Chapter Twelve: Bewitching People's Minds

  After a fierce struggle in his heart, Wei Zheng's face was slowly covered with a resolute expression.

  "Firmly facing Zhao Yun and Wang Feng, he resolutely vetoed: 'No way, we are bandits, but we are not beasts. We can kill Tartars, we can kill government soldiers, we can kill other bandits, but we absolutely cannot kill ordinary civilians. Otherwise, we will lose our humanity step by step...'"

  "So, the more than 200 villagers in the backyard, except for those who voluntarily joined our mountain stronghold, all the rest were released, each given two silver coins as travel expenses, and let them leave on their own..."

  "Even if they really ran to Gaomi, we would still acknowledge it."

  "When the time comes, if a Tartar comes alone, we will kill one; if they come in pairs, we will kill them in pairs. If unfortunately we die at the hands of the Tartars, at least we can still call ourselves heroes. However, once our hands are stained with the blood of ordinary people, our hearts will be uneasy for a lifetime, even after becoming ghosts."

  Wang Feng and Wei Zheng simultaneously bowed their heads, especially Wang Feng, with a fearful face, said to Wei Zheng: "Master, I know I was wrong... I am human, not a beast... From now on, I will absolutely not point the butcher knife at ordinary people..."

  Zhao Yun nodded in understanding and said to Wei Zheng, "Sir, when I return, I will surely tell my brothers your words verbatim, and we will make them a rule of our mountain stronghold."

  "In the old days, we were also ordinary civilians. If it weren't for war and natural disasters, we would never have become bandits. So, no matter how cruel we are, we cannot extend our butcher's knife to ordinary civilians who are just as pitiful as us."

  Wei Zheng nodded slightly, acknowledging what Zhao Yun had said.

  "Afterwards, facing the two of them, he continued: 'The battle may be over, but our matters are still numerous.'"

  "There are two problems facing us now. The first one is to clean up the battlefield and send back the captured grain and supplies to the mountain stronghold..."

  "Zhao, this matter is left to you. After all, you didn't participate in the battle just now. Also, when transporting grain and supplies, we can use all the war horses and pack horses that we captured..."

  "Please rest assured, sir," Zhao Yun said loudly. "We brothers have no chance of killing the Tartars, but we can still run away."

  Watching Zhao Yun rush forward to the front yard, Wei Zheng quickly shifted his gaze to Wang Feng.

  When Wang Feng's expression of wanting to speak but stopping fell into Wei Zheng's eyes, Wei Zheng said directly.

  "Brother Wang, don't be impatient, you also have a very important task, to put it bluntly, directly related to whether our mountain stronghold can truly develop and grow."

  "Growing and expanding..." Wang Feng muttered to himself with a thoughtful expression.

  He then pointed to the backyard guarded by several long gunners and asked, "Boss, are you saying that we should recruit people for our mountain stronghold...."

  Seeing Wei Zheng nodding in affirmation, a hint of solemnity quickly appeared on Wang Feng's face, and he said with a difficult expression.

  "To be honest with you, I'm worried that under no duress, these two hundred or so commoners would rather take a few silver coins as travel expenses and leave this place than join us as bandits..."

  Wei Zheng shook his head and said mysteriously: "Brother Wang, I don't agree with this statement of yours..."

  "I can say with certainty that as long as the method is used correctly, at least half of the more than 200 people in front of us will take the initiative to join us."

  "Impossible, absolutely impossible..... A good citizen like you, why would you want to be a bandit? And besides, there's the cost of traveling, one or two silver coins at least." Wang Feng retorted with an expression of disbelief.

  In Wang Feng's eyes, ordinary people were unwilling to join the army, let alone become bandits who might lose their heads at any time.

  Against expectations, Wei Zheng's enigmatic smile on his face did not disappear because of this, but instead became more and more intense.

  Facing Wang Feng with a strange expression, he said: "Since Big Brother Wang doesn't believe me, I can give you a demonstration first... This way, you immediately pull out fifty bandits from the mansion, and I'll be here to teach you a lesson on how to mobilize the people to join us."

  "Also, bring over the corpse of the Tartar general, I have a use for it..."

  Under the drive of more than a dozen gunmen, due to long-term semi-satiation, obvious malnutrition, and physical abnormal weakness, fifty civilians slowly gathered in front of him.

  Just as fifty pairs of eyes slowly converged on Wei Zheng's body, the blood-soaked Pai Ya La was dragged over by two long spear holders.

  No sooner had Wei Zheng's words left his mouth than the Tartar general appeared on the scene, and fifty civilians suddenly became inexplicably agitated.

  What's more, they directly knelt on the ground and started kowtowing, making one exclamation after another.

  "Ah.... it's a Tartar.... it's the leader of the Tartars..."

  "The leader of the Tartars has been killed.... Heaven is just, heaven is indeed just..."

  "It must be these people around who killed the bandits... I really don't know what kind of people they are, they're even more ruthless than the army, able to kill so many bandits..."

  These cries clearly reached Wei Zheng's ears, and a thread of strange smile quickly flashed from the corner of his mouth.

  Took a deep breath and shouted loudly at the fifty civilians huddled together in front of him.

  "Everyone be quiet... Honestly, we killed those devils. Moreover, you were also rescued by us..."

  "There are two roads ahead of everyone now. First, actively join us... Second, come to me to receive one or two silver coins as a relocation fee and leave here forever..."

  "Moreover, I'm not afraid to tell you that we are bandits, not government troops.... All the government troops in the entire Zhuozhou area had already fled before the Tartars arrived, so don't hold out hope for their return to save you."

  From the gaze of everyone looking at him, Wei Zheng could clearly feel it. When he revealed his identity as a bandit, the look of reverence on everyone's face was immediately replaced by a complex expression of fear and contempt.

  It can be imagined that without Hou's recruitment, these civilians would have left without hesitation.

  However, Wei Zheng was not afraid because he still had a trump card.

  After glancing at the citizens in front of him who fell silent instantly, Wei Zheng continued to speak in an orderly manner.

  "I know everyone looks down on us bandits, but before you all make your choices, I have a few questions to ask. Although no one needs to answer, everyone must think carefully in their hearts..."

  "Firstly, those locked up here are all young and strong, no surprise, your family members must have all died at the hands of the Tartars. As the survivors of your families, don't you want to avenge them, don't you want to kill the Tartars?"

  "Secondly, there are now Tatars everywhere within the borders of Zhuozhou. You can come to me and receive one or two silver coins to leave. But do you think that with your abilities, you can escape the pursuit and killing by the Tatar cavalry and thoroughly leave the borders of Zhuozhou?"

  "Third, although we are bandits, we are a bandit with a sense of justice and extremely strong combat power. We have always been killing corrupt officials and evil landlords, never harming the common people. Now that the Tartars have come, the corrupt officials have run away, so we will kill the Tartars until they leave this place..."

  "I'm telling you the truth, in tonight's battle, we killed a total of fifteen Tartars, but not one of our mountain stronghold men died. Only by following us can everyone protect their lives. Only by following us will everyone have the chance to kill Tartars and avenge their deceased loved ones..."

  "As for those so-called government troops, don't even think about it. Because they are all a bunch of cowards, every time the Tartars come over, they flee without a fight, abandoning us ordinary people to the Tartars..."

  "Finally, a word of advice to everyone: our bandit gang is not something that anyone can join at will. Whoever joins our gang must abide by our rules and regulations; otherwise, they will be dealt with according to military law. Because the reason why our gang can easily kill fifteen Tartars is that we have even stricter military discipline and laws than the official army."

  "Alright, I'll give you all a moment to consider. After this brief pause, everyone must make a decision..."

  Just now still a peaceful crowd suddenly became lively, everyone was thinking about their next move, discussing, arguing...

  Although Wei Zheng did not join in, a pair of sharp eyes and a pair of sensitive ears still allowed him to clearly see and hear the reactions of most people.

  Under their intimidation and temptation, at least two-thirds of the fifty villagers have already been shaken to the bottom of their hearts....