Chapter 7: We Are All Rebels

The great commander treats us with utmost generosity. We possess no other skills, but it is our duty to collect the remains for the commander’s family. If the court wishes to execute someone, let it begin with me

As soon as my health is restored, I will immediately go to Ye City to serve the great commander

Han Tong of the Han Dynasty wiped the sweat from his brow and said, "Little brother, it won't do to just leave it as is; do you think we need a coffin?"

... ...

Ye Hua took over the body, needing to carefully piece it together, ensuring that there were no mistakes, and then handed it over to Chen Shi for cleaning. After it dried, makeup would be applied. Ye Hua was particularly meticulous; each body he handled was distinctly different, clean and tidy, with a serene expression.

The cold wind blew against him, and Han Tong ran, drenched in sweat, gasping for breath

The person standing beside became angry and mocked, "Old scoundrel, one must have a conscience in life; you will still be a beggar in your next life!"

Ye Hua shook his head and said, "Then I would trouble Brother Han to bring a few buckets of clean water over!"

At this point, Han Tong's old face turned red

It turns out that this person is Wang, the shopkeeper of the grain store. He was emotionally agitated, looking up to the sky and sighing deeply, "Fellow villagers, my shop is ruined! The court's henchmen have seized my grain and burned down my store! My wife—has also died!" The shopkeeper Wang cried out in grief, "Let the court's henchmen come! I have lived as an honest man for most of my life, and I have never been a rebel; it is just right to indulge myself before I die!" Saying this, he took the initiative to rush over to help collect the bodies, completely disregarding the dirt and blood.

It is infuriating to see those who treat human lives as mere grass, the excessively exploitative corrupt officials!

The sudden newcomer is always met with exclusion, as Ye Hua and Chen Shi cast questioning and suspicious glances at the big man, uncertain of his intentions

Ah, does that mean the Guo family is saved?

Han Tong hesitated, unexpectedly harboring the thought of returning home. At that moment, a young boy, in order to protect a corpse, chased after a wild dog and ran past him, striking Han Tong on the head. Here was a man of eight feet tall, yet he felt less than a beggar, truly a source of shame!

The man explained, "My name is Han Tong. Last year, I followed General Guo to quell the rebellion of Li Shouzhen and was injured, so I stayed in the capital to recuperate..."

The delicate and charming wife is only sixteen! Without her husband, how will she survive?

Han Tong cannot bear to listen, and simply runs away.

The old beggar glared with anger, raising the stick in his hand

Do not say it!

Before he could leave, the Guo family was arrested, met a tragic end in prison, and was abandoned on the streets.

Subsequently, Guo Wei headed north to fight against the Khitan, while Han Tong remained in the capital to recuperate from his injuries. In his words, this life was saved by Guo Wei, and he would be a dog of the Guo family for the rest of his life

On this day, Li San came again, informing him that the emperor was personally leading an expedition and that General Guo's troops had also arrived.

Not long after, they returned with more than twenty coffins, seemingly having emptied the coffin shop. Han Tong informed Ye Hua that the owner of the coffin shop, upon hearing that it was for the burial of the Guo family, not only charged half price but also had the young assistant help deliver them.

The processed corpses, numbering over ten, were placed in the backyard of the nearby Jixiang An, which serves as a designated storage area for bodies

He felt an inexplicable shame, wishing he could find a crack in the ground to hide in

The direct relatives of the Guo, Chai, and Wang families were beheaded; others were beaten to death, some hanged, and some were even dismembered, resulting in a scene of utter misery. Furthermore, in the past few days, wild dogs have been tearing at the corpses, causing them to decay, leading to a very dire situation

Ye Hua nodded, "It would be best to have coffins, but can we gather so many coffins all at once?"

Let us not speak of the Guo family; how good a person Mr. Wang is, how honest he is! If he cannot survive, how can we continue to live?

Ye Hua's work suddenly became easier; he was only responsible for task allocation and the final makeup, while all other tasks were handled by others

He shouted loudly and turned to go to the yamen to report the news

Some people, upon seeing that no joss paper was burned, immediately turned around to buy some, causing the situation to escalate. Even Ye Hua began to sweat, reminding himself to keep a low profile, definitely a low profile!

No one cares about him, he retorted: "Am I wrong? Just look at the clothes on your body, they were given to you by the Guo family two winters ago, how could you forget? Even a dog wags its tail when given something! You, you are even worse than a dog!"

This is what is called justice lies in the hearts of the people! Ye Hua felt quite emotional, but even so, there is still a significant gap, and it will depend on everyone's abilities.

The three individuals were occupied until the time the lamps were lit, before they each departed.

We are all rebels

Alright, I will go right away

Han Tong was driven to madness; he gathered several brothers from the Imperial Guard, determined to risk their lives to save others. However, these brothers exchanged glances and all shook their heads.

Gradually, more and more people gathered, standing around watching and discussing among themselves. At that moment, an old beggar sarcastically remarked: "Those who do not know death, they are collecting the corpses for the rebels, they are also traitors, and will lose their heads along with the Guo family"

The man could certainly see it; he suddenly tore open his clothing, revealing a dark, exposed belly. From his ribcage to his chest, there was a nearly one-foot-long scar, which, although healed, twisted and coiled like a gnarled tree root.

These few words struck at Han Tong's heart, and his loyalty is beyond doubt, but as Li San said, can he abandon his family?

What are you saying

Li San shook his head with a bitter smile, "You haven't gone out, have you? The Guo family, the Chai family, the Wang family, all have been killed, their bodies abandoned on the streets, it is truly tragic!"

Others shouted in unison, "That's right, we are proud men, we cannot be inferior to even a little beggar, living in fear and shrinking back, it would be better to be dead!"

The next day, Ye Hua and Chen Shi appeared again at the execution ground, and standing opposite them was no longer just Han Tong, but a large group of people, among whom was also Li San, who had tried several times to dissuade Han Tong.

With Han Tong's assistance, the work has noticeably accelerated; he is responsible for fetching and transporting water. Chen Shi is in charge of gathering the bodies together.

These people are shouting, ready to take action together

That's all

At this moment, a thin middle-aged man said sternly: "You, the scoundrel, have been informing the authorities and have harmed many people! This time, just go ahead; the one surnamed Wang is not afraid anymore!"

The old beggar completely lost his mind, "Alright, you all speak for the traitors, you shall all die!"

After speaking, Han Tong took a few people to the coffin shop

That's all

Li San shrugged his shoulders and said, "I am also helpless. What if people say I am an accomplice of the great general? Brother Han, I advise you not to act foolishly!"

Han Tong jumped up, shouting angrily, "Li San, do you still have a conscience? How could you allow the general's family to be left exposed on the street?"

For three consecutive days, Han Tong did nothing but drink and curse at others. During his idle moments, he even slapped himself, leaving his face swollen, and ultimately he lacked the courage to go outside

One of them, named Li San, said to Han: "Brother, your loyalty to the commander is admirable, but knowing full well that it is a trap, you cannot jump in on your own. You just got married last month; you cannot let your wife become a widow, can you? Moreover, your family, the Han family, has no descendants. Do you wish to be an unfilial person?"

Having heard Han Tong's introduction, Ye Hua saw his sincerity and readily agreed. Moreover, the name Han Tong seemed to have appeared in historical records, but due to its commonness, it left no significant impression.

If necessary, we can just move the doors and windows here

"You, with the surname Lai, go tell the authorities!"

In just one morning, 40 corpses were processed

If I die, so be it; I fear nothing anymore

Everyone was extremely cautious as they carried the Guo family members inside, fearing even the slightest mistake

They are isolated and powerless, unable to save anyone, and may even lose their own lives in the process

As he drew closer to the place of execution, his steps became increasingly slow... His mind was racing with thoughts, pondering what he would do if he were truly captured as a remnant of the great leader.

One, two, three, four...! More and more citizens are joining the ranks of those collecting the dead, and more people are bringing wooden boards from their homes. Some are also bringing white cloth, candles, and paper money; they want to properly hold a funeral for the Guo family

Han Tong took the lead, bringing the door panels and bed boards from home. Others were not to be outdone, searching everywhere for wood. Some even had carpentry skills, and soon, one by one, rudimentary coffins were produced

His injuries were quite severe. According to the intention of the Chief of the Guards, he was to be thrown out to fend for himself. Coincidentally, Guo Wei was on patrol and heard that Han Tong was the first to ascend the city wall, displaying unmatched bravery. Guo Wei could not bear to see a man die in vain, so he specifically instructed the military doctor to spare no expense on precious medicinal materials. After much effort, he managed to save Han Tong's life

What he says now is of no use; everyone is utterly resentful of the court. The Guo family has also been harmed by the court, and they empathize with them. The emotions have set in, and no one is willing to wrong the Guo family... Ye Hua is also experiencing a mix of pain and joy. The better and more grandly he manages things, the more likely he is to gain the new ruler's favor, and he will soon become a sought-after new noble. However, if the authorities are alerted, it could lead to serious trouble.

Others see it and feel their eyes stinging, as if there is a fire burning in their chests

Ah!