Chapter 500 - Besieging Fengyi County (VIII)
Meng Hun smiled coldly. “Regardless whether the Northern Nanman or Dongqing, they are both engaging in dirty business.”
Liyun listened but kept silent, he daren’t respond to Meng Hun’s words.
Even if the sixteen countries are in turmoil, those people living in the central plains have an innate sense of superiority. When the Xia dynasty ended the chaotic times and dominated the world, they rose to be the pinnacle of all nations and such an air of elitism was born. How then can these esteemed people of the heavenly country be compared to barbaric nations?
If Meng Hun’s words were examined by old researchers and scholars, he would surely be accused by all when they hear of it.
In the peoples’ eyes, the barbarian tribes are barbaric, they devour raw meats, fowls, and drink blood, they lack intelligence, their ways are inhumane and cruel. Contrarily, the people from the five countries in the central plains are polite and civilised, they are high cultured people enlightened with spiritual knowledge, whether it’s Dongqing, Nansheng, Zhongzhao, Beiyuan, or Xichang. Which of them looks up to the foreign tribes?
Unexpectedly, Meng Hun said all men are the same. Even the people of the central plains are capable of those cruel deeds committed by the barbaric tribes. They just don’t admit it. Such debates are truly unorthodox. Liyun was determined in his heart to rebut but the realistic bloody scene left him speechless.
With a lot of conflicted feelings and total discomfort, in the end he settled with a sigh.
Based on Liyun’s wits, he had no means of understanding whether these rebellious refugees caused this chaotic time or if such times of unrest forced these people to become mad.
“Why are you sighing, it is unlucky.” Meng Hun had a stern face as he stared intently with both eyes at those responsible for transporting Tsing Yi army’s rations. Those men readied themselves to rest. He softly reprimanded them. “As a general, be wary of allowing joy and anger to cloud your facial expression and emotions cannot waver no matter what occurs during the war…”
From the vanguard battalion colonel’s point of view, it’s crucial to maintain clarity of mind and thinking so that no mistakes will be made. The vanguard battalion camp consists of half the total elite soldiers in the camp. If they are defeated in battle, no need to mention about their dampened morale, even their fighting spirits will take a downward turn.
As the commander of the vanguard battalion, the colonel must always perform well as the leader. Even if the situation is dire, he cannot appear dispirited or sigh as it will affect the morale of the troops, although Liyun had no such intentions…
Liyun wore a simple and honest smile, revealing the cute and sweet disposition that Meng Hun is familiar with. But he quickly realised it and composed his facial expression immediately.
On the other hand, the group of Tsing Yi army in charge of transporting military supplies had found an ideal spot to rest.
The weather is presently cold, but on the arduous journey to transport military provisions, the servants expanded a lot of physical energy and often sweated profusely. However, those Tsing Yi soldiers who wore plain clothes to “supervise”, were more breathless than those men who carried the goods.
One of them planted his buttocks on the carriage, his swaying clothes seeming like a fan and his increasingly swollen face appearing somewhat mean.
“This is seriously infuriating, if not for these young ladies who walk so slowly, we would have reached our destination and we’d be eating delicious food and drinking instead of wasting time in the wilderness…” A thick phlegm welled up in his throat, and as he cleared his throat, he spat at the nearest woman and his mood was lifted as he watched her scream in shock. “I can’t understand these women, my children and grandchildren have tasted my saliva before so what’s wrong with my sputum…”
Another leaned on the carriage, his back pressed painfully against a hanging head. He spat then threw the decapitated head far off.
“Don’t go overboard in playing, these women are to be shared with our comrades. It is alright if you, you rascal, enjoys them beforehand but don’t inflict harm on them. After you’ve had your fun, it’s only fair to let others enjoy too.” His vision fell on hundreds of heads with dishevelled hair and he lowered his head causing the women to tremble unceasingly. He smiled slyly as if recalling something. “A woman’s body is soft; they taste like a delicacy…”
Chaotic times has its advantages. If the world is at peace, from whence will come days of comfort?
They worked hard like a wild man working in the fields, they wished for a taste of women, but it was unknown when that would happen.
Women are a rarity, it’s almost impossible for those in rural villages to find wives. A few brothers would pool together their money to buy a wife to share. This was a common phenomenon. More than a thousand Tsing Yi soldiers guarded the military supplies and gear, so many pairs of eyes ogled at the bodies of those women.
The past few days were spent guarding the supplies intently. Despite being near the women, they could not touch them. Only those of high status can drag one into the bushes to satisfy their lust. Many could not bear it but because of the imposing officials present, none dared to move at their whims.
“Look at how pathetic you are. When we return, each will have a share, come one at a time, there’s no rush… hahaha…”
Those women were tortured till they were almost numbed, other than a few whose eyes burned with anger; but the others all looked like they’re in a daze. How can they not be numbed? Their homelands were destroyed for naught, their fathers and brothers died before their eyes. It isn’t just their bodies that were hurt, their mental health is near the brink of collapse.
And as if this only just the start, on the daily journey everything that happens is like a knife scarring their already vulnerable mental state.
If these beasts felt like eating meat, they are the best and freshest meat available. They witnessed people being chopped up and washed, then thrown into the pot to be cooked. Moreover, some who were stubborn were cooked while they were still alive, how would they feel?
…Perhaps sitting in between two pots, they are forced to be burnt; Possibly roasting on the iron frame; Or their hands and feet bound and placed in boiling soup…
“Thinking of meat” on the day of cannibalism, food triggers memories.
If they had the courage, they’d commit suicide, those who aren’t brave enough will have to suffer sorrowfully. They were sore afraid, fearing for dear life that they will be the next victim. Compared to that, the humiliation they faced every night was nothing. Though they wished to flee, they had no shoes on their feet. The surrounding terrain was full of brittle stones and their hands were tied to a common hemp rope. It was impossible for one to escape alone.
They saw that they were nearing Chengan district so their hearts were filled with hopelessness, some even felt their lives were over. It’d be good if they died like that. Thinking to themselves, even hell is probably more bearable than this.
A group of the vanguard battalion were hiding at a secret spot waiting to ambush their enemies, the arrows already on the bowstrings of their improved bows and aimed at the heads of Tsing Yi soldiers.
“Chief, why do I feel that today’s weather is freezing cold?” Some people felt uncomfortable.
Others said, “Look at those decapitated heads, who wouldn’t feel the chilling cold, coward.”
From all around, bursts of laughter were heard.
Before entering the Tsing Yi army, many of them were diligent farmers but after they experienced the freedom to indulge they cannot return to the past and can no longer rediscover that “simplicity and honesty”. They mocked their cowardly comrades and laughed unstoppably.
“Alright, if you’ve rested enough then get up. Transport these supplies back to the city then we can enjoy the beauties…”
The commander’s voice was yet to be silent, when suddenly blood flowered from his eye as arrows were abruptly shot in their direction. Many Tsing Yi soldiers were about to get up or lift the weapons by their sides. They were presently in a mental state of rest.
The surprise attack caused 200 to 300 Tsing Yi men to fall.
Luckily, Meng Hun and the rest took a roundabout route and attacked them from the back, if not their tracks would have been discovered by their enemies.
“Enemy attack…”
“The enemies are here…”
After the first wave of attack, the dead bodies fell to the ground. Only then did reality hit the Tsing Yi soldiers and they reacted to the situation. The entire group was in a mess. Presently, thousands of men rushed out from the bushes which had previously looked empty. The person leading was Liyun.
As he was about to make a kill with his silver spear, when he rushed to the front, he discovered that his target’s head has already been cut apart.
Liyun: “…”
Who’s there killing his target again?