บท 70: Chapter 70、Wang Daniu: The Vanguard
To be honest, when Wang Daniu donned his military uniform and held his rifle, standing there with a stern expression, he truly looked the part. His former subordinates, however, weren't used to seeing this side of him.
"Why's Uncle wearing a uniform? Did he join the army? What are we supposed to do now?"
"Damn it, the boss said he would surrender, but now he's not being accepted—he's become a soldier!"
"So what's the deal now? The big guy's in the army, but we're still bandits? Damn, we're screwed!"
The group of men chattered nervously, their faces full of anxiety and uncertainty about what the future held.
Not long after, the chief of staff appeared with Wang Daniu.
The chief of staff looked at Wang Daniu and said, "These men are here. You mentioned knowing some good candidates. Pick who you think is worthy."
"Remember, we need quality, not quantity. Even if they join, they'll have to be tested."
Wang Daniu quickly nodded, standing tall and replying, "Yes, Chief!"
He then turned to his former men, scanning the group before pointing out a few names. "Wang Xiaoshan! Wang Erhe! Wang Qinfen! You guys, step forward!"
It was clear that Wang Daniu had chosen his own family members.
"What's going on, Uncle?"
"Yeah, what's this about?" His nephews and cousins from the village were confused, while the young men muttered to themselves, their minds filled with questions.
"What do you think this is? You think I'm sending you to get shot?!" Wang Daniu barked, giving them a sharp look. "I've been recruited by the commander, and we're going to fight the apocalypse and save the people. You all listen well, your talents fit the battlefield. That's why I recommended you. You're coming with me to join the army!"
"Join the army?"
The men exchanged glances, excitement flickering in their eyes.
In peacetime, joining the army might have been a life of hardship with little chance for glory. But in the midst of chaos? This was their chance to leap ahead. To fight for a higher place in life, to go from a simple villager to a hero.
Not only that, but their starting point was higher than most. While others might have to fight to survive as bandits, they were becoming soldiers. That was a completely different level of prestige.
"Don't want to join?" Wang Daniu's voice cut through the air. "You don't?"
"Yes, we do! We do!"
The younger men quickly agreed, eager to follow their uncle. Having come from rural backgrounds, they were hardworking and humble. They trusted Wang Daniu; if he said it was the right choice, then it was.
"Alright then, follow me. But remember, the army has rules. You can't all be in the same unit." The chief of staff said, glancing at Wang Daniu. "Right now, we don't have enough uniforms. Wear the bulletproof vests for now."
"Yes, sir!"
Wang Daniu straightened up and saluted. His posture was sharp and commanding, making the remaining men stare enviously.
What man wouldn't want to join the army? And in these troubled times, what greater glory was there than saving the people and fighting to protect them?
If a few female survivors came into the picture, well, the image of a soldier heroically saving the day would earn them a reputation.
The soldiers didn't need to use force to win women's favor; they simply stood tall and looked the part, and the admiration would pour in. They were the real heroes in this chaotic world.
"Boss, what about us? What do we do?"
"We want to join too! We've always dreamed of serving in the army!"
"Now's the time! Our country needs us, and we're ready to fight!"
The rest of the men eagerly expressed their desire to join. They feared being left behind.
Wang Daniu gave them a sharp look. "Stop yelling! No more of this brother and big brother nonsense. I'm a soldier now, and I don't have time for your nonsense! I don't care what you call me—just keep quiet and follow the government's orders! I'm not afraid to take you down myself if you cause trouble!"
His words sent waves of disappointment through the group, but the chief of staff intervened. "Listen up. Follow the orders and head back to the military base. We'll investigate and make sure you're eligible to serve. If you're clean and fit for the army, you'll get your chance to serve your country."
The chief of staff's reassurances eased their minds, but the men were now focused entirely on joining the army, their previous concerns forgotten.
Shortly after, a small team was assigned to escort them back to the base and notify Jiang Xiaoci to prepare for the transportation of supplies from the police station.
With a few remaining guards, Lin Yue led the soldiers onward to the nearby district. Wang Daniu, eager to prove himself, took the lead.
Less than an hour later, the troops arrived at a new district.
"Chief, this district is close to the city center. There are two large supermarkets, three hardware stores, six business KTVs… There's a snack street nearby, and I heard there's an oil and grain wholesale store, plus a few small cold storage units." Wang Daniu gave a detailed report to the chief of staff. "This area is occupied by four groups of people, all armed. I'm not sure about their abilities, but they don't seem too strong, or they would've taken over the whole district by now."
"There are also many survivors hiding in the buildings. They don't come out often, only sneaking out to find food when no one is around. It used to be easy to find food, but lately, the four groups have hoarded it all. The survivors who venture out are finding it harder and harder to get by."
Wang Daniu's voice grew heavy with frustration.
"Are they really desperate enough to risk everything?" The chief of staff asked, his tone sharp.
One of Wang Daniu's nephews raised his hand. "I know! I talked to one of the bandits when I was selling bullets. He bragged about how the four groups used to fight each other, but after a strategist from the city center came in, they stopped fighting and divided the area. Now they're using the remaining resources to recruit more survivors."
"If the survivors want food, they have to work for them or sell their family members." He continued, his voice grim. "Women? If they want to eat, they have to sleep with them. A single night can get them half a meal, but if they want more, they'll have to play along with the men's demands."
"Word is they're even planning to lower the prices, not giving the survivors much food at all."
Yi Bai, who had been observing from the shadows, couldn't help but blink in disbelief. "Trading people for food? The world has really gone to hell."
It was a grim reality. With the food supply dwindling in the heat, everything was decaying faster than it could be consumed. Food was becoming scarce and precious. In an environment where their safe zones couldn't provide enough sustenance, people would do anything to survive, even if it meant crossing moral lines.
"Human trafficking?" The chief of staff's voice tightened, a hint of suspicion in his eyes. "Why go that far? They could recruit survivors with food alone. Why resort to trading people?"
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