Chapter 544 One Hundred Taels of Silver
(Thanks to Summer·NewSusuoyuan for casting 2 monthly tickets.)
When the three Ding siblings cautiously entered the solemn main hall of the government office and saw Li Shiyue sitting upright, exuding an imposing aura, Ding Chaosheng and Ding Fusheng's legs went weak and they knelt on the ground.
Ding Haisheng's heart was pounding, but she managed to remain relatively calm.
However, she immediately knelt down beside her two younger brothers and before Li Shiyue, who was sitting at the head of the table.
"I, Ding Haisheng, along with my younger brothers Chaosheng and Fusheng, pay our respects to the General!"
Li Shiyue's gaze swept over the five heads, and with just one glance she confirmed that these heads were definitely not fakes, they were indeed Japanese pirates!
Her gaze finally fell on Ding Haisheng, who, though kneeling on the ground, had a slightly straight back and appeared more composed than the other two.
“Raise your head.”
Li Shiyue's voice was cold and clear, carrying an undeniable authority.
Ding Haisheng took a deep breath, slowly raised her head, and met Li Shiyue's scrutinizing gaze.
She saw a young yet very dignified female general, whose eyes seemed to see right through people's hearts.
Nine days after the notice was issued, no one dared to respond.
Why did you three dare to kill Japanese pirates?
How could they possibly kill these five Japanese pirates?
Get up, sit down, and tell me in detail.
If there is even the slightest falsehood, this general will not let it go easily!
As she continued, Li Shiyue's voice suddenly became stern.
Ding Chaosheng and Ding Fusheng were trembling with fear at this moment.
Ding Haisheng's face was also a little pale, but she knew this was the most crucial moment.
She kowtowed again, then mustered her courage and stood up.
Li Shiyue asked Chen Yong to bring stools for the three siblings. Once they sat down, Ding Haisheng began to narrate.
This time, she spoke in much more detail than when she told Chen Yong at the city gate, and she even added the psychological journey of the three siblings during this time.
"Reporting to the General...we...we really have no other choice."
Ding Haisheng began by talking about her mother's serious illness. Her voice choked with emotion, and her genuine feelings moved the onlookers inside and outside the government hall, as well as those who had come to watch the spectacle.
“On that day, some yamen runners came to our Baisha Bay to post notices. Although we couldn’t read, there was a student from Dingjia Village who read the notices to us.”
That's when we realized that a Japanese pirate leader could be exchanged for twenty taels of silver.
My mother was so sick she couldn't get out of bed, and I... I had a thought.
At first, I was just hoping to get lucky and run into someone who was alone...
Ding Haisheng described how she and Ding Chaosheng found a stray Japanese pirate on the reef, and how, in a heart-pounding panic, they used a tattered fishing net to put around the pirate's neck from behind when his back was turned.
Then, Ding Chaosheng frantically rushed forward to subdue the Japanese pirates, and Ding Haisheng picked up pebbles from the shore and smashed them hard against the pirates' heads.
It's unclear whether the Japanese pirates were killed or only knocked unconscious, but the siblings carried them home, one by the arm and the other by the legs.
Then, it's about how Ding Haisheng finally mustered up the courage to pick up the only sharp weapon in the house—a wood-chopping knife—and, with her eyes closed, chopped down on the neck of the Japanese pirate.
When Ding Haisheng spoke of the difficulty and bloodshed of the beheading, her body trembled slightly, allowing the onlookers to feel her fear and struggle at the time.
"We got a head, but we were afraid... afraid that twenty taels wouldn't be enough for Mother to take medicine for a long time... so we thought we'd try again."
Then, Ding Haisheng recounted how she took advantage of the Japanese pirates' greed and lust—she deliberately washed her face, put on old but clean clothes, and rowed alone in the waters where the pirates often appeared, pretending to collect shellfish, intentionally letting four pirates on a small boat discover her.
How did she suppress her fear, feign compliance, and lure the four Japanese pirates ashore, into the trap her brothers had dug beforehand?
"I lured them to the other side of the pit, then pretended to fall... When they surrounded me, they all... fell in at once!"
Ding Haisheng's voice trembled with lingering fear as he recounted this, "There were sharpened wooden stakes and old harpoons stuck in the pit... They fell in and were pierced through... We could hear them screaming down there."
Later, we waited for a long time, and when nothing happened, we dared to go over..."
Finally, Ding Haisheng recounted how the three siblings, filled with fear and trepidation, carried their fish baskets along the official road to Jian'an City.
Throughout the narrative, Ding Haisheng emphasized the harsh environment, the lucky escape during the fight against the bandits, the cooperation between the three siblings, and their helplessness and struggle in having to kill the bandits to save their mother.
Instead, it downplayed her own initiative in designing and risking her life to lure the Japanese pirates, downplaying the seriousness of the situation in order to evoke pity from the onlookers.
After Ding Haisheng finished speaking, the hall and the surrounding area fell silent.
Everyone was captivated by this simple yet thrilling narrative.
Who would have thought that these three seemingly unremarkable fishermen could do something so audacious?
Although the process was full of luck and roughness, the courage, quick thinking, and filial piety of risking one's life for one's mother were genuine.
After listening, Li Shiyue remained silent for a moment.
Her sharp gaze seemed to see through the deliberately downplayed parts of Ding Haisheng's narration, but she did not point them out.
In any case, the result is undeniable: they did indeed succeed—kill the enemy!
"well!"
Li Shiyue slammed her hand on the table, her voice echoing throughout the hall, "This general has said that anyone who kills the enemy will be rewarded!"
The three of you have captured five heads, which is confirmed!
A reward of one hundred taels of silver will be issued immediately!
As soon as she finished speaking, Wang the clerk immediately ordered someone to bring over a tray covered with a red cloth. When the cloth was lifted, there was a full one hundred taels of silver!
When they saw that they had actually received the reward money, Ding Chaosheng and Ding Fusheng's eyes widened, and they were so excited that they couldn't say a word.
Ding Haisheng, her eyes also brimming with tears, knelt down again before Li Shiyue and kowtowed deeply: "Thank you, General! Thank you, General!"
My mom is saved! She's saved!
"Not only that!"
Li Shiyue said loudly to Ding Haisheng, "The three of you were the first to respond to the 'Order to Kill the Bandits' issued by this general, and you have achieved great success. Your bravery is commendable, and your filial piety is worthy of emulation!"
This general will reward you with an additional fifty taels as a consolation and encouragement!
Furthermore, we will send a military medical officer with you to return and treat your mother!
"Thank you, General! You have shown me such great kindness!" The three siblings were overjoyed and kowtowed repeatedly, tears streaming down their faces.
Li Shiyue looked at them, her gaze deepening, and continued, "Take this 150 taels of silver back with you and use it to treat your mother's illness and live a peaceful life."
However, the threat of Japanese pirates cannot be eliminated in a day.
This general hopes that you can share this experience with your neighbors. If you have the capacity, you can organize the villagers to protect their homes and fight against the Japanese pirates together!
Are you willing?
At this moment, Ding Haisheng's heart was filled with gratitude and admiration for Li Shiyue. She raised her head and said with a firm look in her eyes, "We have no way to repay the general's great kindness!"
I, Ding Haisheng, hereby swear that I will tell everyone in the village when I get back!
Kill the Japanese pirates, protect our homeland! No hesitation!
"good!"
Li Shiyue nodded in satisfaction, "Chen Yong, arrange for someone to escort them and the reward money back home, and make sure they get home safely!"
"Yes, General!"
The news that the three Ding siblings not only received a generous reward but also received additional commendation from the general and were personally escorted home by the Xuanjia Army swept through the entire Jian'an City and surrounding villages like the fiercest spring breeze!
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