Watching the two figures leave, Feng Zhiwen's face darkened: "They wouldn't really intend to hand over Lord Liu, would they? You kindly helped them, sir, but if they really did such a thing, they would be worse than beasts!"
Liu Yifu was not greatly disturbed. Just as he said, if he could save thousands of people, then he would not care about sacrificing himself.
But the bandits are cunning and not so easy to deal with.
He frowned slightly, his gaze becoming more serious.
...
Back at the manor, Wen Xiuyuan glared at his advisor, his tone laced with annoyance: "What were you looking at me like that! Do I even need to consider this? If I really handed over Lord Liu, wouldn't I be seen as an ungrateful wretch?!"
The clerk wore a bitter expression: "Sir, at a time like this, what's the point of talking about loyalty? Do you really want to see so many innocent people die?"
He paused, then spoke in a more tactful tone, "Besides, this is just a temporary measure. Handing over Lord Liu might delay the arrival of the imperial reinforcements, and Lord Liu will be safe. But if we don't hand him over, those bandits might launch a forced attack on the city tomorrow!"
If they said they would massacre the city, then they were not joking.
A struggle flashed in Wen Xiuyuan's eyes as he gritted his teeth and said, word by word, "That has nothing to do with Lord Liu. He didn't need to get involved in the first place. We're the ones who dragged him down. How can we do something so shameless?"
Liu Yifu was not the magistrate of Liucheng County, so he had no obligation to make sacrifices for them.
If the bandits were to attack the city, he would risk his life to hold out until the very end. But if he were to hand Liu Yifu over to those beasts, he would be haunted by guilt for the rest of his life!
The advisor looked at his master, his eyes seeming to want to say something but holding back.
You're thinking too simply, sir. The bandits deliberately made their statement at the city gate not just to force you to compromise.
...
That evening, a large crowd of people gathered outside Wen Xiuyuan's mansion. They knelt for a long time, begging him to hand over Liu Yifu.
When Wen Xiuyuan heard the news, he was shocked and bewildered. Hadn't he ordered his subordinates to keep their mouths shut?
He rushed to the scene, his face extremely grim: "What are you all doing? Get up, all of you!"
The simple faces were pleading, and their eyes held a desperate urgency.
"My lord, please hand over Lord Liu, or none of us will survive!"
"We know this is unfair to Lord Liu, but who would want to die if they could live?"
"My child is so young, he's only been in this world for a short time..."
Low sobs rose from the crowd. Faced with such a group of people, Wen Xiuyuan felt utterly powerless and couldn't even utter a complete sentence.
Everyone is afraid of death. To them, Liu Yifu was just an insignificant stranger, and they would not feel much guilt even if he were to die.
Making a choice between one's own safety and the safety of others is something that requires little hesitation; that's human nature.
He closed his eyes, his voice tinged with weariness: "But have you ever considered what obligation Lord Liu has to bear these burdens for us?"
His words silenced the crowd, who lowered their heads, seemingly avoiding the question.
Just then, someone walked out of the door, the moonlight gently enveloping him, as if he were coated with a soft light.
Liu Yifu calmly and composedly looked around before slowly turning to Wen Xiuyuan: "My lord, there's no need to hesitate. I am willing to leave the city on my own initiative."
Wen Xiuyuan looked surprised, and the people below also raised their faces, their eyes showing bewilderment.
"Master Liu..."
"That leader and I have some disagreements, and he's determined to take it out on me. In a way, I've dragged everyone into this." He spoke calmly and even smiled slightly. "Thank you for taking care of me these past few days, Lord Wen. After I leave, please look after my friends."
His attitude was nonchalant, as if he were not going to his death, but rather taking a long trip.
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