The labor reform prisoner continued, his eyes bright. "And there's something to look forward to. In another six months, my term will be finished. I'll be released. After that, I'll be paid for my work. I heard that even someone like me, with low skills, can earn one or two taels of silver a month."
Lao Huihui pondered this. "So labor has rewards here. That's not bad at all."
The prisoner laughed. "That's just the pay in a poor area. I heard that if you take one of those big trains to a major city like Luoyang, wages are even higher. And if you're willing to take a bit of risk and ride a big ship down to Jiangnan, working at ports or shipyards, the pay is even better."
His voice dropped slightly. "It's just… going that far makes me nervous."
Lao Huihui clapped him on the shoulder and laughed. "What were we before? Bandits. We roamed the entire land, afraid of nothing. And now you're scared of traveling far?"
The prisoner scratched his head and sighed. "I'm honestly tired of wandering. Settling down in one place sounds better than anything. But the wages out there are so tempting. I've been struggling with this every day."
He counted on his fingers. "Six months left. Where should I go? I need to decide before then. I want stability, but I'm afraid it'll just be a poor, dull life. I want to go out and make money, but I worry I'm not capable. Still, if I succeed, I could earn enough to come back, build a decent house, marry a good wife…"
He let out a long breath. "It's hard to choose."
Lao Huihui fell silent.
This man was not merely surviving. He was planning his future.
Just that alone already made him stronger than Lao Huihui's three thousand subordinates.
Those three thousand men followed him blindly every day. Their only hope was to fill their stomachs. They never had the chance, nor the energy, to think about what kind of life they wanted.
I have failed them.
A wave of guilt washed over Lao Huihui's heart.
At that moment, the labor reform prisoner pointed toward a distant hillside. A soldier stood guard there, holding a flintlock rifle.
"See that guy?" the prisoner whispered.
"I see him," Lao Huihui replied. "What about him?"
"He used to be one of Wa Guanzi's men."
"Oh? Is he also a labor reform prisoner?"
The prisoner shook his head quickly. "No. Look at the rifle. He was released a year ago for good behavior. After that, he joined the army here. Now he's stationed at Tianzhu Mountain and receives a military salary."
"They pay soldiers here too?" Lao Huihui asked in surprise.
He recalled the transport captain's words from the previous day. Laborers or soldiers. This man had clearly chosen the latter.
The prisoner nodded. "They do, and the pay is high. With allowances and bonuses, it adds up to at least five taels of silver a month. Almost double what ordinary laborers earn."
"That much?" Lao Huihui murmured.
"It's incredible," the prisoner said. "We're all jealous. But we came from bandit life. We know how dangerous fighting is. That money isn't easy to earn. When I'm free, I don't want to be a soldier. I'm afraid I'll earn it, then die before I get to spend it."
Lao Huihui nodded slowly. "Mm."
A sharp whistle sounded in the distance. Someone shouted, "A few of you, come move this rock."
The prisoner jumped. "Brother Lao Huihui, I've got work. We'll talk later."
He ran off, shouting as he went, "Captain, I'll take it. I'll move it."
The captain laughed. "You little rascal. Always trying to stand out. You're only six months from release and you're already so impatient?"
The prisoner grinned. "Even one day earlier is worth it. Captain, you have to pick me as a model labor reform prisoner this month. You've seen how hard I work."
The captain waved his hand. "Alright, alright. Keep it up. If you're chosen, you'll get at least three months cut off. Maybe even the full half year."
The prisoner whooped with joy. "Great. Just watch me."
Lao Huihui watched the man's back as he carried the heavy rock away. Then his gaze shifted to the sentry standing guard, rifle in hand, already free and employed by the Gao Family Village militia.
He let out a quiet sigh and walked over.
The sentry noticed him and immediately straightened, saluting. "Brother Lao Huihui. Long time no see. The last time I saw you was during the battle at Shangnan County."
Lao Huihui looked him over carefully. This man was clearly doing better than the labor reform prisoner. His clothes were finer, his posture confident, his spirit lively.
This was what it meant to truly turn one's life around.
"You're doing well," Lao Huihui said. "You look like a proper man now."
The sentry smiled. "Life's been good to me."
Then his expression turned earnest. "Back when I was still with the bandits, I was young and ignorant. I thought you had thousands of cavalry but didn't know how to use them. I didn't understand you at all."
He lowered his voice. "Only after coming here and learning things did I realize that among all the bandit leaders, you were the best."
Lao Huihui gave him a puzzled look. "What makes me so special?"
"Your discipline," the sentry said without hesitation. "You never plundered civilians. You only attacked cities held by government troops. And you were truly skilled in war. Whether brute strength or tactical cunning, you stood above the rest."
His admiration was obvious. "If only I had followed you back then. Instead, I followed Wa Guanzi…"
Lao Huihui shook his head. "Following him wasn't entirely bad. You were captured early, sent here, reformed, and now you have a new life. You corrected your path faster than any of my men."
The sentry laughed awkwardly. "Maybe. A misfortune turning into a blessing. If my luck had been worse, I'd have been shot dead in Shangnan and be meeting the King of Hell by now."
He sighed. "Following you would have been the straighter path. I could stand taller now."
After a pause, he continued, "A few days ago, I heard you were coming. Not as a labor reform prisoner, but as an allied guest commander. I was so envious. If I hadn't made mistakes, I could've walked into Tianzhu Mountain with my head held high."
He shook his head. "But there are no 'ifs' in life."
Then his eyes lit up. "Brother Lao Huihui, why don't you lead your men and all join the militia here? I'll request a transfer to your command. I want to follow you from now on."
Lao Huihui did not answer.