56: Chapter 56 Winning Hearts and Minds

"Where is King Tiger?!" Gao Feng shouted.

"Your subordinate is here!"

That rugged man, who had shown no fear of death in battle, was now blushing with excitement as he quickly ran onto the stage and knelt on one knee.

"Thank you, Stockade Master!!"

Gao Feng personally placed a heavy bag of silver into his hands and patted his shoulder. "Keep up the good work! In the future, even greater merits await you!"

"Your subordinate is willing to die for the Stockade Master!" King Tiger's eyes brimmed with tears as he kowtowed heavily.

Luo Qin's voice continued to ring out.

"The Second Archery Squad, in this battle, held the high ground and used precise arrow rain to inflict heavy casualties on the enemy, contributing greatly to our army's victory! Squad Leader Zhao Iron Pillar is rewarded with forty taels of silver and promoted to Qu Commander of the Second Qu!"

"All soldiers of the Second Archery Squad are rewarded with three taels of silver each! For those who died in battle, the pension is increased to twenty taels!"

"The Scout Squad, by detecting enemy movements in advance, gained valuable time for our army to set an ambush! Squad Leader Li Four is rewarded with thirty taels of silver and promoted to Qu Commander of the Third Qu!"

"..."

Name after name was called, and bag after bag of silver was handed out.

The entire process was open and transparent.

Whether they had died in battle or were still alive, everyone's merits were clearly recorded and given the most generous rewards.

Below the stage, the soldiers watched their companions go up to receive rewards, their eyes filled with envy and excitement.

What they envied was not just the gleaming silver, but the honor of being acknowledged by the Stockade Master in front of everyone!

Those surrendered soldiers from Dushan Stronghold were even more dumbfounded.

In Dushan Stronghold, when they won a battle, most of the benefits were taken by Bear Overlord and the few leaders; what they received were merely leftovers.

When had they ever seen such fair and generous rewards?!

For a moment, the lingering resistance in their hearts was hit hard again. Many people's eyes began to burn with fervor, and they even started calculating how they must perform well in the next battle to strive to stand on that high stage!

After rewarding the groups, it was time for the individuals.

"In this battle, several people achieved great merit!"

Gao Feng's voice rang out again.

"Big Fool!"

"Here... here!"

Big Fool limped onto the stage. The injuries on his body had mostly healed under the effect of the Spirit Spring Water, but he still looked quite disheveled.

He scratched his head, his honest face full of excitement.

Gao Feng looked at him, his eyes filled with gentleness and approval.

"At the moment of the Stockade Master's peril, you stepped forward and used your flesh and blood to resist a Fourth-Rank expert, winning the most precious opportunity for the entire army! Without you, there would be no such great victory!"

"I announce, reward Big Fool with... one hundred taels of gold!"

"Hiss—!"

Below the stage, there was a sound of collective gasping.

One hundred taels of gold!

What kind of concept was that? It was enough to buy a large mansion in the county town, purchase dozens of mu of fertile land, and live comfortably as a wealthy man for a lifetime!

Everyone looked at that Big Fool with eyes filled with crazed envy.

Big Fool was stunned. He didn't know what gold was, he just grinned foolishly, "Stockade Master, I... I don't want gold, I want to eat meat! Eat lots and lots of meat!"

"Hahahaha!"

His innocent words caused a roar of laughter throughout the venue, and the atmosphere became incredibly relaxed and enthusiastic.

"Good! Not only will I reward you with gold, but from today on, you can eat your fill of meat in the stockade! Every meal!" Gao Feng promised with a smile.

"Additionally," Gao Feng put away his smile and solemnly announced, "I am specially establishing the 'Panshi Stockade Personal Guard Battalion', and Big Fool will serve as the first Commander! Responsible for guarding my safety!"

This appointment was even more shocking than one hundred taels of gold!

Personal Guard Battalion Commander!

That was a position that could only be held by the person most trusted by the Stockade Master!

Everyone understood that this seemingly foolish big guy would henceforth be the existence in Panshi Stockade who was second only to one, but above ten thousand!

Although Big Fool didn't understand what this position meant, he understood that he could protect the Stockade Master. He immediately patted his chest with a "thump, thump" sound, "Good! I will protect the Stockade Master! Whoever dares to bully the Stockade Master, I will smash him flat with my hammer!"

The rewarding of merit was over; next came the celebration banquet!

Over a hundred bonfires had large pots set up, in which pigs and sheep captured from Dushan Stronghold were stewing, the aroma overflowing.

Whole fat sheep were roasted on the fire, sizzling, with golden fat dripping into the flames, making a "crackling" sound.

Jars of unopened fine wine were brought out.

"Brothers!"

Gao Feng held up a large bowl filled with wine and shouted to everyone.

"Today, we don't talk about military affairs, we don't talk about training! We only do one thing!"

"Eat meat! Drink wine!"

"Drink for our brothers who died! Drink for those of us who are alive! Drink for the future of our Panshi Stockade!"

"Cheers!!!"

He tilted his head back and drank the entire bowl of strong liquor in one gulp!

"Cheers!!!"

Nearly a thousand men below the stage, whether veterans of Panshi Stockade or the few newly surrendered soldiers, all raised the wine bowls in their hands and, following Gao Feng's example, drank the wine in their bowls in one gulp!

The pungent liquor slid down their throats, igniting the passion and hot blood in their chests!

The excitement that had been suppressed for so long was completely detonated at this moment!

"Eat meat! Eat meat!"

"Hahaha, I've never seen so much meat in my life!"

"Don't grab! Leave a leg of lamb for me!"

The entire valley instantly turned into an ocean of joy.

Soldiers gathered in groups of three or five, sitting around the bonfires, tearing into the roasted meat with big bites and drinking strong liquor from large bowls.

They put their arms around each other's shoulders, singing loudly, using the simplest way to celebrate this hard-won victory.

Gao Feng carried his wine bowl, walked down from the high stage, and merged into the soldiers.

"Stockade Master!"

"The Stockade Master is here!"

Wherever he went, the soldiers there immediately stood up in excitement.

"Sit down! Today there is no Stockade Master, only brothers drinking and eating meat together!"

Gao Feng smiled and clinked his bowl heavily with King Tiger, the Qu Commander of the First Qu.

"Stockade Master, I toast you! If it weren't for you, we would still be savages digging for food in the mountains!"

King Tiger's eyes were red, and he downed the wine in one gulp.

Gao Feng also finished his in one gulp and patted his shoulder. "Follow me from now on, and I guarantee you'll have meat to eat every day and wine to drink at every meal!"

He walked over to the archers and clinked bowls with Zhao Iron Pillar.

"Your arrows were shot very well! They were the key to winning this battle!"

Zhao Iron Pillar was too excited to speak, he just kept nodding vigorously and downed another bowl.

He walked past one bonfire after another, drinking with every leader and veteran whose name he could call, saying encouraging words.

He had no airs at all, just like a kind older brother, sharing the joy of victory with his brothers.

This approachable attitude made all the veterans of Panshi Stockade feel a warmth and pride from the bottom of their hearts.

Meanwhile, those newly surrendered Dushan Stronghold soldiers watched this scene from the side, with envy and restraint.

They had also received meat and wine, but because of their status as newcomers, they didn't dare to cheer as wildly as the Panshi Stockade veterans; they just ate and drank silently, looking out of place.

But they saw that after Gao Feng had toasted all the Panshi Stockade leaders, he actually carried his wine bowl and walked straight to their area.

"Whoosh!"

All the surrendered soldiers who were sitting or squatting, as if they were cats whose tails had been stepped on, instantly stood up nervously. The bowls and chopsticks in their hands almost fell to the ground. They were all at a loss, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Gao Feng looked at their tense, uneasy, and slightly longing faces, and a gentle smile appeared on his face.

He didn't walk up to any specific person, but stood in the center of all the surrendered soldiers and held his large bowl high.

"Brothers."

His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

"I know that many of you still feel uneasy, not knowing whether I, Gao Feng, will settle scores later, or whether I will use you as cannon fodder."

These words struck a chord with all the surrendered soldiers; they lowered their heads one after another, not daring to meet Gao Feng's eyes.

"Today, in front of everyone, I will say it again!"

Gao Feng's tone became resolute.

"From the moment you chose to stay, you are no longer surrendered soldiers of Dushan Stronghold! You are soldiers of my Panshi Stockade! You are brothers of Gao Feng!"

"The past is wiped clean! Turn the page!"

"I don't care if you were cowards or outlaws before. Once you're in my Panshi Stockade, you must follow my rules! Be obedient, be willing to work hard, and if you have merit, I will reward you! If you are disobedient, or want to slack off or play tricks, then the blade in my hand will show no mercy!"

He scanned the circle, his gaze becoming sharp.

"Your Third-in-Command Du Wei is a real man. He is still lying over there recovering from his injuries, and I, Gao Feng, will still use the best medicine to treat him! Because I respect a hero!"

"I hope that among you, some men like him will emerge in the future! And some Qu Commanders like King Tiger and Zhao Iron Pillar will also emerge!"

"Whether you can get ahead depends on your own ability!"

After speaking, he fiercely splashed the wine from his bowl onto the ground.

"This bowl of wine, I toast this land, and I also toast the past Dushan Stronghold that has already died!"

Immediately, he had someone fill another bowl and held it high again.

"And this bowl of wine, I toast you, I toast the four hundred new brothers who have just joined Panshi Stockade!"

"Drink this bowl of wine, and from now on we are one family! We share blessings and face hardships together!"

After saying this, he tilted his head back and drank the strong liquor in the bowl in one gulp!

Looking at Gao Feng's open and honest gaze, hearing the words "new brothers," and feeling that undisguised recognition and acceptance.

All the surrendered soldiers' eyes instantly turned red.

They no longer hesitated, no longer wandered; they raised their wine bowls one after another, using all the strength in their bodies, roaring:

"To the Stockade Master!!"

"Thank you, Stockade Master!"

"Cheers!!!"

These people simultaneously drank the wine in their bowls in one gulp!

The pungent liquor and hot tears slid into their stomachs together, extinguishing the last trace of doubt and unease in their hearts, and igniting the roaring fire named "hope" and "belonging."

Although Gao Feng's actions were not directed at any specific person, they were like a spring rain, silently moistening things, firmly gathering the hearts of all the surrendered soldiers.

The atmosphere of the banquet reached its peak.

The firelight illuminated everyone's faces, and also reflected the rising, unstoppable future of Panshi Stockade.

Gao Feng sat by the fire, looking at the lively scene before him, his heart filled with peace.

He knew that this army, composed of refugees, bandits, and defeated soldiers, after experiencing this baptism of blood and fire, and the heart-winning effect of this celebration banquet, had truly been tempered into an army of tigers and wolves with a Soul.

Their Soul was him.

And he, would lead this army, starting from this small valley, step by step, toward that broader world that belonged to him.

The noise of the banquet lasted until the second half of the night.

When the last soldier, drunk as a skunk, was helped by a companion to find a place to lie down, the entire A Thread of Sky valley finally, accompanied by the fading firelight, completely returned to silence.

Gao Feng was not drunk.

For him, alcohol had long been unable to numb his formidable nerves.

He returned to a cave that had been temporarily cleared out; this had once been a temporary stronghold for Dushan Stronghold's scouts, and now it had become his temporary command post.

Su Yue had already thoughtfully laid out clean animal skins in the cave and lit a small stove of soothing incense, dispelling the dampness and the smell of blood in the cave.

"Brother Peak, you're back."

Seeing Gao Feng enter, Su Yue hurriedly greeted him, her clear eyes filled with admiration and heartache.

This thrilling battle, like Luo Qin, she had witnessed with her own eyes on the hillside in the rear.

When she saw Gao Feng being forced into dangerous situations by Bear Overlord, her heart had almost jumped out of her throat.

"Hmm."

Gao Feng smiled gently at her, signaling that he was fine, and then walked over to a simple wooden table and sat down.

He didn't rest immediately, but took out a charcoal pencil and a piece of rough parchment from his bosom.

This was part of the loot just captured, far easier to use than the wooden boards Panshi Stockade had used before.

Su Yue did not disturb him, but silently replaced his cup with warm Spirit Spring Water, then sat quietly to the side, using the firelight to mend a damaged leather armor.

Inside the cave, there was only the "rustling" sound of the charcoal pencil moving across the parchment, and the occasional "crackling" of the bonfire.

Gao Feng was reviewing.

This was a habit he had cultivated in his previous life; regardless of whether a mission succeeded or not, the post-battle review was just as important as the battle itself.

He first wrote a few large characters on the parchment—"Gains and Losses of this Battle".

The "gains" aspect was self-evident.

He used the charcoal pencil to list lines of heart-stirring text below:

1. Completely annihilated the main force of Dushan Stronghold, killed Bear Overlord, and completely eliminated the greatest external threat to Panshi Stockade in the Gui Jian Chou Mountain Range.

2. Captured over four hundred surrendered soldiers, and the total population of the stockade surged to nearly two thousand. Among them, the battle-ready soldiers, after reorganization, could reach one thousand two hundred!

3. Captured one hundred and twenty-three warhorses, providing the prerequisite conditions for forming a cavalry unit.

4. Captured a large amount of weapons, armor, food, and gold and silver; the stockade's treasury was unprecedentedly full.

5. Subdued talented strategists like Liu Chengfeng, and gained the surrender of fierce generals like Du Wei; the talent reserve was greatly supplemented.

6. After this battle, the morale of Panshi Stockade was like a rainbow, its cohesion was unprecedentedly strong, and its prestige had already come to dominate Gui Jian Chou.

Every item was enough to make any leader of a faction ecstatic.

But Gao Feng's face did not show much joy; instead, his brows furrowed tighter and tighter.

He moved the charcoal pencil to the "losses" column, and the tip of the pen became heavy.