Chapter 323: 323
Chapter 323
The silence of the common people made the atmosphere turn stiff . There were two roads in front of them . The first road gave a bright future with the possibility of starving to death before that future is reached . The second road would meant giving up their land and continue to be imposed with heavy taxes but they would not starve to death . Most of the common people would choose the second road .
“Provisions…” Xu Shu gradually spoke to himself . Truthfully speaking, he did not want the common people to die with him and gradually lowered his head .
“What’s wrong? Nothing left to say? Why don’t you tell me that I am wrong? Let me tell you this! Lord Xuande’s army is outside the city! I suggest you let me go and surrender . Otherwise, you will die when the city falls!” Liu Bei’s spy that had been caught by the two guards was still acting very arrogantly .
“Haha . Who told you that our army lacks provisions?” Xu Shu suddenly raised his head confidently . His confidence easily infected the others, making the others feel more joyful .
“Shouchun still has provisions?” Even Liu Bei’s spy hesitated . By right, Shouchun should no longer have enough provisions as there were millions of people . However, he became less confident when he saw Xu Shu’s confidence .
“Of course!” Xu Shu gave his affirmation . “We even have enough to last until next year!”
“Haha . That sounds great . If that is the case, why did you reduce the amount of provisions given to the people? This is obviously because there is not enough provisions and that you want to sacrifice the people or have them die together with you!” The spy had almost been fooled . If there truly had been provisions, Lu Bu would not have moved so slowly . On top of that, reducing the amount of food would only cause panic .
“That’s right!” If there had been enough provisions, there was no reason to reduce it . Three provisions was still just enough for them to eat their fill but with only two portions, they were forced to go hungry . Although they would not starve to death, it was still better to be full instead of hungry .
“We have lots of provisions, enough to last until the coming spring . However, we need to plan ahead and be ready for emergencies . What if there is a drought from tomorrow onwards? What if Shouchun became flooded? On top of that, some of the seeds that have been planted had already been destroyed by the Liu Bei’s Army . This way, you all tried to starve us to death!” Xu Shu’s words was like a sharp blade and was deadlier than his own martial arts . Not only did he claim his own army to be planning ahead but even blamed Liu Bei for the decrease in provisions .
The people’s anger towards Liu Bei was reignited once again .
“Preparing for emergencies once is enough . Why did you reduce the provisions twice?” If it was just for emergencies, everyone should be given three portions to eat their fill . If they could not eat enough, the only explanation would be a lack of provisions .
“The first time was truly for emergencies . As for the second one… I, Xu Shu would need to apologize to you all . ” After that, Xu Shu suddenly knelt down together with Xie Wen .
“Apologize? Haha . Did the provisions get burned or robbed? Even if you have an excuse, you cannot change the fact that you do not have enough provisions!” The reasons don’t matter . Without food, the people will starve .
“It was neither burned or robbed . Instead, it was embezzled by this provision officer Xie Wen!” Xu Shu suddenly opened his mouth and cursed in anger . “During a calamity, this corrupted man only thought of himself and changed military orders . He took bribes and reduced the provisions given! Fortunately, I had accidentally stumbled on his wrongdoings . This is a serious crime which is why I have brought him here for his fate to be decided by the rest of you!” Xu Shu continued to scold Xie Wen, blaming him for the decrease in provisions given . Xu Shu was helpless . Zhao Yun had ordered for the provisions to be reduced so that everyone could hold out longer but his actions were thwarted by Pang Tong’s schemes . Xu Shu had no choice but to change back the amount of provisions given to the people . However, this action would be suspicious and so, Xu Shu needed a sacrifice . Zhao Yun was a warrior . It would be useless even if Xu Shu had him executed . Besides that, Zhao Yun was also needed to defend Shouchun . In other words, Xu Shu had to sacrifice someone the common people could recognize . This person was Xie Wen . Xu Shu was crying as he spoke . His tears were not for Xie Wen’s supposed corruption but because he had no choice but to sacrifice Xie Wen to appease the people . His tears were for Xie Wen and his own incompetence .
“Kill him! Kill him!” The people chanted angrily . They now believed that their food had reduced because of corruption instead of a lack of provisions . The believed that the people that made them go hungry were people that had to die .
“No! That can’t be!” Another voice filled with disbelief came just as soon as Xu Shu finished speaking . This was the voice of a weak woman . The two men had helped her to the front of the crowd but they were stopped by the guards . “This is not possible! Wen is not such a person! Xie Wen! Tell them!”
“Who is she?” Xu Shu frowned at the woman . The expressionless and silent Xie Wen then quickly said in a panic, “Wan Er! Why are you here? Go back!”
“Wan Er?” Xu Shu looked at Xie Wen and realized that this woman was the person Xie Wen had entrusted to him .
“Let her in!” Xu Shu sighed and ordered . He was helpless and needed to kill Xie Wen . This was why he did not treat Xie Wen as a prisoner . The least he could do was to allow the two to meet before Xie Wen is executed .
“Wan Er! Wan Er!” Xie Wen’s hands were tied as his wife went up to embrace him .
“Wen . Tell them that you are not such a person!” Nobody knows Xie Wen more than his wife Wan Er . Xie Wen was a true man . If there were not enough provisions, Xie Wen would fill it up with his own salary . On top of that, Xie Wen’s own home did not have any additional provisions . In conclusion, Xie Wen was innocent . “Respectful Lord . It is not possible for my family member to be corrupt . Please investigate properly!” Wan Er knelt as she spoke to Xu Shu . She then banged her head on the ground, causing Xu Shu to feel heavy hearted .
“Lord . I can testify that Miss Xie’s words are true . Xie Wen could not have been the corrupt official!” The two men beside here also spoke . Xie Wen may have lost an arm but he was like a fictional hero with loyalty and principle to the two men . How could such a person be corrupt?
“Wen! Speak! Tell him!” Wan Er shouted at Xie Wen . As she continued to kowtow to Xu Shu .
“Haha . So it is a scapegoat!” Liu Bei’s spy could easily tell that Xie Wen was a scapegoat for the purpose of appeasing the people . “Just tell him whatever you want! You are just being framed . There are no longer enough provisions here! Do not worry! With so many of us here, they would not dare to do anything!”
Xu Shu did not speak and simply looked at Xie Wen . If Xie Wen claims to be framed, everything would be over . Xu Shu had brought some of the White Horses with him but there were still too many people .
“I…!” Xie Wen seemed to be at a loss . He looked at his wife and bit his lip . Meeting her was his greatest happiness . He had once told her that he would accompany her till she grew old . They even thought of the name of their child together . If the child was male, it would be Xie Qian . Otherwise, it would be Xie Yu . If he dies, they would be separated . He would also not be able to meet his child .
“Xie Wen . Go ahead and tell them!” Xu Shu also spoke indifferently . He felt as though he owed Xie Wen a debt for risking his life and losing an arm, fighting for Lu Bu and Liu Mang over the years . The debt the Lu Bu’s Army owed him would be difficult to pay . Although Xu Shu had hardened his resolve, he was still unable to endure this . No matter what Xie Wen’s decision was, Xu Shu would not blame him . Instead, Xu Shu would only blame his own skills .
Xie Wen suddenly raised his head . This made Liu Bei’s spy smile while also making Liu Mang’s intelligence personnel sigh . They were about to lose the faith of the people and lose Shouchun .
“Let us go!” The captain for Liu Mang’s intelligence personnel said with a sigh .
“Captain? Where are we going?” His teammates could not understand him .
“We are going to Lujiang, Guangzhou to find Milord . We can no longer hold Shouchun . ” The captain replied while shaking his head as he looked at Shouchun . The Lu Bu’s Army had invested everything into Shouchun . Hundreds and thousands of gold and provision had been spent here . Shouchun had night markets and industrial zones . It even has buildings made out of cement . All of that was going to be destroyed or taken away .
The intelligence personnel seemed to understand that they had to follow their captain . At that moment, Xie Wen shouted . “I was the one that embezzled it! I am the one that took your provisions! I am the one that made you go hungry! So what? You are all people from the lower strata! For what reason do you deserve three portions of food, receive thirty percent tax and even fertile land? I want you all to starve! Hahahaha!” Xie Wen laughed wildly and furiously . However, Xu Shu could see the tears in his eyes .
“No . You are not such a person!” Wan Er wanted to continue speaking but now, she was stopped by the guards . Xu Shu had made a promise to Xie Wen to take care of his wife . As Wan Er was pregnant, moving too much would be bad . So, he had the two guards isolate her .
“Wan Er . I am sorry!” Xie Wen looked at his wife profoundly . “I may not be able to accompany you till old age . I may not be able to see our child . I am sorry . If there is an afterlife, I would be willing to spend my whole life repaying you . ” Xie Wen said to Wan Er but he no longer bothered as to whether she could hear him .
“Impossible! How could this be?” Another person could not believe it . This was Liu Bei’s spy .
“This guy thinks we are only lower class people! What about him? He made us starve and gave us a huge misunderstanding to Military Advisor Xu! Everyone, hit him!” The people shouted in rage . However, they could not approach Xie Wen to beat him up because of the White Horse soldiers . Instead, they simply picked up small rocks and threw it at him .
When Xu Shu heard those words, he felt guilty instead of happy . He also felt a sense of powerlessness . Xu Shu knew such actions had been necessary because the world is cruel . These kinds of scenarios would not happen in a peaceful era . All of this made Xu Shu even more resolute in helping Liu Mang unify the land .
“How outrageous! You receive an officer’s salary but instead of working for the army, you mess with the lives and deaths of the millions of the common people . This is a heinous crime! We will have you executed under the watch of the heavens for the sake of the people! Men . Bring Xie Wen over to be beheaded!” Xu Shu ordered . The executioner then came over to execute Xie Wen . In his last moments, Xie Wen closed his eyes and thought to himself . ‘My brothers . I am coming . ’
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