Chapter 86: Murderous Intent and Treason
Shi Jin originally thought it was Chen Da, or more beautifully, Zhu Wu or Yang Chun brought into the city in some way to pass on some information. But now that he heard it was sent by Wu San Gou, he was surprised. Shi Jin's first thought was whether Wu San Gou was playing another trick or still had some unspeakable secret.
When Shi Jin opened the letter, he stared at those crooked and twisted large characters and was speechless on the spot. Shi Qian saw Shi Jin's appearance and also leaned in to take a look at the letter. The few words written by Wu San Gou were really ugly and abstract. It was estimated that these few words were still the writing style used when he followed Chen Da and others to sell pork, striving to make himself clear and others couldn't understand.
"Brother, what is this written?" Shi Qian was also piqued by the boy's letter and couldn't help but look at those extremely ugly characters to ask Shi Jin.
"Loyalty and righteousness fill the universe, liver and gallbladder shine like sun and moon..." Shi Jin read out one word at a time, but before he finished reading, he was interrupted by Shi Qian.
Only then did Shi Qian see the more than 100 people fleeing in all directions below the city, pointing his hand straight at Wu San's back and saying indignantly: "Is this what he means by 'loyalty and righteousness filling the universe, liver and gallbladder shining like the sun and moon'?" As he spoke, Shi Qian hastily drew his bow and arrow, urgently saying: "This scoundrel is using a trick to deceive brother, using this letter to confuse him so that he can safely run to Meng Du's place to surrender! Brother, watch me shoot dead this fake loyalist!" Having said that, Shi Qian narrowed his eyes again and carefully aimed at Wu San's back.
Just as Shi Yan was about to let go of the arrow again, dozens of brothers from Shao Huashan appeared behind him without warning. They all knelt down with a thud, and this time Shi Yan didn't need Shi Jin's explanation to understand that they were begging for mercy. Shi Jin looked at them in surprise, and under these circumstances, Shi Yan's analysis was not unreasonable. People's hearts are unpredictable, especially during times of external worry and internal trouble, anything can happen, and anything can be done, which made Shi Jin have to pay extra attention.
At this moment, looking at these brothers kneeling in front of him, Shi Jin also felt a bit soft-hearted. Although he was admired by everyone and had taken the position of leader of Mount Liusha, compared to Wu Song, Shi Jin lacked one advantage - seniority. Would these people kneeling in front of him be Wu Song's old subordinates? Were they intentionally trying to delay him for Wu Song's safety?
If it's like this, then how many of Wu Song's men are on the city wall now? Will they be instigated by Wu Song outside the city in the future to launch a larger rebellion? Must Chen Da, who is seriously injured, be carried back onto the city wall again? Shi Jin's thoughts turned quickly, and in just an instant, he thought of many things. He found that without his own personally trained soldiers, not only was it difficult to command battles and restrain troops, but no matter what, it would always be a troublesome thing. However, this couldn't be solved for now, and could only wait until later when there was an opportunity to return to the mountain and reconsider.
At this moment, Shi Qian glanced at the crowd kneeling behind him and then turned his head to aim at Wu Sandog. He found that Wu Sandog had already run out of the range of the bow and arrow. With a reluctant bowstring release, he shot an arrow towards Wu Sandog's back. As expected, Wu Sandog successfully ran out of the city gate's killing range after being delayed by a group of people here. Shi Qian watched as the life-taking arrow pierced into the mud, while Wu Sandog escaped unharmed and disappeared into the distance. He fiercely threw away his longbow and angrily said: "This is great, let this rabbit escape." After that, he glared at the crowd kneeling in front of him from Shao Huashan.
Although Shi Yan's face was filled with anger, Shi Jin did not feel annoyed. He looked at these mountain stronghold brothers who came to plead for mercy, and they all had a life-and-death appearance, kneeling here without speaking. However, the meticulous Shi Jin saw something. Just now when Shi Yan angrily said that Wu Sanlang successfully escaped, everyone's face not only didn't show any joy but also added a few more sad expressions. What kind of unspeakable secret was hidden in such an expression? Shi Jin wanted to ask, but he remained silent at this moment. If these brothers wanted to tell Shi Jin, even if he didn't ask, they would say it, but they didn't say anything, and even if Shi Jin tortured them severely, they wouldn't spit out a single word.
Just as Shi Jin was worried about this, the sound of closing the city gate started again at the foot of the city, and with a loud noise, the two gates were tightly closed together. Immediately after that was the sound of the huge door bolt being inserted, which Shi Jin was familiar with. This closure of the city gate made Shi Jin's heart suddenly gain three points of spirit and seven points of fighting spirit, and his icy heart, which had been hanging in mid-air, finally fell into place, warming up and starting to beat with energy.
Shi Jin originally thought that Chen Da was not on the city wall, and the soldiers guarding the city were all the troops he and Wu San Gou brought out from the mountain. So when Wu San Gou defected, it would inevitably cause an unstoppable tide of retreat. In Shi Jin's heart, he had already made the worst plan, which was that when people left the city empty, the government soldiers would take advantage of the situation to enter the city again. But now, although Wu San Gou betrayed them, he only took away a hundred or so people, which was not a great loss for the defense of the city. And the vast majority of brothers, who withstood Meng Dujun's temptation and were not defected by Wu San Gou, this unity of true loyalty and righteousness was the most solid pillar in Shi Jin's heart.
Shi Jin swept away the gloom on his face, and that indomitable and invincible aura returned to his body, just like the boiling hot blood in those giant cauldrons at the foot of the city, surging through his limbs.
At this moment, Meng Dujuan, the commander under the city, looked up at the sky and laughed loudly, saying: "Are these people the only ones who think they can escape? Don't worry, don't worry, I'll wait for an hour. If you don't come down to share, then in the end, it's only good to reward my subordinates. When they're full and drunk, that will be the day of your city's destruction!" Meng Dujuan then beckoned to Wu Sandog and his group, pointing at the large pot in front of him: "Those who know the times are heroes. I, Meng Sen, have always rewarded such heroes. Come! Bring wine! You can eat meat with big mouths and drink wine from big bowls!" After that, Meng Dujuan glanced at the crowd on the city wall again.
Meng Dujuan finished speaking, and in a short while, several dozen jars of wine were brought from the rear by government soldiers. Several government soldiers placed those wine jars in front of Wu Sandog and others, and Wu Sandog took them over without any politeness at all. He pulled open the mud seal with one hand and drank heavily, mouthful after mouthful. After drinking half a jar in one breath, he then took over the large basin filled with meat from the government soldiers and joined everyone else in tearing and devouring it with great relish.
