Chapter 47 The Imperial Tutor Awakens: Caught Between Protecting the Emperor and Sacrificing Himself...
There are about a dozen villages around Los Angeles County. The banditry affected not only Los Angeles County, but also several villages in other counties.
The task of Zhuzhao, Magistrate Gao, and others was to persuade the few remaining farmers to go out and engage in farming as soon as possible.
The spring rain was still falling, and the environment in these villages was terrible. The village roads were muddy, and the experience of wading through the swamp was likely to be repeated, but Yingxi still insisted on following.
Magistrate Gao, being quite shrewd, deduced from Zhuzhao's attitude towards Yingxi that this attendant was not to be underestimated, and thus prepared thoughtful rain gear.
The carriage first arrived at Changzhuang Village, with a total of six or seven constables. They couldn't bring more people; even if the soldiers stayed outside the village, they would be spotted by the villagers on lookout duty. The local villagers were already on edge.
Before entering the village, you must first communicate with the village head.
The village head, with his white hair, large face, and somewhat auspicious appearance, leaned on a bamboo cane to welcome people into the village.
The village head's residence had a front yard and a back house. The yard itself was a dilapidated little courtyard. There were no flowers planted in the yard, but a few lush vegetables were growing there, with vines climbing on the trellis, but it was impossible to tell what was growing there.
Upon entering the house, the village head's granddaughter served tea, but it was just a few bowls of broken tea leaves, not as good as plain water, so Yingxi didn't touch it.
"Gentlemen... Your Excellencies, Magistrate." Unlike ordinary villagers, the village head held a certain reverence for the imperial court.
When he heard that Zhu Zhao and his entourage were the envoys who had pacified bandits along the southern route of Xiaoshan Mountain, the old villager, holding his shiny bamboo cane, burst into tears.
"To be honest... to be honest, messenger," the old man said, "my grandson has been kidnapped and taken to the mountains to become a bandit. My eldest son was still in contact with us not long ago, but now he's nowhere to be found, neither alive nor dead. The family has been able to survive until now only thanks to my old bones."
The old man coughed after speaking, and his granddaughter quickly patted him.
After calming down a bit, the old man asked Zhu Zhao, "Some went up the mountain to join the bandits voluntarily, while others were kidnapped and forced into banditry?"
The old man nodded, then sighed: "This is the bandit leader of Luoshan Mountain. The more people there are on the mountain, the more difficult it is to wipe out the bandit stronghold. If you don't know how to rob, go farm and feed the horses. If you want to leave the stronghold, either give us enough money or we'll kill you."
Ironically, the few fields in Los Angeles County that were planted on time were cultivated by bandits.
Before the old man finished speaking, an old man dressed in coarse gray clothes came in. He had no rain gear and was soaking wet. Before entering the main house of the village, he scraped the mud off his feet on the threshold.
Following the old man came an old woman, then a young man, a middle-aged man, and a woman holding a child…
In an instant, the main room of the village became lively. The cries of children, the chatter of villagers, and the sound of rain outside intertwined, creating a scene that Ying Xi had never seen before.
He was very good at guessing, and he thought: This must be a message from the village head, and each family sent their head to attend a meeting.
Ying Xi turned her gaze to the representatives and analyzed the situation, discovering that Changzhuang Village was suffering from a severe loss of able-bodied men.
The main room is gradually becoming too crowded:
"Are you here to discuss fighting bandits?"
"A mission to offer amnesty? Are we just going to get bandits to work for us? The government learned that the lesson last time. Do you think it will work?"
"The government also fights bandits. Some strongholds are wiped out in a few hours, burned to the ground without a trace of life left, and the bandits' blood is up to the top of our shoes..."
Upon hearing this, the woman holding the child immediately collapsed to the ground, and the crowded main room was filled with a thud as the child's cries grew louder.
"Gentlemen of the government, Shuangzhu wasn't a thief. He was forced up the mountain by bandits. He refused, so the bandits beat my father, saying, 'You must take one of you, father or son.' My father was old, so Shuangzhu went up. Our child was only two years old—"
The woman cried out in heart-wrenching sobs, fearing that if she spoke too softly, the government would order the annihilation of Luoshan Mountain stronghold.
Her demands are not unique to any one family.
She expressed her feelings, and the old lady cried out, "Da Bao, Er Bao, San Jinzi, the bandits killed my two grandsons and took the last one away. My daughter-in-law is so heartbroken over the child that she keeps him tied up every day, afraid he might commit suicide. Please, officials, my family cannot be completely wiped out!"
Everyone was talking at once, each saying their own thing in the main room.
Anyone who heard this would feel overwhelmed; compared to Qingniu Village, the bandits of Luoshan were even more cunning and treacherous.
"Silence! Silence!"
The old villager pounded the ground with his bamboo cane, making several muffled clanging sounds. The main room fell silent for a moment, and everyone looked at the envoy offering amnesty.
The fastest way to achieve this is to completely wipe out the bandits, but it will inevitably lose the support of the people.
Perhaps losing some popular support wouldn't shake the overall situation of Qin, but Zhuzhao was ultimately compassionate. He secretly glanced at the emperor, and Ying Xi gave his answer without difficulty. He nodded.
A nod means agreement.
Zhu Zhao reassured the people and said gently, "Even you villagers know to adapt to local conditions and the times when planting crops, so the court will certainly not apply the same principles when governing the country."
"Sweeping through Qingniu Village was an act of utter depravity by the local bandits. The situation in Luoshan is complex, and we will naturally find a way to resolve it," Zhuzhao said.
"Is there any way???" the villagers suddenly asked excitedly, their eyes lighting up.
The candlelight remained silent for a moment.
The simplest solution now is to wipe out all the bandits. How could he possibly come up with a solution so quickly?
Zhu Zhao withdrew his gaze, and the villagers' eyes also dimmed. A pang of sorrow swept through Zhu Zhao's heart.
Ying Xi said from the side, "Please rest assured, everyone. The master will definitely be able to suppress the bandits and reunite your families."
Amidst the sound of rain, only Ying Xi's voice remained firm. Being able to answer the people's questions on behalf of Zhu Zhao was equivalent to being the emperor himself, and she had already come up with some plans to suppress the bandits.
The people were filled with longing, and when someone offered them reassurance, they naturally cheered, as if they were all dreaming the same dream and wishing it could last longer.
Led by the village head of Changzhuang Village, representatives from each household saw off the imperial envoy. The villagers escorted the envoy to the village entrance and onto his carriage, watching him depart in the light spring rain until his figure gradually disappeared into the mist.
The carriage headed towards another village. The next stop was a neighboring village, Changzhuang.
Inside the carriage, the sound of the wheels was particularly clear. The driver, a government official, couldn't hear it.
Ying Xi whispered, "Sir, they have rekindled their hope for the imperial court."
"..." Zhu Zhao was slightly dazed. As Ying Xi approached, he noticed the imperial fragrance emanating from him wafting near his ear. It was as cool and refreshing as snow wrapped around winter plum blossoms.
It wasn't just the people of Changzhuang Village who had hope for the imperial court.
Recently, I've been living with Ying Xi, and Ying Xi is like showing me the different facets of a gemstone.
The children who used to surround me, begging to hear stories, the children who used to share their little secrets with me, have all grown up.
He was a responsible and decisive ruler, and also the Qin king who stood alone and turned the tide.
Zhu Zhao's throat tightened, and he forced a calm voice to ask, "Can Your Majesty break this predicament?"
Ying Xi replied, "It's just a prototype." The emperor was also pondering this.
Zhu Zhao shook his head slightly. Under the command of a bandit leader with thousands of soldiers and countless hostages, rescuing the hostages safely was simply impossible.
Even if the Longwu Army went up the mountain, the bandits pulled out two rows of good people and threatened to kill them if they dared to send troops. The Longwu Army had to be hesitant to act!
His thoughts were in turmoil. Zhu Zhao sighed, changed the subject, and asked softly, "I didn't hear you cough last night. Did the licorice tablets help?"
“It works.” Ying Xi nodded.
He didn't cough because it rained last night, and the county government office was full of soldiers, so even if the gentleman went out, he wouldn't have a chance to be alone.
How could Zhu Zhao know that his good student had a bad heart?
Seeing Ying Xi nod, a few strands of soft, brown hair slipped down from her ears.
Zhu Zhao was shaken and didn't dare to reach out and touch Ying Xi's head like he did when they were children; now it was the most noble dragon head.
Zhu Zhao sighed even more, “Your Majesty can forgive people for their mistakes, and even bandits can be recruited. Your Majesty’s magnanimity is rare in the world.”
There have been too many people praising the policy of appeasement lately.
But Ying Xi's starting point was simply to have more people serve the court. Without asking about their background, he answered casually, "For the long-term benefit of the world."
He spoke so naturally. The emperor, who always kept the country in his heart, was his favorite disciple. This made Zhuzhao Neng's heart pound with excitement.
Zhu Zhao felt intense pride, but remained silent for a long time before finally speaking with difficulty, his voice hoarse.
"if……"
Yingxi turned her gaze to Zhuzhao: "What's wrong, sir?"
Zhu Zhao opened his mouth, then closed it again, and then opened it again: "If... even the teacher has made mistakes, can Your Majesty forgive the teacher?"
Ying Xi secretly gasped, feeling astonished.
The gentleman may have been laying the groundwork, implying that he was unaware of the situation, but Ying Xi was indeed someone who knew the truth.
He knew perfectly well that Zhuzhao had betrayed the Qin Dynasty. Zhuzhao was well-versed in the law and should have known that even if he confessed to treason, the punishment would be extremely severe. Beheading, dismemberment, and slow slicing—Zhuzhao could not escape death.
Has Zhuzhao gone mad?!
Yingxi once guessed that the end result of Zhuzhao's treason would be that Zhuzhao would be forced to leave Qin in fear and unease, and his misdeeds would be exposed to the world, forever bearing the infamy.
But in reality, Ying Xi was unaware of the traitor's identity, which was a heavy burden on Zhu Zhao's heart. He was tormented by moral dilemmas and repeatedly tortured!
The students' abilities dispelled the teachers' confusion about the fate of the nation.
Zhu Zhao no longer wanted to be that traitor lurking in the shadows.
He knew in his heart that once he said this, the intelligent and perceptive Ying Xi would be suspicious. But when he decided to confess in private, Zhu Zhao's soul seemed to find relief.
He has already betrayed Ying Xi, he cannot make the same mistake again, and he cannot continue to sink into depravity!
Even if he is punished by the laws of Qin, it is his own fault. Completing the court's mission of granting him amnesty is Zhuzhao's final act of atonement.
Zhu Zhao said in a hoarse voice, "Your Majesty, this sinful subject once colluded with the leader of the Jiangnan bandits..."
"Whoa—"
On the village road, the carriage suddenly stopped, and Yingxi and Zhuzhao were thrown out of the carriage by inertia. Zhuzhao stretched out his arm and quickly helped Yingxi to her feet.
Large raindrops pelted against the car floor.
Footsteps, horses' hooves, shouts—in an instant, a chaotic cacophony of sounds erupted!
The bailiff flung open the carriage door: "The envoy for amnesty! Mountain bandits! Mountain bandits from Luoshan..."
The word "bandit" was still in his mouth when an arrow pierced his throat, and blood gushed out instantly.
The bandits approached from afar, each wearing a straw hat and a raincoat.
The young man at the head of the group had a baby face, a smiling face, and one eye. He wasn't tall, but he was incredibly strong. Through his raincoat, you could see a silver necklace around his neck, the tassels jingling softly.
Dong Gu dismounted, kicked over two yamen runners, gripped his whip, and knocked on the carriage door, saying, "Magistrate Gao, why aren't you playing the subservient role in your little county town? You've finally decided to get married?"
Rainwater streamed down the roof of the car.
Dong Gu squinted.
Magistrate Gao slammed the carriage door shut: "Dong, Dong, Dong, Chief Dong, please, please, please, I'll keep playing the fool, please don't kill me!"
Dong Gu, the bandit leader of Luoshan!
Who would have thought that while visiting various villages to persuade farmers to start farming, they would be caught in the act of Dong Gu coming down the mountain to plunder?
Who would have thought that Dong Gu, barely twenty years old and even possessing a youthful and handsome appearance, was actually a bandit leader who wreaked havoc on several counties and brought unrest to the surrounding area!
Dong Gu stepped onto the cart floor with one foot and chuckled, "Hehe, I thought that with everyone staying home on a rainy day, I could definitely pull off some big heists. Magistrate Gao, you gave me some official clothes last time, what will you leave me this time?"
"Send it to me...anything is fine, whatever the chieftain wants is fine!"
"I'll have someone deliver it to you right away!"
Kochi Prefecture's voice trembled uncontrollably.
Dong Gu's smile suddenly turned to gratitude as he said heartily, "That's good, very good. Ever since I became an outlaw, I've been like a rat crossing the street, having to rob people for food and drink. Before, I had a thousand or so brothers under the rebel army, someone to pay my rations, and I had a cook battalion. I've never been this destitute."
This was once a minor leader in the Green Ox Army, Ying Xi thought.
Magistrate Gao was flexible and adaptable. Seeing that the bribe was effective, he calmed down a bit, opened the car door, stuck his head out, and wanted to bargain with Dong Gu.
"Chief, how much should we gather this time...? That's suitable—"
Blood dripped down the corner of his mouth!
From the carriage came Gao Mingyang's desperate scream that pierced the rain.
He was warmly embraced by Dong Gu, who then pierced him with a knife. Dong Gu's single eye curved into a crescent moon as he twisted the hilt of his knife and pulled at the corner of his mouth. The magistrate's screams were too painful to hear.
Dong Gu forced out the words through gritted teeth, his tone harsh:
"The imperial court sent people, and you entertained them. I know that. You can't beat me, so you bring in helpers; you're no good."
Blood gushed from the corner of Gao Zhixian's mouth as Dong Gulian stabbed him dozens of times. The sharp stabs as the blades pierced flesh were horrifying.
After killing Gao Mingyang, Dong Gu looked at another carriage, smiled, and said, word by word, "Ambassador to surrender?"
"The imperial court will not let me go, and I do not want to surrender to the government. How can a fugitive like me be recruited?"
Capricious, cruel, and bloodthirsty.
Dong Gu can be called the most difficult bandit to deal with along the way of the amnesty!
The candlelight illuminated his brow, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. At this critical moment of life and death, he suppressed his fear and disgust at the sight of blood, his Adam's apple bobbing.
Ying Xi pulled Zhu Zhao from behind. His palms were sweaty, his fingertips touching Zhu Zhao's wrist. He intended to take the Imperial Tutor back to the stronghold.
Zhu Zhao's arm trembled slightly as he gripped Ying Xi's hand tightly. He had almost revealed the whole truth, yet Ying Xi still trusted him!
A surge of hot blood welled up in Zhu Zhao's heart, almost bursting out of his chest, just like when he first met Ying Xi in Fanglan Palace ten years ago, holding her hand.
The first lesson taught was:
"I will not be ashamed of my shadow when I walk, nor of my quilt when I sleep, nor of heaven and earth when I look up from my head."
Feeling that he was holding onto the last hope of the Qin Dynasty, Zhuzhao ultimately chose the latter without hesitation, between protecting the emperor and sacrificing himself.
If fate decrees that I, your teacher, must atone for my sins with my death...
Zhu Zhao stepped forward, meeting Dong Gu's gaze with a clear and bright expression: "Thieves who do not submit to the king's rule should be punished for treason. Of course, you can kill me now and have my attendants take the token to report back. General Xie will surely flatten Luoshan. It all depends on whether you dare to do it."
Dong Gu grabbed Zhuzhao by the collar: "How dare you!"
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