Chapter 80

Han Changlu rushed out of the courtyard, only to hear a chaotic clamor. The people all surged out, shouting and calling excitedly.

Although Zhang Ke had not officially taken office, he had after all saved everyone from Xu Bangyan’s hands and driven away the Tartars. Whenever Zhang Er was mentioned, everyone would give a thumbs up.

Just a few days ago, however, they heard that the Zhang family had fallen on hard times. At first, some people did not believe it, but when hundreds of soldiers came to arrest people with the ferocity of demons, it could not have been a lie!

Many secretly worried about Zhang Ke, but they did not feel particularly alarmed. What could ordinary people do? They just had to endure and get through the days!

But they soon realized something was wrong. He Guangguang rushed to Dachen Fort, and the first thing he did was to plunder. He had not brought much food and had been beaten up, so he had nothing in his hands.

His soldiers went from house to house, robbing them of food. It was almost the New Year, and almost every household would buy some good food. Even if they had nothing else, they would not miss the New Year’s Eve dumplings!

They would buy three to five pounds of flour, grit their teeth, and cut a narrow strip of meat. If it was all fat, they could even laugh in their sleep. The children looked forward to this meal all year round.

He Guangguang led his men in, taking the flour and the fatty meat. If a household had chickens or ducks, they were even more unfortunate. It was like a swarm of locusts passing through, leaving nothing behind.

Faced with empty flour barrels and solitary meat ropes hanging from the beams, many people were on the verge of tears, their long-awaited feast now a distant dream.

Even worse, many families lost their daughters. The next day, their bodies could be found in the corners of the city or in the乱葬岗 (mass graves) outside the city.

Each body was naked, with white skin covered in bruises. Some had broken limbs and bones. The only thing they had in common was the deep fear and resentment in their eyes. Several mothers, unable to accept their daughters' tragic deaths, quietly drank lye and hanged themselves...

In just five days, He Guangguang had become a hated figure, and the people were so angry that they wanted to tear him apart.

When the news of Zhang Ke’s return spread, the angry people could no longer hold back. They grabbed farming tools and kitchen knives and rushed into the streets. The military households in the city were even more jubilant!

“The master has returned! Finally, someone will stand up for us!”

It was as if a group of wronged children had finally waited for their parents. They surged out like a flood, breaking through the city gates.

Zhang Ke was still waiting outside when he saw countless villagers run out, kneeling on the ground, wailing and crying.

“Master, you have finally returned! We have been wronged, please seek justice for us!”

Among the crowd, Tang Bi also led a group out, but his face was not good. When Zhang Ke left, he entrusted the affairs of Dachen Fort to him.

But when He Guangguang arrived with his men, Tang Bi, upon hearing that Zhang Feng had committed a capital offense and that He Guangguang was the brother of a general, was afraid. Although he did not collude with He Guangguang, he turned a blind eye to his actions. He allowed He Guangguang to attack the river village and ignored his plundering of the people.

Now that Zhang Ke had returned, did he still deserve the trust placed in him? Tang Bi’s face turned red with shame as he knelt before Zhang Ke, trembling with fear.

“Master, I have sinned, please punish me!” Tang Bi’s head hit the snow-covered ground.

Zhang Ke looked at the man before him, pondering for a moment. By all accounts, Tang Bi had indeed betrayed his trust, but putting himself in his shoes, one side was the brother of a general, and the other was a young man deeply involved in a lawsuit, not even a reserve officer. It was already quite good that he had not joined He Guangguang.

Zhang Ke said expressionlessly, “Get up. General He Guangxian has already been arrested and is not far from being punished by the court. Immediately lead the soldiers and civilians in the city to arrest He Guangguang!”

Tang Bi was instantly stunned. This Zhang Ke was truly formidable. Even as a civilian, he had eliminated a hundred-household officer and a commandant, and before his reserve officer status was confirmed, he had taken down a general! This was too incredible!

Tang Bi’s mind was now filled with one thought: He must not provoke Zhang Ke!

He got up from the ground and hurriedly said, “Master, I have sinned, I will atone for it!”

Tang Bi then called his men and rushed back into the fort. By this time, He Guangguang had been alerted. He led his men out, and they immediately clashed with the people.

In the past, the people had no one to back them up and were hesitant to act. Now that Zhang Ke had returned, everyone was like they had been injected with adrenaline.

Elderly men swung their walking sticks, and children shot slingshots. Whenever a thug was brought down, countless feet would stomp on them, causing broken bones and even death.

Dachen Fort was in turmoil, with people chasing and beating He Guangguang’s men everywhere. By the time Zhang Ke led his men into the city, the battle was almost over. Over a hundred people were captured, and dozens were killed or injured.

“Caught, caught!”

Someone shouted excitedly, and everyone looked over. They saw several people drag He Guangguang out of the toilet, lifting him high like a pig, and brought him to Zhang Ke.

“Master, this is He Guangguang!”

Zhang Ke looked at him with a cold smile. This man did indeed resemble He Guangxian, short and stocky, with a large head, drooping eyebrows, and a few whiskers on his chin.

Even after being thrown to Zhang Ke by the people, he was still defiant.

“What crime have I committed? Why are you arresting me? I am a commandant, and my brother is a general. Do you want to lose your heads? Release me immediately!”

Zhang Ke smiled slightly. “Don’t you know? He Guangxian colluded with merchant Zhu Jinhai to create a false case, massacring dozens of cart drivers and conscripts. He is already in prison and might be under severe interrogation right now!”

“Ah!”

He Guangguang’s face turned pale with fear, and his body trembled.

“You, you are lying! My brother is deeply favored by the governor and is about to be promoted to a general! I know you are trying to trick me, but I won’t fall for it...” He Guangguang shouted frantically.

Zhang Ke ignored him and looked at the people.

“Fellow villagers, he says he is innocent. Do you believe him?”

“No!” A woman in her thirties ran out, kneeling before Zhang Ke, sobbing.

“Master, please seek justice for me!”

Zhang Ke nodded. “Sister, don’t be in a hurry, speak slowly.”

“Yes, Master. My poor daughter was six months pregnant. Three days ago, she came to visit me, but she was kidnapped by these beasts. My husband tried to reason with them and was kicked, breaking three ribs. He is still coughing up blood in bed. Yesterday morning, I wanted to find my daughter, but I found her body at the door. Her stomach was cut open, and the baby was beside her, six months old, already formed, a boy. My daughter, my grandson, I am heartbroken...”

The woman wailed and fainted on the ground.

The people around her shed tears, and ten more people knelt down, crying and telling Zhang Ke their grievances. Everyone had a heart full of bitterness.

Listening to their stories, Zhang Feng and Qiao Fu gritted their teeth, their eyes blazing with anger.

“Beasts, all of them! If you don’t punish them, I will look down on you!”

Zhang Ke smiled. “Brother, don’t worry. Dachen Fort is my home, and anyone who dares to cause trouble here will not be spared!”

“Spoken well!” The people clapped and cheered.

He Guangguang was terrified, collapsing on the ground. “You can’t kill me! I am a court official, a hereditary commandant. If you kill me, it will be considered rebellion, and the court will not let you off!”

“Will the court really care?”

“Yes, yes!” He Guangxian nodded frantically. “You are young and have a bright future. Don’t step on dog shit in new shoes. Just let me go!”

“Ha ha ha, you are right. If I kill a commandant, I cannot bear the blame!”

The people’s faces darkened. Did Zhang Er dare not kill?

Just as everyone was puzzled, Zhang Ke suddenly laughed. “I won’t kill you, but heaven will. He Guangguang has committed countless evils, and the people of Dachen Fort want to tear him apart. They have been beating him for over an hour, and now there is nothing left but a pool of blood, a warning to those who harm the people!”

The people still did not understand, but Qiao Fu, seeing the situation, shouted, “What are you waiting for? Come on, kill him!”

One sentence woke the people up. The angry crowd rushed forward, and they indeed beat and kicked him as Zhang Ke had said. The victims pounced on him, biting and tearing. He Guangguang initially shouted, but soon fell silent.

In less than half an hour, when the angry crowd dispersed, only a few white bones and a pool of blood remained on the ground, a stark reminder!

The people were still not satisfied and turned their attention to the captured men.

“Master, these men have looted and killed, they cannot be let off!”

“Right, kill them all!”

Hearing the people’s cries, Tang Bi’s face turned pale, and he quickly whispered to Zhang Ke.

“Master, the law does not punish the masses. There are over a hundred people here. If you kill them all, it will be hard to explain!”

Zhang Ke laughed without concern. “Tang Master, there are not over a hundred people, I only see over a hundred beasts! Soldiers of Dachen Fort, tie these beasts to the stakes.”

The soldiers responded, and soon over a hundred people were tied to the stakes at the base of the city wall. The people glared at them, wishing they could devour them.

Dachen Fort originally had two to three hundred soldiers, most of whom were farmers. Zhang Ke walked past them, his sharp gaze sweeping over each one.

“You are the soldiers of Dachen Fort, and your duty is to protect the people. These beasts have wreaked havoc in the city, and you did not dare to stand up. You are cowards and do not deserve to be soldiers of Zhang Ke! See these targets, charge forward, and wash away your shame with their blood! If you do not dare to, you will be cowards forever and will be kicked out of the army!”