"Reporting, Hall Master."
Zhang Wenkui panted heavily, his face burning with indignation. "I ran the whole way—I have urgent news to report! When that hooligan marched past Wufeng County, it just so happened the county magistrate was out on an excursion with his family. The magistrate's female kin were all striking beauties, and the hooligan laid eyes on them. Lusting after them, he led his troops off in pursuit. He didn't catch them, but he ended up besieging Wufeng County instead! Even if he takes Wufeng County, there's no way he can make it here the day after tomorrow."
With that, Zhang Wenkui spat fiercely, his face full of disdain.
Two detachments had slipped deep into the heart of Jiang Prefecture, and the general commanding one of them was the very hooligan Zhang Wenkui spoke of.
This man was named Wang Liu, a starving ghost when it came to women. Presuming upon his status as a confidant of the prince's heir, no one dared discipline him. He ran amok, causing no end of trouble back in Yingnan Commandery, earning himself the nickname Hooligan General.
Who would have thought that in a critical strategic operation concerning the entire eastern army, he would still dare act so recklessly?
When Water Monkey heard this, he cursed roundly. "Damn it! That grandson of a bitch will die on a woman's belly sooner or later!"
Hearing this, Qin Sang felt a headache coming on as well. The magistrate of Hening County was clearly capable. Although the garrison had been reassigned elsewhere, the militiamen and yamen runners at the city gate had been rigorously trained.
Originally, the two detachments had agreed to converge in the early hours the day after tomorrow and launch a surprise assault on Hening County, which would have ensured total success. Now that Wang Liu had taken his troops off to chase women, their fighting strength on this side was drastically cut. How much confidence could they have in breaching the walls?
Even if they breached the city, would they have enough strength left to keep the rioting refugees in check?
And if they delayed by even a single day, they risked their plans being leaked.
Staring at the city gates of Hening County for a good while, Qin Sang spat out the blade of grass and said in a low, steady voice, "If he doesn't want the merit handed to him on a silver platter, he can't blame our brothers for keeping the spoils to ourselves. This time, our brothers will put in the extra effort to help General Mu take Hening County. Once it's done, I'll petition the princess myself to reward your merits!"
Suddenly, a commotion broke out among the column of refugees on the thoroughfare. Several refugees were shouting and shoving as servants from a wealthy household drove them out of a porridge shed.
Refugees all along the road craned their necks to watch the spectacle, though none dared leave the line.
Qin Sang looked over curiously. He saw three burly, strapping men on one side who looked alike and were likely brothers. On the other side were seven half-grown children, both boys and girls. The oldest boy looked around thirteen or fourteen, though it was hard to tell—in times like these, children of poor families were always malnourished.
After listening to the onlookers whispering for a moment, Qin Sang understood what was going on.
The three strapping men called themselves the three Kong brothers. Relying on their size and strength, they constantly bullied others, never waiting in line when porridge was distributed. They often extorted people with a broken bowl, and when they ran across the old or weak, they would snatch their porridge away.
Before wealthy households with strict rules, they didn't dare make trouble. But whenever the family giving out porridge chose not to meddle, the brothers got their way.
Now their sights were set on these children—not only aiming to snatch their porridge, but to abduct one of them as well.
With a mission on his shoulders, Qin Sang would usually never bother with such trivial matters. But the boy leading the group caught his interest, so he watched a little longer.
"My sister broke your bowl, so we'll pay you for it! You can't take her away!"
Like a hen shielding her chicks, the boy spread his arms wide to protect the other six children behind him. A filthy little girl huddled behind his back, weeping softly; she was likely the one who had broken the bowl.
Qin Sang had sharp eyes. He noticed that although the girl was covered in grime, her facial features were delicate and well-proportioned. She was only about ten or eleven years old; washed and groomed properly, she could fetch a fine price. No wonder those three fellows wanted to seize her.
"Bah!"
The eldest of the three brothers spat fiercely, pointing at the shards on the ground by the porridge shed. "What the hell do you know? My bowl came from that... what was it, the Black Kiln—"
The third brother whispered, "Eldest Brother, White Kiln! White Kiln..."
"Right, White Kiln! A bowl from the White Kiln! You little beggar, do you even know what the White Kiln is? A single bowl is worth hundreds of taels of silver! Selling all of you little beggars together wouldn't even cover it! I'm letting you off easy just taking that little wench!"
The eldest stared lecherously at the little girl. "Little sister, come with brother, and I guarantee you'll eat and drink the finest! What's the fun in sticking around with these wet-behind-the-ears brats? Haha..."
The three men burst into vulgar laughter.
The children seethed with indignant fury, while the little girl trembled in terror.
Qin Sang nearly laughed out of exasperation. The White Kiln produced the most precious porcelain in the Great Sui, reserved exclusively as tribute for the court. Even ordinary wealthy merchants weren't qualified to use it, let alone a refugee begging for porridge with a White Kiln bowl!
"Damn you!"
The second brother took a sudden step forward, pressing his chest right against the boy's face as he snarled viciously, "Little beggar, she isn't even your real sister! Who asked you to stick your nose in this? If you know what's good for you, get lost!"
Qin Sang's eyes narrowed slightly. The man held a blade in his hand, its tip pressed directly against the boy's belly.
Zhang Wenkui, who hadn't even caught his breath yet, flared up in anger at the sight. "Hall Master, these kids are pitiful. Shouldn't we step in?"
Qin Sang turned his head and fixed Zhang Wenkui with a cold look. "Should I address you as Hero Zhang from now on? Just how many pitiful people have you saved?"
Zhang Wenkui's face blanched instantly. He lowered his head, not daring to utter another word.
Surprisingly, though held at knifepoint, the boy showed no fear whatsoever. He stood motionless, chin held high, his bloodshot eyes glaring unwaveringly at the brute before him as he shouted like a madman:
"Fuck your mother! If you've got the balls, stab me! Kill your grandpa here, and take whoever you want!"
Even the second brother was taken aback by the boy's crazed defiance and took an instinctive step back. Then, humiliated and infuriated, he didn't dare use the knife, but instead grabbed the boy by the collar, raising his fist to strike.
The boy was just as fierce, snapping his teeth forward to bite.
Qin Sang called out in a low voice.
"Old Zhou!"
Water Monkey caught on immediately. Scrambling to his feet in an instant, he darted between them in a few strides, shoved the brute aside, and threw himself onto the boy. Pinching the boy's cheeks, he wailed and shouted, "Son! My son! It really is you! I'm your father! I'm your father!"
Qin Sang rubbed his forehead, thinking to himself that the man was a true genius of an actor.
The boy was just as quick on his feet. Flinging his arms around Water Monkey, he burst into loud sobs. "Father! I finally found you! Father, why did you take so long..."
Startled by Water Monkey's sudden appearance, the onlookers hadn't even regained their senses before witnessing this touching father-son reunion. Clucking their tongues, they marveled at the scene.
Though Water Monkey was only two years older than Qin Sang, his face was smeared with a thick layer of yellow mud, and his acting was impeccable. The "father and son" wailed with such fervor that no one suspected it was merely a performance.
The three brutes were dumbfounded for a moment, but seeing that Water Monkey had a broken arm, they began itching for trouble again.
Qin Sang nudged his chin toward them. Only then did Zhang Wenkui, who was already itching to jump in, dare to move. He ran over in a few strides, glaring fiercely at the trio. "Second Brother! Is it really my little nephew? Don't be afraid, nephew—tell your uncle who bullied you, and your uncle will get even for you!"
Zheng Kun slipped over quietly as well, brushing aside his jacket to reveal the hilt of a blade at his waist.
Seeing there was nothing to gain, the three brutes finally walked away, cursing under their breath.
Chapter 31