Chapter 20: Who Dominates amid the Great Chaos

The conscription officers also knew about this, so they basically wouldn't come to Hunter Village to capture those due for conscription and service.

Yet this time, they captured their men without so much as a question. What was going on? Even if there were disturbances, they couldn't just do this!

Before the hunter's wives could go to the Yamen to seek justice, a bystander, an old man, couldn't help but interject.

"Service exemption money, huh? The entire Xuanwei is recruiting soldiers now. Service exemption money has long become useless."

"If they can't recruit, they have to go to battle themselves. Tell me, is the service exemption money more valuable, or is their life more valuable?"

"Look at this street, are there any able-bodied men left? I, an old man, was nearly conscripted yesterday myself."

The citizens living in the city were incessantly complaining.

Only after hearing these words did the hunter's wives realize that the pedestrians on the street were indeed much fewer than before, and they were mostly old people or women in a hurry, with very few men to be seen.

"It's not just you mountain hunters; adolescent boys from several cities in Xuanwei have been forcibly dragged away."

It's no wonder that people blanch at the mention of military service; in these years, being a soldier was even worse than being a refugee.

Though the world was in great chaos now, it had not yet come to the last battle, so each ruler was preserving their elite troops.

But just because the elite troops weren't on the front lines didn't mean battles weren't fought.

Not fighting would be tantamount to squandering their territories to others for nothing, right?

So, these people unanimously chose to use ruddy men to drain the enemy's war capabilities.

The so-called ruddy men were heavy criminals from prisons, those conscripted due to offenses, or ordinary civilians who had never undergone training.

Even if these people suffered casualties, it would not weaken their own forces.

Once the ruddy men had worn down the opposition, the elite troops would strike unexpectedly and achieve a considerable victory.

This tactic was first conceived by the Third Prince. After suffering repeated losses, the Eldest Prince and the Second Prince quickly learned to use the same method against others.

Thus, the three brothers started their Tai Chi-like tussle back and forth.

The battles in the south were naturally known in the north; commoners knew they were unscrupulously using ruddy men as human shields. How could the Fifth Prince and Ninth Prince be unaware?

Thus when he started conscripting people, folks easily guessed the Fifth Prince's intentions.

It was presumed that he also wanted to use the ruddy men strategy against the Ninth Prince!

However, just because the rulers thought so didn't mean the commoners were willing to be pawns in their schemes!

So, the moment people heard about conscription, those who could run did run; the hunters on the mountain were unaware of the situation and jumped right into the net, now they could only resign themselves to their bad luck.

The hunter's wives took this news back to the village, intending to ask the Village Chief to think of a solution.

However, no sooner had they returned than the soldiers arrived on their heels.

People had not yet grasped what was happening when the soldiers already drew their swords, assertively intending to take everyone—men, women, young, and old.

Naturally, everyone was unwilling.

"We haven't committed any crimes, why are you arresting us?"

"If it's for conscription, we've already paid the service exemption money at the beginning of the year, we have the documents to prove it!"

"Right, if you continue to arrest people indiscriminately, we are prepared to fight with all our might and lodge a complaint with the Prince!"

"Heh, let me tell you the truth, it was the Prince who ordered the compulsory conscription of men! Able-bodied men to join the front-line army, and the others to join the labor army for miscellaneous duty in the rear!"

"You people of Hunter Village are all agile with excellent physical skills. Go make your mark, and in the future, you are sure to be conferred nobility and high appointments!"

After the Government Official said this, he pushed them towards the mountain's base.

Upon hearing this, despair rose among the mountain people. Conferred nobility and high appointments! Those were reserved only for the nobles' children!

They, the common folk, were going to be nothing more than human shields!