Chapter 176 : Chapter 176
Chapter 176: That Feng Yun Just Now Was Quite Polite. Perfect, Let Us Pay Him a Visit
Once Feng Yun retreated, the terrified refugees immediately calmed down. The panic on their faces lessened greatly, and they looked excitedly toward the Jinyiwei.
“Thank you, my lords, for saving our lives!”
Yet the Jinyiwei felt no pride or satisfaction over these thanks, because they had not really done anything.
They had somehow saved these people for no clear reason.
They also did not know what those Army-Breaking Sect fellows had been trying to do just now.
Perhaps they had heard of what Lord Cheng had done in Jiannan Circuit and, fearing that they would anger the people-loving Lord Cheng, had hurriedly fled.
“My lord, shall we continue on our way?”
“Let us go.”
Cheng Yu was still frowning, but he nodded.
The Jinyiwei mounted their horses again and prepared to leave and continue their journey. They had not expected what would happen next.
When some among the refugees saw that the Jinyiwei were about to leave, they actually began wailing and begging with tears streaming down their faces.
“My lords, you cannot abandon us! Once you leave, those people will come back and kill us!”
With this plea, the refugees directly treated the Jinyiwei as their only lifeline.
They all stood up together and blocked the Jinyiwei, afraid that their lifeline would leave.
The Jinyiwei frowned.
“What are you trying to do?”
The refugees wailed, “We are not trying to do anything! We just want to survive. My lords, you cannot ignore whether we live or die!”
“How are we supposed to take responsibility for you? We are only passing through!”
“We do not care. We only want to live!”
As they begged, some people grabbed the Jinyiwei’s hands and refused to let go, clinging to them like stubborn plasters.
The Jinyiwei could not very well shake them off, so they all looked worriedly toward Cheng Yu.
This was trouble!
The Army-Breaking Sect people had come quickly and left quickly, and their behavior had seemed completely inexplicable.
But they had left the Jinyiwei with a mess.
How should this group of refugees be handled?
“Lord Cheng, what should we do?”
Ma Minnong, who was at the side, also saw that something was wrong and became extremely worried.
The Crimson Flame Steed beneath Cheng Yu was emitting fiery light and scorching heat, so none of the refugees dared approach him.
Seeing these people block the road and refuse to let them leave, Cheng Yu’s frown finally eased at this moment.
He understood!
He had sensed something wrong from the very beginning.
After puzzling over it for a long while just now, he finally realized that this was what those Army-Breaking Sect fellows were planning.
They wanted to use this group of refugees to make trouble for him!
Did people not say that the common people of Jiannan Circuit lived well entirely because Thousand-Household Commander Cheng loved the people like his own children?
Then they would make him properly love these refugees!
If he abandoned them all and ignored them, people would certainly exaggerate the matter and make a huge fuss over it.
If he took responsibility for them, troublesome matters would absolutely follow one after another.
This could be used perfectly to restrain Cheng Yu.
It was indeed a good method that allowed them to advance or retreat freely.
However, they had clearly thought completely wrong.
Cheng Yu did not fall for this.
Since he understood what those people wanted to do, the matter naturally became simple.
He looked toward the few people hiding among the refugees who most liked to speak and guide everyone’s emotions.
Their hands had no calluses, and their feet wore cloth shoes.
And yet they had become refugees too.
“What would you do if I firmly refused to take responsibility for you?”
These people froze, not expecting Cheng Yu to react like this.
Did they not say that Cheng Yu loved the people like his own children? Why did he look as though he did not care at all?
Even if he were only putting on an act, he had to complete the act properly, right?
Otherwise, they would be in a very awkward position!
Their hearts grew colder and colder. They could only grit their teeth and continue speaking.
“If my lord refuses to take responsibility for us, we will kill ourselves here and now. Either way, we will die. Things cannot become worse!”
After saying this, someone actually pulled out a small dagger without hesitation and placed it against his neck, revealing a resolute expression.
When many others saw this, they also rushed to imitate him.
“If my lord refuses to care about us, then we might as well die!”
At the same time, quite a few passing commoners, as well as farmers working on both sides of the road, had already gathered on the official road.
More and more people gathered, watching the commotion.
Someone was going to kill himself in front of the Jinyiwei!
When the refugees holding daggers and pretending that they were about to kill themselves saw that more and more people had gathered, a trace of ruthlessness flashed through their eyes.
This was an open scheme!
If they died in front of the Jinyiwei, the Jingmen Circuit branch of the Army-Breaking Sect would absolutely exaggerate the matter and pin it firmly on the Jinyiwei.
Refugees were already a matter that Great Qian should handle.
If refugees died in front of the indifferent Jinyiwei, then the nature of the matter would become serious.
Cheng Yu clearly could have helped these refugees!
Those of the Moderate Faction in the court could also use this to attack Cheng Yu.
Why did you not save them?
In any case, they were not the ones who had to save anyone. They could accuse him however they wanted, and they would not have to bear the trouble behind it.
Under these circumstances, the image that Cheng Yu had painstakingly built of loving the people like his own children would also be finished!
He absolutely could not allow them to kill themselves!
Absolutely!
These people raised their daggers and waited for Cheng Yu to helplessly accept them so they could complete the plan.
But as they waited and waited, they discovered something was wrong.
Why had Cheng Yu not reacted?
Should he not be pretending to love the people like his own children, fearing that they would die even if it meant bringing trouble upon himself?
Why was he completely silent now?
This was different from the situation in Jiannan Circuit!
Over there, as soon as the commoners said that some family had oppressed or seized from them, the Jinyiwei would immediately charge over and kill those people!
Why, when it was their turn, did he still not care even though people were about to die?
Cheng Yu crossed his arms and looked at these people, revealing a faint smile.
Long ago, he had already anticipated certain matters. Many people would believe he was someone who loved the people to an extreme degree.
Whether it was an act or sincere.
Under heaven, there were few people like Cheng Yu who, after eliminating other forces, would distribute the gains back to the common people.
Being so selfless for the people had won him the people’s hearts and reputation, but it would also place shackles upon him.
For example, he supposedly could not coldly allow refugees to die in front of him...
Just like most good people who loved the people, their kindness would instead become leverage for others to threaten them.
But the problem was that Cheng Yu was no indiscriminately kind person.
He was merely a dedicated and diligent member of the Jinyiwei.
If these people wanted to kill themselves, then they could kill themselves. They simply should not delay him from taking up his post in the Great Qian Capital.
At this moment, the refugees instantly fell into extreme awkwardness.
What should they do?
Cheng Yu really did seem as though he did not care whether they died!
If so, their goal had already been achieved. They could use this matter as an excuse to attack Cheng Yu!
Did you not love the people like your own children? Then what was this?
Overall, this was a guaranteed gain.
But the problem was that these people pretending to be refugees would truly die!
This was different from the Sect Master’s arrangements!
Gradually, the daggers in their hands began trembling, and sweat broke out on their foreheads. They increasingly looked like people who were truly about to kill themselves.
They shouted in their hearts, Stop us! Do you not love the people like your own children?!
Despair continued to grow.
But just then, Cheng Yu finally spoke.
“How can I allow Great Qian’s people to die before my eyes? Follow along.”
The fake refugees immediately felt as though a heavy burden had been lifted from them and lowered their daggers.
Cheng Yu really could not let them die!
But he should have spoken earlier!
They hated him immensely in their hearts. Later, they would definitely cause proper trouble and let Cheng Yu experience the taste of hesitation and vexation too!
The refugees hurriedly got up and obediently followed behind the Jinyiwei, revealing happy and joyful smiles.
Ma Minnong frowned as he looked at Cheng Yu.
“Lord Cheng, this...”
Bringing along these stubborn plasters would definitely cause great trouble!
But Cheng Yu shook his head and revealed a faint smile.
“It is fine. There is still plenty of time before we reach the Great Qian Capital. That Feng Yun just now was quite polite. Perfect, let us pay him a visit.”