Chapter 299: Gao Family Village Prison
Thirty-Two chuckled. “Those are the Guyuan rebels. A few days ago, under the leadership of the Northern Water Wolf, they attacked Chengcheng County. Our militia defeated them, captured them, and they've been held here ever since.”
Zao Ying's mouth gaped wide, unable to close for a long moment. “You captured so many border troops alive?”
“Come on, let’s go take a closer look,” Thirty-Two invited, leading her towards the Gao Family Village prison.
Outside the prison’s perimeter, numerous guards were on patrol. Some had been seconded from the militia, others were newly recruited, and a few were from the first batch of labor reform prisoners. After serving their sentences, these former convicts had been rehired as guards, making them exceptionally adept at understanding the psychology of the inmates and managing them effectively.
Prison Warden Zhong Gaoliang, seeing Thirty-Two, immediately rushed forward to greet him. “Manager Thirty-Two, what brings you to the prison today?”
Without much ado, Thirty-Two simply pointed to the sky.
Zhong Gaoliang looked up and immediately spotted the Heavenly Lord’s low-hanging cloud. He understood at once: the Heavenly Lord was observing their activities. This was a prime opportunity to report on his work. He quickly said, “Since the Heavenly Lord is watching, please, both of you, come in.”
As he led the way, he explained, “The Guyuan rebels have been imprisoned for several days now, but I haven’t rushed to send them out for labor work. These men are too formidable in combat; letting them out carelessly could endanger the villagers. So, we’ve been working to quell their fighting spirit these past few days.”
Thirty-Two nodded. “As it should be.”
Zhong Gaoliang, in the midst of reporting to the Heavenly Lord, elaborated without needing Zao Ying to ask. “First, they need to eat well, sleep soundly, and feel secure. They shouldn't have to worry about us killing them. Only then will they stop thinking about causing trouble or escaping.”
“Every morning, I distribute large quantities of grain for them to cook themselves. Look, it’s currently time for breakfast distribution.” Zhong Gaoliang pointed to a corner of the prison. Several guards were pushing handcarts overflowing with flour. A guard opened a small gate, pushed a cart into the cell block, then retreated and secured the door before shouting inside: “Come get your flour, cook your own meal!”
Inside, the highest-ranking fierce general, Lao Nanfeng, waved his hand. Several border soldiers came over, pushed the handcart away, and began cooking by the makeshift earthen pots and stoves Zhong Gaoliang had arranged for them.
Having a full meal was quite a surprise for these men! They had expected inhumane treatment after capture, so the fact that they ate their fill every day was utterly unexpected.
While some were cooking, others had actually taken out copies of "The Heavenly Lord Dao Xuan's Demon-Slaying Saga" comic books and were engrossed in reading them. Zhong Gaoliang had specifically arranged for these to be sent into the prison for the border troops.
The last time the border troops had clashed with the Gao Family Village militia, they had been utterly terrified by the "giant golden hand," believing it to be a demonic appendage. But now, having read "The Heavenly Lord Dao Xuan's Demon-Slaying Saga," they understood exactly what kind of formidable power they had challenged.
Seeing this, Thirty-Two couldn’t help but nod. “Zhong Gaoliang, you actually understand this stuff, impressive.”
Zhong Gaoliang smiled. “It comes from my own experience, you see. Back then, when Zhong Guangdao and Zheng Yanfu incited us to attack Gao Family Village, we wet our pants when the Heavenly Lord manifested. It was only after the villagers told us the Heavenly Lord’s story that we truly became people of Gao Family Village. So I figured, these rebels need to know about the Heavenly Lord too.”
Zao Ying, listening beside him, looked utterly bewildered. “What exactly *is* the Heavenly Lord?”
Thirty-Two pulled a copy of "The Heavenly Lord Dao Xuan's Demon-Slaying Saga" from his sleeve and handed it to her. “Chief Zao, please take a look.”
Zao Ying flipped through it casually and was immediately baffled. *What strange story is this? A giant hand descending from the heavens? Utterly preposterous! Is this some propaganda pamphlet from the White Lotus Society?* Yet, she couldn’t detect the desperate fanaticism often associated with the White Lotus here; instead, she felt an air of happiness stemming from prosperity. *It doesn't seem like a cult,* she concluded.
Just as this thought crossed her mind, a guard climbed onto the prison wall and began loudly reciting something to the labor reform prisoners below. Listening closely, she realized the guard was giving a lecture.
He spoke of principles for living, of good and evil, of the common people’s hardships, reminding them that they, too, were the children of ordinary folk. He then condemned their past actions of robbing the populace...
Many of the labor reform prisoners listened with expressions of shame, lowering their heads.
The guard concluded by saying that they must atone for their past sins through labor, diligently undergoing reform. Their families and fellow villagers were waiting for them to return, and only by cleansing their transgressions could they truly become new people... and so on.
Zao Ying listened and understood: *Ultimately, he was dangling a carrot.*
Zhong Gaoliang said, “We’ve actually achieved some results with their ideological education. I feel these labor reform prisoners are almost ready to start working.”
Thirty-Two nodded. “Then be bolder. Let them out and see. The Heavenly Lord is watching today anyway, so we have nothing to fear from any mischief they might try. It’s called being ‘entirely secure’.”
Zhong Gaoliang nodded. “Alright, we’ll start today.”
He shouted loudly into the prison, “Labor reform prisoners, listen up! I am Prison Warden Zhong Gaoliang. Starting today, you will be released for labor reform, building roads. The sooner you begin your labor reform, the sooner you can atone for your sins and become new people. However, if you commit any offenses during the reform process, your sentence will be extended, and you might never leave this prison. Think carefully!”
The labor reform prisoners erupted in a clamor.
Many were overjoyed. But a sharp glint flashed in the eyes of the fierce general, Lao Nanfeng.
Zhong Gaoliang continued, “Alright, the prison gates are about to open. Outside, you’ll find tools like shovels and spades. Each of you take one, then follow the instructions to the road construction site.”
The prison gates swung open... The guards had long since prepared the tools for this day.
The labor reform prisoners each took a tool and obediently filed out. When it was Lao Nanfeng’s turn, he let out a low chuckle, selecting a shovel with the hardest handle. He gripped it, almost like a long-handled hammer, his eyes darting restlessly as he slipped out of the prison with the others.
The moment they stepped out of the prison gates, many of the labor reform prisoners excitedly waved their arms. “We’ve been locked up for days, finally out!” they cheered. “Even if it’s for road work, it’s better than being cooped up all the time!”
“Even if it’s to come out and build roads, it's better than being confined all the time.”
“Hey!”
“Come on, let’s go build roads, and atone for our sins.”
Some men obediently set off. But Lao Nanfeng let out a soft whistle, and several labor reform prisoners subtly gathered around him, forming a compact eight-man team.
Lao Nanfeng whispered, “Be ready to run at any moment. Wait for my signal.”
The other seven murmured in agreement, “Understood.”
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