The dust settles

Chapter 28

I couldn't help laughing out loud.Yes, machine guns can easily kill people who try to attack us like a flock of sheep.But that's not what I'm thinking about.The opium made Maiqi Tusi rich and had a machine gun.Opium also made other chieftains suffer.There is a question of timing here.That being the case, why build a fortress closed on all sides to lock yourself in it.In only four or five days, the side of the fort was gone, and it was no longer a fort, but just a huge house, a magnificent building.Dolma asked me if I was still cooking.I say cook.Cook for another five days.During these five days, the hungry people moved away the demolished adobe and stones and threw them in the river.The river water softened the soil and washed it away. The clear river water was muddy for several days.In the end, all the adobes in the river were gone, only the stones remained, those shining above the surface of the water, and those sinking under the water, causing the water to splash and create waves.Yes, there are stones in the river, it's more like a river.Today, I said to myself, the river should be completely clear.

However, before I had time to look at the river, I was taken aback by the sight in front of me.

In the courtyard that opened to the field, there was a black crowd of starving people who participated in the demolition project.After the completion of the work, Sangji Zhuoma brought back the cauldron for serving food on the river beach.It's been a few days since they left and I thought they wouldn't come back.As a result, they went back and brought all their family members.The hungry people filled the yard and spread outside, filling the grass between the house and the creek.As soon as I appeared, the large crowd fell to their knees.

I've never seen so many people get together.With so many people together, even if they are doing nothing, it creates a huge pressure.

The butler asked me what to do.

I said I don't know what to do.

They sat outside, spread out, and occupied a large area in darkness.In my absence they sat or stood, and in my presence they knelt down.At this time, I really regret asking someone to tear down that wall.One day passed, and two days passed, and they were still outside without eating a bite.When I was hungry, I went to the river to drink water.Under normal circumstances, people drink very little water.Only cows and horses plunged into the water until they were suffocated, until their stomachs were bulging, and the sound of water rattling and swaying was heard inside.Now, these people drink water like cattle and horses.Even in the dream, I also heard the sound of them gasping for breath as they were choked by the water, and the rattling of water in their bellies.They didn't want to disturb me, a well-meaning person, otherwise, they wouldn't walk carefully with their stomachs in their hands.On the third day, some people went to the river to drink water, and when they lay down, they fell headlong into the water and could not get up again.Knee-deep in shallow water, he remained motionless.After half a day at most, the people in the water were full of air like a bag, and slowly floated away from the water.Those who did not go to the water's edge also died, and people still carried them to the river, handed them over to the flowing water, and sent them to the far horizon.

Just look at how good the people of Chieftain Lashepa are.In such a desperate and miserable situation, they didn't say a word, but they were full of expectations for another kind person who was not their master.

I am that kind person.

For three days, not a grain of grain has slipped through my fingers, but they don't complain.I'm not their master and have nothing to complain about.When I first arrived, there was still a humming of prayers.But now, everything has stopped, only one person after another died one after another.Dead, by the water's edge, the sun scorched the water, causing the water to swell, turning into bulging pockets, flowing down to the horizon.On the third night, I started having nightmares.

On the morning of the fourth day, before I even opened my eyes, I knew that those people were still outside, with dew on their hair.The silence formed by the gathering of many people is not an ordinary silence, and it can make people feel its great pressure.

I yelled: "I can't take it, I can't take it!"

I have been eating very well, so my energy is full.The sound carried far away on a misty morning.The hungry people raised their heads buried deep between their legs.At this time, the sun broke through the horizon and dispelled the fog.Yes, the patience of these people, these people overpowered me with a force of despair greater than all the forces in the world put together.I can't get out of bed.I moaned and told my men, "Cook, cook, cook, feed them, make them talk, make them cry, let them do whatever they want."

And my subordinates, the housekeeper, Dolma, two servants, and other servants have prepared everything behind my back, and just wait for my word to light the firewood under the pot.

My men cheered as soon as the fire was lit.But the hungry crowd was silent.The food was distributed, but they didn't make a sound.I can't say whether I like such people or fear them.

So, I yelled again: "Tell them, there is only one meal, only this meal, after eating, they will have the spirit to go on the road, tell them to go back to their place!"

My words are conveyed to the hungry people from the mouth of everyone who holds a spoon.

Dolma said while still shedding tears: "Don't embarrass our kind masters, go back to your masters, go back to your own masters, hasn't God arranged for us all to have our own masters?"

And their masters were having a hard time.

Chieftain Ronggong's men and horses were well fed, and they were chasing after Lashepa's team.This can actually be understood as I found someone to fight for the Maiqi family in the north. My brother is more capable than me, so he personally led the team to charge into battle in the southern mountains, which are hotter and more rugged than here.

More and more people are beginning to think that although he is a smart guy, luck is always on his idiot brother's side.I feel this way myself, and good luck follows me like a shadow.Once or twice, I clearly felt this mysterious thing was very close to me, turned around and stamped, but unfortunately, it was only like a shadow, not like a dog.Dogs can be scared away, but shadows cannot be scared away.

Xiao Eryi asked me why I stomped my feet to scare me.

I said shadow.

He smiled and said, not a shadow.Then, the face of the bloodless executioner lit up.I know what he's going to say.As an executioner, he has a special interest in the nether world.Sure enough, his face flashed with excitement and said to me: "To scare away ghosts, stomping is not enough, you have to spit." He also made a demonstration to my back: "This is the way..."

But I can't wait for him to spit out the executioner's saliva. If I'm lucky enough to follow me all day long, I won't be scared away by his exorcism.I slapped him and said, "Don't talk about you slaves, even if I spit on my back, you can torture me and burn my mouth with a red iron!"

The light on Xiao Eryi's face went out.

I said: "Go down and hold the spoon for a while." The poorest poor under my hands also tasted the sweet taste of charity today.Blessed are those who can give in this world.I let everyone hold a spoon for a while, to taste how good it is to be able to give alms.I heard them shouting Long Live the Second Young Master in their hearts.Those who were fed remained in the wilderness.I yelled to the butler who was smiling and walking with his lame in his arms: "It's time to end, tell them to go away, go away!"

The butler watched the last person suck the last spoonful of wheat flour porridge into his mouth, and came upstairs with a heart full of satisfaction.Hearing my cry; and climbing the stairs, he said, "They'll be back soon, they promised me."

At this time, the crowd began to move. Although there was no sound in their mouths, their footsteps were strong, and they could make a little sound on the ground.A little voice from one person, and the sound of such a large group of people who can't be counted together, made the ground shake a little.With such a large group of people walking around, a large cloud of dust was raised behind them.By the time the dust cleared, they had gone far, to the other side of the river.

I couldn't help but let out a long breath.

But they stopped in the wilderness on the other side of the river.Men left women and children and came together.What are they doing together.Are you full and want to attack us?

If that's the case, I wish they started sooner.Because there is really nothing to do between dark and bedtime.If they attack, we shoot, and when the battle is over, it's time to sleep.In this way, the situation that no chieftain has ever encountered can be ended.My God, the things I encountered were things that the chieftains in the past had to face.The men sat down, and sat for a long time, and then there was a little confusion among them.The afternoon sun blocked my sight, and I could only see the chaotic center, like a small whirlpool, churning for a while, and then calmed down again.Several people stepped out of the crowd and came towards us across the river.Behind them, everyone stood up and watched them off.

It took too long for these few people to walk through the large open space.

They knelt before me.These people killed the chieftains who were still loyal to chieftain Lashepa and the capitals of the various villages, and brought their heads and put them at my feet.I asked, "What are you doing this for?"

They replied that chieftain Lashepa had lost his compassion, and also lost the shrewdness and tolerance that chieftain Lashepa had in the past. Therefore, his people will turn their backs on him.Chieftain Maiqi will rule a larger territory and more people, which is the destiny and the expectation of all.

I called Xiao Eryi and introduced him to those who wanted to submit to us.Not all chieftains have dedicated executioners.Even if there were special executioners, it did not last for such a long time.They all looked curiously at the long-armed, pale-faced fellow in front of them.At this time, I spoke: "Who is the leader who killed his master?"

All fell to their knees again, a shrewd and brave group of people who shared this responsibility.I had taken a liking to them, and said to them, "Get up, I will not kill any of you, who will my executioner kill so many people?"

They all laughed.

Thousands of chieftain Lashepa's subordinates voted for our Maiqi family.Some people say that chieftain Lashepa's territory is like a big tree.This big tree is made up of ravines.A larger and larger river, rushing out of a wider and wider valley between the mountains, is the trunk of the tree, and the estuary, where the water roars like thunder, is the root of the big tree.In the upper reaches of the river, the ravines where many tributaries rush out are the main branches of this big tree.In the evening, the housekeeper brought the map, and I looked at it under the lamp. After looking at it for a long time, I could see the shape of a big tree from the zigzag lines.This time, I broke off the two strongest branches from this big tree.I appointed the few people in front of me as the new headmen and village chiefs.They want me to send them new leaders.I told them that I only gave them the wheat and not the chiefs.

I said, "You yourselves are your own leaders. Then, I am your leader."

The next day was really busy, I distributed enough food to survive the famine, and seeds for the coming year.They didn't leave that night.These rescued people lit a fire on the open land on the river beach.Dying people glow with incomparable passion.I just waved my hands in the distance, and their cheers rumbled like spring thunder between the sky and the earth.When I walked among them, thousands of people knelt down together, and the dust that rose up choked me.I can't quite believe that all these people have become my people in the blink of an eye.I really can't believe it.When the dust rose, two servants stood close to my body, one on the left and the other on the right.They are afraid that someone will attack me.But I pushed them away.This is not necessary.A few of us fell among such a large crowd that if they really wanted to eat us, it would not be enough for one person to take a small bite.But they won't.

They are truly attached to us.My luck.Good luck means that God takes care of me, God of Destiny takes care of me, no one will do anything to me.

I tried to say something, but I choked on the dust they stirred up, and it was their life too.Their fate kept most of them from hearing the voice of their new master.I just waved my hand, and the kneeling people stood up.Young and old, everyone has dust on their foreheads.They turned their backs on their masters, it doesn't mean that they don't want masters anymore, such thoughts will never come into their minds, and if someone tries to force such thoughts into their heads, they only need to frown and make a little effort squeezed out for you.Look, now, under the light of the reed fire, the eyes on their dull faces are bright and vivid, looking at me as if they saw the appearance of gods.They watched me leave, as if they were watching the gods return to the sky.

In the morning, they all left.Only a large empty river beach remained.After being busy for so many days, I felt empty in my heart when it calmed down. I was still faintly worried about a problem, but I didn't need to say it out loud.For every problem I worry about, someone else thinks about it too.So, it's better for someone else to say it.Sure enough, during breakfast, the housekeeper said: "Those people should not be sent by chieftain Lashepa to lie to us, otherwise the young master will laugh at us."

Suo Lang Zelang said: "If you don't believe the young master, go talk to the young master, we are here."

The butler said, "Who are you, worthy of talking to me like this?" He raised his hand, looked at my face, and finally stopped beating me.Solang Zelang showed a complacent expression on his face.

The housekeeper said to Xiao Eryi, "Slap him twice."

Xiao Eryi slapped his partner twice.But obviously, he played too lightly.

So the housekeeper had to punish the executioner himself.Yes, the executioner will punish other people if they make mistakes, and if the executioner makes mistakes, only those who act as masters will do it themselves.

The butler hurt his hand.Solang Zelang smiled triumphantly, and I laughed too, but then changed my face and shouted at Xiao Eryi: "Hit!"

This time, Xiao Eryi really made a move. Don't look at Xiao Eryi's frail and thin appearance, he just knocked the strong Suolang Zelang to the ground.

Now, everyone laughed.After laughing, I asked the housekeeper to write a letter, telling Chieftain Maiqi that his territory had expanded again, and he had thousands more people on the northern border.The butler wanted to tell me to wait.But he also knew that I was always right, so he sent the letter.The situation on the northern border is good.With my support, Ms. Si beat Toast Lashepa to pieces.

I asked the butler, "What else can Lashepa Toast do?"

"Toast Lashepa? I think he'll have to come to us again."

I couldn't help laughing when I saw the appearance of the obese toast Lashepa constantly wiping his sweat with a towel.

(End of this chapter)