Chapter 171: Speech

How could Cheng Feng have anticipated that his simple act of gathering his disciples would cause such immense astonishment among the various spies outside the gates and their masters behind the scenes, even shocking the entire Qingxi County?

After all, this small county town has a total of only twenty thousand residents, and that is not even counting the population of the villages outside the city. The four major gangs each possess approximately eight hundred members, and one could say their strength is equivalent, with none being superior to the others.

Wang Hu once warned Cheng Feng: "A large gang on the scale of a thousand people must absolutely not appear within the county town; this is a lesson left behind by our predecessors! Once the threshold of numbers is exceeded, it will attract the attention of the government. If there is even the slightest sign of resistance, the government will certainly bring in a large army to wipe us out."

Cheng Feng thought to himself that he currently only had about five hundred people, which was still far off from those large gangs! Therefore, he had no realization at all that his sudden act of gathering so many disciples this time would actually cause the high-level figures of the county to focus their gazes here.

But even if he knew, so what? Cheng Feng was not afraid in the slightest; after all, to forge iron, one must be strong oneself!

When the time comes, he only needs to have the three halls guard the perimeter, the Training Camp provide support from the center, and the Ren Men Disciples be responsible for internal affairs; by dividing and conquering, everything can be easily managed!

At this very moment, the numerous disciples were standing in front of the newly erected platform, while Cheng Feng sat upright in the seat of honor on the high stage, looking down at the crowd below.

The Ren Men Disciples stood at the very front, the Training Camp disciples were lined up in the middle, and the disciples of the three halls were arranged on the outermost perimeter.

He Wu looked at this Cheng Feng, whom he had once had close contact with, now standing high above, and a strong feeling of envy could not help but well up in his heart: "A real man should be just like him!"

The two brothers, Cheng Shu and Cheng Lei, watched their own brother sitting upright on the high stage, and they sighed inwardly, feeling that they were finally a little closer to their brother.

Sun Gui, Zhou Hai, and Li Yang, the veterans who were the first to join the Hong Sect, watched as the Hong Sect developed and grew step by step into the powerful force it was today. The discomfort they originally felt toward the various plans and regulations Cheng Feng had devised had completely vanished, replaced only by deep reverence and admiration.

They had spent at least ten years in the Hutou Gang, yet when had they ever witnessed such a magnificent and spectacular scene?

Under Cheng Feng's leadership, the Hong Sect had achieved such astonishing results in less than two years; its future development was simply limitless!

Looking at the surging crowd below, everyone stood as straight as a javelin, their eyes firm, looking straight ahead, heads held high and chests out, their formations neat and uniform, just like a well-trained army.

A strong sense of satisfaction and pride welled up in Cheng Feng's heart; he slowly stood up and looked down at the crowd below from his high vantage point.

He said in a resonant voice: "Thinking back to those years, I, Cheng Feng, was nothing more than a fishmonger on the street, rushing about and toiling for a living every day. However, fate is always full of surprises and variables.

An accidental opportunity allowed me to found the Hong Sect. To this day, our Hong Sect has already developed and grown; the disciples under our banner are divided by organization into Ren Men Disciples and outer disciples.

Many people dream of becoming Ren Men Disciples, but this is by no means an easy task, and I have even heard some gossip. But I do not care.

Because what our Hong Sect needs are true elites; they must possess the strength to fight ten and the courage to fight a hundred!

If you do not have such ability, what qualification do you have to step into this realm of the Ren Men?

Why did you enter the Hong Sect? Is it for so-called brotherly loyalty? Or is it to get ahead and bring honor to your ancestors?

No, it is neither! What you pursue is actually the generous treatment enjoyed by the Ren Men Disciples—having food and drink, and money to take. On ordinary days, if you have some spare cash, you can even go to Yichun Yuan to find some women for pleasure!"

You must have inquired about it outside; the treatment in the Hong Sect is no worse than any other gang, and it is even better.

Yet even with such generous conditions, some of you cannot even complete the most basic training subjects of the Training Camp; what qualification do you have to enter the Hong Sect?

You might as well go and ask those disciples who have already been initiated; which one of them did not rely on their own true ability to pass the Training Camp's test to be initiated?

This is an opportunity they won through their own efforts. If you cannot do it, that is a problem of your own insufficient ability; stop making meaningless complaints, and certainly do not spread cool remarks about me favoring my own people.

Today, the Hong Sect's strength is growing day by day, but our territory is no longer enough for the brothers to develop. Now, an excellent opportunity is being provided to everyone.

Small gangs like the Xiao Dao Gang or the Zougun Gang nearby simply do not have the strength to occupy so much territory. Tonight, we will take them all down in one fell swoop! Tell me, is this right?"

The disciples below had scorching flames flickering in their eyes, and they echoed Cheng Feng's words with high spirits: "Right! Right! Right!"

After only three responses, the entire venue quickly returned to silence. This was actually the venue discipline Cheng Feng had specifically arranged, and judging from the current situation, it was clear that Wang Hu had organized it quite excellently.

After the shouting finished, it was as if everyone's blood had been ignited, boiling incessantly.

"Very good! Do you not crave opportunity? Do you not want to learn martial arts? Are you not thirsty for silver? Today, this Sect Master will give you this opportunity! Let us go and conquer the weak gangs in the surrounding area!

The top ten who perform great deeds can receive generous rewards and enter the Training Camp for advanced study; the top twenty who perform meritorious service will also have rewards. As for the others, rewards will be assessed according to their individual merits. Now, immediately follow your captains and act strictly according to the plan!"

The disciples below shouted in unison: "Understood!" The sound was thunderous and echoed through the clouds.

Cheng Feng finally understood at this moment why men all crave to grasp power. This feeling was indeed intoxicating, but he kept a clear head. Only by possessing sufficient strength can one truly grasp power. Otherwise, he would have likely died at the hands of the Blood Wolf Gang disciples the time he met Lin Wan'er, so how could there be such glory today?

As for the strategy, it had actually been fully formulated before setting out. Wang Hu, Sun Gui, Zhou Hai, Li Yang, and others had all clearly planned their targets. They were confident and ready for battle!

Even during the opening meeting, there were disciples keeping watch, all for the sake of achieving success in one go.

Wang Hu shouted: "Ren Men Disciples, assemble!"

Sun Gui shouted: "Gui Hall disciples, assemble!"

Zhou Hai shouted: "Hai Hall disciples, assemble here!"

Li Yang shouted: "Yang Hall disciples, assemble here!"

Ba Bai shouted: "Training Camp disciples, assemble!"

The disciples, harboring hot blood, followed their respective Lao Da to carry out their missions and build their own achievements.