"Alright, enough with the fussing of a grown man!" Xuan Yuanzhan lifted Bai Ying up from the ground. "You can go now. I'll have someone release the people from Liuying Village in a bit, so they can leave the North with you."
White Eagle frowned, seemingly reluctant to leave.
Seeing him standing still, Xuan Yuanzhan asked curiously, "Is there something else?"
Bai Ying bowed: "Bai Ying would like to ask Your Highness, what are your plans for dealing with Zhang Debiao and the others?"
Xuanyuan Zhan raised an eyebrow: "Do you have any good suggestions?"
Bai Ying glanced cautiously at Xuan Yuanzhan, and seeing that he was not angry or furious, he said, "Actually, no matter which village the brothers are from, they have no choice but to become outlaws. The drought and famine in the north are all for the sake of food. As for what is immoral or heinous, none of us have done anything. If possible, please, Your Highness, spare their lives."
Xuanyuan Zhan chuckled: "You still have the leisure to meddle in other people's business."
Bai Ying said nervously, "Bai Ying knows that His Highness is kind-hearted and will surely give them a way out."
This isn't flattery; he genuinely felt that way.
After all, if the prince wanted to kill them, he could have done so long ago. He could have beheaded them along with Chen Chuan, since they were bandit leaders. Killing them would have appeased the hearts of the people in the north.
But the prince didn't do that. Does that mean the prince also wanted to give them a way out?
Xuan Yuanzhan never expected that the people who were previously at odds with each other could now appreciate each other's friendship. This could be considered a testament to true friendship in times of trouble.
"I know what's going on with them. Don't worry, they won't die."
Upon hearing this, Bai Ying was overjoyed and bowed to Xuan Yuanzhan again with excitement: "I knew Your Highness was kind-hearted."
Xuanyuan Zhan waved his hand, not wanting to hear his flattery: "Actually, the reason I was willing to release you and Liuying Village is because I sent people to investigate. You really didn't do anything immoral, and many people in the North have a good impression of you. I hope you can find another way out and properly settle your brothers."
White Eagle's eyes flickered slightly, and after a moment of silence, he finally asked, "Why doesn't Your Highness offer us amnesty?"
Xuan Yuanzhan looked surprised: "You want to be recruited by the government?"
Bai Ying bowed deeply and said sincerely, "If it is Your Highness, Bai Ying is willing to lead his brothers to follow Your Highness."
Surrendering to the prince was the thing he thought about most while in prison.
He wanted to live, he wanted his brothers to live, even though he could die, he didn't want his brothers to die with him.
He considered many possibilities for survival, and being granted amnesty was the one he thought about most.
He had already considered this when he arrived: if the prince wanted to kill him, he would lead all the brothers of Liuying Village to surrender, and the prince would probably give them a way out.
But he didn't expect that the prince would let him leave without saying anything, and even allow him to take all the brothers of Liuying Village with him.
Such a good prince, such a good master—if he misses out, he might regret it for the rest of his life.
Rather than leading his brothers to a life of aimless banditry, or even losing their banditry altogether, he decided to follow the prince. Even if they became ordinary guards or soldiers, their brothers would have a legitimate path and wouldn't have to carry the stigma of bandits for the rest of their lives.
Seeing Bai Ying's serious expression, Xuan Yuanzhan thought about it carefully and said, "It's not impossible."
The court is in dire need of manpower right now, and these bandits are all strong and capable. Rather than letting them go out and worrying about them doing bad things, it's better to keep them by our side. Even if they don't go to the battlefield, we still need people to dig the river channels!
Overjoyed, Bai Ying immediately knelt down again and earnestly kowtowed to Xuan Yuanzhan: "Your subordinate Bai Ying greets Your Highness, may Your Highness live a thousand years!"
Xuanyuan Zhan truly admired Bai Ying. By recruiting Bai Ying, he knew that Bai Ying would surely become a great general by his side in the future.
Xuanyuan Zhan stood up and personally helped Bai Ying up again: "Alright, from now on you belong to me."
"Thank you, Your Highness!" After being recruited by Xuan Yuanzhan, Bai Ying immediately felt a sense of belonging.
It was as if he was supposed to follow him all along.
Xuanyuan Zhan thought for a moment, then looked at Ye Feng and said, "Go and bring Zhang Debiao, Li Yuanbao, and Qian Ergou here."
"Yes," Ye Feng replied, and immediately went to gather more people.
When Zhang Debiao, Li Yuanbao, Qian Ergou, and others were brought out of the prison, they were all extremely nervous.
They were all afraid that if Xuan Yuanzhan had dealt with Bai Ying, it would be their turn next.
Qian Ergou was terrified and secretly followed Ye Feng, whispering, "Little brother, is the white eagle you just took away dead?"
If White Eagle dies, then the rest of them will surely die as well.
If White Eagle were still alive, then the rest of them might still have a chance to survive!
Ye Feng ignored him and led them towards the government office.
"Your Highness, the person has been brought."
Ye Feng led the group into the courtyard.
When Zhang Debiao and the others saw Bai Ying standing next to Xuan Yuanzhan, they all silently breathed a sigh of relief.
Thankfully, White Eagle is still alive.
Does that mean there's still hope for them?
The group knelt down before Xuan Yuanzhan, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness."
Xuanyuan Zhan glanced at the group of people who were once full of vigor, but now seemed to have aged and become quite listless. He raised an eyebrow leisurely and said, "I heard you want to see me?"
The group exchanged glances, then looked at Bai Ying.
Could it be that Bai Ying told the prince their demands?
Having finally gotten a chance to see Xuan Yuanzhan, Qian Ergou didn't want to let go of this chance to live. He immediately kowtowed to Xuan Yuanzhan and said, "Your Highness, although we are bandits, we have not done anything heinous. We were forced into this life by the situation in the north and only stole some food. Please, Your Highness, investigate and give us lost souls a way to live."
Xuanyuan Zhan seemed to have taken his words to heart, and then looked at Zhang Debiao and Li Yuanbao: "What do you two have to say to me?"
Li Yuanbao spoke first, kowtowing to Xuan Yuanzhan and saying, "I am indeed a bandit, and I have indeed done many wrong things. I have no face to beg Your Highness for mercy. I only beg Your Highness to show leniency and spare the other brothers of Black Panther Stronghold, and give them a way out."
These words sounded rather righteous, making Qian Ergou seem less than honorable.
Qian Ergou couldn't care less about cursing Li Yuanbao at this moment!
Zhang Debiao kowtowed to Xuan Yuanzhan, saying, "I was blind before, please forgive me, Your Highness. What Qian Ergou said is true. We were forced into becoming outlaws. Over the years, I, Zhang Debiao, have never done anything immoral. When our villages occasionally plunder a lot of grain, we share some with the refugees from the north. As for burning, killing, and raping, while we may not have done it, we have never done it ourselves, and we strictly forbid our brothers in the villages from doing so. The biggest mistake we made was colluding with Chen Chuan to rob government grain. Perhaps our intention was not to kill those refugees, but a mistake is a mistake. However, our brothers in the villages were completely unaware that the big business involved robbing government grain. Your Highness, you were in Yinhu Village before, and you know this best. I am willing to die, I only beg Your Highness to spare their lives!"
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