IDWBE -Chapter 205 Not Foolish

They now carried a blind, intense confidence—no matter what kind of enemy appeared, they believed that even without soldiers, the laborers themselves could strip the opponents to their underwear.

For now, the Sanhe laws were only enforced inside the city, but they had to find a way to make up for it on the battlefield.

Usually, corpses had some silver or copper coins, and even if not, taking their clothes and weapons wasn’t a wasted effort.

Wei Yishan was about to speak when he heard shouting from outside the city. He poked his head over the wall to see.

Bao Kui, on horseback, was confronting a group of Qian people.

Bao Kui shouted, “Kang Bao, translate for them—they must obey Sanhe’s rules. Anyone who dares to break them will not be spared!”

After Kang Bao rattled off the words, the Qian people responded with a flurry of chatter, and even the elephants resting by the wall trumpeted in reaction.

Kang Bao sighed. “Sir Bao, they say the Qian people are not cowards—they won’t submit to you.”

“Really?”

Bao Kui waved his hand. Torches flared along the walls and rooftops, lighting up the area. In the firelight, black bows gleamed sharply.

Over a thousand Qian people hastily drew their broadswords, clustering tightly together. Their leader shouted something at Bao Kui.

Bao Kui looked at Kang Bao, who smiled. “They are also Sanhe people. Sanhe people do not fight other Sanhe people. This is a promise made to Prince He.”

“Damn, Prince He was right. These people aren’t completely stupid,”

Bao Kui laughed. “No need to translate that. Just tell them: lay down your weapons. The offender will receive thirty strokes and compensate this young lady for her losses. Then they will return to Sanhe for labor reform. That’s it. Otherwise, the law shows no mercy.”

Kang Bao repeated the message to the Qian people. They exchanged glances. Finally, the leader looked at a thin man holding a knife. The man faltered, his grip loosening.

The leader shouted at him twice. Helpless, he slowly approached Bao Kui, trembling all over.

Bao Kui turned to a disheveled young woman behind him. “Miss, is this the person? Don’t be afraid—point him out, we’ve got your back.”

He was glad the laborers had found her in time and rescued her. Otherwise, if they had executed the Qian man by law, tensions would have been irreparably inflamed.

Supporting family over logic—that was why the tribes stayed united. No tribe leader would abandon this principle.

The young woman, small and pale, stared without blinking at the Qian man who had terrified her to the core. After a long moment, she looked at Bao Kui and finally clenched her teeth and nodded.

Bao Kui called out loudly, “Officers, execute!”

Two soldiers immediately stepped forward, holding the man down despite his struggles. Then someone struck his buttocks with a plank, hard!

“One!”

With a smack, the counting began. “Two!”

Each blow was accompanied by screams.

After thirty strokes, the counting ended.

The Qian people swarmed over, helping the breathless thin man to the side to apply medicine.

The leader pulled a silver ingot from his pocket, tossed it to Kang Bao, snorted, and walked away.

Wei Yishan, standing on the wall, watched everything clearly. He turned to Liu Kan, son of the officer Liu Duo, who was stationed with a bow. “Brother, put the bow away—nothing else to do.”

He felt a twinge of regret that he hadn’t shot these Qian people dead.

The Qian people competed with them at every turn to take spoils, but for Sanhe’s stability and harmony, they had to play the fool.

Liu Kan snorted coldly. “They knew their place.”

The dispute was settled.

Wei Yishan wanted to comment further, but Liu Kan had already fallen in line with the soldiers: attention, stand at ease, left turn, march—disappearing into the night.

Wei Yishan felt a faint envy but immediately remembered that being a soldier meant losing his current freedom.

It was a bit cold. He tightened his clothes against the wall and, without realizing it, fell asleep.

By the time the blazing red sun slowly rose over the horizon, the laborers’ large pots were already set up.

After yesterday, the residents of Tancheng slowly began to trust the Sanhe people. They were no longer timid and started coming out to receive porridge.

Back in the Yuezhou Administration Hall, Zhou Jiuling resumed his duties, issuing one proclamation after another.

By the third day, four or five of the old staff gradually returned, and the Yuezhou Administration was no longer an empty shell.

He Jixiang turned a blind eye and didn’t interfere too much.

The greatest relief for him was that Yuezhou’s deputy commander, Qin Anlu, was still alive!

Through Zhou Jiuling, he issued another recruitment notice for Yuezhou—this time only recruiting three thousand men.

Qin Anlu remained commander, but Bao Kui actually led the troops, while two thousand Sanhe soldiers stationed there maintained order.

The day before He Jixiang left, Zhou Jiuling—now chubbier in the cheeks—hosted a farewell banquet for him.

“Brother Hongjian, your kindness is unforgettable!”

Zhou Jiuling drank three cups in a row, overcome with emotion.

“Brother Renxi,” He Jixiang smiled, “this is Prince He’s kindness, after all.”

“I’ve lost my wits—Brother Hongjian, please forgive me,” Zhou Jiuling knelt toward the south, thumping the ground. “Long live Prince He, long live!”

“Brother Renxi,” He Jixiang’s eyes were naturally small. Squinting now, they disappeared entirely. “I suggest you personally visit Sanhe. Don’t worry about the way—you’ll be escorted.”

Zhou Jiuling nodded without hesitation. “I’ve been meaning to, only feared disturbing Prince He.”

He Jixiang smiled. “Prince He is benevolent—you’ll see when you go.”

Zhou Jiuling smiled. “Thank you for your guidance, Brother Hongjian.”

The next day, the Sanhe army set out again, splitting into three forces. One led by He Jixiang, one by Shen Chu, and one by Zhang Mian, continuing north and northwest of Tancheng to eliminate Han Hui’s remaining forces.

The main target was Huang Sifang, who had escaped from Daxi City.

Of the three forces, Shen Chu’s was the smallest: three thousand soldiers and five thousand laborers, moving west along the official road.

The once-beautiful land remained, but countless families had been displaced; fields lay fallow.

“Thorns overgrow the city walls, paths vanish,” Shen Chu looked at the now-empty Xiluo City with deep emotion. “Enter and find a place to stay.”

This city was a dead city, a ghost city—no need to worry about disturbing anyone. Empty houses could be used immediately.

Later that evening, Zhu Rourong asked if they could take whatever they wanted.

Shen Chu hesitated, but finally nodded. Some things left behind would only rust otherwise.

“What about us?”

Even the soldiers couldn’t resist asking.

Shen Chu closed his eyes and nodded.

A thunderous cheer erupted from soldiers and laborers alike.

Explosions echoed throughout Xiluo City.

They were now skilled at demolition.