Moma Liangshan

Chapter 226 Knowing there are tigers in the mountains, yet still venturing into the tiger's den

Lin Chong's transformation surprised Wang Hao somewhat. He instructed him, "Before the attack, make sure to clarify the rules. Even if someone dies, make sure they die with peace of mind. As for the compensation for the wounded, I will arrange that; you don't need to worry about it!" Lin Chong was grateful and clasped his hands in thanks, saying, "Thank you, young master!" Wang Hao had an innate liking for Lin Chong and added, "I hope you not only possess the courage of ten thousand men but also the talent to command thousands of troops!" Lin Chong immediately replied, "This humble general will certainly dedicate himself to the cause until his dying breath!" Upon hearing this, Wang Hao shook his head slightly. Lin Chong began, saying, "What I need are invincible generals, not tragic heroes who die on the battlefield." Seeing Lin Chong's pronouncement, Wang Hao waved his hand to stop him, saying, "A steadfast will to fight, superb combat skills, and flexible tactical thinking are my most basic requirements for the Hungry Wolf Legion, and also my deepest expectations of you. I will guarantee excellent equipment and ample provisions. As for how to select the soldiers for the Hungry Wolf Legion, I will not interfere too much; micromanaging is not my style!" Lin Chong replied, "I will certainly not fail your high expectations, young master!"

The new recruits recruited by Lin Chong were not stationed in the allied camp of the Shu princess, but instead set up a separate camp by a small river five miles south of Shangjing City. More than 600 newly recruited Liaodong Han soldiers, plus more than 100 veteran soldiers from Jiaozhou, totaling over 800 men, were reorganized by Lin Chong into five commanderies, with Morigen, Jida, Xiong Pi, Yang Yong, and Zhao Tuo serving as commanders. Of the five, Morigen and Jida were Mongols who had been sold to Wang Hao by Gaochang in Liaodong. Because of their skill in archery and horsemanship, they were freed from slavery and ordered to join the army. Xiong Pi was a Liaodong Han soldier whose family had been killed by Wanyan Zhamu; seeking revenge, he led more than ten villagers to join Wang Hao. Yang Yong and Zhao Tuo were locals from Jiaozhou who joined the army when Wang Hao was in charge of Laoshan County and recruiting soldiers. They served under Lin Chong and were promoted to generals due to their bravery and martial prowess.

In the Hungry Wolf Camp, eight hundred soldiers, fully armored and ready, stood in formation on the drill ground. Lin Chong, clad in armor and wielding a weapon, stood on the command platform and shouted, "I don't care where you come from, what your names are, or your social status. Here, only loyalty, bravery, and merit matter. I am your commander, Lin Chong, and Young Master Wang Hao is our lord." At this moment, the crowd below murmured amongst themselves. Lin Chong frowned, picked up the cracking whip at his waist, and struck it with a deafening roar, like a cannon shot. The cracking whip originated in the Central Plains, and none of the people present had ever witnessed such a sight; for a moment, utter silence fell. Lin Chong continued, “Those of you selected for the Wolf Legion are certainly no ordinary people, and you may be dissatisfied with me and the five commanders. Today, I will give you all a chance—a chance to challenge me and the five commanders. If you can defeat any one of the commanders, you will take their place. If you can defeat me, you will be the new commander of the Wolf Legion!” After a brief pause, seeing the crowd eager to participate, Lin Chong cracked his whip again and shouted, “Who will challenge me?” At this moment, a burly man with a full beard stepped forward and shouted, “Han Sanlei of Shangjing challenges Zhao Tuo!” Lin Chong’s lips curled slightly, and he asked, “Fists or weapons?” Han Sanlei’s eyes widened, and he raised his iron fists to his chest. Lin Chong looked at the crowd again and commanded, “Both sides must remove their armor. Life or death is irrelevant. Whoever knocks down their opponent wins!”

Zhao Tuo appeared somewhat thin, but the moment he removed his armor, a muscular physique was revealed. His thick upper arms resembled two giant pythons, ready to tear apart any arrogant opponent. Han Sanlei, daring to be the first to challenge him, was clearly skilled; his broad back and thick black fur made him resemble a fearless wild boar king. Zhao Tuo stood still, watching Han Sanlei's gaze to gauge the direction of his opponent's attack. Han Sanlei didn't hesitate much, a cruel smile spreading across his face as he fiercely declared, "If you know what's good for you, admit defeat now, or you'll lose your arms and legs!" Zhao Tuo shook his head slightly and calmly said, "Make your move!" Han Sanlei roared and lunged at Zhao Tuo. However, Zhao Tuo didn't meet him head-on; instead, just as Han Sanlei was about to strike, he stepped back, causing the attack to miss. Undeterred by the failed first strike, Han Sanlei charged forward again with overwhelming force. Zhao Tuo still didn't engage, and when his opponent's fist was only half a foot away from his chest, he quickly dodged to the side. Han Sanlei's second attack was even more swift, and he couldn't stop in a moment, causing his body to lean forward. Han Sanlei was furious and wanted to turn around and fight again. However, at that moment, Zhao Tuo turned, jumped, and delivered a flying kick to Han Sanlei's shoulder. Han Sanlei's fall was irreversible, and it seemed he was going to fall face-first into the mud. Helpless, he could only brace himself with his hands on the ground to try to fight again. However, Zhao Tuo's attack came even faster. His left knee pressed down, preventing his opponent from getting up for a moment, and then he grabbed his head with both hands, clearly a "neck dislocation" killing move. At this moment, Han Sanlei felt a deep fear, because he knew that if Zhao Tuo wanted to, he would die in an instant.

Zhao Tuo and Han Sanlei's exchange lasted less than three breaths, yet the outcome was already decided; even the slightest exertion could have ended a life. Lin Chong finally announced, "Zhao Tuo wins!" With the verdict made, Zhao Tuo released Han Sanlei and returned to the command platform. Lin Chong asked again, "Is there anyone still dissatisfied?" At this moment, everyone chose silence. Lin Chong looked at the disheveled Han Sanlei and ordered, "Return to your ranks immediately!" Han Sanlei, disregarding any regret or displeasure, hurriedly returned to his unit. Lin Chong continued, "On the battlefield, every move is deadly; there is no room for bravado or violence!" He then looked at the five commanders and formally announced, "Tomorrow I will lead you to outflank the enemy and launch a hunt. This is a challenge with a nine-out-of-ten chance of death. Now, if anyone is discouraged, please quickly remove your armor, lay down your weapons, and leave the Hungry Wolf Camp. After dawn tomorrow, anyone who tries to leave will be considered a deserter!"

After Lin Chong left, the group dispersed. That night, the gates of the Hungry Wolf camp remained open, yet no soldier chose to retreat. Lin Chong and the five commanders gazed at the open gates from afar and said, "I must say, I admire these new recruits. Knowing their fate is uncertain, they still have the courage to charge forward." Xiong Pi, however, had a different opinion, saying, "When a country is destroyed and a family is destroyed, almost everyone understands that only the sword in their hand holds hope." Lin Chong suddenly asked, "Do you think I'm too greedy and reckless?" Xiong Pi replied, "I live for revenge. To be able to use the heads of the Jurchens to appease the spirits of my deceased loved ones as soon as possible—I couldn't ask for more!"