c:\test>type error.bat
@echo off
exit /b 123

##</code><code>##

system 'error.bat & exit ERRORLEVEL';;
print $? >>8;;

123

##</code><code>##

c:\test>type error.bat
@echo off
exit 123

c:\test>p1
[0] Perl> system 'error.bat'; print $? >>8;;
123