Under the sky

Chapter 166

The disciples of the execution hall drove away the disappointed people, like shepherds driving away their sheep. Wang Meng could see the mixture of despair and weak hope in the eyes of these people.

Twenty-seven people died in this food robbery, and there were hundreds of injured.When the body was moved out of the Liao Mansion, some of the family members standing outside howled loudly, while others sobbed silently. A woman whose husband and only son died at the same time fainted on the spot.

Li Siliang was stabbed twice, and the wounds were so painful that he could only command the execution hall disciples with a pale face and gritted teeth.At first he was okay, but later he almost spoke with a trembling voice. Others asked him to rest, but he just shook his head.Li Jingfeng was an outsider. Although his authority was not high, the hall leader and the head of the hall, who had high authority, had already disappeared without a trace.

Some of them did not run away. The leader of the auditorium, Gao Yu, did not participate in Liao Ming's activities. He mingled with the crowd to grab food. He was sitting in a corner of the yard in a daze. He had a higher position than Li Siliang, but no one wanted to ask him to take charge of the overall situation.

The fire in the granary was extinguished, and some of the rice was scorched black. No matter how hard it was to swallow, some people wanted to eat it secretly.Li Jingfeng kept an eye on the disciples as they worked to prevent them from stealing. Fortunately, some of the rice was roasted and turned yellow, but it was not seriously damaged. It was a blessing.

Several disciples came dragging three men and two women. They were Liao Ming's children. There was also an eldest brother who had been sent to the Tieling Gang to beg for food.The second son shouted to himself: "If you dare to harm me, my father will come back and demand your life to pay for it!" These words only resulted in a severe beating. The disciples asked if they had any food stored, so they had to provide a cellar.

Wang Meng led people to see it happily. The cellar was the private treasury of the Liao Mansion. There were some dry goods in it, including only two jars of rice, a few bags of wheat, some bacon, pickles, fermented bean curd and other miscellaneous food, which could feed dozens of people in the Liao Mansion. Meals are barely enough to feed the more than a thousand townspeople.But there was another unexpected surprise. There were three large tanks of beans for feeding the horses. Liao Ming wanted to carry his belongings and did not dare to treat the horses badly. Wang Meng was even more angry. This bastard treats horses better than people.

Wang Meng told Li Jingfeng about this, and Li Jingfeng asked Wang Meng to lock the cellar and keep it under strict supervision.After a busy morning, order was finally restored. Li Siliang ordered his disciples to be summoned and came to see Li Jingfeng again.Li Jingfeng saw that his face was pale and expressed some concern. Li Siliang just pulled him to the other disciples and said, "You must obey his orders, otherwise thousands of people in this town will starve to death!"

As soon as he finished explaining, he stumbled, his body went limp, and he fainted.

Li Jingfeng nodded. Including Gao Yu, there were a total of 77 Qinglong Sect disciples left in the town, half of whom were Xingtang disciples.Li Jingfeng knew that Gao Yu had a high status, so he asked him to go to the town to find people who had learned martial arts, and also asked Li Si and his family members to take care of him.

Someone asked whether food would be distributed today. Li Jingfeng discussed with Wang Meng. Wang Meng said, "If we don't distribute food, we will be afraid of chaos and being unable to deal with it." Li Jingfeng also thought this, so he distributed food as usual and asked Wang Meng to go to Zhenxi Courtyard. Get Amao back.Wang Meng complained: "That little thief is very bad. He betrayed you again and again. Why should he do anything?" Li Jingfeng only said: "After all, he is just a child. He did bad things to save his life. Now he is not short of this ration."

The people in the mansion were cooking pots, and Li Jingfeng saw that there were still nine horses parked in the stables, which Liao Ming planned to use to transport goods. Together with his own horse, they were also put here because Wang Meng was captured.Li Jingfeng was overjoyed and asked his disciples if there was anyone else in the town who had learned martial arts. He asked for nineteen bodyguards and sixteen townspeople to protect the courtyard, a total of 110 two people, plus Li Jingfeng, Wang Meng, and Li Siliang, 110 people.

Li Jingfeng led a horse to survey the terrain near Chidao. After waiting all afternoon, a total of four grain transport convoys passed by. Most of them were horse-drawn and ox-carts. There were guards at the front, rear and left. The size of the convoys varied. There were at least 500 people escorting the convoys, and the most were escorted by [-] people. There are more than a thousand people in a team, mostly equipped with archers and fighting teams.

He surveyed the terrain along the road, looking for a secret place where he could ambush.The land of Gui is mountainous, but once it enters the land of Hunan it is flat. Li Jingfeng searched around and found only a forest about forty feet away from the road. This was the most hidden place.

When he returned to Pingyuan Town, Li Siliang had woken up, and Wang Meng also returned with Amao.When Amao saw Li Jingfeng, he snorted and turned away. Li Jingfeng wanted to touch his head, but he turned away to avoid it.

Li Jingfeng said: "From now on, you will follow the townspeople to receive food. Whether you will starve to death depends on your fate."

Amao said angrily: "Where did you get the food?"

Li Jingfeng ignored him.

Wang Meng asked: "Brother Li, do you really want to grab Dian Cang's grain truck?"

After hearing this, Amao looked at Li Jingfeng with wide eyes.

"Is there any other way?" Li Jingfeng smiled bitterly.

"Can you still laugh at this moment?" Wang Meng was helpless.

Later, they had to discuss important matters. The three of them were discussing in the hall of Liao Mansion. Li Siliang asked Gao Yu to come over. Gao Yu had a sad face. When he heard that some of Cang's food was going to be robbed, he was so frightened that he couldn't close his mouth. Li Siliang said something good, Then he was willing to sit down.Amao squatted in the corner of the room and listened. Wang Meng was about to drive him away, but Li Jingfeng said, "This kid is quite smart. Let him listen, and he might have some ideas." Amao was not polite and moved a chair to listen.

"There are a few things we need to pay attention to." Li Siliang said worriedly, "Liao Ming has escaped. His wife and uncle from the Tieling Gang are on the way, and I don't know how many people there are. I'm afraid that he will come back for revenge. According to him, it's just What happened in the past two days. The second one, we really grabbed food, how could Dian Cang not retaliate? They led the army to suppress them, how could we resist? "

Amao sneered: "Take it and run away, waiting for him to come find you, are you a fool?"

He has many years of experience in stealing and robbing. Although he is young, he has been a thief longer than anyone else.Wang Meng scolded: "You are alone, they are decent people, they have wives and children, where are you going?"

Amao was furious and cursed: "You are such a bitch, you deserve to have your parents die a good death!"

Li Jingfeng saw the two arguing and tried to dissuade them, but Li Siliang said: "Amao is right, we have to run."

Li Jingfeng asked: "Where are you running?"

Li Siliang said: "Anywhere will do. After a few days' walk, there is a barren mountain to the west. Let's hide on the mountain for a while."

Gao Yu said, "This is too dangerous. Let the villagers escape individually. Dig bark, gnaw wild fruits, dig up earthworms, and catch gophers. Those who can survive will live, and those who will die will die."

Li Siliang said: "It makes sense to say this a month earlier. The townspeople have been hungry for a month, and there are not even a few earthworms nearby."

"You can still find food if you walk farther," Gao Yu said. "As you said, there are mountains within a few days' walk. When you reach the mountains, there will always be bark to dig. It's better than taking the risk of robbing food and falling into trouble."

Amao sneered and said, "I just think of other ways to survive because I'm not hungry enough. I'm so hungry that I lose weight all over my body. Only my guts are fat."

Li Jingfeng thought for a while. He had an idea in his mind, but asked Li Siliang: "Brother Li, what do you think?"

"Fleeing to the mountains is the only way to go if you can't fight." Li Siliang said, "Without food, how long can more than a thousand people go up the mountain? Who knows how long this battle will last? Who knows where there will be food? It has to be At the end of the road, why are you regretting that you didn’t risk your life?”

"If you don't reach the end of the road, why risk your life?" Gao Yu rolled his eyes.

"Hall Master Gao, you have to run on your own." Li Siliang stood up. He was injured and had no strength to speak. He walked to the door by himself and shouted, "Everyone, come here!"

After a while, the group of disciples gathered together weakly.

"Cheer up!" Li Siliang said, "In just these two days, let's go to Dian Cang to ask for food!"

After hearing this, everyone was stunned on the spot.

"Dian Cang is our enemy. They broke in, stole our food, and asked us to scrape tree bark, dig for earthworms, and catch field mice. When they were full, they went to beat our fellow villagers and asked our leader to hand over the alliance leader. They give orders, does this make sense?”

"Even if we are going to die, we can't starve to death. We can't be bullied by them like this!" Li Siliang raised his knife, "Fight to the death and get our food back! Let our parents, wives and sons be full!"

He shouted with all his strength, but there were only a few responders. They were unsure and did not have the courage.

Wang Meng shook his head and said: "These people have no courage. If they go there, they will die." Amao sneered and said: "Even the leader ran away, and his eggs are as hard as rocks. Where do you have the courage?"

These words awakened Wang Meng. Wang Meng grabbed Li Jingfeng's wrist and walked to the courtyard. He said loudly: "Do you know who this person is?"

Li Jingfeng was stunned, but before he could speak, he heard Wang Meng say again: "Last year, the deputy head of Songshan was single-handedly assassinated in his own yard. After that, Du Jun, the head of Huashan Giant Spirit Sect, was found dead in the wilderness. Just last month, the Tang Sect's The important person Tang You died in the teahouse in broad daylight, or he was assassinated in front of Tang Gu, the head of the Tangmen Guard Hall, and I have the sea arrest documents as evidence!"

As soon as these words came out, everyone said "Huh?" and were very surprised.

"A big event happened in Kunlun Palace this year. In addition to several heads being attacked, there was also a young man who, in front of three heads and thousands of disciples, made a vengeful complaint against the nine great families, saying that no one in the world should be killed. Not only The leader Yan of Huashan was covered in blood after being killed, and he escaped without a trace in front of thousands of people. No one could stop him. Do you know who this person is?"

He pointed at Li Jingfeng and said: "This man's name is Li Jingfeng, and he is right in front of you!" He took out the stack of sea arrest documents from his arms, picked out Li Jingfeng's wanted order and threw it to everyone.

"He has the ability to reach heaven and earth. As long as he is here, even Zhuge Ran can poop and piss on his head!"

Li Jingfeng blushed when he heard his exaggeration, but he also knew that he could not refute it at this time.Seeing that everyone still had some doubts, Wang Meng said again: "Master Li, show them the jade token you snatched from Vice Palm Dian Cang!"

The jade tablet was placed in the luggage, and it was difficult to retrieve it for a while. Fortunately, the luggage was taken home by Liao Ming. Wang Meng said loudly: "Just a few days ago, we met Deputy Chief Dian Cang on the border. Brother Li himself To kill him, Wang saw with his own eyes that the forty bodyguards didn't even touch Brother Li's fur, which means Zhuge Ran escaped quickly and didn't take off his head!"

Li Siliang found the jade plaque in his luggage and handed it to his disciples for circulation.The news of Li Jingfeng's complaint against the Nine Families has not yet been revealed, but the assassination of the deputy head of Songshan was a sensation. Seeing the jade plaque, everyone couldn't help but believe a little more. If not for this reason, how could the jade plaque be lost? On a passerby?What's more, there are many punishment hall disciples here, who are most familiar with these wanted criminals.

Wang Meng pushed Li Jingfeng, and Li Jingfeng shouted: "We can win!"

He didn't like to show off, so when Wang Meng pushed him to the front, he couldn't help but feel embarrassed. He could only say these two words, and everyone became suspicious again when they saw his appearance.Li Jingfeng saw these people whispering to each other. He had been with the Iron Sword Silver Guard and knew that morale must not be lost. He said loudly: "I know you are afraid, who is not afraid? But in this situation, if you don't advance, you will die!"

He drew his sword and raised it high, and said loudly: "Pick up your sword! Just for one thing, to survive! To let your parents, wives and children live! I dare not say that there are no casualties, but I guarantee that I can win!"

Wang Meng then drew his knife and shouted loudly: "We can win!"

This impassioned voice finally inspired some ambition, and all the disciples shouted in unison: "We can win!" But they were too hungry, so their voices were lowered.

Gao Yu just couldn't help but shake his head.

At that moment, Li Jingfeng discussed with Wang Meng and Li Siliang how to rob the grain.The most difficult thing is dealing with bows and arrows. Pingyuan Town is a small place and bows and arrows are not always available. There are only two or three hard bows. It will be very troublesome if the opponent's bows and arrows are fired during the assault.Gao Yu just listened, but Amao made some suggestions, and only Li Jingfeng seriously considered them.

Everyone discussed until midnight, and several key points had been decided. Only the bow and arrow were still uncontrollable. Li Jingfeng had no choice but to attack first when the time came, to see if he could attract the bow and arrow and cover the attack of the disciples behind him. There was no other way. Law.Li Siliang was injured and rested early. Amao disappeared without a trace, and Gao Yu also returned home. In fact, it made no difference whether he was there or not.

Li Jingfeng stopped Wang Meng and complained about what happened tonight.

"I know brother, you don't like to show off." Wang Meng said, "But you need a leader. Li Siliang and I don't have enough prestige, so we have to use your name to show off."

"I don't do these things because I want to be famous." Li Jingfeng shook his head, "Everything I do is dangerous, and I don't want to drag others down. Brother Wang used to take the lead, and brother Li was also the captain of the torture hall. You are more suitable than me. If you ask me to provide ideas and efforts, OK."

Wang Meng was silent for a while and said, "Brother Li, do you know why I follow you?"

Li Jingfeng also felt that Wang Meng was too involved. He originally wanted to partner with him in the melon-picking business, but now that he was involved in the important matter of grain robbery, he had no intention of backing down, so he said: "Brother Wang is a good man with a bloody spirit." people."

"I used to pick melons, and I also wanted to do justice for heaven. But when I had too many lives on my hands, I didn't know if the melons were cut open and whether there was blood or injustice inside."

"Ding Qi said that injustice is the business of the nine families, not ours. This makes sense, and I think so too. Otherwise?"

"But can you feel at ease in your heart?"

"Who doesn't have a bit of blood, who doesn't want to see injustice on the road, and draws a sword to help? Who doesn't feel angry when seeing someone being bullied on the road? Who doesn't want to save a child who falls into the water? But why is the world so cold? Beating people in public on the street , there were dozens or hundreds of people watching, but no one came forward to stop him, not even anyone who informed the sect."

"They don't dare. They are afraid of trouble. It's not their fault. They do good deeds and ruin their families. Not only are they far away, but they are close by such as Old Beggar Peng and his family. Who dares to take the lead?"

"But this world shouldn't be like this. There are Third Masters and you in this world. When I see you, I know that apart from the powerful Third Master Qi and the old beggar Peng, there are still people in this world who are willing to be fools. Idiot, I am willing to meddle in other people's business. So I will follow you, help you collect corpses, help you get stabbed, and follow you to meddle in these nosy matters, I think I can also be a hero."

"You not only have to mind your own business, you also have to make them trust you and make them believe that they can do some good things by following you."

"You want to be a hero!" Wang Meng said.

Li Jingfeng was surprised and said: "I didn't think so."

"I know you don't want to. Is the third master doing chivalry just to be a hero? But if the third master has to be secretive to do good things, what hope is there in this world?" Wang Meng said, "If the third master is standing here today, Are these disciples still afraid? No, because Third Master is a hero."

"It's like seeing someone being beaten on the street. Dozens of people are watching, but no one dares to come forward. The first person to come forward is likely to be followed by the second one. If there are two or three people, there will be a group of people. Go up. Why? Because there are more people and they are more courageous. Since you want to be the first one, you have to give them the courage. Even if you don’t want to, you have to do it."

Li Jingfeng was silent for a moment, thinking over Wang Meng's words. After a while, he nodded and said, "I understand, little brother."

Li Jingfeng went to bed to rest. He rehearsed tomorrow's raid several times in his mind. He felt that a frontal attack would cause heavy casualties, but there was nothing he could do. He fell asleep in a hazy state. When he arrived at Yinshi, someone knocked on the door. It turned out to be Amao. He went and came back without knowing why, clamoring to see Li Jingfeng.Li Jingfeng asked him to enter the house and saw that he was holding a five or six-foot long wooden stick in his hand. There was a cloth strip tied to the stick. He didn't know how long it was. It looked like a spiritual flag. He asked, "Isn't it so late?" Sleep, why are you here again?"

Amao said: "Teach you a skill." After saying that, he walked to the courtyard, picked up a round stone and placed it in the center of the cloth. He swung it hard and when he let go, the stone hit the wall like an arrow and was knocked out. A big hole.

Li Jingfeng said happily: "How do you have this ability?"

"This is called a floating stone. When I was a thief and I was chased by someone, I hit him with this stone and beat him bloody." Amao said, "Do you think this can handle bows and arrows?"

Li Jingfeng said: "It's better than bare-handed. Why didn't you tell me just now?"

"I didn't expect it." Amao said, "I'll teach you how to use it, and you can teach these fools tomorrow." He then told Li Jingfeng how to throw the floating stone and how to get it accurately.Li Jingfeng saw that he taught it in detail and that all the key points of the Dharma were not missing. He became suspicious and asked, "Who taught you this?" Amao only said that it was taught by Huang Beggar. As for where Huang Beggar learned it, he didn't know. have no idea.

Li Jingfeng studied hard for a night. He was good at slinging stones, and the principles of this stone-floating technique were somewhat similar. It didn't take long for him to learn how to hit a three-foot round target ten feet away, and he could hit it seven or eight times out of ten times.

(End of this chapter)