Kazekage Ninja: The Rise of the Hidden Sand-Chapter 162 - 57: The Desert King

While Jinghang was busy assembling a massive "fleet" in the Yuehu District, sharpening his blade to take down the desert bandits of Heifeng Stronghold as a grand opening act, Kawashima Tsumi was indulging himself on his large bearskin bed, engaged in a wild romp with two prostitutes from the Land of Rain.

Recently, life had been treating him quite well. Riding the wave of his resounding victory at Bianchengyi, he had successively absorbed over ten desert bandit factions of varying sizes in the Black Prince Desert. His forces had swelled to over four thousand men, and the resources seized from these groups had elevated Heifeng Stronghold to an unprecedented peak in its history.

Of course, the process hadn't been entirely smooth. Several "recruitment" efforts encountered resistance. One particularly thorny group was Sharifei, the second most powerful bandit faction in the Black Prince Desert. With over a thousand members, its leader was a well-known figure in the region. Why should he submit to Kawashima Tsumi?

No matter how much Mr. Kuang, the second-in-command, tried to persuade or threaten him, explaining the advantages of joining forces, Sharifei's leader refused to yield. Frustrated, he even flipped the negotiation table, sneering, "Who are you, a mere accountant, to lecture me? If Kawashima Tsumi himself wants to talk, let him come here."

This left Mr. Kuang red-faced and humiliated, forcing him to return to the stronghold to report the failure to his boss.

Upon hearing the news, Kawashima Tsumi was enraged and immediately prepared to mobilize his troops to crush Sharifei. However, the third-in-command, Azhao, stepped forward. "There's no need for the boss to act personally. I'll bring you his head," he declared confidently. With that, he led his three hundred elite ninja directly to Sharifei's camp.

Ten days later, Azhao returned to Heifeng Stronghold, tossing a bloodied head onto the main hall floor. Everyone recognized it as the head of Sharifei's leader.

"Second-in-command, all the troublemakers have been dealt with. Six hundred men remain, and their resources have been secured. You can take over directly. I'm exhausted and need some rest. If anyone else dares to act up, let me know."

Without waiting for a response, Azhao, still covered in blood, walked off to his quarters, leaving everyone in stunned silence.

When Mr. Kuang arrived at Sharifei's camp to take over, he found a small structure at the entrance—a miniature Jingguan (a mound made of severed heads), constructed from over four hundred skulls. The remaining six hundred bandits knelt in terror, trembling as they awaited their fate. The scene left the Heifeng Stronghold delegation speechless.

No one had expected Azhao, who was only in his early twenties, to be so ruthless. Over four hundred people—executed without hesitation.

From then on, Azhao earned the nickname "Jingguan Zhao."

This newfound reputation elevated Azhao's standing within Heifeng Stronghold, surpassing even that of Mr. Kuang. His fame spread beyond the stronghold, and many smaller bandit groups, fearing his wrath, voluntarily surrendered.

Kawashima Tsumi was naturally pleased with these developments. However, Mr. Kuang harbored resentment. "So what if he's good at killing? Does he understand strategy? Does he know how to assist a leader? Can he manage resources or plan logistics? Can he even read? He's just a brute, a wandering ninja! How dare he overshadow me?"

Thus, Mr. Kuang fell into the classic trap of the "jealous courtier"—sowing discord, undermining his rival, and withholding supplies.

As a seasoned administrator, Mr. Kuang excelled at such tactics, executing them with subtlety and precision.

When smaller bandit groups came to pledge allegiance, Kawashima Tsumi would typically meet them in person. Mr. Kuang, ever the sycophant, would casually remark, "This is all thanks to Azhao's reputation," planting seeds of doubt in Kawashima Tsumi's mind.

Azhao's three hundred elite ninja also began to notice changes. Their meat rations were the toughest and leanest, their wine the weakest and thinnest, and the women assigned to them the oldest and least attractive. This treatment left the men disgruntled. "We're the ones risking our lives on the front lines, and this is how we're rewarded?"

When they confronted Mr. Kuang about the issue, he dismissed their concerns with a smile. "Resource allocation is random; there's bound to be some disparity. Don't worry, I'll make it up to you next month." After pacifying them, he would turn around and report to Kawashima Tsumi, saying, "Managing logistics for the stronghold is no easy task. With so many men, it's impossible to satisfy everyone. Just look—Azhao's men are already complaining about their rations. They think they deserve special treatment."

Incidents like these occurred repeatedly, gradually souring Kawashima Tsumi's opinion of Azhao.

Azhao, of course, noticed the shift in attitude. According to desert bandit customs, the proper response would have been to confront Mr. Kuang directly—perhaps even beheading him, or at least giving him a severe beating.

But instead, Azhao chose a different path. He went directly to Kawashima Tsumi to request a mission.

"Boss, most of the factions in the Black Prince Desert have already submitted to Heifeng Stronghold. Only the northern group, 'Golden Whirlwind,' remains defiant. They even drove away our envoys. I request permission to lead a campaign against them and help you realize your dream of uniting the desert!"

Golden Whirlwind was a formidable bandit faction in the northern Black Prince Desert, boasting over eight hundred members. Their territory was close to the influence of Iwagakure.

Kawashima Tsumi, naturally, supported the proposal. He was well aware of the tension between his second and third-in-command but chose not to intervene. As a seasoned leader, he understood the value of balancing power among his subordinates. "A party without factions is a party without character," he thought. If his subordinates were too united, what role would he, the leader, play?

Azhao's martial prowess and Mr. Kuang's administrative skills were both indispensable to Heifeng Stronghold. By maintaining a delicate balance between them, Kawashima Tsumi could "govern with ease." Ideally, Azhao would expand their territory while Mr. Kuang managed the home front, allowing Kawashima Tsumi to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

"How many men do you need?" he asked.

"Just two hundred more ninja. With my three hundred, five hundred will suffice!" Azhao replied confidently.

"Good! That's the spirit, Azhao! Mr. Kuang, prepare the sandboats and provisions for Azhao. No cutting corners—I expect a triumphant return!" Kawashima Tsumi declared, slapping his thigh in approval.

The key phrase here was "no cutting corners," a subtle warning to Mr. Kuang that his tricks had not gone unnoticed.

Hearing this, Mr. Kuang dared not make any further moves. He dutifully prepared over two hundred sandboats and the necessary supplies for Azhao's expedition.

Once Azhao's forces set sail, Mr. Kuang unveiled his "masterstroke." He presented Kawashima Tsumi with a complete set of ceremonial attire fit for a daimyo, proposing a grand coronation ceremony for the leader.

"Hmph! No matter how many heads Azhao collects, can he compare to my contribution of crowning you as king? This is why brains will always triumph over brawn!" Mr. Kuang thought smugly.

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