Chapter 58: From the Assessed to the Assessor?
Chapter 58: Chapter 58: From the Assessed to the Assessor?
Commander Zhang, Commander Zhao, General Zhou, and even Elder General Xia were present.
"Shouldn’t the Queen be here for an occasion like this?"
Tang Wen had never seen the Queen before.
Today was the Commander selection. The position of Commander was firmly in the mid-to-upper echelons of the camp’s hierarchy.
’For a position like this, when new people are being chosen, the Queen doesn’t even come to see them?’
A peculiar expression flickered across Zhou Bing’s face. She didn’t hide it from Tang Wen, whispering, "The Queen dislikes these tedious administrative affairs. Once you become a Commander, you can go pay your respects to her then."
There were some things she couldn’t easily say.
Tang Wen didn’t press the matter. As long as the Queen, their ultimate fighting force, wasn’t the one with the problem, everything else was manageable.
In fact, the very reason Flame Camp could exist, maintain a degree of fairness, allow for mobility between social classes, and give hope to the people of the Outer City, all boiled down to one thing.
The most fundamental reason was the Queen’s combat prowess and her character.
He had heard from the merchant caravans that of the twenty or thirty camps and villages, large and small, that they had visited, Flame Camp was where common people lived the most comfortable lives.
The rest all had elements of slavery, to one degree or another.
The lives of common folk were no different from livestock.
Martial Artists generally paid them no mind.
They didn’t even need Martial Artists to kill them; during a disastrous year, they would simply starve to death.
It was like the wind blowing across the grasslands—some blades of grass were always bound to fall.
It was precisely because the Queen’s strength could fend off external enemies and her character could ensure internal fairness that Flame Camp was what it was today.
Tang Wen really wanted to meet this Queen and see for himself what kind of person she was.
Hearing the effusive praise in his tone, Zhou Bing’s expression grew strange again, now tinged with a hint of caution. "She, uh, I mean Her Majesty the Queen... she’s already thirty."
"Hm?" Tang Wen was about to ask what age had to do with anything.
’Thirty is still very young.’
Suddenly, a voice from the stage called out, "Quiet."
Commander Zhao had spoken.
His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried steadily to every person’s ears.
’What?’
Before Tang Wen could ask, Zhou Bing leaned in and whispered in his ear, "Commander Zhao broke through."
During their meal, she had mentioned that Commander Zhao had been ambushed. He barely escaped with his life after a desperate battle, and was even left with a scar on his face.
"So he broke through in a life-or-death situation." Tang Wen marveled at what a fierce warrior Commander Zhao was. He had already been unofficially known as the number one person below the rank of General.
Now, it seemed his position as number one was about to be solidified.
"In this war, we lost many of our brothers, but the final victory is ours! The Black Mountain Ghosts killed the very reinforcements they had summoned, just to sue for peace with us!"
"The grain they sent has already filled every granary, large and small, both inside and outside the city. We even have grain stored in Her Majesty the Queen’s garden and the General’s Mansion!"
As Commander Zhao finished speaking,
The crowd below erupted in cheers!
Two months of suppression under the shadow of war were released in that single moment.
Even though this grain had been exchanged with Black Mountain Camp for two years’ worth of coal mining rights.
But it was true that Black Mountain Camp had killed their own allies to sue for peace.
The victory was indisputable.
Flame Camp had the strength. After the war began, the Queen, General Zhou, and the former general all took to the field.
Then, the Commanders led a group of captains, forming an elite team that served as the main force on the battlefield.
In contrast, Black Mountain Camp’s Black Mountain King and their general, Black Mountain Ghost, didn’t dare to face them head-on, barely managing to keep the Queen and General Zhou occupied.
They continuously sent Martial Disciples and other martial artists to their deaths. When they finally managed to deploy a few Martial Artists to ambush Commander Zhao,
Commander Zhao unleashed his power and killed two of them in a counter-attack.
After that, they had no choice but to admit defeat.
Commander Zhao raised his hand to quiet the crowd, and the Guards in the square gradually fell silent.
"The Hunting Battalion and the Guard Battalion are both preparing to expand. In this selection, we will choose ten Commanders and one hundred captains."
A hubbub rose from the square.
A wave of discussion swept through the square.
A glint appeared in Tang Wen’s eyes. ’They’re expanding the army.’
As for why, he could roughly guess the reason.
In these chaotic times, a camp always needed to have ample reserve forces.
Next, Commander Zhao explained the rules.
The selection rules were simple. Anyone who wanted to become a captain in the Hunting Battalion had to challenge a current captain.
You didn’t need to defeat them; you only had to prove you were their equal to advance.
As for who challenged which captain, that would be decided by drawing lots. This was to prevent people from colluding and throwing matches.
After all, wherever there are people, there are bound to be personal connections and favors.
After hearing the rules, Tang Wen frowned.
He wasn’t interested in being a captain.
He wanted to challenge for a Commander position, but he wasn’t confident.
Mainly, he had never seen any of the Commanders fight with their full strength.
Without a basis for comparison, he naturally couldn’t be confident.
When Commander Zhao finished speaking and took a step back, just as everyone thought the selection was finally about to begin,
Another person stood up. It was General Zhou.
"Before the selection begins, I have several appointments to announce on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen."
A slight murmur went through the square, but it quickly quieted down without needing any reminder.
Even though the Queen didn’t manage daily affairs, her prestige was truly immense.
"Zhao Long, Commander Zhao, has distinguished himself repeatedly in this war. For his merits, he is hereby promoted to Hunting General, in command of the Hunting Battalion!"
"Congratulations, General Zhao."
"Congratulations, General Zhao."
The people below started shouting.
They shouted it over a dozen times, only managing to get the words in unison for the final three shouts.
The people on the stage also congratulated General Zhao one by one.
They already knew this news, but this was the formal announcement.
On behalf of the Queen, General Zhou presented General Zhao with a Token, a badge, and new armor.
General Zhao accepted them one by one. The two old comrades-in-arms looked at each other and smiled, everything understood without a word.
Tang Wen applauded and smiled along with the crowd. ’Zhao Long... Commander Zhao... no, General Zhao. That name is so down-to-earth.’
But it seemed that most people in the camp had simple names.
The square remained lively for a while.
General Zhou let everyone finish cheering before continuing, "Zhou Bing, Tang Wen, step forward."
’This involves me too?’
’Doesn’t Sister Bing know?’
Tang Wen looked over and happened to see Zhou Bing wink at him.
’Alright, looks like she knew.’
The two of them walked to the front of the stage.
General Zhou announced, "Tang Wen and Zhou Bing achieved a great victory in the martial competition against Black Mountain Camp. Tang Wen, in particular, defeated six opponents in a row, foiling the enemy’s plot. For securing significant benefits for the camp, you are hereby promoted to Commander today."
’I’m skipping the rank of captain and being promoted directly to Commander?’
Tang Wen was pleasantly surprised. He thought his achievements would earn him some other benefits, not a promotion that skipped a rank.
"Zhou Bing, during this war, you killed three enemy commanders. For your accumulated merits, you are promoted to Commander! The two of you, come up on stage!"
The two of them leaped lightly onto the high stage.
General Zhao handed them their Tokens and badges.
Tang Wen accepted a black metal Token. His name was engraved on the front, and a roaring flame was carved on the back.
The badge was a bright, eye-catching red, engraved with the three words "Commander Tang Wen".
Zhou Bing received the same items.
The two of them imitated what General Zhao had just done and showed their new items to the crowd below.
"Congratulations, Commander Tang."
"Congratulations, Commander Zhou!"
The crowd below cheered once more.
Turning around, Tang Wen looked out at the sea of people below, a dazed feeling washing over him.
Just a moment ago he was in the crowd cheering, and now he was on the stage, part of the leadership.
’This feeling is really something else.’
’No wonder so many people scramble over each other trying to climb the ladder.’
’So this is what it feels like.’
’Not bad at all.’
He waved to the crowd, feeling a little light-headed as he followed Zhou Bing to a corner of the stage.
General Zhao stepped forward and announced, "The selection is about to begin. All Commanders, please step forward."
The Commanders came forward one by one, moving closer to the front of the stage.
Those who wished to become Commanders would have to challenge them.
Just then, General Zhao suddenly turned around, pointed at Tang Wen and Zhou Bing, and said, "What are you two standing there dazed for? Get up here."
The crowd let out a good-natured laugh.
’Huh?’
’Didn’t we just become Commanders?’
’Did we just go from being candidates to being examiners?’
Tang Wen hesitated for a moment before walking over from the back.