This time, Lü Tu led 100 cavalrymen and 200 military slaves, a formidable force.
After all, this was his first time entering the city since the Wuchuan rebellion. He didn't know if Yun Tian intended to kill him, but one should always be wary.
These 100 cavalrymen were the strongest fighting force under Lü Tu's command. If they couldn't bring Wang Miaoling's dowry out safely, then there was nothing else they could do.
The group marched in a grand procession toward the south gate of Wuchuan. Along the way, Lü Tu saw that the plague was becoming increasingly severe.
The roadside was littered with the corpses of those who had died of disease or starvation. Almost all the men who could escape had fled to other places, leaving behind mostly the elderly, the weak, women, and children.
The women were all deathly pale, while the children in their arms were holding dried tree bark, slowly grinding it with their teeth and swallowing it.
Seeing this scene, Lü Tu felt as if his heart was being torn apart. He had been busy with village affairs these days and had never paid attention to the outside world.
Originally, it was thought that after Yun Tian regained power, he would change his previous practices and start treating the plague and opening granaries for disaster relief. However, the situation has become even more severe, which shows that Yun Tian has done nothing since he returned!
Lu Tu stopped, took out the few pancakes that Cui Guo had prepared in his bosom for fear of being hungry, broke off a small piece and threw it to a woman.
But as soon as the pancake appeared, it immediately attracted the attention of the people around, and a large number of the elderly, weak, women and children desperately crawled towards it.
Before the woman could even express her gratitude, she quickly grabbed a dry biscuit, tore off half of it, and forced it into the child's mouth. Then she swallowed the other half whole. After finally managing to swallow it, she kowtowed to Lü Tu, saying, "Thank you for your generous gift, sir!"
Lu Tu pointed towards the village behind him: "Go over there and tell the soldiers guarding the village what I said. Tell them to give you porridge. Anyone who dares to cause trouble will die!"
"Thank you for your great kindness, my lord! Thank you for your generous gift!"
Upon hearing Lu Tu's words, a glimmer of light finally appeared in everyone's lifeless eyes. Even if it was just a sliver of hope to survive, they would crawl to the village, not for themselves but for their children.
Nie Yun asked in confusion, "Brother, these people could all be infected with the plague, why save them?"
Lu Tu waved his hand and continued on his way, shaking his head and sighing at Nie Yun: "A gentleman, when dealing with beasts, cannot bear to see them die even when they are alive. I may not be a noble person, but I cannot bear to see children like this."
Upon hearing this, Nie Yun and his companion were filled with awe.
Liu Hong cupped his hands and said, "I once heard the old general say that a gentleman judges by his actions, not his intentions. Since you have helped the people, it is a great act of kindness that is of the highest righteousness. You are naturally a first-rate philanthropist in the world, and the people you have helped will remember your kindness!"
Lu Tu smiled bitterly and said, "I'd rather not be a good person. Giddy up!" Then he rode off on the official road, leaving everyone else in the dust.
Along the way, whenever he saw any refugees who could still walk, Lü Tu would direct them toward Kuishan Village. As long as they could reach Kuishan Village alive, they would be able to have a bowl of hot porridge.
Regardless of other factors, Lü Tu has already taught Zhang Miao how to treat smallpox, which will allow Zhang Miao to accumulate more treatment experience, making it easier to control the plague in the future.
On the bright side, most of those accepted were women and children, as well as many women who had not yet given birth. If these women recovered and settled in the village, they could still attract a large number of able-bodied laborers.
Lu Tu could only console himself with this thought, shaking his head and smiling bitterly.
They soon arrived at Wuchuan City and saw a large number of soldiers and officers lined up in formation from a distance, and each of them looked completely unfamiliar.
When the soldiers guarding the city saw Lü Tu's massive army charging towards them, they were greatly alarmed. If they hadn't clearly seen the leather armor worn by Lü Tu and his men, which was the standard uniform of the Wuchuan border army, they probably would have already sounded the drums.
"Who goes there? Dismount and lay down your armor!"
Lu Tu looked at the tall, dark-skinned, burly man in front of him and said, "I am Lu Tu, the Commandant of the Imperial Guard. I have business in the city. Make way at once!"
Just as they were about to turn their horses and head straight into the city, the city guard leader unexpectedly raised his hand to stop them, saying, "No! The Commandant said that everyone entering the city must remove their armor and lay down their weapons. No one is allowed to bring weapons into the city. Anyone who violates this rule will be killed without mercy!"
Nie Yun, standing to the side, shouted sternly, "Insolence! Do you know who you're talking to? My master is Lü Tu, the Commandant of the Imperial Guard!"
The city's garrison leader, Sun Tiecheng, sneered, "I know you're Lu Tu, but so what? You still have to obey the Commandant's orders!"
Lu Tu thought to himself, "Isn't Yun Tian a bit too cowardly? Last time, he was only kidnapped by his son. Once bitten, twice shy. Now everyone has to lay down their weapons."
Since Lu Tu brought so many men this time, he was looking to guard against Yun Tian, so naturally he wouldn't agree easily.
He pulled out the token and flashed it in front of Sun Tiecheng: "Open your dog eyes and see clearly. This was bestowed upon me by Lord Yun. Get out of my way right now. I have important matters to report to Lord Yun. If you delay the battle, don't blame me for not having eyes with my spear!"
At Lü Tu's shout, the 100 cavalrymen behind him drew their swords with a bang. Even the 100 military slaves behind him, who had also come armed, raised their weapons as well. The most excited of all were these military slaves.
They were originally rebels, and especially since they were military slaves who had just escaped death. Now, following Lü Tu, they actually had the chance to draw their swords against the government troops. This feeling was so satisfying!
Upon seeing the scene before him, Sun Tiecheng frowned and said unhappily, "Lu Tu, are you planning a rebellion?"
Nie Yunjian, standing to the side, raised his eyebrows and said, "How dare you openly slander my master for rebellion? You deserve to die!" With that, he thrust his spear directly into Sun Tiecheng's head.
Sun Tiecheng had never seen such a domineering and violent person before. They were even more arrogant than the city's garrison troops, resorting to killing at the slightest provocation!
The attack was so fierce that even Sun Tiecheng couldn't dodge it. He could only barely move his head a few inches. With a soft thud, Nie Yun's spear pierced Sun Tiecheng's shoulder blade.
Seeing this, Nie Yun sneered, showing no intention of stopping. He twisted the gun handle and broke the man's bones, then pressed him to the ground. A dozen or so military slaves stepped forward and quickly subdued Sun Tiecheng.
The 200 men behind Lü Tu roared in fury: "You have insulted our lord! Kill!"
For a moment, the entire south gate of Wuchuan was completely silent; you could hear a pin drop.
All the officers and soldiers guarding the city were terrified. They had been transferred from other places and had completely reorganized the Wuchuan border army after Yun Tian was kidnapped and returned. Their knowledge of Lü Tu and his men's fighting strength came from rumors, so they naturally did not believe it.
But now, witnessing this, seeing that his own captain hadn't even had a chance to make a move before being easily subdued by one of Lü Tu's platoon leaders, Sun Tiecheng would have been dead by now if it weren't for the negative impact!
Looking at their morale and fighting spirit, they were not on the same level as the border troops. Even the slave soldiers walking behind Lü Tu dared to shout for them to kill. They were regular border troops, when had they ever suffered such humiliation?
Where the hell can I go to seek justice?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
