Chapter 793: Predicting Blessings
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
After Ouyang Changjing found Ruan Ruan’s words, he returned to West Wind Nation with his men. After all, he was the Crown Prince of West Wind Nation and could not stay in another country for too long. Otherwise, he would be thought to have ulterior motives.
Even so, he still left many people not far from Jiangsai. That was an empty area bordering the West Wind Kingdom, and there were many factions.
In order to be prepared to help Ah Yu at any time, they had specially reorganized the forces there. Now that they had taken good care of them, it was suitable to dispatch people.
Shi Zhou was also a famous figure in the West Wind Kingdom. Naturally, he would not be unprepared.
His actions were completely different from Ouyang Changjing’s. He was a real lunatic.
Shi Zhou was originally an upright general. Ever since Ruan Ruan disappeared, he had investigated some of the conflicts in the West Wind Kingdom and realized that it was those shameless people that implicated Ruan Ruan.
It was unknown if it was because Ruan Ruan had accidentally b.u.mped into something or if they had figured out something, but they always started hunting Ruan Ruan down wantonly. After learning about this, Shi Zhou went crazy.
He gathered a large number of people and brazenly nurtured sacrificial soldiers. He started a ma.s.sacre in the West Wind Kingdom, and even many ministers were killed.
Those who could become ministers had all been nurtured by their families for several generations. Even if the head of the family was upright and honest, who would know?
Which family didn’t have a few lumps of feces in their pockets?
The ministers were terrified by Shi Zhou’s killing. They jointly submitted a pet.i.tion to investigate his family, but the Shi family directly dismissed their servants and donated the money to the national treasury.
The entire family lived in the suburbs, and their houses were rented. After the old general retired and returned to the fields, he really started to farm, raise chickens and ducks. How could they be investigated?
Moreover, everyone knew that Shi Zhou was nurturing sacrificial soldiers. They also knew that his sacrificial soldiers killed people, but no one could produce any evidence.
A qualified sacrificial soldier did not have a sense of existence when they were alive. After they died, they would not implicate anyone, especially those nurtured by Shi Zhou.
Moreover, he was doing this for Ruan Ruan.
The Emperor, Crown Prince, and the others of West Wind Nation would rather he cause more trouble.
Hence, when King Xiaoyao finally gathered his men, he saw Shi Zhou leading a group of people dressed in black outside the Protectorate General’s Residence.
He, who had seen the world, was still shocked when he saw the hundreds of people standing in front of him. All of them were just short of imprinting the word “death soldier” on their faces.
Was he taking the opportunity to rob them?
Shi Zhou cupped his fists and said, “Little Princess All Yu went there alone. We were really worried, so we mobilized some people. These soldiers need little food and rest, work a lot, can endure hardships, and listen to orders. They’re very useful.”
King Xiaoyao raised his eyebrows. “If 1 use these people, do you believe that someone will impeach me tomorrow for attempting to rebel?”
Everyone had trained sacrificial soldiers before, but there were at most 30 sacrificial soldiers under King Xiaoyao. Moreover, each one was more expensive than the last. It was even more expensive to nurture one than to nurture 10 secret guards.
This was because they had to ensure their loyalty and strength.
And now, there were actually hundreds of them in front of him!
How terrifying!
And this was only “some”?
Shi Zhou smiled honestly. “You must be joking. These are ordinary people who came to beg for food. You can bring them to use on the way. They’re very fast. It’s not a problem for one person to carry 200 catties of supplies on foot. They’re much faster than carriages.”
When w.a.n.g Wulang heard this, he couldn’t help but mutter, “Even the livestock of the landlords are not used like this, right?”
Bringing 200 catties of supplies on foot and moving faster than a carriage?
It was a complete squeeze.
King Xiaoyao was still unmoved.
Shi Zhou said, “The resources here in Jiangsai are scarce to begin with. It’s really too difficult to gather resources here. However, we know that there are a few bandit nests along the way. Although they’re not considered extremely rich, they have a lot of supplies. My people know where they are. Usually, if there’s a need, they’ll go and ‘borrow’ a little. If my people lead the way and they’re caught, it won’t affect your reputation as King Xiaoyao. How about that?”
King Xiaoyao: “Brother, you’re treating me like an outsider. It’s everyone’s responsibility to eliminate the bandits. If we can recruit those bandits and bring them along the way to help with disaster relief, it would be best.”
Shi Zhou: “That makes sense.”
However, King Xiaoyao continued, “In addition, I’m still troubled about something. Ah Yu is a kind-hearted child. She predicted that there would be a disaster a thousand miles away and went to help without saying a word. Although we believe her, it’s normal for astrologers to be inaccurate occasionally when it comes to predictions. However, we’ve mobilized so many people. I’m afraid that if we’re exposed, Ah Yu is still young. I’m afraid she won’t be able to withstand such a—”
“Sure, sure. If there are any losses, I’ll bear them alone. If there’s any surplus supplies, I’ll hand them all over to the Great Chang. I guarantee that the people of West Wind Nation won’t come and get their hands on them,” Shi Zhou vowed.
Only then did King Xiaoyao reluctantly give in and let Chi Gou and the other two leave with the group of people. Before they left, they left w.a.n.g Wulang and the soldiers behind.
w.a.n.g Wulang wanted to go, but he was stopped by King Xiaoyao, who wanted him to train on the battlefield more.
“Only when you’re capable can you really protect All Yu from the wind and rain and be her Big Brother. Do you understand?”
w.a.n.g Wulang nodded and stopped making a fuss about going, but he still wrote a letter to his family.
Perhaps it actually didn’t matter if he went or not, but he would feel at ease if he went.
Since he couldn’t go, he would make preparations to clean up the aftermath..