My strength increases by one percent every day; I can destroy stars with my bare hands.

"Thump, thump thump thump..."

Three days after the great victory, the drums of war sounded, and everyone excitedly headed to the training ground, knowing that it was time to reward those who had contributed.

Everyone quickly assembled, and Zhou Xingzhan stood on the high platform, looking at the army with its soaring morale, and loudly announced the military order.

The sound carried to every corner, and the first words spoken were astonishing.

"The entire conscripted troops fought bravely and relentlessly in this battle, achieving remarkable feats!"

"From this day forward, all of them will be incorporated into the regular combat ranks of the Great Yan, enjoying the full salary and preferential treatment of soldiers of the same rank, and sharing the same rights and honors as the soldiers of the imperial court."

boom!

The moment those words were spoken, the entire audience erupted in cheers!

The thousands of soldiers in the conscripted battalion froze on the spot, stunned by this sudden and overwhelming surprise, unable to recover for a long time.

"roar!"

After a moment of deathly silence, a deafening cheer erupted.

The sounds of roaring, weeping, and celebration mingled together.

The conscript battalion has always been regarded as cannon fodder and has never been truly recognized.

At this moment, they shed their humiliating status and became legitimate, official soldiers, gaining the dignity and glory they had always dreamed of.

The thousands of soldiers were so excited that they shouted out their excitement.

From then on, they were considered government officials, and their families could receive the government's protection, so they no longer had to worry about their livelihoods.

Some soldiers embraced each other and wept, trembling with excitement and tears of joy.

Li Xuancang was also somewhat surprised, but he soon learned what the court was thinking.

After numerous battles, only a handful of the original three thousand soldiers remained. The fact that the conscript battalion survived the brutal fighting proved their strength.

Incorporating them into the fighting force would not only make up for the manpower shortage, but also serve as a way to acquire valuable resources, achieving two goals at once.

After letting the crowd cheer for a while, Zhou Xingzhan raised his hand to silence the noise.

His sharp gaze swept over the crowd, and he began to reward those who had contributed.

"Commander Zhou Xiong led his men to intercept the barbarians' retreat, and his achievements were truly remarkable..."

Zhou Xiong has made a great contribution this time, and as a member of Zhou Xingzhan's clan, he will naturally receive a generous reward.

Rewards are given starting with the centurion, then the battalion commander, and finally the centurion.

Zhou Xingzhan's sharp gaze fell upon Li Xuancang, and his authoritative voice rang out.

"Li Xuancang, the Hundred-Man General, led the charge in this battle, killing 67 barbarian soldiers, including five Body Tempering Realm cultivators and one Bone Breaking Realm leader. He broke through the enemy's central army and intimidated the barbarians."

Upon hearing this, all eyes instantly turned to Li Xuancang, filled with shock and admiration, including some battalion commanders and centurions.

The Bone-Breaking Realm far surpasses the Body Tempering Realm, and many battalion commanders would avoid its sharp edge. Li Xuancang, with the strength of a hundred generals, killed such a powerful enemy, which can be described as a heaven-defying act.

Then, the generous rewards were announced one by one, which was truly awe-inspiring.

"He is bestowed with one hundred catties of refined iron, one hundred-refined spear, one set of armor, and forty top-grade cultivation pills."

He was bestowed with one hundred taels of silver, ten bolts of silk, and ten acres of fertile land.

"A special military merit medal is hereby awarded, and the honor will be recorded in the military merit register, so that the glory may be passed down through generations."

The messenger read out the rewards aloud, each sentence causing an uproar throughout the hall. Such a generous reward made countless people green with envy.

Especially the final military merit medal, which many battalion commanders never possessed.

This military medal is not merely a symbol of honor, but a privilege certificate recognized by the laws of the Great Yan Dynasty and jointly enforced by the entire army and local government.

It is also an unparalleled token that can protect the whole family and be passed down through generations. Every privilege is clearly stipulated by the imperial court, and no one dares to disobey it.

Medals grant promotions, allow selection of elite troops, and access to superior weaponry and elixirs. During wartime, they possess the authority to make on-the-spot decisions, and officers of the same rank must show them deference.

Ordinary crimes can be punished leniently, and crimes other than treason and rebellion can be exempted from the death penalty and torture. Local officials have no right to arbitrarily detain and interrogate such individuals.

My salary, military rations, and pension benefits will be doubled.

The holder's immediate family members (parents, wife, children, siblings) are exempt from all taxes, land rent, military service, and corvée labor for life, and are spared the suffering of oppressive regimes during times of chaos.

Local officials, gentry, and local bullies are not allowed to harass, oppress, or seize the family's land, property, or residence.

If family members are humiliated or harmed, the government must prioritize a thorough investigation and impose severe penalties; those who violate this rule will be severely punished.

Family members could receive a full amount of grain, silver, and cloth from the local government every month, ensuring they had no worries about food and clothing. They also received special rewards during festivals and were given priority relief during years of famine.

Family members are not required to kneel before officials, and ordinary officials must treat them with courtesy. If family members are involved in disputes, the government must show them favoritism and protection and must not arbitrarily make things difficult for them.

Military medals can be inherited by descendants and never expire. With the medals, descendants can have priority in joining the army, entering schools and official positions, and enjoy the family's legacy.

Even if the holder dies on the battlefield, all privileges of the entire family will be retained for life and will never be revoked.

Family members receiving double the compensation, and orphans and widows being provided with lifelong support by the government.

When their descendants grow up, they can directly join the army and serve in their positions based on their medals, without having to start as conscripts, and become combat soldiers directly.

Even generations later, descendants of the family can still use this military medal to avoid being oppressed by exorbitant taxes and bullied by villains, and enjoy the courtesy and protection of local officials.

If the holder dies in battle, he/she can be enshrined in the border martyrs' shrine and worshipped by future generations. His/her family will enjoy the honors of a martyr's family for life and be respected by people for generations.

This small medal was earned through glorious battles and bloodshed on the battlefield.

In times of chaos, it is a life-saving talisman and a privilege certificate that protects family members and benefits future generations. It is also the greatest reliance for the entire family to change its destiny and ensure stability for generations.

Li Xuancang was also aware of the many benefits of military medals and was very excited.

With this medal of honor, he had no more worries. Even if he died on the battlefield, his family could live a good life.

Li Xuancang stepped forward and accepted the reward in a deep voice.

"This humble general thanks you for your kindness, Captain."

Zhou Xingzhan's gaze softened as he said gently, "This is what you deserve. As long as you make sufficient contributions, I will not be stingy with my rewards."

Zhou Xingzhan became increasingly interested in Li Xuancang, hoping that he could make another contribution.

"Thank you for your guidance, sir."

Li Xuancang bowed in thanks, then accepted the reward and slowly withdrew.

Everyone looked at Li Xuancang, their eyes reddening.

Li Xuancang remained unfazed; he had earned all of this with his life and deserved it without question.

"It must have been Commander Zhou who fought for me."

Li Xuancang's mind raced, and he guessed that Zhou Xiong must have been behind it all, which led to Zhou Xingzhan being awarded the military medal.

The ceremony of rewarding merit lasted for several hours, and almost everyone received a reward.

Li Xuancang sent the silver and cloth rewards home, as he had no use for them while in the army.

Also sent back were military medals.

In chaotic times, this is a lifesaver.

As long as one presents military medals, even the local county magistrate will have to take it seriously.

After doing all this, Li Xuancang summoned his remaining thirty soldiers and made a surprising move.

"I don't need these pills, you can take them all!"

Li Xuancang doesn't need pills to improve his strength, so these pills are useless to him. He might as well share them with everyone.

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned, their eyes practically popping out of their sockets, as if they had misheard.

These are all top-grade pills, rare even for a centurion, and simply not something these low-ranking soldiers could access.

Li Xuancang actually distributed the pills to them, and everyone thought they were dreaming.

"My lord, this...this..."

The crowd's eyes burned with intense desire, yet they dared not make a move, stammering as they asked Li Xuancang for confirmation.

These pills give them the opportunity to break through to the Body Tempering Realm and allow them to advance further in the Body Tempering Realm. No one can resist this temptation.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Li Xuancang said calmly, "Take it! We'll split it equally."

Their eyes gleamed, confirming they hadn't misheard, and they could no longer contain their desire and excitement.

"Thank you, sir..."

This was nothing short of a life-saving grace, and everyone bowed to Li Xuancang.

Get up!

Li Xuancang didn't care too much. To him, these pills were dispensable. Using them to enhance the strength of his subordinates was a good way to make the most of them.

After quickly distributing the pills, everyone thanked Li Xuancang profusely and left in high spirits.