Wang Wu's movement of raising the sword stalled, and then he obediently stepped aside.
"Are you a runaway from the village?"
Han Zhen stepped forward and asked in a calm tone.
"I escaped to the mountains three years ago. Not long after, I was caught by Shi Bao and taken to the village. I was responsible for plowing the fields on weekdays. I helped them build their reputation during robberies and acted as a coolie to carry money and food. To put it bluntly, I was just like an animal. .”
This man is a real killer without blinking an eye, so Yuan Chuliu answered carefully, for fear that if he said the wrong thing, his head would fall to the ground.
However, he couldn't help but play a clever trick in an attempt to gain a chance to survive.
Han Zhen understood the meaning of his words and raised his eyebrows: "You were arrested in the Shanzhai three years ago. So you are very familiar with the Shanzhai?"
"familiar!"
Yuan Chuliu was secretly happy, knowing that he had made the right bet.
He nodded hurriedly and said at the same time: "The stronghold is easy to defend but difficult to attack. There is only a rugged gravel path leading to the stronghold. However, I know a secret passage that can go around the back of the mountain and enter the stronghold."
Hearing this, Ma Sangou sneered: "Since you know the secret passage, why didn't you escape?"
Yuan Chuliu smiled bitterly and said: "This young man doesn't know something. For a runaway like me, even if I escape from the village, where can I go? Although Shi Bao is harsh to us, he can at least make a sip of gruel. Eat, you don’t have to fight for your life against wild beasts, you can barely survive.”
These words resonated with the runaways in the village.
Han Zhen said with a half-smile but not a smile: "You are the only one who knows the secret secret?"
Yuan Chuliu swallowed his saliva and answered truthfully: "Including me, a total of five people know about it, but don't worry, Xiaolangjun, they will never tell it. Because that secret passage is connected to a small valley, and the five of us secretly walked in Some food is grown in the valley.”
Shi Bao only provides two meals of gruel a day to the fleeing households in the village, as long as they don't starve to death.
Two meals of gruel a day are not enough, so the runaways in the village will try all kinds of ways to find food.
Some of the fugitives were so hungry that they even refused to spare the earthworms in the soil.
"If that secret passage really exists, it can save you from death, but you will never escape the crime of living."
Han Zhen waved his hand and ordered: "Three dogs, send him to the house and take care of him."
Later, he called on the villagers to tidy up the village.
The bandit's body was dragged to a wasteland, where firewood was set up and burned.
It is midsummer now. If they are not burned, there is no guarantee that so many corpses will not cause a plague.
Bloodstains on the ground were covered with soil to avoid attracting flies and mosquitoes.
By the time everything was done, the sky was already brightening in the east.
"Everyone is tired, let's go back and rest."
After Han Zhen finished speaking, he was about to turn around and go back to the house, when he saw Dashan taking a step forward.
Seeing this, he paused and asked, "What's wrong?"
"The village chief wants to hit Shibao?"
Since Yuan Chuliu was not killed last night, the villagers basically guessed what Han Zhen was thinking.
Han Zhen raised his eyebrows: "Do you still need to ask?"
Dashan took a deep breath, with anger flashing in his eyes: "Can you take me with you then?"
"cannot!"
Unexpectedly, Han Zhen shook his head and refused: "It's up to everyone to do whatever they want. It's Zhang and his soldiers' job to conquer the Songshan Mountains. You can just farm at home."
Dashan was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly said: "Then I will join the army!"
Hearing this, Han Zhen said seriously: "You have to think about it, joining the army is not a joke."
"I've thought about it!"
Dashan said firmly.
"I want to join the army too!"
As if affected by the mountain, another villager stood up.
"Count me in."
"Me too..."
At one time, more than twenty people stood up.
These people are all young, and they all suffered a disaster at home last night. Either their mother was killed by bandits, or their home was burned down. At this moment, they are all suffocating in their hearts.
After all, he is a young man and full of blood.
"Come with me!"
Han Zhen waved his hand and led more than 20 young men into the house.
Write the deed and press your fingerprint.
Han Zhen followed the rules and paid them the monthly salary.
"I'll give you an hour to rest and settle down at home. After an hour, we will gather in the grain field. Anyone who fails to show up or is delayed will be dealt with according to military law!"
"yes!"
Everyone held the copper coins and responded loudly.
After everyone left, Han Zhen went to the well in the backyard, took off his clothes and pants, and washed the blood on his body with the cool well water.
It's hard to wash off blood when it's stuck to your body, especially after it dries.
"Come here, slave."
At this time, An Niang stepped forward, picked up the loofah pulp and gently scrubbed him.
Han Zhen sat on the pony, closed his eyes, and quietly enjoyed An Niang's service, while he began to think in his mind.
There are now thirty-seven soldiers in total, and they are all new recruits. It is simply impossible to capture a stronghold with thousands of people with this number of people.
Even if there is a secret passage leading directly to the stronghold, it won't work.
Although most of the people in the village are serfs, once they are mobilized, they will also cause a lot of trouble.
Need to find a foreign aid...
Changzhi County!
Han Zhen thought of him immediately, but how to persuade Changzhi County to send troops to suppress the bandits?
This old fox is timid and greedy for money. If he doesn't have enough profits, he will never go out of the city to suppress the bandits.
"Erlang, it's done."
An Niang's soft voice rang in my ears
"Um."
Han Zhen nodded, stood up absently and walked towards the main room.
After putting on clean clothes, he went to the study room, sharpened some ink, and wrote a letter.
Taking the letter, he went all the way to the second courtyard, where Ma Sangou and others were having dinner.
"Bug."
Han Zhen waved.
Xiaochong immediately put down the bowl and stepped forward: "Brother Han, what's wrong?"
"Go to the county seat and find a way to send this letter to Changzhi County."
"good!"
After receiving the letter, Xiaochong turned around and walked out the door.
After breakfast, Han Zhen counted the time and came to the grain field.
After a while, Zhang He and others also arrived one after another.
Thirty-seven people stood quietly on the threshing floor, all looking at Han Zhen.
Looking around at the crowd, Han Zhen looked serious and said loudly: "Since you have joined the army, you must abide by the rules. My rules are very simple, there are only three, obedience, obedience, and fucking obedience! Do you understand? "
"clear!"
Everyone responded loudly.
No one dared to be scornful, just because Han Zhen's bravery last night was deeply imprinted in their hearts.
Leading five people to kill dozens of bandits, they cried for their fathers and mothers. This courage and bravery made these soldiers admire them.
People, more or less, have a strong-willed mentality.
"Now that we've talked about the rules, let's talk about the military orders. Don't blame me for not reminding you to wait. Please listen carefully. Otherwise, if anyone violates the military orders, don't blame me for being unkind."
Hearing this, everyone was shocked and quickly cheered up.
Han Zhen said word for word: "First, if you hear the drum and don't advance, if you hear the gold, you will be killed!"
"Second, if you use rumors and deceitful words to confuse the sergeants, behead them!"
"Third, stealing people's property and robbing military honors, thirty rods!"
"Fourth..."
These military orders were abridged and modified versions he made based on the Seventeen Forbidden Laws and the Fifty-four Kills.
There are ten in total, ranging from beheading to severe punishment.
Although there are only thirty-seven soldiers now, there must be no lack of rules. Otherwise, when the scale is expanded in the future and then customized, there will be a lot of resistance, and it may even lead to a mutiny.
After explaining the military order in detail, Han Zhen changed his voice: "Rewards and punishments are clearly defined in the army. If there is a punishment, there must be a reward. Fifty percent of what is gained in each battle is used as a reward. The specific amount depends on the military merit, and the remaining 50% is used as a reward for the army." Capital."
Sure enough, the soldiers all looked happy.
Han Zhen shouted: "Zhang He!"
"exist!"
Zhang He hurriedly stepped forward.
"From today on, you will be promoted to the head of the military capital and responsible for leading them. Your monthly salary will be increased to 700 yuan."
Promoted...promoted?
The salary also increased by two hundred cents.
Zhang He was overjoyed and said gratefully: "Thank you very much, village chief."
Han Zhen continued to order: "Everyone is divided into three teams. Wang Wu, Kong Ping, Hu Zhongyou and other three people are the captains of the team. Each of them will lead a team. The monthly salary will be increased to 600 yuan."
Han Zhen's plan was to form a team of twelve people, with ten teams forming a capital, ten capitals forming a battalion, and ten battalions forming an army.
These three people were more prominent in their performance last night.
Especially Wang Wu, who dared to chase three bandits while carrying a wooden stick.
When he subsequently killed the bandits, he was also extremely decisive.
Wang Wu was stunned, thinking that he heard wrongly.
He never expected that Han Zhen would promote him to the team leader, and he looked complicated for a moment.
After he came to his senses, he quickly said thank you.
"No more tree cutting today, practice!"
Han Zhen said, instructing Zhang He to distribute Pu knives to them.
The gang of bandits who were killed last night cried for their fathers and mothers, and dozens of simple knives were seized.
Although it's not that good, it's definitely better than the rusty hatchet they have at home.
