Li Che’s words were like a bucket of ice water, extinguishing the last glimmer of hope in those people’s hearts.
Looking at the still warm corpse of the flower thief, no one dared to jump out and seek death again.
What’s more, Hu Qiang, that killing god, was still standing behind Li Che.
The convicts who had committed two unforgivable crimes silently retreated behind the crowd.
Li Che ordered the guards to bring paper and ink.
The convicts obediently lined up, and a few literate convicts began to record their names, ages, native places, and crimes committed.
Li Che also instructed them to pay special attention to those who had committed certain types of crimes.
First were the fierce bandits who plundered homes.
Such people usually possessed some rudimentary martial arts, and could become the backbone of the army in the future.
There were also grave robbers and thieves skilled in scaling walls and roofs.
The Convict Camp housed those who had committed serious crimes, so the level of thieves who entered for theft would not be low; these people were natural scouts and intelligence personnel.
Finally, there were regional bandit leaders, salt trafficking bosses, and gang leaders.
Possessing certain management and leadership abilities, these individuals were all reserves for grassroots military officers.
Prisons in any era are full of talent; one should not overlook the capabilities of any criminal.
The first young man to pledge allegiance to Li Che was surnamed Qiu, with the given name Bai.
His name sounded like he was the young master of some prominent family, but in reality, this fellow was sent to the Convict Camp for the crime of 'killing his own brother'.
Qiu Bai came from a powerful family; in order to contend for family property, he colluded with bandits and murdered his own brother's family of over ten people.
This fellow's character was questionable, but his ability was very strong.
After compiling the convicts' information, Qiu Bai came to report with the list:
“Reporting to Your Highness, a total of 1,321 brothers are willing to follow you, and all the capable ones are recorded here.”
Li Che took the list, casually glanced at it, and a smile played on his lips: “Not bad.”
“What is the situation with the military equipment, armor, and weapons?”
Qiu Bai replied: “Your Highness, these things are not in our hands.”
That’s right, they were convicts; how could they possibly touch weapons when not at war.
Li Che raised his chin, pointing to the trembling guard beside him: “You, come here.”
“Your, Your Highness…”
“Bring out all the armor and weapons in the camp; this Prince wants to take them.”
“This…” The guard looked troubled.
“What, do you want this Prince to move them myself?” Li Che’s hand rested on his saber.
“Hmm?” Hu Qiang behind him stared with wide eyes, his palm as big as a cattail leaf fan itching to move.
The guard’s legs turned to jelly, and he fell to his knees with a thud: “I’ll go get them right away, right away.”
A group of guards obediently opened the warehouse, and Qiu Bai, with his brothers, moved out all the equipment.
“Your Highness, there are 500 sets of leather armor, 2,000 steel sabers, 200 rattan shields…”
Li Che frowned as he looked at Qiu Bai: “The entire Convict Camp, just this little bit of scrap metal?”
Qiu Bai’s face showed bitterness: “Your Highness, we are convicts sent to die; how could the imperial court equip us with sharp weapons?”
That’s right, they were a group of cannon fodder; it was impossible to provide them with good weapons.
Whenever there was a war, they were needed to exhaust the enemy's strength, and there was also fear that they would rebel on the battlefield.
But Li Che didn't think that way; he certainly didn't want his soldiers to fight the barbarians with these broken things.
Li Che’s gaze fell on the guards.
These fellows, however, were well-equipped, all clad in two-piece iron armor, and also equipped with long spears and ring-hilted sabers.
“All of you, come over here.” Li Che smiled as he looked at the guards.
The guards immediately had a bad feeling, but they did not dare to disobey Li Che’s order.
“Your Highness?” When the guards had gathered, someone asked cautiously.
“Dismount your armor.”
“Ah?”
“This Prince said, dismount your armor!”
The guards were dumbfounded; Ninggu Prince had taken a fancy to the armor on their bodies!
“Your Highness, we are the Crown Prince’s Left Guard Command…” someone tentatively said.
“The Crown Prince’s personal army, why would they appear in the Convict Camp?” Li Che’s gaze sharpened, “Does His Majesty’s Convict Army also belong to the Crown Prince now?”
With a big accusation thrown down, that person immediately shrank his head and dared not speak further.
A moment later.
“Your, Your Highness.” A guard stepped forward, “All the armor is here.”
Over two hundred sets of two-piece iron armor were neatly laid out on the ground, gleaming coldly under the sun.
More than two hundred guards, like pigs stripped of their skin, cowered trembling to the side.
Li Che looked at the armor on the ground, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
The Northeastern barbarians had a low rate of armor-wearing; it would take twenty nomadic households a full year of effort and savings to jointly forge a single set of armor.
With these two hundred sets of iron armor, it would be enough to sweep through some small tribes.
Having taken the armor and weapons, there was no need for Li Che to linger in this dilapidated camp.
“Have them take their gear and follow this Prince.” Li Che instructed Qiu Bai.
“Yes.”
Over a thousand convicts, mighty and imposing like hungry wolves descending from the mountain, left this dilapidated camp.
The remaining guards looked at each other, speechless for a long time.
“What can we do about this?”
“What else can we do? This kind of matter is not something you or I can decide; hurry and report to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!”
“Who said the Sixth Prince was weak? Where is he weak?” A guard said with a crying voice, “This is clearly a bandit!”
. . . . . .
Over a thousand convict soldiers certainly couldn't be brought back into the city, but fortunately, there were many vacant camps outside the imperial capital.
Li Che led his men to a camp with a decent environment and set up quarters.
Qiu Bai was a clever one; while others still acted like mice seeing a cat when they saw Li Che, he was the only one who dared to approach him.
“Your Highness, what should we do next? Please instruct.”
Li Che chuckled; this kid was sensible, he liked subordinates who had good judgment and were ambitious.
“You go find a few sharp ones, enter the city to procure some supplies, bring back some rice, flour, wine, and meat.”
“Also, tell the rest to go to the river and take a good bath; they are so filthy, aren’t they afraid of getting sick?”
Although Qiu Bai didn't understand why being dirty would cause illness, he didn't show the slightest doubt and carefully wrote down every word of Li Che.
“This humble one will go do it now.”
Li Che saw that he was clear-headed and meticulous in his work, and he was even more satisfied.
“Your name is Qiu Bai, right?” Li Che called out to Qiu Bai, “Let others do these things, you don’t need to bother.”
Qiu Bai froze in place: “Your Highness, I…”
“You boy, just stay by this Prince’s side. Later, follow me back to the manor; this Prince still has things for you to do.”
After a brief moment of surprise, Qiu Bai was overjoyed.
He knew that he was lucky; he had finally caught the eye of this Prince.
Qiu Bai suppressed his excitement, forced out two tears, knelt on the ground, and said in a booming voice:
“Thank Your Highness for your appreciation; this subordinate would not hesitate to go through mountains of daggers and seas of fire, even if it means certain death!”
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