Chapter 373 - 157: Revenge and Taking a Wife

"HAHAHA."

A few more soldiers chimed in.

The others roared with laughter.

"Officers, all of you, over here."

Xu Lei didn’t get angry. He just said, "I’m new here and admittedly don’t know my way around the camp."

"So I took the liberty of improving the food! Come and have a taste, see if it’s to your liking!"

Several of the officers exchanged glances.

They hadn’t expected Xu Lei to be unfazed; he was even inviting them over to eat.

"This is a military order!"

When they didn’t move, Xu Lei spoke again. "What? Are you defying an order from the Court? Hasn’t the directive from the Ministry of Personnel been issued? This is the first order I’ve given since my arrival—are you telling me you didn’t hear it?"

After that, the officers had no choice but to step forward one by one.

The Kitchen Camp wasn’t that large to begin with.

There wasn’t room for too many people inside.

Only these officers and some of their personal guards managed to enter.

However, the moment they stepped inside...

At a glance from Xu Lei, the surrounding kitchen soldiers swarmed them, pinning everyone down.

The kitchen soldiers weren’t the strongest fighters, but they had the numbers.

Everyone outside the kitchen building was stunned.

Before anyone else could react, Xu Lei drew his sword and started cutting them down.

He beheaded several officers right then and there.

"General, what are you doing!"

Another officer roared in fury, "How dare you kill decorated officers of the Court without cause? Executing men of our rank requires a report to the military department and a tripartite tribunal!"

"Do you see this sword in my hand? It’s the Imperial Sword!"

But Xu Lei roared back, "To disrespect an Officer, to jest and joke around—I don’t know who gave you the gall!

"But I’m telling you now: from this moment on, my word is law in this camp. Anyone who disobeys me will be executed!

"All of you, from this day forward, will lower your heads when you see me!"

As he spoke,

Xu Lei started walking again.

With every step, he swung his sword.

And every swing claimed an officer’s life.

In moments, the kitchen building was a river of blood.

"If any of you have a problem with this, feel free to petition the throne and impeach me!"

Then, brandishing the blood-soaked Imperial Sword, Xu Lei walked out of the kitchen building. "Anyone who wants to avenge their Officers can come at me now. If you’ve got the guts, then strike me down right here!"

The teeming masses of soldiers outside were dead silent, not a single one daring to move.

That included the so-called personal guards of the officers he had just killed.

"You few, get over here!"

Xu Lei then pointed to the few sycophantic soldiers who had been jesting earlier.

They were so terrified they immediately dropped to their knees.

Without another word, Xu Lei swung his sword and cut them down too.

"I may have been dropped in here, and I may be young!"

Xu Lei then addressed the assembled troops, his voice booming. "But make no mistake.

"I am here to command you, not to win your approval! Anyone who defies me will share their fate!"

Before long, the air filled with thunderous shouts of submission.

Indeed, Xu Lei was just that domineering.

After all, as someone who possessed Magical Power, Xu Lei had no fear of his own soldiers turning on him.

Besides, he couldn’t be bothered to argue with them. A decisive show of force was far more direct.

Furthermore, the officers Xu Lei had just executed weren’t killed without reason.

They were among the forces responsible for the downfall of his family in this life.

「Three days later.」

A torrent of soldiers swarmed the village where Xu Lei’s mother and Di Xixi were staying.

Leading them were several of the confidants Xu Lei had recently promoted.

Xu Lei’s mother and Di Xixi were stunned.

The entire village was dumbfounded.

No one knew what was going on.

It was then that Xu Lei emerged from the ranks of the soldiers.

He was clad in armor, looking majestic and powerful.

For the past half a month, his mother and Di Xixi had remained here.

They felt it was safer than anywhere else.

They had refused to move into the city with Xu Lei.

And Xu Lei hadn’t forced them.

"Son, what is all this?" his mother couldn’t help but ask.

"Big Brother, what’s happening?" Di Xixi was also bewildered.

"I am now the highest-ranking commander of the army in our Prefecture City," Xu Lei explained simply. "Mother, Sister-in-law, let’s go. We’re going to get our revenge."

That evening.

Amid the villagers’ shock and murmurs,

Xu Lei led his mother, Di Xixi, and a large contingent of troops directly to the gates of his family’s former residence.

"You... you... you people?"

The old butler—who had been so arrogant and foul-mouthed the last time Xu Lei came to the door—was now trembling uncontrollably, screaming back into the house, "Master! Master Shen! Madam...!"

But Xu Lei wasted no time on him, simply kicking him aside.

He then charged in with his troops.

"Master Shen! I trust a man of business such as yourself keeps a ledger, correct?"

Xu Lei sat down with an imposing air. "Hand over the ledger. And the names of all your accomplices!"

The entire Shen Family trembled before him. In the end, of course, Xu Lei got what he came for.

As for the members of the Shen Family, Xu Lei had them all executed.

Not in the house, of course. He had his men drag them away to be dealt with elsewhere.

’He couldn’t dirty his own home, after all.’

「Three days later.」

A massive earthquake shook the local political scene.

Many officials were deposed.

Some of them didn’t even make it to trial; Xu Lei led his soldiers directly into their homes.

He cut them down on the spot with the Imperial Sword.

Of course, some had merely taken bribes. Xu Lei didn’t kill them, but allowed them to face a proper trial.

And with that, his enemies in the military, the government, and the world of commerce had all been eliminated.