Chapter 4: The Combination of Grace and Punishment
Wang Junkuo handed the whip to Li Chongjiu and said, "You take it."
Wang Junkuo nodded slightly, and at that moment, a mountain bandit presented a bowl of saltwater. Li Chongjiu dipped the whip in the saltwater, then swiftly turned the whip back and struck heavily at Wang Mahuan.
Hearing Li Chongjiu's inquiry, Wang Junkuo turned his head. Beneath his thick, prominent eyebrows, his sharp gaze was fixed intently on Li Chongjiu's face. No wonder he became a renowned figure in later generations.
Li Chongjiu, after a bout of exertion, was drenched in sweat and panting as he handed the whip to Wang Junkuo, saying: "Second Uncle, my injuries have not yet fully healed, and my martial skills are lacking, hence I can only manage this much." After saying this, Li Chongjiu could feel the murderous intent emanating from the gazes behind him.
After speaking, Wang Junkuo snorted and waved his sleeve to leave. Several bandits following Wang Junkuo also departed together. The bandits hanging from the trees, who had thought they were doomed, found themselves unexpectedly saved at this moment, and could not help but feel overwhelming joy.
Second in command, I acknowledge my mistake
Wang Junkuo squinted his eyes, and his expression began to change. Before ascending the mountain, he was already a notorious villain in Taiyuan County, with at least one hundred to one hundred eighty lives lost at his hands. Within the stronghold, apart from the chief, not even the bandits dared to frown in his presence
In Li Bai's poetry, the term "around the bed" refers to a chair, rather than entering a young lady's boudoir and sitting beside her bed
As for this minor leader, whether or not they hold the position, what difference does it make? In the end, it is just a thief.
Young master, hehe, still ... ...
The person in front is none other than Wang Mahan, who was just mentioned. He is well-established among the mountain bandits, known for his loyalty and has an exceptionally stubborn temperament. Just now, he was also the one who suffered the most severe beating from Li Chongjiu.
Li Chongjiu at that moment lashed out with more than ten strokes, while Wang Mahan had almost lost his voice by this time
Thank you, Second-in-Command, thank you, Second-in-Command
Wang Junkuo also remained silent; no one understood how Li Chongjiu usually was better than him. Among the brothers of the Qianqian stronghold, the ability to address Li Chongjiu as "Young Master Li" and the current respect shown are all due to Li Hu's influence. If Li Hu were not present, there would be very few people in this stronghold who could truly regard him with respect.
Li Hu nodded and said, "I hope so; this matter is also a test for him."
Wang Junkuo smiled and said, "Xiao Jiu, you came just in time; let me see how your second uncle will avenge you!" After speaking, Wang Junkuo, without anyone noticing, had a whip in his hand, which, after a flick, surprisingly extended to about eight or nine meters long
If everyone behaves this way in the future, what will become of the rules in the village? Wang Junkuo's final words turned stern
Li Hu smiled and said, "Second brother, you are not a father, so you do not understand the intentions of a father. At this moment, I do not hope for Xiao Jiu to achieve great success or prominence in the future; I only wish for him to live a safe and peaceful life, to carry on the family line, and to ensure that the incense of the Li family does not extinguish."
Not bad, less to manage, do not hold grudges, repay grievances with virtue, I, Xiao Liu, express my gratitude here
Wang Junkuo looked on with such indifference; as a person with a heart as dark as his hands are ruthless, and with countless lives lost under his command, he exuded an unspoken authority without anger. The ordinary bandits, let alone making eye contact, would tremble in fear at just a glance from him.
On the other side, there is the bandit assembly hall. The central hall is spacious, with small halls and corridors on both sides. This central hall serves as the meeting and celebration place for the bandits, accommodating fifty to sixty people without any issue
I am here to serve you! If you do not appreciate it, then so be it
Five cross beds, among which two men are sitting on the cross beds (Note 1), while the other three cross beds are all empty. Wang Junkuo sat down on one of the cross beds and said with a smile: "Xiao Jiu did well, you have brought honor to the big boss."
Wang Mahan's face contorted in agony as he tilted his head back, his eyes nearly bursting with pain. His mouth was tightly clenched, yet he did not let out a single sound. The saltwater-soaked whip was not something an ordinary person could endure. Below the stage, Wang Mahan's wife fainted with a cry, and several people hurried to support her.
Damn it! It doesn't hurt!
Yes
In this book, it is customary to refer to it as a chair.
Li Chongjiu struck with a whip, landing it on a mountain bandit, leaving a distinct streak of blood.
At this point, Li Hu stood up and sighed, saying: "In this unfortunate incident, he himself was severely injured by a woman from the opposing side"
Li Chongjiu felt a slight pain on his face, which turned out to be a speck of blood smeared on it. This scene was particularly shocking. Li Chongjiu did not wipe it away, but continued to stand there. The two bandits were severely injured, and the other bandit nearby also displayed a look of fear.
Hearing this crisp sound, many unprepared individuals were taken aback.
On the training ground, there was a profound silence; the bandits hanging from the trees all lowered their heads, as if they had already resigned themselves to their fate
At this point, Li Hu couldn't help but sigh repeatedly
The second-in-command is quite the hero; it would be one thing if they were to strike us.
Wang Junkuo said: "Rest assured, the leader. As for today's matter, he handled it well and it can still lead to something significant."
Another whip
Li Chongjiu remained impassive, carefully observing. He saw Wang Junkuo sitting on a rock, his body completely still, with only his wrist trembling. The whip he wielded was evidently very long, measuring at least eight or nine meters, yet it moved gracefully through the air. The two bandits hanging from the tree were being lashed mercilessly, their skin torn and bloodied, drenched in blood.
The people beside him were all trembling in fear of Li Chongjiu. As the saying goes, who is not afraid of death? At this critical moment, the youngest bandit unexpectedly began to sob. At this moment, no one dared to scold him.
Wang Junkuo finally relaxed his expression and slowly said: "Xiao Jiu, those who abandon you and flee are ungrateful individuals. According to the rules of Qianqian Village, they should be punished with armor and floral attire. I am doing this on behalf of your father and the leader to discipline the brothers."
If at this moment he does not stand up to speak for his brothers, the hearts of the people in the stronghold will be scattered in the future. Without hope and without martial skills, how can he succeed me as the leader? It would be better to take this opportunity to deal with him early, allowing him to descend the mountain and transform into an honest and diligent commoner.
Upon hearing these words, Li Chongjiu noticed that the bandits all turned pale, as if they were seeing human corpses hanging from the trees, swaying gently.
It matters not if one suffers a loss of face, for it can be regained in the future; nor does it matter if one's martial skills are lacking, as they can also be cultivated later. However, the fact that all the brothers abandoned him at that moment, with none turning back to offer assistance, clearly indicates that he has not treated others with sufficient kindness in daily life. Within this stronghold, how many truly regard him as the young master
Meanwhile, the family members of the mountain bandits, holding their sons and husbands in tears, expressed their gratitude to the young master for not holding past grievances against them. Upon witnessing this, Li Chongjiu smiled gently
Please be lenient, esteemed second-in-command
Upon hearing Li Chongjiu's words, the family members of the mountain bandits outside the training ground were all wailing loudly, each one kneeling down and crying out, their voices echoing through the heavens
Haha! If you hit me again, I, Wang Mahan, will cry out in pain, and it won't be easy.
"Second in command, just be straightforward!"
At present, the imposing figure stood before Li Chongjiu, his robust muscles covered in bloodstains, exuding an indescribable terror. Suddenly, he raised his fists, as large as sandbags, and clenched them in front of him, saying: "Young Master, it was wrong of us to abandon you earlier; we owe you a great debt of gratitude, which we shall repay in the future." Wang Mahan was certainly not foolish; he understood that Li Chongjiu had lashed them with the whip precisely to rescue them from Wang Junkuo's grasp.
Wang Junkuo nodded slightly and said, "Chief, this matter cannot be rushed; the eagle must be nurtured slowly."
I can only blame myself for having spoiled him too much in the past and for having given him too little guidance.
Note 1: During the Sui and Tang dynasties, the term "交椅" (jiaoyi) was referred to as "交床" (jiaochuang). In the poem "长干行" (Changgan Xing), it states, "The young man rides a bamboo horse, circling the bed while playing with green plums"
After Wang Junkuo sent them away, the family members of the bandits immediately rushed forward, hastily untying the bandits. However, some of them were rougher than others, inadvertently touching the bandits' wounds, causing them to curse loudly. Once the bandits were lowered from the trees, they were all in tattered clothes, their bodies smeared with blood
Li Hu, upon hearing Wang Junkuo's words, smiled slightly and said, "What does a child understand? However, after this incident, they will finally have a sense of responsibility."
At this moment, Li Chongjiu clasped his hands and bowed deeply.
Under the imposing pressure of Wang Junkuo, Li Chongjiu raised his head and sincerely said: "What the second-in-command has said is indeed correct; the rules of the stronghold cannot be broken. As the saying goes, losing one's head is but a small scar, but a severed head cannot be restored. May we temporarily set this aside and spare their lives for now, allowing them to atone for their sins in the future."
"Second in command, spare my life!"
To be honest, after his rebirth, Li Chongjiu did not wish to get involved in troublesome matters. However, on one hand, he could not bear to see these twelve individuals die because of him; on the other hand, if he did not step forward, he would be unable to establish himself in the stronghold in the future
Li Chongjiu took the whip in his hand. At that moment, all eyes were focused on him. The bandits hanging from the tree glared at him one by one
Wang Junkuo took the whip with satisfaction and said, "It doesn't matter, by dawn, they will all become human beings."
Bang
the second in command
Time stands still at this moment. Everyone was even more surprised that Li Chongjiu had just finished and immediately sought leniency from Wang Junkuo
On the other side of the training ground, many family members of the bandits had long gathered, anxious upon hearing that executions were to take place. As they witnessed the two bandits being whipped, the cries and wails of their families filled the air, evoking deep sorrow in those who listened. However, no one dared to utter a single curse against the second-in-command.
Li Chongjiu changed his target again, wielding the whip against these bandits without missing a single one, taking care of all the bandits. At this moment, one could feel pairs of eyes, sharp as knives, glaring at him. If it were not for the fear of Wang Junkuo, the family members of the bandits nearby would have rushed up and torn him to pieces.
The bandit had a face full of stubble, hanging high from a tree with his hands behind his back, yet he remained defiant
"Young master, why must you be so ruthless!" said one of the family members of the mountain bandits. However, Li Chongjiu remained indifferent.
A sudden whoosh pierced the air. Then came a sickening thud, followed by an utterly tragic scream.
After finishing this meal, Wang Junkuo flicked the whip, and with a whoosh, the whip's tip sliced through the air and returned to his hand
Just as a father at home, when angry, would scold his son with a slap, the mother would first step in to cover with a hand and reprimand loudly. Otherwise, once the father takes action, it would never be as simple as just one slap. Wang Mahang said this, and the bandits behind him all echoed in agreement.
Li Chongjiu met his gaze for a moment, then withdrew his eyes and lowered his head, saying: "I have seen my second uncle." This was not an expression of fear, but rather a sign of respect towards his elder.
Li Chongjiu said: "Thank you, Second Uncle. Since these individuals have already learned their lesson, I wonder if I could ask you for a favor and let them off this time."
Wang Junkuo, upon hearing this, could not help but remain silent and said, "What the chief says is indeed correct"
They finally took into consideration the reputation of Li Chongjiu's father, the head of the family, Li Hu, and refrained from speaking ill. Li Chongjiu listened to these words, turned around, and a hint of severity appeared in his eyes
Sitting at the head of the table is a middle-aged man, seated steadily with a kind expression; he is Li Chongjiu's father, Li Hu
Everyone gasped in shock, thinking how ruthless it was
The mountain bandit provocatively glared at Li Chongjiu, clearly a desperate outlaw. Seeing the other party's demeanor, Li Chongjiu's gaze sharpened, and he immediately shouted, "Bring the saltwater."
Swish!
If we encounter peaceful times, the opportunities available will be far more substantial than engaging in a business without any capital.