Wu Shuangren was also very excited. In his eyes, these were not money, but soldiers!
With these, he can raise even more soldiers!
84. Blood debts must be repaid in blood!
Wu Shuangren ordered all valuables to be loaded onto carts. The Xie family already had a fleet of vehicles for transporting goods, and more than twenty carts were pulled out. Gold and silver were packed into boxes, treasures were bundled, grain was loaded, and weapons were bundled...
"Should we send people to ransack the West River Gang's base beforehand?"
Mo Zhengxing reminded Wu Shuangren.
While the West River Gang may not be as wealthy as the Xie Clan, they certainly still have considerable savings. Now, with four of their five leaders dead, their headquarters are an empty shell.
Mo Zhengxing was worried that other forces would take advantage of the situation and try to profit from the situation.
Wu Shuangren thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Let's not split up our forces for now. It would be very dangerous if we were picked off one by one."
The Xie Clan Chamber of Commerce and the West River Gang are finished, but West River Market still has the Flying Feather Gang and the Zhang Clan.
"As for those things, even if someone takes them, they'll have to give them back sooner or later!"
Wu Shuangren said domineeringly.
It took everyone nearly two hours to load everything onto the truck.
3:15 PM (Shen Shi Yi Ke)
On the main street outside Xie's residence, more than twenty carts were lined up in two rows, with militiamen standing on both sides and in front and behind the carts.
The upheaval at the Xie residence had already alarmed the entire West River Market. In addition to various merchants, various powerful groups sent people to the vicinity to secretly watch the situation.
"Everyone assemble!"
Wu Shuangren's voice echoed through the streets.
The militiamen quickly lined up.
Their armor was stained with blood; after the baptism of bloody battle, everyone's eyes had become sharp, and they exuded a more chilling aura.
Wu Shuangren stood at the very front of the group.
"Bring the person up."
He gave the order.
Soon, Xie Jingshan and more than a dozen members of the Xie Family were brought over.
The Xie Family certainly has more than this many members, but most of them are scattered in various places doing business, while some are retired in the state capital.
Kneel down!
The militiamen made all the dozen or so Xie Family kneel in a row. Several women had already collapsed to the ground, sobbing softly.
Xie Jingshan realized something was wrong and quickly shouted at Wu Shuangren, "Militia Commander Wu, what are you doing?"
"I've already surrendered!"
"I've given you everything from the Xie Family!"
"Militia Commander Wu, keep me alive, and you'll be able to get your hands on the Xie Clan's business across the country. That money will be more than you got today!"
"Militia Commander Wu, I can help you make even more money..."
Xie Jingshan shouted desperately.
Wu Shuangren ordered his men to gag him.
Seeing this, the rest of the Xie Family realized what was about to happen; some begged for mercy, while others cursed loudly.
Wu Shuangren had no choice but to order everyone's mouths to be gagged.
Mo Zhengxing opened his mouth, wanting to persuade him, but looking into Wu Shuangren's eyes, he ultimately said nothing.
Wu Shuangren turned around and faced all the militiamen.
"We were ambushed today! Your brothers, your comrades, some are dead, some are seriously wounded and disabled!"
Upon hearing this, many militiamen in the ranks had tears in their eyes.
They've spent so many days and nights together, eating, sleeping, and training, and now they're fighting side-by-side, facing life and death together.
The bond between comrades has been established.
Wu Shuangren pointed at Xie Jingshan, who was kneeling on the ground. "He is the culprit today!"
Xie Jingshan's body began to tremble, and he shook his head desperately.
Wu Shuangren slowly drew the Fish-Dragon Saber. This treasured blade of the Mo Family had several minor creases on its blade after today's bloody battle.
The long sword was pointed at Xie Jingshan.
"He just said he's still useful; he can help me consolidate the Xie Clan Chamber of Commerce's businesses in other places, and he can help me make even more money. He hopes I can let him go..."
"But my soldiers are dead!"
Wu Shuangren spoke slowly and deliberately, his voice like thunder, "Your comrades are dead!"
"The enemy must pay the price—"
The blade flashed.
Xie Jingshan's head flew off, and blood splattered three feet high!
Mo Zhengxing sighed.
This cut will cost them a lot less money...
The militiamen in the ranks breathed heavily, gritted their teeth, and looked at Wu Shuangren with a deeper meaning.
Wu Shuangren flicked the blood off his sword, sheathed it, and then beckoned.
A group of militiamen, armed with knives, approached the remaining Xie Family from behind.
These Xie Family struggled desperately, crying; some collapsed to the ground, while others kowtowed frantically.
Wu Shuangren looked at them and said coldly:
"Some of you will surely say you are innocent..."
"But my soldiers who died were innocent too! If the Xie Family had won today, it would have been me and my soldiers who died. Aren't we all innocent?"
"You have enjoyed the blessings the Xie Family has brought you, so you must also bear the consequences Xie Family have brought!"
Wu Shuangren seemed to be explaining to the Xie Family, and also to the militiamen.
Or perhaps, he was actually trying to give himself an explanation.
"Kill!"
After a brief silence, Wu Shuangren spoke sharply.
More than a dozen militiamen simultaneously brandished their knives and slashed at the Xie Family!
The militiamen were not professional executioners and lacked experience. None of them could cleanly behead someone with a single blow; they all had to behead them several times, making the scene somewhat bloody and cruel.
Those who were hiding in the shadows nearby and watching this scene were terrified, their hearts pounding with cold sweat!
After slaughtering Xie Family in the Xie residence, Wu Shuangren pointed at the corpses scattered on the ground, activated his Internal Skill, and roared loudly:
"A blood debt must be paid in blood!"
Immediately afterwards, more than a hundred militiamen roared in unison:
"A blood debt must be paid in blood!"
"A blood debt must be paid in blood!"
"A blood debt must be paid in blood!"
The sound was like thunder, causing the tiles on the eaves of the houses on both sides of the street to tremble slightly. Those who had been hiding in the shadows and watching all turned pale with fright.
Wu Shuangren, and the shouts stopped abruptly.
"You all performed exceptionally well in today's battle! No one backed down, and each of you did your part admirably! Therefore—each of you receives a string of cash!"
Wu Shuangren announced.
A commotion broke out in the crowd.
The militiamen had expected to receive a reward today, but they never imagined they would receive so much.
The one who kills the most enemies will receive an extra reward!
"Those who are seriously wounded or disabled will receive fifteen strings of cash. For brothers who die in battle, their families can either receive thirty strings of cash in a lump sum, or they can receive two hundred coins every month for twenty years!"
Wu Shuangren publicly announced the compensation system he had long planned.
Hearing this, the militiamen's hearts were filled with fervor!
In this world, human life is worthless.
People joined the army for food and participated in militia training, already mentally prepared to fight and die in battle.
You can't blame anyone if you die.
When the Mo Family Village was massacred, so many militiamen died. Although their families went to the Mo Family to make trouble, none of them actually got any money in the end.
Now Wu Shuangren has announced such a compensation system: those who are seriously injured or disabled can receive a sum of money to live out their remaining years in peace. If they unfortunately die in battle, their families don't have to do anything and can receive the money for twenty years!
To put it bluntly, some militia members' families even consider their child's death a happy occasion...
Those who were watching nearby were envious when they heard about these conditions.
Neither the Xie Clan Chamber of Commerce, the West River Gang, nor the Flying Feather Gang or the Zhang Clan Militia had such favorable conditions.
Many people are already considering whether to switch employers.
Since you're going to be working for someone else anyway, why not sell yourself for a good price?
After making the announcement, Wu Shuangren allowed the militiamen to push the cart back to the Fist Academy.
The cart wheels rumbled as they rolled over the bluestone slabs. Under the escort of the militia, the convoy slowly made its way toward the Fist Academy.
The sunlight illuminated the street, casting long, long shadows of the group.
85 Rewards and Punishments
The night was as dark as ink.
The Fist Academy was brightly lit, but there were no boxing matches scheduled for tonight.
The group pushed the cart back to the Fist Academy and gathered some of the wounded soldiers who had fallen behind during the breakout.
Finally, Bai Jinhuan tallied up the results.
Of the 150 new recruits who followed him in the breakout, 11 were killed in action, 9 were seriously wounded, and 14 deserted during the breakout but later returned.
Upon hearing this result, Wu Shuangren summoned all the militiamen again and then ordered the fourteen militiamen who had deserted to step forward.
The fourteen men were all young men in their early twenties, and their faces were ashen. They all lowered their heads and dared not look at Wu Shuangren.
"Disobeying orders and deserting in the face of battle."
Wu Shuangren's voice wasn't loud, but it was full of authority. "From now on, you are no longer members of the militia, no longer my soldiers!"
"Each person takes three days' worth of dry rations, leaves West River Market, and returns to Bo County."
Upon hearing this, a round-faced young man suddenly knelt down, kowtowing and crying, "Commander! I was wrong! I'll never do it again! Let me stay! I was just scared for a moment..."
The others also knelt down and kowtowed, begging Wu Shuangren to spare them.
They had all heard that each of their comrades who fought today would receive one string of cash, and they had also heard about the compensation system that Wu Shuangren had mentioned. At this moment, they were filled with regret!
Wu Shuangren stared at the fourteen people expressionlessly.
For new recruits, desertion in the face of a battle like today is perfectly normal.
Wu Shuangren also believed that if these people were given another chance, they probably wouldn't run away again next time.
But he knew—this kind of thing had to be met with zero tolerance!