RBCT Chapter 74 Milk and Honey, Pride is a Sin
Chapter 74 Milk and Honey, Pride is a Sin
Shen Xinlan has a distant and aloof personality, but she is completely honest with those she truly respects, without any reservations.
Without Li Xin asking any further questions, she recounted all the clues she had uncovered over the past few days without holding anything back.
Li Xin followed along, his expression darkening slightly after listening: "You mean, Gao Tianyun has a close relationship with a foreign priest, and the two are extremely familiar with each other?"
"They held a public mass and generously distributed bread, eggs, and grain to the poor, being extremely lavish?"
Shen Xinlan nodded in agreement: "Exactly."
Li Xin's expression was somewhat strange.
Gao Tianyun is a notorious bandit in the capital who has committed numerous evils and makes a living by robbery and murder. This act of doing good deeds and giving alms is completely contrary to his usual behavior and is suspicious in every way.
During this time, Li Xin had been observing the church's actions with a cold eye, and had roughly figured out its routines.
Foreign churches have always been progressive and have never given alms for free.
They usually begin by preaching doctrines and depicting the so-called Kingdom of Heaven to mislead people.
Only when the people are inspired and willing to convert to Christianity will the level of support be gradually increased.
Or help people clear their names and settle lawsuits;
Or perhaps it's standing up for someone, avenging them, or resolving disputes...
Whenever the people are bullied, suffer, or fall into dire straits.
They then stepped forward at the opportune moment, offering suggestions and advice, and went to great lengths to accomplish tasks and spread their reputation, demonstrating remarkable precision in their approach.
All assistance is deliberately selected and gradually implemented, taking root in people's hearts little by little.
This makes the beneficiaries completely dependent, unable to break free.
But this time, the priest and Gao Tianyun acted completely differently.
They didn't preach any doctrines or lay any groundwork; they simply distributed grain and money indiscriminately to attract refugees.
They act hastily and roughly, like it's a one-off deal.
After a moment's thought, Li Xin asked, "Besides the priest, do they have any other men?"
"Yes," Shen Xinlan replied immediately. "There is a team of over thirty foreign gunmen."
There were also two foreign knights, clad in steel armor, equipped with round shields and greatswords, and possessing immense strength.
"Besides, there are a large number of skilled individuals, who are likely bandits from Wohu Village, hiding their identities and blending into the ranks of refugees, making them difficult to identify."
"Are the refugee groups mainly composed of young and middle-aged men? What is the total number?" Li Xin paused, his expression becoming increasingly serious.
"They are not all young adults; a significant number are women, and very few are children. The total number is about seven or eight hundred."
Which direction?
"east."
Shen Xinlan had barely finished speaking when she suddenly looked up, her eyes narrowing as she instantly realized, "The Datong Bridge Wharf is to the east! They're heading out to sea!"
The convoy headed straight for Datong Bridge, where merchant ships were sure to be waiting in advance.
Go downstream along the river to Dagukou, and you can then go out to sea.
"Do they really intend to lead these people overseas to a blessed land where milk and honey flow in their mouths?" Shen Xinlan asked, her voice filled with disbelief.
Li Xin sneered coldly, his tone sharp: "Bullshit blessed land."
"Foreigners never do anything meaningless. This time, what they want is not subjugated people, but free slaves."
"Once this group of people sets sail across the ocean, very few of them will survive for more than two years."
He had read some historical materials from his previous life. In the chaos of war, countless people were lured by the promises made by foreigners and were full of hope to go to sea with merchant ships to make a living.
These people were given a humiliating name by foreigners—"piglets".
Nominally, they are working to make a living, but in reality, they are being exploited as tools and machines.
Day after day, they toil under immense pressure, enduring untold suffering. Within a year or two, their vitality will be completely exhausted, and they will have given everything to this foreign land without compensation.
……
The carriage sped along, its wheels clattering over the bluestone road.
Speechless all the way.
After leaving the city, it took another hour or so to see a long line of refugees stretching for miles ahead.
The official road was crowded with people, shoulder to shoulder, as densely packed as a swarm of ants.
The vast majority of people wore genuine smiles, their eyes filled with anticipation for a new life.
Shen Xinlan stood on the carriage shaft, gazing at the scene before her, a tightness in her chest, her voice low and somber: "Should we expose their sinister plot?"
Li Xin lowered his head slightly, picked up the red and white "Nezha the Third Prince" mask beside him, and slowly put it on his face.
He gently stroked the gleaming silver dragon-patterned spear beside him with his fingertips; the spear was icy cold.
"It's no use."
Li Xin's voice was calm, yet carried an unyielding coldness: "A person who is about to die of thirst will drink a cup of poisoned wine without hesitation."
"Even if we talk until we're hoarse, no one will believe us."
Shen Xinlan was utterly shocked: "You're going to just charge in?"
"The enemy has a foreign-trained cavalry unit in the front, heavily armored knights guarding the front, and a large number of men hidden among the refugees in the shadows."
"We are in the open, the enemy is in the dark, and visibility is obstructed and dodging is inconvenient in the crowd. Under the cover of foreign gun fire... it is too dangerous."
Li Xin turned his head to look at her; the mask covered most of her face, only revealing her hard, cold jawline.
"Miss Shen, do you know why there haven't been any cases of human trafficking in the southern part of the city lately?"
Before Shen Xinlan could respond, he let out a loud laugh, the sound carrying through the wind.
"Because everyone who dared to commit evil in the South City is dead..."
During this period, besides taking medicine to regulate his breathing and meditating, Li Xin never stopped purging evildoers in the city.
He wandered the streets and alleys every night, roaming all over the southern part of the city like a street cleaner. He killed so many people that he couldn't even remember how many.
Ten days have passed since the "King of Hell's Decree" was issued at Wanhualou, but no immediate action has been taken. The intention is simply to wipe out the entire den of thieves in one fell swoop.
However, he would kill any thugs, hooligans, or ruffians he happened to see committing crimes in the streets.
It's not much trouble anyway.
Moreover, relying on the diary entries left behind by Tang Si Niang of the Silver Hook Gambling House, he also sneaked into the residences of some officials late at night and called their names one by one.
Because of Li Xin's actions.
The southern city may appear peaceful and calm at present, but in reality, undercurrents are surging, like the deathly stillness before a volcanic eruption.
The other side dared not make a move, and Li Xin waited quietly.
Presumably, some people are already seething with hatred.
……
"But such a forced charge is far too risky."
Shen Xinlan looked at his heroic and spirited appearance, paused slightly, and murmured.
"They are at greater risk than I am."
As soon as he finished speaking, he dragged the gleaming silver spear backwards, lightly touched the carriage shaft with his toes, and suddenly his body soared into the air.
He leaped out of the carriage, landing in a cloud of dust as his body swept across the road.
They charged straight ahead at the vast and massive caravan of refugees, roaring and charging forward.
……
On the high earthen slope ahead of the official road, a portly middle-aged foreigner held a pair of binoculars, the lenses gleaming slightly, his gaze fixed on the approaching figure.
He turned to look at the mountains behind him, a sinister smile on his face, and asked, "Are all the ambush troops in the mountains in position?"
A young Westerner with blond hair and a white robe beside him replied casually, "We've been ready for a long time."
"I have never seen such an arrogant person... Arrogance is a sin."
The middle-aged foreigner slowly nodded and ordered in a deep voice, "Ligson, Rhodes, you two intercept them head-on and create opportunities for the others."
"We absolutely cannot let this little mouse run around again."
……
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