Chapter 176: Shrewd

"Be serious, be serious."  Lin Mu Yu glared at Wei Chou while also telling himself to be more serious.  He said to the brothel owner, "Madame, I just want to ask…..Do you have any that can be sold into slavery?"

The brothel owner was stunned, "This…..All the girls I have here are incredibly talented……If you want to buy them, it is very expensive.  What is sir planning to do after buying them? What kind do you want?"

Lin Mu Yu took a deep breath and said, "You don't need to care what I want to do with them.  I want the kind that I am happy with, do you understand?"

The brothel owner smiled, "Does sir want a kind that can welcome guests?"

"Un, forget it……"  Lin Mu Yu's scalp was already itching as Wei Chou laughed from the side in schadenfreude.

The brothel owner realized that big business was here, so she said, "I have a total of one hundred and twenty seven girls here, do you want me to…..call them all out and let sir choose among them?"

"Fine."

"Alright!"

The brothel owner immediately cupped her hands and loudly shouted, "All the girls upstairs and downstairs, quickly come out to greet a guest!"

Very quickly, a large group of escorts gathered in the main hall, with Wei Chou staring right at them.  Lin Mu Yu was born in a rich business family, so his father had taken him out to socialize many times and he had seen countless kinds of escorts before, giving him a firm temperament.  He hadn't eaten pork before, but he had seen pigs.

The brothel owner raised her sagging chest and asked with a smile, "Sir, our girls being sold as slaves will cost around three hundred to five hundred gold coins.  How many are you planning to buy?"

"Fifty."  Lin Mu Yu softly said, "Can you give me a discount?"

"Fifty?"  The brothel owner's mouth dropped wide before she said with a smile, "That….That many…..Sir really is generous.  If you buy fifty of them, you can have a different every day for two months, so you won't tire of them….."

Lin Mu Yu glared at her, "Be quiet…..I'm only asking you, if I buy fifty of them, how much for each of them?"

"How about three hundred and fifty gold coins?  But these three hundred fifty gold coins are for me.  As for whether these girls are willing to go with you is up to them, I do pamper them a lot."

"Alright."

Lin Mu Yu nodded.  He looked at the group of escorts and said, "I won't hide it from you, I'm buying you all because the orphanage lacks camp women.  You will serve those soldiers after leaving with me, but I will not let you suffer a loss. As long as I buy you, not only will I give the madame three hundred and fifty gold coins, I will also give you three hundred and fifty gold coins.  If you're willing, come forward."

The brothel owner was stunned, "Sir truly is generous…..Girls, you will never be able to earn this much in your entire lives, quickly….."

Immediately, several girls came out several steps.  These girls' faces were filled with numbness and fake smiles, so Lin Mu Yu naturally knew that they were willing to do anything for money.  This was fine, as long as you're willing.

Not long after, the fifty escorts had already been chosen.  Lin Mu Yu calculated it and gave the brothel owner seventeen diamond coins and five hundred gold coins before going to exchange for more gold coins.  Each girl was given a heavy bag of gold coins, but most of them weren't willing to bring all these gold coins into the military camp, so they deposited it in the bank.

Just like this, around two hours was spent and the sun was already setting.

When Lin Mu Yu led these fifty "beautifully attired" escorts into the military camp, a group of imperial guards seemed like they couldn't control themselves.  To them, these girls were much more "interesting" than those unwilling girls they brought in this afternoon. Lin Mu Yu found the hundred man commander in charge of the orphanage and gave him one thousand gold coins as a reward before directly exchanging for these fifty women who weren't willing to be camp women.

The bright moon showered the street with a silver light.  Lin Mu Yu and Wei Chou slowly moved their horses forward as they led these fifty women.  Wei Chou was still smiling as he said, "It seems like after entering the Heaven Connecting Tower, sir's matters of handling matters has matured."

Lin Mu Yu gave a sigh, "An experience encourages growth."

"How is sir planning to deal with these women?"

"Hire several horse drawn carriages and bring them all to Dragon Cliff Mountain."

"Ah, sir is planning to….."

"Most of them already have no home, so even if I sent them off, most of them would be caught as camp women again, which is equal to not saving them at all.  So, I plan on creating a village at the bottom of Dragon Cliff Mountain to settle these homeless women. They will learn to till the soil and weave clothes to become self sufficient.  They can use this to attract strong men which will allow them to live good lives."

"Sir is too heroic!"  Wei Chou's eyes were filled with respect.

In the night, fifty Falcon's Nest soldiers were sent to deliver the five hundred s.h.i.+elds and the fifty girls to Dragon Cliff Mountain.  Lin Mu Yu personally escorted them. Although Orchid Goose City was the imperial capital, the Dragon Seeking Forest area could not be considered safe.  Public security was lacking, especially at night when bandits, thieves and mercenary roamed.

They arrived at their destination in the middle of the night and they could see the torches on Dragon Cliff Mountain in the distance.

At the mountain gates, several dozen armoured Dragon Courage Camp mercenaries, guarding the place while holding long halberds.  When they say Lin Mu Yu approach, a person recognized him and immediately said with cup fists, "Greeting leader."

"Open the door and escort us up."

"Yes, sir!"

Lin Mu Yu looked over them and saw that they didn't have the aura of ruffians anymore, looking like real soldiers now.  Luo Yu really was a talented person, he did not choose the wrong person to oversee the Dragon Courage Camp.

Before they arrived at the summit, Luo Yu led several dozen cavalry to welcome them.  Luo Yu cupped his hands and revealed a smile, "Sir, you're back?"

"Un, I'm here to give everyone a bit of equipment."

Lin Mu Yu waved his hand and on the carriage behind him, there were Dragon Snake s.h.i.+elds s.h.i.+ning under the torch light.  Luo Yu could tell it was good stuff with a single glance and he said with wild joy, "This is great, this is firewood sent in the winter.  When we fought the mountain bandits yesterday, several people were injured and today sir has sent all these firm s.h.i.+elds. Hei, this is great!"

"Let's go."

"Yes!"

Luo Yu turned his horse around and walked beside Lin Mu Yu.  He looked at the young girls behind and he said with a frown, "Sir, these women…..Are they going to become maids on the mountain?"

"No, Dragon Courage Camp has no maids."  Lin Mu Yu shook his head and said, "From tomorrow onwards, have everyone go down the mountain to cut wood as training.  In one month, I want us to make a village protected by us at the foot of Dragon Cliff Mountain, are there any questions?"

Luo Yu was stunned before saying, "As long as there is money, there should be no problems."

"Un, then do this.  That's right, what's the current situation with the mercenary group?"

Luo Yu revealed a happy expression as he said, "Sir, in the past four days, the Dragon Courage Camp has swept through three villages of bandits and two mercenary groups with below two hundred people.  This subordinate has picked people from them to join our Dragon Courage Camp and now we have two hundred and seventy four people under our control."

"Good."

Lin Mu Yu revealed a faint smile, "As for the money, is there still enough?"

"It's a bit lacking….."

"No problem."

Lin Mu Yu immediately took out some money, taking one hundred diamond coins from his Qiankun Bag.  With a smile, he said, "This is one hundred thousand gold coins, spend it a bit slowly…."

Luo Yu nodded, "Yes, sir!"

"Diligently recruit, the more people the better.  Break the previous requirement, even if some brave and upright men haven't reached the Second Human Tier, you can still let them join Dragon Courage Camp."

"Alright, this subordinate understands."

After resting in Dragon Courage Camp for the night, Lin Mu Yu had Wei Chou return to the Falcon's Nest with the fifty soldiers the next day, while planning to stay on Dragon Cliff Mountain for a few days.  He was still the person with the highest authority here, it wouldn't be good if he didn't develop with the Dragon Courage Camp members. As for the young girls, they had been settled and were now just waiting for the village under the mountain to be built.

Twenty people were sent out in the morning to a small city to hire carpenters and architects.  Later, looking at a map of the Dragon Seeking Forest with many red dots on it, Luo Yu said with knit brows, "Right now, there are two large powers that can threaten us.  One is the Flame Wolf Mercenary Group and the other is the bandits on Purple Deer Mountain."

"Flame Wolf Mercenaries?"

"That's right."

Luo Yu said, "The Flame Wolf Mercenaries are a wandering mercenary group.  They pillage and kill people, normally causing trouble in villages in the Cloud County.  The Cloud County government can't do anything against them. The Flame Wolf Mercenaries have gathered three thousand people and are very strong, while there are less than two thousand people in the Cloud County garrison."

"Good fellow….."  Lin Mu Yu held the hilt of the Dragon Spirit Sword and said, "Three thousand mercenaries is a bit much, that's ten times our numbers.  If we really fight, we don't have a high chance of winning."

Luo Yu nodded with a smile, "That's right, so we never moved against them.  However, rumors say that captain Feng Xi of the Flame Wolf Mercenaries has been eyeing our Dragon Cliff Mountain.  It's said that he is set on it. In just one-two days, the Flame Wolf Mercenaries will surely attack us!"

"This is fine….."

Lin Mu Yu's eyes revealed a cold glow as he said, "I'll stay on Dragon Cliff Mountain for a few days and properly socialize with this Feng Xi."

"Un!"

After this, Lin Mu Yu gave his previous prairie sword to Luo Yu.  Luo Yu's strength was worthy of this profound grade sword. Of course, Lin Mu Yu's Dragon Spirit Sword was sharper.  Weapons below the profound grade could not even touch the Dragon Spirit Sword without breaking and the owner being killed, this was the strength of a saint grade weapon.

At night, the cold wind blew as Lin Mu Yu sat in the leader's room practicing his Dragon Forged Bone Tome and Spiritual Pulse Technique, increasing his strength and his soul.  He wanted to become stronger because he couldn't set up a base in this world without strength, not to mention changing anything.

"Dong, dong, dong……"

Knocks came from the door as Luo Yu said, "Sir, we've just received a report.  The Flame Wolf Mercenaries have sent out one thousand and five hundred people our way.  They should arrive at Dragon Cliff Mountain in the early morning!"

"Alright."

Lin Mu Yu sat straight and said, "Prepare to ambush them halfway."

"Yes!"

Chapter 177: How can someone like you talk about integrity?

There weren't many people on Dragon Cliff Mountain, they would fall into a hopeless situation once they were surrounded.  So, if they took the initiative to launch an attack, they could still have a chance to win otherwise they would only lose.

Lin Mu Yu did not have a deep understanding of tactics, but he could still understand the simple ideas.  The Flame Wolf Mercenaries would take around six hours to march to Dragon Cliff Mountain. After a simple understanding, the Flame Wolf Mercenaries were not very rich and did not have more than three hundred horses, so they couldn't send out a cavalry unit.  They could only send a mix of cavalry and infantry.

Luo Yu pointed at the map and said, "They have more people, so they will definitely take the main road.  So, here…..This Broken Claw Gorge is somewhere they must pa.s.s and the topography of Broken Claw Gorge is important, making it a very good ambush spot."

Lin Mu Yu raised the warm fragrant tea.  He said with a smile, "Then we'll ambush them in this Broken Claw Gorge.  Bring some flags and arrows, we'll try to defeat these fifteen hundred people with the least amount of damage."

"Alright!"

Not long after, Dragon Cliff Mountain was filled with torches.  Lin Mu Yu was a rich man in Orchid Goose City, so the Dragon Courage Camp did not lack money.  They were all riding horses and each person was equipped with a bow, a lance, and a sword. They could fight from afar, from their horses, and could fight on the ground, this was Dragon Courage Camp's greatest advantage.  The individual soldiers were all very strong, not to mention Lin Mu Yu and Luo Yu, these two Heaven Realm experts holding the rein, making them even more unstoppable.

They only left seventy people to guard to mountain while the other two hundred saddled up.  Luo Yu gave the order and they all rode down the mountain.

The cold wind was like blades on their skin.  Lin Mu Yu raised his temple cloak to cover his face while leading the group of cavalry forward.  His heart had a different feeling because these were his men, so he felt like he was truly controlling the army.  This was his first time leading troops on an attack, so he could only win and not lose!

They arrived in Broken Claw Gorge in less than two hours.  Like the name suggested, the gorge was like a claw gouging out of the earth, with the ground looking very rugged.  Luo Yu and the others stopped, surrounding Lin Mu Yu waiting for their orders. After Lin Mu Yu carefully examined the surroundings, he simply said, "Luo Yu, lead one hundred people to divide yourselves on both sides of the cliffs.  Prepare stones, arrows, and flags, and when their group entered the Broken Claw Gorge, fire arrows and drop stones at them. Be sure to remember to wave the flags so they don't know we don't have many people. The other one hundred people will hide in the forest with me and we'll kill our way in once their formation is scattered."

"Yes, captain!"  Everyone had bright eyes.  Two hundred people ambus.h.i.+ng fifteen hundred people, what kind of challenge was this?

But Lin Mu Yu's heart was filled with confidence because these two hundred people were well trained and well equipped.  The other side's fifteen hundred people were all wandering mercenaries, so being nice, they could be considered a motley crew!

Everyone went to their positions.  The cold wind howled in the air like an angry ghost, covering all sounds.  The loud snorts of the war horses were even covered up by the wind.

After waiting for a long time, finally white flags appeared over the cliffs.  Lin Mu Yu immediately gripped his Dragon Spirit Sword and said in a low voice, "Everyone prepare yourselves, they are here.  Wait for my signal to attack!"

"Yes!"

The hundred Dragon Courage Camp mercenaries behind him mounted their horses with faces filled with battle intent.  The majority of them were Human Realm and Earth Realm cultivators, so they were very strong. Faced with a group of wandering mercenaries, they were filled with confidence and fighting intent.

Finally, the sound of disorderly horse hooves came on the wind.  In the distance, human figures appeared as bright small dots on the main road of the Broken Claw Gorge.  This group of people were actually marching forward with torches lit. Lin Mu Yu couldn't help secretly laughing, these idiots, isn't this deliberately revealing their position?  They really were a group of idiots…..

"Who is their commanding officer?"  Lin Mu Yu asked.

Behind him, a mercenary said, "It's Luo Jian with a cultivation in the First Earth Tier.  He is the Flame Wolf Mercenaries' vice captain and he acts as the vanguard every one of their operations."

"Alright, capture Luo Jian alive."

"Yes!"

In the cold wind, the Flame Wolf Mercenaries slowly entered the Broken Claw Gorge.  When their final person entered the Broken Claw Gorge, the sounds of battle drums suddenly rang out as arrows fell like rain from both sides and large rocks fell from the sky, making it look like a disaster.  At the same time, several dozen Dragon Courage Camp flags were waving from above in the Broken Claw Gorge with roars sounding out.

"Good fellow….."  Lin Mu Yu revealed a grin.  Luo Yu actually made such a large move, it had made him very surprised.

The Flame Wolf Mercenaries suffered many casualties and they all had looks of rage on their faces.  Among them, the vice captain Luo Jian raised his sword and shouted from his horse, "The road back has already been cut off, those villains from Dragon Courage Camp…..Brothers, charge with me.  Ignore their ambush, we will directly charge through and attack their lair!"

Over a thousand mercenaries wildly charged forward, but them without any armour did not raise any momentum at all.

"Dang!"

Lin Mu Yu raised his Dragon Spirit Sword and loudly shouted, "Kill!"

Charging forward first, he released his gourd wall to protect himself and his horse.  The other side immediately sent out a soldier wielding a three meter long lance to meet him.  This wandering mercenary did have a bit of skill, at least he knew how to deal with cavalry, but how could Lin Mu Yu be a normal cavalry soldier.

"Jiu……"

The warhorse jumped out with a neigh and Lin Mu Yu suddenly raised his sword.  The Dragon Spirit Sword went through like cutting mud and the lance was cut into several pieces.  In the next instant, he had already charged into their formation. He raised his sword and chopped down, directly cutting off one of the roaming mercenary's arm!

Satisfying!

Lin Mu Yu secretly praised this saint grade sword's sharpness, he never had such an easy time when he was wielding the prairie sword.  His horse charged forward and his sword wildly danced, instantly killing several dozen people. The Dragon Courage Camp mercenaries behind him charged forward and their martial spirits exploded with light as the scene quickly became an one sided crus.h.i.+ng.

"Dirty things!"

Not far away, Luo Jian raised a spear.  A martial spirit gathered on his shoulder and he charged forward on his horse.  When he came close, he released his spear and it flew at Lin Mu Yu's neck like a venomous snake.  This brat's spear art seemed quite strong.

But Lin Mu Yu's reaction was faster.  His head gently moved to the side to avoid the attack and the spear stabbed the gourd wall.  Seizing this chance to raise his Dragon Spirit Sword, he directly cut Luo Jian's spear in half.

"What is going on?"

Luo Jian began to run, but there was nowhere to go.  Lin Mu Yu came forward with a punch and with the difference in strength, Luo Jian swayed on his horse before he was grabbed off the horse by Lin Mu Yu who loudly shouted, "Luo Jian has already been caught by me, do you still wish to struggle?"

With the glow of the martial spirit, Lin Mu Yu's body was covered in a strong battle qi glow which soared into the sky.

Instantly the mercenaries were all stunned.  No one imagined that it would end like this and never would have imagined that their vice captain would be seized.

Luo Yu was already charging down from the cliff wielding the prairie sword as he shouted, "Put down your weapons if you don't want to die!"

"Dang…..dang….."

Lances and swords fell to the ground, they really were a motley gathered crew.  The Dragon Courage Camp members had captured over twelve hundred people with little loss.

Lin Mu Yu put Luo Jian down.  Luo Jian had a look of shame as he said, "I am not as good as you, kill me if you want!"

"Who wants to kill you….."

Lin Mu Yu looked at him and said, "Luo Jian, are you willing to join Dragon Courage Camp?"

"Don't shame me, just kill me!"  Luo Jian's eyes were clear and determined.

Lin Mu Yu couldn't help smiling as he said word for word, "Are you talking about integrity to me?  Tell me, your Flame Wolf Mercenaries kill and pillage, stirring discontent among the populace. You kill the innocent and bully the weak, what qualification does sc.u.m like you have to discuss integrity with me?  Now I'm giving you one chance to turn over a new leaf and become a mercenary with morals. Are you willing to join Dragon Courage Camp?"

"I…..I….."

Luo Jian's eyes s.h.i.+ned as each word from Lin Mu Yu pierced his heart.  No matter how strong he was, he was a wandering mercenary looked down on by the people.  A beast like person that slaughtered the innocent, how could he discuss righteousness?

"Your Dragon Courage Camp are all good people?  In this world, good people don't live long….." Luo Jian suddenly said with cold laugh.

Lin Mu Yu also smiled as he pointed behind himself and said, "The Dragon Courage Camp definitely won't bully the weak or slaughter the innocent.  If it does happen, they will be killed without mercy. It's fine if you believe it or not, but Dragon Courage Camp will surely do this."

Luo Jian gave a sigh and finally made his decision, "Fine.  I'll use my cheap life to see if you, Lin Mu Yu can keep your word and become a mercenary with morals."

"Un, you will achieve your wishes."

Lin Mu Yu naturally was very confident.  Didn't wandering mercenaries kill and pillage because they were poor?  However, Dragon Courage Camp was not poor. With the income he received from the Imperial Capital Store, it was enough to raise an elite army that wasn't too big.

The remaining thirteen hundred wandering mercenaries were all brought back to Dragon Cliff Mountain and seven hundred and forty two of them were chosen to join Dragon Courage Camp.  The others were all sent away after their weapons and armours were confiscated, at least he couldn't let Feng Xi use them anymore.

In the afternoon, the Dragon Courage Camp mercenaries were very happy as they drank their fill.

Only Luo Jian was sitting depressed to the side.  Lin Mu Yu walked over and asked with a smile, "What are you thinking?"

"I'm just thinking….."

Luo Jian paused as he swept his eyes over Lin Mu Yu before saying with a smile, "Do you think captain Feng Xi will give up?  Lin Mu Yu, you're celebrating too early. You have to know, the real elites of our Flame Wolf Mercenaries are the remaining fifteen hundred people….."

"I know."

Lin Mu Yu revealed a faint smile, "But it's fine, they'll be my people sooner or later!  Luo Yu, you are responsible for the normal training in Dragon Courage Camp over these next few days.  I'll be going out for a few days."

"Yes!"  Luo Yu cupped his hands.

Luo Jian's eyes revealed a bit of a daze as he silently sat there.