Chapter 2, Old Zhu
Upon hearing this, the common people were first taken aback, and then each displayed an expression of reluctance. However, despite their reluctance, if they did not want their entire families to be implicated, they had no choice but to comply with Mahama's orders
In conclusion, it is all fate. In this great Yuan Dynasty, the lives of the Han people are cheap, and those of the southern Han people are even more so! There is no way around it; one can only hope for an early death and a swift rebirth.
Refusing to surrender the knives and even taking the officials who came to collect them hostage are serious offenses! At such a critical moment when the rebel forces led by Zhima Li are pressing in, how could several officials not apprehend the instigator in advance to set an example?
The adult shows mercy! Little helper Li Si Gou also knelt down, pleading for the esteemed mercy of the great one.
The small household is like the young master of a wealthy family! Although Zhu Laonian did not understand, he could not guess the reason for this person's lack of comprehension. The little helper Li Sige loudly explained, "According to our Great Yuan legal code, if one person plots rebellion, the entire neighborhood is held accountable. These are all neighbors who have watched you grow up; if you kill officials and rebel, are you not directly harming them?!"
Little helper Li Si Gou was startled by the scolding, and his cries immediately diminished. With red eyes, he defended himself, "I, my second uncle didn't mean to knock him out. It was, it was because he stubbornly refused to hand over the knife that my second uncle, he, he just lightly tapped him on the head!"
The surrounding populace was even more panicked, kneeling on the ground, their heads bobbing like garlic being pounded. They were willing to offer everything in their homes, pleading that Mahama not treat Zhu Laonian as a demon of the Maitreya sect, in order to avoid suffering the collateral damage.
The slaughtering knife is not comparable to the ordinary kitchen knife used by common people. According to the rules set by the Mahama Kongmu, the monthly sharpening fee is exactly sixty wen. Mr. Li collected a total of one hundred eighty wen from Zhu Laonian for three months of sharpening fees in one go. However, after just three days, he had to take the knife back. Not to mention that the rental fee would certainly not be refunded, after this incident, if he wanted to continue renting the knife, he would have to pay another sum. It is no wonder that Zhu Laonian was determined to confront him! Even if it were anyone else, they would likely have to negotiate with Mr. Li, as they could not allow such a large sum of money to go to waste!
Indeed, do you dare to vouch for him? How come I heard that he is the deputy hall master of the Maitreya Sect's Great Wisdom Division and the *Tu* *Book* Master, preparing to collaborate with the Sesame Li to attack Xuzhou?! The gaze of Kong Mu Mahama was like a knife, piercing directly into Mr. Su's heart
Indeed, a light tap brought out a madman! Mr. Su glared fiercely at the little helper, feeling both angry and amused. The second uncle, Mr. Li, mentioned by the other party, was a notorious ruffian known far and wide before he infiltrated the government office, possessing formidable skills. A single strike with an iron ruler could easily cause serious injury to someone less sturdy, and yet they claim it was just a light tap? If Old Zhu hadn’t been rendered a fool, he wouldn’t have risked the danger of implicating his entire family by desperately fighting against those working for the authorities with a knife in hand!
The only thing that remained unchanged was Zhu Laonian himself, his two eyes continuing to gaze blankly at the crowd, as if he did not belong to this world at all. It was not until Mr. Li, who had been taken hostage by him, had already wet his pants that he sniffled, frowned, and asked: "Is it really a banquet? Why is Tiandi Xiana's oil so yellow and soup-like? Ah! My life is ruined, held in a haze!"
Zhu Xiaoshe? Accompanying burial? Zhu Laonian clearly did not understand the neighbors' pleas, his crimson eyes wide open as he looked around, filled with confusion
How to stay? You know what time it is, don't you?! Alas, this is all fate! Stop talking and hurry to save your second uncle! Thinking of how Zhu Laonian ultimately could not escape death, Mr. Su's bookish demeanor resurfaced, and he couldn't help but let out a low sigh
At this moment, Mr. Su could not stand idly by. Relying on his past acquaintance with Zhu Laonian's late brother-in-law, he squeezed into the crowd, poked his head out, and urged loudly: "Zhu, Zhu Xiaoshe, don't be so impulsive. Let's talk things over calmly. If you continue to make a scene, it won't just be your problem anymore. The entire neighborhood will inevitably be affected by you!"
"I curse you," Zhu Laonian was momentarily taken aback, but then he relentlessly pursued with a butcher's knife raised.
As soon as he broke free from the encirclement of the neighbors, arrows from the soldiers' bows shot towards him. Two struck the commoners beside him, while another lodged itself in his hair, trembling slightly
Since you are all people with families and properties, you probably have little to do with that Maitreya sect! Seeing the crowd's attitude as "sincere," Kong Mu Mahama also did not wish to deplete the resources, stroking his curled yellow beard, and announced loudly, "Then I will trouble you all to go and capture him for me! Once you capture them, it will naturally prove your innocence"
Mr. Su was so shocked that his soul seemed to escape him, trembling and retreating repeatedly. "Subordinate, subordinate only feels that Old Li, Old Li is quite pitiful. He, he has worked tirelessly for you for so many years. If we do not find a way to stabilize Old Zhu, Old Li, Old Li may be in grave danger this time!"
With a single thrust, he pierced through Li Si's dog, who had rushed to block him, leaving it utterly chilled. Immediately afterward, as if driven mad, he pulled out the bloodied blade and relentlessly pursued Mr. Li, charging straight towards the square hole.
The surrounding common people, upon witnessing this, knelt on the ground and cried even louder. In the entire city of Xuzhou, who does not know that the one who is most adept at amassing wealth and possesses the darkest heart and the most ruthless hands is this Lord Kongmu Mahama, who rides on horseback. He did not bring any officials but directly summoned soldiers from the military camp to assist, clearly indicating that he intended to treat this case as a major conspiracy to rebel. Coupled with the baseless accusation of 'Maitreya cult demons,' it is feared that today in Mulema Alley, not only will Zhu Laonian himself be unable to escape death, but the other neighbors will also inevitably face the fate of losing their entire fortunes.
Upon hearing this, Mr. Su immediately closed his eyes and silently stepped aside
Note 1: "Fang" and "Li" are units of urban household registration in the Yuan Dynasty. If someone commits the serious crime of treason in a certain area, then the entire "Li", or even the entire "Fang", will be held collectively responsible.
"Zhu Laonian, you should quickly release Mr. Li. Considering this is your first offense, we will plead with the judge for leniency and spare your life!" The local white-collar workers and hangers-on, speaking in a mixed dialect of Xuzhou, repeatedly shouted their orders.
"Damn it!" Mr. Su furrowed his brow slightly and scolded in a low voice again. What the hell is going on? It is clearly his own colleague, Li Forty-Seven, who is in charge of the eastern part of the city, forcing Old Zhu into a corner!
This time, his speech was even clearer, as if his tongue and the book had gradually adapted to his mouth. Mr. Su finally understood the last few words he uttered, and in his anxiety, he slapped his own thigh, "This is not a dream; this is real, truly! Zhu Laonian, have you really been struck senseless? Hurry and put down the knife and surrender, so as not to implicate others! I will do my best to arrange with the head of the prison to ensure that you suffer no hardships before your journey!"
As soon as the words fell, cries erupted all around. The neighbors hurriedly came out, kneeling before Zhu Laonian through the bystanders, repeatedly bowing their heads, "Zhu Xiaoshe, please show some mercy and spare Mr. Li! We have all watched you grow up; can you really bear to drag everyone down with you to the grave?"
As I was lost in thought, I arrived at Luoma Alley. I saw more than ten white officials and their lackeys from the yamen surrounding a semi-open pork stall like wild dogs ready to pounce. Inside the stall, leaning against the wall stood a burly man with a face smeared in grease, tightly gripping a butcher's knife that was a foot and a half long. The blade was aimed directly at the throat of another archer from Xuzhou, Li Laoxiao.
Once again, a strange northern accent was heard, slightly clearer than before, yet the crowd still could not understand. Just as they were feeling anxious, a series of crisp hoofbeats suddenly reached their ears. A man of similar stature to the others, accompanied by a dozen government soldiers, arrived. He first commanded the soldiers to block the alley entrance with iron caltrops and wooden barriers, then pointed his knife at Zhu Laonian and said, "You demon of the Maitreya sect, why do you not hurry and release Li Si forty-seven? Otherwise, do not blame this official for being merciless!"
Indeed, it was truly just a gentle touch; I was standing right next to my second uncle at the time. I witnessed it with my own eyes! The little helper, still possessing a shred of conscience, blushed and spoke in an increasingly softer voice.
Upon hearing these words, the little helper's concern for his uncle transformed somewhat into sympathy for the perpetrator. While jogging lightly, he shook his head gently. "This—my uncle never intended to harm him, truly, truly did not! Mr. Su, you have many ways, can you spare his life?"
Suddenly, he swiftly turned the large face of the pot lid towards Zhu Laonian, saying, "If you do not want them to die, then quickly release Li Forty-Seven! On account of your youth and ignorance, I will only take your life and will not implicate your family."
An old man took the lead, while the other neighbors followed him timidly, taking iron rulers, whips, and clubs from the hands of the thugs, and they gathered around Zhu Laonian with a clamor. As they approached, they cried out in explanation: "Old Laonian, Old Laonian, don't blame everyone! You heard Lord Kongmu's words too; everyone has no choice, no choice at all!"
The soldiers around quickly shot arrows to block him, but unfortunately, they were usually lax in training, and the wooden bows provided by the court to the Han soldiers were of extremely poor quality. After two rounds of arrows, they failed to hit Zhu Laonian, but managed to knock down several of the pursuing Bai soldiers, who lay on the ground, clutching their wounds and wailing loudly
He spoke with a distinct northern accent, and his words were very unclear, as if his tongue were uncooperative. Not only did this leave the white officials and the small jailers surrounding him utterly confused, but even Mr. Su, who was reputed to be well-educated and knowledgeable, could not understand a single word
Zhu Laonian, breaking away from the image of a coward that everyone remembered, widened his pair of crimson eyes and responded loudly
Before the crowd could rush to Zhu Laonian's side, he suddenly grinned and said, "It doesn't hurt; it really is a dream. Damn!"
"Help me, help me!" Just at the moment he was momentarily distracted, the kidnapped archer, Mr. Li, began to struggle desperately. With all his strength, he pushed away the blade pressed against his neck and ran towards Mahama.
***
Everyone understood this sentence. The neighbors dared not block Mr. Li's escape route and quickly stepped aside. Old Zhu, meanwhile, was cursing loudly while relentlessly pursuing him with a butcher's knife in hand. The tip of the knife was drawing shadows right behind Mr. Li's back
Before the soldiers could draw their wooden bows for the third time, Zhu Laonian had already rushed to their side, taking down one after another with a single stroke of his knife, knocking two of them to the ground in quick succession. Instantly, a large space opened up around him, as all the soldiers, terrified, covered their heads and fled, no longer daring to look back
"Great mercy, my lord!" The archer Li Forty-Seven, held captive by Zhu Laonian, raised his head and cried out loudly towards Mahama.
The remaining lackeys and hangers-on, upon hearing this, slowly retreated a dozen steps, tightly gripping their iron rulers, whips, and water-fire sticks, and, alongside the soldiers armed with bows, arrows, and sharp blades, reformed a large encirclement, trapping Zhu Laonian inescapably.
In Xuzhou, Kong Mu was so terrified that his soul seemed to leave his body, desperately trying to squeeze his legs around the belly of the warhorse in an attempt to escape the pursuit. The poor warhorse, carrying over 300 pounds of him, galloped towards the alley entrance. In a moment of carelessness, it stepped on the iron caltrops previously placed by the soldiers, let out a mournful cry, and collapsed weakly.
Moreover, this Zhu Laonian has no parents above him, and no wife or children below him, living alone as a solitary bachelor. Even if he is wronged, there is no one to stand up for him or speak out against the injustice, and certainly no one will take money to the higher authorities to smooth things over. At this critical moment, if they do not use him to establish authority, who else will they use?
"Cooking?" Zhu Laonian seemed to understand a few words again, and a hint of anger appeared in his gaze. "What about the mud coal ticket? This is all about the divine tomb decorations, hi, high-rise integrity?"
What is the use of saying this now! Let's see how we can save your second uncle!" Mr. Su glanced at him again and gently shook his head. "Alas, this is difficult to handle. According to the laws of the Great Yuan, as long as Zhu Laonian picks up the knife, the outcome will be the same. Fortunately, alas, fortunately he is the only one left in his family, so it won't implicate others
"Pain relief?" Zhu Laonian was taken aback, instinctively halting his steps. The white-clad officials and the young jailers, seeing an opportunity, immediately surged forward, attempting to capture him alive.
Mahamama was knocked down, stars dancing before his eyes, and he scrambled to get up in a fluster. Before he could even sort out the orientation of his own body, Zhu Laonian had already caught up. The tip of the knife pressed hard against his thick neck, and with a "puff!" a spray of blood shot up more than half a zhang high
You all?" Zhu Laonian was taken aback, looking at everyone with a face full of disbelief
Looking at Zhu Laonian again, his whole body was stained red with blood plasma, yet he felt no discomfort at all. He extended his bloody left hand, rummaging back and forth around his waist, "Where is the equipment? Why is there only money left? Where did the equipment go? Why is there not a single piece dropped?"
Having finished this sentence, he gathered his courage and ran to Lord Kongmu's mount, repeatedly bowing and saying, "My lord, my lord, this fellow has been rendered foolish by Mr. Li's ruler and has no idea what he is doing! The neighbors around usually have no dealings with him!"