Chapter 8: Guo Wei has arrived
Absolutely must not be caught, must not die before dawn
Aren't you supposed to report to the authorities? I want to see how you go about it
Seeing him in such a pitiable state, the common people were somewhat kind-hearted and did not drive him to a dead end. However, the beggar was unwilling to accept this; he would often go to the yamen, reporting one person today and framing another tomorrow, living off the occasional rewards he received.
By coincidence, the beggar Lai had his two legs broken and fainted from the pain. When he finally regained consciousness, fearing that Han Tong would kill him, he endured the pain and crawled away little by little while everyone was busy collecting the bodies. Turning the corner, he happened to run into Wei Zuizi.
Wei Zuizi narrowly escaped death, not even caring about the blood flowing from his backside, like a headless fly, searching everywhere.
Excessive taxation and oppression, exploiting the common people, taking away their wealth and grain is not enough, they also fabricate charges to frame the innocent, taking away everyone's lives! Fellow villagers, elders! Can you endure this?
Ye Hua was focused on his work, and after handling several corpses, his technique became increasingly proficient
"Sunzi is just lying!" the beggar said helplessly, "I merely spoke a few words of reason, and as a result, those rascals broke my legs. They are all busy over there at the execution ground!"
Ye Hua's eyes darted around, sensing that something was amiss
Everyone seemed to be invigorated, as Han Tong was the first to swing his fist down towards a constable, shouting, "What are you waiting for? Get to it!"
Upon hearing this, everyone felt uneasy and hurriedly left
"What, you didn't lie?" Wei Zuizi was anxious
The common people participating in the collection of the corpses stared wide-eyed, filled with astonishment and curiosity, as it turned out that the corpses could be depicted so beautifully, truly remarkable
The beggar Lai once enjoyed a period of prosperity; he used to own a transport business that delivered goods for the shops in Kaifeng. Four years ago, when the Khitan people invaded Kaifeng, Lai proactively approached them, assisting in the transportation of military supplies, believing he had secured a lucrative opportunity that would lead to his rise. However, the Khitan stayed for only a few months before leaving, and even the emperor perished along the way. Lai had misjudged his fortune, and the merchants and common people of Kaifeng looked down upon him.
Oh my God
The officials armed themselves and sprang into action at the slightest hint of trouble
Great, let's take you as a target
Cleaning, stitching, makeup, beauty... Each task is executed with meticulous precision. The originally grotesque corpse, under Ye Hua's skilled hands, transforms into a serene and gentle appearance, with facial features and complexion resembling that of a living person.
This fellow endured the pain, carried the beggar on his back, and the two injured men limped their way to Kaifeng, where they found Tan Tou, who arrived in a flurry with dozens of yamen runners.
He personally brandished the knife and was about to charge forward
The yamen did not regard him with any respect, merely treating him like a dog. The common people held him in even greater contempt, yet they were also unwilling to offend the yamen. Thus, the beggar continued to live like a mangy dog.
The other two imperial guards dragged the beggar and tossed him aside as if he were a torn bag, without the slightest hesitation. Turning their heads, they rejoined the ranks of those clearing the bodies
Tan glanced over, and there were at least two to three hundred people
Tan was too lazy to pay attention to these two dogs; his focus was entirely on the group of people in front of him
Only those from the Han Tong and other elite troops had the courage to act, gripping their wooden clubs tightly, ready to fight to the death. However, their numbers were too few, outmatched by the enemy, leaving them feeling uncertain and disheartened.
The common people picked up the wooden boards, bricks, and stones at hand and struck down at the yamen runners, instantly overwhelming them... Standing outside the crowd, Chen Shi stuck out his tongue in amazement and said, "This move is brilliant; Hua Zi's head is truly effective!" As he spoke, he grabbed a wooden stick and joined the fray...
Among this group of constables, two individuals stand out conspicuously
At that moment, someone outside the crowd shouted loudly: "Fellow villagers, do not be afraid, Lord Guo has already come to kill, and will soon enter the city!"
Faced with the approaching officials, Ye Hua decided to take a desperate gamble
Tan's anger twisted his nose, "Bold and unruly commoners, daring to seek death, apprehend them all!"
In the midst of their conversation, Han Tong placed the beggar Lai's leg on a section of round wood and stomped down hard. With a crack, the leg bone shattered, and the white, exposed bone protruded from the flesh. Lai, overwhelmed by pain, felt darkness envelop him and fainted. However, in the next moment, he was jolted awake by pain again, as it turned out that his other leg had also been crushed by Han Tong.
Unbeknownst to him, Ye Hua had made significant progress in advancing funeral culture. He worked tirelessly until dusk, finally completing the handling of the body. Everyone lent a hand, and they all sent it to Jixiang An. Han Tong, along with a few brothers, went over to keep vigil, waiting for the city gates to open so they could transport it for burial
At this moment, Ye Hua was also highly anxious; he had saved Guo Wei's young son and assisted in collecting the bodies. With these two significant achievements, he was just waiting for Guo Wei to enter the city, after which he would soar to great heights.
Just as everyone was about to disperse, they were surrounded by them
Come here, take them all down
You are talking nonsense, that wretched servant Xiuyun is a traitor, collecting her body will cost you your head
The business plummeted drastically, and to make matters worse, both the home and the shop were burned down, ultimately leading to a life of begging on the streets
Everyone present was stunned; although they hated the court to the core, they still trembled with fear in the face of so many officials, their legs shaking and knees bending.
He stepped forward and shouted sternly: "You capture and kill people at will, it has long become a daily routine. What wrong has the Guo family committed? They have all been killed by the court! We are even less than grass and weeds; you capture us when you want, kill us when you want! You are like robbers, beasts that kill without blinking, brutal and unkind, devoid of conscience. If you have the ability, then kill every single person in the world! Otherwise, sooner or later, someone will take your dog heads! Heaven will take you!" You are like robbers, beasts that kill without blinking, brutal and unkind, devoid of conscience. If you have the ability, then kill every single person in the world! Otherwise, sooner or later, someone will take your dog heads! Heaven will take you!
A few days ago, Wei Zuizi sought the whereabouts of Guo Wei's young son, but ended up with nothing. The newly appointed governor Liu Zhu even considered executing him. However, taking into account his familiarity with the situation in Kaifeng and the fact that it was a critical time for personnel, he was only given 40 lashes and instructed to continue the search. If he still could not find the boy, execution would not be delayed.
"You can forget it!" Lai Qigai disdainfully remarked, "What does it matter to collect Xiuyun's body? There are others who collect the bodies of the Guo family too!"
The common people have always placed great importance on funerals. In order to ensure that the ancestors depart peacefully, it is necessary to prepare burial clothes, coffins, and various accompanying burial items, yet they often overlook the aspect of beauty.
Two villains, each worse than the other, came together and surprisingly began to mock each other
The newly appointed governor Liu Zhu, recommended by the imperial uncle, enjoys the emperor's trust. After taking charge of Kaifeng, he demanded a thorough investigation of Guo Wei's remaining followers, leaving no one unexamined. This presents a great opportunity for merit!
Everything has been arranged, Ye Hua let out a long breath, he was just about to clean up when someone suddenly exclaimed: "Where is the beggar Lai?"
However, these individuals did not travel far before being surrounded by officials rushing in from all directions
Wei Zuizi exclaimed excitedly: "Tan Tou, look, I wasn't lying, was I? Those who dare to collect the bodies of the Guo family are all rebellious and unruly commoners!" Lai Qigai, unwilling to accept this, stretched his neck and shouted: "It was I who discovered it; when it comes to merit and reward, I am the first!"
Ye Hua's mind was racing quickly; in terms of numbers, they were not at a disadvantage and even had the upper hand. The crux of the matter was the lack of organization, as everyone was fearful and lacked the courage.
It ran from this side
This is truly wonderful
One person is Wei Zuizi, Xiuyun's brother, and the other is the beggar Lai, lying on the stretcher with a grotesque face
Ye Hua's voice grew louder, and the surrounding citizens were filled with righteous indignation. They surged forward, blocking the officials, and both sides pushed against each other, resulting in great chaos
The beggar Lai was not only angered but also in pain, his face turned green.
He walked ahead, and everyone followed in pursuit. After running across a street, suddenly, the traces disappeared. Looking around, all that could be seen were green brick courtyard walls, standing eight feet high. The beggar, with both legs broken, could not possibly climb over. So where did he go
Cannot tolerate it, absolutely cannot tolerate it
Dear uncles and aunts, fellow villagers, your righteous assistance is truly admirable. Currently, the city is in chaos, and it is advisable for everyone to return home and keep watch to prevent any unforeseen incidents
"Beggar Lai, I got beaten up. What are you saying? You say I deserve it! And what about you now? Both your legs are broken. Don't tell me you were fooling around with some woman and got beaten up by her husband! Hahaha!" Wei Zui Zi laughed heartily.
Then give them courage
Everyone unanimously thought that if one day their ancestors were to pass away, they would seek Ye Hua's assistance to portray their ancestors beautifully, allowing them to rest in peace, as this is what dutiful children and virtuous grandchildren ought to do
At this moment, everyone noticed that the beggar, who had been interrupted and had two broken legs, was originally crouched in the corner, but in the blink of an eye, he had vanished without a trace, with no one in sight in any direction. Ye Hua was astonished and ran over. Upon closer inspection, he discovered a crawling mark on the ground, along with some fresh blood.
Guo Wei has arrived
Upon hearing this, Wei Zuizi's eyes darted around as he finally came up with an idea. He was not afraid of not capturing Guo Wei's young son; however, capturing Guo Wei's accomplice would also suffice for him to report back.
Wei Zuizi, how dare you speak to me? Your sister jumped into the lake, and her body was thrown at the execution ground. As her brother, you don't even dare to collect her body. What are you? Do you still expect help from outsiders? Isn't that shameful?
Only his good luck ran out, and Han Tong along with two imperial guards captured the beggar Lai.