Chapter 72 Draft - Do Not Subscribe, Please Await Revision
The old man's throat tightened, and his hands, which were protecting the cat, trembled uncontrollably: "This, this..."
"What is this?" You Mingjiang took out a broadsword from his spatial storage and handed it to the old man. "Catch this! You've toiled your whole life, bending your back to the sky, only to be trampled into the mud like ants. In the end, not only can you not protect your own daughter, but you can't even save the lives of the townspeople. Do you, as the town mayor, intend to continue to cower in fear?"
This broadsword looks exactly like the sickle he usually uses to cut wheat and the wood-chopping knife. He's been an honest and hardworking man all his life, only knowing how to work in the fields, and never thinking of turning these farm tools into weapons to hurt anyone.
Old Skinny stared at the broadsword before him, his mind in turmoil. He then looked down at his calloused, rough hands.
For forty years, these hands have held hoes and plows, and even had to ask neighbors for help to kill chickens, but now... how did it come to this!
Seeing that he didn't answer, Lu Xiaojia, with her arms crossed, sneered: "Could it be that you, old man, really fantasize about being the father-in-law of the terrifying General?"
Upon hearing this, the old man shuddered, and his expression suddenly changed.
He recalled the words of Shadow General Shagang: "He's nothing but a plaything."
This chilling sensation on his spine made Old Skinny finally harden his heart.
But faster than the old and thin one is the cat's paw.
Cat took the broadsword. Under the old man's astonished gaze, her round, childlike eyes, still holding a hint of innocence, looked at him with unwavering determination. She choked back tears and said, "Father, this land is the land where the people of Laoqu Town have been rooted for generations. The roots of this land belong to the people of Laoqu Town who have cultivated it for generations. Even if someone has to leave, it shouldn't be us, but General Jingba! Whose food do these jackals and tigers and their henchmen eat? After he and his wife and children have eaten their fill, they'll wipe their mouths and starve us, the ones who provide them with sustenance, to death. Does he think he's the only one with a wife and children? Don't others have stomachs? Don't they have wives and children at home?"
Old Man Shou stared wide-eyed at his timid daughter, Maomao, in disbelief. He couldn't believe that such bold words had come from her mouth.
He stood up in a daze, his hesitant gaze slowly shifting from the cat's face to Lu Xiaojia's face, and finally settling on You Mingjiang's face.
In everyone's eyes, a flickering flame seemed to dance.
These are sparks that ignite a prairie fire.
But this spark is not enough; it needs to burn even brighter!
Old Man Skinny clenched his fists, his hands covered in sweat, and after a while, he slowly loosened them.
Gazing at the silver dragon faintly visible through the dark clouds, at the ink-wash-like mountains, at my lovely daughter, I thought of the arrogant Shagang, the townspeople starving and emaciated, and the military commander Meng Nu'an, who died without a complete corpse...
The old man finally gripped the broadsword, his voice hoarse: "I'll go and mobilize them. Every household has a blood feud with these man-eating jackals... Even if it doesn't work out, the news won't leak out."
Countless families, unable to pay their taxes, were forced to repair the city's moat embankments, working day and night until they died from exhaustion... Not to mention the pitiful people whose land was taken away, whose wives and daughters were seized, and who starved to death...
Old Skinny patted the dirt off his clothes, dragged his heavy steps, and turned to walk away.
Obedience is a death sentence with a reprieve; it is to be a living donkey at the mercy of others, having your last bit of flesh and blood ripped out amidst your howls.
Resistance may lead to death, death on the road to victory, or it may lead to rebirth.
Which of these two paths should we choose?
The future of Laoqu Town does not lie in the hands of the old and thin man, but in the hands of the townspeople.
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That night.
As agreed, Xiao Jianseng arrived at the home of Elder Shou in the town in the middle of the night.
You Mingjiang had been waiting for a long time.
During the day, her orchid finger gesture involves raising three fingers, with the tips of her fingers pointing towards Old Thin; her lower right abdomen corresponds to her liver, which needs to rest in the middle of the night, which can be interpreted as meeting at Old Thin's house in the middle of the night.
Under her instructions, Lu Xiaojia used her shark-like sense of smell to occupy a secluded high place and secretly deal with the spies around her to ensure the success of the gathering.
As soon as Xiao Jianseng entered the house, he saw more than twenty young men gathered there, and the town's blacksmith was distributing broadswords. The old man's heart pounded like a drum. He stroked the broadsword, knowing that once the arrow was released, there was no turning back. After tonight, there would be no going back.
As the blacksmith distributed the broadswords, he panted and said, "When officials force people to rebel, the people have no choice but to rebel..."
Before she could finish speaking, You Mingjiang suddenly jumped onto the table. She clapped her hands to silence the blacksmith and said, "Fellow villagers, we are terrified by General Da's tyrannical rule, his exorbitant taxes and levies, his killing of innocent people to claim credit... His atrocities are endless, and the people are suffering. We have no way out! Today's action is not a rebellion, but a desperate attempt to survive. We want to make our voices heard in the capital and share the burden of the Emperor's old age!"
Her words were cunning; in just a few words, she transformed "officials forcing the people to rebel" into "acting on behalf of Heaven," thus giving her a legitimate reason for her actions.
"Heaven cherishes life, and a benevolent ruler loves his people. He will surely understand that the people of Laoqu Town have been forced to this desperate situation! If there were peaceful days to live, who wouldn't want to live a peaceful life? We are doing this to purge the court of corrupt officials. As long as General Jingbu falls from power, there will be no need for the court to send anyone to offer us amnesty. We will naturally return to our land and become honest, simple farmers again! Everyone, am I right?"
"Yes!" The flames of revenge burned in everyone's eyes. The heavier Ling Luoshi's oppression, the stronger the anger of resistance.
As if she had just noticed Xiao Jianseng, You Mingjiang jumped off the table and slowly walked towards him, introducing him to everyone: "He is our helper. In three days, he will cooperate with our operation."
Upon seeing this, everyone was shocked and began whispering among themselves.
The implication was that the person was untrustworthy and that he might leak information.
Although most of the people were busy in the fields when this group of soldiers went to town to collect taxes during the day, everyone saw the faces of the two leaders when this group of soldiers passed by the fields. Currently, this group of soldiers is staying at a large inn nearby, eating, drinking, and lodging for free.
Xiao Jianseng couldn't help but frown, and lowered his voice, saying, "What are you doing? Are you planning a rebellion?"
You Mingjiang would naturally not admit to "rebellion" in front of Xiao Jianseng; she understood the principle of saying the right thing to the right person. Similarly, she knew how to soothe everyone's unease and who she should be closer to, especially when most people didn't quite trust Xiao Jianseng.
She had to come up with a credible reason that would win the townspeople's hearts and minds.
“I invited you here not to pour cold water on me.” You Mingjiang crossed her arms and looked at him coldly. “Your family member, Yin Dong’er, is in my hands. I’ve taken good care of her these past few days. Now it’s time for you to repay me.”
Hearing this, everyone present breathed a sigh of relief.
It turns out they had a hostage in their hands.
Xiao Jianseng pondered for a moment and said, "Then what do you want me to do?"
You Mingjiang said, "Naturally, you need to show your sincerity to me. Three days later, I want you to personally deal with that group of armored soldiers."
Xiao Jianseng gasped.
These armored soldiers were different from the local militia. The local militia were mostly conscripted men from the surrounding populace, while these armored soldiers were Ling Luoshi's personal guards. The local militia, out of consideration for their fellow villagers, were reluctant to aid and abet evil and would try to turn a blind eye. But these armored soldiers were different; they were like soldiers trained by Modu Chanyu. Wherever the whistling arrows were fired, the soldiers had to follow suit and fire arrows, showing absolute obedience to the fearsome general.
In the relationship between Xiao Jianseng and Ling Luoshi, he seemed somewhat passive, as if he wouldn't go too far unless Ling Luoshi made a move against him.
You Mingjiang disliked this sticky and mushy attitude, and even more so, she disliked the soft, pliable smell emanating from him.
She said solemnly, "If you dare to disobey in the slightest, I guarantee you will never see Yin Dong'er again in your life!"
Xiao Jianseng sighed softly: "Alright, I promise you."
You Mingjiang smiled with satisfaction: "Everyone, come over here. I'll make some arrangements for what will happen in three days."
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Three days later.
The day the General's Mansion held the wedding was an auspicious day, with rare bright sunshine.
The town elder, old and thin, smiled broadly. He had changed into a brand-new set of clothes, and his hair was neatly combed and shiny.
He set up a banquet at the entrance of the courtyard, using all the food he had saved up through frugality to make the feast.
He used all the betrothal gifts from the General's Mansion to exchange for wine and meat, with a pickled goose and a fish on every table.
Even on each table, there was homemade plum wine.
One bowl per person is enough to bolster courage.
Although it was a concubine's marriage, the general would not personally come to greet her, but instead sent a matchmaker and servants to accompany the bridal sedan chair.
Old Shou's family did not follow the local traditional wedding customs. In addition to a group of musicians playing drums and gongs, they also invited a lion dance team. The scene was very grand, as if today was not a concubine taking, but a formal marriage.
The matchmaker who came with the sedan chair to welcome the bride was just like Huo Shanpo in temperament.
If it weren't for Huo Shanpo's bad luck in being killed in the teahouse, this scene wouldn't have happened to her.
The matchmaker was quite satisfied with the old man's attitude, but two things bothered her:
Firstly, most of the guests visiting Old Skinny's house were peasants who toiled in the fields, carrying hoes, sickles, and shovels. They would rush to their seats as soon as they finished working in the fields, leaving their farm tools at their feet, and stuffing their mouths with wine and meat like starving ghosts reincarnated.
Secondly, the matchmaker is specifically responsible for the bride's makeup and hair, but this old, thin girl is quite wicked. She insisted on having a so-called divine messenger do her makeup, showing no respect for her at all.
The matchmaker flicked her handkerchief and said in a sarcastic tone, "This is rather improper."
The old man with a forced smile said, "These people are all from our old Qu town. They've watched Maomao grow up since she was a child. Maomao is like their own daughter. And she's going to marry the beloved General. How could they not come to support her?"
"As for the divine messenger, it's because the bride couldn't move around easily, so they sent people to invite him three or four times. It was all for a good omen; otherwise, why would it be sunny and clear today after all the rain the past few days?"
Having said that, the matchmaker had no way to refute it. She could only flick her handkerchief and then praise Ling Luoshi's handsome appearance, "Oh dear, although the General is a bit old, he's more caring with age. Most importantly, the General has a wealthy family and immense power. With a stomp of his foot, the entire city of Wei trembles. It's not like your cat is being wronged. Whoever marries the Fearful General is truly blessed beyond measure."
The old man laughed heartily and shouted into the room where the cat was, "Did you hear that? Marrying the Great General is a blessing earned through three lifetimes!"
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The courtyard was bustling with people, but the house was very quiet.
The beautiful woman, dressed in a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, was weak and limp, and was forced to sit in front of a bronze mirror to do her makeup.
"She is such a beautiful bride."
The rouge box was filled with tender cinnamon-colored Wu Xiang. With a tiny bit of the glossy rouge on her fingertip, You Mingjiang smiled and reached out to lift the "bride's" chin, carefully applying the rouge.
The old man's shouts reached the "bride's" ears.
The "bride" was filled with hatred, her eyes bulging with blood, but she was unable to move and could only let You Mingjiang do as she pleased.
This person was none other than Yu Chuntong, who had fallen into You Mingjiang's hands.
As planned, she used General Rose to replace Cat Girl, while Cat Girl and the old, weak, women and children in the town were transferred in batches to the stone cave under the secret door of the Hall of Salvation.
The face in the mirror was painted snow-white by Fen Ying, with countless layers of thick powder applied to cover the bruises all over her face.
You Mingjiang applied lip rouge to his lips and whispered in his ear, "Look at you, the matchmaker said that marrying the Frightened General is a blessing you've earned in three lifetimes. Smile, don't look so sullen."
Her voice was pure, like the sound of jade clashing together, but her words were laced with malice. Yu Chuntong felt as if a venomous snake had crawled down her spine, and her whole body trembled involuntarily.
Taking a pair of plain silver earrings from the cat's dressing case, You Mingjiang casually twisted Yu Chuntong's earlobe and, amidst his trembling, forcefully pierced the earrings through.
His tendons in his hands and feet were severed by You Mingjiang, and his vital points were sealed. He had been tortured for the past two days to the point of being neither human nor ghost. He hadn't even had a hot meal, and he was being interrogated repeatedly by that constable surnamed Leng. He was so haggard that he looked unrecognizable.
Blood seeped from her ear piercing, and tears streamed down Yu Chuntong's face. From her toothless, lisping mouth, she managed to utter a weak, almost inaudible sentence: "Please...kill me..."
"On such a joyous day, why are you talking about life and death? The bride mustn't cry, or I'll have to touch up her makeup again." You Mingjiang slowly styled his hair, raising her voice for those outside to see, "The bride looks like she's blessed with good fortune. May she soon bear children for the General, have two in three years, and have many children and much happiness."
"Waaah..." Yu Chuntong cried with tears streaming down her face, mumbling incoherently, "Kill me."
The matchmaker waiting outside the door assumed it was just the youngest daughter crying before getting into the bridal sedan chair, and didn't take it to heart.
You Mingjiang applied some more powder to Yu Chuntong's face, tied his long hair up on top of his head into a topknot, and was about to do his hair when she saw that the betrothal gifts sent from the General's Mansion included very gold curtain combs, bridge hairpins, hairpins, etc., so she simply put them into her own space.
Realizing that she had no room for maneuver in front of this woman, Yu Chuntong's crying gradually subsided, and the ruthlessness of General Rose resurfaced.
He gasped for breath and said with difficulty, "I know I'm going to die, but I can't die for you in vain..."
You Mingjiang tucked a flower into his hair, looked at him through the mirror, and said, word by word, "You have no choice."
"No! No—" Yu Chuntong became agitated and shook his head desperately, "Even if I have to die, I will only die for myself!"
Yu Mingjiang found this intriguing, put down the flowers in her hand, and asked, "Oh? To die for yourself?"
“...My surname is Zeng, Zeng Shuixiong, the vice leader of the Dalian Alliance, is my father... He died at the hands of... Ling Luoshi…” Yu Chuntong’s tone was sinister, but two lines of hot tears slowly flowed down his face.
"And then?" You Mingjiang understood and chose a rhododendron to tuck into his hair.
A vibrant azalea, adorned in his raven-feather-colored hair, added a touch of color to his snow-white face.
Yu Chuntong said, enunciating each word clearly: "Give me poison."
If he is destined to die, then before he dies, he must drag Ling Luoshi down with him.
There was no better opportunity for assassination.
Ling Luoshi would never entrust the matter of taking a concubine to anyone else.
You Mingjiang remained noncommittal, leaned down, and looked into the hate-filled eyes in the mirror. Her smile deepened, and she gently patted his hand with her slightly bent, tightly clasped left hand.
Seeing the pale face in the mirror instantly contort, she straightened up, covered his head with the red veil, then bent down and helped the weak Yu Chuntong out the door.
He became very quiet, gripping the small bottle hidden in his sleeve tightly.
The matchmaker helped the bride from You Mingjiang's arms, but almost lost her balance and stumbled.
She couldn't help but wonder, "Old Skinny's cat is really something else. It doesn't look that fat, but it's so heavy. Tsk, how can it possibly win the General's favor? It'll fall out of favor in no time."
Fortunately, amidst the townspeople's auspicious greetings, they helped the woman into the bridal sedan chair.
As the sedan chair began to move, Yu Chuntong pulled a small porcelain bottle from her sleeve, turned it over, and saw four characters written on it—
"Green-scaled snake venom".
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