The three were very happy to have received Robert Scott's promise. Living in a border region plagued by frequent wars, everyone hoped to find a brave and formidable person for protection. Moreover, most of them had already lost their families and all their possessions; without following Samuel Harris, they had nowhere else to go for the time being, as the court did not allow border residents to enter the interior.

After chatting for a while and still not seeing Thomas Thompson return, everyone began to get a little anxious, thinking that Thomas Thompson might have encountered the Hu raiders and wanted to go out to search for him. Just as they were about to act, Thomas Thompson returned with two Han soldiers.

“The Wuwan people took advantage of the fact that most of my county troops were transferred west to resist the Xiongnu, and sent troops to raid the border fortresses in the northeast of our Han state! Warrior Harris, Robert Scott and I need to return to Youbeiping County at once. You should stay with Officer Howard; he will make arrangements.” It seemed the matter was urgent, as Thomas Thompson and Robert Scott rode off at a gallop.

The four of Samuel Harris watched Thomas Thompson leave in a hurry, stunned...

...

“Gentlemen, do not worry. I already know your intentions. Come with me back to the garrison first, and I will make arrangements.” James Howard was a squad leader, commanding five squads of ten men each, totaling fifty garrison soldiers.

He continued, “Those who join the army with captured spoils and enemy heads will be well rewarded. Warrior Harris, are you willing to serve as a squad leader in my unit?”

Samuel Harris, unable to clasp his fists in the ancient manner while on horseback, nodded vigorously and replied, “Yes!” For him, this was already the best arrangement. By now, he knew that not clasping his fists when responding was considered very rude.

“Excellent!” James Howard was overjoyed and turned to Matthew Cooper, John Morgan, and George Baker, “The three of you may also serve as team leaders in my unit...” He hesitated for a moment, “But unfortunately, there are currently no vacancies for team leaders, so you will have to be temporarily idle and first familiarize yourselves with the Han army system. If a vacancy arises, you will be appointed. How about it?”

John Morgan and George Baker were taken aback and looked rather displeased, but only Matthew Cooper was delighted. “May I serve as a soldier under my elder brother?” Immediately, John Morgan and George Baker made the same request.

“Of course!” James Howard paid no more attention to the three and began conversing with Samuel Harris. He seemed very interested in Samuel Harris, asking many questions along the way. He keenly observed that Samuel Harris could not ride a horse, yet his every movement carried a soldier’s bearing. Noticing Samuel Harris's unusually tall stature and taciturn nature, James Howard took a great liking to him.

“I heard from Captain Thompson that Sergeant Harris killed a tiger single-handedly, fierce as a demon, and was able to fight and defeat more than twenty Wuwan men in battle. I am truly impressed. It is a great joy for my unit to gain a warrior as brave as Sergeant Harris!”

According to James Howard, his outpost was quite close to the front lines and suffered constant harassment from nomadic tribes, making things very difficult. Several squad leaders had already died in battle, and the number of fallen team leaders and soldiers was countless. During peacetime, things were better, as they only needed to inspect merchants leaving the pass. But recently, with the Xiongnu and the Wuhuan (Wuwan people) from the northeast moving south, his forces had suffered heavy losses, and he was in dire need of warriors like Samuel Harris to join.

They continued north until they saw a military flag with a red background and the character ‘Han’ written in clerical script in the center. Beneath the flag was a military camp surrounded by wooden stakes, not very large, set up at the edge of a slope. The road was blocked in the middle by two rows of movable sharpened wooden stakes. Several horse barriers were set up in front of the outpost, and on either side of the road stood five infantrymen holding long spears.

Samuel Harris noticed that after the outpost spotted them, the infantry who had been standing on either side of the road ran back behind the horse barriers and formed a formation. Behind the infantry, near a pile of unlit bonfires, a soldier appeared holding a torch, ready to throw it down and light the signal fire at any moment. In the distance, the sound of a gong could be heard. In an instant, the entire outpost sprang to life. Soldiers with weapons rushed out of the tents in the camp, taking their positions behind the wooden stakes, their weapons pointed straight ahead.

Seeing Samuel Harris staring in amazement, James Howard laughed heartily, “How about my lads?” Without waiting for Samuel Harris's reply, he spurred his horse forward, shouting, “Is Franklin Reed here? Come out and take the warhorses, and quickly bring them back to the county magistrate to be registered!”

Samuel Harris and the others finally approached the outpost. Before they could come to a complete stop, an elderly man of about fifty, dressed in a straight tunic and long trousers, led a few people over at a run and, without a word, reached for the reins...

“Wait!” John Morgan jumped off his horse and bowed. “Gentlemen, these warhorses were captured by my elder brother Samuel Harris, and the heads hanging from the horses are those of the enemies we slew—thirty-two fine Wuwan warhorses and thirty-six enemy heads in total!”

Franklin Reed beamed with smiles and bowed repeatedly. “Understood, understood... This old servant will certainly report the valor of you warriors to the county magistrate. There will be no mistake...”

James Howard was not displeased, but led the four over and said with a smile, “In the Han, military merit is of utmost importance. Anyone who forges or embezzles military merit—will be executed!” He recited the names of the four: “Franklin Reed, have you remembered them?”

Franklin Reed bowed again and again. “This old servant has remembered: Samuel Harris is squad leader, John Morgan, Matthew Cooper, and George Baker are soldiers. There will be no mistake. I will now go and report to the pavilion chief. I’ll be off. Officer Howard, do you have any other instructions?”