#288 - Chapter 288 Hong Village
The winter wind was fierce, yet carried a hint of warmth, a promise of bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new.
Cheng Feng gazed at the disaster relief haven on the mountainside, painstakingly built by the Hongmen, a sense of satisfaction swelling in his heart.
The three mountain peaks purchased by the Hongmen were not merely a geographical expansion, but a symbol of the Hongmen's territory.
Even though these three mountain peaks were desolate at the time, they still cost the Hongmen fifteen thousand taels of silver.
With shouts of excitement, several large carts laden with supplies slowly entered the disaster-stricken area, stirring up a cloud of dust, but also bringing endless hope and warmth.
Cheng Feng stepped forward, blending into the welcoming crowd. A gentle smile graced his face, his eyes gleaming with scrutiny. This was his first visit since the camp's construction began in the summer.
"Everyone, hurry and help unload! These are all good things that will allow us to have a decent New Year's meal!" A Hongmen steward shouted loudly, his voice carrying an unquestionable force.
Upon hearing this, the disaster victims sprang into action, some carrying boxes, others lugging grain. Despite their tattered clothes, their faces were filled with long-lost smiles and anticipation for the future.
They had been at war and in exile for two years. If it weren't for the Hongmen's benefactor taking pity on them and buying land for them to live on, they wouldn't know how they would survive this winter, and most of them would probably die in the wilderness.
Cheng Feng didn't directly participate in the unloading. Instead, he moved through the crowd, occasionally asking about the disaster victims' recent situations and checking on the overall condition of Hong Village.
Several children huddled around a pile of newly arrived clothes, excitedly choosing, their eyes sparkling with curiosity and joy. He crouched down and gently explained to them, "Pick something warm. It's New Year's, so we should have a new look."
The children nodded happily, their smiles like a ray of sunshine in winter, warm and bright.
Cheng Feng looked around the village, named Hong Village, the construction plan was built according to his design at the time.
The village was surrounded by a two-meter-high wall made of earth and stones. Every few steps on the wall, there was a lantern hanging. Although it was not lit, one could imagine the warm scene of this small village being gently wrapped in soft light after night fell.
Of course, it can also serve as a light source at night, making it convenient for guards to patrol and check at night.
The center of the village is an open space, which is where the Hong Village Guard trains and eats.
Cheng Feng continued along the stone road in the village. On both sides of the road were simple wooden houses that had just been built. Although they were not luxurious, they were enough to withstand the winter's severe cold and give displaced people a warm home.
Every time they passed a place, enthusiastic villagers greeted the Hongmen disciples. Some even held their hands, tearfully recounting the help and hope the Hongmen had given them.
"Sir, thanks to the Hongmen's acceptance, we have this haven!" A middle-aged woman held Cheng Feng's hand, her eyes red-rimmed, her gratitude overflowing.
Cheng Feng gently patted the back of her hand, a sense of accomplishment welling up in his heart.
As he walked, he came to a small forest on the edge of the village, which he had specially planned as an area.
The Serpent Controlling Scripture required raising snakes, and Cheng Feng didn't want to put the snake cave in the county town, where it could easily be wiped out in one fell swoop.
What Cheng Feng needed was the cunning of a rabbit with three burrows, and he could also train the young people of Hong Village to control and raise snakes.
Snake meat could be eaten, and the snakes that were raised could also be used to fight enemies. After comparing them in his mind, Cheng Feng still felt it was more worthwhile.
Next year, when he takes in a few apprentices, this place can be used.
At this time, several children were playing on the edge of the forest, their laughter echoing in the cold wind, sounding particularly pleasant.
The afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on every corner of Hong Village, covering this land with a layer of gold. Cheng Feng stood at the entrance of the village, gazing into the distance, planning every step of the Hongmen's future in his mind.
The gathering of three thousand disaster victims and the establishment of a two-hundred-man guard team, every decision was the result of Cheng Feng's hard work.
The guard team was naturally cultivated and trained by the Hongmen's disciples, deeply exploring the charter of teamwork.
Not seeking to be too powerful, but seeking a team organizational awareness.
Cheng Feng was training them as soldiers who obeyed orders and were prohibited from doing things.
The entire process considers the combat power of team collaboration, not the pursuit of individual martial power.
This was an experiment of Cheng Feng's. Cheng Feng wanted to see if the warriors cultivated in this way had any value.
In addition, the children in the village have been living under the wings of the Hongmen since they were young.
When they grow up, they will be subtly close to the Hongmen.
These children are also the fresh blood of the Hongmen in the future.
Cheng Feng felt that it was very easy to do things in one fell swoop.
If you want to say which organizational form makes Cheng Feng feel most at ease, it is undoubtedly the People's Liberation Army in his previous life.
Not taking a single needle or thread from the masses, sharing happiness with the people, fighting on the front line.
Loyal to the organization, the entire army has its own beliefs, and is not afraid of death for the sake of faith.
Cheng Feng has always used the army norms of his previous life to train Hongmen disciples.
Otherwise, Cheng Feng himself would not like a group of stragglers.
Cheng Feng felt that the organizational structure of the Hongmen was okay, but it all depended on the high rewards and high cultivation given by the Hongmen.
Cheng Feng wanted to try to reduce his costs.
However, the hearsay of the previous life and the actual operation of reality are completely two different things.
Fortunately, Cheng Feng has people and money, and can still conduct small-scale pilot experiments.
What's more, in this troubled world, although individual strength is strong, it is ultimately difficult to resist the wind and rain.
What Cheng Feng wants is not just a safe haven.
But also a self-sufficient and sustainable small community.
It is also a place for the Hongmen to cultivate confidants in the future.
And Hong Village is Cheng Feng's experimental product.
Seeing that it was almost done, Cheng Feng directly found the Hongmen disciples and asked them to assemble the guard team. Cheng Feng needed to check whether his investment had been in vain.
The disciple who was training in Hong Village next to him directly picked up the horn on his body and blew it.
More than two hundred members of the guard team, whether they were playing games with their women or patrolling the streets, put down their work and ran wildly to the loyal central open space of the village.
The emergency assembly call was sounded. If they didn't arrive within a cup of tea, they would have to suffer.
Moreover, the captain notified yesterday that high-level Hongmen officials might come to inspect today.
He directly said: Whoever dares to drop the ball and does not perform well will get out directly.
In less than a cup of tea, Cheng Feng was standing in front of a neat and upright team.
The leading Hongmen disciple saw Cheng Feng nod and stepped forward to call out: "Attention, at ease, first row, count off!"
Cheng Feng looked at the time, and then let more than a dozen skin-refining warriors directly enter the arena. This was a sparring session.
If two hundred people can't take down thirteen early-stage skin-refining warriors with tools, then it's not worth investing in.
The result was not bad. In the situation where the thirteen warriors were empty-handed, the two hundred people were not completely wiped out.
After seeing that his investment had yielded some results, Cheng Feng went straight home.
The purpose of coming out once today has been achieved.
