From a slave to the Great Qian Martial Saint

"What did you say?!"

Xiao Feng stood up abruptly, his phoenix eyes wide open as he stared at Chen Shi.

Yun'er stood to the side, her face also filled with astonishment.

"I'm sorry, I didn't discuss this with you beforehand."

Chen Shi sat there, his face calm.

"are you serious?"

Xiao Fengxiao stared at Chen Shi, her brows furrowed.

"Is this something that can be discussed or not?"

"Chen Shi, why are you leaving?"

Yun'er opened her mouth, looking at Chen Shi with a puzzled expression.

In Yun'er's opinion, the chief steward of the Jing'an Marquis's mansion had already reached the limit of what they could achieve, in terms of both status and wealth.

Chen Shi was young when he took this position. As long as he sat there steadily, he would be worry-free for the rest of his life and enjoy wealth and honor.

Yun'er really didn't understand why Chen Shi would give up all of this.

"What exactly are you thinking?"

Even someone as shrewd as Xiao Fengxiao couldn't figure it out.

"I haven't thought about it much, I just don't want to be a servant anymore."

Chen Shi smiled and said something in a low voice.

Upon hearing this, both Xiao Fengxiao and Yun'er were taken aback.

Is it really that simple?

"Sigh!"

After a moment, Xiao Fengxiao sighed and sat back down.

A good man should have lofty aspirations; a great man should not remain subservient to others for long.

She wasn't unaware of these principles.

Looking at Chen Shi, his gaze was quite complicated for a moment.

She could understand Chen Shi's ambition, but in her opinion, Chen Shi was too naive.

Those living in the Marquis's mansion could never truly understand the hardships of this world. She worried that Chen Shi, full of enthusiasm, would only end up suffering a crushing defeat.

Besides, even if he resigns from his position as steward and stops serving in the Marquis's mansion, does that mean he has no one above him?

As ordinary citizens, we are not subject to the control of the imperial court. Even if we become officials, aren't we still serving the emperor?

Even the one on the dragon throne probably has many unsatisfactory and difficult situations.

Humans are born between heaven and earth, and heaven and earth are a prison; how can one be free?

"Sigh!"

However, Xiao Fengxiao also knew that Chen Shi wouldn't listen to her if she said these things to him at this moment.

In despair, another long sigh escaped his lips.

Looking at Chen Shi, Yun'er understood somewhat.

She didn't have Xiao Fengxiao's foresight, but as a servant herself, she could truly understand Chen Shi's feelings.

If she had the chance, she wouldn't be a maid anymore.

Although Xiao Fengxiao treated her like a sister, and although she lived a life of luxury in the Marquis's mansion, no less than the young lady, she preferred to be a commoner, at least then she could hold her head high.

"If you leave the Marquis's mansion, what are your plans?"

"Join the army."

Chen Shi did not hide anything, his gaze firm.

"What?!"

Yun'er swayed involuntarily, her face turning deathly pale instantly.

Xiao Fengxiao helped her up before she sat down beside him.

Generals die in a hundred battles, and strong men return in ten years.

On the battlefield, human life is cheap as grass; whether general or soldier, one could be beheaded at any moment. And once Chen Shi joins the army, when will he be able to return? When will they be able to see each other again?

"No! No way!"

Yun'er looked at Chen Shi with a pleading expression, her voice trembling with tears.

"You can't join the army, it's too dangerous. Even if you don't become the general manager, wouldn't it be better to buy a small house and live a peaceful life?"

"What's with all this fuss? Who says joining the army means you'll definitely fight and die!"

Xiao Fengxiao glared at Yun'er, though he felt a pang of panic, he managed to remain calm.

Looking at Chen Shi, he took a deep breath and asked.

"Have you spoken to the master about this? What did the master mean?"

"The Marquis said he would make arrangements for me and that I should just wait patiently."

"Thank goodness, thank goodness, this is alright."

Xiao Fengxiao patted his chest repeatedly and couldn't help but let out a soft sigh of relief.

If Gu Tingshu had made arrangements, it wouldn't have been so dangerous. Even if one day we inevitably had to go to the battlefield, at least we wouldn't be sent to our deaths as cannon fodder.

"Is there some other trick to this?"

Looking at Xiao Fengxiao's appearance, Chen Shi couldn't help but ask a question.

"You haven't even figured out the ins and outs of this, and you want to join the army?"

Xiao Fengxiao glared at Chen Shi before speaking.

Have you ever heard of the Eight Pillars, Thirteen Marquises, and Twenty-Four Armies?

"no."

Chen Shi shook his head, looking completely bewildered.

Xiao Fengxiao, with a serious expression, began the introduction.

"When the founding emperor established the country by force, eight of them made the greatest contributions and were appointed as Grand Pillars of State. The rest were all granted titles according to the twenty ranks of military merit, with thirty-seven of them being granted the title of Marquis."

"Leaving aside the nineteenth-rank Marquis within the Passes, let's just talk about the thirteen marquises of the twentieth rank. Which one of them wasn't a fierce general who was the bravest in the world? They followed Emperor Taizu in his southern and northern campaigns, and ninety percent of the troops were under their command. After the country was established, Emperor Taizu divided these troops into twenty-four armies."

"The Eight Pillars of State control the Thirteen Marquises, and the Thirteen Marquises command the Twenty-Four Armies. This is the backbone of our Great Qian Dynasty's army: the Eight Pillars, the Thirteen Marquises, and the Twenty-Four Armies."

"So that's how it is."

After listening to Xiao Fengxiao's explanation, Chen Shi nodded repeatedly.

Previously, I only knew that the Jing'an Marquis's Mansion, as a Marquis of Che, was at the highest level of the twentieth rank of military merit, holding a high position and great power.

But he didn't really understand where this power lay.

Now I understand, it was military power!

"Our Marquis Jing'an commands the Dragon Soaring Army and the Tiger Wing Army."

Xiao Fengxiao hesitated for a moment, then continued.

"The Dragon Soaring Army is in Jiangnan, and the Tiger Wing Army is stationed outside Jian. If nothing unexpected happens, the Marquis will likely assign you to the Dragon Soaring Army. The distance isn't too far, and there aren't many battles going on right now, so you can probably come back anytime."

"Really!"

Upon hearing Xiao Fengxiao's words, Yun'er's eyes widened, her face filled with excitement.

"How could this be fake?"

Xiao Fengxiao smiled and poked Yun'er's forehead with his finger.

"If that's the case."

Chen Shi pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked a question.

"With the army in the hands of his subjects, how could the emperor be happy?"

"Ha, you, a mere servant, are worrying about the Emperor's affairs."

Xiao Fengxiao smiled, then put on a serious face.

"The Emperor was naturally unwilling, so after the death of Emperor Taizu, Emperor Taizong and the present have been trying to take back military power. But unfortunately, no matter how they set up the Zhechongfu or created some miscellaneous armies, it was not very effective and they still could not break the framework of the Eight Pillars, Thirteen Marquises and Twenty-Four Armies."

"A miscellaneous army?"

"Is your reason for wanting to join the army because of the law that allows a sixth-rank military officer to become a general?"

"Um."

Chen Shi nodded. Xiao Fengxiao was indeed shrewd; nothing could be hidden from her.

"If you believe this, you'll truly die a horrible death!"

Xiao Huxiao snorted coldly and then explained.

"It's true that they are generals in the army, but that's outside the Twenty-Fourth Army. The troops outside the Twenty-Fourth Army have no background or backing. They are either thrown to the border to defend against foreign enemies or dragged to various places to suppress bandits. They are all cannon fodder. They are the real ones. Soldiers die in a hundred battles, and brave men return after ten years."

"Such a thing actually happened."

Chen Shi was startled and immediately thought of Gu Hanying.

But then he breathed a sigh of relief.

Gu Hanying joined the Qingluan Army, which was established by the princess and was naturally different from other miscellaneous armies.

"Even so, it's still military service. What soldier goes to war without danger?"

After speaking, Xiao Fengxiao looked at Chen Shi with a solemn expression.

"I still advise you to give up this idea. Even if you don't want to continue as the manager, you can still live a carefree life by helping me with the business outside. Why risk your life in the army?"

"If I don't join the army, how will I rise to prominence, and how will I marry you in the future?"

Chen Shi smiled slightly and gently lifted Xiao Fengxiao's chin.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Fengxiao was instantly stunned.

It took him a while to come to his senses, and he slapped Chen Shi's hand away.

"If you want to marry me, wait until you become emperor."