Chapter 35: First meeting with the people
Roning stayed on the hillside for a long time. Only after he was sure that the people from Sean's army had left did he prepare to assemble his team and set off.
Although he successfully survived the immediate crisis, Roning did not take Lord Sean lightly at all.
He knew that Lord Sean's desire for Shanlin Town would never disappear. Now, the other party just chose not to have a direct conflict, which Baron Leisen considered.
When one day the other party doesn't take this into consideration, they will definitely invade on a large scale.
Before this happens, the other party may not target Roning openly, but it is hard to say whether they will do some small tricks in secret.
"Mart, from today on, you should wear a mask and change your name."
Malte, who was following Roning, was feeling very complicated at the moment.
He was in awe of Ronin but also afraid of him.
In the situation just now, he was lying on the ground pretending to be a corpse and could not understand how courageous the baron in front of him had to perform such a wonderful bluffing scene.
Marte had learned a lot today!
He tore a piece of cloth from the corpse behind him and covered his face with it, then bowed and asked, "Sir, if possible, I would like to ask you to give me a name!"
Luo Ning raised his eyebrows. He didn't expect that this guy would ask him to give him a name.
"Then you may be called Tom."
Malte knelt on one knee respectfully, "Thank you for the name, sir! Malte has become a thing of the past. From now on, I am just your follower, Tom!"
Luo Ning nodded and jumped on his horse, and the team slowly moved towards the town.
McKen rode in front with several infantrymen; Ronin, Elrond, David, and others walked in the middle, and behind them were carriages carrying food and corpses.
He did not bury the people in Shanlin Town. After all, most of them had relatives in Shanlin Town. Handing the bodies over to their relatives was considered a kind act by Roning.
In addition, he will tell everyone in Hillwood Town that Political Officer Princet took the lead in betraying Wushanbao and was eliminated by him, and he will no longer pursue the crimes of others.
This can also have a deterrent effect.
After all, Princet has been running the business here for nine years. Who knows if he still has followers or subordinates in Shanlin Town?
"Tom, are there any other people in your family?" Roning asked.
"My...my mother is still alive."
Malte, who had transformed into Tom, immediately became nervous. In his eyes, Ronin was the kind of person who could kill anyone he wanted. He was afraid that Ronin would kill his mother like he had executed a prisoner, but he didn't dare to lie.
"What does she do?" Luo Ning asked.
"Sir, my mother, Leah, used the little money my father left to open a tailor shop in town and raised me with that little income."
Luo Ning nodded and said to Chahar, "After we get to Shanlin Town, Chahar, ask Tom's mother to come to the castle to work."
"Okay, sir!" The servant, Chaharjiang, took note of the incident.
Tom secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Everything was fine.
The team did not move fast but soon arrived at the town.
Roning finally saw his subjects.
Regardless of whether they are men or women, their faces are very haggard as if they have suffered a lot, and their expressions are rather dull.
Perhaps only the children chasing and playing around the dilapidated long house still retained a little energy, allowing Roning to laugh.
However, when this group of people saw that the last few cars were full of corpses, and when they saw blood dripping on the ground, leaving long lines of blood, fear was all over their faces. They hurriedly pulled their children and knelt on the side of the road, not daring to even run.
The closer Roning got to the town centre, the more people knelt down.
Finally, on the stinky street, he pulled the reins and stopped.
"Let me introduce myself. I am from Wushan Castle. I am the eldest grandson of Marquis Rulans, the master of Wushan Territory. From today on, I am the baron of Shanlin Town and your Lord!"
Luo Ning cleared his throat, "My name is Luo Ning, remember this name!"
The kneeling leaders couldn't help but look up at Roning, only to find that the man sitting on the horse seemed to be glowing all over, making people dare not look directly at him.
Some of the more knowledgeable freemen saw the Wushan family's emblem on the carriage and knew that Roning was not lying.
They couldn't help but sigh. After so many years, Wushan Territory finally had a real master. This time, it wasn't some pioneering knight, nor was it some newly promoted baron, but a direct descendant of the Wushan family!
Roning pulled the reins and came to the last few carriages, his tone changing from the previous calm.
"Princest, the former political official of Hillwood Town, betrayed Wushan Castle, betrayed Hillwood Town, and betrayed his Lord! They have all been executed by my knights!"
The person who had dared look up at Roning glanced at the corpse and quickly lowered his head.
"I never show mercy to betrayers!"
Luo Ning laughed, his voice sounding rather cold to the people in his territory, "My mercy is only shown to the people who are loyal to me!"
The sound of horse hooves was crisp, and so many people kneeling on the street dared not breathe, but some people couldn't help crying.
Luo Ning looked over and saw that they should be the family members of the traitor.
When they saw Roning's gaze, they lowered their heads in panic, not knowing what to do.
"I believe that the betrayal was their personal behaviour and did not involve their family members."
Luo Ning didn't want to continue talking in this environment. "Any of you who are their family members can come up and take their bodies away. As long as you are loyal to Shanlin Town and loyal to me, I will not hold you accountable for anything."
After that, Luo Ning instructed his followers: "David, you take two guards to guard the carriage here and let their families take the bodies away."
At the same time, he whispered, "Remember to obey orders. I have already explained to you what happened on the mountain. You know what to do."
"Understood, sir!"
David selected two guards and shouted, "Lord, please be merciful. You may come up and take away the bodies of your family members!"
No one present dared to move.
Ronin knew he was here, and they didn't have the courage. "Come on, Tom, take me to the castle in Hillwood Town."
"Yes, sir!"
The castle of Shanlin Town is located on a hill in the northeast corner of the town. It was built by the first baron more than ten years ago and was renovated and rebuilt by Princet a few years ago.
Ronin originally thought that the castle would be very simple, but when he walked outside, he found that this was not the case.
Apart from being small, the structure has all the necessary buildings, including inner and outer castles, city walls, gatehouses, and watchtowers.
Princet acted like he hated the nobles, but his life was no different from that of the nobles.
At this moment, the guards of the castle came out in full force, and Roning and his party walked in without any obstacles.
After entering Hillwood Castle, the guards, led by Tom, arrested all the castle's housekeepers and servants.
Roning walked straight to the fortress made of discarded stones, which looked very solid and sat on the "throne" above.
He thought of Lulans that day at Wushan Fortress.
The other party sat quietly on the high seat without saying a word, but whether it was Wiggins or the golden lion of the Hyde family, they all submitted to Rulans.
"The weak shout at the top of their lungs, but no one cares; the strong whisper, but it reaches people's hearts!"
Looking at the servants of Hillwood Castle, who were captured one after another and kneeled below, Roning felt the pleasure of becoming a strong man for a moment.
This feeling is really fascinating.