"The monk corps is the Great Qian Empire's elite, a Tier-4 troop. They're magic warriors trained in the Royal Monk Academy. Their attack is one-note — they can only fire magic bolts, powerful but not earth-shattering. But what makes the monks fearsome is mainly two terrifying spells: one is Greater Healing, the other Greater Prayer. Any unit with even a single monk has its combat power vastly raised!"
Han Huohuo was a military buff, and a moment's thought told him exactly where the monks' menace lay. You finally beat the enemy half to death, and one Greater Healing fully heals all their wounded warriors — absolutely enough to make an opponent collapse.
Never mind the Greater Prayer that raised soldiers' every attribute on top of that!
This was definitely a powerful support unit!
"What's the monks' attack range?"
"I report to you, Chief — as far as I know, a full hundred zhang!"
Han Huohuo nodded, getting the picture. About the same as his Floaters. He began turning it over: if the enemy ranks happened to include monks, how should he deal with them?
The few little brat Lords around Han Huohuo were all softies, and didn't look to have the nerve to ambush Black Wind Stronghold.
Since entering this world, the only truly fierce one had really been that first Twin Dragon Stronghold Lord, Wang Haoze. If that guy hadn't run into Han Huohuo the moment he stepped out and kicked straight into an iron plate, then going by these few little softies around here, he might genuinely have wiped them all out.
That guy was the real hard case — would absolutely kill without blinking.
A pity. Such a pity!
Decent strength, vicious and ruthless, terrible luck!
However arrogant a man is, he shouldn't pit himself against heaven.
Before he knew it, it was deep night, and none of his resources were enough to upgrade. Han Huohuo wasn't anxious about it. He recruited two more Floaters, making six on patrol around the camp.
At night the watchtower rested, so he used Floaters to patrol — not a big problem. Later he'd recruit a few more bandits, and then he could keep watch in round-the-clock shifts.
This was the second night, and Han Huohuo had begun gradually adapting to life in this world.
Back at the Main Base, just as he was about to rest.
A knock came from outside.
Liu Qiang went to open the door and saw Liu Long and Liu Hu standing there, carrying a straw mat in between them.
"My Lord, I wove a straw mat today. Try it out — it should be more comfortable than the straw spread on your bed."
"Oh?"
Han Huohuo took a look. The mat was very well woven, soft and springy to the touch.
The three Liu brothers came in, cleaned off Han Huohuo's plank bed, removed the loose straw, and laid the mat down.
Han Huohuo tried lying on it — say what you will, it really was comfortable.
He hadn't expected there'd be more surprises to come.
Like a conjuror, Liu Long produced a set of bedding sewn from wolf hide — one side the hide buffed soft, the other still bearing the wolf fur.
Even back on Earth, this would be high-end goods!
"My Lord, I made this for you too. It took quite a while. Have a look — what do you think?"
Han Huohuo marveled. Exquisite craftsmanship — absolutely top-grade wolf-hide bedding.
These were superb employees. Han Huohuo was stunned, secretly wondering: could I have a top-tier capitalist's talent?
To make others slave away for me, heart and soul, for no pay?
Liu Long had even made a wooden pillow, very ergonomic, with a groove on top.
"Liu Qiang, note it down: apart from Liu Hu, double the wages of all three of you Liu brothers."
I'm a bandit chief, but that doesn't mean I can betray the working class — I can't have subordinates laboring without pay.
Liu Hu had already been doubled before, so this time he gave Liu Long and Liu Qiang doubled wages too.
Han Huohuo was never stingy in rewarding people who could truly get things done. These three Liu brothers were all reliable, his capable assistants, and deserved a raise.
"Thank you for your kindness, my Lord. My brothers and I are overwhelmed by your favor! We will surely do our utmost to share your burdens."
Getting the money, the three brothers were inwardly thrilled and worked even more eagerly. Only after cleaning the room spotless did they take their leave.
"Right, Liu Qiang — tomorrow help me recruit a few vagrants, and get the convoy built. It's safer to haul the goods from the outside warehouse back to camp."
"Chief, I'll see to it tomorrow!"
The three brothers left the Main Base.
This really did solve a big problem.
By Earth's standards, the room and bedding were still crude, but lying on the wolf-hide bedding, Han Huohuo felt comfortable for the very first time.
This was finally damned nice!
The moment his head touched the pillow, he sank into a deep sleep.
Day three!
Clear skies, a light breeze.
The temperature had dropped a bit more. Late-autumn weather was like that — one rain, and it fell several degrees.
He didn't even want to get out from under the covers.
Wolf hide really was warm.
Master Quilt, the two of us are the best in the world!
"Chief, Chief!"
Liu Qiang paced anxiously outside the door, knocking and calling for Han Huohuo.
The voice was off — a little frantic. Had something big happened?
Han Huohuo gave up the warmth of the covers and sprang up, not even getting his shoes on properly before running to open the door.
"Chief, you're finally awake!"
"What's happened?"
"Chief, hurry and look at last night's system broadcasts — something big is about to go down!"
Han Huohuo's heart sank; Liu Qiang's voice already carried a hint of a sob.
He hurried to open the system and went through the Hundred-Thousand Mountains' broadcasts from the night before, one by one.
"00:00 midnight — Barbarian Legion wipes out Wild Dog Stronghold, Lord dead. Duration: 37 seconds.
00:17 — Barbarian Legion wipes out Flying Dragon Stronghold, Lord dead. Duration: 7 minutes 45 seconds.
00:44 — Barbarian Legion wipes out Black Mountain Pass Stronghold, Lord dead. Duration: 3 minutes 23 seconds.
......
06:21 — Barbarian Legion wipes out Old Duck Stronghold, Lord dead. Duration: 9 minutes 7 seconds."
......
This Barbarian Legion was too fierce?
Over a hundred strongholds wiped out in one night?
Scrolling for a good while, he found only one impressive stronghold that held out for over an hour, but it was ultimately destroyed too. For the rest, resisting even a few minutes counted as tenacious.
"Get in here!"
Han Huohuo didn't even bother washing up. He called Liu Qiang in, spread out the map, and drew a line along it.
This line was the Barbarian Legion's march route last night; every stronghold along it had been uprooted.
Sure enough, this Barbarian Legion was advancing along a fixed route.
And looking at the route, in a few more strongholds it would reach his home — no wonder Liu Qiang was so worked up.
What was going on here?
"Chief, this is the very route our Wang family convoy took for transport. We were chased and killed by bandits all along this trade road, fled the whole way, and in the end only we three brothers were left, taken in by you."
The news seemed surprising, yet on reflection it made perfect sense.
Han Huohuo stared blankly for a long while before it dawned on him: so these barbarians were clearing out, in order, every bandit who'd intercepted the Wang family's cargo!
Which meant he was the very last little bandit slated for destruction — because he'd taken in three of the Wang family's hired hands!
This was absolutely a giant trap, designed to bury newcomers. Who knew that robbing a caravan came with this kind of consequence?
The caravan was long and spread out, and those Lords had each robbed a stretch of it — killed, looted, and fled. As a result the column grew more and more battered, and by the time it reached him, only three hired hands were left.
Screwed!
Liu Qiang was terrified, his legs trembling.
"It's fine. They still have to pass four Lords before reaching us — we've got time!"
Han Huohuo thumped his chest with vows of assurance, putting on an air of indifference.
【Barbarian Legion wipes out Clearwater River Stronghold, Lord dead. Duration: 17 minutes 8 seconds!】
【Barbarian Legion wipes out Clearwater River Stronghold, Lord dead. Duration: 17 minutes 8 seconds!】
【Barbarian Legion wipes out Clearwater River Stronghold, Lord dead. Duration: 17 minutes 8 seconds!】
......
Great — now only three strongholds left!
The forum had already erupted. Everyone got up that morning, saw the shocking news, and was dumbfounded.
"Holy crap, the barbarians are too fierce — what kind of army is this?"
"Right? Took out a hundred strongholds in one night, didn't they?"
"How unlucky do you have to be? The Hundred-Thousand Mountains are so vast — how'd they run into the barbarians?"
"Brother, let me tell you, those bandits really had it coming. I heard a bunch of bandits teamed up to rob a traveling merchant, seized a huge haul, so they developed especially fast early on — but the goods belonged to these barbarians, and that's why they've come killing!"
"Then they deserve it!"
"Hold on — I robbed a merchant too. Will they come for me? Oh god, I'm scared to death!"
"+1, I've robbed too. What do I do? Can I raise a white flag and surrender?"
"+1, boohoo!"
"+1, I repent!"
"......"