Water Margin: I am Zhu Biao

Chapter 119 The Revival of Humanity

The celebration banquet at the training camp lasted from noon until evening, and eventually went completely off track.

With a great weight lifted from his shoulders, Pang Qiutang's spirits soared, and he once again picked up his wine bowl and went to find Wu Song, who was out drinking with people.

Having learned his lesson from the previous disastrous experience, Wu Song was no longer overconfident.

He put on his best effort and drank with Pang Qiutang one-on-one. Before long, he had her completely drunk and staggering.

This ignited the flames of war, and the scene immediately evolved into a drinking contest between archers and warriors.

Before long, the archer cavalry had just begun to show signs of weakness when Lin Chong led the spear cavalry to join the battle, focusing their fire on the warriors.

The result was self-evident: Wu Song and his entire army were wiped out, and the simpleton Tong Niu nearly fell into the fire.

However, Luan Tingyu, who is usually very mature, did not sit idly by this time.

Instead, he personally led the largest number of archers into battle, fighting two against one to counterattack two already weakened cavalry units.

In the end, the archers all won a Pyrrhic victory. Six people, including Luan Tingyu, remained standing, while the rest of the archers all passed out drunk and snored loudly.

Zhu Biao did not participate in the war.

Firstly, everyone knew that he had never liked drinking and was not good at drinking; secondly, he had important business to discuss with Instructor Zhang.

The most important thing is to set up camp and establish a stronghold.

It was precisely because he saw that Luan Tingyu was able to unload his burdens and focus on the battle.

As dusk approached, the sky was ablaze with crimson clouds.

Zhu Biao and Instructor Zhang stood side by side on a large rock on the hillside behind the camp, facing the setting sun, overlooking the entire camp from their elevated position.

"My lord, are you planning to rebuild this camp on its original site?"

The patrol camp faces south and backs to the north, with a spoon-shaped cliff right behind it. The camp gate faces Tiger Sorrow Ravine, making it a very well-chosen location.

"No!"

Zhu Biao shook his head and pointed to the opposite bank, saying, "Let's set up camp on the south bank, with our backs to the stream."

Why?

Instructor Zhang frowned and blurted out.

"My lord, the south bank is flat and undefended, so it is probably not a good choice for a garrison."

Zhu Biao chuckled and retorted, "Old Instructor, our militia is, after all, a force of the imperial court. Why should we defend this strategic location? Who would dare attack us?"

"Uh~"

Instructor Zhang hesitated, unsure how to respond, but then heard Zhu Biao continue.

"Besides, this camp used to block the road. Roads are money. Without money, what will our regimental training camp eat and drink?"

Instructor Zhang raised his white eyebrows slightly, seemingly understanding what he meant.

"According to your opinion, young master, you want to dismantle this camp and then build inns and restaurants on the north bank, gradually forming a market."

""

"Exactly!"

Zhu Biao pointed to the camp at his feet and said firmly, "First, we'll set up the local militia camp, then the taverns, wine shops, weaving workshops, and cart and porterage shops. Once the trade routes are open, this place will be several times more bustling than Zhu Family Village in less than a year."

"I've already thought of a name: Crouching Tiger Collection."

In just one year, a town of several thousand people was built from scratch.

Coach Zhang was stunned by the grand plan he had outlined, and remained silent for a long time before speaking again.

"My lord, such a massive project is beyond my capabilities. Furthermore, relying solely on two hundred or so captured bandits is also beyond my strength."

"Of course not!"

Zhu Biao nodded.

"After the New Year, I will first hire several hundred able-bodied men in the village to start work. Then, I will lead troops to clear out the surrounding area and gradually capture the bandits to bring them back to work."

"Hiss~"

Coach Zhang was completely taken aback and couldn't help but gasp.

"Young Master, Doctor Wang's work is almost finished."

At this moment, Su Fang jogged over, his forehead covered in a layer of oily sweat.

He didn't attend the victory celebration banquet at all. Since entering the camp, he had been accompanying Wang Yuanzhi to treat the wounded and also checking on the prostitutes in the village.

"Su Fang, thank you for your hard work. Have you eaten yet?"

A warm feeling flashed in Su Fang's eyes as she smiled and patted her stomach.

"I've eaten, young master, don't worry, I'm full."

The patrol camp originally had two warehouses, but now they have been converted into wards. The small room on the left is for the wounded and sick, and the large room on the right is for the village prostitutes.

"Commander!"

Wang Yuan knew that this quack doctor was very perceptive. When he saw Zhu Biao arrive, he quickly stepped forward to greet him, bowed, and addressed him as "Military Lord."

Clearly, he also saw that this former young master was about to rise to prominence and wanted to latch onto the powerful figure ahead of time.

However, he was overthinking it.

Although his sleeping potion worked, his medical skills were mediocre, and Zhu Biao didn't think much of him. He already had a military doctor in mind, but he didn't correct him.

After all, they still need him right now, while the family doctor, Tan, is just a veterinarian with even worse medical skills.

"How are the wounded?"

Wang Yuanzhi said in a serious tone, "Reporting to the Commander, the few who were lightly injured are all fine, and the three who were seriously injured have also had their bleeding stopped, but I'm afraid they may be left with disabilities."

Zhu Biao asked in a deep voice, "Is there any chance your life can be saved?"

Wang Yuanzhi spoke with certainty, patting his chest as he guaranteed, "Yes! I dare to guarantee it with my own head."

Zhu Biao exhaled a breath of stale air.

"Good, it's good that they're alive. What about the women?"

Wang Yuanzhi immediately replied, "It's nothing serious. It's mostly due to insufficient food intake, resulting in weak qi and blood, and thus insufficient energy from grains."

In layman's terms, that means malnutrition. Zhu Biao frowned even more: "That's all?"

"Uh~"

Wang Yuanzhi's expression froze for a moment, and he subconsciously licked his lips, frantically searching his mind for words to organize.

"And, there's still some fear that's damaging to the body and even affecting the mind..."

Zhu Biao interrupted impatiently, "Does she have gynecological disease such as urinary tract infection?"

Wang Yuanzhi broke out in a sweat when questioned, and stammered, "I...I am not skilled in gynecology, but I have not seen any external symptoms."

Zhu Biao ignored him and turned to walk towards the large warehouse on the right.

Although he had already promised Pang Qiutang, he still wanted to personally confirm whether these women were still usable and when they could be used.

These women had only washed and groomed themselves briefly. Most of them wore the dirty clothes of bandits, wrapped in blankets, and huddled together like quails, their eyes vacant.

Upon seeing Zhu Biao enter, the women immediately shrank back, trembling like leaves.

"Young master, these women have been driven mad by those damned bird thieves."

Zhu Wu cursed angrily.

He and Zhu San did not attend the banquet, but took turns guarding the women. Zhu Biao was afraid that his men would make a mistake, and he was also afraid that the women would suddenly go crazy.

"Don't be afraid. My name is Zhu Biao. I am not a bandit or robber, but a militia leader of Dulonggang appointed by the imperial court."

No one answered, no one even looked up at him; the women just huddled together even tighter.

Zhu Biao could roughly understand this situation; they were terrified and unable to communicate using ordinary means for a short period of time.

He didn't understand medicine, let alone how to treat mental illness; however, he had a simpler and more direct method.

He took a piping hot lotus leaf chicken from Su Fang, twisted it open, and then held it high.

"Whoever answers me may eat meat."

Under the firelight, the golden chicken skin and tender white meat shimmered with an unusual sheen of oil, and even more terrifying was the rich aroma of oil that went straight to the top of one's head.

The women were somewhat agitated.

A moment later, a woman with disheveled hair and an obscured face squatted down, staring intently at the chicken in Zhu Biao's hand, almost dreamily uttering, "Meat, meat, eat meat."

As she muttered to herself, she hunched over and slowly moved toward Zhu Biao, using both her hands and feet.

The other women also began to twitch their nostrils, their eyes gradually reddening, some showing signs of eagerness.

Zhu Biao winked at Zhu Wu, who understood and immediately drew his sword, slashing it at the doorway.

"All of you, behave yourselves! Only those who answer will get meat!"

"what!"

Upon seeing the cold glint of the blade, the woman in the lead screamed and shrank back like a frightened wild beast, knocking over a group of her companions.

"It's hopeless, it can't understand human speech at all."

Seeing this, Zhu Wu couldn't help but feel a little discouraged, but Zhu Biao's eyes suddenly lit up.

There's a chance!

Desire and fear are extremely important parts of human nature. If a woman can awaken these two, she will not be far from a complete recovery of consciousness.

He waved to Zhu Wu, signaling him to put away the knife, and then, holding the chicken, slowly walked towards the woman.

"Young Master!"

Zhu Wu was a little worried, but Zhu Biao suddenly raised his hand to shut him up.

Zhu Biao stopped half a zhang in front of the woman, casually tore off a chicken leg, and waved it in front of her.

"Stand up, walk up to me, and you can eat meat."

At this moment, the woman trembled with fear, but she couldn't resist the aroma of the meat. She trembled as she raised half her face, staring intently at the greasy chicken leg, her throat bobbing wildly.

"Get up, come before me, and eat meat."

Zhu Biao repeated himself, and his words seemed to have a magical effect, for the woman actually straightened up unsteadily and staggered toward him.

One step, two steps, three steps, Zhu Biao suddenly reached out and handed the chicken leg to her.

"Crack!"

She instinctively took a bite, instantly breaking the chicken leg in half, and swallowed it whole with almost no chewing.

Then, she suddenly raised her head and looked at Zhu Biao. Her eyes were no longer empty, but filled with longing and astonishment.

Zhu Biao laughed and tore off another chicken leg: "Tell me, what's your name? You can even eat meat."