This is an inverse to my first post about rich stupid kid.

Now your a poor smart kid.

The Emperor after being pressured to exempt rich kids from fighting has decided to conscript poor kids, but not just any poor kids. Smart poor kids who know how to survive with little next to nothing.

The situation: The Emperor has given you a measly allowance to buy your own arms and armour, so what do you do?

The only thing you own is just the shirt off your back and a bow and arrow (a composite bow) plus a nice little dagger you got from mugging a rich kid who got exempted from service.

Personally I'd go and mug a few rich kids to supplement my equipment.