Shen Tang's experiences along the way are not unique.
The other two routes of the Dragon Slaying Bureau's allied forces encountered the same situation, with half of Yanzhou's manpower being transferred away. All that was left for the allied forces were land that could not be moved, burned buildings, and the elderly and weak who were a burden, and the disposal of the elderly and weak became a problem.
Food is scarce everywhere.
The Allied forces were also struggling financially during the war.
If we take care of these elderly and weak people, we can only wait for them to be worn down.
Unlike Shen Tang, who cultivated her resources and recuperated for four years, they didn't accumulate any wealth. Shen Tang had the confidence to uphold her benevolence, but they had no choice. Even though the decision was extremely difficult, they had no choice but to cruelly abandon her.
Those with spare capacity could share a few days' worth of provisions, allowing them to find another way to survive; their fate was entirely in the hands of fate. Those powerless could only choose to turn a blind eye. But people must always keep their eyes open; some scenes cannot simply disappear just because they are not seen.
Although the three armies were located in different places, their mindset was highly aligned.
With the support of his wife's family and a group of loyal brothers, Gu Ren was quite wealthy within the allied forces. Sharing some provisions wouldn't significantly weaken his army. He entrusted this matter to his twelfth brother, Chao Lian, and thirteenth brother, Shao Chong, to help them build up their reputation as well.
But within two days he discovered that Shao Chong was depressed.
He used to eat two buckets in one meal, but now he can't even finish half a bucket.
"Thirteen, did someone bully you?" Even though Shao Chong's mind was gradually recovering, Gu Ren still habitually treated him like a child. Children who are bullied outside will become depressed.
Shao Chong sat there sulking, with uneaten food in front of him. Gu Ren gently urged him to eat a few more bites: "Thirteen is still growing. You need to eat more to grow taller. Only when you are tall and strong can you help your elder brother win battles. Don't you think that makes sense?"
Shao Chong pressed his lips tightly together, silently resisting.
Gu Ren had no choice but to go to his twelfth brother to find out what was going on.
Chao Lian knew what Shao Chong was thinking: "Brother, Thirteen feels he has eaten too much and wants to share some."
Gu Ren knew the crux of the problem as soon as he heard it.
He asked, "What did Thirteen see when he went out with you?"
Chao Lian slammed his fist on the ground and revealed everything.
The matter wasn't complicated. That day, the brothers went out and came to a ruin that was mostly burned down, with the remaining half crumbling. They saw an old man shakily climbing towards half a coffin. It was said to be half a coffin because that coffin was also mostly burned down.
The old man climbed in, lay down, and remained motionless.
Shao Chong gave the old man the food he was carrying.
The old man weakly raised his hand in refusal.
No, I don't want to eat it, I don't want to eat it.
Shao Chong noticed he had few teeth: [You can soak it until soft before eating.]
The old man's speech was slurred: "...After eating, I don't want to die...I don't want to die...but I'm still hungry, so I have to eat dirt...eat grass...I haven't pooped for seven days, seven days...It's so uncomfortable, so uncomfortable."
As he spoke, he suddenly began to move his hands and feet erratically, as if in a final burst of energy.
Then, exhausted, he slumped down.
Chao Lian raised his hand to cover Shao Chong's eyes, unable to bear it: "Thirteen, don't look. Let the old man get some sleep. We won't disturb him, okay? Be good, okay?"
Shao Chong paused for a moment, then obediently replied, "Oh."
After the two brothers left, a light drizzle began to fall. Shao Chong asked, "Twelfth Brother, is he dead?"
Chao Lian said, "Having completed my tribulations, I've gone to the Pure Land."
Shao Chong asked again, "Can I get a full meal there?"
Chao Lian: [There will be so much food that I don't want to eat it.]
He walked for a while, but didn't hear Shao Chong's footsteps. He turned his head and looked, only to see that his thirteenth brother's gaze was elsewhere.
Chao Lian also followed the gaze.
It was a small, dilapidated hut in a corner. The door was slightly ajar, and two figures, one tall and one short, could be vaguely seen suspended in mid-air.
Chao Lian stepped forward and gently pushed the door, feeling something blocking it from behind. Looking down, he saw it was a small rock.
The two people hanging from the roof beam are an old man and a young boy, a grandfather and his grandson.
Their tongues were lolling out extremely long, their deaths agonizingly painful, their exposed skin covered in lividity. When Chao Lian pushed the door open slightly, the overwhelming stench of death made him cover his nose. Shao Chong asked him, "Did they also successfully complete their tribulation?"
Chao Lian gently closed the door: [Hmm.]
On the way back, he could still see elderly and weak people sitting motionless in corners, their faces numb, conserving their energy. Some maintained a curled-up, stiff posture, their chests not rising or falling. Shao Chong had seen this scene more than once, but it was the first time he had faced it since his mental maturity. Before, he could see it and forget it without realizing it, at most wondering why these people were sleeping by the roadside.
Now that he has matured, he understands the weight of it all.
"Twelfth Brother, I didn't feel this way when I killed people..." Shao Chong raised his hand to his chest, looking down at his fingers as if they still bore the blood of his enemies. "I only felt a sense of exhilaration, but they were all dead people too, so why now..."
He felt like someone was constantly pouring bitterness into his mouth.
Chao Lian was unable to provide an answer.
After that, Shao Chong started acting strangely.
Upon hearing this, Gu Ren sighed, "So that's how it is—I wonder if Thirteen's recovery of his mind is a good thing or a bad thing. If one is unaware of pain, one will not understand what it means to be hurt."
Chao Lian: "Brother, should we go and talk to Thirteen again?"
Gu Ren shook his head: "Let him figure it out himself."
This is something you have to get used to if you're born in this era.
Half of the province was easily captured.
The three allied forces of the Dragon Slayer Bureau successfully joined forces.
Despite the resounding victory, no one could laugh.
Part of them were too heavy-hearted to laugh because of what they saw and heard along the way, and another part was because these places had no manpower, no money, and no food... Winning the battle but getting no benefit at all was no different from being tricked and slapped by Zheng Qiao.
Shen Tang was the last to arrive.
To be precise, Shen Tang and Qian Yong arrived last.
Zhang He and Tao Yan arrived a day earlier.
The Allied soldiers looked at Shen Tang with even stranger and more complex expressions than before. Some admired her, some mocked her, but without exception, no one questioned Shen Tang's reputation for benevolence. This reputation wouldn't bring her any real benefit, but she would have to pay a price in tangible terms. Gu Ren said in a low voice, "I've heard of Lord Shen's benevolent deeds. If you have any difficulties, please feel free to speak up."
If Tang is short of food, he can borrow some within his means.
Shen Tang smiled, a smile that was rare for her these days.
She said, "If you really have any difficulties, please speak up."
Gu Ren's gaze fell on Yun Ce, the chief rider of Huang Lie who had come with Shen Tang. He frowned and asked directly, "I remember this boy is a chief rider under Alliance Leader Huang. How come he is following Lord Shen?"
Shen Tang smiled wryly, "Alliance Leader Huang was worried that we were short-handed, so he specially sent him to help. His intention was to relieve our pressure, but who knew the enemy would make moves that didn't follow the usual pattern..."
They encountered no significant resistance along the way.
Furthermore, aside from the two cities that had been captured and still defended by veteran soldiers, the subsequent county towns were almost entirely abandoned, with the veterans looting and fleeing. What Shen Tang and his companions saw were desolate ruins: "...millions perished...only one in a hundred survived...Alas, sometimes I, Shen, even question the meaning of this mortal world's existence..."
Those in power lead turbulent lives, able to manipulate events at will, but for ordinary people, their lives are like deadly knives.
Gu Ren avoided discussing Shen Tang's subsequent reflections, because he didn't know the answer either, and Shen Tang's reflections weren't intended to elicit an answer from him. He simply said meaningfully, "When did Alliance Leader Huang treat Shen Jun so well? So thoughtful..."
Shen Tang: "I have no personal relationship with him."
The two companies are allies on the surface, but have no contact with each other in private.
Gu Ren chuckled awkwardly, "That's not what I meant..."
His meaning was to warn Shen Tang to be wary of Huang Lie. This guy and Zhang He, one a quack and the other a healer, weren't exactly clean slates. Especially Huang Lie, the alliance leader; the enemy's main force of heavy shield warriors hadn't contributed much on the battlefield, always concealing their strength. And Shen Tang had intricate connections with the Gongxi tribe, so Huang Lie's overtures to Shen Tang were likely not for any good.
Shen Tang did not make things difficult for Gu Ren.
He said, "I know, I'll be careful."
Therefore, Gu Ren said no more.
I believe that with Shen Jun's abilities, he won't fall for the trap easily.
Although the Dragon Slayer Alliance forces had differing intentions, at this moment, they could only temporarily set aside their opinions and devote themselves fully to the tough battle ahead. Their easy capture of the remaining half of Yanzhou did not mean Zheng Qiao's side was easy to bully; on the contrary, it was evidence of his consolidation and concentration of forces. The pressure the Dragon Slayer Alliance forces would face next was even greater and heavier than the battle of Chaoli Pass!
Putting aside everything else, that renowned 16th-rank Grand Master alone was a dark cloud hanging over their hearts.
The opponent brought overwhelming pressure with just one avatar.
What about the real person in front of us?
No one was sure what to do.
But they knew there was no turning back now.
Of all the Dragon Slaying Bureau allied forces, only Wei Shou truly understood the sixteenth-rank Grandmaster. Some tried to approach him to uncover the Grandmaster's weaknesses. However, Wei Shou's answer stunned everyone: "Him? He has no weaknesses."
"Have you fought each other before?" Huang Lie asked.
Wei Shou replied, "No."
Then someone said, "Since you haven't fought each other, why are you so sure this person has no weaknesses? You're just boosting their morale!"
If they could use the same method as Wei Shou to turn that sixteenth-rank Grand Master against his cause, they could strike at the heart of the enemy without bloodshed. Some people were quite optimistic about this, but Wei Shou's reply extinguished their dreams: "You probably don't know anything about his past. If you did, you wouldn't be questioning my words."
Someone once tricked the wife and children of a high-ranking official of the sixteenth rank into taking hostage, using his elderly mother as leverage. His response was utterly shocking: "Women are like clothes; once the old clothes are gone, new ones can be worn. A great man who has achieved great things should not worry about fine clothes. With fine clothes, why worry about children? As for my old mother, she has been suffering from a long illness. If she can be freed from this burden, it would be a filial act."
The implication was clear—
If you're so capable, then kill them all.
The enemy suspected he was saying this on purpose, sending the old and weak to the front lines after the battle began, continuing to threaten them while also demoralizing the enemy. However, the sixteenth-rank Grand Master remained unfazed, shooting them all down with a single arrow.
Do you think you can fool the world with a few counterfeit products?
Having said that, he took the lead!
The enemy was completely bewildered by his move.
The hostages were definitely not fake.
He showed no remorse or sorrow for killing his own family. On the day of the victory celebration, he even had the wives and daughters of the defeated generals perform dances for his amusement, and held a grand banquet. Wei Shou initially thought the other party was putting on an act, but after careful investigation, he discovered that the other party was genuinely happy.
In his drunken state, he proudly boasted.
In the realm of martial arts, there are no weaknesses.
After hearing Wei Shou's story, everyone fell silent.
They were indeed ruthless, but not so ruthless as to disregard their own mother's life, much less abandon their wives and children. Those who could do this truly deserved to be called "flawless." For a moment, the tent was filled with scorn and condemnation of this sixteenth-rank Grand Master. To call him a beast was an insult to the word beast; lambs kneel to suckle, crows feed their parents—this man had none of those qualities!
As for money, fame, and the like...
Then it goes without saying.
Zheng Qiao can give it to you.
This person can only be taken down by force.
Huang Lie's gaze fell on Shen Tang and Shao Chong.
"Such a formidable opponent, are you confident, Mr. Shen?"
Before Shen Tang could answer, Gu Ren interrupted, "Alliance Leader Huang, the gap between the sixteenth-rank Grand Master and the fifteenth-rank Junior Master is too great. In my humble opinion, it would be best to attack them in groups or wear them down with a war of attrition, only then would we have a slight chance of victory."
Shen Tang's role is rather unique; he is both a warrior charging into battle and a powerful leader holding down a sway over a region. Whether Shen Tang answers Huang Lie's question confidently or unsurely, he will not be well-received. Gu Ren doesn't mind doing Shen Tang a favor.
There are some things he's more suited to say than Shen Tang.
Gu Ren's gaze fell on the black-clad warrior behind Huang Lie.
The latter kept his eyes down and remained silent.
At that moment, someone murmured something.
"Only a sliver of a chance? Is the gap really that big?"
Gu Ren gave a wry smile; it really was that big.
This gap isn't just about the difference in skill level between martial artists; it also involves the national seal. When one side fights on the enemy's military fortress, their strength is suppressed, while the enemy gains an amplification. The difference is far, far greater than normal…
The only saving grace was that Zheng Qiao's side might not have much national fortune left; otherwise, what would be the point of the Dragon-Slaying Squad? They would have been wiped out long ago. The allied forces were shrouded in gloom until someone slammed their hand on the table, the sudden sound startling them.
Shen Tang shouted, "Why are you all looking so sullen?"
Are they going from house to house waiting to attend a funeral?
"Such a formidable opponent..."
Shen Tang interrupted, "Such a formidable enemy? So what if they are? Just because the enemy is strong doesn't mean we shouldn't fight."
She found this group of people quite interesting.
After fighting all the way to the enemy's stronghold, the enemy has also gathered a large force to prepare for the final battle, but at the last minute, they say they have frequent and urgent urination... Why didn't they do this sooner?
Shen Tang said fiercely, "It's our incompetence that Zheng Qiao lives every day he lives in this world! We not only have to fight this battle, but we also have to push all the way to Zheng Qiao's ancestral graves, dig them up one by one, grind his bones to dust, and soak his ashes in wine. He has committed so many evils in the human world that even the King of Hell would have to recite his crimes for days and nights... He is the one who created the hell on earth in Yanzhou."
He should atone with his life!
Gu Ren smiled and agreed, "Mr. Shen is right."
Zheng Qiao has the right to do evil.
They also have the right to send him to meet the King of Hell!
This world shouldn't be like this.
_(:з」∠)_
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