From Hoarding to Time-Travel: My Supplies Saved Him

Chapter 501: Chapter 502: Trussed Up

No matter how he roared, he was ultimately tied up securely and dragged ashore.

When he saw the scar on Zhou Shixiong’s face, he immediately cried out, "You’re General Zhou! Hurry and have your men untie me."

"Otherwise, I’ll be sure to report you to your Emperor."

Zhou Shixiong clapped his hands. "Just a bunch of bandits, yet you insist on putting on such airs."

"For years, at every autumn harvest, more than half of the grain from the people of my border city has fallen into your hands. This time, I’ve simply caught a few thieves. At last, I can finally answer to the people of this region."

"I have identification proving I am a Prince of the Dongyi Country! Release me at once! Otherwise, when I see His Majesty, your Emperor, I will make sure you suffer for this!"

Zhou Shixiong gazed at the now-calm surface of the sea. "And who’s to say that’s true? You’re nothing but a gang of bandits who wreak havoc on these waters. For all I know, you murdered someone and stole their identity. That proves nothing."

"After all, no one from our Rong Dynasty has ever visited your so-called ’Eastern Yi.’ We don’t even know if such a place truly exists, so stop spouting such nonsense here."

Seeing the man was about to speak again, Zhou Shixiong ordered, "Gag him. We’ll take him back for a proper interrogation and find out just where these bandits came from. How dare they gather and cause trouble right under my nose."

"We are not subjects of your Rong Dynasty! You have no right to treat us this way."

"You mark my words... Mmph, mmph, mmph..."

"Finally, some peace and quiet," Zhou Shixiong said, ordering his men to continue keeping watch along the coastline.

’They’ve already sent such a large batch. There might be more waiting to follow.’

＆

Upon hearing the crisis had been averted, He Gaofei and the others all heaved a great sigh of relief.

They hadn’t been in Lu City for very long, but they had already endured several terrifying days. If they weren’t in reasonably good health, the stress would have likely killed them by now.

"Mr. Gu, did you have a plan for this all along?" Wu Yichen asked with an obsequious smile. His earlier anxiety had been replaced by a curiosity that was eating him alive; he had to know how everything had been orchestrated.

Gu Wenheng replied, "General Zhou and I would never trifle with the lives of this city’s people. Announcing a city-wide state of emergency was simply a precaution, preparing for the worst-case scenario."

"As it stands, the outcome was quite good. It’s just that too few of them showed up."

Wu Yichen and the others were taken aback. "...Based on your earlier predictions, Mr. Gu, how many people would have been a ’reasonable’ number?"

Gu Wenheng explained, "Since they dare to call themselves a nation, General Zhou and I assumed they would have at least some semblance of a proper army. We never expected this rabble to show up. It seems our Lu City has been fooled all these years."

He Gaofei asked, "Does that mean we won’t have to be so on edge in the future? Have we managed to wipe them all out this time?"

Gu Wenheng shook his head. "We can’t be that optimistic. They certainly have more men than this. The number that came was likely limited by the capacity of their ships."

"But didn’t we destroy their ships?" Wu Yichen immediately clamped a hand over his mouth, wanting to slap himself for his quick tongue.

’Ships can be rebuilt.’

Gu Wenheng said, "Building a ship requires significant manpower and resources. They’ve had to resort to plundering our shores time and again. How good do you think their situation really is?"

’If I’m not mistaken,’ Gu Wenheng thought, ’that island country is mostly populated by uncivilized natives. It’s just that these people are inherently vile and have already learned to covet what they haven’t earned.’

"So, does that mean we’re safe now?" Lu Shenggen asked, rubbing his chin.

Gu Wenheng scoffed, "What do you think? Getting a bandit to turn over a new leaf is harder than climbing to the heavens. As long as a place like that exists, they will continue to commit such vile acts."

’It’s a shame the current situation doesn’t allow for that. It’s something we’ll have to deal with slowly, over time.’

＆

Lu City was abuzz with activity today. General Zhou issued a lengthy public notice announcing the capture of a group of bandits who had occupied an island and declared themselves its rulers.

To serve as a warning to others, General Zhou and Prefect Gu immediately passed judgment: the captives were to be enslaved for life, tasked with clearing untamed land for Lu City.

"Great General, the man is a Prince! What we are doing is improper." Li Ji, who hadn’t slept a wink, was waiting at the entrance to the government office first thing in the morning.

He shot a look at Gu Wenheng, his eyes full of disapproval.

After returning the previous day, he had finally managed to learn that this whole affair had been orchestrated by Prefect Gu.

He’d thought about it all night and finally understood. ’Before this man Gu arrived, everyone did things by the book. It’s only since he showed up that all these complications have arisen.’

Gu Wenheng knew a thing or two about Li Ji. He was a relative of Chen Zishu, the Minister of Rites, and the type to appeal to reason and protocol at every turn.

’He’s also the one who reports many of the army’s affairs back to Shangjing.’

Zhou Shixiong roared, "Who says he’s a Prince? Did you see any official documents? Did you see a seal?"

"Assistant General Li, you’d dare believe such baseless claims?"

"Don’t forget you are a general of the Rong Dynasty! The way you keep making excuses for those bandits, I’m beginning to suspect you’re colluding with them."

"Men! Take Assistant General Li away and investigate him thoroughly. I will not tolerate anyone with divided loyalties under my command."

A Er and San immediately stepped up to Li Ji’s side. "Assistant General, if you please."

Li Ji sputtered, "Great General, are you trying to silence dissent?"

Gu Wenheng shook his head. ’With a mind like that,’ he wondered, ’how did those old coots in Shangjing ever think it was a good idea to plant him here?’

Zhou Shixiong had no time to waste on his nonsense. He turned and strode out, with Gu Wenheng naturally following behind.

"Great General, you can’t listen to the slander of a villain! You’ll destroy Lu City..."

...

"It seems I’ve become a ’villain’ in some people’s eyes," Gu Wenheng said with a smile, shaking his head.

"Pay him no mind. Sometimes I think there’s something wrong with him up here." Zhou Shixiong tapped his own forehead. "Those old coots probably sent him here just to annoy me."

’I really can’t think of any other reason. He’s just a minor Assistant General, yet he’s always making such a fuss.’

’I only tolerated him because I didn’t want to replace him with someone more cunning.’

’Perhaps because I’ve let him run his mouth for the past few years without putting him in his place, he got the wrong idea and now dares to be so defiant to my face.’

Gu Wenheng, naturally, didn’t want to dwell on the unpleasant topic. "We arrested a total of two thousand, seven hundred and eighty people this time. That wasteland we saw before can now be put to good use."

"It’s just that the so-called Prince Zuo is still putting on airs."

Zhou Shixiong replied, "Don’t lay a hand on him, but we can certainly let him miss a few meals."

"My thoughts exactly," Gu Wenheng said.

"I’ve already had my men move him to a separate, empty cell."

"However, I did come across an interesting piece of information. For us, it could be very good news."

Zhou Shixiong stopped and turned to look at him. "Have you gotten something out of him?"