Because the Black Wind Stronghold brothers were also guarding the mountainside, Song Zhi was unable to attack for a while.

He wasn't in a hurry to attack.

This time he brought two thousand soldiers, while Xie Xiao took the vast majority of his men to Beishan, where the defenses were weak, and General Mountain would soon be his.

At this moment, Song Zhijing was standing at the bow of the boat.

His back was still very straight, and his expression was stern.

"Gentlemen, I, Song, am late! It's not that the government is ignoring you, but rather that they are blocked by some bandits and cannot come here. They have deceived you into joining Black Wind Stronghold and fighting against the government with them. That is rebellion, do you understand?"

The refugees all looked at each other.

Unexpectedly, the government officials arrived at this moment.

On one side is the government.

On one side are mountain bandits.

Joining forces with bandits is to oppose the government, it is to rebel.

Rebellion is a heinous crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family.

Some people seem to have wavered.

Song Zhijing sneered. These fools from Black Wind Stronghold did so much just to help him support the common people. A thief is a thief, and an official is an official. Black can never be white!

Aren't the people his?

"As long as you lend me a hand and wipe out Black Wind Stronghold, I will forgive and forget what happened."

Damn! This man is trying to steal the fruits of the Black Wind Stronghold revolution! Li Ruo felt that this man's despicable and shameless behavior had once again refreshed her understanding of the world.

"This is utterly a distortion of the truth!" A loud female voice rang out from the crowd.

Li Ruo came out.

Song Zhijing's pupils dilated in shock. "Li Ruo! You really didn't die!"

Despite the devastating natural disaster, she still looked so radiant! Her calm and confident demeanor was completely unlike her usual self.

No, perhaps he had seen Li Ruo like this before.

Perhaps it was a few years ago, when she was full of vigor, riding on horseback, turning her head brightly, revealing two snow-white front teeth, her face as radiant as the morning sun, "Song Da, do you dare to have a contest with me?"

Because he was the eldest son of the Song family, she called him Song Da at that time.

Perhaps he did like her, but later she became too clingy, like a lovesick fool, which annoyed him.

Now, he only feels hatred towards her.

He hated her for deceiving him and for colluding with his nemesis, Xie Xiao.

Song Zhijing stared at her with a sinister gaze, as if he wished he could tear her to pieces.

The woman remained calm and said, "You, surnamed Song, still have the nerve to come here? When the flood came, you were the first to run away, completely disregarding the lives of the people!"

Li Ruo looked at him. She hadn't seen him for a month. His eyes were sunken and he looked very haggard, which showed that he hadn't been doing well.

She was happy.

He spoke with a particularly strong voice, “Listen up, everyone. Prefect Song is an ungrateful, selfish, greedy, and incompetent man. He has already fooled you so many times before. Now that he says he’s here to help with disaster relief, the most practical thing to do is to ask him to bring out some grain.”

In the face of natural disasters, everything else is meaningless; self-interest is the most practical thing.

Li Ruo knew he couldn't produce it.

Don't say he doesn't have it; even if he did, he wouldn't take it.

"Yes, if you want to help us, you should first give us some food."

"Otherwise, it's all just empty talk."

Song Zhijing's face darkened. "We originally had grain, but it was stolen by Black Wind Stronghold. Once we wipe out Black Wind Stronghold, I will distribute all the grain to you."

Li Ruo's expression was cold. "Everyone, that means no. He just wants to use you to wipe out Black Wind Stronghold. When he's done with you, what will happen to you? Don't forget, you've already joined Black Wind Stronghold. Even if he lets you go for now, he will definitely settle accounts later."

"Yes, you can't trust ungrateful people."

"We've long been in cahoots with Black Wind Stronghold."

"Chief Xie and Miss Li are our benefactors. Without them, we would have died long ago!" a loud voice suddenly said.

"There's no way the government can provide relief."

"He actually wants to sit back and enjoy the fruits of others' labor?"

"We cannot be as ungrateful as this corrupt official!"

"Yes, yes, what kind of good person would be willing to kill even their own wife for the sake of their future!"

Because Li Ruo had publicly exposed Song Zhijing's disgraceful act of murdering his wife last time, Song Zhijing's reputation had already plummeted, so this time everyone was not easily fooled.

The fourth leader led his men in a line at the front, shouting, "Haha, you want to wipe out our Black Wind Stronghold? Come on!"

Sun Ergou and others shouted loudly: "Down with corrupt officials! Are kings and nobles born with special privileges?"

"Down with corrupt officials! Are kings and generals born with special privileges?"

The calls are growing louder!

Song Zhijing's face grew increasingly dark.

"Li Ruo, as the daughter of a general, you actually led a rebellion! How can you face General Li? Aren't you afraid of having your entire family executed?!"

"I'll kill your ancestors for eighteen generations!" Li Ruo shouted. "Everyone, arrest Song Zhijing, and I, Li Ruo, will reward each of you with a bushel of rice!"

"A peck of rice!"

"My God, it's a bushel of rice!"

The common people didn't know if Song Zhijing had any grain, but Black Wind Village and Purple Sun Peak did.

A generous reward will surely attract brave men!

"Let's go, everyone!"

Not to mention the refugees who joined Black Wind Stronghold and Purple Sun Peak, even those who didn't join rushed over.

Song Zhijing probably never dreamed that one day he would be defeated by a mere peck of rice.

Seeing everyone's enthusiasm, Li Ruo was in a great mood. She had been chatting with Song Zhijing for so long, waiting for this moment.

Let him, the prefect, be defeated by his own people.

Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it!

"Old Wang is launching a rocket! It's time to lend a helping hand to the people!"

However, Song Zhijing was clearly prepared this time, bringing soil, more people, and shields, so the fire attack was less effective.

Strange, how can he still have so many people, almost two thousand? Who is feeding him?

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!