Li Che's lips curled into a cruel smile, his gaze sweeping over the numb, fearful, or hopeful faces below.
"What does your life or death have to do with this Prince?"
He asked directly, without a shred of false pity.
The criminals stirred, some even began to curse under their breath, while more looked at each other, not understanding what Li Che was planning.
Li Che surveyed his surroundings, his gaze as sharp as an eagle's: "Every single one of you here is guilty of a capital crime! What awaits you is only endless labor and torment."
The criminals fell silent.
Yes, what kind of people were they?
They were criminals, prisoners, forgotten trash!
What awaited them was only endless darkness and despair.
"But," Li Che's voice suddenly rose, like a thunderclap exploding in everyone's ears, "this Prince can give you a chance!"
He violently waved the imperial decree in his hand, pointing north: "A chance to die in battle as a Great Qing soldier!"
The criminals were stunned; they didn't understand Li Che's meaning.
Li Che's lips curved into a cruel arc:
"Follow this Prince Outside the Pass, where there are countless barbarians! You will die in battle against the barbarians, under cold blades, and in the icy, snowy wilderness Outside the Pass!"
"Of course, you can also choose to stay here, continuing to live a life worse than pigs and dogs, barely surviving, humble and without dignity!"
Li Che paused, his gaze fixed intently on the criminals below, enunciating each word:
"Make your decision: to barely survive as criminals... or to die on the frontier with this Prince, as Great Qing soldiers!"
Silence, a deathly silence.
Li Che's voice was like a devil's whisper, tempting these desperate souls.
Yes, if they stayed here, they would just be struggling ants, living humbly and without dignity.
But if they followed this Ninggu Prince, even if they died, at least they could die gloriously, die a worthy death!
Rather than being cooped up like livestock and eventually dying silently, it was better to take a gamble!
"I... I'll go with you!" A faint voice broke the silence.
Li Che looked down; it was a thin, pale young man who spoke.
The young man raised his head, looking at Li Che with determined eyes: "Your Highness, I don't want to rot in this hellhole, take me Outside the Pass!"
The young man's words were like a fire, igniting the long-suppressed courage in the criminals' hearts.
"I'll go too!"
"I've lived enough already, count me in!"
"Damn it, eighteen years from now, I'll be a good man again!"
A guard, infected by the atmosphere, became hot-blooded: "Damn it, I want to go to the Northeast too!"
The old soldier next to him smacked him on the head: "Are you stupid? You're not a criminal, don't rush to your death!"
More and more criminals stood up, clenching their fists, their eyes gleaming with resolve.
Li Che watched this scene with satisfaction; he knew that the wildness in these people's hearts had been awakened, their souls no longer filled with numbness.
This army would become the sharpest blade in his hand, clearing all obstacles for him!
Of course, among the thousands of criminals present, not everyone had the courage to fight to the death.
Most people had been worn down, completely losing the courage and spirit to fight.
Li Che had no interest in extending a helping hand to such self-abandoned individuals.
Li Che slowly stepped onto the high platform's steps, walking down towards the criminals below.
The guards beside him immediately advised against it: "Your Highness, do not approach them, it's dangerous."
Criminals were criminals after all, and could not be viewed with normal thinking; who knew if someone might suddenly lash out.
If a Prince were to accidentally die here, these guards would also be buried with him.
Li Che waved his hand: "It's fine."
If he wanted to control a pack of wolves, how could he not have the courage to enter the wolf pack alone?!
Seeing that the noble Sixth Prince was actually walking towards them, the many criminals were instantly excited, their bodies burning.
Li Che endured the unpleasant smell from the criminals and walked into the crowd.
A burly man, watching Li Che approach, suddenly knelt down with a thud.
"Criminal Wang Hu, willing to die for Your Highness!"
Wang Hu's voice was loud and firm, like a heavy hammer, shattering the hesitation and fear in everyone's hearts.
Immediately after, one criminal after another dropped their tools and knelt before Li Che.
"Criminal He Conglong, willing to die for Your Highness!"
"Criminal Wang Sanchun, willing to die for Your Highness!"
"Commoner..."
Every step Li Che took, a large group of people knelt down, like cutting leeks; in no time, the ground was filled with kneeling figures.
Li Che expressionlessly accepted the prostrations of the many criminals, stopping only when he reached the very center.
"Those who are literate, stand up!"
After a sparse rustling sound, seven or eight criminals stood up.
Among them was the thin young man who was the first to pledge allegiance to Li Che.
"Not bad."
Given the backward education system in ancient times, Li Che was already very satisfied that there were seven or eight literate people here.
"You few will be responsible for registering everyone and enrolling them into my Ninggu Army."
"Yes." The few immediately accepted the order.
"Listen carefully, there are two types of criminals that this Prince will not accept." Li Che's eyes suddenly sharpened.
Everyone's hearts tightened abruptly.
"The first kind, rapists who enjoy defiling women, this Prince will not accept!"
"The second kind, child traffickers who make a living selling children, this Prince will not accept!"
There had to be a limit to scum; beasts who committed these two crimes were not worthy of being human. This was a matter of principle, and Li Che would never back down.
Upon hearing Li Che's words, a portion of the criminals in the crowd were instantly struck by lightning, their hearts turning to ashes.
"Your Highness." A fierce-looking man stood up defiantly, "We are all guilty of capital crimes, why won't you accept us?"
Li Che's icy gaze swept over him, and the man immediately felt a chill run through his body.
But to escape from here, he bit the bullet and forced himself to meet Li Che's gaze.
Li Che smiled grimly: "What crime did you commit to get in here?"
"I raped and killed eight pregnant women; that was truly flavorful," the man licked his lips, as if still unsatisfied. "If the government hadn't called in the garrison, with my skills, mere constables couldn't have caught me."
"With such ability, why can't I make a living under Your Highness?"
Li Che did not reply, only gently gripped the sword at his waist.
Swish—
A silver flash appeared, and the sound of a blade cutting through flesh rang out.
The man's triumphant expression was still on his face, but a clear line of blood gradually appeared on his neck.
Although the original body was weak, he had mastered the six arts of a gentleman and possessed good swordsmanship.
Sheathing his sword, Li Che looked at the man, who was clutching his neck but couldn't stop the blood from gushing out, as if he were looking at trash:
"This Prince's command can tolerate criminals who are utterly evil, but cannot tolerate scum like you, who are worse than beasts!"
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