Chapter 18 – Joining the Army Unknown location, City of Luo Yang . "To think that godfather made a mistake, or should I say that we underestimated the A . I . ?" "Well, this is quite troublesome . " "…" *sigh* "I guess I have no choice . " "I hope Friday won't blame me for this . " … Inner Palace, Official Resident, Tian Shui City . "What the heck!? What did the A . I . do to my lifespan?" "How can I go back if I only have 50 years to live?" "I can't kill the natives? This is absurd! A . I . is a jerk!" "…" "Ah! There's that way!" "Heheheh! As long as I find him then the problem will be solved . " "I'm such a genius! Hehehehe!" …
January 2nd, 181 AD, Morning . Zhang resident . Tong and Hua Shi gathered up and discussed what skill they bought last night . Hua Shi had bought the [Sword Master] skill which gave her boost when she used a sword as a weapon and also gave her additional lifespans if she killed a person . ******************************************** [Sword Master] Cannot be leveled up - Master all kinds of swords . Increase all attributes by 10 times if the host is using a sword . - If the host kill an enemy, increase the host lifespan by the remaining lifespan of the dead enemy . ******************************************** Hua Shi claimed that she didn't want to participate in the upcoming war, so she needed a skill to defend herself when she returned home . She also started up another mission right away . She had to heal one hundred natives within a year then she would get another 10,000 years of lifespans and the right to buy another item from the system . Tong didn't activate any new quest yet . He still possessed two major quests that he still hadn't completed . Tong had to officially join the Yellow Turban Army and would have to make sure the army successfully formed up in the next two years, just like in the history . … In the afternoon, Tong went to see his father, Zhang Jiao . His father was delighted when Tong came to see him . But what Tong asked him next sadden and terrified him . "I knew what you are doing . You're going to start a war soon . " "Count me in, make me one of your soldier . " As a father, Zhang Jiao never wanted his son to participate in the mess he created . He wished his son would continue pursuing the path of merchants . Zhang Jiao refused it right away and was about to scold Tong . However, Tong suddenly mumbled "Time Stop" and teleported behind Zhang Jiao with a dagger pointed at his neck .
At the time, Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang, Zhang Jiao's two brothers, was there as well . They witnessed a miracle of teleportation for the first time in their life . "I can use this magic once a day . " "I'm also invincible, no one in this world can kill me . " "If you don't believe it, you can try . I won't dodge or defend myself . " Tong challenged the three of them . His stern voice and his face showed his seriousness . Zhang Liang, who hadn't interacted much with this nephew, got angry . He determined to teach this little brat a lesson that war wasn't a place for a kid . He threw a punch at Tong . The punch landed on Tong's face . Betraying everyone's expectation, Tong didn't move an inch . Instead, Zhang Liang stepped back while holding his hand that had hit Tong in pain . He felt like he just hit an iron plate with his bare hand . Zhang Bao raised his eyebrow and smirked in amusement . Then he threw a kick aiming at the back of the head . The result was the same . Tong was standing still as if nothing happened, but Zhang Bao felt pain on the foot that kicked Tong . Feeling interesting, Zhang Bao drew a knife and stabbed at Tong's arm . The tip of the knife was stopped by Tong's mysterious skin . His skin wasn't pressed in even a tiny bit . Then Zhang Bao threw his knife away and grabbed a sword . He slashed Tong 20 times in a row, cutting his cloth into pieces . But no wound appeared on Tong's skin . Zhang Bao gave up . He walked back and confirmed to Zhang Jiao and Zhang Liang that he didn't hold back yet Tong was still fine . Everyone was shocked especially Zhang Jiao . Though he already experienced this weird phenomenal when he treated Tong's injured knee, he was still astonished when he witnessed it again . Zhang Jiao was skeptical about this and insisted not accepting Tong into his army . If he was truly invincible, then how did Tong get that knee injury? However, Zhang Bao ensured that Tong wouldn't be harmed if he supervised Tong himself . It could also serve as a rehabilitation camp for Tong because he always cooped up in his warehouse or his room all day . Zhang Jiao reluctantly transferred Tong to the training camp that Zhang Bao supervised . But he made a condition that Tong had to rest until his injury healed . And if Tong got injured again then he would be grounded in his house and won't be able to mention about joining the army again . Succeeded coaxing his own father, Tong smiled but he felt pain in his heart . He wanted to tell his father about his past, his previous life and the missions, but it wasn't the right time to do so .
Tong glanced at the status menu and looked at his mission . There was no announcement from the system . It seemed he had to be officially instated as a soldier or a higher rank officer first so he could complete the mission . … February 9th, 181AD . For a month, Tong stayed in his room, studying his handgun structure . He wrote several cannon designs focusing on the 16th to 18th century wheeled cannon models . The earlier version was not good enough in Tong's eyes . The cannons could not aim properly and most of them were designed to affix with a fort or stone wall and was used solely on the defensive warfare, which lacked versatility . Now, he had to solve another issue with the design . He lacked materials and proper manufacturing methods, such as iron or bronze ores, gunpowder, cannon casting method, chamber drilling method, cast sand forges and etc . It was not an easy task to simply skip a few technology trees of the 21st century civilization, and imported the more advanced warfare technology into the medieval era in short period of time without a cheat or an overpowered genius witch that could help on the task . Tong knitted his brows, stopping his research for now . Tong sensed that his knee injury got better and he could walk freely without any pain . He went up to Zhang Bao training camp to see how his uncle trained his militias . What Tong saw disappointed him . What the training all rookie soldiers did were wailing their weapon widely, hitting scarecrows without any proper martial art forms or styles . 'This is bad . If this continues, all of them will die in the war . ' 'More of my dad's followers will gather here soon, this useless training cannot go on . ' Tong had seen many medieval war movies in his previous life . He had a rough idea how the real war during cold-weapon era worked and how tactics were applied . What the current Yellow Turban Army camp did right now wouldn't make their soldiers stronger or be able to use more tactics . It was like a children playground where children wailed their sticks, playing war . Tong couldn't stand it anymore . He barged into Zhang Bao's tent, ignoring the surrounding guards trying to stop him . Anyone who tried to get in his way was punched or thrown away like a rag doll . "Uncle! I want to change the way you train the soldiers . " Tong didn't waste any time . He spoke using all the air in his lung and stomach . The voice was loud enough that the others outside the tent could hear it . Inside the tent, there were three people sitting on a chair, facing the middle table . On the only table in the tent, a map was laid there with several wooden dolls and rocks placing on different location of the map . It was as if everybody here was playing a table-top game . But the reality wasn't as comical as Tong imagined . Those were not table-top game but a strategy map and wooden dolls and objects on the map represented troops, mountains, forests and cities .
Tong knew one of the person in the tent . He was Zhang Bao whom Tong came to see . As for the other two, Tong never met them . "Who is this brat? How come the guards let him in? Drag him out and give him 20 whips!" One of two men Tong didn't know shouted . Zhang Bao grinned, feeling amused from the reaction of this man . Then he gazed at Tong as if he was looking forward for a good show . Tong's eyes corner twitched . This uncle of his had a bad habit . He enjoyed watching people fell into a complicated situation . "I am Zhang Tong, nephew of Commander Zhang Bao . Who are you?" "Hah? If you are Zhang Tong then I am Emperor Ling! Do you think great teacher will let his precious son coming here? Now screw off or I'll screw you myself!" Tong glanced at his uncle . Zhang Bao was trying his best not to laugh . This person was really enjoying it . 'I can't rely on my uncle . He only enjoys this mess too much . ' 'I guess I have to establish my dominance here from ground up . ' 'And this situation is kind of stupid . ' 'I'm actually at fault . Where was my manner and common sense?' 'He has the right to be angry . ' 'If I'm a commander I won't let a brat barging in the command center too . ' 'My speech and my action was too frank . I need to fix that in the future . ' Tong recollected his thought . He swore that he would fix many bad habits of his . His behavior was still the same as in his previous life, frank, reckless and always acted before thinking . Tong looked at the scolding man and shook his head in guilt . Let wrong be wrong, since he was in the wrong then he shall follow through till the end . "Make me . " Tong stared straight at the man and made a finger gesture to challenge him .