In times of chaos and famine, I traded one pound of rice for two royal flushes.

With a single, precise cut, the thick belly was slit open, but the inside remained unharmed.

The brightly colored internal organs suddenly churned out.

Qin Shaolang directed the group to carefully remove the useful tiger heart, liver, and kidneys. As for the tiger penis, he personally took the knife and cut it off completely, which caused a group of soldiers to burst into knowing laughter.

"This is incredibly nutritious!"

"Brother Qin, you must keep this for yourself!"

Qin Shaolang was both amused and exasperated. He threw the contents into a wooden basin and then ordered them to dig out all the remaining internal organs and bury them far away.

"These things have the strongest fishy smell and are likely to attract wolves, so they must be cleaned thoroughly."

After all this was done, the skinning work on Li Hu's side reached a critical moment.

Under Qin Shaolang's guidance, the group worked together and actually managed to completely "peel" the tiger skin off the tiger carcass!

When the enormous tiger skin, with its black and yellow stripes, imposing and almost undamaged, was unfolded before the crowd by the four people, everyone fell silent.

It's perfect!

This is simply a work of art!

"Amazing! Absolutely amazing!" Chu Wu circled the tiger skin, praising it repeatedly. "Brother Qin, with skills like yours, you could be the chief anatomy specialist in any prefecture!"

Qin Shao ignored his flattery and began directing everyone to dismantle the tiger bones again.

With his guidance, the originally complicated bone dissection work became much simpler.

Every bone was completely removed, without a single scrap of meat remaining.

Finally, a complete tiger skeleton was neatly placed on another straw mat, exuding a strange majesty.

"I will process this tiger bone with medicinal herbs and strong liquor. In the future, when the brothers are injured during training or suffer from muscle and bone strain, a sip of this will be more effective than any elixir," Qin Shaolang announced.

Upon hearing this, the soldiers became even more excited, their faces turning red.

This kind of treatment is something that even the regular army of the imperial court doesn't enjoy, let alone the private soldiers!

The remaining tiger meat was cut into large chunks, roasted over a campfire until it sizzled and dripped with oil, and then stewed in a large pot until the aroma of the meat filled the air.

As night falls, the earthen kiln is brightly lit inside and out.

More than thirty men gathered around the campfire, eating meat and drinking wine heartily, creating a lively atmosphere.

The sisters Su Jin and Su Tang were also invited out of their cave dwelling by Qin Shaolang.

Seeing the bustling scene, the timid Su Tang was a little scared and tightly gripped her sister's sleeve.

Su Jin was much calmer. She looked at the man who was surrounded by the crowd in the center, his expression calm, and a complex emotion welled up in her heart.

From a penniless traditional Chinese medicine doctor to a leader who commands widespread support, he only took less than a month.

The secrets he held were like an abyss, both captivating and frightening to her.

Qin Shaolang carried a bowl of tender meat with the bones removed and walked up to the two sisters.

"Have something to eat, you've had a long day."

His voice was gentle, a stark contrast to the ruthless decisiveness he displayed when facing enemies.

Su Tang timidly accepted it and whispered, "Thank you, Brother Qin."

Su Jin looked at him and asked softly, "What are you planning to do with that bounty?"

What she cared about was never eating meat, but something much deeper.

Qin Shaolang smiled slightly, as if he had expected her to ask this question.

He turned around, walked to the brightest spot in the campfire, and raised the wine bowl in his hand.

The noisy scene instantly quieted down, and everyone's eyes were focused on him.

"Brothers, we fought the tiger together, so the bounty is rightfully ours."

"But!" he added, changing the subject, "I won't divide this money equally among everyone."

These words immediately caused a stir in the room.

Chu Wu and Li Hu remained calm, knowing that Qin Shaolang's next move was the key.

"I will divide this money into three parts!" Qin Shaolang held up three fingers.

"The first portion will serve as our collective public funds! From now on, whether we need to reinforce our earthen kilns, buy grain, or acquire weapons, it will all come from here! We will build this place into a home that no one can destroy!"

Upon hearing this, all the soldiers began to breathe heavily.

Home!

For these displaced deserters, this word carries immense weight!

"Secondly, it's time for rewards based on merit!" Qin Shaolang's gaze swept over everyone. "In this hunt, Chu Wu's command was excellent, and he deserves the greatest credit! Li Hu provided the intelligence, and his contribution was indispensable! The ten brothers who participated in the hunt faced the tiger head-on, and their courage was commendable! You all take the lion's share!"

"As for everyone else, as long as they are part of our group, everyone will have a share; no one will be left out!"

"My rules, Qin Shaolang's rules, are simple: merit will be rewarded, and excess will be punished! If you want money and a good life, then show me your skills and loyalty!"

"From this day forward, we will share both good times and bad! As long as I, Qin Shaolang, have a bite to eat, I will never let my brothers have a drop of soup!"

His words were powerful and inspiring!

All the soldiers understood.

Brother Qin doesn't want to keep all the bounty for himself; he wants to establish a fairer and more sustainable set of rules!

Following a leader like this gives me hope!

"I am willing to die for Brother Qin!" Chu Wu was the first to kneel on one knee, his roar like thunder.

"I'm willing to die for Brother Qin!"

More than thirty soldiers knelt down on one knee in unison, their roars forming a torrent that echoed throughout the valley.

Su Jin was deeply shaken by what she saw.

He wasn't trying to win people over.

He is forging the soul of an army!

However, at this moment of heightened emotion, a guard who was on lookout duty outside rushed in, tumbling and crawling, his face full of panic.

"Brother Qin! Something terrible has happened! A lot of people have arrived at the village entrance... they're... they're officials from the county government!"

The words "official" were like a bucket of ice water, poured over everyone's enthusiasm.

The once noisy and bustling kiln was instantly plunged into a deathly silence.

The soldiers, who had been blushing and devouring meat just moments before, froze, their smiles gone. They instinctively put down their bowls of wine and roasted meat, the drunkenness and euphoria in their eyes quickly fading, replaced by a deep-seated wariness and unease.

What are their identities?

They are deserters! They are refugees! They are the most shameful group of people in this era!

Normally, they would avoid anyone wearing official robes, fearing questioning or arrest. Now, the officials had actually come knocking on their door!

"Whoosh!"

Chu Wu was the first to stand up, and the dozen or so guards around him also stood up abruptly. Although they were not carrying weapons, the murderous aura they had just honed in the deadly battle of hunting tigers spread out without any concealment.

The atmosphere of the entire venue instantly transformed from a victory celebration into a tense and tense atmosphere before the two armies faced off.