me protection to our family.""Bah, bah!" Old Madam Li hurriedly spat on the ground and glared at the Marquis with a reproaching tone. "Children speak without thinking, it's just carried away by the wi..."What!" Li Yong jumped up in surprise, remembering what Li Lao Si had said on the playground. He didn't care about any manners and ran outside immediately.

The Lord brought along Jiang Cheng and followed after.

The vast schoolyard was already abuzz with excitement.

Thousands of soldiers surrounded the northwest corner, trapping the fallen soldier in the middle, as well as Li Laosi and his few personal guards.

People outside didn't know what was going on, they strained their necks to look and whispered, “What happened How did someone die”

A soldier, who usually resented the strictness of training, said one day: "What could possibly be so important that it would kill us On such a cold winter day, they don't even let us rest. We run about in the wind and snow every day like fools. It's a wonder we don't die!"

Of course, there are also some kind-hearted people who retort: "Shut up! Don't talk nonsense without knowing the reason! We train like this every day, do you see anyone dying of exhaustion Which one isn't getting stronger and fitter This person is probably sick!"

Li Lao Si didn't have the leisure to pay attention to these words. He crouched in the middle of the field, his face dark as he repeatedly checked the soldiers' breathing, hoping for a glimmer of hope for rescue.

Unfortunately, the soldier's cheeks were gaunt and sunken, his eye sockets dark with hollowness, and white foam dribbled from his lips. He was dead beyond all hope.

His eyebrows were furrowed so tightly they could have killed a fly, and he felt inexplicably puzzled.

Today's morning exercises were the same as usual, just running laps, and there was no sudden increase.

As a result, halfway through the run, the soldier fell behind. He chased after him to reprimand him, but before he could open his mouth, the soldier was dead.

The incident happened too suddenly, he didn't even have time to react.

At this time, Li Yong and Lord Hou also arrived.

Li Yong was not disgusted. He rushed forward, carefully examined him, and seeing that there were no whip marks on the soldier's body, he couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.

As long as Li Lao Si didn't make a move, this soldier's cause of death had nothing to do with him.

It is obvious that the Marquis had the same thoughts, so he immediately ordered his personal soldiers to find a military doctor.

Jiang Cheng wanted to drive the soldiers away, but after hesitating for a moment, he let them watch the spectacle.

Soon, several military doctors arrived carrying boxes.

After a careful examination, several military doctors were uneasy. The oldest one carefully said, "My lord, this soldier was not poisoned! His body is too weak to withstand the rigors of training, which led to his death."

Li Lao Si exclaimed in surprise, "Impossible! The daily morning exercise is the same training, and nothing was added today. How could he not be able to handle it"

Another military doctor thought for a moment and said: "General, you are right. This soldier's spirit seems to have been drained."

"Like a hollow tree, it looks just like ordinary trees. But when wind and rain come, other trees sway a little and that's it, but this hollow tree breaks directly."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

This soldier's appearance is indeed unhealthy, truly looking like he is gravely ill.

Jiang Cheng asked, "We checked everyone when they entered the camp. He shouldn't be like this. And there hasn't been any shortage of food and supplies in the camp, so he shouldn't have become so emaciated. What exactly has drained his energy and spirit"

Then, some soldier, emboldened perhaps by drink, blurted out, “Could there be a fox spirit in the camp, preying on people’s blood”

Everyone subconsciously ducked their heads and looked around, as if a fox spirit could pounce out and bite them at any moment...

The Marquis opened his mouth and rebuked, "Nonsense! Military camps are heavily guarded places, where there's no such thing as a monster!"

Having said that, he ordered, “Wrap this soldier up and check all his belongings to see if there are any clues! Also, notify his family to come!”

"Yes, Lord."

Li Yong and Jiang Cheng both responded in unison.

Although the marquis didn't say anything, Li Lao Si took a step back and waited for the result.

In a short while, the soldier was carried out and placed in a makeshift coffin hastily constructed of wooden planks.

All of the soldier's belongings were also sent to the main tent. All the lieutenants and deputy generals in the camp gathered together to inspect them.

Luggage was not much, just clothing, bedding, a few silver coins, and some jade pendants and other ornaments.

If you're talking about strange things, there are two.

A very long pipe with a round gourd at the top.

The other was a jade box the size of a jujube.

The pipe looked like it was smoking dry tobacco, but upon closer inspection, it was somewhat different.

The jade box contained unknown objects, having been scraped clean and smelling faintly bitter.

Everyone asked around, but couldn't guess what it was.

Then, all the comrades of this deceased soldier were summoned.

There was a sharp one among them who, when the generals inquired about the long pipe and jade box, immediately began to explain everything.

"Lord, generals, the dead Chen He cherished these two things dearly. We often saw him secretly holding this pipe and digging something from a jade box to rub into it. After fiddling with it for a while, he would smoke contentedly, looking as if he were about to enter the bridal chamber. "

We were curious and wanted to try a sip. He even scolded us, saying we were poor sticks and that the contents of this jade box were priceless!

“Yeah, at the end of each month, our household would send him something, we'd all gather together to eat and drink, he’d secretly hug that jade box and smile foolishly.” Another soldier also agreed, “But last month, it seemed like no one gave him a jade box, so he just got angry all the time, acting like a stubborn donkey, glaring at everyone unpleasantly.”

That clever soldier nodded vigorously and added, “Several times, I saw him acting like he was crazy, banging his head against the wall and rolling around on the floor. I wanted to get a military doctor for him, but he scolded me for meddling.”

Everyone frowned, guessing that this matter must be related to the mysterious jade box.

But the jade box was empty, only waiting for the families of the soldiers to arrive and inquire further.

Li Laosi temporarily took off the hat of brutal training that led to death, but the matter of training soldiers was still handed over to Jiang Cheng.

When the sun began to set, the family members of the deceased Chen He finally arrived.

The Chen family, going back two generations, was also illustrious in military achievements. They were a prominent martial arts family recognized even by the Heavenly Martial Emperor.

But perhaps our ancestors were too prodigiously talented, having absorbed all the spiritual energy meant for their descendants.

By Chen He's father and uncles, talents were mediocre. They relied on the family's reputation and loyalty to become fourth-rank military officers in the Kyoto city defense army.

By the time Chen He's generation arrived, the Chen family had dwindled. Only Chen He and another cousin inherited the family business and lineage.

These two brothers spend their days playing with cats and dogs, eating, drinking, gambling, and living a life of extravagance.

When recruiting soldiers, my cousin dodged the draft because he had bought a scholar's official title on a whim last year.

Chen He had no choice but to grit his teeth and enter the military camp.

Now that Chen He is dead, half the roof of the Chen family's house has collapsed.

Chen He's father, Chen Chuan, and his uncle and second uncle arrived, their eyes red.

Almost as soon as they met, the three of them grabbed Li Laosi's collar, looking like they were going to eat him.

Chen Chuan roared in anger, "Xiao He often wrote home saying that training was hard, and we encouraged him to persevere. I never expected you would actually kill him with exhaustion! You damn peasant, do you know anything about training soldiers!"

"You are the murderer! I'm going to report you! No one can save you. You have to pay for what you did to Xiao He!"ncubine, a mere half-master and half-servant, could actually cause so much trouble! "Didn't scholars say they should cultivate themselves, manage their families, govern the country, and pacify the wor...