flstandardbreds Chapter 169 Officials Oppress the People to Revolt: Zhang Xiong Has a Grudge, Wins Over the People,
Chapter 169 Officials Oppress the People to Revolt: Zhang Xiong Has a Grudge, Wins Over the People,
"Although Zhang Xiong avenged himself by massacring his enemies on the spot, not all of them are dead yet. Chieftain, you can look here!"
As Zhu Wu, the "Divine Strategist," spoke, he patted the dust off a large blue stone in front of him. The mountain wind at dusk carried damp mist into the cave. Zhu Wu turned the three oil lamps brighter, and the cuffs of his blue cloth robe were stained with ink.
"Chief, please take a look at this record of what happened in the Luzhou Prefecture's criminal justice department."
Zhu Wu pulled out a roll of pasted yellow hemp paper. Under the lamplight, the tiny characters seemed to glow with the dark red of old bloodstains.
On the ninth day of the seventh month of the third year of Chongning, when jailers Ge Liu and Zhao Si were on duty, the key to the torture chamber was out of their possession for two hours—the very night Zhang Xiong's wife, Wang, was dragged into the cell and violated by those men. And these two men were still alive.
After Zhu Wu finished speaking, the veins on the back of Li Hanxiao's hand holding the wine cup suddenly bulged, and the jade ring on the jade pendant struck the stone with a crisp sound.
"Strategist Zhu Wu," seemingly oblivious, unfolded another musty-smelling notebook: "This is also what I learned from the prisoners. The current magistrate of Mianshang County, Li Zhu, was promoted after Zhang Xiong. At the time, it was said that the Ministry of Personnel had annotated it with the four words 'meritorious in suppressing bandits,' but the bandits suppressed by Luzhou Prefecture back then were none other than Zhang Xiong, who was falsely accused of privately hoarding and manufacturing armor..."
"The 'Divine Strategist' Zhu Wu paused deliberately, 'He said he caught a thief, but it was really just a way to kill an innocent person and claim credit. These corrupt officials will do anything for their own promotion. And this person is none other than the former magistrate of Tiantang County, Li Zhu, who, bribed by the constable Zhao Tingfang, conspired with him to frame Zhang Xiong. His registrar Wu Zhong also participated in the rape of Zhang Xiong's wife, Wang, with Zhao Tingfang. Both of them are still alive.'"
"Among them, Li Zhu has been promoted to magistrate of Mianshang County, Wu Zhong, the registrar, has been promoted to vice-prefect of Mianshang County, and Ge Liu and Zhao Si have also followed him and were not killed by Zhang Xiong. Therefore, at least these few of Zhang Xiong's enemies are still alive, and Zhang Xiong has not succeeded in taking revenge."
Upon hearing this, Li Hanxiao sneered and said to himself, "That Tian Hu claims to be the King of Justice, so why doesn't he help Zhang Xiong, the Purple-Faced General, take revenge?"
Li Hanxiao despises people like this the most, who act as if they are so fair and righteous.
Zhang Xiong had clearly been under his command for quite some time, yet he still hadn't helped him take revenge. Li Hanxiao didn't believe that Tian Hu was unaware of this matter.
Tian Hu was unaware of this matter, but given Zhang Xiong's thoughts and personality, he must have discussed it with Tian Hu more than once.
Zhu Wu smiled disdainfully upon hearing Li Hanxiao's words, as if mocking Tian Hu's self-serving and two-faced nature. "The chieftain is right. Zhang Xiong has wanted revenge many times, but Tian Hu has refused, citing the large number and strength of the troops in Mianshang County."
Upon hearing this, Li Hanxiao burst into laughter, laughing at Tian Hu's absurdity.
"How many soldiers could a tiny county like Mianshang have? And how many generals could it possibly have? Isn't that nonsense!"
Li Hanxiao shook his head; Tian Hu's excuses were all too absurd.
Just then, the sound of chains dragging on the ground came from outside the tent. "Blue-faced Beast" Yang Zhi led in a prisoner with a face full of tattoos. The man was missing half of his left ear. He was the chief clerk in Tian Hu's army, who had accompanied Tian Biao on this expedition but was captured.
This is the prisoner from whom the "Divine Strategist" Zhu Wu had previously obtained information. It was "Blue-Faced Beast" Yang Zhi, whom "Divine Strategist" Zhu Wu had arranged to come.
"Tell the chieftain, why did Zhang Xiong cause such a ruckus in the central command tent last December?"
Zhu Wu, the "Divine Strategist," drew one of the two swords from his waist and threw it directly into the charcoal brazier until it was red-hot, temporarily using it as a branding iron.
It's clear that this prisoner had already been subjected to torture by the "divine strategist" Zhu Wu. If he were smart, he would know to talk now, otherwise he would be branded with a hot iron.
The prisoner trembled as he spat out half a broken tooth: "That night, General Zhang drank three jars of Fenjiu liquor, brandished his golden hammer, and demanded that King Gongdao send troops... He said that Tian Hu's promise to avenge him was all bullshit... That's all..."
Before he could finish speaking, Li Hanxiao suddenly drew his sword and cut off the topknot of the captive's head, startling the captive so much that his crotch was filled with a foul stench.
"Don't be dishonest, continue."
Li Hanxiao pressed the tip of his sword against his Adam's apple.
"Okay, okay, okay, then...that's it...I said, actually, back then King Gongdao said...that with the Divine Arm Bow set up at the top of Mianshang County, it wouldn't be worth losing our brothers...So General Zhang smashed the Purple Gold Hammer on the Third King's desk and said, 'My blood feud is nothing compared to a few crossbows...'"
The prisoner suddenly coughed violently, spitting out a clump of bloody saliva. Later, although King Tian Hu was angry, he also said that he had saved General Zhang Xiong's life years ago, and that he should be grateful. Therefore, General Zhang Xiong did not retaliate further. However, from then on, King Tian Hu gradually distanced himself from General Zhang Xiong…
Li Hanxiao waved his hand, signaling "Blue-Faced Beast" Yang Zhi to take the prisoner away. Now Li Hanxiao understood that he didn't need Yang Zhi to slowly "squeeze out the toothpaste" anymore.
Li Hanxiao suddenly stood up, his cloak sweeping over the lamp.
The flowing lamp oil snaked across the ground, casting flickering light on his face: "Where are those four beasts now? Since Tian Hu is keeping Zhang Xiong hanging and won't avenge him, I'll avenge him."
"That's exactly what we've been waiting for, Chieftain!"
As Zhu Wu, the "divine strategist," spoke, he pointed to the marching map beside him. "Chief, they should be in Mianshang County now, about seventy or eighty li away from here. If we can quickly rush over and bring back their four heads..."
"Ready your horse!"
Without wasting words, Li Hanxiao shouted, and the stable boy led over Beihai Salu Zi. Li Hanxiao picked up the three-pointed double-edged sword and the golden bow and silver bullets, mounted his horse, and spoke to "Divine Strategist" Zhu Wu.
"I'm going to marry those bastards right now!"
As soon as Li Han uttered those words, it was Zhu Wu, the "Divine Strategist," who became anxious and quickly stopped him, grabbing the reins of Bei Hai Sa Lu Zi. "Hey! No way! Chieftain, how can you go by yourself!"
Although Zhu Wu, the "divine strategist," hoped that Li Hanxiao would help Zhang Xiong avenge his family, he did not want Li Hanxiao to venture into enemy territory alone!
If Li Han were to accidentally cause any harm while laughing, Zhu Wu, the "Divine Strategist," couldn't bear the responsibility. He'd probably be torn to pieces by the Liangshan brothers...
"It's okay, alright, who wants to go with me..."
Li Hanxiao understood that if he didn't find someone to go with him, "Divine Strategist" Zhu Wu would rather be trampled to death by a horse than let him pass.
Li Hanxiao suddenly noticed Wang Yin yawning by the campfire outside the cave, so he called out, "Brother Wang Yin, come with me for a bit, but don't make a sound!"
Wang Yin was awakened by Li Hanxiao. Although he didn't know what Li Hanxiao was going to do, he still obediently led Zhuan Shanfei over, picked up the Tiger Head Steel Spear, and quietly followed Li Hanxiao out of the camp.
"Chief, where are we going?"
Wang Yin asked, puzzled.
"Haha, I'll collect this debt in a bit. You don't need to interfere; just hold my line..."
"Debt collection?"
……
The moonlight at the hour of Xu (7-9 PM) gilded Beihai Saluzi's originally purple mane into strands of silver. Li Hanxiao slung the three-pointed double-edged sword behind his back, and the twelve silver bullets in the gold-threaded deerskin bag jingled with the rise and fall of the horse's back. They had now reached the mountainous area outside Mianshang County.
As the BMW galloped away, shattering the thin mist in the mountains, the eighty-mile official road shrank into a single line under its iron hooves. It was fortunate that Wang Yin was accompanying them; his own horse, Zhuan Shan Fei, was a BMW that could travel a thousand miles a day. Otherwise, no one else could have kept up with Bei Hai Sa Lu Zi's speed.
At three-quarters past midnight, the two reached the outskirts of Mianshang County. The outline of the Divine Arm Bow swayed in the lamplight reflected in the moat. Li Han smiled and drew the bow like a full moon. Three silver bullets, accompanied by a strong wind, tore through the night. In the instant the iron chains of the drawbridge snapped, the fourth silver bullet pierced the forehead of a sentry on the city wall. Then, silently, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh... one by one, the night watchmen fell silently...
The heavily fortified county town of Mianshang, which Tian Hu claimed was well-defended, was easily breached by Li Hanxiao all by himself!
One city gate was breached, and all the night watchmen were wiped out, but nobody noticed—nobody noticed at all!
What kind of heavily guarded defense is this? That divine crossbow is useless in their hands!
"You've secured the suspension bridge, I'm going to get to work!"
Li Hanxiao left Wang Yin with these words, and then Beihai Saluzi, like a bolt of purple lightning, swept across the lowered drawbridge. Li Hanxiao leaped onto the saddle, his three-pointed double-edged sword flashing with cold light. The crescent blade of the sword tip plunged into the crack of the city wall bricks, using the momentum to sweep upwards. Sparks flying from the blue bricks drew a three-foot-long streak of light in the night.
Just as the black figure leaped onto the rampart, the watchman's drum on the watchtower struck the third watch. The patrolling soldiers' lanterns had just turned the corner when he had already become a blur of shadows between the eaves. Li Hanxiao had killed three more patrolling soldiers!
If it weren't for this, he wouldn't have bothered climbing over the city wall!
The tung oil lamps in the gambling den in the south of the city illuminated the tattoo on Ge Liu's neck. This former jailer was smashing a gold-inlaid dice cup onto a black wooden table, his jade-inlaid fingernails flipping over the dominoes as he laughed wildly: "Heavenly Dice!"
Since he came here with the adults, he has been promoted and has a lot of spare money, so he gambles whenever he has free time.
Before he could finish speaking, a silver bullet shattered the "Heavenly Tablet" through the window. Amidst the flying splinters, a second silver bullet pierced his throat, embedding half of his tongue in the "God of Wealth Arrives" plaque behind him.
Before the gamblers could even scream, the third silver bullet extinguished all the lights. In the darkness, someone touched Ge Liu's bleeding neck, and thick blood mixed with broken teeth splattered all over their hands.
"Those who don't want to die, get out of here! Anyone who dares to utter a sound will meet the same fate!"
A low shout came from somewhere, and the gamblers, fearing for their lives, immediately rushed out the door. After they ran away, Li Hanxiao quickly sneaked into the gambling den and beheaded Ge Liu.
Li Hanxiao wasn't afraid of these gamblers going to Gaomi. Even if the army from this county came, he wouldn't be afraid; he could fight his way out by himself!
It's the second one's turn!
The pleasure boats on the Mianshui River were filled with the fragrance of perfume. Zhao Si, with his leopard-print embroidered chest exposed, poured wine from a jug into the collar of a singing girl. Suddenly, the sound of metal scraping came from outside the carved window.
He has already been promoted to captain, even faster than Ge Liu.
He cursed as he pushed open the window, and the crescent hook of the three-pointed double-edged sword caught his gilded belt with lightning speed, causing his 200-pound body to smash through the window frame and fall into the river.
Before the splash subsided, Li Hanxiao had already flipped into the water. The hilt of his knife struck the drunkard's throat, shattering his throat. The bowstring of the golden bow cut into the greasy flesh. Amidst the bubbling blood on the river's surface, the leopard-print robe slowly sank to the dark riverbed. Then, a head was ripped off, leaving only the terrified singers staring at the headless corpse floating on the surface.
The first two were relatively easy to deal with, but the latter two were a bit more difficult.
城西吴宅书房的羊脂灯映着主簿吴中抽搐的腮肉，紫毫笔尖在州府公文&34;每村征收三百斤粮食&34;的&34;三&34;字上颤抖着描成&34;五&34;这几乎是多少年的弊病了，征粮，通过该字数而加收。
Wu Zhong yawned and felt a chill run down his spine, but he didn't pay any attention to it.
However, the next moment, a crisp sound rang out. In the instant that the roof tiles shattered and fell, the three-pointed knife, bathed in moonlight, pierced through the top and pierced the skull with a dull thud as it embedded itself into the blue bricks. The convulsing right hand even drew another bloody mark on the false account.
As Li Hanxiao spun the knife to decapitate, the gold ring on the hilt overturned the lampstand. The instant the flame licked the account book, a silver bullet engraved with the character "公" (gong, meaning "public"), sparking, embedded itself in the signature of "李柱" (Li Zhu). The smell of burnt brains filled the study...
Finally, they arrived at the highest-ranking official's residence—the stone lions in the backyard of the county government office were covered in night dew. Li Hanxiao shot three arrows with his golden bow, breaking the door bolt. His crescent-shaped three-pointed sword lightly flicked the eaves, startling the bird bells. The tinkling sound just drowned out the sound of the broken window.
The noise outside startled Li Zhu, but he didn't wake up. Instead, he had a nightmare in which Wang Shi, disheveled, came looking for him seeking revenge...
In his nightmare, Magistrate Li Zhu scratched at his brocade quilt and suddenly felt a chill on his neck—the main blade of the three-pointed knife was pressing against his Adam's apple, while the two secondary blades were wedged against his chin.
"That lawsuit that framed Zhang Xiong back then should be returned!"
Before the whisper was finished, the blade flashed, revealing a half-moon in the cold light. As the head flew off, blood sprayed onto the bed curtains, and the severed head rolled off the pillow, just past the dripping blood...
"what!"
Li Zhu's concubine cried out, but was knocked unconscious by Li Hanxiao's punch. A commotion broke out in the outer courtyard, and all the officials from the county government rushed over to surround Li Hanxiao.
Li Han strode out, completely ignoring the pursuers. When they closed in, he swung his sword and neatly cleaved the torches in the hands of a row of pursuers in two, without injuring anyone else...
The words "fairness" that Li Hanxiao had just written on the snow-white bedroom wall with his own blood were still bleeding, but Li Hanxiao's figure had already climbed over the high wall of the backyard...
As the dawn broke with the sound of the clapper, the oilcloth bag tied with purple ponytail in Beihai was still dripping blood.
In the camp, Zhang Xiong was tied up all night. When Li Hanxiao and Wang Yin returned on horseback, he didn't say a word.