Chapter 287: Punishment

Baifeng sneered, "Fine, since there's no need, then you don't need to stand anymore."

The Soldier hadn't even processed what was happening yet—after all, they were primitive people—and he still wanted to say that the injuries he'd sustained shouldn't be for nothing, but before he could even stand up, he heard words that filled him with despair.

Baifeng turned around and walked away, then said to Xiong, "Since he doesn't want to stand, then he won't stand. Someone who doesn't even listen to the most basic orders is a deserter once they reach the battlefield. Now that he has deserted the ranks, count him as a deserter."

Huh?

The Soldier collapsed completely onto the ground right then and there; he felt he had done nothing wrong, so why had he become a deserter?

After a brief pause, Baifeng said, "Given that he did not cause any major harm to the tribe, the punishment will be lighter. Demoting him to a Slave will suffice. His family members do not need to become slaves, but his children shall not be promoted in the future. We will discuss it again after three generations."

Afterward, Baifeng walked toward the center of the plaza without looking back.

As for that Soldier, Xiong had people drag him away immediately and throw him into the Slave area. Once this major event was over, the people from the Household Registration Department would naturally go to arrange his status.

Baifeng walked to the center of the plaza, where several families of deserters were kneeling naked. Their blood had stopped flowing; it seemed the effect of the grass ash was quite good.

All of these people were shaking like chaff. Having been brought to the plaza as prisoners, the outcome was already clear. It was just that those few deserters were already scared witless; they didn't even know to plead for their families. Otherwise, they should be saying now that the fault was theirs, not their families', and begging the Tribal Chief to spare them.

If they dared to say that, Baifeng would actually feel a little comforted. At least the concept of family he had instilled in them had taken root in their hearts, and they were different from those savages. Baifeng might even have given them a quick death.

However, regardless of the reason, they said nothing, so Baifeng would carry out the punishment he had prepared.

Baifeng stood on the high platform and said in a voice everyone could hear, "I have gathered everyone here, firstly, to announce and carry out the punishment for these people in front of everyone, and secondly, to set some rules for future matters."

Then Baifeng pointed his finger at those people and said, "I believe everyone is still very familiar with these few people. I believe the Soldiers over there should be even more familiar with them, after all, you spent your days and nights together, right?"

The people in the Soldier ranks lowered their heads in shame, and Chi did not beat them for it.

Baifeng continued, "Everyone has witnessed the treatment the tribe provides for these Soldiers and hunters. Everyone can see that the tribe provides them with the best food and spacious rooms, and their work is also relatively easy and light. I believe many people envy them and want to become one of them."

The people below echoed in low voices, agreeing with Baifeng's words.

Baifeng changed his tone: "However, the tribe treats them so well, and what have they done? Deserted! They abandoned their own tribesmen, their partners, and me, their Tribal Chief. At the first sign of danger, they didn't think about fighting alongside their teammates, but about running away! Not only running away, but they also cut off the retreat of others! This is the kind of Soldier our tribe has raised! I can even raise a meat-eating wolf into a dog, so why can't I raise you people? Is it because I didn't give you enough food, didn't give you enough clothes, or left you without a place to shelter from the wind and rain? Tell me, why!"

Not a single person spoke. The people in the Soldier ranks lowered their heads even further, and the others lowered their heads as well. On the contrary, the Slave department didn't feel guilty, because they worked hard every day, hoping to obtain the things Baifeng spoke of.

Baifeng took a step down: "No one is talking, right? Then I will assume I haven't treated you poorly. If you think I have treated you poorly, then I will learn from the Xuanyuan Clan, learn from the Suiren Clan!"

Everyone dared not speak, but in their hearts, they all hoped he wouldn't learn from them; if he did, their good days would be over.

"Since I haven't treated you poorly, then I must deal with these deserters."

Afterward, Baifeng cast his gaze toward the people from the Blacksmith workshop. The Blacksmith was simple-minded and somewhat afraid, but when he thought about the fact that he hadn't done a single thing to wrong the tribe, he straightened his back.

Of course, Baifeng wasn't looking to cause trouble for the Blacksmith, but to use their people.

"Send a Blacksmith over, and bring your tools as well."

The person in charge of the Blacksmith team hurriedly ran back to their workshop and brought over all the things they used for blacksmithing in one go. It was just that the anvil was a bit heavy, so he planned to make another trip after returning.

The items were placed in front of Baifeng, and just as he was about to leave, he was called back by Baifeng: "Don't go. You will carry out the punishment next."

The Blacksmith was confused and pointed at himself, "Me?" with a look of disbelief.

Just as he didn't know what to do next, Xiong stepped out: "Tribal Chief, these people committed their mistakes under my management, so let me carry it out. After it's over, you can punish me too. It was my failure to discipline them well."

Seeing that someone was replacing him, the Blacksmith looked at Baifeng. Baifeng signaled that he could go back. The Blacksmith hurried back to his team. It wasn't that the Blacksmith was afraid, but he felt this wasn't his job and it felt strange to do it. People who forged iron every day were no less capable in combat than the Bow and Blade Team; they were originally good fighters too, but as the most scarce craftsmen, Baifeng couldn't possibly send them to the front lines.

Baifeng said to Xiong, "It's fine if you carry it out. These are your people, and you have responsibility. I will punish you Leaders later. From now on, as long as the people under your command commit a mistake, the Leader will also be punished. Not just the people in the Military Department, does everyone understand?"

Only Xiong and Chi replied from below.

Baifeng raised his volume: "Is my voice too soft for you to hear, or are you unwilling? Heads of each department, do you all understand!"

The people below shouted in unison: "Understood!"

Baifeng nodded with satisfaction.

Afterward, he said to Xiong, "Start. First, pull out the fingernails of these few deserters, one by one."

Xiong was just about to draw his knife when he suddenly froze. Huh?

Baifeng repeated, "Pull out all their fingernails, using these pliers."

Baifeng pointed at the things the Blacksmith had brought, which included some smaller iron pliers, and then ordered them all to turn around and face the crowd.

It was Xiong's first time doing this job, and he wasn't very skilled; when he clamped the fingernail, he clamped the finger as well. After adjusting the position, he didn't dare to use force when pulling, pulling it out bit by bit, which made the deserter cry out in pain.

Pulling it out bit by bit was even more painful and agonizing than pulling it out directly, because it also carried psychological torture.

The first person to be pulled had only had two pulled out before he clutched his hand and wouldn't let go. The people behind him were already so scared they had wet themselves.