Chapter 504: The Disobedient Pulverized
Li Daoxuan had a specific reason for choosing Gudu Ferry in Yongji as the designated location for confiscating these men's weapons.
The reason was simple enough: Gudu Ferry in Yongji had already entered his field of view.
The straight-line distance from Gao Family Village to Dragon Gate Ferry was sixty-five kilometers, while the distance to Gudu Ferry in Yongji was only fifty-seven kilometers.
When Li Daoxuan set down the Yellow River Bridge at Dragon Gate Ferry, Yongji Ferry had long since entered his field of view, allowing him to directly extend his hand. He had simply spread his resources too thin, unable to attend to everything, which was why he hadn't yet intervened at Gudu Ferry.
His followers, however, remained unaware.
But now, it was time for them to know.
As soon as he spoke, his followers gained confidence. Leading these five thousand wretched bandits, they slowly advanced towards Gudu Ferry in Yongji.
To prevent these people from disturbing the populace, Xing Honglang deliberately claimed they needed to "evade the imperial army," leading them through deserted areas. Along the way, she managed to prevent them from harassing any upright citizens.
As they continued on, they could already see Gudu Ferry in Yongji ahead.
His followers perked up their spirits.
At this moment, within the rebel ranks, the leader, Cui Shan Hu, also started to become invigorated. After walking for a long time, and now far from Xicheng Mountain, he had already "forgotten the pain once the wound healed," waking from the daze of being beaten by Cao Wenzhao. He put on his leader's airs, pointing towards a distant water fortress ahead, and laughed loudly: "Look, everyone! There's a big water fortress ahead. I see many people moving around inside. Isn't this place rich? We can make a huge haul!"
"Rob what, you fool!" Xing Honglang raged, "That's *my* fortress!"
Cui Shan Hu scoffed, "Huh? Boss Xing, you're a salt smuggler, yet you built a water fortress to defend yourself? This... isn't that just asking for an imperial siege?"
He still remembered that Wang Jiayin had gotten too big for his britches, refusing to remain a "roving" bandit, and insisted on declaring himself king in Hequ County and defending the county seat. That was why the imperial authorities had hounded him to his death. And sure enough, he was dead.
At this moment, the six hundred strong Gao Family Village Militia had silently distanced themselves a short way from the five thousand men. This had been a discreet maneuver since the Heavenly Lord issued his command. Because the rebels marched in a disorganized fashion, they hadn't noticed.
By now, the water fortress was very close, and everyone had reached the open ground outside its walls.
Xing Honglang suddenly turned around and raised her hand. Her three hundred cavalry and three hundred infantry simultaneously halted, standing motionless.
This action startled Cui Shan Hu and the five thousand men. Many froze in their tracks. Cui Shan Hu quickly widened the distance between himself and Xing Honglang, retreating among his own subordinates, and had his last hundred loyal men surround him for protection. He bellowed at the top of his lungs: "Boss Xing, what in the world are you doing?"
Xing Honglang declared loudly: "Cui Shan Hu, weren't you just asking if I was afraid of the imperial army attacking my fortress? Let me tell you, definitively: I'm not afraid!"
Cui Shan Hu's heart lurched: "Could it be that you, too, have already surrendered to the imperial army?"
Xing Honglang burst out laughing: "Me, Xing Honglang of Yongji, surrender to the imperial army? Does anything but filth come out of your mouth? Can't you say anything sensible?"
Cui Shan Hu asked: "Then what do you mean?"
The five thousand disorganized rebels quietly began to gather behind Cui Shan Hu.
Xing Honglang declared loudly: "I'll tell you now the best way to avoid being besieged by the authorities. It is..."
She drew out the last word, until everyone strained their necks to listen. Then she loudly proclaimed: "Stop burning, killing, and looting! Stop doing evil deeds! Be good people, and find new life!"
Cui Shan Hu spluttered: "What?"
He rubbed his ears, half-convinced he'd misheard: "Damn it, Xing Honglang! You're a salt smuggler, for crying out loud! Why are you suddenly spouting such sanctimonious nonsense, like some rotten old monk?"
From the watchtower of the water fortress, Zhan Seng's head popped out: "Amitabha! To describe a monk's benevolence in such terms, this poor monk is quite displeased."
"Shut up!" Cui Shan Hu snarled: "Where did this idiotic monk come from? Do you believe I'll chop you to pieces?"
Zhan Seng replied: "Goodness, goodness!"
He was a monk, and he sought no quarrels. So even when threatened, he offered no retort. He merely uttered 'Goodness, goodness' in silence.
Xing Honglang took over, shouting: "I met you beneath Xicheng Mountain not to help you continue your rampage of burning, killing, and looting, but to make you fools lay down your weapons and mend your ways. I know each of you is a ferocious ruffian, not easily swayed by others' words. But let me warn you: I am fiercer than any of you. From this day forward, every last one of you will damn well obey. Anyone who dares utter a single word of defiance, I will summon the Heavenly Lord to crush him into a paste of flesh and bone!"
Gao Chuwu whispered from the side: "Wow, my wife just got really fierce."
Lao Nanfeng chuckled softly: "With these types, you have to be fierce. If you try to be polite and reason with them, they'll just draw their blades and cut you down. Only by being fiercer than them can you keep them in line."
"Hahahaha!" Cui Shan Hu burst into laughter: "Xing Honglang, what act are you putting on here? You have so few troops, a mere handful of weaklings, and you dare threaten me? Open your eyes and see: these five thousand people, whose orders will they follow, yours or mine?"
At his laughter, the hundred-plus loyal subordinates behind him all stepped forward, assuming menacing postures. The five thousand leaderless vagrants, also spurred by his words, roared back at Xing Honglang a couple of times.
Cui Shan Hu boasted: "Not only will I *not* mend my ways, I'll make an example of you! I'll hack this ugly woman to bits right now, then plunder this dilapidated water fortress clean! Hahahaha, Brothers, who's with me?"
His hundred subordinates shouted first: "We are!"
The five thousand men began to hesitate. To follow or not to follow? They were rather tempted to follow...
Just as they were still deliberating, Xing Honglang sneered: "Very well, Cui Shan Hu. You can die now."
Cui Shan Hu scoffed: "Oh? I'd like to see how you—"
Before he could utter his last word, the clouds above suddenly parted. A colossal golden hand, descended with the force of wind and thunder, crashing down with a deafening roar.
"CRASH!"
The enormous palm slammed down onto Cui Shan Hu's head, enveloping him and his hundred-plus loyal subordinates, and pressed down with a muffled thud.
The earth quaked, shaking mountains and ground.
The immense hand swiftly lifted, receding back into the sky.
On the ground, only a vast, pulpy mess remained.
The five thousand rebels behind them shrieked in terror. Some instantly wet their pants. Others were so scared they shit themselves, a stench filling the air!
Those at the front of the ranks stumbled back, while those at the rear turned and fled.
But they couldn't escape. The colossal golden hand descended again, and with a thunderous *CRACK*, it slammed down across their escape path.
Knowing there was no escape, their legs buckled, and they collapsed to their knees on the ground.
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