Chapter 38: All Wretched Souls

The three competitions have concluded, and many individuals displayed remarkable performance. The rewards obtained can be kept or sold to others. Tomorrow, the Fire Lotus Sect will arrive at Funiu Village. The village's local militia will have to fight the enemy, and there may be casualties. They do not want the Fire Lotus Sect to destroy their home and wish to eliminate the sect as soon as possible.

That evening, Jiang Yi had his servants prepare lamb soup, and everyone was served white flour buns. Jiang Yi wanted to eat beef, but the Great Liang Dynasty strictly forbids the slaughter of cattle, and none of the butcher shops in Hanyang City sell it. Drinking was also prohibited for the night, as some men had to be assigned to patrol the village. Jiang Yi and Chang Youliang decided to lead fifty men on patrol for the first half of the night, while Qin Lu would take charge of the patrol for the second half.

In the pitch-black night, the cold wind was bone-chilling. Jiang Yi and Chang Youliang walked at the front of the group, constantly observing their surroundings.

"It's so dark tonight that the Fire Lotus Sect members can't see either. They aren't familiar with the village, so I doubt they would risk a night raid," Chang Youliang remarked, believing that a night attack was not only dangerous but also made it difficult to see people or objects.

"You have a point. Most people suffer from night blindness, but we cannot rule out the possibility that some in the Fire Lotus Sect have better vision at night." Since the militia was formed, patrols have been conducted day and night.

"Once the Fire Lotus Sect is completely wiped out in Hanzhong, the local militias will be disbanded." Neither the imperial court nor the local authorities allow the existence of private armed organizations. "The rebellion of the Fire Lotus Sect has put local officials on high alert." Ever since Chang Youliang became a Security Lieutenant, he had communicated with the military officers in Hanyang City and learned a great deal. In reality, many members of the Fire Lotus Sect only gathered to resist the authorities because they were driven to desperation by local officials. Chang Youliang, of course, could not say this in front of others; he held an official position and represented the government.

"I also hope to perform a great service this time so I can be promoted and be of more help to you in the future."

"You always think of me; I don't know how to repay you." Jiang Yi believed in reciprocating kindness and avenging grudges. However, reaching his goals would take a long time.

Suddenly, Jiang Yi heard a slight noise nearby. It was either a wild beast that had wandered into the village or the Fire Lotus Sect attempting a night raid. "There's a sound over there; let's go check it out." Jiang Yi led the way, drawing his sword to prepare for an attack by either beast or man. He saw a shadow moving in the distant grove, and it did not look like a beast.

"It must be the Fire Lotus Sect scouts, preparing for tomorrow's invasion."

Jiang Yi’s vision and hearing were far superior to others, allowing him to pinpoint their location. He led his men forward quietly, intending to capture them alive to extract valuable information.

"You circle around from the left, and I'll go from the right. Let's capture these men alive. If they resist, kill them without hesitation," Jiang Yi whispered to Chang Youliang.

The two groups, each with over twenty men, circled around from both sides, ensuring the people in the woods had no way to escape. Chang Youliang and his men had grown up in the village and were intimately familiar with the terrain. The people in the grove realized they were being approached and turned to flee, but Chang Youliang’s men quickened their pace, cutting off their escape route from the sides.

The intruders were indeed sent by the upper echelons of the Fire Lotus Sect to scout the village's strength. They had avoided daytime reconnaissance, assuming the villagers would lower their guard at night. Fifty men quickly surrounded the four intruders.

"Surrender immediately! Those who resist will be killed!" Jiang Yi shouted.

The four Fire Lotus members trembled in fear. Realizing they were hopelessly outnumbered, they dropped their blades and knelt on the ground, begging for mercy.

"Don't kill us! We surrender!"

"Tell us everything you know, and I guarantee I won't kill you." Jiang Yi wondered if they had murdered innocent people or harmed women. They were all from poor backgrounds, and their rebellion against the authorities was somewhat understandable, but burning, killing, and looting were unforgivable.

"We were ordered to scout the area. Tomorrow, hundreds of people will come to this village to force the residents to join the Fire Lotus Sect," the four men confessed.

"Have you ever harmed the common people or abused women?"

"We never have. Some others in the sect do, but we aren't lying." Jiang Yi and his men were uncertain if these four had committed such crimes, but they had already promised not to kill them.

"Tie them up and lock them in a room in the village. Once we defeat the rest of the sect, we'll hand them over to the authorities," Jiang Yi decided.

"Please, if you send us to the authorities, we're dead men!" one of the captives pleaded.

"I am a Security Lieutenant of Hanyang. I can intercede with the Prefect on your behalf. If you haven't committed major atrocities, you might only be sent to serve hard labor elsewhere. If you provide more valuable intelligence, it will count as meritorious service," Chang Youliang promised.

The four young, able-bodied men realized this was their only chance and thanked Chang Youliang profusely. Jiang Yi waved his hand, and his men bound the captives and took them to a vacant room under guard.

Thanks to Jiang Yi’s timely discovery, the village was saved from a potential disaster. If the scouts had returned with information, they might have targeted the elderly, women, and children on the mountain to hold them hostage, forcing the village's able-bodied men to lay down their arms.

"It seems some in the Fire Lotus Sect are quite cunning," Chang Youliang sighed. "They use hostages to prevent resistance. It's a pity that although most of these people are poor, they have gone astray."

The Fire Lotus Sect’s expansion had brought chaos to the Great Liang Dynasty, worsening the lives of the people. "Some things are beyond our control; our priority is to eliminate them," Jiang Yi said.

In the future, Jiang Yi would also launch his own campaigns, but he would strictly forbid his men from harming the people. His goal was clear: once the time was ripe, he would control Hanyang, then the entire Hanzhou region. With his own territory and a private armed force, he would finally have the power to protect himself.