Cheng Yaojin was clearly skeptical.
Would this move of yours work?
Are there really no prisoners in jail who are as obedient as you say?
Fang Er shook his head.
Brother, if you don't believe it, have someone prepare a room and take Zheng Lao Er in from the jail. Lock him up for a few days and see.
And so.
In the Yangwei barracks, Cheng Yaojin actually had a small dark room built.
Meticulously following Fang Er's requirements.
There was only a bed and bedding, and besides that, only a chamber pot.
The windows were sealed, and every tile on the roof was inspected.
Cloth strips were added to the door seam. Once closed, not a sliver of light could get in.
It was absolutely pitch black.
Cheng Yaojin asked Li Shimin to have Zheng Lao Er brought over. Li Shimin, having heard of the dark room's purpose, was also very interested.
He specifically instructed that when Zheng Lao Er was released, he should be invited to witness what a person looked like after being locked up for a few days.
When Zheng Lao Er was taken from the dark and damp dungeon and brought to the small dark room, he was still quite excited.
He thought the Emperor was going to pardon him, completely unaware of the horror that awaited him.
After sleeping through the day, he woke up at night to face boundless darkness. At first, he was dismissive.
An hour later, he started to feel anxious.
Two hours later, his heart began to pound erratically.
Three hours later, he had become completely deranged.
He wanted to talk to someone, but in this room, apart from the darkness, there was nothing.
He shouted loudly, but the soldiers guarding outside, as per Fang Er's instructions, paid him no attention.
When morning came and he heard the sounds of drills outside, he felt a little better. At least, it wasn't so quiet anymore.
During the day, soldiers came to deliver food and replace the clean chamber pot.
Zheng Lao Er grabbed a soldier and tried to chat for a bit, but the soldier, without even looking back, pulled his hand away and left.
The door was closed again.
By night, Zheng Lao Er, tense from the day, had no desire to sleep.
He started fumbling in the dark, relying on memory to find the door, and began to smash it wildly.
He even broke his hand, but no one paid him any mind.
He kept smashing for the entire night.
During the day, when the soldier came in to deliver food, Zheng Lao Er sat there as if stunned.
He sat there blankly, mumbling something incessantly.
The soldier delivering the food was startled.
Damn it, after only two days and two nights, he's become like this?
Could there be ghosts in this room?
But remembering Fang Er and Cheng Yaojin's instructions, he didn't dare to ask.
He put down the things and left.
By the third day.
When the door was opened again, Zheng Lao Er had gone mad!
Truly mad!
He was babbling incoherently, and as soon as he saw the soldier entering, he lunged and hugged him.
Don't go, don't go! Stay with me, stay and keep me company~!
The soldier quickly jumped away.
Li Shimin, who had rushed over from the imperial palace, was accompanying Cheng Yaojin and Fang Er, and happened to witness this scene.
He was utterly stunned.
Cheng Yaojin looked at Fang Er in disbelief and asked.
Is this dark room really that effective?
In less than three days, this son of a bitch has gone mad?
Fang Er nodded.
It's normal for Zheng Lao Er to go mad. It would be abnormal if he didn't.
At least, in normal confinement, one knows how long they will be locked up.
But when Zheng Lao Er was thrown in, he was only told he was being moved to a different place, and no mention was made of how long he would be kept there.
Li Shimin shook his head.
It's not appropriate. While this method certainly achieves the effect of punishment, driving a person mad is not good.
Fang Er shook his head.
In normal punishments, soldiers know their release date and have hope, so they are not driven mad so easily.
Additionally, the duration of confinement can be decided based on the severity of the offense, with a maximum of three days.
With Zheng Lao Er's case as a precedent, Cheng Yaojin directly had a row of small dark rooms built around the training grounds.
Looking at the Yangwei soldiers, all of whom had been outfitted with new uniforms, Li Shimin felt that their appearance was much more pleasing than the previous disorderly formation.
After inspecting them and leaving words of praise, he departed.
Fang Er also returned to Fang Family Village. It was time to expand the army.
The Yan Yun Cavalry was dispatched again, spreading news in the surrounding ten villages and towns about Fang Family Village's Tianhuo Army recruiting soldiers.
Many young men, who had already been envious of the Tianhuo Army's treatment, flocked to join once the opportunity arose.
In less than seven days, the quota of two thousand five hundred soldiers was filled.
In a corner of the training grounds, Fang Er, mimicking Cheng Yaojin, found a spot under a tree, sat in a chair, enjoyed the shade, and watched Qi Sui train the new recruits.
For these men who had come down from the battlefield, they were extremely clear about the practical application of each training subject in actual combat.
Therefore, their training was not at all lenient. They had also set up small dark rooms here, but only ten of them.
On the first day, two individuals who had gotten into a fight were thrown into one. After a day and a night,
when they were released, the two who had been drawing swords at each other the day before were now crying and embracing each other. It was later heard that they had become sworn brothers.
The uniforms were the same as the Yangwei Army's, only the characters on the back were different. Yangwei of the Great Tang had been replaced with Tianhuo of the Great Tang.
Of course, it was still in Li Shimin's calligraphy.
Li Shimin was very pleased that Fang Er wanted "Tianhuo of the Great Tang" rather than just "Tianhuo Army."
Listening to the recruits chanting as they ran, Fang Er casually opened the system panel.
It was already early July, and new items could be redeemed.
This time, the system provided an assortment of tires.
Continental.
Dunlop.
Bridgestone.
Michelin.
Xuzhou Jiazi.
Case Dongfanghong.
And various other models, including agricultural tractor tires and extra-wide off-road tires.
He accepted them all with a satisfied smile.
Refresh!
Heh heh~!
It turned out to be various seasonings.
In 25-kilogram barrels!
This is great, super nice!
For a foodie like him, there was no better gift.
Refresh again.
Hmm?
A whole batch of underwear.
Briefs, boxers, and thongs, what the heck?
Not only these, but also bras!
Regardless of whether they were useful or not, he would exchange them first.
The third refresh was light bulbs!
The system's habit was to release the same type of items each time.
This time, it was like they had brought a city of lights.
Household incandescent bulbs, energy-saving bulbs.
Automotive LED headlights, xenon headlights.
And small desk lamps that could be powered by a power bank.
Hahaha, Yue'er no longer has to worry about my eyes being strained by oil lamps and candles.
Before he could enjoy his happiness for three seconds, the walkie-talkie at his waist crackled to life.
Alpha Zero, Alpha Zero, this is Alpha Five, there is an anomaly in the river channel, please respond!
Alpha Five was Li Shun's codename.
Hearing that there was a problem with the river channel, this was unbearable!
Fang Er jolted upright and took down the walkie-talkie.
Alpha Five, Alpha Five, this is Alpha Zero, speak!
Li Shun quickly explained his discovery at the river channel.
It turned out that during the process of clearing the river channel, a portion of the river embankment had collapsed.
And it wasn't just one spot!