If we forgive these people, how can we face those who obeyed orders and ultimately died heroically in battle?
Wu Shuangren his hand, ordering his men to drive all fourteen people away.
After all fourteen deserters had left, Wu Shuangren looked at the militiamen lined up and said sternly:
"This is the first and the last time! From this day forward, anyone who dares to desert their post will be beheaded!"
The menacing words sent chills down the spines of the militiamen.
"I can tell you, there will be more bloody battles like today in the future! You will fight again and again, experiencing life and death! And my requirement will never change: obey orders!"
"If I tell you to go, even if it's a mountain of knives and a sea of fire ahead, you must go!"
"Hold on! Even if you face a thousand troops, you are not allowed to retreat a single step!"
Wu Shuangren's gaze was like a knife, sweeping over all the militiamen present. "I'm giving you one last chance. If anyone can't accept it, if anyone is afraid, they can step forward now, take their reward money, and leave the militia. I won't make things difficult for them."
"..."
No one stepped forward, no one wanted to back down.
Without a pre-promised reward and without announcing a generous compensation system, Wu Shuangren's order would inevitably seem overly harsh.
But now, no one feels it's unfair.
Having enjoyed such generous treatment, one should naturally accept even stricter requirements!
Seeing that no one was leaving, Wu Shuangren nodded in satisfaction. "Very good!"
He wanted to make these militiamen understand one thing from the bottom of their hearts, little by little—they were soldiers, no longer ordinary civilians.
Then Wu Shuangren had the Fist Academy's staff carry over four heavy wooden crates.
The lid of the box was lifted, and in the firelight, neatly stacked strings of copper coins were revealed inside, tightly bound with thick hemp rope; each string contained one thousand coins.
Wu Shuangren nodded to Mo Zhengxing to the side.
Mo Zhengxing forward, holding a booklet in his hand, and loudly read, "Chen Tie, Zhao Shen, Sun Eryong... step forward!"
He read out nine names in total.
Nine people stepped out of the line in response, including Chen Tie, a relative of the Wu Clan.
In terms of relationship, Wu Shuangren should call the other party his cousin.
"Those nine were the bravest fighters in today's battle; each of them killed at least two enemies!"
Wu Shuangren said loudly.
This is a post-war statistic, and the results have been repeatedly confirmed.
Wu Shuangren personally took copper coins from the box and distributed them to the nine people.
Ten strings of cash each!
Chen Tie was visibly excited when he took the copper coin from Wu Shuangren.
Wu Shuangren exchanged a glance with him, patted him on the shoulder, and said softly, "Do a good job."
"Yes!"
Chen Tie stood at attention and shouted loudly.
From then on, Wu Shuangren treated everyone the same way.
After distributing the money, he announced on the spot that Chen Tie, Zhao Shen, and Sun Eryong, the three squad leaders, were directly promoted to company commanders, and each of them would lead fifty militiamen from now on.
The other six were promoted to squad leaders, each leading ten militiamen.
The current number of militia members is insufficient to form three companies, but everyone believes that it won't be long before the scale of the militia continues to expand!
Wu Shuangren looked at Bai Jinhuan one last time.
Bai Jinhuan.
"Exist!"
Wu Shuangren took a wooden tray from Mo Zhengxing, on which was placed one hundred taels of silver.
"This is yours."
He handed the wooden tray to Bai Jinhuan.
In today's battle, if Bai Jinhuan hadn't decisively led the militia to break through the encirclement and personally led the charge to fight his way out, the outcome would have been much worse.
Even if Wu Shuangren wins the battle on Changsheng Street, the aftermath will be very dangerous, let alone breaking through the Xie Mansion.
Bai Jinhuan accepted the wooden tray without hesitation and said loudly, "Thank you, Commander!"
"Bai Jinhuan is hereby appointed as the commander of the First Battalion of the Militia!"
Wu Shuangren said loudly.
Bai Jinhuan stood at attention and said, "I will certainly not fail your trust!"
He was even more delighted by the appointment as captain than by the reward of one hundred taels of silver!
Next, Wu Shuangren took another wooden tray, which also contained one hundred taels of silver. He handed the tray to Xu Yu, who was standing to the side.
"Here, this is yours."
Xu Yu looked surprised; he never expected to receive money.
He was already very content as long as Wu Shuangren made sure he had enough to eat every day.
"Take this. With this money, you can buy whatever you want to eat from now on."
Wu Shuangren said with a smile.
Xu Yu took the wooden board and stared blankly at the gleaming silver.
Finally, each militia member was given a reward.
During the distribution of money, a commotion suddenly arose in the distance, and flames could be vaguely seen.
"I'll go take a look."
Mo Zhengxing said, and quickly walked out of the courtyard.
He quickly returned and said to Wu Shuangren, "It's the West River Gang's base. I've placed spies there; we should have news soon."
Wu Shuangren nodded.
Mo Zhengxing looked at him. "Are we really not going?"
He felt that the West River Gang was also their spoils of war, but now it was being plundered by others.
Wu Shuangren: "No rush. We're not short of money right now, so people are more important than money."
Mo Zhengxing seemed to be deep in thought and stopped trying to persuade him.
A moment later, the militiamen in the courtyard finished receiving their money and dispersed, while the scouts arranged by Mo Zhengxing returned with intelligence—
Internal strife broke out at the West River Gang's headquarters, with gang members fighting each other over money!
Both the Flying Feather Gang and the Zhang Clan sent people there, and the two families were also fighting over the items.
"Well played!"
Wu Shuangren smiled.
If the Flying Feather Gang and the Zhang Clan could fight to the death, that would be perfect.
However, neither of them are fools, so it's unlikely they would go to such lengths.
Not long after the scouts at the West River Gang's base reported, Mo Zhengxing brought another scout to report.
"The person who went to Wang Clan Village in Cang County to gather information has returned."
Mo Zhengxing said to Wu Shuangren.
86 infantrymen!
Wu Shuangren looked at the scout. "Tell me, what have you found out?"
"... Xu Yu, whose real name should Wang Yu, Wang Clan Village in Cang County. He is sixteen years old this year. His father, Wang Lei, is a notorious gambler in the village who is also an alcoholic and beats his wife. He named his son Wang Yu because he felt that this son was superfluous... Wang Yu's mother is named Xu Qing. She was a stranger who fled to the village twenty years ago due to famine and was forced to marry Wang Lei."
The scout spoke calmly, recounting the information he had gathered. "Regarding Wang Yu, most of the villagers his age are afraid of him, thinking he's a monster because he's beaten them before. Other villagers think of Wang Yu as someone strong and excellent at farm work."
Five days ago, Wang Lei lost money at the gambling den again, got drunk, and went home. He then attacked Xu Qing. The neighbors heard Xu Qing crying and screaming, but then the noise gradually subsided.
Around midnight, a fire suddenly broke out at Wang Lei's house. After the fire was extinguished, only two bodies were found at the door... The county coroner examined the body and determined that Wang Lei had died from being struck in the chest, Xu Qing had committed suicide... The county government suspected that Wang Yu had beaten his father to death, that Xu Qing had sent his son to escape, and that he had set fire to his house before committing suicide after the fire had spread.
"West River County has already issued an arrest warrant for Wang Yu."
"Master Wu, Master Mo, that's all the information I've gathered."
"That's what the scout said."
"Knew."
Wu Shuangren waved his hand, "Go collect your reward."
"Thank you, Mr. Wu!"
The scout thanked him repeatedly and left the room.
Inside the room, Mo Zhengxing sighed, "I never imagined he was such a pitiful child."
Wu Shuangren remained silent.
Mo Zhengxing glanced at him and said softly, "It's fine for him to change his name to Xu Yu. As long as this kind of murder case isn't reported to the prefectural capital, not many people will care. The county government will just put on a show. As long as Wang... Xu Yu doesn't go looking for trouble himself, nothing will happen. The only worry is that someone might use this to make an issue of it later..."
After all, the Zhang Clan wielded considerable influence in West River County.
Wu Shuangren hummed in agreement; he didn't actually care that Xu Yu was wanted by the county government.
If West River County has the guts, send officials to West River Market to arrest them!
You should get some rest.
Wu Shuangren said to Mo Zhengxing, then got up and left the room.
Half an hour later, Wu Shuangren summoned Xu Yu to the dining room.
The dining table was laden with dishes.
Braised crab meat lion's head meatballs, braised shredded dried tofu, Wensi tofu, squirrel-shaped mandarin fish...
Wu Shuangren brought several chefs from the Xie family back to the Fist Academy Fist Academy, instructing them to work there from now on. This meal was prepared by the chefs working overtime tonight.
"Come on, I promised to treat you to something delicious today."
Wu Shuangren beckoned to Xu Yu and said softly.
Xu Yu grinned, sat down, and started eating.
Soon, only the sounds of eating filled the canteen.
Xu Yu ate with great concentration.
When they see something delicious, their eyes light up, and they start eating faster.
He would occasionally glance up at Wu Shuangren, give her a smile, and then continue eating his meal.
The boy's smile was even brighter than when he received one hundred taels of silver that night.
Wu Shuangren didn't mention Wang Clan Village, nor did he ask Xu Yu any questions. He simply ate a table full of dishes with him.
Early the next morning.
Wu Shuangren led fifty militiamen to the Xie Clan Chamber of Commerce's warehouse.
The Xie Clan owned three warehouses in West River Market. After taking over the Xie residence, Wu Shuangren sent several men to guard these three warehouses.
The Feiyu Sect and the Zhang Clan family also coveted these warehouses, but seeing the Fist Academy members guarding outside, none of them dared to make a move.
Wu Shuangren led fifty militiamen along the widest street in West River Market, all the way to the largest warehouse of the Xie Clan Chamber of Commerce.
This is a courtyard with blue bricks and gray tiles, high walls and thick gates, with a black lacquered plaque hanging above the gate that reads the four large characters "Xie Clan Family Granary".
Upon seeing Wu Shuangren arrive, the two militiamen who remained behind immediately stood at attention and saluted. "Commander-in-Chief!"