Just as Marquis Dingyuan had expected, the rebel army's attacks became more and more fierce day by day.
The casualties of the Imperial Guards grew day by day. By the fifth day, more than half of the Imperial Guards were wounded.
Both sides showed signs of fatigue.
In the camp outside Kyoto.
Fang La ordered his men to roast the cattle and sheep collected from nearby areas over the fire as a reward for the troops' fierce attack on the city today.
"The people of Tongli County are running fast, otherwise, we would have more meat."
"I heard that you made a human meat grinder when you were in Yizhou?"
The man being questioned cut off a piece of lamb leg with a knife, tore off a piece of meat viciously with his teeth, and complained nonchalantly.
"You guys are so mean to give me that barren piece of shit in Yizhou. I really thought Yizhou was a wealthy place as you said. But in the end, there is nothing here!"
"Yizhou also has many wealthy people. Mrs. Tong, the wife of Grand Tutor, is from Yizhou."
The man chewed the mutton twice and swallowed it. He said unhappily, "Don't mention this bitch to me. It was because of her that she insisted on fleeing Yizhou, causing all the rich people to flee. Only the old, weak, women and children were left."
The man looked at Fang La and said, "My brothers all need to eat. What can I do? If I don't feed them, they will eat me! Anyway, those old, weak, women and children are all abandoned. It's better for them to enter our stomachs."
This conversation was directed to Fang La.
Ever since he learned that he had eaten people in Yizhou, Fang La had scolded him severely.
It's not that you can't eat people, but like this man, he made a huge millstone, tied up the old, the weak, women and children, and put them on the millstone, grinding their flesh and blood into meat paste like grinding wheat.
This is truly outrageous.
But the man was very strong, had been a bodyguard, had a group of loyal brothers, and fought desperately in battle.
Those who climbed up the city wall today were his soldiers.
Fang La was upset and simply took off his shirt: "Alright, Lao Chu, let's not talk about the past. If you are the first to capture the city gate, you will be the first to get the benefits!"
"Hahaha, the saint is straightforward!"
The rebel army is like this, with a complex composition, including ordinary people, farmers, handicraftsmen, bandits, and criminals.
The only thing that can bring them together is one word: money.
Want them to move forward, want money.
I want them to back off and ask for money.
They wanted them to risk their lives to attack the city, and it would cost a lot of money.
There is a lot of money in Kyoto, mountains of gold and silver, so much that they can not only sell their own lives, but also the lives of many, many people.
Fang La naturally knew the character of his men. The war had already entered a stalemate. If he didn't make a concerted effort to capture Kyoto, the chaotic army, lacking food and fodder, would kill themselves.
He simply ordered his personal guards to carry out dozens of boxes from the military tent, each of which was filled with gold, silver, pearls, jade, silks and satins.
These were the fruits of Fang La's battles along the way. Now that they were all presented to him, his heart ached so much that it bled.
Dozens of boxes of gold, silver and treasures were placed in the center of the camp, shining brightly in the firelight.
The breathing around them choked, and everyone's eyes flashed with wolf-like deep and greedy gaze.
Fang La became ruthless and ordered his personal guards to bring his concubines over.
His concubines were all slender and graceful, with fair skin, dressed in silk and satin, and with pretty facial features.
There were about forty or fifty people, all of whom were wealthy ladies abducted by Fang La.
At this moment, they looked around blankly. Under the wanton gazes, they lowered their heads and covered their chests with their hands.
Such a shy posture caused the soldiers around who had been silent for a long time to be unable to control their reactions on the spot.
Fang La gritted his teeth and secretly comforted himself that if the old does not go, the new will not come.
Today, we give away silk and satin, and after we capture Kyoto, we will gain countless priceless treasures in return.
Today, the beautiful concubines are given away in exchange for tender and fair-skinned ladies of noble status, who may even be princesses, queens, or imperial concubines.
Fang La took a deep breath and said loudly: "Brothers and sisters, elders and fellow villagers, we have come all the way here, to the foot of the imperial city, and there is no turning back. Since I, Fang La, decided to start an army, I have never planned to live in peace until old age!"
"In the past, I just wanted to work honestly and live a stable life with my parents and brothers. I would be satisfied if I could have a roof over my head, marry a wife, have a child, and the child could grow up safely and healthily."
"But the emperor is a bad man! All kinds of heavy taxes have made it hard for me to breathe. Even if I sell my children, it's not enough to pay the taxes. My parents were forced to death, my wife died of illness, and my poor child froze to death during the snowstorm."
"At that time, I thought, I was born in a humble family, I have never eaten dragon liver and phoenix gall, I have never worn splendid silk and satin, what is the meaning of living this life? Anyway, I will die, why don't I have a good meal before I die? Why don't I sleep with a beautiful woman? Why don't I seek revenge?"
"Everyone has seen the result of the uprising. What's so great about the emperor?! Isn't he just a pair of eyes, a nostril, and a mouth? Can he have three heads and six arms? When we were under the sword, didn't they beg for mercy from us like dogs?"
"Their women are nothing more than younger, whiter, and more pleasant to sleep with."
At this point, Fang La talked about the concubine closest to him, who was one of his most beloved concubines.
Meeting her pitiful look, Fang La tore her clothes off in front of everyone, revealing her fair skin.
The woman screamed, lowered her head, and tried to protect her chest with her hands, but Fang La grabbed her hair and forced her to raise her head, revealing her pitiful face.
"I, Fang La, have said that we should share happiness and difficulties. Even if I don't tell you how much gold, silver, treasures, and beauties there are in Kyoto, you all know it! I'll leave it at that. As long as we capture Kyoto, everyone will have a share of everything in Kyoto!"
Perhaps it was the stimulation of the beauty or Fang La’s promise, but the soldiers’ lips were trembling and even their nostrils were twitching violently.
Fang La pushed the captured concubine into Lao Chu's arms and said sternly, "Lao Chu contributed the most to the siege today. Lao Chu, the woman and the box of gold and silver treasures are yours!"
Old Chu was stunned. He didn't expect Fang La to be so willing to spend so much money.
The woman in his arms was delicate and trembling.
Lao Chu swallowed his saliva, and under the fiery gazes of his brothers and men, he picked up the woman and said loudly: "Thank you, Saint! Brothers, I, Lao Chu, am not a stingy person. Let's share the woman and treasure together!"
After that, a group of soldiers pounced on the women like hungry wolves. Another group of people almost fought for gold and silver treasures.
It was a mess, but it made the other tribesmen scream! (End of this chapter)
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