Chapter 849: Punishing the Zhangshan Tribe

The Tribal Chief of the Zhangshan Tribe had no choice but to crawl out of his tent, trembling. He was already pitiful enough, but now he looked even more so; it seemed he had absolutely no part in this matter and knew nothing about it at all, never having imagined that such a disaster would fall upon his own head.

"Your tribesmen are really something, stealing all the way to our Huaxia. What, did we in Huaxia not give you food? Can't you go without eating a few little pigeons, or would that starve you to death?" The Soldier's tone was stern, showing no mercy whatsoever.

The Tribal Chief dared not say a word, nor could he talk back. In front of the Huaxia Soldiers, he was nothing as a Tribal Chief, not to mention that he was currently living under someone else's roof, and Huaxia had indeed been good enough to them.

Seeing this, the Soldier did not waste words: "Fine, all of you come with me. Let's go see what our Marshal has to say; he will decide the punishment."

As several Soldiers drew their Knives, they forced them to move forward. Those who were not from the Zhangshan Tribe curiously crowded around to watch. This matter had nothing to do with them, so they didn't need to be afraid, but looking at the situation now, the Zhangshan Tribe was likely doomed. Never mind stealing food from other tribes; even stealing food from one's own tribe was punishable, and such people were not fit to remain in the tribe.

On the way, while leading the prisoners, the Soldier said to the people of the other tribes: "You Tribal Chiefs, come over here and take a look together. Keep your tribesmen in check. Do you really think we in Huaxia don't care about anything and will just let you do as you please?"

Those Tribal Chiefs had no choice but to hurry over, following behind like prisoners themselves. They already hated the Zhangshan Tribe to the core.

Xiong was still at the pigeon coop and had not left. The pigeons had all been released. He had watched as every single message tube was tied to a pigeon's leg. With so many pigeons, only two or three would likely make it back to Huaxia safely.

Seeing a few people being escorted over, Xiong knew he had found the culprits. Two dogs rushed to Xiong's side as if asking for credit, and Xiong smiled as he petted and praised them. Xiong would never give a cold face to dogs, especially those that had just performed a service.

"Go, give them both an extra meal," Xiong said to the Soldier in charge of the dogs. Although the dogs hadn't kept watch well during the night, that wasn't actually their duty, and they were too tired during the day; it was understandable. After all, a dog's endurance was far inferior to a human's—nothing had endurance that could compare to a human's. Walking such a long distance every day, it was already quite impressive that they could make it; when they really couldn't run anymore, they had to be thrown onto the backs of oxen to be carried.

Xiong turned his gaze to the few savages: "So you are the ones who stole our pigeons? What, are you not getting enough to eat, or what?"

The few savages kept their mouths shut, even wanting to deny it again.

Xiong noticed a very obvious blood scab on the arm of one of the savages, so he called him over, then pointed to the bloodstains on the cage and said: "You did this, didn't you? Come, tell me in detail how you stole them, who else stole them with you, and where the pigeons are."

The savage's answer was simple: "Ate them."

He said nothing else. Xiong was so angry he almost laughed: "Where is the Tribal Chief? Get out here!"

Gong hurried out and knelt directly before Xiong. Xiong saw that this Tribal Chief still had some sense, so he asked him: "What about you? Did you steal them, and did you know about this?"

Gong shook his head quickly: "I don't know. This has nothing to do with me. It was just those few who did it. I will expel them from the tribe; I won't let them stay in the Zhangshan Tribe anymore!"

Savages from other tribes had already gathered around, and the few Tribal Chiefs were squeezed to the very front; they had no choice but to watch.

"You think quite highly of yourself, don't you? Do you really think expelling them is enough? Do you know the value of these pigeons? Let me tell you, a single one of these pigeons could be traded for a tribe like yours. Even when the Tribal Chief of the Xuanyuan Tribe came, we only gifted him two. You, on the other hand, stole them all and even ate them, right? Are your mouths made of gold or Iron? Do you have the qualifications to eat pigeons?"

Gong's head was pressed tightly against the ground, and he dared not say a word the entire time. Those few who had stolen the pigeons now felt the severity of the situation and also knelt on the ground, waiting for the verdict.

Xiong waved his hand: "Enough. We in Huaxia have no need to take in tribes like yours. You are barbaric and do not understand the rules. If you had stolen them and returned them, I wouldn't say anything, but since you have already eaten them, then pay compensation."

"But a tribe like yours is so poor that the salt we gifted you could buy your entire tribe. Therefore, you few who stole the pigeons shall be judged according to the crime of theft. I will not follow the laws of our Huaxia; I will follow your own rules."

"Cut off all your hands, then expel you from the tribe. All the rest of the people will be made into Slaves to compensate for Huaxia's losses. All the Slaves will be distributed among the remaining tribes for you to manage."

Xiong pointed at the few Tribal Chiefs: "You all remember this: all things in Huaxia are only yours to take if we give them to you. If you dare to touch what we do not give you, then be prepared to pay with your lives. The preciousness of Huaxia's things is beyond your imagination, so keep your tribesmen in check."

"This tribe is your reference point. That's it; the punishments are dealt. The people of this tribe are all Slaves now; go ahead and divide them up yourselves."

The expressions of those Tribal Chiefs were very ugly; they were clearly somewhat afraid. Xiong said, as if he didn't care at all: "If you are afraid and feel that we in Huaxia are too strict or too cruel, it's simple: you can leave now. Go wherever you want, as long as it is not on Huaxia's territory."

"I feel I have been good enough to you, giving you food, salt, and protection, yet you still steal our things. Since that is the case, there is no need for me to be too polite to you."

Without saying another word, a Soldier brought over a wooden block and placed it on the ground, shaking it a few times to steady it. Then he grabbed a savage's arm and placed it on the block. The savage panicked and refused to let go, struggling with all his might. After all, losing a hand meant he was as good as dead; there would be no chance of survival in the wilderness, which was even more terrifying than being killed outright, as he would still have to endure the fear and the pain.

The Soldier gave no chance at all. Two people held him down, placed his hands on the block, and then stepped on them directly with their feet. Raising the Knife high, they swung down, and the hands immediately fell from the arms. Blood sprayed onto Gong's face, and Gong collapsed to the ground in terror.