Chapter 588 - 590: The Current Situation

Chapter 588: Chapter 590: The Current Situation

’So what if some of them were innocent?’

’From the moment they boarded their ships with the intent to invade this land, they were already guilty.’

Wutou was already calculating in his mind, ’Should I increase their daily working hours?’

Out on the wastelands, Mountain Leader and his men were hard at work, their minds long since gone numb.

It wasn’t for lack of trying to escape over the years. But each attempt ended in failure, and their reward was always an even heavier workload.

After a few such cycles, even his most trusted followers refused to join his schemes.

Lately, he had fewer and fewer people to talk to. Even his own subordinates, who had once respected him, now seemed to be avoiding him.

"I just saw him. Looks like the Magistrate is here again."

As soon as Mr. Lang mentioned Gu Wenheng, his eyes filled with hatred.

Their current plight was entirely the fault of that Magistrate, Gu.

More than once, they had cursed Mountain Leader and his men in their hearts. ’If you’re going to raid, then just raid! Why did you have to provoke the local officials?’

They’d slaughtered a white rabbit, only to attract a fearsome eagle.

"So what if he’s here? You’re not going to rush over and try to kill him, are you?" Kondo scoffed.

"I’m not as ’skilled’ as you," Mr. Lang retorted, refusing to back down. "You had already returned to your island with Prince Zuo. You brought tens of thousands of men back here for revenge, and what happened?

And now? You’re still stuck here doing hard labor with the rest of us.

No, that’s not right. You’re far more valuable than we are. After all, you brought them tens of thousands of free laborers."

Such taunts no longer angered Kondo. He’d heard them many times before.

"At least I’m not thinking about impossible things anymore. And you all can stop hoping Prince Zuo will come to the rescue. He can probably barely save himself right now."

’Of course he can’t save himself. He led several powers, mobilizing so much manpower and wealth to come here, only for none of it to return. The other powers must have carved him up. It’s anyone’s guess if he’s even still alive.’

Mountain Leader said, "...Are you all content to be trapped here as farmers for the rest of your lives?"

"And what if we’re not? Why don’t you plan another escape? Let’s see if you make it out alive this time."

No matter what, their lives were in their captors’ hands. Even if they escaped and were caught, the worst they’d get was a vicious beating. Their captors wouldn’t kill them; they were being saved for a greater purpose.

But Mountain Leader refused to accept it and tried to stir things up several times. He hadn’t mentioned it for nearly a year now, though. He’d probably been beaten into submission.

At that thought, Kondo gave a disdainful smile. "I’m not wasting any more breath on you. I have to finish today’s work. I have no intention of going hungry with the likes of you."

Kondo walked away. The others who had been standing by watching the spectacle also found it dull.

Nowadays, watching the former junior leaders argue was their only form of entertainment.

Ignoring the hateful glares directed at him, Gu Wenheng made a tour of the area. His heart filled with joy, especially when he saw the sprouting fields. ’Judging by the progress, this year will bring another good harvest.’

’Lu City will have a grain surplus again this year. The government office’s granaries were already full last year. It looks like the people will have extra grain to sell this year. If this keeps up, this land will become the breadbasket of the Rong Dynasty.’

He Gaofei’s face was also filled with pride. "With these earth-shattering changes in just a few years, I’ll have something to brag about to my descendants for the rest of my life."

Wu Yichen, ever the wet blanket, immediately retorted, "Mr. He, you’re already over fifty this year. The rest of your life isn’t that long. I suppose you’ll have to start bragging daily."

He Gaofei aimed a kick at him, but Wu Yichen dodged and hopped over to Gu Wenheng’s side. "A gentleman uses his words, not his fists! You can’t break the rules."

He Gaofei said, "Hah! And am I supposed to be dealing with a gentleman?"

"Are you admitting you’re a scoundrel, then?"

"..."

’Gu Wenheng truly hadn’t expected this. These men were getting on in years, some were even grandfathers, yet they could still be so energetic.’

’It was a far cry from the impression they gave when he first arrived. He hadn’t realized that a few years of letting loose would allow them to truly be themselves.’

While they bickered, Gu Wenheng had already completed most of his tour of the area.

"Mr. Gu!" A dark figure suddenly dropped to the ground before him, prostrating fully.

Gu Wenheng’s guards immediately shielded him, placing themselves between him and the man.

"What is it?" Gu Wenheng could tell at a glance that this was one of the bandits. The coarse sackcloth he wore barely covered his body.

"Mr. Gu, I beg you, be merciful! Please let us go back! I have an elderly mother and young children at home. If I don’t return, they will surely die."

Despite his broken speech, everyone present understood him.

"There are too many people like you. When you came here to invade, did you ever stop to think? The people of the Rong Dynasty you robbed and murdered—did they not have parents and children of their own?

Now, I haven’t taken your lives. I am merely having you atone for your sins here, to repay the debts you owe. How is that not merciful?"

The man collapsed back to the ground, breaking into sobs. "Please... I beg you..." he repeated over and over.

Gu Wenheng looked at the other Eastern Yi people who were watching and raised his voice. "I am not an unreasonable man. As long as you work diligently here, I will grant you your freedom in twenty years."

"Is that true?" someone blurted out, desperate for confirmation. This was, at least, the only hope they had.

"Of course," Gu Wenheng replied, confident. The memorial he had submitted earlier had already received a response. The Holy Emperor himself had approved this course of action.

After all, the Rong Dynasty prided itself on ruling through benevolence and filial piety. A period of punishment without execution was the epitome of mercy.

The faces of the bandits who heard this lit up with the radiance of hope.

They had thought they would toil on this land until they died. They never expected to have a chance to return to their homeland.

Some even began to hum tunes from their homeland. The palpable homesickness moved even He Gaofei and the others, though only for a moment.

"Mr. Gu, when the time comes, are you really going to just let them go?" Wu Yichen finally couldn’t help but ask once they were back in the carriage.

"Of course. The Holy Emperor has already approved the memorial I submitted. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have dared to announce it on my own authority today."

At Gu Wenheng’s words, He Gaofei and the others finally put their doubts to rest. ’As expected,’ they thought, ’Mr. Gu always thinks three steps ahead. He would never leave himself open to criticism.’

"But that’s tens of thousands of people. If we send them back then..."

Gu Wenheng understood Wu Yichen’s unspoken concern. "I only said I would grant them their freedom. As for how they return to their homeland, well, that’s up to them.

In twenty years, we’ll have many more merchant ships. I imagine they’ll be more than willing to pay for passage."