dognovel Chapter 373 The Reputation of Liu Bei and Guan Yu
Chapter 373 The Reputation of Liu Bei and Guan Yu
On this magical land of China, the ultimate goal of all bandits is to go ashore and launder their money, without exception.
Clearing their name requires not only opportunity but also a lord who appreciates them. Compared to Sun Quan, Liu Bei and Guan Yu are certainly more trustworthy.
Liu Bei and Guan Yu's reputations were enough to make these bandits lower their resistance and vigilance. In this way, Guan Xing only needed to solve one problem: how to give them a suitable way to put their minds at ease.
Therefore, Guan Xing asked his question: Why did you become outlaws?
He didn't believe that these leaders were starving. To become leaders, they must be exceptionally outstanding in some way, better than ordinary people. These outstanding individuals, even if they didn't have any other problems, could still make a living.
As soon as Guan Xing finished speaking, Kui couldn't wait to say, "I'm good at nothing but fighting and too lazy to farm. I've been following Boss Peng since I was a child. Wherever Boss Peng goes, I go. When Boss Peng became a river bandit, I naturally followed him."
Sixth Leader Wei Hu said, "I'm different from Fourth Brother. I have a skill. My father was the most famous blacksmith in the surrounding area. During the Battle of Xiaoyao Ford in the twentieth year of Jian'an, my father and I were forcibly conscripted by the Wu army to forge weapons. The Wu army captain in charge of supervising the forging of weapons was a bastard. He forced my father to work despite his serious illness, and my father was worked to death. In a fit of anger, I killed that captain, escaped from the army camp, and became a wanted criminal. What else could I do but become an outlaw?"
With Bi Kui and Wei Hu taking the lead, the other leaders were immediately opened up and began to talk at once, each vying to recount their tragic experiences.
Through their stories, we learned that some were forced to join the Liangshan bandits like Wei Hu, some were recruited by the bandits and then distinguished themselves through their personal abilities, and some, like Bi Kui, had no clear life goals and became bandits by following the crowd. In short, their lives were full of different joys and sorrows.
Guan Xing listened quietly, and only spoke after all the leaders had finished speaking: "I understand your experiences. Some were forced or coerced into becoming outlaws, some were young and ignorant and went astray, and there are other miscellaneous reasons. But the shortest of you has been outlaws for three years. After so many years as a river bandit, you should have gained a lot of knowledge and experience. Haven't you thought about the future? Do you want to be river bandits for the rest of your lives, or even let your children and grandchildren become river bandits that everyone hates?"
"Moreover, river bandits live by risking their lives. They might be somewhat successful in chaotic times, but once the world is at peace, the government will be the first to deal with you, and that government will naturally include me."
"I have already defeated Pan Zhang and Liu Zan, and will soon defeat Lu Xun and wipe out all the Wu troops that are on the eastern expedition. At that time, I will definitely lead my troops westward to enter Yuzhang, quell the bandits, and restore peace to the people. I would like to ask you, if we meet on the battlefield, what are your chances of defeating me?"
Upon hearing this, the bandit leaders fell silent. "We can't even beat Pan Zhang, how could we possibly beat you? You think too highly of us, the mountain and river bandits."
Wei Hu sighed, “We know that thieves never have a good ending. They die a violent death on the street with nowhere to go. But what can we do? We can’t get ahead in the army, and going back to the countryside to farm is even more ridiculous. We’ve offended a lot of villagers over the years. If we really go back, we’ll definitely be beaten to death by the villagers.”
The leaders all nodded in agreement. After all, they were bandits, and they hadn't done many good deeds during their time as bandits. They were disliked by the government and the people and dared not go back. So, the only option left for them was to join the army. But everyone knew the situation of Wu's army. Without money and connections, there was no way out. If they really joined the army, they would only be used as cannon fodder by Wu's generals and incorporated into the suicide squad. They would probably die even faster than bandits.
They didn't want to be bandits; they had no other choice.
Guan Xing said, “You really didn’t have a choice before, but it’s different now. Jiangdong is about to be restored by the King of Hanzhong. You all know what kind of person the King of Hanzhong is, so I don’t need to elaborate. I’ll just ask you one question: if you had the chance, would you be willing to serve the King of Hanzhong and follow him in the northern expedition against Cao Wei to restore the Han Dynasty?”
Wei Hu smiled wryly and said, "Of course we are willing. We greatly admire the King of Hanzhong for his unparalleled benevolence and righteousness, but the question is, will the King of Hanzhong want a bunch of trash like us?"
Guan Xing laughed and said, "I am now the representative of the King of Hanzhong. I can fully represent him to grant you amnesty. It just depends on whether you are willing or not. If you are, raise your hand."
The leaders looked at each other again. After a moment, Bi Kui said, "I have long admired General Guan. If I have the chance, I would definitely like to follow him. But we have to listen to Boss Peng. If Boss Peng is willing to surrender, then we will be happy. If Boss Peng is not willing, then forget it."
Upon hearing this, the leaders reacted in various ways. Some nodded in agreement, some frowned in thought, and some moved their lips as if to speak, but then swallowed their words back.
Clearly, Bi Kui does not represent everyone; not all leaders are as loyal to Peng Qi as Bi Kui.
Since everyone has their own agenda, things will be easier. Guan Xing smiled and said, "I also need to ask Boss Peng for his opinion. You don't need to rush to answer me. We'll talk about everything after we meet Boss Peng. Everyone must be tired after all this. Go back and get some rest."
The leaders got up and left, and Guan Xing said to Ning Huan, "Have the instructors repeat what I just told them to their trainees, so that the lower-ranking bandits are mentally prepared to surrender to the Han. That way, when we confront Peng Qi, they won't follow Peng Qi down the same path to the end."
It takes time to receive and digest information. If the bandits were to surrender to the Han immediately, they would instinctively resist. However, if a seed of surrender to the Han were planted in their hearts beforehand, they would fall into thinking and weighing the pros and cons. Once they start weighing the pros and cons, they would waver. When Guan Xing confronts Peng Qi, they will follow the crowd and go with whoever is stronger.
Therefore, Guan Xing doesn't need them to stand firmly on his side; he only needs them to stand vacillatingly on Peng Qi's side.
That's why he spoke with the leaders in advance, planting a seed of deliberation in them and observing their reactions. He found that many leaders were willing to surrender to the Han. When it came time to confront Peng Qi, Guan Xing believed that at least half of these leaders would follow him.
Upon hearing this, Ning Huan did not act immediately. Instead, he pulled Guan Xing aside and glanced around furtively. Then, in a voice only the two of them could hear, he said, "I guess we don't need to reveal our hand. Peng Qi is probably already dead."
"What..." Guan Xing's eyes widened, and he was about to exclaim in surprise when Ning Huan quickly covered his mouth and nose, saying, "Keep your voice down so no one can hear you. Here's what happened..."
He revealed all the hints he had given Li Tong before leaving. After listening, Guan Xing quietly gave him a thumbs up and praised him, "You're really something. This matter has both advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that it completely eliminates Peng Qi, the biggest hidden danger. The disadvantage is that it may anger Peng Qi's loyalists, such as Bi Kui."
Guan Xing originally planned to take Peng Qi to Jianye and hand him over to his father after incorporating the bandits, so that Guan Yu could give him a sinecure and let him retire. This way, Peng Qi would be free from the bandits and would not be able to cause trouble, and the bandits' hearts would be appeased. It would just require Guan Yu and Wang Fu to put in more effort. However, he did not expect Ning Huan to kill Peng Qi directly.
Killing Peng Qi might solve Guan Yu and Wang Fu's problem, but it brings new problems for himself, which is a bit troublesome.
Ning Huan quickly apologized, saying, "This humble general acted on his own initiative and asks the general to punish him."
Guan Xing shook his head and said, "It's not your fault. Blame Peng Qi for being too restless and having too much of a craving for good food. Tomorrow when we get back to the camp, you'll do this and that..."
After whispering for a while, the two turned and left. Guan Xing comforted the surrendered and wounded soldiers and worked through the night. At dawn, he led a hodgepodge of Han soldiers, surrendered soldiers, and bandits back to Pan Zhang's camp.
Two hours later, he appeared safely outside the camp. Before he could even enter, Li Tong rushed out of the camp gate and ran towards Guan Xing. He slid down to his knees with incredible speed and pain, wailing, "General Guan, you've finally returned! I have failed your trust and your expectations. I am so sorry! Commander Peng Qizong has been murdered..."