Chapter 304: Pulling In the Net
Editor: Atlas Studios
The Celestial Master said that tomorrow was an auspicious day, so Tang Jing decided to go and destroy the granary in Nanjiang tomorrow. It was a small granary, so they didn’t have to mobilize all of them this time. In the past, in order to prevent Tang Jing from abandoning the old, weak, sick, and disabled in the city, Yuan Hui would definitely suggest that everyone come along. However this time, he didn’t mention it.
When Tang Jing looked at him in confusion, Yuan Hui said with a smile, “Since Nanjiang isn’t far from here, we can go back and forth in a day. Even if you want to abandon them, you won’t have enough time.”
Tang Jing’s expression was a little ugly. He reached out to hold his neck and asked sinisterly, “Can’t you turn off your mind-reading ability? Didn’t anyone warn you that you would die because of this one day?”
Yuan Hui shook his head. “My master said that I’ll die because of my mouth in the end.”
Tang Jing’s face twisted and he gritted his teeth. “What’s the difference? Sometimes, I really want to pull out your tongue.”
Sighing, Yuan Hui said, “I also want you to pull it out, but I know you can’t bear to. Therefore, I can only continue to suffer in this world.”
Yuan Hui had known since he was young that he was different from others. Ever since he was picked up by his master, the senior brothers in the temple adored him very much. However, ever since he started learning how to speak, the senior brothers gradually disliked him. He knew that it was all because of this mouth, but he could not control it.
He had to answer whatever others asked. He couldn’t not say it, nor could he lie. This feeling was really painful.
Therefore, he could only leave the temple that had raised him for nearly 20 years. However, when he came out, his situation was even worse. He really hoped that someone would pull out his tongue. After that, he should be able to live a stable life.
However, no one was willing to do it because they needed his mouth. Of course, he could not do it himself because he was terrified of pain.
Yuan Hui glanced at Tang Jing pitifully. Fortunately, Tang Jing didn’t know him well enough. If it were his senior and junior brothers, they would definitely ask if they would encounter any calamity on their way and if they could survive it.
If Tang Jing asked him this question, he felt that his mouth would definitely tell him that he would be attacked on the way and that he might not be able to break out…
Of course, since Tang Jing didn’t ask, he didn’t tell him. Hence, Qi Haoran’s troops successfully surrounded the 8,000 people who had just walked out of the mountain.
This time, Assistant Commander Lu and Mu Shi led the troops together. 15,000 people coldly aimed their sabers and guns at the 8,000 people they were surrounding in the middle.
Tang Jing’s face was pale. They only had hoes and wooden sticks, but he wasn’t willing to give up just like that, so he shouted, “Brothers, let’s rush out!”
The 8,000 people began to clamor, and the situation suddenly changed. Everyone nervously gripped the weapons in their hands as a Buddhist proclamation suddenly sounded.
“Amitabha!”
It was just a soft sound, but everyone couldn’t help but feel relieved. Tang Jing looked at Yuan Hui hatefully. He knew Yuan Hui’s ability. If they were to encounter such a huge calamity, how could he not have anticipated it?
Yuan Hui took a step forward, turned around, and said to the 8,000 young men, “This is where everyone belongs.”
One of the younger ones immediately cried and shouted helplessly, “Celestial Master, I don’t want to die! I don’t want to die…”
Many people’s eyes turned red.
Yuan Hui smiled and looked at them lovingly. He said gently, “Who said that you would die? Silly children, I’m saying that your place is in the army, not to constantly hide from the officials and live a life where you can’t see the light of day!”
Everyone was obviously stunned.
Assistant Commander Lu took the opportunity to get the soldiers to shout, “Those who put down your weapons will not be killed!”
“Yuan Hui!” Tang Jing roared. “You betrayed me!”
Yuan Hui shook his head and said sympathetically, “How can I betray you when I’ve never been loyal to you? My original intention was just to hope that these innocent people can survive. Now that the Imperial Court’s army has already found them, if you lead them to fight for their lives without weapons or rations, how long do you think they can live? General Qi has already promised us that as long as they don’t resist, they won’t be killed. Those who are willing to join the army can even follow him. At least they won’t starve or freeze in the future. Those who aren’t willing to join the army can just take the travel compensation and return to their hometown.”
“Tang Jing, a general’s success is worth tens of thousands of lives, while the position of the ruler is exchanged using the lives of countless people.”
Tang Jing glared at him. “Now that the Emperor of Great Zhou is sitting on his throne, aren’t we suffering? Look outside and see how many people have starved to death on the way. What is the Emperor of Great Zhou doing? He’s embracing beauties in the Palace of Spring Mountain! What right has he?”
Yuan Hui shook his head and sighed. “Although you have lofty ideals, you don’t have any aspirations. You’re also too narrow-minded. You’re not even as good as the Emperor of Great Zhou when it comes to politics.”
Perhaps this was the truth, but to say such things to a narrow-minded person was undoubtedly courting death. Hence, Tang Jing roared angrily as he stabbed Yuan Hui’s heart.
Qi Haoran snatched a wooden stick from someone beside him and blocked his sword. In an instant, he started fighting Tang Jing.
Although Tang Jing was a strong adult who had fought many times, in terms of sparring skills, he really couldn’t compare to Qi Haoran, who sparred every day. Hence, in just 12 moves, Qi Haoran managed to strike his arm with a stick. The sword in his hand fell and the stick hit his leg, causing him to involuntarily kneel down.
Assistant Commander Lu immediately got someone to go forward and tie him up. At the same time, he gagged him.
Now that the leader had been seized, the remaining people were persuaded by the Celestial Master to submit. Everyone threw away the weapons in their hands.
Qi Haoran got someone to tally the numbers while bringing his men to bring out the remaining people in the city.
At this moment, Qi Haoran finally realized how sharp-tongued Yuan Hui was. Initially, they were worried that these 40,000 people would mutiny. After all, there were only 15,000 of them here. Although these 40,000 people were imprisoned separately, there were nearly 10,000 people in a group.
However, the Celestial Master only said a few words on the stage, and the people below sobbed and expressed that they would cherish their lives and definitely not go against the Imperial Court’s army.
According to the statistics, 23,000 people wanted to leave, including more than 2,000 young and strong men. Most of them brought their families with them and were about to leave after taking the food distributed.
Of course, Qi Haoran would not let 23,000 people go at once. What if they gathered together halfway?
Therefore, he would only release some people every once in a while. In addition, the remaining people had to be incorporated. Hence, some time was wasted here.
As for Yuan Hui, Qi Haoran had already asked Mu Shi to escort him back to Tongchuan Prefecture and ask him to persuade the 1,800 prisoners to surrender.
Assistant Commander Lu looked at the group of old and weak people and frowned. He persuaded Qi Haoran earnestly, “Little General, never mind those young and strong men. But why did you also take in the old, weak, women, and children? Our army can’t afford to raise so many people.”
Although their West Camp’s corn harvest this year was considered good, there were also many soldiers. Considering these old, weak, women, and children could not go to the battlefield, wouldn’t the grains be wasted on them?