Seeing that he had confessed everything he knew, and that Zhu Xiaosong, the rebel leader, was still looking at him with a half-smile, Officer Li quickly thought about what Zhu Xiaosong had asked him and then shouted, "And me!"
"I was squeezed out by Officer Liu and Officer Wang from the county yamen. I went to Liu Miao Village just to earn some money for shoes, I didn't think of doing anything else!"
Zhu Xiaosong was amused by Officer Li: "Isn't that clearly letting you scout ahead? Anyway, you won't miss out on any benefits. You die first if there's danger. Aren't you stupid?"
Officer Li shouted, "Yes, yes, yes, I am a fool, but you must believe me, even if I had other ideas, I don't have the ability, right?"
"If you are willing to let me go, I am willing to be your dog, master. If there is any movement from the government, I will definitely find a way to inform you, master!"
Zhu Xiaosong was noncommittal. After getting the information he wanted, he waved his hand and said to Liu Erniu, "Take them down and have people watch them. No unjustified beating or abuse."
Liu Erniu was stunned and asked, "Boss, are we just going to keep them? They are all bad guys anyway. I think it's better to just kill them, and save wasting food."
Zhu Xiaosong glared at Liu Erniu and shouted, "What did I tell you about discipline before!?"
Liu Erniu pondered that the discipline they had talked about before did not prohibit beating or abusing prisoners. However, Liu Erniu wanted to argue but did not dare, so he could only respond in silence.
After thinking for a moment, Zhu Xiaosong softened his tone and pointed to Officer Li, saying, "Look at the ragged coats they are wearing. They are obviously like us, just struggling to make a living. How can you be so quick to shout and kill?"
With that, Zhu Xiaosong summoned the more than eighty soldiers on Jade Emperor Mountain.
Master Tutor once said, understanding who our real enemies are and who our real friends are is the root of revolution.
There was once a joke that said: During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Japanese devils could judge which part of the opposing army they were facing based on their firepower – those carrying double guns were from the Sichuan Army, those with strong firepower were the KMT, those who fired single shots and couldn't keep up were the Red Army, and those who had few guns but were good at throwing homemade grenades were definitely the local Eighth Route Army.
Emulating the Eighth Route Army in making homemade grenades and landmines is not difficult – as long as one studies high school physics and chemistry well, and reads the "Militia Training Manual" Chengde Military Region Edition and "Friends of Military-Civilian Dual-Purpose Talents," it is easy and enjoyable to make these things.
Combining these books, which cost dozens of yuan for a set on Taobao, with the "Everything Made by Simple Methods Series," can even enable humanity to rebuild an industrialized society after the apocalypse.
Others might not read these books, but for a struggling author who leans towards historical web novels, isn't it normal to be familiar with and master these books?
Therefore, Zhu Xiaosong was not worried about escalating the matter.
There is nothing that a grenade cannot solve. If there is, then add another ten thousand.
With his mind made up, Zhu Xiaosong called Zhu Erdan, Liu Erniu, Liu Huaiwen, and others over and instructed them, "Before the government can fully react, each of you leads your men down the mountain to the nearby villages."
"First, to eliminate those local tyrants and evil gentry, allowing the common people to breathe. Second, to see if there are any artisans who understand making fireworks, or blacksmiths, carpenters, and the like, and invite them up the mountain."
"Uncle Huaiwen, take your men to Great Uncle Village, Little Uncle Village, Qian Zhang Village, and Liuyuan area. Erdan, take your men directly to Wenshang County, sweep through the nearby villages, and fight as many as you can."
After instructing Zhu Lao Er and Liu Huaiwen, Zhu Xiaosong turned his gaze to Zhu Lao San and Liu Erniu: "Lao San, take your men down the mountain to purchase saltpeter, charcoal, and sulfur."
"Er Niu, take your men to chop some sturdy wood. I will tell you later what to do with the wood."
...
Ningyang County Yamen.
The fine teacup was smashed to pieces, and a small pool of tea spilled on the ground, reflecting the shocked and angry face of Master Hao. Advisors Liu, Officer Liu, and Officer Wang were all scolded by Master Hao like grandsons.
"Who can tell me why Officer Li, who went out to gather information with his men, hasn't returned after two days?"
"Also, since Officer Li hasn't returned, what have you two done? Great Uncle Village, Little Uncle Village, Zhang Village, Liuyuan, more than ten villages, big and small, have been swept by that Zhu Xiaosong! More than a dozen gentry have been wiped out by him!"
"Do you think I'm going to be unlucky, so you're not taking my words seriously anymore?"
"Let me tell you, before I become unlucky, I have plenty of ways to make you unlucky first!"
As he cursed, Master Hao suddenly shouted to the outside of the hall, "Someone!"
Several bailiffs rushed in and bowed, saying, "What are your orders, Master?"
Master Hao, puffing with anger, pointed at Officer Li and Officer Wu and shouted, "Drag them out and give them thirty strokes! Hit them hard!"
Hearing the words "hit them hard," Advisor Liu was startled and had to step forward and bow, saying, "Master, please calm down."
Hitting with intention meant that the thunder was loud but the rain was small. Even if the buttocks of the punished person were split open, it would only be a skin wound that could be healed by applying medicine. To master hitting with intention, one had to place tofu under a brick, and the brick must be broken, but the tofu must not be broken.
Hitting hard meant placing the tofu under the brick. The tofu must not be broken, but the brick must be broken. Simply put, one strike could kill someone.
Now, Master, in his anger, demanded to be hit hard, which was clearly aimed at beating Officer Liu and Officer Wang to death!
How could that possibly work!