The fiercest soldier of the border army

No one expected things to change so quickly.

The wind swirled dust across the battlefield.

There was silence.

Tang Shun stood beside Li Man's corpse, blood still dripping from the tip of his knife.

"You killed Li Man?"

A tall, thin man spoke first, his voice trembling, "He had distinguished himself in the vanguard and was highly regarded by the captain. You killed him without saying a word?"

It was so decisive that none of the nine people could react in time!

A person who was just a moment ago loud and lively turned into a corpse in the blink of an eye!

Several pairs of eyes were fixed on Tang Shun, some angry, some afraid, and some waiting to see the show.

"If someone is truly loved, they won't stay to die."

Tang Shun spoke, his voice not loud, "Every one of you, including myself, dares to say that you are deeply loved?"

The nine men's expressions turned somewhat grim; clearly, as expendable pawns, they all had reasons for being abandoned.

"So what?"

Another burly man with a full beard sneered, "Li Man is right, staying here is just suicide! We're already outnumbered, why are you killing our own people?"

Several people around nodded in agreement, and someone muttered under their breath, "Pretentious," instantly tensing the atmosphere.

The tall, thin man stepped forward, arms crossed. "A squad leader who kills at the drop of a hat? I, Liang Enyi, will never accept that! If you're so capable, then kill us all!"

"That's right, I, Cheng Feng, am not convinced either."

The bearded man held his head high, "A country has its laws, and an army has its regulations. Is it too cruel to execute Li Man just for saying a few lewd things?"

Another soldier of medium build, with a relatively fair complexion, spoke in a sarcastic tone, "I've long heard of Tang Hanzi's reputation, and seeing him today, I can confirm it's well-deserved! I, Wei Zong, have truly experienced his prowess!"

Three men led the way, and all the soldiers behind them stood together, ready to fight Tang Shun to the bitter end.

Tang Shun neither argued nor got angry.

The camp remains, but the soldiers come and go; he had seen many troublemakers in his previous life.

Many people believe that might makes right in the military, but that's not the case.

If you encounter a brainless superior, no matter how big your fist is, you're nothing more than a brute.

"Then I'll do as you say."

Tang Shun nodded slightly. "Since you don't submit to me, according to the military law of the Great Qian Dynasty, three people form a squad, five people form a platoon, and ten people form a company."

"Since there are exactly nine of you, divide into teams of three and each select three team leaders."

"From now on, each staff officer will obey the orders of their staff commander, how does that sound?"

Tang Shun spoke calmly with a smile on his face, as if he had truly recognized his position and was willing to be a puppet.

Upon hearing this, the nine people exchanged glances and made eye contact.

"Alright!" Cheng Feng readily agreed. "Even three people are better than following you!"

"Brothers, let's talk somewhere else."

Tang Shun ignored him, found a rock, and began sharpening his knife.

"Is he really willing to give up his position as squad leader and abandon us?" Liang Enyi whispered.

"Something's not right." Bai Jingjun and Han Weizong frowned. "Nine people are a disorganized mess. He can make an example of them to scare the rest of us and make us submit."

"But now that it's divided into three departments, if the three department heads unite, wouldn't he be sidelined?"

"How could anyone in this world be so foolish?"

"Haha, how could he not?" Cheng Feng laughed loudly. "Don't forget, he's Tang Hanzi. He's not exactly bright, so what's so surprising about him doing something like this?"

"In my opinion, we should listen to him, elect three chiefs, band together, and sideline him."

"He can kill Li Man, but can he kill all of us?"

"Then, we'll rob him of his silver, and we'll each run away, letting him deal with the Xiongnu himself!"

"Alright, it's settled then. We'll stand together through thick and thin, and no one is allowed to betray us!"

"Of course..."

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the three advisors finally each put forward their advisors: Liang Enyi, Wei Zong, and Cheng Feng.

"You're the chief of staff, is that the decision?" Tang Shun didn't even lift his eyelids.

"It's settled. They'll listen to the three of us. As for you, platoon leader, just stay here and sharpen your knife!"

Tang Shun ignored him, stood up, and ordered, "Liang Enyi, take your entourage and go ten miles ahead to guard the mountain pass. Wei Zong guards the eastern pass, and Cheng Feng guards the western earthen wall. If there are any scouts, report back immediately."

"What gives you the right to assign tasks?" Wei Zong frowned. "Didn't we agree that we would each consult our own advisors and that you wouldn't interfere?"

Cheng Feng and Liang Enyi nodded in agreement.

The nine people remained motionless, huddled together as if in a ball.

wow-

Tang Shun was not surprised at all and poured all the silver on the ground.

The sound of fifty taels of silver clinking around made the nine soldiers present widen their eyes!

The border soldiers earn no more than five taels of silver a year!

After layers of deductions, you'll only get about half of what you need at most.

The national treasury is empty, and salaries have not been paid for two whole years!

"Captain Wang gave me fifty taels of silver."

"I'm giving you all thirty taels as a reward from your sergeant."

The three chiefs were extremely envious and stepped forward in unison.

Thirty taels, ten taels per person, just right!

For a moment, the three chiefs even wanted to give Tang Shun some face.

"but--"

Tang Shun suddenly changed the subject, "Of these thirty taels, only two ginseng roots are worth taking."

"Same as always, I won't interfere. The three of you can discuss it yourselves and decide which two deserve it."

The air suddenly froze.

The three chiefs, who had been standing together, immediately glared at each other.

Wealth can be very tempting!

"Three ginseng roots, why can only two be obtained?" Cheng Feng's face was grim. "Tang Hanzi, this is clearly unfair!"

Tang Shun glanced at Cheng Feng. "You mean, you don't want it anymore? You're giving away the remaining two ginseng roots?"

Tang Shun then looked at Wei Zong and Liang Enyi, "What do you think?"

"How can this be allowed?" Cheng Feng's expression changed drastically. "We'll stand together through thick and thin; we absolutely won't do something so utterly foolish!"

He wanted to get the two chiefs to join him in opposing the plan.

But Liang Enyi and Wei Zong remained silent.

Cheng Feng's heart sank.

The group that had just made solemn vows to form an alliance suddenly became ambivalent.

Some people considered killing Tang Shun and seizing the silver.

But if even a fierce vanguard like Li Man was easily killed, who could be confident of taking down Tang Shun?

Even if they could win, who could guarantee that no one would help Tang Shun for the sake of money?!

No matter what, legally speaking, Tang Shun was a squad leader personally appointed by the captain!

"Squad Leader!" Wei Zong looked up. "Our squad is made up of veteran soldiers, with elderly parents and young children to support. It's our turn!"

"We are too!" Liang Enyi suddenly interjected. "We haven't been paid in a long time, and the brothers are all waiting for the money to save their lives."

"Bullshit!" Cheng Feng roared. "Have you no shame? You promised to advance and retreat together, and you haven't even paid me yet, and you're already dumping me?"

"Besides, we haven't even received the money yet. Aren't you afraid that guy surnamed Tang won't give it to you? There are nine of us; we should be of one mind!"

"One heart?" Wei Zong sneered. "Who just said they were going to take over the sergeant's position, take the money, and run away? Hmm? Was that you, Cheng Feng?"

Cheng Feng, whose name was mentioned, immediately changed his expression: "You're talking nonsense!"

"I'm not talking nonsense," Wei Zong sneered. "You know the truth in your heart."

"That's enough." Tang Shun suddenly spoke, his voice not loud, but it silenced all the arguments.

Tang Shun looked at them calmly: "The Xiongnu are coming soon. There's no point in arguing. Even if we have the life to take it, we won't have the life to spend it."

No one spoke.

"I'll keep the silver for now." Tang Shun put the silver back into his bag. "I'll give it to whichever advisor is efficient and responsible."

"Let me tell you, to our north is the approaching army of the Xiongnu."

"To the east is the important town of Wuguan, and to the west is Lingzhou City."

"We can only enter Datong City to the south."

"So, without me, the squad leader, to lead the way, you won't even be able to enter Datong City, let alone any other place; it's a dead end."

"Now, everyone should take turns on duty; not a single one can be absent."

"Our unit is already a expendable pawn. If we continue to fight amongst ourselves, each fighting our own battles, or abandoning the unit to flee for our lives, none of us will survive."

"We're all in the same boat."

Tang Shun paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone, authoritative and cold: "If anyone mentions money, tries to escape, or sleeps with women again, Li Man will suffer the same fate."

Rumbling--

At that moment, wisps of dust billowed in the distance, accompanied by the sound of horses' hooves.

Everyone present paled in shock!

They arrived so quickly!