Zhang Fang relaxed his breath as he noticed the rain had stopped and walked toward the opposing side. Hao Zhuang and Shi Houde followed closely behind him, holding knives tightly.
“Stop!” Zhang Fang shouted at Chen Laoda.
Chen Laoda was violently kicking someone, exuding an intense aura of hostility. When he turned around, he looked like a demon crawling out of hell.
“Is teaching my men a lesson any of your business?” he retorted harshly.
Zhang Fang stepped forward to block the curled-up figure and said to Chen Laoda, “It is my business. I told you, until we are free from this, everyone must unite!”
Spitting on the ground, Chen Laoda sneered and cursed, “Do you really think I’m that easy to deal with? That I would listen to you?”
Zhang Fang swiftly pulled out Hao Zhuang’s dagger and pointed it at Chen Laoda, his expression cold as he said, “If you don’t comply, I will kill you right now.”
“You dare! I have so many brothers! If I shout, they’ll rush to fight you! There are few fighters among you! You’re no match for us!” Chen Laoda’s gaze turned icy as he glared at Zhang Fang, his fists clenched and ready to attack.
The bandits looked fierce, eyeing Zhang Fang with hostility.
Zhang Fang glanced at them and slowly said, “What use is it to follow him? He has no money and no food, while I have both. Do you know why this group listens to me? Because following me means they won’t have to worry about eating and drinking, without risking their lives. Here is a chance for you to choose: will you follow him into a morally depraved death, or will you follow me and live with dignity? As human beings, don’t you want to earn the respect that comes with it?”
This statement immediately unsettled the bandits. Chen Laoda’s eyes turned fiercely as he stared at Zhang Fang.
“Ah Biao! Come here!”
Ah Biao, hiding in a corner, hesitated for a moment before timidly walking over when called.
“Young master…”
“Did you eat well tonight? I treat you well, right?” Zhang Fang asked him.
Facing the hungry gazes like those of wolves, Ah Biao trembled, his face stiff as he replied, “I ate well… Young master, you treat me very well…”
Zhang Fang told the bandits, “As long as you follow me, I guarantee you won’t have to worry about food!”
Driven by self-interest, many of the bandits began to waver in their hearts. However, none dared to speak up first.
Zhang Fang looked down at the curled-up figure and asked, “Do you want to follow me?”
Ah Biao quickly crouched down, gently patting the person as he said, “The young master is asking you! Hurry and follow him!”
As a traitor, Ah Biao hadn’t dared to sleep a wink tonight, fearing that if he closed his eyes, these bandits would assassinate him. Now he desperately wished for everyone to side with Zhang Fang so that they could all betray Chen Laoda together. Then he wouldn’t be alone anymore! His safety would be secured!
The person who had just been brutally beaten by Chen Laoda felt pain throughout his body and struggled to lift his head to look up at Zhang Fang, inhaling sharply as he spoke slowly, “I… I would like to follow you…”
Once someone took the lead, the others’ doubts intensified, but still, no one dared to stand up.
Zhang Fang instructed Ah Biao to help the man up and take him away.
As he left, Chen Laoda immediately erupted in anger at his subordinates, “I’m not dead yet! You want to betray me? Don’t forget, we are still in Jiangzhou. How many days can you eat by following him? Think clearly about whether you can survive to leave Jiangzhou!”
These words dispelled the bandits’ earlier wavering hearts, extinguishing any thoughts of siding with Zhang Fang.
“Boss, we are utterly loyal to you! How could we betray you for a meal? Whoever dares to betray you, I, Wang Wu, will be the first to stand up and knock him out!”
“Yes! I will kill that person too!”
Chen Laoda coldly surveyed all his men; pushed to this extent by Zhang Fang, he had to take action! Otherwise, these people would surely abandon him!
“Strike before dawn! Kill them all! Bring back the money and food!”
Upon hearing this, the bandits felt a spark of anticipation. Even though they were starving, they thought they could endure a bit longer.
“Young master, this is Ah Kuo; he’s quite capable!” Ah Biao enthusiastically attended to Ah Kuo, giving him his leftover rations.
Despite the pain all over his body, upon seeing the food, Ah Kuo lunged forward and devoured it hungrily.
Zhang Fang looked at the horse, closed his eyes, and said to Ah Biao, “Kill that horse.”
Ah Biao: !!!
He thought he heard wrong!
“Kill… the horse?”
“Do you want to eat horse meat?” Zhang Fang placed a hand on his forehead, his voice sounding weary.
Before Ah Biao could respond, Ah Kuo excitedly nodded and exclaimed, “Yes! Eat meat!”
Though puzzled, Hao Zhuang and Shi Houde didn’t try to persuade Zhang Fang. They were trapped here; even if they had to leave tomorrow, they couldn’t take the horse. Slaughtering it for food seemed feasible!
Chen Laoda, watching the officials pulling the horses, couldn’t guess their intentions. It wasn’t until he heard the horse’s agonized cries that he realized they intended to kill the horse for meat! His expression became grim as he grabbed a handful of mud, squeezing it fiercely, causing it to ooze between his fingers and drop to the ground.
The nearby bandits sensed Chen Laoda’s anger but didn’t dare speak, pretending to be asleep.
Ah Biao took on the task, running over to shout, “Brothers, do you want to eat horse meat?”
Upon hearing this, the bandits immediately opened their eyes, saliva flooding their mouths, and their stomachs protested. They were hungry! They craved it! It was horse meat!
Looking over, they indeed began to slaughter the horse! They were really going to eat horse meat!
Not eating when there’s meat would be foolish!
Some stood up instinctively.
Chen Laoda glared at the person with cold malice, preparing to hit them.
Ah Biao yelled again, “Come on! Follow Young Master Zhang and you won’t have to worry about food! You can eat meat immediately! With Chen Laoda, you either get scolded or beaten; you live worse than a dog!”
This time, several more stood up.