In the early morning, the area around the prefect's mansion was already crowded with people who had been driven here overnight.
Not knowing what these rebels from the Guiyi Sect were planning to do, a group of common people looked around with some panic at the rebels holding weapons and guarding the surroundings like statues.
There are actually not many people guarding here. Lu Xuan left a team of 100 people here to stabilize order. Although they are fierce, they are much weaker than the number of people at the scene. If a riot breaks out, there will not be enough people to watch.
But the rows of figures kneeling in front of the gate of the prefect's mansion and the rows of figures covered by black cloth made people stay silent.
As a native of Shangyang County, the prefect had seen Zhou Ji kneeling here, which was a shock in itself. At the same time, everyone was also curious about what these rebels were going to do.
In addition, although these rebels spoke harshly and beat and scolded, they did not kill anyone, which made everyone feel much calmer. Seeing more and more people around being driven away, everyone began to feel at ease inexplicably.
Hundreds of donkey carts filled with military rations slowly drove towards this direction with the first ray of sunshine, making the already congested avenue even more crowded.
"Just leave it here and let people untie the ropes. Don't worry about it." Lu Xuan motioned for everyone to untie the ropes, and he walked straight to the gate of the prefect's mansion.
Although the people around him didn't know Lu Xuan, the cold murderous aura on his body and the respectful attitude of the rebels around him made people know that he was a big shot in the rebel army, and they subconsciously moved out of the way.
All the way to the gate of the prefect's mansion, Lu Xuan looked at Zhou Ji who was about to faint, and said with a smile: "Master Zhou, you will sleep for a long time in the future, please hold on a little longer."
Zhou Jiben was seriously injured. He knelt here all night without dripping water. He looked almost like his son.
Seeing Lu Xuan coming over at this moment, Zhou Ji showed a look of pleading on his face: "Lu Dutong, I can give you whatever you want. I just ask you to spare the lives of my family members."
"I just want what you can give me now." Lu Xuan patted his shoulder, turned to look at the crowd, his anger sank in his Dantian, and spoke with true energy: "Dear elders, let me introduce myself first. I am Lu Xuan, This is the first time in this life that a Sanyang man has traveled far away. He is a rebel, everyone should be able to tell."
His voice was driven by true energy, and even the outermost people could hear it.
It was probably the first time I heard such a straightforward statement, and everyone's attention was attracted.
"I think everyone has seen the Guanyi Church. It was very popular a few years ago, but now it's reversed. I think everyone has heard of the reason. I won't waste time here today. I'll just talk about why I want to be this person." Rebellious thief.”
"My father is a farmer, the most ordinary kind. Most of you here may have a better life than him. He has basically no other experience in his life except farming to support his family."
"For such an honest and honest man, who poses no harm to the imperial court, why did his son not only become a rebel, but also broke into the county today and trampled on the superior governor under his feet?"
Everyone's attention was gradually attracted by Lu Xuan's words. In everyone's minds, Lu Xuan conquered the county with 800 people. It must be a natural phenomenon and an extraordinary background. However, no one expected that his background was so ordinary. Everyone was curious. What kind of fate could turn an ordinary person like Lu Xuan from a farmer into the villain he is now?
"It's too early, I don't remember it. I just remember that when I was four years old, the court wanted to build a monument to Hongru and raised taxes. Everyone should know this. Not only did this tax happen that year, there was also a rebellion by the Western Barbarians in Huangzhou. , we go to the north to go to war with the state of Kang, and we have to pay more than half of the food for a year, I really can’t survive.”
"But even so, I didn't rebel. Of course, I couldn't. Even a four-year-old child can't rebel."
Someone around him laughed out loud, but stopped quickly, but his impression of Lu Xuan was a little better.
"That winter, in order to support our family, my father went out to work as a day laborer. I don't know if you still remember. It snowed several times in a row that winter. It was very windy and snowy that day, but he had to support the family. I went out early in the morning and never came back. I was still young at that time, and I just thought that as usual, my father would come back with food for me and my mother to eat, but he never came back. At that time, I still thought, Dad must have eaten it by himself."
Lu Xuan's voice seemed to have a special magic power, which gradually made people feel the same.
Perhaps, I really feel the same way. After all, who is not suffering in these days?
Most of Lu Xuan's experiences were similar. In addition, Lu Xuan's eloquence was good. He made the originally plain story become particularly moving through the change of tone, which resonated with many people.
Many people probably guessed what happened next. Their chests seemed to be blocked, and some emotional women even had red eyes.
"It wasn't until a few days later that I was about to starve to death, but I saw the villagers carrying my father's body back. I was still young at that time and didn't understand life and death. I just thought that my father was asleep. It wasn't until a long time later that my father came back. The moment he was buried, I had a vague feeling that he might never come back."
Low sobs came from the crowd, not necessarily because they were moved by Lu Xuan, but because they thought of their deceased relatives or similar experiences.
"There is no man in the family and I am young. My mother did small jobs for others and kept me hungry and well-fed until I was eight years old." Lu Xuan couldn't help but think of the kind figure many years ago, and there was something about it in his mind. Jealous.
He took a deep breath and said: "Actually, my mother is not bad looking. You can roughly know by looking at my appearance. If we give up some moral bottom lines, our mother and son may be able to live a better life."
It sounded like a joke, but few people at the scene could laugh. How many women in brothels were forced into prostitution by life?
It’s really to the point where I can’t live anymore, my morals are bullshit.
"But my mother is stubborn. She told me that people can be poor, but they must have dignity and a bottom line!"
The image of a woman who is poor but very moral is formed in everyone's mind. Such a woman cannot be disrespected.
"She didn't break her promise. When I was eight years old, she was also exhausted. At that time, I already understood life and death, so I didn't cry. It's not that I'm cold-blooded, or that I don't miss my mother. It's just that life was so hard that I no longer had the strength to cry. ”
"Since then, I have become a beggar. I have no choice but to feed myself with an eight-year-old child. I have to rely on charity from kind-hearted people." Lu Xuan said with a smile: "Of course, my mother has a profound influence on me, no matter how hard it is. , I have never done anything like stealing, so I slowly found my way around the market, started running errands for people, and earned some hard-earned money. Later, when I had some savings, I started doing some reselling work, and my life seemed to be getting better. ”
Following Lu Xuan's voice, everyone's mood gradually became brighter. Everything seemed to be developing in a good direction, and a child with good conduct grew up in the market.
"As expected, something unexpected happened. I probably made some small money and was worried about it. First, a yamen clerk came to collect the money. I was young at that time and accepted death. I had already paid taxes, so why should I pay more? money."
Many people present sighed and felt the same. Maybe this child had suffered a lot.
"The poor man saw that I was young, so he didn't do anything difficult for me. He was just beaten by the green men in the city the next day, and then he was imprisoned for a month before being released. After all the hard work, he saved a lot of money. All my family fortune is gone, do you think I should rebel?"
No one answered, and no one knew how to answer.
Isn’t that how everyone came here?
"Of course, I didn't have the guts to rebel at that time, so I had to start all over again. I believed that God would reward hard work. I believed that as long as I worked diligently, God would definitely not starve me to death."
"But God won't do it, people will. It's just that I learned well and paid the interest that I should pay, but the little money left can only ensure that I don't starve to death. Of course, up to this point, I have never thought about rebellion. That kind of thing, until I saw this..."
With that said, Lu Xuan lifted off the black cloth covering the human skin puppet.
There was a burst of exclamation from the crowd.
These human skin puppets are exquisitely made, and the human skin has been processed using special methods. They feel like real people, but because of this, they look particularly oozing.
"This is called a human skin puppet. It is pulled out from a living person and made with special methods. It is said that using this kind of thing to worship ancestors can ensure that future generations will have a prosperous official career. It is very popular in official circles."
Of course this is fake, Lu Xuan has only encountered such a case, but the story, isn't some artistic processing normal?
"I don't know if any of these human skin puppets..."
Before Lu Xuan finished speaking, he saw a couple stumbling out of the crowd. Regardless of being afraid of these ruthless gangsters, they stumbled forward and looked at a boy's skin puppet.
"My son~"
The shrill cries echoed through the streets.
"It seems that we have it." Lu Xuan took a deep breath, and his voice suddenly became louder: "I still don't understand, why!?"
"Why do we have to grow the food, but we have to starve to death in the end?"
"Why is it that we are the ones growing mulberry and hemp, and we are the ones who freeze to death in the cold winter!?"
"How come these superior adults can enjoy our support even though they have done nothing!?"
"How come they can trample on our dignity and even our lives while enjoying our support!"
"Why should our lives be so miserable!?"
When he asked the last question, Lu Xuan's voice almost roared out of his mouth.
The crying around him continued, and people rushed out to claim the human skin puppets one after another. Lu Xuan looked around, took a deep breath, and his voice became deeper: "I know there are too many injustices in this world, because this world is inherently unfair. There is no absolute justice, and I have already accepted my fate, but if even surviving has become a luxury and my life has been trampled on, but you still want me to be a good citizen honestly, then I am afraid that I am overthinking it!"
"Confucian sages once said that the people are like water, and the country is like a boat. Water can carry or capsize a boat. It makes sense. But today, I want to say: Would princes, generals, and prime ministers rather have their own kind?"
Many young people suddenly feel excited.
Yes, why are they the princes and generals? We can only be trampled under their feet like ants and grass.
"Sir, you are not a rebel! The imperial court is!"
Someone in the crowd shouted loudly, but was quickly silenced.
Inexplicable power was gathering, and the aura in the sky that had always made Lu Xuan feel depressed began to slowly dissipate as Lu Xuan spat out these words.
The green energy protecting the city began to dissipate.
It is not as immediate as Zhang Yuqing's Jade Talisman, but I can truly feel that the green energy protecting the city is dissipating, and the pressure on Lu Xuan is getting less and less.
"No, I am a rebel now. I know everyone has concerns and is afraid of us, but it doesn't matter. I, Lu Xuan, have killed many people since the rebellion began, but I have never killed ordinary people. I know where I came from. Yes, today, since everyone does not welcome me, we will leave here. As for these people, I will leave it to you." Lu Xuan pointed to Zhou Ji's family and said, "In addition, there is a lot of food over there, so I will give it to you. You guys can at least make this winter easier for everyone."
Lu Xuan pointed at the grain truck he brought, looked down at Zhou Jidao: "Master Zhou, let alone not giving you a chance, it's up to you whether you can survive."
After saying that, Lu Xuan stood up, got on his horse, and waved his hand: "Let's go!"
After saying that, he took his eight hundred volunteers and walked out of the city without any hesitation.
The crowd automatically parted a way to watch them leave, leaving a group of people looking at Zhou Ji and his family members who were kneeling on the ground, at a loss.
"Hurry up and let me go!"
Seeing Lu Xuan leave, Zhou Ji's eyes flashed with murderous intent, not only for Lu Xuan, but also for the people in front of him. As long as he could kill everyone here, his reputation might still be preserved.
"Dog officer, give my son back his life!" Without waiting for anyone to answer, the woman who was crying until she was about to faint suddenly burst out, roared and rushed over, grabbing Zhou Ji's neck with both hands, her eyes full of madness.
"Come on, pull this crazy bitch away!" Zhou Ji wanted to struggle, but he lost too much blood and knelt all night. He still had no strength left, so he could only scream with difficulty, hoping that someone would come and help him.
It's just that the people of the Zhou family, including the servants, are kneeling here, and no one can help them. As for the people around them, although they are a little at a loss, they feel a little happy when they see Zhou Ji's appearance.
"Dog officer!"
There was another roar, but a slovenly man limped forward, but the person he rushed towards was not Zhou Ji, but his son.
The man's daughter was taken away by Zhou Ji's son. She thought she could live a good life, but unexpectedly she lost news and one of her legs was broken when she came to ask for an explanation.
He originally thought that he would never have a chance to take revenge in this life. Who would have thought that God would give him a chance to take revenge with his own hands.
"Let me go, you untouchable!" Zhou Ji's son was picked up by the lame man. The man was much stronger than the woman.
"Today I, a pariah, will kill you to avenge my daughter!" The lame man only had revenge in his mind now, and someone wanted to take the opportunity to show off and pull the two of them apart.
But how could the flame of revenge be extinguished so easily, and no matter how hard anyone pulled him, the man's hand holding Zhou Ji's son's neck became harder and harder. His face had begun to turn purple, and his tongue was sticking out.
Those who wanted to flatter him were about to get angry, but their bodies were dragged into the crowd, and there were bursts of screams.
Another person rushed forward, both men and women, either with hatred for Zhou Ji or hatred of the rich. In short, more and more people rushed forward, and the scope of the impact became wider and wider. At first, it was the Zhou family and his son, and then Later, family members, servants, and maids.
The screams, wails, and begging for mercy lasted for a long time and then gradually disappeared. When the rioting crowd gradually dispersed, what was left behind was a pile of humanoid corpses and the emptied cattle carts. …
