My Fulang is a Delicate Flower Chapter 89 Part 3

"Uncle Huo!"

"What's wrong?"

Huo Shu looked at the youth who was running and gasping for breath, grabbed his shoulders, and straightened him up.

"I just went to relieve myself on the other side of the official road and saw a group of people coming from the direction of Shuixi County. They didn't look like bandits, but they actually detained several refugees passing by."

Zhao Pan panted as he spoke: "But it was quite far, I couldn't hear what they were saying."

"How many people did you see?"

Zhao Pan said: "There must have been about twenty."

"The two leaders were riding mules and had knives in their hands, the rest were following on foot. They looked more like farmers, not particularly strong in build,"

Farmers were easy to recognize, especially tenant farmers. Their faces were usually tanned black from the sun, and they were somewhat thin from exploitation and not having enough to eat.

Moreover, long-term oppression and control made them dull and wooden, most with lifeless eyes. The difference was noticeable even when they stood alongside ordinary civilians.

"They should be rebel militia."

"Did you see if the refugees they stopped included able-bodied young men?"

Zhao Pan quickly nodded, feeling that Huo Shu was remarkably prescient.

"Probably conscripting able-bodied men to add to their forces. The fighting ahead is intense. Rebel militias are mostly made up of tenant farmers. Their weapons are never as refined as those of regular government troops. They must have suffered many casualties in the battles and need to continuously add manpower."

"Coming out to seize fleeing commoners is actually better than taking tenant farmers, they are stronger."

The men nearby who heard the commotion quickly picked up the tools Huo Shu had distributed to them: "Then, what should we do? Should we hide?"

"How can so many people hide? Not to mention it's hard to find hiding spots around here. Refugees passing by have seen our group, and to save themselves, their first words would be that there's a large group behind, begging the rebel militia to spare them and let them go."

The men felt a chill hearing this: "Brother Huo, we'll do whatever you tell us to do!"

"Yes, yes, we will all follow your arrangements."

Huo Shu said coldly: "We stay right here. If they don't come, then forget it. If they come wanting to take people away, follow my command and attack directly."

"Let me be blunt first. If anyone is too scared to fight now and lets them take people away, they will end up on the front lines dying for them. Whether dead or alive, they will be branded with the crime of rebellion."

The men tightened their grip on their weapons, their faces instantly showing more determination.

Zhao Pan opened his mouth, wanting to ask Huo Shu for a weapon, but Huo Shu assigned him a task first: "Go take care of your mother and grandmother."

After speaking, Huo Shu strode forward.

Zhao Pan had no choice but to swallow his words. At this critical moment, he didn't act like a foolish child, trying to be a hero and insisting on charging into battle.

In less than a quarter of an hour, just after Huo Shu had all the men stand up and be alert, noises came from not far away—about twenty people arrived one after another.

"There really are so many people!"

A man riding a mule with a long knife tied to his back saw dozens of people in the open space ahead, with many carts, horses, livestock, and goods. His eyes gleamed with avarice.

"Have you all come from Tongzhou?"

Everyone saw the rebel militia approaching. Although their appearance was not much different from ordinary people and they did not seem particularly fierce, knowing that the war in Tongzhou had been ignited by them made even the honest farmers feel a sense of dread.

What was more, they were all robust and able-bodied men. The women clutched their children tightly, huddling together and not daring to make a sound.

Ji Yangzong steadied his nerves, stole a glance at Huo Shu, and after receiving a slight nod of approval, stepped forward to answer.

"Sir, the war has started in Quan Village. We are just some poor families from nearby villages. We can't farm because of the war, so our whole families have moved out to escape the disaster."

The man with the knife on his back said loudly: "The corrupt officials and the decadent court have oppressed the people so they cannot even fill their bellies. You are all capable men—why should you need to flee and hide? Summon your courage and fight these corrupt officials! Win yourselves a better future!"

"Our rebel army treats its followers very well. All who prove courageous will be generously rewarded. Join our army today, and when we succeed, you will be credited as the first to achieve merits!"

The farmers listened, trembling with fear. Such treasonous words were something they didn't even dare to hear in the past. Now someone was openly discussing them. The times truly were chaotic.

Ji Yangzong said humbly: "We generations have been foolish people buried in the earth, only knowing spring ploughing and autumn harvest, not understanding the great affairs of the world. We are of little use to the army. Sir, we hope for your understanding. We travel with our families, fear the chaos of war, are short-sighted, and truly lack such capability. Sir's favor is misplaced."

The man saw that everyone was not at all inclined towards their cause, and his expression changed.

Although the number of able-bodied men here wasn't as many as theirs, and even though women, children, and the elderly made up more than half, the total number was still considerable. It wasn't good to start a conflict rashly.

"If that is the case, we will not force the people."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, thinking to themselves that this rebel army, after all, was gathered from tenant farmers and wouldn't give the refugees too hard a time.

But then they heard the man continue: "Since you have no heart for the great cause, then contribute some provisions to the rebel army. Consider it doing your part for the cause. We will not forget your kindness when our time comes."

"This…"

Everyone was stunned speechless. They never thought the rebels could be so shameless. They were already refugees, barely able to take care of themselves. How could they have provisions to offer?

"Sir, it's the spring ploughing season. Our food supplies were never abundant to begin with. Now that we are fleeing from the disaster, we truly lack the strength and means to contribute."

"You refuse to join the army, and you refuse to contribute provisions. Are you deliberately looking for trouble?! The rebel army is fighting for the common people. If you, as common people, are unwilling to unite, does that not mean you are willing to accept oppression from the corrupt court?"

The man's voice suddenly turned fierce: "Since you won't leave either the people or the provisions, then stay here!"

"What if I say no, what will you do then?"

Huo Shu, who had been hidden among the crowd, stepped out and drew a half-person tall long knife.