Chapter 159 - Chapter 159: Chapter 159. Rebellion
Chapter 159: Chapter 159. Rebellion
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
It was a troop dressed in the clothes of ordinary people, holding a tattered flag with the words “Walking the path for the heavens.” written on it. It was unknown where they had picked up the flag, but it looked like bandits used it.
The leader was a man in his forties. He had thick brows, leopard eyes, and a full beard. From a distance, he did look like Ji Shuishcng when he had a big beard.
There were about a few hundred people in this group, and they were all black. Most of them were refugees, and bandits mixed in with them. The leader with a big beard shouted,
“The Imperial court is absurd and tyrannical. They don’t care about our life and death. Overthrow the dog Emperor who usurped the throne and bring Crown Prince Ming Heng back. At that time, we will be able to serve the Dragon and bring honor to our ancestors.”
The big-mustached man was a martial arts practitioner. His voice was earth-shaking like a tiger’s roar. When he saw that Ji Shuisheng and the others were all tall and strong men, he took a fancy to them and cupped his fists at them, saying,
“Brother, join us! Let’s protect Crown Prince Ming Heng’s return to the throne.”
“I’m sorry, brother. Many of us are here, young and old, so we can’t join your team.”
…..
Ji Shuisheng admired this person for daring to take the lead and go against the Imperial court. Wouldn’t it be like hitting a rock with an egg if he fought with the Imperial court’s regular Army? He was better than those who were submissive and had no blood in them. However, he could not join this group. Most of them were refugees, and some were even bandits.
“We’ll have a place to live once we take down Fu County. At that time, I’ll open the barn for disaster relief, and you can also live a peaceful life.”
Guo Longjiang still wanted to lobby Ji Shuisheng and Qiu Yongkang, especially the big guy Zhong Yong. His team was short of strong generals.
“I’m sorry.”
Ji Shuisheng refused again. Guo Longjiang looked at him with regret.
“Now is the chance to make a name for yourself, brother, don’t miss it.”
Ji Shuisheng smiled and cupped his hands, “I wish brother great success.”
Because Ji Shuisheng insisted on not joining, Guo Longjiang had to give up. He led his men and rushed toward the city gate with rolling wood.
“Kill! After we take down Fu County, we’ll eat meat and drink wine.”
Ji Shuisheng looked at the team that ran away and could only admire their courage.
“Shuisheng, do you think they’ll succeed?” Qiu Yongkang whispered to him.
“Without generals and soldiers, only a few refugees are so hungry that they have to throw their money away. It will be difficult to achieve great things, but this Fu County should be able to be taken down.”
Ji Shuisheng looked at the soldiers on the city gate tower, who were panicking. They were afraid before the battle; how could such soldiers win?
“I think it’ll be tough.”
Qiu Yongkang saw that Guo Longjiang had already brought his men to break into the city gate. The soldiers at the city gate shot arrows at them, killing many of the rebels.
“Don’t be afraid, everyone. We’ll die either way. We’ll be full if we risk our lives.”
Guo Longjiang was very good at deluding people’s hearts. A hungry person, he was willing to give up his life for a full meal.
There were only a few hundred people, but soon, hundreds more gathered. With so many people killed, the number of people on the team was not only not small but also increasing.
“Let’s go quickly; we can’t take the main road anymore.”
Ji Shuisheng’s gaze became serious. Whether you were a disaster victim who rebelled, killing the wrong person was better than letting anyone go. Once the disaster victims rebelled, the Imperial court would suppress them with blood.
“Alright,” he said.
Qiu Yongkang nodded, and the two returned to tell the team to leave immediately.
“Shuisheng!”
Qin Feng called Ji Shuisheng over. To not appear extraordinary, Qin Feng and the men of Peach Blossom Cove sat in the same carriage. To talk to Ji Shuisheng, he jumped down from the carriage and pulled Ji Shuisheng to the side. When they reached a place where no one was around, he asked, “What’s going on?”
“They’re rebelling.”
Ji Shuisheng gave a simple explanation. Qin Feng nodded and said with a serious expression,
“It’s going to be chaotic. The Emperor’s good days are coming to an end. We must immediately leave this place of trouble.”
As a good official who loved the people like his children, he did not want the world to be chaotic. Those rich and powerful people would run away when they saw war and capture the poor as strong men to protect them. At any time, the people would be the ones who suffer.
“Yes, I have the same thoughts as Grandpa. We must leave immediately.”
Ji Shuisheng nodded. When there were people around, he would only speak without addressing him. When there was no one around, he would call him grandfather.
“The world is in chaos, and heroes are rising. It’s also your chance to make a name for yourself.”
Qin Feng patted his grandson’s shoulder. What he had to do was to accompany him.
“Yes.”
Ji Shuisheng nodded his head. Qin Feng looked at his grandson with a gratified expression. His tactic of sowing dissension earlier was pretty good.
Apart from the Wan family, Ji Shuisheng hated the An family the most. The An family sent winter clothes to the Xiao family’s Army back then. The winter clothes they sent were not cotton but willow catkins because the cotton clothes had frozen many of the Xiao family’s Army to death.
Therefore, the An family must be eliminated! He would let them fight each other and deal with them after both sides were injured.
The troops from Peach Blossom Cove continued to advance. Su Qing used the time to make the crossbows, using the tendons of a cow to make eight crossbows, just as she had expected.
“Sister, this is great.”
Xiaoying held the crossbow in her hand and could not bear to let go. Her beautiful big eyes were filled with excitement.
“Lady Su’s hands are nimble.”
Madame Li also praised Su Qing. This woman seemed to be omnipotent. She could cure diseases, develop weapons to kill people, and even use poison to perfection.
It was their good fortune to have such an influential person on their team.
II II
« •
Su Qing raised her head and looked at Madam Li’s face. It was no longer pale and had a ruddy complexion.
Madam Li was already used to Su Qing’s reticence. Usually, people with extraordinary abilities don’t like to talk much.
Just as Madam Li picked up the embroidery studio and was about to teach Xiaoying how to embroider, she still felt that Xiaoying should not be using knives and bows. It was better for her to learn some needlework.
Su Qing suddenly asked,
“How did Zhong Yong become like this?”
“He had a high fever on the way to escape. After he recovered, he was different from before. At that time, I was heartbroken about my husband’s tragic death and didn’t notice the change in my child, which delayed him.”
Madam Li was full of self-blame for raising her son like this. She had no face to see brother Feng.
“Lady Su, can you cure Yong?”
Madam Li thought of Su Qing’s medical skills and asked her with hope. The tears on her eyelashes trembled as she looked at Su Qing expectantly.
Ji Xiaoying also looked at Su Qing with her godmother. Although her sister’s face was cold, her heart was soft. Since sister Su Qing had asked godmother, she must have wanted to cure her second brother.
“I’ll try at Jingshi Dao.”
Su Qing didn’t make any promises. She didn’t want to treat Zhong Yong immediately, so she observed him first. If he weren’t as loyal and kind after he was cured, then he would be a dangerous existence for Peach Blossom Cove.
“Thank you, Miss Su.”
Madam Li thanked Su Qing gratefully, tears falling from her eyes.
Ji Shuisheng opened the map and found a small road. There were many mountains and forests and few official roads. The rugged mountain roads would affect their speed, but they could not care so much now. They had to get the team out of the official highway immediately.
The disadvantage of walking on the mountain road was that they might encounter bandits, but the soldiers were more terrifying than the bandits now. The team from Peach Blossom Cove had just set off when they heard a loud noise..