Chapter 85: Murder and Heart-Striking Rebellion (I)

  The thick aroma of the stewed meat wafted up to the city gate, and everyone's stomach churned more and more like a raging fire being fueled by dry firewood, burning with hunger, making that little devil called Hunger increasingly disobedient, causing an uproar in their bellies.

  Men Du Jian looked at the meat soup in the large pot and couldn't help but curl up his lips, smiling. He raised his head towards Shi Jin on the city wall: "Brother, you've been guarding the city with great difficulty lately, and I've also heard about your Mount Huashan gang's ways. Since entering the city, you haven't taken a single penny from the common people, not even a cent! Ha ha, to be honest, I, Men Sen, really admire that. Even our own soldiers can't help but say they're inferior!" As he spoke, Men Du Jian clasped his hands together in respect and continued: "For this reason, I've also petitioned the imperial court. Now, you all see this - it's a grand feast of three delicacies and hundred vegetables from the military. If you put down your weapons, past offenses will be forgiven. Those who surrender to the imperial court can come down now and eat meat; those who resist and rebel will wait for their punishment!" After finishing speaking, he took a large bowl from one of his soldiers wearing white robes and soft armor, gently blew away the thin layer of oil flowers floating on the surface, closed his eyes, savored the flavor, and slowly shook his head in enjoyment.

  The brothers on the wall saw, one by one licking their dry lips, secretly swallowing hard. Just as Shi Jing hadn't had time to "return" Meng Du's "good intentions", a loud rumbling sound came from below the city, accompanied by the creaking of turning axles. Shi Jing listened carefully and thought it was just his tense nerves playing tricks on him, but when he listened again, Shi Qian also looked at him in surprise. In that moment when their eyes met, both of them were shocked, and Shi Jing finally believed that he had really heard the sound of the city gate opening. However, he couldn't believe that his brothers from Mount Shao Hua, who were known for their loyalty and righteousness, would be defeated by hunger and thirst, and would surrender in front of a pot of soup.

  But as he looked down, all his fantasies vanished with the scenes of people throwing away their knives and guns. Shi Jin watched as more and more people abandoned their weapons and rushed towards the giant pot, his heart sinking lower and lower. He was clearly anxious and angry in his heart, but at this moment, he stood numbly, feeling his body becoming heavier and more tired, making it difficult for him to open his mouth. But that sentence "Close the city gate quickly" couldn't be spoken. He knew a saying, "When the army is defeated, it's like a mountain collapsing." He also knew that when morale was greatly defeated, it was truly defeated, and when the military heart was scattered, it was time for brothers to scatter. Even if all the fleeing soldiers were killed, what would happen? Even if the escaping crowd was locked up, what would happen? But where could they cut away the fear and cowardice in their hearts? Where could they regain their determination to defend the city firmly? Forget it, forget it, the outcome is already decided. Let those who want to leave go, let the true brothers who can withstand the test of adversity remain!

  Just as Shi Jing was staring blankly with his eyes, watching the soldiers fleeing out of the city one after another, Shi Qian tightly grabbed Shi Jing's arm and shook it violently, saying: "Big brother, look! Big brother, look!"

  Shi Jin was shaken by the sudden and intense movement, and he followed the direction of the gaze. Shi Jin didn't look at first, but now that he did, he was truly shocked and broke out in a cold sweat. Just a moment ago, he thought the reason for all this was just that the enemy was strong and they were weak. At that time, Shi Jin still thought that Meng's strategy was not just a simple psychological tactic, but a more profound plan. He used his massive army to intimidate, changing formations to create fear in people's hearts, and then, although Meng did not order any soldiers to move, the large pot he set up had already unknowingly produced an effect. The aroma of meat soup wafted over the city walls, and for those who had not eaten for two days, were hungry and didn't know the taste of meat, it was more sharp than any sword or spear, more potent than any poison.

  But at this moment, Shi Jin, under the reminder of Shi Qian, calmed down and carefully observed again. He discovered that among those fleeing soldiers, there was an unusual figure. He rubbed his eyes and looked again, only to truly recognize that the person dressed like an ordinary soldier was none other than Wu San Gou, who had just been leading troops on the city wall. In this fleeting moment, Shi Jin recalled many things. When Meng Zongwu was setting up camp below the city, Shi Jin had inadvertently seen Wu San Gou gathering a large crowd. At that time, he had sensed something unusual and wanted to go take a closer look, but Meng's actions had distracted him, causing him to forget. Now, looking back, he suddenly realized that Wu San Gou was plotting treason at the time. The disputes and pushing among them in the distance were certainly due to Wu San Gou encountering obstacles during his plot, resulting in divisions among them. If Shi Jin had been more vigilant and less trusting of Wu San Gou, would he have been able to eliminate this plot in its infancy?

  Shi Jin didn't know what would happen if time could flow backwards, but he knew that the current Wu San Dog had abandoned all his brotherly spirit, just like the broad-backed dagger he always carried with him, which was discarded without any attachment behind him, discarded under the city gate of Huayin County where they were originally supposed to guard with their lives. The current Wu San Dog mixed in with the soldiers, rushing straight towards the direction of that giant pot filled with meat soup.

  "Damn it!" Shi Qian glared at his back, spat on the ground, and then held the bow in his hand, drew an arrow from the quiver, placed it on the bowstring, and pulled the bow to its fullest extent. His mouth continued to curse: "A man's death is just a matter of his head touching the ground, but this bastard, yesterday he was still swearing to die with the city in front of Chen Da, but after just one night and one day, everything has changed, everything about him has changed." As he spoke, he narrowed one eye, his venomous gaze fixed on Wu Sandog's back.

  Just as Shi Yan was gritting his teeth and about to shoot an arrow at the little rabbit, a voice sounded behind him and Shi Jin.

  "Big Brother——" A younger brother from Shao Hua Shan bowed his head heavily, clasped his fists together in front of him and saluted, then turned away with a sideways glance, stuttering and speaking in a low tone: "There... there is a letter here, to be given to... Big Brother..."

  "Who gave it?" Shi Jin and Shi Qian both turned their heads, looking at the brother who pulled out a letter from his body that had not been sealed in time.

  He gritted his teeth and pressed down on his head, forcing himself to suppress the turmoil in his heart.

  "Sighed and said: 'Yes... Wu San Gou...'"