When Hu Ma erged from Old Yin Mountain, the sky was already beginning to brighten.
By now, Zhu n Town was bustling with activity. Three thousand soldiers from the Food Protection Army, along with shopkeepers from various branches, army leaders, and even the Food Protection General himself, had all stread into town to pay their respects to the Red Lantern Lady.
It could be said that this small Case God Temple, occupying just a few dozen feet of land, had never seen so many people kneeling and bowing since it was first built, especially not people whose fates and fortunes had shifted so dramatically.
This scene moved the Red Lantern Lady so much that she dared not move at all.
She saw the Food Protection General co to seek her blessing. All the shopkeepers and devotees outside, along with individuals of significant fate within the Food Protection Army, ca to kneel one by one. She couldn’t even respond and only secretly sent a ssage to the Left Protector, Shen Hongzhi.
Her first instruction was to ensure these people were settled, fed, and watered properly, lest they get desperate enough to tear down her temple.
Second, she thought, Shouldn’t we bring over what little is left in the Blood Food Storage? They all rushed over at midnight to protect the sovereign; this humble Case God can’t be ungrateful, even if it seems they weren’t actually protecting .
But the Left Protector, Shen Hongzhi, was also overwheld. No one had expected the town, which had been deserted just yesterday, to be suddenly packed with people in the span of a single night.
Fortunately, the soldiers of the Food Protection Army were quite orderly, with most of them stationed outside the town. It was therefore sufficient to arrange accommodations for their leaders within the town and to bring out the town’s stored grain, cattle, and sheep to reward the soldiers.
When she saw Yang Gong again, her heart grew even more uneasy. She had an impression of this Little Hongxiang from before.
But now, seeing his status change so dramatically, she felt awkward speaking with him. Concerning the Red Lantern Lady’s suggestion to bring out the Blood Food, she agreed and had already arranged for people to go to the Blood Food Storage.
However, when they went, they received a shock. "Oh my, the remaining Blood Food has decreased by half again..."
"Last night, soone must have used the chaos to sneak over, daze the guards, and cart the Blood Food away, one load after another. But fortunately, it seed the person had no helpers, not even livestock, just a solitary cart they were pulling themselves..."
"Our people who went there in the morning even saw her from afar. When they shouted, she abandoned the cart and fled. Her legs seed a bit clumsy, but she ran very fast..."
"..."
"Could it be those demon people from the Truth Sect again?"
The Left Protector, Shen Hongzhi, was fuming. "With so little left, and they still covet it?"
However, the remaining Blood Food was sufficient; it was nearly a thousand jin. Yang Gong and the leaders of the Food Protection Army had never seen so much Blood Food in their entire lives.
The black oil ointnt, the town’s stored grain, cattle, sheep, and horses were all delivered to the Food Protection Army’s tents. Yang Gong and the country bumpkins from the mountains were utterly shocked. "Is the Red Lantern Society really this wealthy?"
"Is this entire vat filled with the legendary Blood Food, said to be more precious than gold? A single bite of this stuff supposedly costs a small building and two plump wives, and now it’s actually being stored in large vats?"
"..."
It wasn’t just the Red Lantern Society. As dawn broke, and not much ti had passed, people from all directions—nearby manors, towns, and even from Mingzhou Prefecture city where the gates had been clandestinely opened—ca to Zhu n Town. They bore gifts and were sotis accompanied by soldiers, all to pay their respects.
Their stated origins were surprisingly grand; they were noble lords from Mingzhou City itself. They claid to be expressing gratitude for the Food Protection Army’s benevolence and had co to offer support or enlist.
The items each arriving group carried were startling. Their gift lists ntioned cattle, sheep, pastures, fodder, and even weapons and armor. This intimidated Yang Gong and the others from the mountains, who found it all hard to believe. They did not understand that the city’s people had reversed their stance, eager to place their bets promptly so as not to be left behind. While in the mountains, they had initially received nothing, not even complete weapons. How had their status transford so dramatically in just five or six days, with everyone now bringing so many gifts?
Other specific matters aside, just consider the soldiers flocking to join them: dozens from here, hundreds from there. Entire mountain bandit gangs reford and ca to enlist. From another manor, hundreds of able-bodied young n, all professing gratitude, wanted to join and protect the grain.
At this rate, wouldn’t the army exceed ten thousand in just two or three days?
And just as these rapid changes were leaving everyone dazzled, bewildered, and sowhat at a loss, soone arrived from the mountains. It was none other than Yang Gong’s father-in-law, Old Taishan, who had rushed to the town with a dozen house servants.
After first kneeling to the Red Lantern Lady with Yang Gong, he hastily called Yang Gong into a tent and said urgently, "I know what’s happening here. Quickly, follow back to the mountains!"
"Back to the mountains?"
Yang Gong was greatly surprised by this. "But the remnants of the Truth Sect are still in the city, and the grain they stole is also in the city. We’ve just managed to gather so many soldiers; we’re ready to charge into Mingzhou in one go. How can we leave now?"
"If you don’t leave soon, you’ll likely die," Old Taishan warned sternly. "Sothing’s wrong. Things are moving too fast. You’re being pushed out to die."
"Now that you’ve reached this point, you’ve protected not only the grain in the mountains but also that of the nearby prefectures and counties. News of the Food Protection General’s army has also arrived."
"Now is the perfect ti to return to the mountains, plan ticulously, and train your soldiers carefully. But if you stay here, among those Jianghu Grass and noble lords, who truly trusts you?"
"The soldiers are rallied under your na, but they could easily engulf and destroy you."
"Quickly, now is not the ti for you to enter Mingzhou City. Pretend to be injured... no, pretend to be ill, and return with to the mountains."
"When the situation here becos clear, your ti to re-erge will co!"
"..."
Yang Gong and his n were still unaware of the thirty thousand hungry ghost army, but they all sensed that Mingzhou Prefecture was far from simple. The strange phenona from the previous night still weighed heavily on everyone’s mind, and Yang Gong knew that what his father-in-law said was likely true.
Just as he was about to agree, he suddenly rembered what Hu Ma had told him at the manor in Green Stone Town. Slowly, he shook his head.
"Old Taishan, I cannot go back yet."
"I also know a calamity is coming to Mingzhou. I can see that those who co to join us do not necessarily truly submit to . Furthermore, I know this army, though it appears strong, is a motley crew and wouldn’t fare well in a hard-fought battle. Yet, it is precisely at tis like this that I must make my na."
"After all, when I first ca out of the mountains, it was to protect this grain of Mingzhou..."
"I can make calculations, but others are even better at it. Leaving now would be easy, but what about the grain outside the mountains? Should I abandon it too?"
"I don’t know if this venture into the city will be smooth, nor what I will encounter. However, I believe one thing: as long as I rember to protect the people’s grain, this land of Mingzhou will not fail ."
"..."
"Just because you call yourself the Food Protection General, does that an you genuinely only care about those few grains?"
His father-in-law was exasperated. He wanted to hit him with his cane, but seeing Yang Gong’s serious expression, he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He just said indignantly, "Those mud-legs! Once they’ve eaten and drunk their fill, who will care about you?"
"The noble lords in the city initially sided with the Truth Sect. They’re only approaching you now to test the waters because you’ve gained so montum. If all you care about is those few grains, how many of them will truly take you seriously?"
"I don’t care who taught you all this nonsense! I only ask you this: with your forces growing more nurous by the day, and everyone harboring their own agendas, do you have enough wits about you to manage them all?"
"..."
Yang Gong was montarily struck speechless. On major matters, he trusted Hu Ma and the "Heavenly Book" he had heard about that night; he knew he shouldn’t retreat now but rather push forward. However, when it ca to specific details, he indeed felt like he was in a tangled ss, completely overwheld and confused.
But just then, he suddenly heard soone report from outside the tent, "Is Brother Yang in there? Please co out quickly, more people have arrived."
"A fortune-teller, claiming to be from the city, says he has urgent matters to report..."
"..."
Before that voice faded, soone else shouted, "Brother Yang Gong, co quickly! So Jianghu Strange People are here! They say they admire you and want to join!"
"Food Protection General, a destitute scholar brought half a sack of grain, saying he wants to contribute to the army and even manage the accounts..."
"Hey, why have perforrs shown up too?"
"..."
This succession of announcents left both Yang Gong and Old Taishan stunned. Having no alternative, they could only go out to et them.
To Yang Gong’s eyes, it was quite a sight. So were dressed as fortune-tellers, so wore commoner’s clothes and had extrely sturdy builds, so wore scholar’s caps and had a refined deanor, while others were in colorful attire, ard with various weapons and implents—one even had a monkey perched on his shoulder...
At first glance, it was an odd assortnt, hardly looking like a proper force, but their expressions were all composed and natural. Even when they saw the teeming soldiers surrounding Zhu n Town from afar, they showed no fear, instead looking on with appreciation.
Yang Gong, having been a Red Fragrance disciple, knew not to underestimate people, so he hurried forward to greet them.
However, Yang Gong just smiled and welcod them, refusing no one who ca to join. In contrast, his father-in-law, who had co out with Yang Gong, initially assud these were people with ill intentions. But after one distant look, his expression changed dramatically.
He rubbed his eyes and looked again. By now, he was so shocked his face had completely changed. He quickly hid himself and only ca out after Yang Gong had t the newcors and ordered a banquet to be arranged for their reception.
Seizing a mont when the fortune-teller was alone, he hurried over and kowtowed, his head hitting the ground. "Benefactor! Benefactor!"
"..."
He was so overco with emotion that old tears stread down his face as he stamred, "Liu Fugui from Yu’erwa Village, Xiaoliang County, Old Yin Mountain, pays his respects to Senior Brother Who Does Not Eat Beef!"
"Eight years ago, Senior Brother, you passed through Yu’erwa and saved the lives of everyone in my village. You instructed us to wait secretly for the right opportunity to achieve great things. For these past eight years, we have kept your words firmly in mind and have not eaten a single bite of beef, only hoping to receive your guidance once more...
"...I wonder, Senior Brother, do you still rember ?"
Reviews
All reviews (0)