CHAPTER 132: CHAPTER 83: EVENING BANQUET IN THE DEVIL’S CAVE_2

Outside, a group of Barbarians had already bathed, changed into the prepared clothes, and were now waiting. One by one, they stared at the large cauldron, drooling at the aroma wafting from it. Zheng Fan sat on the city wall, observing the scene below.

Blind Bei stood next to Zheng Fan and spoke, "My lord, are you excited?"

"A little," Zheng Fan admitted honestly.

I wasn’t very fond of online games, but I did play single-player games quite often, specifically strategy games—like Mount & Blade, Red Alert, the Age of Empires series, and the Total War series. However, those were all virtual, all fake. But this band of burly Barbarians now standing before me... they are my soldiers! They are Zheng Fan’s soldiers! This tangible reality... it’s truly beyond words.

"My lord, leave the training of the soldiers to Liang Cheng; he excels at it. Ding Hao has also led soldiers before, but for now, he can only assist."

"Mm, alright."

I know nothing about training soldiers. If I were to train them, by tomorrow morning, I’d probably be leading these Barbarians with a horsewhip, marching them in formation towards the rising sun. I don’t even know if that method is effective; it’s the only one I know. Besides, my own fighting skills are still at the stage where I can put on a light show, but all my actual damage comes from shouting.

"According to Yan State tradition, when military officers are reassigned, they are to bring their private troops. My lord, your quota is three hundred. However, thanks to the Sixth Prince putting in a word and Hui Wenzu facilitating matters, bringing five or six hundred men to your new post should pose no problem. The rest will depend on this group and how we gradually expand our ranks."

As he spoke, Blind Bei began to display his charlatan-like qualities. Arms spread wide, he described to Zheng Fan in an extremely rousing tone, "My lord, just imagine! At this very moment, before you stand not five hundred Barbarians, but a hundred thousand elite, heavily armored cavalry! All of them kneeling before you, uniformly crying ’Long Live!’ What an exhilarating feeling that would be!"

Zheng Fan closed his eyes and began to imagine. Then, his legs felt a bit weak.

No, no. I can’t keep hanging out with this master con artist, or he’ll really con me until I’m crippled.

Armor and warhorses would only be issued tomorrow.

So, gradually, as more and more freshly bathed Barbarians emerged, the area was already filled with over five hundred men. The ground was damp, entirely from their drool.

"When do we eat?" Zheng Fan asked. These men were clearly famished, and the food had obviously been ready for some time.

"Wait a little longer," Blind Bei said.

"Wait for what?" Zheng Fan asked.

"Wait for the first lesson."

At last, someone couldn’t hold back any longer! From the ranks, two Barbarians exchanged glances, cautiously crept over to the steamer basket filled with steamed buns, and reached for one.

SHING!

A silvery flash of a blade.

One Barbarian watched as the steamed bun fell to the ground, and with it, the left hand he had used to grab it. Before he could scream, the blade plunged into his chest and was swiftly withdrawn.

The other Barbarian, who had also grabbed a steamed bun, froze for a moment. But in the next instant, a hand seized his neck and threw him out from the group.

Liang Cheng emerged from the ranks of Barbarians, one hand holding a blood-dripping blade.

"What is Liang Cheng saying?" Zheng Fan asked Blind Bei beside him.

Liang Cheng had learned the Barbarian tongue during his expedition to the desert. He was now using it to address these Barbarians.

"Actually, My lord has likely guessed. This is ’killing the chicken to warn the monkey’—we’re establishing the rules."

I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. After all I’d experienced, the bloody scene before me wouldn’t scare me. It was just that Blind Bei and Liang Cheng’s method of setting this up to enforce the law felt a little... awkward. But I knew this was the right thing to do.

The Sixth Prince once said, ’Tribes in the east and north are like beasts; they fear power but lack virtue.’ To make them obey, the most direct way was to instill a fear that reached deep into their bones. Otherwise, given the Barbarians’ nature, if I really took them south and they reverted to their old ways, causing trouble for the locals, I, Zheng Fan, would have to bear responsibility for them. Why go to such trouble?

Below, Liang Cheng continued his address. Suddenly, he turned his head and pointed up at Zheng Fan, who was standing on the city wall.

WHOOSH!

All the Barbarians simultaneously looked up at Zheng Fan.

I felt a bit bewildered by their stares, but I guessed Liang Cheng was telling them that I was their true master.

Taking a deep breath, Zheng Fan forced himself to remain composed and placed his hands behind his back.

Then, Liang Cheng pointed his bloodied blade at the Barbarian he had previously thrown out.

At this moment, Blind Bei, standing beside Zheng Fan, slowly closed his eyes—which looked the same whether open or closed.

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"

The Barbarian clutched his head, letting out an extremely shrill scream as blood flowed from his seven orifices.

The Barbarians below were utterly astonished.

Slowly, as that Barbarian was being cruelly tormented by psychic power, one by one, the other Barbarians began to prostrate themselves before Zheng Fan. They raised their hands, then placed them on the ground, kowtowing and chanting something.

Finally, that Barbarian was tortured to death in an exceptionally tragic manner.

Blind Bei once again opened his eyes—which looked the same whether open or closed—and let out a soft sigh.

"What are they shouting?" Zheng Fan asked.