However, speaking of which, Samuel Harris was also very much looking forward to returning to the rear to see what kind of life the ancestors of the Han people actually lived.

Volume Two Blood-soaked Fortress

Chapter Twelve The Legend of the Qin Emperor

James Howard was extremely cautious during the retreat. He ordered the garrison soldiers to protect the civilians and supplies in the center as much as possible. As a result, Samuel Harris's squad was also arranged in the middle. Seeing Samuel Harris's displeased expression, he earnestly tried to persuade him, explaining that since Samuel Harris had just joined the army and was unfamiliar with the Han military system, this was for his own good.

Samuel Harris felt helpless after hearing this and could only obey. He also understood the principle of "soldiers not knowing the general, generals not knowing the soldiers." Coordinated combat on the battlefield was different from pure individual fighting. On the battlefield, Han soldiers who had not practiced formation drills were extremely insignificant when facing the harassment of nomads, and individual strength simply could not compete with cavalry.

His tall stature and strange clothing made him stand out among the Han soldiers, and because of this, he encountered a lot of trouble.

Walking through the grassy wilderness, soldiers or civilians without tasks would always gather around Samuel Harris, asking all sorts of strange questions. One civilian, over fifty years old, asked the most unique question—he asked Samuel Harris if he was the legendary "Ancient Tomb General." At first, Samuel Harris didn't know what an "Ancient Tomb General" was, but after a group of people explained all at once, Samuel Harris was left dumbfounded...

It turned out that the so-called Ancient Tomb Generals were the fierce guardians of the emperors' tombs in the past. Legend had it that before the First Emperor of Qin, Ying Zheng, died, he mobilized the entire nation to have craftsmen create terracotta warriors (the Terracotta Army). The most special among them were 108 tall and valiant general statues made of brass by alchemists. These 108 statues symbolized the 108 stars in the sky, meant to ward off evil spirits and guard the territory of Great Qin. The people of Qin, along with nine giant bronze cauldrons, hid them deep in various places across the land of China.

They described in vivid detail how the Ancient Tomb Generals were carved in the form of warriors over eight feet tall. Samuel Harris happened to be exactly eight feet two, and with his robust build and strange attire, he fit the legendary image of the Ancient Tomb General perfectly.

Samuel Harris first laughed it off, but then felt something was wrong. The Ancient Tomb Generals were the First Emperor's generals, but he was now in the Han dynasty, so he quickly said he wasn't one. But no matter how he explained, the soldiers and civilians just wouldn't believe him.

"The Ancient Tomb Generals are truly divine. There was a prophecy by an alchemist that when the land of China is about to be revived, the Ancient Tomb Generals will emerge to help the current emperor drive out foreign invaders and protect the commoners and nobles."

"But... weren't the Ancient Tomb Generals from the Qin dynasty?"

"What are you saying? The Qin people are Chinese, the Han people are also Chinese, we're all Chinese. The Ancient Tomb Generals protect all Chinese people! Don't you protect us?"

Samuel Harris didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Not only the old man, but everyone was looking at him very seriously, their faces full of pleading. He didn't dare make any promises, nor did he admit to being an Ancient Tomb General. He just vaguely said that as long as he was alive, he would definitely serve the country and fight to the death to defend the frontier.

It was after this night of retreat that, without Samuel Harris's knowledge, the story of the Ancient Tomb General's emergence was spread around, further embellished by Matthew Cooper, John Morgan, and George Baker. For a time, all sorts of rumors appeared in the border regions, hinting that the appearance of the Ancient Tomb General would intimidate the Hu nomads and prevent them from invading the south...

In fact, after years of war and with the people still unenlightened, their desires were not many. They only hoped to survive, for their crops to grow well, and to have enough to eat after paying taxes—that was enough.

...

A squad of garrison soldiers, plus twenty-one civilians, seventy-seven people in total, traveled more than ten miles before arriving at a fortress. They handed over wooden stakes, tents, and other supplies to the quartermaster of the fortress, and without stopping, continued south. Perhaps because the alert had been lifted, the soldiers and civilians no longer kept strict formation, mixing together with torches, talking and laughing loudly, mostly about the women and children at home.

Samuel Harris was called to walk with Leader Howard and the others. Only then did he learn that they had to retreat another thirty miles to Jingxiang Pavilion to rendezvous with the others. They were to wait for orders at Jingxiang Pavilion, meaning they could rest a bit and wait for new instructions.

"I just heard you were talking about the Ancient Tomb General?"

Samuel Harris was caught off guard and stammered for a long time, not knowing how to answer.

James Howard didn't press further, perhaps in a good mood after coming back from the front lines, and laughed, "Forget it, right now we do need to boost morale. Let them talk. Sergeant Harris, just treat it as an amusing story."

Only then did Samuel Harris manage a smile. He always kept a quiet demeanor, walking silently, listening to James Howard and the other four squad leaders discuss military affairs. The most talked about was the burning of Ganquan Palace by the Xiongnu, while casualties among the border troops and civilians were avoided as much as possible.

"After Squad Deputy Wu died in battle, the Lord Commandant hasn't sent a new deputy. Lord Officer, what do you think is going on?" The speaker was Stephen Ward. The so-called squad deputy was the vice-captain of a squad, and the commandant was the highest officer of a "qu" (company).

James Howard laughed and scolded, "What? You want to be squad deputy? Do you have enough military merit?" As he spoke, James Howard gave Samuel Harris a meaningful look. "The future is limitless!"

Stephen Ward looked at Samuel Harris with a displeased expression and said nothing more.