"Father, have them identify each of these guards and see if there are any who aren't so deserving of death. If there are, bring them along."
After listening, Luo Qi'an immediately understood what his daughter meant.
Yes, not everyone's good and evil, right and wrong, should be distinguished according to the group. Whether a person has committed many evils is only related to that individual.
It should not be judged based on group or region.
That would be far too arbitrary.
Luo Qi'an raised his voice and asked, "Among these guards, were there any who made things too difficult for you?"
He specifically emphasized the word "excessive," fearing that these people would feel they had something to rely on and would begin to unleash their hatred and malice, wanting to indiscriminately nail every guard to death.
As expected, it was exactly what he predicted.
The crowd was outraged.
“They’re all bad people. When one of them whips us, the others just stand by and watch. They’re so immoral!”
"Yeah, they think they're a good person just because they get a couple of lashes. Pah!"
"My benefactors, you must not be soft-hearted! You must not let these beasts go! They captured so many of us and enslaved us for so long, don't they deserve to die?"
"That's right, you didn't see it. How many people were beaten to death by them? It wasn't just one or two, I've lost count of them. It was so tragic."
They wanted to escape, but we were captured and tortured every day. Who wouldn't want to escape? It's just that they had the guts, while I didn't.
"Did they deserve to die?"
Upon hearing this, the crowd became even more agitated, wishing they could immediately kill the guards on the spot to avenge those who had died unjustly.
Having finally gotten such an opportunity, they really didn't want to let it slip away.
“Those families also have elderly members waiting for them. Seeing that someone has been missing for so long, I don’t know how they will be crying their eyes out.”
These words, though spoken softly, immediately ignited the emotions of the crowd.
Yes, it doesn't matter if they themselves die, but so many people at home are waiting for them! If the pillar of the family is gone, how will the old and young survive?
At this moment, they felt not only anger, but also heartache and sadness.
After listening to their words, Shen Yunting was somewhat at a loss for words. Given their completely hostile relationship, it was indeed unlikely that they would let the guards go.
Shen Xingmian saw that several of them were swaying and looked very unwell. He thought to himself that those higher-ups were really bad. If you bring people here to work, you should at least make sure they have enough to eat.
What's the point of doing any work if you don't have the strength?
If you make a donkey pull a millstone, you still have to feed it some good fodder.
"Alright, calm down. Let's put aside the fighting for a while and take you out for a hot meal."
Shen Xingmian's words were very effective. These people were locked up here, and in order to make them work but not escape, the guards only gave them the minimum food rations.
One coarse flour pancake in the morning and one in the evening; even cold water is rationed.
Upon hearing this, Shen Xingmian felt that these people were incredibly resilient to survive. Ordinary people would have died on their own without even being whipped.
However, it's also possible that those who were physically unable to continue living are already dead...
The thought of this possibility made her realize that those who detained them, even if they were just laborers, were definitely accomplices.
There's nothing to pity about.
Inaction in such situations is also another form of evil.
There isn't a single innocent person among them.
There might be those whose crimes didn't warrant death, but she didn't have time to investigate and interrogate them one by one. She couldn't get anything out of the laborers, and if she interrogated the guards, they would definitely claim to be innocent and wronged.
It's a complete Rashomon situation; she doesn't have time to play games with them.
This location is a bit far from the mine entrance, and Shen Xingmian herself didn't want to turn back, but the environment here wasn't really suitable for eating.
However, she felt that this "unsuitability" was just her opinion; these people probably didn't care where they were right now, as long as they had food to eat.
As long as there's food, that's fine.
Having decided to do as she pleased, she stopped doing anything strenuous.
They spread a large picnic blanket on the ground and displayed the steaming hot steamed buns they had previously stocked up on, along with a large iron bucket of soft and thick congee with preserved egg and lean pork.
"Take your water bowls and fill them with porridge. You can eat as many steamed buns as you like, and you can also put a few in your pocket to take with you as provisions on the road."
These people hadn't seen hot, white steamed buns or meat-scented porridge in a long time, and the scene almost descended into chaos.
Fortunately, after witnessing this amazing scene, they were filled with awe and did not dare to act recklessly. They suppressed their desire and did not dare to rush up and grab it.
After listening to Shen Xingmian's words, each of them took two steamed buns, one tucked into their pocket and the other stuffed in their mouths, and then found their broken bowls to start ladling out porridge.
Although steamed buns are filling, the porridge contains meat!
Although the light wasn't very bright, their eyes had adjusted after staying there for a while, and they could all see the meat in the porridge that was almost melting.
It smells so good!
Even back home, let alone after I was arrested and brought here, no one would have been willing to eat like this.
All year round, the only time they can eat meat is on New Year's Eve, and everyone is very excited.
Moreover, such a big bucket is enough for all of them to share, and no one will be short of it. This is simply a miracle!
Yes, if it weren't for the Bodhisattva's intervention, how could these things have appeared on the ground in the blink of an eye?
One of them had a steamed bun stuffed in his mouth, but his movements were incredibly smooth. He knelt down in the direction of the three people, his words mumbled indistinctly, but one could barely make out what he was saying.
"Thank you so much, God! You came down to save us and brought us so much food. This is the first time in my life I've ever seen a Bodhisattva appear!"
Upon hearing his words, the others immediately knelt down as well, chanting in unison, "Thank you, Bodhisattva, for your miracle! Thank you, Bodhisattva, for your miracle! Thank you, Bodhisattva, for your miracle!"
The scale of the event was quite impressive.
Shen Xingmian felt a little uncomfortable on her scalp again, so she quietly hid behind her father, trying to conceal herself.
Luo Qi'an had no choice but to speak up: "We are all General Shen Zhiheng's men, not divine intervention. After you've eaten your fill, please leave on your own. We have other matters to attend to, so we cannot see you off."
Those people dared not let them deliver the food. Being able to knock down the guards, let them leave, and even give them so much hot and delicious food was already an immense favor.
"We will always remember the great kindness and virtue of our benefactors and General Shen. When we get back, we will spread the word about this matter and make sure that the good deeds of our benefactors are not in vain!"
Others immediately echoed enthusiastically, and for a moment the scene resembled a cult assembly.
Feeling awkward, Shen Xingmian couldn't help but shrink back again.
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