Chapter 17: The Transformation of the Refugee Recruits

“Chief Liu, the food is ready, but most people can’t eat it. They feel nauseous just looking at it,” the bandit said anxiously.

“Can’t eat?” Liu Heng suddenly recalled that the first time killing and seeing blood often left many unable to mentally and emotionally adjust, causing a loss of appetite.

This was normal and would improve with time.

However, he didn’t have the luxury of waiting. If Shi Yunhu hadn’t given up intercepting him and the grain convoy, another fierce battle was inevitable. Without eating, no one would have the strength to fight.

At that moment, Li Shuheng spoke up, “This is a normal reaction to the first kill. If they don’t want to eat, then don’t. They’ll recover soon enough.”

“No, I can give them time to recover, but Shi Yunhu might not give us that time,” Liu Heng said, looking at the bandits beside him. “Except for those guarding the convoy, take the rest outside the main wagon, to the bloodiest place. Not one less.”

“Yes!” The bandit responded and turned to leave.

Liu Heng led the way outside the wagon, with Li Shuheng and Chen Xunping exchanging a glance before quickly following.

Squads of refugee recruits, each led by their squad leaders, gathered at the blood-soaked area outside the wagon, where the dead were most numerous and the stench of blood thickest.

By firelight, Liu Heng saw the recruits’ pale, haggard faces. Some emitted a harsh odor, clearly having just vomited.

During the killing, they hadn’t reacted much, but while cleaning the battlefield, many had vomited spontaneously.

Despite their exhaustion, some even steadied themselves by stabbing wooden spears into the ground, yet they still formed neat ranks within their squads.

Seeing this, Liu Heng was pleased; it showed the refugees had accepted and adapted to maintaining formation, a testament to his successful training.

“Sit!” Liu Heng shouted, then sat cross-legged himself.

The ground was soft and sticky with blood mixed with dirt, making it very uncomfortable.

Still, under his order, none hesitated; all the recruits sat down, enduring the pungent, nauseating smell in silence.

“Bring the food over,” Liu Heng called towards the supply wagon.

Soon, archers brought the prepared food to Liu Heng and the recruits.

Liu Heng grabbed a piece of bread and bit into it.

The air was still thick with blood’s scent; the bread tasted overwhelmingly metallic, utterly devoid of its own flavor.

Not just the recruits, even he felt nauseous, nearly spitting it out.

But he knew he couldn’t; as their leader, he had to eat the bread in front of them all, completely.

Swallowing the last bite and suppressing the urge to vomit, he steadied himself and stood.

Fighting the discomfort in his stomach, he spoke loudly, “If you don’t eat, you’ll have no strength. When danger comes, you won’t be able to resist. Don’t think the battle is over—that was only the beginning. More brutal fights await. If you’re not full, you won’t have the strength to survive. Those who don’t want to die, pick up your bread and eat! If you want to be like those killed, keep lying on the ground vomiting. I have no use for worthless wastes here.”

Some recruits hesitated, then reached out for the bread and began eating. More followed, stuffing bread into their mouths. A few gagged after a bite but clenched their hands over their mouths and forced it down.

In this way, every recruit ate a piece before stopping.

“I had some wild vegetable soup made. Let them each have a little; it might ease their discomfort,” Li Shuheng said, signaling for a wooden bucket to be brought over. There were no bowls, only ladles, so one by one each recruit sipped a spoonful.

Seeing their complexions improve somewhat, Liu Heng said, “Except for those needing to relieve duty, everyone else stay here and rest.”

A few recruits left to patrol, while most remained seated.

As time passed, some began to acclimate to the blood’s stench, no longer feeling sick, and started resting calmly amid the gore.

Liu Heng felt much relieved. Even if danger arose later, these recruits gave him some hope for resistance.

“Chief Liu, the men sent by Chief Yang have arrived,” the bandit spoke, followed by another man.

The newcomer stepped forward respectfully. “Chief Liu, the archer camp is secure. No ambushes around. Chief Yang sent me back with the report.”

Liu Heng told him, “Go eat something first. Later, join the main force returning to camp.”

The messenger nodded and stepped back.

“Notify everyone, prepare to march back to camp,” Liu Heng ordered.

The recruits resting on the ground stood up in unison, forming squads of thirty, each led by their squad leader, busily preparing.

Since the previous small team driving the wagons was taken by Yang Yuan, a new squad replaced them, harnessing the livestock and setting off.

Along the way, about every mile, the convoy received messages from the archer camp, while Liu Heng continuously sent scouts ahead.

By the third watch of the night, Liu Heng and the grain wagons finally returned to the archer camp. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

But before the grain could be unloaded, the sound of galloping hooves erupted outside the camp.

“Alert!” a squad leader guarding the camp shouted.

One by one, squads of refugee recruits rushed out, wooden spears in hand, confronting the approaching cavalry.

In the darkness, sharp spear tips pointed steadily at the horsemen. The recruits showed no sign of retreat despite the threat.

From his horse, Ma Yunjou frowned and murmured, “I didn’t expect him to have trained such elite troops in just ten days.”

Daring to face his cavalry without losing ground was no coincidence. Ma Yunjou knew the recruits’ experience in killing and bloodshed that night was part of it, but more importantly, they had learned to form ranks and arrays, no longer scattered.

“What has he trained?” Ma Yunjou’s aide asked, puzzled.

“Nothing,” Ma Yunjou replied. “No need to enter the archer camp. We’ll wait here for the person in charge to come out.”

Shortly after, Liu Heng and Li Shuheng emerged from the camp, their recruits standing behind them.

“Chief Ma,” Li Shuheng greeted, “I wonder why you’ve mustered your forces here at such a late hour in our archer camp?”