"As long as you follow me, I promise that from now on, you will have meat to eat at every meal, not just soup with floating oil droplets." Jake's words ignited the determination in everyone's hearts.
"Yeah, we'll have meat to eat if we follow the captain!" Brenton was the first to respond.
"Right, from now on, we'll stick with the captain forever." Adrian chimed in.
"Captain, we'll follow you. From now on, we'll listen to you." The other team members echoed. It was just an unfulfilled promise, but it made Jake's image in their hearts even more towering and his position more significant.
Initially, Jake had just spoken casually. However, seeing everyone's sincere and eager eyes, he suddenly felt that he should fulfill this promise and not let them down.
Afterward, everyone happily gathered around, eating steamed buns, and Jake took the opportunity to learn more about each person's situation. As Jake expected, Brenton and the others came from poor families, or rather, extremely poor ones. Many times, they had to go hungry and had barely enough to eat, let alone meat.
No wonder they were so excited to have a taste of meat soup. They seemed ready to give everything for Jake. Brenton had a robust physique, and Jake initially thought his family conditions might be better, as it was rare for someone so sturdy to come from such poverty. However, the reality was different.
Brenton was an orphan. He had a hearty appetite from a young age, which burdened the village as they couldn't afford to feed him well. At the age of ten, he started working as an apprentice in the town's blacksmith shop, working for three meals a day with no wages.
Originally, the owner of the blacksmith shop thought he was taking advantage, but Brenton's appetite only grew as he got older. He could eat three bowls of rice in one meal. Unable to tolerate this anymore, the blacksmith's family started giving him poorer quality food, often leftovers, and rarely anything substantial.
Brenton knew that if this situation continued, he might be kicked out, and then he would face the challenge of survival. Just at that time, the imperial court called for conscription, and Brenton voluntarily returned to the village, asking the village chief for a spot in the military.
The village chief had no objections since not many people were willing to undertake military service, which was a tough and dangerous job with low pay and inadequate food. Brenton's willingness to go was a blessing for them. So that's how Brenton ended up here.
Adrian's situation wasn't much better than Brenton's. He was the sixth of seven siblings in his family, hence his name Adrian. His family was very poor, and two of his older siblings died of starvation. The other two older brothers were too old to marry because they couldn't afford the dowry due to poverty. As for his only sister, she was sent to a wealthy household to work as a maid, which allowed her to support herself but not earn much.
Adrian, whose mind was quite agile, was contemplating finding a way out. Otherwise, in the future, even if he didn't starve to death, he wouldn't be able to afford a wife, not to mention taking care of his younger brother.
At this moment, Adrian thought about joining the army. Joining the regular army was hopeless as it required connections, and not just anyone could get in. However, being part of a makeshift army was not a bad idea. They received rations and had food, shelter, and if he managed to save some money, he could support his family. Moreover, with one less mouth to feed at home, the burden on his family would be slightly lighter.
So, Adrian ended up here. As for the other team members, each had their own circumstances. Some volunteered to join, while others were forced. But no matter the reason, they all came from poor families. If their families were well-off, they wouldn't be joining the army, especially a makeshift one like this.
Listening to their stories, Jake felt a sense of melancholy. He had been in this world for a while, but most of his time was spent in the hermit village. This was his first time venturing far from it. Originally, Jake thought that people in other parts of this world would be as content and prosperous as the villagers, but he didn't expect this world to be much crueler than he had imagined.
Though the hermit villagers were few, their lives were comfortable. Each family had their own farmland, not much, but enough to sustain them. They also raised some poultry, so meat was not scarce. Additionally, there was a forest nearby, providing edible wild animals and fruits. Therefore, the hermit villagers never worried about food and drink. Even the rich resources in the back mountains were left untouched because they already had enough to meet their needs.
Jake had once believed that people in other parts of the world would lead peaceful, serene lives, just like the villagers. But now, he clearly realized he was mistaken.
People in other parts of the world, especially the lower class, lived in poverty and faced hardships daily. This made Jake more vigilant.
Although Brenton said earlier that the imperial rule was stable, and there were no immediate crises, and he didn't need to serve in the military all year long, Jake understood that if people's living conditions worsened to the point where they could barely survive, chaos would arise. Then, the so-called crises could happen anywhere, making it nearly impossible for him to have more free time and avoid extended military service.
"No, I must achieve merit before any major changes occur and then exempt myself from military service," Jake thought.
However, earning merit wouldn't be easy, especially since they were just part of a makeshift army. It would be even more challenging. Besides, to be exempt from military service, the merit had to be significant.
"After the training period ends, we'll start transporting supplies to the frontline. I'll see if I can find an opportunity, even if it involves risks, I must try," Jake decided inwardly.
Jake wasn't afraid of risks, as he wasn't from this world. If he died, it wouldn't matter; he would be back in a few seconds. His concern was not being able to find a chance to achieve merit, which would be the most annoying thing.