Chapter 65: The Three Hundred Forbidden Guards Should Have My Name. This is a Flag!

Satisfied by the impression that she poses, Gu Nan lowers the mask to cover her face.

Her appearance indeed does not scare anybody on battlefield; mask helps at boosting her dignity.

She is not some old and experienced general, but she has seen more dead bodies in the battle of Chang Ping than many people ever have in their entire life.

Countless lives in her hand alone with decades of accumulation of chi gifted by Bai Qi allow Gu Nan to face down mere three hundred convicts.

“Alright, I don’t have too much to say here.”

Gu Nan lifts the spear and leisurely sticks it into the ground.

“Bang!”

After a heavy dull thud, the spear is erected on the ground, fissures on the ground radiating from where it stands.

Gloomy expression climbs up to every inmate’s face as they realize that the person they were messing up with possesses inhuman strength.

Gu Nan sits at the rock in front of every one, unconcerned about their feelings.

“Everybody that ends here are scum among humanity.”

“I read your cases, and confirms that all of you are.”

“Li Yi, after running out of food at household, becomes a mounted brigand that robs and kills. Death sentence after capture. Leaving your aged mother alone at home is an act of undevotion; murdering people on road is injustice. Undevotion and Injustice make you a scum.”

“Qin Kuan, your younger sister kidnapped in bustle, hence commits murder out of outrage. Leaving your sister’s family vulnerable marks your incompetence; committing murder on street reflects your ignorance. Incompetence and Ignorance make you a scum.”

“Yan He, running out of money to pay debt, resulting in parents being humiliated, hence commits murder. Not paying up debt means you are dishonest; involving your parents means you are useless. Uselessness and dishonesty make you a scum.”

…

One following another, each one’s crime on record is announced by Gu Nan, angering those who she calls into flush.

Yet no one speaks against her, since she is merely repeating the truth.

However, as Gu Nan proceeds to read everyone’s case with no exception, the inmates turn surprised but confused, and then at a loss.

What does this general want?

Everyone here selected by Gu Nan has spilled blood in the past, and is therefore more ferocious than regular recruits.

Moreover, they all share the common ground that they are forced to commit murder to save either them or their families. In other words, they are not necessarily outlaws that disregard human ethics.

And they have families.

Gu Nan finally stops after everyone focuses their attention on her, narrowing her eyes.

“All of you have families that need your support, and yet here you are on death row waiting for execution. It is even an understatement to call you scum.”

Every single word carves into their heart embarrassing their souls. The inmates’ faces swell into scarlet red, blood veins popping out under their skin.

None of them wanted this way, but in this chaotic time a peaceful life is not an easy object to obtain!

They are death row inmates, so death is the only destination ahead of them.

Does this general want to humiliate us in public?

The inmates stare at Gu Nan upon thinking so, hating her so much that they are willing to raise fists at her.

…

Gu Nan pauses for a moment, but suddenly raises a question. “However, do you know why I summon all of you here?”

This question stuns everybody in place; how can a bunch of inmates know that.

“The king of Qin ordered me to put together a three hundred men battalion of forbidden army under no one’s command but only his highness’s.”

Forbidden Army? US? Inmates?

The death row inmates stay silent.

“So, I pick you.”

Upon hearing it, everyone casts their sight of astonishment onto Gu Nan.

“But of course,” Gu Nan sits on the rock slovenly, “it is only temporary.”

“I will select the three hundred men from you. If you can pass the selection process, you become a forbidden guard.”

“The king of Qin has promised to spare you of your crimes, return your identity as free men, allow you to enjoy benefits of forbidden guards’, and count your military merits.”

The short announcement makes everyone’s breath heavier.

The inmates stretch their eyes wide open.

They can hardly believe that, as a prisoner waiting for their execution in despair, missing their family in heartbreak, they are offered a hope.

A hope that, one day, they can return home as free men.

Eagerness shines in their eyes.

“If you cannot pass the selection process,” Gu Nan points toward the table at her side, on which lies a dozen bundles of bamboo slips.

Gu Nan picks one up, more than a dozen names on it. “Then your name will be erased from these lists. You will be sent back to jail waiting for your destiny there. I will find someone else to fill your role here.

“General, do you mean what you say?” Among the death row inmates, a middle-aged man who sits straight asks seriously, his eyes beam of light of eagerness and hope.

Gu Nan unfolds the slips in her hands. “I do not speak nicely. But I always keep my words.”

“Good!” The middle-aged man clenches his jaw, staring at the slips in her hands, on which is his name among many, Gao Jin.

He squeezes words out through his teeth, as if biting on each character.

“The three forbidden guards should have my name!”

“And my name!”

“My name as well!”

The inmates are stirred up, yet Gu Nan remains calm and later lays down the slips in her hands.

“In that case, I hope that you will not regret over your decision.”

“Now claim your armors and weapons. Follow me.”

Gu Nan has never trained soldiers before, neither did Bai Qi ever teach her how. But she was initially from the future.

Therefore, she has read about how ancestors did it in history despite her inexperience.

Furthermore, she was in several drills when at school, and thus even though she does not know specific protocols, she at least knows what should be done.

She does not know how well she can train those men using the knowledge summarized by future wisdoms.

Neither does she expect to forge an elite troop. Instead, a decent one that does not let her lose face is good enough.

Chapter 65: The Three Hundred Forbidden Guards Should Have My Name. This is a Flag!

Satisfied by the impression that she poses, Gu Nan lowers the mask to cover her face.

Her appearance indeed does not scare anybody on battlefield; mask helps at boosting her dignity.

She is not some old and experienced general, but she has seen more dead bodies in the battle of Chang Ping than many people ever have in their entire life.

Countless lives in her hand alone with decades of accumulation of chi gifted by Bai Qi allow Gu Nan to face down mere three hundred convicts.

“Alright, I don’t have too much to say here.”

Gu Nan lifts the spear and leisurely sticks it into the ground.

“Bang!”

After a heavy dull thud, the spear is erected on the ground, fissures on the ground radiating from where it stands.

Gloomy expression climbs up to every inmate’s face as they realize that the person they were messing up with possesses inhuman strength.

Gu Nan sits at the rock in front of every one, unconcerned about their feelings.

“Everybody that ends here are scum among humanity.”

“I read your cases, and confirms that all of you are.”

“Li Yi, after running out of food at household, becomes a mounted brigand that robs and kills. Death sentence after capture. Leaving your aged mother alone at home is an act of undevotion; murdering people on road is injustice. Undevotion and Injustice make you a scum.”

“Qin Kuan, your younger sister kidnapped in bustle, hence commits murder out of outrage. Leaving your sister’s family vulnerable marks your incompetence; committing murder on street reflects your ignorance. Incompetence and Ignorance make you a scum.”

“Yan He, running out of money to pay debt, resulting in parents being humiliated, hence commits murder. Not paying up debt means you are dishonest; involving your parents means you are useless. Uselessness and dishonesty make you a scum.”

…

One following another, each one’s crime on record is announced by Gu Nan, angering those who she calls into flush.

Yet no one speaks against her, since she is merely repeating the truth.

However, as Gu Nan proceeds to read everyone’s case with no exception, the inmates turn surprised but confused, and then at a loss.

What does this general want?

Everyone here selected by Gu Nan has spilled blood in the past, and is therefore more ferocious than regular recruits.

Moreover, they all share the common ground that they are forced to commit murder to save either them or their families. In other words, they are not necessarily outlaws that disregard human ethics.

And they have families.

Gu Nan finally stops after everyone focuses their attention on her, narrowing her eyes.

“All of you have families that need your support, and yet here you are on death row waiting for execution. It is even an understatement to call you scum.”

Every single word carves into their heart embarrassing their souls. The inmates’ faces swell into scarlet red, blood veins popping out under their skin.

None of them wanted this way, but in this chaotic time a peaceful life is not an easy object to obtain!

They are death row inmates, so death is the only destination ahead of them.

Does this general want to humiliate us in public?

The inmates stare at Gu Nan upon thinking so, hating her so much that they are willing to raise fists at her.

…

Gu Nan pauses for a moment, but suddenly raises a question. “However, do you know why I summon all of you here?”

This question stuns everybody in place; how can a bunch of inmates know that.

“The king of Qin ordered me to put together a three hundred men battalion of forbidden army under no one’s command but only his highness’s.”

Forbidden Army? US? Inmates?

The death row inmates stay silent.

“So, I pick you.”

Upon hearing it, everyone casts their sight of astonishment onto Gu Nan.

“But of course,” Gu Nan sits on the rock slovenly, “it is only temporary.”

“I will select the three hundred men from you. If you can pass the selection process, you become a forbidden guard.”

“The king of Qin has promised to spare you of your crimes, return your identity as free men, allow you to enjoy benefits of forbidden guards’, and count your military merits.”

The short announcement makes everyone’s breath heavier.

The inmates stretch their eyes wide open.

They can hardly believe that, as a prisoner waiting for their execution in despair, missing their family in heartbreak, they are offered a hope.

A hope that, one day, they can return home as free men.

Eagerness shines in their eyes.

“If you cannot pass the selection process,” Gu Nan points toward the table at her side, on which lies a dozen bundles of bamboo slips.

Gu Nan picks one up, more than a dozen names on it. “Then your name will be erased from these lists. You will be sent back to jail waiting for your destiny there. I will find someone else to fill your role here.

“General, do you mean what you say?” Among the death row inmates, a middle-aged man who sits straight asks seriously, his eyes beam of light of eagerness and hope.

Gu Nan unfolds the slips in her hands. “I do not speak nicely. But I always keep my words.”

“Good!” The middle-aged man clenches his jaw, staring at the slips in her hands, on which is his name among many, Gao Jin.

He squeezes words out through his teeth, as if biting on each character.

“The three forbidden guards should have my name!”

“And my name!”

“My name as well!”

The inmates are stirred up, yet Gu Nan remains calm and later lays down the slips in her hands.

“In that case, I hope that you will not regret over your decision.”

“Now claim your armors and weapons. Follow me.”

Gu Nan has never trained soldiers before, neither did Bai Qi ever teach her how. But she was initially from the future.

Therefore, she has read about how ancestors did it in history despite her inexperience.

Furthermore, she was in several drills when at school, and thus even though she does not know specific protocols, she at least knows what should be done.

She does not know how well she can train those men using the knowledge summarized by future wisdoms.

Neither does she expect to forge an elite troop. Instead, a decent one that does not let her lose face is good enough.