Establishing Authority! Beat Them Until They Submit If They Don't Obey

Silence, the silence of death.

Throughout the new camp, apart from the "glug glug" of the meat soup steaming in the large iron pot, the only sounds were the heavy breaths of several hundred "troublemaker" veteran soldiers.

All eyes were fixed on their companion, who lay more than ten yards away, spitting blood, his life hanging in the balance. Then, as if seeing a ghost, their gazes snapped towards the young Chieftain who was slowly retracting his fist.

One punch!

Just a casual punch!

Zhang Kui, known as "Iron Dog-Bear" in the army, a strong man who could wrestle a wild bull bare-handed, was sent flying like that? Knocked unconscious without even a groan?

What kind of strength was this, capable of being unleashed by a human?

Sun He's sneer froze completely, as if doused with ice water. He felt a chill run down his back, a cold current surging from the soles of his feet straight to the crown of his head. He hadn't even seen how Wei Zhe threw the punch; it was just a blur before his eyes, and the Zhang Kui who had provoked him was already in mid-air.

What kind of monster was this?

His mind went blank. All the hundred ways he had prepared to torment and humiliate the new officer had become a joke under this punch. In the face of absolute power, any scheme or trickery seemed so pale and weak.

Wei Zhe, however, felt a sense of calm, even satisfaction.

Was this the power of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill? Even on the first level, using less than thirty percent of his strength, it had such a terrifying effect. When he threw that punch, he felt like he wasn't channeling internal energy, but a purer, more dominant force. It was as if every muscle, every inch of bone in his body, twisted into one rope, unleashing a landslide-like energy.

This feeling of deciding everything with a single punch was simply exhilarating!

He knew that reasoning was useless against Sun He's group of unruly old ruffians, and promises of office could only buy them over temporarily. Only once, just this once, by using the method they believed in and respected the most, by thoroughly scaring and subduing them, could he avoid countless troubles in his future command of the army.

Now, it seemed the effect was outstanding.

"Centurion Sun," Wei Zhe's voice broke the dead silence. He didn't even look at Sun He, his gaze still sweeping over the group of intimidated "troublemakers." "Your subordinate has good bones and sinews; he's a good prospect for martial arts training. It's just that his brain isn't very sharp, and he doesn't know how to hold back his strength."

Sun He's face flushed and paled. The words sounded like praise, but every syllable struck his face like a slap. What did he mean by not knowing how to hold back? You were the one who beat him half to death!

But he dared not retort.

The veteran soldiers behind him all lowered their heads, not daring to meet Wei Zhe's gaze. Their earlier intentions of watching the show, or even joining in the heckling, were all gone. These were men who lived by the edge of a knife; they could clearly distinguish between a sheep and a tiger that could kill them.

The young man before them was not a tiger; he was an ancient ferocious beast in human skin!

Sun He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He knew he couldn't just admit defeat, or he would never be able to hold his head up in the army again. As a Centurion, his subordinate had been seriously injured by the new officer in front of everyone. If he didn't say anything, who would respect him in the future?

Mustering his courage, he took a step forward and shouted, feigning ferocity, "Wei Zhe! You... how dare you seriously injure a comrade in public! He just wanted to spar with you, why did you strike with such a vicious hand! According to Great Qin military law, you..."

"Military law?" Wei Zhe finally turned his head, looking at him with a half-smile. "He himself said he wanted to exchange a few moves with me. Sparring in the army, fists and feet have no eyes, I don't need to teach you this, do I? Or perhaps, Centurion Sun, you think I used too much force and want to step in yourself to get revenge for him?"

Wei Zhe's voice was not loud, but it struck Sun He's heart like a heavy hammer.

Step in himself?

Sun He's pupils contracted sharply. He glanced at Zhang Kui, who was still twitching more than ten yards away. His throat felt as if it were stuffed with cotton, and he couldn't utter a single word. He knew his own capabilities. He was stronger than Zhang Kui, but only slightly. Zhang Kui was already beaten like this with one punch; if he went up, his outcome would likely be even more embarrassing.

If he dared to say "yes," he would be the one lying there today.

Seeing Sun He's dejected and cowardly demeanor, Wei Zhe sneered inwardly. This was the effect he wanted.

He no longer paid attention to the Centurion, who had lost his standing, and turned his gaze to the hundreds of new recruits. His voice suddenly rose, "I don't care which camp you were in before, which general you followed, or what merits you earned, no matter how outstanding you were. From today onwards, you will only be branded with three words—Tiger and Wolf Army!"

"In my Tiger and Wolf Army, there are only two rules!"

His voice was sonorous and powerful, carrying an undeniable authority.

"First, obey orders! Unconditional obedience! My word is military order! Anyone who dares to feign compliance or openly defy me will suffer the same fate as him!" He pointed at Zhang Kui in the distance. "No, worse than him! They will be dealt with by military law, with no leniency!"

"Second, rewards for merit, punishments for mistakes! Follow me, Wei Zhe. As long as you are willing to fight and put in the effort, I guarantee you will have meat to eat and wine to drink every day! For spoils of war, apart from the portion handed over, I will not take a single cent of the rest; it will all be distributed to you according to your contributions! If you want to be promoted, get rich, and bring glory to your ancestors, I will give you that opportunity!"

"But!" His tone shifted, and his eyes suddenly became sharp. "If anyone dares to play dirty behind my back, slack off during training, or be a coward in battle, dragging down the brothers beside them, don't blame me, Wei Zhe, for being ruthless and using their heads to consecrate the flag!"

His speech, a combination of grace and power, a carrot and a stick, changed the expressions of the veteran ruffians.

What did they become soldiers for? Wasn't it just to make a living, to earn some military merits, so that their families could live a better life?

Although this new officer's methods were terrifyingly ruthless, the promises he made were too tempting! Meat to eat every day? All military merits distributed? These were things they hadn't even dared to dream of before!

Besides, his strength was evident. Following such a strong leader, their chances of survival on the battlefield would be greater, and they would earn more military merits!

For a moment, everyone's thoughts began to stir. The way they looked at Wei Zhe gradually shifted from initial fear to a kind of indescribable fervor.

Wei Zhe took in everyone's expressions. He walked to the large pot, picked up a ladle, and personally scooped a spoonful of the fragrant meat soup. He sniffed it and nodded with satisfaction.

"Today is the first day of the expansion of my Tiger and Wolf Army, and also the first day we become a family. This pot of meat and these jars of wine are my welcoming gift to my brothers." He pointed at the pot and wine jars and announced loudly, "Eat your fill and drink your fill. Rest well today, and tomorrow, we begin formal training!"

"One last thing!" His gaze swept across the entire field again, carrying a domineering air that looked down on the world. "If anyone here still feels that I, Wei Zhe, am not worthy of being your Chieftain, or if you have any lingering dissatisfaction, step forward now! Don't whisper behind my back like a woman! I, Wei Zhe, will take you on one by one today!"