Chapter 337 Imperial Army vs. Black River Village
"We understand. We will unconditionally support Heihe Village!"
"We will also stand united with Heihe Village!"
The village head nodded with satisfaction, "Then it depends on your performance in the future!"
The village head brought the villagers here today, firstly to clear out those who were causing trouble, and secondly to set some rules for the refugees as they had just arrived.
Only by speaking the truth upfront and laying the rules out in the open can we avoid a lot of unnecessary trouble later.
In the next few days, everyone thought that there would be fewer and fewer new customers, but unexpectedly, new customers continued to come in an endless stream.
The villagers couldn't help but wonder: "Didn't they say the capital had issued a ban on leaving the city? How did the distinguished guests get out?"
The guest scoffed, "The city ban only applies to those without money or influence. For us, getting that piece of paper is no problem. We can go wherever we want."
In short, the inn business in Heihe Village has not been affected.
That afternoon, after finishing lunch, the villagers were cleaning up the dishes when suddenly, the villagers on duty on the city wall shouted.
"So many soldiers! So many soldiers on horseback! They're heading towards our village!"
Before anyone could react to what was happening, they heard a burst of hurried horse hooves, and the dust at the entrance of the village was kicked up into the air by the horses' hooves.
Immediately afterwards, hundreds of soldiers on horseback and in armor rushed in, scaring everyone into fleeing and causing exclamations to be heard all around.
"Clang clang dang dang", the bowls, chopsticks and kitchen utensils in the villagers' hands fell to the ground.
The officers and soldiers reined in their horses and the team stopped in front of the food street.
The leading officer looked around and sneered, "Oh, so this is the famous Heihe Village? It looks nothing special, not even as good as the small market in the capital!"
The villagers of Heihe Village did not dare to speak, after all, these officers and soldiers looked to be of high status.
Unexpectedly, someone from the refugee camp immediately responded: "Sir, you can't say that! We are from the capital, and we know what the capital is like!"
The villagers of Heihe Village silently gave a thumbs up in their hearts.
Awesome! You're from Beijing, so brave!
The leading officer wanted to explode, but he held back and shouted, "Where is the head of the village? Come out and answer!"
The village headman came up breathlessly, bowed, and said, "I am the village headman of Heihe Village. May I ask what you may do, sir?"
The leader sat on his horse, looking down at the village head from a high position. "Old head, we are the imperial guards from the capital. We are here on the orders of the emperor to carry out a very important matter. Anyone who dares to disobey us will be beheaded. If you don't want to lose your head, don't play tricks. Do you understand?"
The village head didn't dare to look up, his voice trembling, "I understand. Please give your instructions, sir."
What you fear will come true.
The imperial court really set its sights on Heihe Village and came to our door so quickly.
The leader of the imperial guards waved his hand and said, "Go and invite Zen Master Huineng out!"
"Amitabha, no need to ask, I am here." Zen Master Huineng appeared on the city wall.
“Senior Brother!”
Following the shouts, Master Hongkong, the abbot of Lingji Temple, walked out from the ranks of officers and soldiers.
"Hongkong, I haven't seen you for two years. I didn't expect to meet you in Heihe Village today." Zen Master Huineng said calmly.
Master Hongkong walked through the crowd to the foot of the city wall, looked up and said, "Brother, please follow Hongkong back to Lingji Temple."
"I won't be going back to Lingji Temple," Zen Master Huineng said calmly. "You should know that once I've made a decision, there's no changing it."
“Senior Brother…”
Zen Master Hongkong wanted to say something more, but seeing the expressionless face of Zen Master Huineng, he could only sigh, "Hongkong respects the decision of Senior Brother."
After saying that, he turned around and walked back.
"Is that all?!" The leader of the imperial guards widened his eyes. "Master Hongkong, you should know why the emperor sent you to Heihe Village! If you can't bring Master Huineng back, what will happen to you?"
"I have done my best." Master Hongkong clasped his hands together and said calmly, "Brother, I have always disliked people who talk too much. Saying one sentence is no different from saying ten thousand sentences. As for what I will face, please don't worry about it."
"Alright!" The leader of the Imperial Guards laughed in anger. "But I didn't expect you to convince him in the first place!"
The leader of the imperial guards dismounted and gazed towards the city wall. "Master Huineng, you may not listen to Master Hongkong's words, but you certainly won't disobey the Emperor's words, will you? We've come here today on the Emperor's orders to bring you back to the capital!"
Zen Master Huineng sighed, "I am just an idle monk. Even if I return to the capital, I cannot change the current situation. Why does the emperor force me to do something against my will?"
The leader of the imperial guards sneered, "Zen Master Huineng's remarks about the stars of fortune and misfortune have caused panic in the capital! Returning to the capital to change public opinion and relieve the emperor's worries—isn't that what a Zen Master should do?"
Zen Master Huineng spoke in a low voice, "Monks do not tell lies. I only spoke the truth. Even if I return to the capital, I will not tell lies that contradict the truth just to please anyone."
"Master, please keep these words until you return to the capital and speak to the Emperor!"
"I don't want to go back to the capital. I've lived a life without any worries, and I hate being coerced the most."
The leader of the imperial guards said angrily, "Master, think about the people of Heihe Village and the monks of Lingji Temple, and you will know what choice to make!"
"Don't use Lingji Temple to threaten others!"
Master Hongkong had an angry look on his face, and his inner strength made his robe swell up high.
"I've already made a concession by following you here! How can I allow you to humiliate Lingji Temple, which has been renowned for hundreds of years, like this? If you continue to talk nonsense, I'll drag you before the Emperor to argue!"
The leader of the imperial guards was surprised by Master Hongkong's outburst and had to change his words, "Then shouldn't Master Huineng take Heihe Village into consideration?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the refugee camp exploded!
"Bah! Don't use Heihe Village to threaten Zen Master Huineng. Don't think we don't know that you've disliked Heihe Village for a long time!"
"Heihe Village has stolen the capital's limelight, and you're using this as an excuse to target Heihe Village! Your dirty thoughts are known to everyone in the world!"
"Whether Zen Master Huineng follows you or not, you will not let Heihe Village go!"
The leader of the imperial guards shouted angrily, "How bold the Heihe Village is! They completely disregard the imperial court!"
Zen Master Huineng chanted a Buddhist name, "They just saw the truth. You've caused such a big scene, I'm afraid it's more than just taking me back, right?"
The leader of the Imperial Guards said, "That's right! Besides bringing the Zen Master back, we do have other things to do!"
"Old village head, bring out all the children in your village! Don't try to trick us. If anyone is missing, you will be beheaded!"
"What?!"
The villagers of Heihe Village, who had been silent all this time, finally exploded.
"What do you mean? Why is it related to the doll?!"
"Why are the dolls coming out? What are they going to do to the dolls?!"
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