Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

The morning light completely dispelled the last vestiges of darkness on the battlefield, but it could not dispel the heavy and oppressive atmosphere that permeated the makeshift prisoner-of-war camp. In several hastily constructed enclosed areas made from captured vehicles, broken spears, and rough hemp ropes, 437 Black Mountain Army prisoners huddled together like lambs to the slaughter, some sitting, some lying. Most were ragged, many their clothes stained with the blood of their comrades or themselves, their faces etched with exhaustion, terror, and numbness. Some wounded groaned softly; the air was thick with the stench of sweat, blood, and the faint putrid smell of festering wounds. Fully armed soldiers of Xinghuo Fortress, spears in hand and steel swords at their waists, stood watch outside the camp, their cold gazes sweeping over each prisoner to prevent any possible disturbance.

How to deal with these prisoners became one of the most troublesome and urgent problems facing Chen Xing after the great victory. Kill them outright? While this would be simpler and eliminate any potential threats, it violated the ironclad rule of "no killing of surrendered soldiers" in his personally drafted military regulations. Furthermore, it would completely ruin the reputation of Xinghuo Fortress as a "righteous army," eliminating any future thoughts of surrender from other enemies—a long-term loss. Release them all? That would be tantamount to releasing tigers back into the mountains. These veterans, having experienced the ravages of war, could easily become a vital force for the enemy once they returned to the Black Mountain Commander's command and were reorganized. Long-term imprisonment? This would consume precious food and guards, and the prisoners harbored resentment, making them highly susceptible to turning against him.

The core members of Starfire Fortress gathered again in the central command tent, the atmosphere heavy. The faint sounds of commotion drifting from the distant prisoner-of-war camp outside added to the oppressive atmosphere.

"In my opinion, none of these bandits are good! Their hands are stained with blood! Let's follow the old rules and pick some of the strong and able-bodied to fill the labor camp, and the rest... find a pretext to get rid of them so we can save ourselves the trouble!" Zhao Tiezhu shouted first. He had personally witnessed many familiar villagers and refugees die tragically on the battlefield yesterday, and he had no good feelings towards these Black Mountain Army prisoners.

Zhou Dashan frowned: "Tiezhu, you can't say that. Killing prisoners is bad luck, and the fortress lord has given strict orders. If we keep them locked up, the daily food expenses alone will be a huge burden. We just finished a battle, and we're strapped for cash ourselves. If we release them, that would be aiding the enemy."

Wang Jian raised concerns from a medical perspective: "Many prisoners are wounded. If they are not properly treated, the spread of disease could endanger our soldiers and civilians. Moreover, guarding the wounded will also require a lot of medicine and manpower."

Chen Wei, however, was more concerned with the military aspect: "Among the prisoners, there must be veteran soldiers of the Black Mountain Army, and there may even be officers mixed in. If they are allowed to gather together, it will inevitably cause trouble in the long run. We need to break up their formations, keep them under strict guard, and find a way to identify their leaders and key personnel and deal with them separately."

Murong Mingyue was silent for a moment, then said, "The grassland tribes treat prisoners of war either as slaves, recruit them as vassal warriors, or... kill them to eliminate future troubles. However, judging from the actions of the fortress lord, he does not seem to choose such cruel or simple methods. If these prisoners are properly dealt with, they may become laborers, and even... perhaps one or two of them will be useful in the future."

Wu Xuejiu stroked his beard and pondered: "The 'Order of Merit' states that those who have made merits must be rewarded and those who have committed offenses must be punished, regardless of their background. However, this applies to the soldiers and civilians of our fortress. The prisoners are the enemy, not us, and their intentions are unpredictable. The way to deal with them should be a combination of firmness and leniency. We must demonstrate the authority of our fortress's laws and regulations, but also give them a glimmer of hope in order to divide and weaken them and turn harm into benefit."

Everyone had their own opinion, but all eyes eventually focused on Chen Xing, who had been listening silently the whole time.

Chen Xing's fingers tapped lightly on the rough wooden tabletop as his mind raced, weighing the pros and cons. He understood, of course, that everyone's concerns were valid. Zhao Tiezhu represented the most basic desire for revenge and realistic security anxieties; Zhou Dashan considered the actual pressure of material resources; Wang Jian worried about hygiene and epidemic prevention; Chen Wei focused on military security; Murong Mingyue offered a different cultural perspective; and Wu Xuejiu pointed out the core of the problem—how to find a balance between punishment and absorption, deterrence and appeasement.

"What you all say makes sense," Chen Xing finally spoke, his voice steady and clear. "Disposing of prisoners is neither an act of venting anger nor a gesture of charity. There are three purposes: First, to demonstrate the ironclad rules of our military regulations and to proclaim to the world that Xinghuo Fortress always keeps its word and those who surrender will not be killed; second, to eliminate potential threats and prevent them from being used by the enemy again; and third, if they can be converted, they can be used by the fortress to enhance its strength."

He paused, then looked around at everyone: "Therefore, my intention is as follows—"

"First, immediately screen all prisoners. Chen Wei shall select elite soldiers, veterans, and surrendered soldiers familiar with the Black Mountain army to interrogate them one by one and verify their identities. Those who are found to be Black Mountain army officers, leaders, long-serving veterans, or those who have committed many crimes shall be separated, strictly guarded, and dealt with separately. The remaining ordinary soldiers, especially the recently captured refugees and farmers, shall be listed in a separate register."

"Second, establish 're-education camps'," Chen Xing stated his long-considered idea. "All ordinary prisoners who pass the initial screening will be sent to these 're-education camps.' These camps will be separate from the fortified residents and the naturalized camps, and will be dedicated to hard labor. Fixed areas will be designated, walls will be built around them, and they will be strictly guarded. A system of collective responsibility will be implemented within the camps, with ten people forming a squad. If one person in a squad escapes or causes trouble, the entire squad will be held accountable! A minimum amount of food and water will be provided daily to maintain basic labor capacity."

"Third, they will earn their living through labor," Chen Xing continued. "Prisoners in the re-education camp will be required to undertake the most arduous and dangerous labor, such as quarrying stone, digging deep trenches, building outer fortifications, cleaning up battlefield filth, and transporting heavy supplies. Each day's work will be recorded as 'labor points' based on their performance. Accumulating a certain number of points can be exchanged for slightly better food, medicine, or a reduction in the intensity of labor. Those who perform exceptionally well and are observed over a long period to be truly loyal may be transferred to the 'naturalization camp' in the future, where they will undergo further testing before potentially becoming official fortress residents."

"Fourth, implement a policy of division and indoctrination." Chen Xing's gaze deepened. "In the indoctrination camps, prisoners are encouraged to report on any unruly individuals within the camp, with rewards for verified reports. At the same time, literate and reasonable individuals are selected as 'indoctrination officers' to preach our fortress's 'Regulations' every ten days, especially emphasizing the 'Military Regulations' such as 'No robbing civilians, no abusing prisoners,' explaining our fortress's purpose of sheltering refugees and reclaiming wasteland for self-preservation. We can also have assimilated Hu people or well-behaved prisoners share their experiences. We don't expect them to immediately submit, but rather to undermine their will to resist and sow the seeds of resistance."

"Fifth, regarding seriously wounded prisoners." Chen Xing looked at Wang Jian, "Those with minor injuries that can be healed should be handled as described above. Those with serious injuries that are difficult to treat, or those who are disabled and unable to work... after providing the most basic humane treatment, may be left to fend for themselves, or cared for by their fellow villagers among the prisoners. Our fort has limited medicine, and we must prioritize ensuring the health of our wounded soldiers."

He finished speaking in one breath, and everyone in the tent fell into thought. This plan adhered to principles, fully considered security, attempted to transform burdens into resources, and even contained ambitions for long-term transformation. It was comprehensive, but also extremely complex, requiring a large amount of manpower and meticulous management to implement.

"This method... is feasible." Wu Xuejiu nodded first. "It combines firmness and gentleness, and is well-structured and methodical. In particular, the two points of 'exchanging labor for a living' and 'education' can be implemented properly. Given time, it may not be impossible to turn enemies into friends, or at least turn enemies into laborers. However, a capable person is needed to lead the education camp. This person must be impartial and incorruptible, and also know how to adapt."

Chen Wei pondered for a moment and said, "I can take charge of the screening and guard duties. However, the daily management of the reformatory and the allocation of labor require a meticulous, rigorous, and tough person."

Chen Xing already had someone in mind. He looked at Zhao Tiezhu: "Tiezhu, are you willing to take on the position of the first commander of the Re-education Camp?"

Zhao Tiezhu was taken aback, pointing to himself: "Me? Me, go and manage those thieves and prisoners?" He had originally thought that the lord would let him continue to be in charge of land reclamation or something else.

"It's you," Chen Xing affirmed. "You're straightforward, clear about right and wrong, fair in your dealings, and respected among the villagers. With you in charge of the reformatory, the guards won't dare to slack off, and the prisoners know your methods. Zhou Dashan can assist with the specific labor assignments; Chen Wei will support the screening of guards; and Mr. Wu can send someone to assist with the reformatory lectures. You only need to remember one thing: strictly follow the regulations agreed upon today! Be ruthless when necessary, and never withhold merits when they are due! If any prisoners cause trouble or attempt to escape, kill them without mercy as a warning to others! Can you do that?"

Zhao Tiezhu was fired up by Chen Xing's words. He puffed out his chest and shouted, "If the fortress lord trusts me, I'll do it! I guarantee I'll keep a close eye on those thieving prisoners and make them pay back the food they ate with double the effort! Anyone who dares to cause trouble, I, Old Zhao, will be the first to chop them down!"

"Alright!" Chen Xing nodded, then looked at Zhou Dashan, Wang Jian, Li Shu, and the others. "Dashan, you coordinate with Tiezhu on labor assignments and supplies. Be precise and avoid waste. Wang Jian, handle the wounded as previously discussed. Li Shu, immediately draft the 'Detailed Rules for the Re-education Camp Labor Sites' and the specific clauses of the 'Collective Liability Law,' and record all prisoner rosters, identification details, and work performance—make sure everything is clear and traceable!"

"Yes, sir!" the crowd replied in unison.

With the plan finalized, action was swift and decisive. Chen Wei immediately led his men into the prisoner-of-war camp to begin the tense screening process. Cries, shouts, and pleas could be faintly heard, but they quickly subsided under the cold blades and methodical questioning. In the end, forty-seven officers, leaders, and soldiers who were identified or confessed were taken out separately and locked in specially designed cages to await their final fate. The remaining three hundred and ninety ordinary prisoners, in fear and confusion, were organized into thirty-nine "teams," ten men in each team, linked together by ropes, and escorted by the garrison soldiers, dejectedly walked towards the desolate slope west of Xinghuo Fortress designated as the "re-education camp."

Zhao Tiezhu had already arrived ahead of a selected team of fierce-looking veterans, and began directing the prisoners and some auxiliary soldiers to cut down trees, drive in the first boundary marker, and dig trenches. A new and more arduous labor life was about to begin. Meanwhile, nearly four hundred special names, requiring constant vigilance, had quietly been added to the population register of Xinghuo Fortress.

The handling of prisoners of war was not merely a post-war cleanup, but a severe test of Xinghuo Fortress's system and management capabilities. Chen Xing stood at a distance on the slope, watching the construction site of the indoctrination camp begin to bustle with activity, his gaze calm. He knew this was just the beginning. How to truly integrate these "spoils of war," transforming them from the enemy's henchmen into laborers for fortress construction, and even potential bricks and stones in the future, would be a long and risky road.

But at least, the first step has been taken. With a resounding victory and a set of meticulous and stringent rules, Starfire Fortress demonstrated to everyone its ability and determination to handle complex issues.

In chaotic times, survival and growth are never just about the swords and shadows on the battlefield.