Chapter 263: Lacking Manners
On the surging sea surface, three destroyers were cutting through the waves. And in the distance, target ships were drifting at five knots.
The scene on these target ships was like this: After the government officials evacuated, a prison cell inside the target ship equipped with a timer began ringing a bell, countdown activated—inside was the target ship’s “artificial guidance” chip.
“Let me out!” “Hurry up!” Frenzied voices came from the target ship’s solitary confinement room. On the target ship’s corridor, red lights flashed, the government officials outside the target ship had already boarded ships to quickly leave the target ship, and the torpedo boats withdrawing reported numbers, after reporting, pulled the steam valve, and the torpedo boats quickly left this target ship that was about to become a dead zone.
Due to the torpedo boats bobbing up and down on the sea waves, the target ship also rose and fell, as the torpedo boats moved a kilometer away, frenzied figures appeared on the hull, those left on the target ship were pirates.
The crimes committed by these pirates were all unforgivable: namely trafficking people around Xian Han, colluding with foreign countries to smuggle gold, stone artifacts, and smuggling prohibited items.
Prohibited items: including some drugs that turn people neither human nor ghost, invasive-level insect eggs sent from overseas, and the like.
What? Humanitarian conventions? Xian Han would never sign any conventions with barbarians.
As a morally hegemonic system, Xian Han only requires barbarians to align morally with itself. Not aligning? Xian Han doesn’t care, because barbarians are barbarians.
Xian Han wields an iron fist against groups outside “legitimate professions,” and coldly exploits beasts that destroy legitimate professions.
In the dim solitary confinement room inside the target ship, bandits anxiously awaited; they had thought of picking the lock, but picking a lock requires a keyhole. The solitary confinement room was smooth, the door had no keyhole at all. Only after the mechanical spring timer’s lock reached time would the iron gate unlock, allowing them out.
Before these prisoners came out, they were all told: piloting the target ship has a 10% chance of escape, but in reality? What 10% chance, the ship’s oil couldn’t support the ship’s escape at all.
That rhetoric was just to give the prisoners hope, making them obediently flee.
As for them seeing through the sinister intentions of Xian Han bureaucrats and wanting to jump into the sea to avoid shelling?
Heh, all prisoners had a turtle-shell-like iron bundle locked around their chests, a kind of weighted shackles, once jumping into the sea impossible to survive, only sinking to the bottom. The justice departments in the past could design various tortures, today naturally wouldn’t give loopholes to these extremely vicious criminals.
To say becoming cannon fodder? It doesn’t conform to Confucian benevolence, but they violated great revengeism.
For example, this ship had those fond of killing and lust. But ordinary rapists wouldn’t fall to this treatment. Only those touching “children” would end up like this. Such people, even other rule-breakers in the martial world would gang up against.
…Punishment like a thunder pond…
In the martial world, even bandits follow “thieves also have a code,” in the martial world even the gray area’s code has several levels.
Stealing without harming people, this type calls themselves “righteous thieves.” As long as they don’t bump into government guns, cases not involving big shots often become unsolved old cases.
Stealing and harming but not killing, leaving money for the injured to treat illness. This is just “seeking wealth,” the government catches as many as it can, case closure rate over 70%.
As for big thieves who murder for wealth without bottom line, not only prestigious sects watch them. “Righteous thieves” also watch them.
Such rule-breaking river bandits, if daring to appear in the eighteen inner provinces, specially post bounties, hunt to the ends of the earth. Such people don’t appear more than a few a year.
Those rapists and big thieves following the most basic martial world ethics at most get exiled to atonement camps, sent to the southern thousand-island region, not onto target ships.
So the “talent” on these target ships obviously most are not from Han Land.
Xian Han Confucian moral education and indoctrination makes domestic bandits far more principled than those gangs of outer barbarians. So what if outer barbarian bandits bully good Han Chinese?
Han Family seeks revenge, no matter how far, must punish. When Han ships arrive overseas and encounter retaliation, sea merchants will hang wanted posters high.
Once major cases occur overseas, fleets will sail over, merchant-arranged revenge teams will also go; meanwhile some prestigious sect disciples will also go for training.
Xian Han’s cross-district evil suppression is far more hegemonic than Xuan Someone’s previous life America’s transnational enforcement. And this “hegemonic way” targets those “not submitting to royal transformation.”
Xian Han scholar-officials have a “royal transformation” level for vassal states and foreign countries, oh, this is like Xuan Chong’s pre-transmigration west’s “human wood level.”
Now global continents, more or less influenced by Xian Han’s “royal transformation” levels, because Xian Han’s folk power really “no matter how far, must punish.”
“Child holding gold, all become devils; Wei Tuo at side, devils become sages.” Xian Han merchant ships now travel Europe, Arabia, navies will escort them, preventing accidents.
Barbarians from childhood don’t follow ethics, even take “brutality” as honor. Facing brutal ones, Xian Han inner scholar-officials see them as “disposable tools.”
Using evil pirates on target ships as wetware is actually most merciful, some become “medical” supplies.
Xuan Chong looking at the target ship couldn’t help sighing: why every industry prevails “ethics” such unspoken rules. Nothing but Legalist harsh punishments. Not following “ethics,” Legalist harsh punishments mean the whole group gets collective punishment.
The barbarians now on the target ship come from the Southeast Asia region.
There currently is Xian Han and Eastern Shu’s frontline war zone, order collapsed, many unscrupulous warlords appeared. Xian Han needs to exert influence here, so many major cases produced.
Although Han Chinese there being brutalized is common, Xian Han is very reckless, never issues “overseas citizen warnings”! But continuously infiltrates enforcement power.
…Imperial Court above…
On the third destroyer, inside the ship sailors in engine rooms, turrets performing operations, while Xuan Chong was in the fire control room.
In the current ironclad ship era, fire control system is still mechanical fire control, each turret through the first round of cannon test-firing, sends observed shelling points to fire control room.
And in the fire control room, need to calculate comprehensive speed difference, so calculate faster, deviation smaller.
Xuan Chong here in fire control room began angle mapping, in others’ eyes Xuan Chong just picked up the half-meter protractor on the table, came to window arm outstretched straight, aiming at clouds in sky.
But actually in Xuan Chong’s perspective, as protractor moves, torque deflects in dozens of kilometers range. Over sixty key data read. Multiple related values verify his enemy calculations accurate.
Xuan Chong mobilized his just formed true qi, abdominal fat rapidly converted to energy, a “clarity” sensation surged to brain; previously memorized parameter data tables, like “data code” appeared in brain-conceived ship’s various data models.
In the exam, when other teammates still busy calculating, Xuan Chong already reported all main cannon fire data for whole ship up and down.
Ship colleagues slightly stunned, although heard rumors, but still surprised at Xuan Chong’s rapid reporting.
Of course, most of the same class chose to trust Xuan Chong, immediately ran to pipe voice transmission to report data to each position.
Cannon fire began. In third round calibration, Xuan Chong’s group began high hits, first took out their assigned target ship, then fire “supported” other warships. —At this time other warships didn’t like this “support,” in this assessment doing others’ papers means forcing others zero score.
Just as Xuan Chong excitedly prepared to use torque to make trajectory also “theoretical value.”
Suddenly, patted on back. Then felt gravity beside slightly increase, nearby newspaper like stuck to table.
“Young fellow, this is not right!” Voice came from steel plate of ship under Xuan Chong’s feet.
Xuan Chong suddenly sensed something, brain stunned: “Land god?”
But soon realized on ship, where any “land god,” but thought of military legends, every warship has “ship soul.” So speaking to him is warship “machine soul”? Thus Xuan Chong deployed torque network full search entire fleet.
Soon deck under feet responded: “Young fellow, no need to search, return voyage time, report at Marshal’s mansion.”
…Appreciation…
On nearby main warship, spacious metal bridge observation room, Marshal looking at good news of first hit from gun crews; he remotely raised wine cup to Xuan Chong’s warship on sea surface. Nearby officials understood, immediately had flag signals send praise to exercise new soldiers.
Here Xuan Chong already through torque detection knew the voice he heard came from deck under feet.
And controlling deck vibration to speak was this Marshal’s “dragon power”; his dragon power can attach to matter, make objects gain spirituality.
When Xuan Chong this young dragon wanted to use newly awakened “dragon power” interfere in match, this old dragon began paying attention.
Here Xuan Chong just heard flag signal announcement of commendation to whole fleet, next moment suddenly felt boots firmly sucked by deck, unable to move.
Xuan Chong immediately adjusted torque, at cost of losing one millimeter shoe sole material directly escaped. Then his shoes and floor stuck with two millimeter force field (keeping his soles “floating”) and spread six thousand contact points across measured hull places, ensuring multiple leverage points.
Here Marshal slightly stunned, because he felt Xuan Chong dragon power directly connected to steam engine compartment, that mechanical power anytime guidable out to shred cabin. Thus stopped probing.
Ship returned to port. After disembarking, Xuan Chong mixed in crowd, suddenly accosted by senior officer shouting: “Liu Hao (alias) here?”
Xuan Chong suddenly jolted, like teacher calling parents. Confirmed multiple times it was him, thus stepped out to report. The staff officer who came with Marshal sized up Xuan Chong, then threw down words: “Tonight, attend the great cauldron feast.”
Here ship brothers after officer left, issued cheers, obviously Xuan Chong selected means high-level recognition of this ship’s ability!
“Well done, Hao Xing!” “We didn’t lose face!” “That Flyfish ship bunch now speechless!”……
Even fire control personnel same group as Xuan Chong had no jealousy, but congratulated! Because on same warship, one loses all lose one wins all win.
Per navy rules, if Xuan Chong later transferred out of warship, must train same group fire control brothers to certain level before leaving.
Meaning now Xuan Chong confirmed as group leader, next sea training must be responsible for same group fire control group’s achievement; how to recite fire control forms, how to mechanized training, Xuan Chong was already teaching before. As for next really linking to “big brother” responsibility, Xuan Chong prepared to take out grass returning pills to share.
Xian Han navy is very conservative traditional fleet, full of various “family law” systems.
Sure enough, after several centuries, current Han Navy still retains this outdated notion: absolutely cannot let women on ships.
…Ritual…
Evening, great cauldron feast began. Xuan Chong glanced at dishes in bronze vessels, heart evaluated: not as good as previous life company meals.
Just more ritualized. Xuan Chong: this leans toward “gathering” rather than “meal.”
Three days ago, cattle and sheep sacrificial offerings from Five Oceans Festival, frozen preserved several days; now invested in great cauldron re-steamed processed, cattle and sheep parts divided by serving mode to various plates.
Beef head this most important meat, divided to fleet each department; as for other parts’ meat allocated by duty. Whether this allocated meat tasty or not not key, concerns military status.
Chefs fished cattle and sheep from cauldron, one by one deboned, cut into small pieces, placed in plates labeled with names. Beef eyes, beef heart, all taboo for fleet important bigwigs, no mistakes allowed.
As for at such meeting, important position no meat allocated? Then nature very serious.
Chinese allusion: each for himself. 607 BC, Song and Zheng fought, Song commander Hua Yuan before battle killed sheep to reward subordinates, but didn’t reward his charioteer. Result chariot directly drove to enemy side.
Chinese allusion: “dipping finger”appetite whetted.” Zheng prince Song (zi Gong) and Zi Jia went see Zheng Ling Gong. Approaching palace gate preparing banquet, prince Song suddenly stopped, raised right hand showing off superpower, today sure eat good stuff; result sovereign joked, didn’t give him soup. Result he dipped finger in sovereign’s soup, stormed off, later rebelled.
Xian Han no longer Warring States, upper power mastering meat division supreme, no meat means big shots directly expressing dissatisfaction with subordinates.
Xuan Chong gave Xian Han’s this “great cauldron feast” ritual sense localized understanding: phoenix tail beef tail, not just idiom allusion so simple, behind is workplace ritual.
Evening, venue brightly lit, most people seated, plates in front already placed. But everyone temporarily no chopsticks moved.
All sat upright. Central furnace fire still blazing, cauldron still had some meat left, cooks nearby held knives waiting.
Xuan Chong together holding plate waiting for bestowed food muttered inwardly: “Hope not get too unpalatable part.”
So many people divide one cow, meat amount only one bite, um, for adult man just one bite, yet this one bite has extremely high symbolic meaning. Absolutely cannot waste any, even if beef hairs not fully removed, must eat down.
Chime bells music played, Xuan Chong paused, suddenly looked up, playing music was Qin Tianyi.
Qin Tianyi seemed to feel Xuan Chong’s gaze, smiled at him; yet Xuan Chong immediately turned head back, no “male gaze” created. In music Qin Tianyi flashed curiosity, then showed smile, versed in psychology she knew what this meant, gaze lingered on Xuan Chong a while, showed “encouraging” smile.
Soon began distributing meat stew, those called by name stood came to Marshal’s table to queue, Xuan Chong also stood walked to queue. While waiting in queue, Xuan Chong looking at Marshal, vaguely felt this Marshal sir long waiting for him.
Sure enough, youths before Xuan Chong getting meat, he all nodded indication;
Yet seeing Xuan Chong, Marshal mildly said to him: “Come to southern region here still adapting?”
Xuan Chong reservedly replied: “Yes, military camp life very good.”
After probing done, Marshal smiling nodded: “Dragon Group these days will find you, prepare to receive ennoblement.”
Voice not loud, yet made those within five meters originally surprised quiet down.
Xuan Chong baffled, suddenly dumbly asked: “What is Dragon Group?”
Marshal’s smile more mild, then picked up iron tongs, put meat on Xuan Chong’s plate.
Xuan Chong looked at plate, allocated “one cow ear.” —This on beef head upper part.
Xuan Chong not fool, knew beef head meat not ordinary; because previous allocating beef head meat all captain level. But stunned, unsure what this meant.
Just thinking what to say, seemed “workplace experience” too newbie, thus behind someone kicked him, low voice: “Grasp the cow’s ear!”
After behind person regardless manners reminded him, Xuan Chong finally EQ took high ground, loudly shouted: “Thanks sir for bestowed sacrificial meat!”
Yet Marshal didn’t let Xuan Chong off, mildly reminded: “Receive sacrifice here, eat here or take away to eat?”
Xuan Chong baffled by this sentence, but sensed others all understood.
This time the captain who brought Xuan Chong, also Xuan Chong’s pre-boarding acknowledged big brother also reacted, immediately reminded Xuan Chong: “Sir lets you eat here!”
As current manager superior, issued order, Xuan Chong subconsciously obeyed.
Xuan Chong no hesitation, directly took cow ear, clamped in flatbread ate; finally took small flatbread piece wiped all grease in plate clean, stuffed in mouth fully enjoyed.
Said military big brothers say, great cauldron feast must eat completely without leaving bit, to seek heaven and earth protection in war.
Xuan Chong felt he just ate not just beef, but made important choice, his choice satisfied navy series of people, especially Marshal, very satisfied.
But he always felt something off. This like barging into place with different “local customs,” directly fell into custom trap, muddleheaded stepped in, finally had to follow local rules enter bridal chamber.
Two attendants’ gazes specially on him, obviously at great cauldron feast, he seemed “ruled” trapped.
Others all took plates back to seats, while Xuan Chong kept beside by Marshal.
Music played, then sounds of wooden chopsticks and plates, music covered these noises.
…Ritual ended…
Marshal to nearby person said: “Just fourteen years old, very pure, doesn’t know manners; you all later bring him familiarize more.”
