Chapter 28: The Elite Hundred

At the dungeon entrance.

Su Mu supported Fatty Li as they stumbled out. Looking at the frail and gasping man, Su Mu shook his head and couldn't help but remark, "Commander, you really should lose some weight..."

Fatty Li widened his eyes and retorted, "If I didn't have this layer of fat, I probably would have lost my life long ago! But still, you actually found a way to get me out! I am very curious, how did you manage to persuade the Inspector?"

Su Mu smiled silently and gestured toward the crowd at the entrance. Fatty Li looked in the direction of Su Mu's finger and saw Old Zhang and the others looking at him with smiles on their faces. Even many veterans of the Tiger Might Battalion had arrived one after another. There were nearly a thousand people standing at the dungeon gate.

The soldiers guarding the area were at a loss. The disparity in numbers was simply too great. If it weren't for the fact that the Tiger Might soldiers weren't causing any trouble, they would have already called for reinforcements.

Seeing this, Fatty Li’s eyes welled up with tears. It had been so many years; he never expected to see so many old friends he had fought alongside again. "You guys! You all actually came this time..."

Just as Fatty Li was about to say more, the crowd suddenly parted. Song Hui walked over with a calm expression. The moment he saw her, Fatty Li looked as if he had seen a ghost. He stared at her in disbelief. "You... why are you here?"

Fatty Li was completely stunned. Song Hui stood before them and glanced at Su Mu. "You've recruited a fine successor. I saw no hope for the Tiger Might Battalion in your hands, but with him, there is still a chance to restore its former glory."

Fatty Li swallowed hard, looked back at Su Mu, and said sheepishly, "She was complimenting me, right?"

Su Mu shrugged, looking indifferent. "I suppose so! This isn't the place to talk. Let’s head back. I have some very important matters to report to you, Commander."

...

In the courtyard, Fatty Li looked at Su Mu, his mouth agape, his lips twitching uncontrollably. "You mean to say that during this infiltration, you not only burned their provisions but also inflicted heavy damage on the Barbarian High Priest?"

Su Mu nodded and sighed with slight regret. "It is a pity that the Barbarian King’s strength is no small matter. Although I wanted to capture him, the difficulty was immense. If I had dragged it out any longer, I wouldn't have been able to make it out unscathed."

Fatty Li shook his head in amazement. "You young man, what you have accomplished is already the stuff of dreams for most people."

Su Mu shrugged and chuckled. "Commander, after the recent expansion, the Tiger Might Battalion now has seven thousand men! In a little while, the numbers will likely exceed ten thousand!"

Fatty Li’s eyes widened as he let out a breath. "Seven thousand? Isn't that a bit too many? Where did you find so many candidates in such a short time? You aren't just filling the ranks with dead weight, are you? I’m telling you, that won't do. Every soldier in the Tiger Might Battalion must be trustworthy."

Fatty Li knew clearly that he had to keep Su Mu in check. Hearing this, Su Mu offered a faint smile. "Commander, among these people, over two thousand are former members of the battalion. With Sister Song Hui’s call, they have essentially all chosen to return. Another portion consists of confidants she has cultivated over the years, all of whom are completely trustworthy. As for the rest, they are the elite recruits she hand-picked at my request."

Fatty Li was speechless. What was this? Was his subordinate just too capable? It left him, the commander, feeling like he had no sense of accomplishment. At that moment, he even felt that Su Mu was better suited for the position than he was. If not for the fact that Su Mu hadn't been with them long enough, he would have handed over the reins right then and there. With a successor like this, why put himself through the wringer?

"From today on, you are in command of a hundred-man squad! I have only one requirement: I want this unit to become a true elite force. No matter who they face, they must be able to crush them."

After careful consideration, Fatty Li decided it was best to start Su Mu with a hundred-man squad. As the saying goes, one cannot become fat in a single bite. Forcing too many soldiers on him at once might not be a good thing. A gradual approach would be more effective.

Su Mu was quite surprised. A hundred-man squad? For him, this was already a significant challenge. Managing the training of a hundred people was no easy task. Especially since his goal was singular: to make the name of the Tiger Might Battalion as feared as the Tiger-Wolf Cavalry—where the mere mention of them would strip the enemy of the courage to fight.

"I understand! Don't worry, Commander. Give me half a month, and I guarantee they will undergo a transformation that will turn the world upside down!"

Watching Su Mu leave, Fatty Li felt deeply moved. Had it not been for Su Mu, the battalion would have been disbanded, and he would have remained wrongfully imprisoned with no chance of redemption. Fatty Li knew that all these changes stemmed from one person: Su Mu. Because of him, the Tiger Might Battalion had been reborn.

"However, I am curious. A month from now, the Barbarians will launch a full-scale invasion. What should we do? Qinghe Town is the most vital strategic point for their campaign; they won't be able to bypass it, and they will likely send heavy forces to attack."

Hearing this, Su Mu arched an eyebrow and smiled faintly. "Commander, I have already planned for that. I hope we can fully utilize our terrain advantage to launch a counter-offensive before the Barbarians even begin their assault. Before their defensive formations are solidified, we will take out as many as we can!"

Fatty Li clapped Su Mu on the shoulder with deep emotion. "Well said! I leave this matter in your hands! As for me, I will work with Song Hui to ensure the most perfect logistics, guaranteeing that all your training can proceed without hindrance."

Su Mu raised an eyebrow. With this, the elite hundred-man squad could officially begin. This time, it would be the foundation of his rise to power.