Chapter 645: Causing Trouble Right After Arriving

The Soldier saw the disheveled Gao An, and the anger in his heart flared up instantly. He had previously carried out guard duty in the tenant area, and that experience had left him completely disheartened. When he suddenly received orders that he would again be performing guard duty for Slaves for several months, he had already prepared for the worst.

The information he had originally received was that this was a group of Drifters from the Jiangshui Tribe. The Jiangshui Tribe had a decent reputation in Huaxia; although there had not been much contact, through brief understanding, they felt they were a relatively civilized tribe, so the Huaxia people had a fairly good impression of the Jiangshui Tribe. Baifeng even intended to cooperate with the Jiangshui Tribe in the long term.

But upon learning that the Jiangshui Tribe had been accidentally wiped out due to an earthquake, leaving only these Drifters, and that they had become Slaves of Huaxia for reasons not yet made public, they felt these people should be relatively easy to manage—after all, they came from a large, relatively civilized tribe. Yet, this first scene upon their arrival dealt him a heavy blow.

Seeing only one person come out, he shouted even louder: "Where are the others? Get out here, all of you! What are you waiting for?"

But still, no one came out, so he went directly into Tent 0001 and saw several people still frantically brawling. Without a word, he lashed out with a few whip strikes, which finally forced the entangled people apart.

They turned to look at the angry Soldier and immediately reverted to the state of little lambs, their bodies trembling. The Soldier, in a foul mood, pointed outside and said: "Get out!"

The four of them scrambled out in a hurry, crawled to Gao An's side, and then crouched down like quails, occasionally stroking their bodies that were still burning from the lashes they had just received.

The Soldier was just about to go to the second room when his teammates, having heard the commotion, hurried over to take a look. However, one glance at the scene told them what was happening, and with a mutual look, they knew what to do.

Thus, the three of them took one tent each, went over, and gave everyone a lashing, driving them all out and gathering them in the open space.

Looking at this group of Slaves who were already dirty and now covered in grime, the Soldiers were also in a foul mood and loudly questioned: "What are you arguing about? Why are you arguing? Why are you fighting? Aren't you all from the same tribe? Why are you doing this? Who can tell me?"

The Slaves all lowered their heads, not saying a word.

The Soldier kicked a Slave in front of him: "Come on, you tell me, what were you doing?"

That Slave lay on the ground in a coquettish and fragile manner, then said aggrievedly: "They were grabbing food."

The Soldier ignored his posture and instead sneered: "Grabbing food? Wasn't it said that food is not to be touched? Why grab it? Didn't you grab any?"

That Slave didn't dare to say another word.

The Soldier continued to question: "Where are the dormitory heads? Which ones are the temporary dormitory heads? Stand out."

Gao An and the other three stood up tremblingly, their bodies shaking non-stop.

Because Gao An was considered the strongest among these few, the Soldiers focused their main target on him. He used his whip handle to rest against Gao An's chin and questioned: "Aren't you the dormitory head? Wasn't it told to you that the dormitory head can manage them? Why didn't you manage them? Or are you saying you were grabbing food too?"

Gao An denied it repeatedly and pleaded: "It wasn't me, they were grabbing it! They were grabbing it, I kept trying to stop them, but I just couldn't stop them! I had no way at all."

The Soldier pointed his whip at the other Slaves in Gao An's tent: "Your dormitory head says he couldn't manage you, and you were grabbing food. Why grab it? Tell me? Wasn't it said that you wouldn't be short of food anymore? Is it just for this little bit now, or do you feel you won't survive until tomorrow?"

San, though very afraid, still said somewhat defiantly: "It wasn't us who grabbed it first, it was him! We know he has already stolen and eaten a lot of food, so we felt it was unfair and thought we would eat a little too."

The other few Slaves chimed in repeatedly.

The Soldier didn't care about their reasons: "How do you know he stole and ate it? Did you see it? Even if he stole and ate it, do you have to grab some too? You feel it's unfair?"

San dared not answer and silently lowered his head. The Soldiers questioned the other tents, and the events that occurred were much the same—all for the sake of grabbing food.

The few Soldiers also felt a headache; how should these starving ghosts be managed?

But since there were punishment regulations, then just whip them; what else could they do?

Thus, they announced on the spot: "Because you caused trouble for no reason and scrambled for food, the punishment is two lashes per person, with one extra lash for the dormitory head."

Gao An stepped back in panic: "Why, why do I have to take an extra lash? I didn't do anything!"

"It's precisely because you didn't do anything that you are being hit. A dormitory head should manage them. If you feel you can't manage them, report it to us in time, and we will manage them. If you know you can't manage them but still don't, then you get hit."

"You must know, being a dormitory head is a power, but it also comes with responsibility. If you can't manage them, or don't dare to manage them, then we'll replace you."

Gao An had completely lost the desire to be any damn dormitory head. Not only did he get no benefits, but he also had to take extra beatings. How could he possibly continue to be one? Thus, he immediately proposed the idea of not wanting to be the dormitory head.

The Soldier readily agreed and asked the four of them: "Who among you wants to be the dormitory head?"

San had already found Gao An very unpleasant. Although being a dormitory head was risky, it still carried some power. When he was in the Jiangshui Tribe, he also managed hundreds of people, so he said confidently: "I want to be the dormitory head."

The Soldiers did not hesitate at all: "Good, then you be it. Remember to manage them well."

San nodded readily, but the Soldier's next words left him somewhat stunned.

"Come, you hold them one by one, keep them steady."

"Ah? What do you mean?" San did not understand.

The Soldier said: "Whipping them, one by one. You just grab them."

San then, in extreme panic, hugged his roommate from behind.

"Hey, turn around, hit the buttocks," the Soldier commanded with annoyance.

San had no choice but to grab his roommate, who was already shaking uncontrollably, from the front. His roommate's face had turned completely sallow by this time; even on someone whose face was covered in dirt, the change in color could be seen.

Just as the people in the few tents had been held steady and they were ready to officially start, another Soldier brought four people over.

The Soldier who had already raised his whip saw this, immediately shouted to stop, and said to the leading Soldier: "Brother, don't take them away yet. Let them come over and watch, learn a lesson, and see what the consequences are if they don't listen."

The leading Soldier saw the scene before him and knew that they were about to take action, but he was still somewhat surprised: "No way, they've only just arrived, and they're already causing trouble?"