from the most basic aspects of eating, clothing, pay, injury, and even death, there is an extremely comprehensive, fair, and rigorous system in place to protect them! This system has given these soldiers unprecedented dignity and a sense of security, and in return, it has earned them absolute loyalty and formidable fighting power!

This is no longer a group of warlords fighting for territory, but a machine with a clear ideology, a tight organization, and lofty goals... truly a machine for conquering the world!

Cheng Yaojin looked at his empty hands, smacked his lips, and suddenly muttered, "Damn it... seeing this makes me, Old Cheng, want to be a lowly soldier here..."

Xu Shiji and Wang Bodang exchanged a glance, both seeing the incredibly complex emotions in each other's eyes.

There was shock, admiration, relief, and also a touch of indescribable... awe.

...............

Leaving the somber military camp and entering Xiangyang city, the three felt as if they had suddenly fallen from a world of iron and blood into a bustling and vibrant human world. Sunlight streamed onto the cobblestone streets, warm and inviting, a stark contrast to the cold, rigid order of the military camp. The first thing they noticed was the throngs of people. The streets were wide enough to accommodate several carriages side-by-side, but now they felt crowded. Peddlers carrying loads, farmers pushing wheelbarrows, women with vegetable baskets, elderly people leading children, and merchants and travelers speaking in various accents… the flow of people was endless, a lively and bustling scene.

However, this crowding was not chaotic. Carriages and pedestrians were largely separated, and although there were noisy shouts, haggling, and children's playful noises, there were few arguments or blockages. Occasionally, "market officials" dressed in black robes and red sleeves would move about, maintaining order and resolving minor disputes with considerable efficiency. Shops lined both sides of the street, their signs fluttering in the breeze, and almost every household's doorway was spotless, with no sewage flowing or garbage piling up.

"Damn it, this Xiangyang city... it's not quite what I, Old Cheng, expected?"

Cheng Yaojin scratched his head, his large, bell-like eyes looking around curiously: "There are so many people, and they all look...in good health?"

Most of the passersby had rosy complexions, and although their clothes were not necessarily fancy, they were mostly clean and had few patches. Their eyes showed a focus on making a living, rather than the bewilderment and numbness commonly seen in chaotic times.

Xu Shiji slowly scanned the shops lining both sides of the street and nodded slightly: "Indeed... all industries are thriving and people's livelihoods are stable. It seems that Prefect Dong Jingzhen is indeed as the Alliance Leader said, a capable administrator."

Wang Bodang paid more attention to the expressions of the people and whispered, "Look, they don't seem to be very afraid of the soldiers."

Even when patrolling Allied soldiers passed by, the civilians simply made way naturally, without any panic or attempt to avoid them. Some vendors even greeted the soldiers they knew with smiles. This was a stark contrast to the "soldiers passing by like combs" scene they were used to seeing.

The three strolled leisurely through the crowds, soaking in the renewed vitality of the ancient city. After walking for about fifteen minutes, Cheng Yaojin suddenly sniffed and exclaimed, "Huh? What a wonderful smell! It smells like... ink and paper?"

Following the scent, the crowd looked and saw a rather spacious storefront on the street corner ahead. The storefront was bustling with activity, with most of the people coming and going being scholars in long gowns, as well as many people dressed in short clothes who looked like craftsmen's apprentices, and even some simply dressed women with expectant expressions. Above the storefront hung a black plaque with gold lettering—"Xiangyang Official Bookstore".

"A government-run bookstore?"

Xu Shiji was slightly taken aback: "There are so many people?"

The steward smiled and said, "Generals, this is one of the new policies of the alliance. Why don't you come in and take a look?"

Stepping into the bookstore, the first thing you notice is the even richer aroma of ink and paper. The store is extremely spacious and bright, with dozens of tall bookshelves neatly arranged, filled with books categorized into different subjects. The sheer variety of books—history, philosophy, literature, agriculture, sericulture, industry, technology, medicine, mathematics—is astonishing. Even more surprising is the unusual quietness of the store, despite its large number of customers; only the rustling of pages and soft whispers can be heard.

Many young people, who looked like students from impoverished families, stood eagerly in front of the bookshelves, flipping through the pages with excitement and joy on their faces. Some even sat on the floor, engrossed in copying.

Wang Bodang walked to a counter and saw the prices clearly marked: 30 coins for the Thousand Character Classic, 120 coins for the Analects, 120 coins for the Agricultural Treatise… He did a quick calculation and immediately gasped: “These…these prices are probably only one-tenth or even one-twentieth of the prices of similar books in Luoyang and Chang’an?!”

Xu Shiji also picked up a book, ran his fingers over the pages, and exclaimed in surprise, "This paper... is tough, smooth and delicate, definitely not of inferior quality! Such good paper, yet the price is so low?"

The steward said, "This is the decree of the Alliance Leader. It says, 'Knowledge should not be monopolized by powerful clans; enlightening the people is the foundation of a prosperous nation.' The Alliance has established a 'Craftsman's Bureau' to improve papermaking and printing techniques, greatly reducing costs, so that they can be sold to the people at low prices. The same applies to writing brushes, ink, and paper."

Just then, they saw an old scholar paying for a thick stack of rough-edged paper. The shopkeeper smiled and shook his head, pointing to a notice posted on the wall next to him. The old scholar quickly took out a document from his pocket. After the shopkeeper examined it, he sold the paper to him, but the quantity seemed to be limited.

Seeing the questioning looks from the three, the steward explained, "To prevent powerful clans from hoarding and reselling for profit, the alliance stipulates that all inexpensive books, writing materials, and paper must be purchased with a local household registration certificate, and there is a monthly purchase limit per person. For example, with this rough-edged paper, a person can purchase a maximum of sixty sheets per month, which is enough to copy several volumes of books. If a scholar needs more, he can apply to the school."

Upon hearing this, Xu Shiji sighed deeply, a complex light flashing in his eyes: "Restricting purchases... though seemingly inconvenient, is a truly effective method to benefit the common people and curb the powerful! Alliance Leader... your deep thinking and painstaking efforts are truly admirable!"

He could easily imagine the immense attraction this move would have for scholars across the land, and how it would shake the foundations of the powerful families' monopoly on knowledge.

Sunlight streamed through the tall windows of the bookstore, casting beams of light into the air thick with the scents of ink and paper, causing tiny dust motes to dance in the light. Xu Shiji stood before a shelf labeled "Military Strategy," seemingly oblivious to time. His fingers gently traced the spines of the books, some new, some old: *Sun Tzu's Art of War*, *Wu Zi*, *Sima Fa*, *Wei Liao Zi*, *Six Secret Teachings*, *Three Strategies*… These classics, familiar to him and even partially memorized, were now presented before him at such an inexpensive price, with such excellent paper and printing quality, yet they still left him with a sense of unreal shock.

He carefully pulled out a copy of "Li Weigong's Questions and Answers" and opened it. The paper was tough and smooth, the ink was even and clear, and the handwriting was extremely neat, far superior to ordinary handwritten copies. What shocked him even more was that the copyright page of the book clearly showed the words "Made under the supervision of craftsmen of the Heavenly Way Alliance" and "Printed by the Xiangyang Official Bookshop," and even a price was marked, which was outrageously low.

"this…"

Although Xu Shiji came from a wealthy family and later joined the Wagang Army, rising to a high position, he spent considerable effort and resources collecting these military books and strategies. Who would have thought that one day, such rare books would be displayed on bookshelves like ordinary goods, available for anyone to read and buy?

He immersed himself in it, reading for a long time, and discovered many rare and incomplete books that were hard to find before. There were even some booklets signed "Compiled by the Staff Department of the Heavenly Dao Alliance". The contents covered novel fields such as map surveying, military principles, and logistics coordination. Although they were only general introductions, the ideas were ingenious and broadened his horizons, making his heart beat faster.

Ultimately, he selected three books: the book "Li Weigong's Questions and Answers", a meticulously annotated edition of "Six Secret Teachings", and a thin booklet compiled by the Heavenly Alliance entitled "Basic Mathematics and Military Assets Accounting".

Xu Shiji took the book and walked to the counter.

The old shopkeeper behind the counter smiled kindly, took the books, and skillfully manipulated the abacus: "Thank you, 90 coins for 'Li Weigong', 120 coins for 'Six Secret Teachings', and 30 coins for 'Mathematics', for a total of 240 coins."

The price was indeed unbelievably low. Xu Shiji was about to take out his money when he suddenly remembered something and said somewhat awkwardly, "Shopkeeper, I... haven't yet registered my household in Xiangyang, so I don't know..."

Upon hearing this, the old shopkeeper smiled knowingly, but stopped what he was doing: "Oh, if they are unregistered, according to the alliance's regulations, these books at official prices... are indeed difficult to sell. This is mainly to prevent wealthy booksellers from other places from coming to buy them in bulk and resell them for profit, thus ruining the alliance leader's original intention of benefiting the poor scholars."

As he spoke, he pointed to the detailed regulations posted on the wall next to him.

Xu Shiji felt a pang of regret, yet he could understand the deeper meaning of the policy. Just as he was about to give up, the young steward accompanying him stepped forward and took out a small black token from his pocket. The token was engraved with a complex "Dao" character pattern and a small seal script "Jun" character.

"Shopkeeper, this is General Xu Shiji, who has just joined the alliance and is temporarily holding a military rank. This is his military identification token. According to regulations, military personnel can enjoy a 20% discount on books, or they can purchase books without their military identification card, only with their military badge, but there is a limit on the number of books they can buy; no more than ten books can be purchased per month. Please check." (End of Chapter)