"Stop!" Lu Tu shouted, and with his golden spear outstretched, he blocked the man's spear tip and saved another weaker soldier.
But the soldier who had the advantage still had no intention of stopping. He quickly stepped forward and kicked the opponent in the chest. The opponent rolled to the ground and spat out a mouthful of blood.
Lu Tu grabbed the man by the collar and slapped him twice across the face!
He wanted to ignite everyone's competitive spirit, but he didn't want to lose his life.
"Can't you fucking understand me? How can you be so ruthless to your own brothers? What's your name?"
At this moment, Nie Yun rushed over and explained, "Brother, his name is Li Chen, and he's from Songshan Village. The one who got beaten is Li Hao. They probably lost their minds because they were exhausted from fighting."
But in response to Nie Yun's explanation, Li Chen retorted, "That's not true, I did it on purpose!"
Li Chen then covered his reddened face and said indignantly, "Sir, didn't you say that on the battlefield there are only enemies? What did I do wrong?"
Lu Tu stared coldly into Li Chen's eyes: "Can you tell friend from foe? I don't care what personal grudges you have with him, but on the battlefield you're brothers, people you can entrust your backs to!"
"I despise petty thieves, so I want to kill him!"
As soon as Li Chen uttered his words, the onlookers were immediately astonished and looked at Li Hao with disdain. Thieves are never welcome, no matter where they are.
Li Hao struggled to his feet and pointed at Li Chen, saying, "You're lying! I didn't steal anything!"
"Then what were you doing at my house a few days ago? You even stole Dad's dagger!"
Upon hearing this, Lü Tu asked in surprise, "Are you two brothers?"
Li Chen spat disdainfully in Li Hao's direction and said, "Having a brother like this is really bad luck!"
Li Hao knew that if he didn't explain things clearly now, he would not only be ostracized by the other soldiers, but he might not even be able to stay in the village anymore. So he argued his case and said, "Sir, please listen to me. The dagger is my father's heirloom. There were originally two of them. My father intended for Li Chen and me to each have one. But Li Chen not only wouldn't let me go to pay respects to my father, but he also wouldn't let me take my father's heirloom."
Upon hearing this, the excitement in the eyes of everyone present intensified.
Working life is already incredibly boring, and now there's this dramatic, bloody infighting between brothers to watch, which is much more interesting than joking around with each other.
Especially the group of older women, who couldn't help but ask curiously, "That's where Li Chen's fault is. You are all your father's sons, why won't you let people go to pay their respects?"
"That's right, you're really being disrespectful as the eldest brother. When an elder passes away, his children and grandchildren all have the right to see him off on his final journey!"
Seeing that the blame had suddenly fallen on him, Li Chen's face turned red with anger. He gritted his teeth and said to Li Hao, "You better explain yourself clearly. Why don't you say that you stole your father's grain, causing him to develop chronic illnesses from hunger?"
Lu Tu frowned: "In my territory, people are still starving to death?"
Li Chen quickly explained, "It wasn't an adult who starved to death. I didn't explain clearly just now. It's because my father suffered from hunger for a long time, so he would experience excruciating pain whenever he was hungry. Last time, Li Hao stole my father's food, which caused my father to die from the pain. That's why I don't allow people to go to his grave to pay respects to my father."
More and more people gathered to watch the spectacle, and all eyes turned to Li Hao: "You bastard, how can you be so unfilial? If it weren't for Lord Lü being here, I would have beaten you to death!"
"You're a grown man, you can't just starve here, can you? What are you doing stealing your father's grain?"
Li Hao was already in tears, and he knelt down with a thud, wailing, "I was an unfilial son who stole Father's grain, but I..."
Lu Tu, with his impatient nature, wanted nothing more than to kick him. He urged, "You serve under me and receive a full ration of food every day. How can you steal your father's food to survive? If word gets out, where will I put my face?"
Li Hao kept kowtowing in the direction of Songshan Village, the dull thud silencing those who wanted to continue criticizing him.
"Father, it's my fault. I was just trying to steal some food to buy you medicine."
"What's going on? Stand up and talk!" Lu Tu shouted.
Li Hao then stood up: "A few days ago, I met a barefoot doctor outside the village. He asked me for some water to drink, and then we chatted. After learning about my father's illness, he said he could cure him, but I had to bring him 30 jin of grain."
Although I have food to eat every day, even if I start saving now, I won't be able to save up 30 jin (15 kg) of grain. Besides, I might die on the battlefield any day now. I had no choice but to steal grain, thinking that as long as I could cure my father's illness, I could save the grain I was allotted each day and send it over, and things would slowly get better. But who knew that after the barefoot doctor took the grain, he said he was going to dig for medicinal herbs and then disappeared!
Upon hearing this, the entire audience erupted in uproar!
Some people were indignant about the unscrupulous quack doctor who took money but did nothing, while others thought Li Hao was too stupid to fall for such a trick.
The most shocked was Li Chen, who looked at Li Hao, whose face was covered in blood from banging his head against the wall: "Is what you said true?"
"Brother, we've been brothers for over ten years, do you think I'm that kind of person?"
Li Chen quickly stepped forward and helped Li Hao up, tearing off a strip of cloth from his clothes to bandage his forehead: "When I found out that Father was dying that day, he just told me not to blame you. Then I saw that the place where Father stored the grain was empty, so I... Brother, you were wrong!"
"Big brother!"
The misunderstanding was cleared up, and the two brothers embraced and wept bitterly. This scene, witnessed by everyone, brought a pang of sorrow to their hearts. Such is the life of the poor: they can take tonics, but not laxatives.
Even the slightest disturbance can escalate into a tragedy. This was true for Li Chen and Li Hao's family, and it was also true for the villagers who were watching the spectacle.
After this commotion, the competition had to be suspended.
Lu Tu stepped forward and helped the two up: "The misunderstanding is cleared up. Li Chen will accompany Li Hao to pay respects to your father later. But now, tell me what that barefoot doctor looks like!"
"But I can't draw."
"I'll help you!" Song Yuxi, heavily pregnant, walked over with the help of her two maids, Aqiao and Lingdang.
Lu Tu turned his head: "Wife, you..."
Song Yuxi nodded steadily: "Don't worry, my husband, I will."
"Bring me paper and a pen!"
It was the first time the villagers had seen Song Yuxi, the captain's wife, show off her skills, so they quickly ran to the warehouse to get paper and pens, and moved tables and chairs.
Song Yuxi looked at Li Hao: "What's your face shape like?"
Seeing Li Hao's blank expression, she pointed to the crowd and said, "Find someone who looks similar, and I'll draw a picture of this thief for you today!"
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