In troubled times, even a fool knows that joining the army is one of the few ways out. Only someone as useless as Uncle would not dare to seek merit and achievements at the front, earning the contempt of others.

Looking at Mark Brooks's physique, even at a young age he is burly and robust. After a few years of training in the army, he might even become a fierce general!

“Very good. Anyway, there are recruitment notices everywhere. Didn’t we see one while walking down the street?”

Mark Brooks shook his head violently and spat, cursing, “I’d rather die than become a lackey for a foolish emperor!” He declared firmly, “I want to follow General Harris and serve as a soldier under him. But now the city gates are closed, I can’t get out, and I don’t know if I’ll have the chance…”

“You will definitely have the chance, and it will come soon. Trust me!”

Edward Clark blinked, looking completely confident.

Mark Brooks didn’t know where his confidence came from, and Edward Clark didn’t want to say more. He got up and gazed out the window. The night was slightly cool, the sky high and filled with dense stars, deep and boundless.

Edward Clark silently calculated in his heart: the Guo family is already dead, the next step is for Henry Bennett to lead his troops out of the city and be defeated, fleeing back in disgrace. Then the civil and military officials in the city will betray him, the emperor will die miserably among the troops, a new ruler will enter the city… And then, that shameless prime minister Arthur Reed, who has already served eight emperors, will add another line to his resume. He can proudly proclaim that he has outlasted yet another dynasty. Then he’ll fill the screen with a few illustrious official titles and show off extravagantly!

Edward Clark was very calm, silently calculating every event that was about to happen. He was especially focused, his eyes seeming to see through the deep night sky.

Mark Brooks stared at him from the side. He felt that Edward Clark had a certain aura, very much like his own Master. Master would also often gaze at the stars like this, then predict the fate of the current high officials, even the emperor. The old man had even said that he himself would become a great general, awe-inspiring, with illustrious military achievements, ennobled with a wife and descendants, and his family would prosper for generations—just thinking about it made one happy!

Could it be that this Edward Clark, who was even younger than himself, also had the ability to foresee fate? Otherwise, how could he be so certain? Mark Brooks was tactful and didn’t ask more. Anyone with real ability always has some quirks; it’s best not to be too nosy!

Suddenly!

The bells and drums sounded, people shouted, and horses neighed.

It was as if the sky was collapsing and the earth was cracking!

Edward Clark's expression changed dramatically. The sleeping Clark turned over and woke up, panic-stricken. The other beggar children were like startled birds, looking outside in terror, their hearts about to leap out of their chests.

Mark Brooks stepped forward. “I’ll go out and take a look!”

“Be extra careful.”

After Edward Clark finished speaking, he hurriedly supported Grandma and carried Young Master Harris to the base of the ruined temple wall. Beyond the wall was a drainage culvert. Kaifeng city was next to the Yellow River and suffered from severe waterlogging, so its drainage system was also the most developed. Although not as dense as in the Northern Song period, it was still quite impressive. Edward Clark regarded the drainage ditch as the last hiding place—if there was no other way, he would crawl underground. Of course, this was a last resort; the smell in the sewers was unbearable.

So, after waiting for a while, Mark Brooks came back with a scowl, fuming.

“Another conscription!”

“What? Conscripting people in the middle of the night?” Clark was puzzled.

Mark Brooks smiled helplessly. “Old Madam, it’s easier to catch people at night. If they waited until daytime, once there’s a commotion, everyone would run away—how would they seize people and food then?”

It turned out that the people of Kaifeng had learned to play guerrilla with the authorities. Mark Brooks continued, “The foolish emperor wants to lead the army himself, the imperial guards are mobilized, and they can’t go without food. All the restaurants, inns, and teahouses in the capital must contribute money and food! At the very least, 80 jin of steamed buns, two dan of polished rice, and 5 strings of cash!”

“Insane!”

That was all Edward Clark could say.

Squeezing the people dry, exploiting them without limit—before even setting out, the hearts of the capital’s people are already lost. How could they possibly win?

A change of dynasty is truly just around the corner!

Moreover, with Henry Bennett taking his lackeys and the imperial guards away, at least Kaifeng would be a bit more peaceful. That was a good thing. Edward Clark yawned and said, “Let’s go back to sleep!”

Chapter 6: Old Trade

For once, Edward Clark had a good night’s sleep, dreamless. When he woke up, he found that GrandmaClark was gone. Usually, the old lady would get up early to cook for everyone.

Grandma mustn’t be lost!

Edward Clark hurriedly got up to look for her. When he reached the back hall of the Earth God temple, he saw Clark kneeling on the ground, facing a half-broken deity statue, muttering prayers with great devotion.

Perhaps she heard Edward Clark's footsteps, the old lady stopped, turned around, her eyes red and swollen. She wiped her eyes and said softly, “It’s nothing, I was just praying to the gods and Buddhas, asking them to bless the dead, so they may enter the cycle of reincarnation early, and be reborn in a peaceful era in their next life—may they never again be left exposed on the streets!”

The old lady was both angry and helpless, her eyes red.

Edward Clark frowned and asked, “Aunt, did you go to the execution ground?”

The old lady didn’t deny it, sighing, “I just wanted to get up early to buy some vegetables, but I took the wrong road and ended up at the execution ground…” Her voice trembled, her fingers shook as she painfully recalled, “Eddie, there were so many corpses, and dogs tearing at them—it was too tragic, too tragic. It was hell on earth, even worse than hell.”

For the dead to be denied a proper burial is the greatest cruelty!

And yet, in these times, good people are not rewarded, and even in death cannot rest in peace!

Heavens, how can you be so cruel!