plumnovel Chapter 110 Angel Que Xuan
Chapter 110 Angel Que Xuan
The first project to begin was the irrigation canal in the east of the city, which had been in disrepair for many years.
The bottom of the canal was covered with a thick layer of silt, and several sections of the dikes on both sides had collapsed. The water flowed out here and could not reach the fields far away.
The laborers jumped into the waist-deep canal and shoveled out the silt, some gagging from the stench, but no one stopped.
Besides using his exceptional physical abilities to act as a human lie detector in the county government office to solve cases, Li Sheng also went out of town to inspect construction sites.
He sometimes rides a horse, and sometimes he walks.
Regardless of what vehicle he used, he never put on airs. Wherever he went, he would chat with the laborers, asking if they were eating well and if they were tired from their work.
Some laborers recognized him and became so excited that they knelt on the ground and shouted "King Li". He bent down to help them up and said with a smile, "What King? It's just that everyone trusts my Taiping Sect and trusts me, Li Sheng. As long as everyone can settle down in peace in the future, that's better than anything else."
These words, when they reached the ears of the refugees, made them feel that the general was both kind and respectable.
Some people secretly wiped away tears, saying they had never met such an important person in their lives. He was so approachable and spoke to them, these common folk, as if they were family.
Where had the common people of the Eastern Han Dynasty ever seen such an approachable official? Even the officials in the current bureaucracy who claimed to be "approachable" were only close to small landowners, never to lowly commoners like themselves.
People's hearts are gathered together little by little in this way.
……
To the south, we take Lu County.
Que Xuan sat imposingly in the main hall of the county government office, with a yellow turban flag standing behind him.
Standing below were a dozen or so leaders, all trusted confidants he had gathered from various places during his years of missionary work. These men included deserters, corrupt officials, bankrupt farmers with nowhere else to turn, and even a former street performer who used to make a living by performing tricks. Despite their diverse backgrounds, they shared one thing in common: they were utterly devoted to Que Xuan, believing in him as if he were a god.
"Angel, a reply has arrived from Xiapi!"
A leader strode in carrying a scroll of silk, knelt on one knee, and raised the scroll high above his head with both hands.
Que Xuan took the silk scroll, but did not rush to open it. Instead, he weighed it in his hand, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.
"Read it aloud."
He tossed the silk scroll to a literate confidant beside him.
The confidant unfolded the silk scroll, cleared his throat, and read it aloud in front of all the leaders in the room.
After the last word was read, the hall fell silent for a moment.
Then, a burly man with a face full of scars spoke first, his tone full of contempt.
"Angel, Li Sheng is quite arrogant! You are sent down by the gods, while he, a mere mortal, dares to call himself 'King of Heaven,' and even replies with the words 'to discuss together.' Doesn't he know his own limitations?"
"that is!"
Another person chimed in.
"We've conquered several counties in the south; Qulu and Suiling are both our territory. He only occupies three counties in the north. What right does he have to stand on equal footing with an angel?"
"In my opinion, this person just got lucky."
A leader with a pointed mouth and monkey-like face sneered and shook his head as he spoke.
"I've inquired about his background. This man was originally just a country bumpkin from Xiapi County. A few months ago, he was still a commoner. Somehow, he gathered a group of refugees and, taking advantage of the imperial army's weakness, seized three counties in succession. What real ability does this kind of nouveau riche have? It's just that in times of scarcity, even a nobody can become famous!"
The hall was filled with laughter.
Que Xuan sat at the head of the table, listening to his subordinates' discussions. He remained expressionless on the surface, but inwardly he felt quite pleased.
He had been preaching in Xiapi for some time and had never heard of Li Sheng, so he naturally looked down on him.
"Alright."
He raised a hand, his voice not loud, but the hall immediately fell silent.
Que Xuan stood up and paced around the hall a few steps with his hands behind his back.
He was wearing a Taoist robe that he had somehow acquired; the robe was wide and the sleeves fluttered as he walked. Combined with his fair complexion, clean-shaven face, and delicate features, he did indeed have a somewhat otherworldly air about him at first glance.
"I have heard everything you have said."
His voice was unhurried, with a hint of affectation.
"But Li Sheng's ability to rise from humble beginnings to conquer three counties and establish a foothold in Xiapi in just a few months is not entirely due to luck; to say it was all due to underestimating his opponent would be an underestimation of him."
Everyone eagerly awaited the angel's next words.
"Before the alliance meeting, you must train your troops well and ensure the soldiers are well-fed and watered. On the day of the meeting, let Li Sheng see for himself what the true power of the Yellow Turbans is! If he knows what's good for him and obediently follows my orders, then I will spare his life. If he doesn't..."
Que Xuan paused, his gaze darkening.
"Then let him know the power of the gods."
The leaders in the hall responded with a roar, their faces filled with fanaticism, as if they could already see Li Sheng kneeling and begging for mercy.
Que Xuan was very satisfied with his subordinates' reaction.
He waved his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet, and was about to say some mystical things to confuse his subordinates when a voice rang out from the corner.
The speaker was a lean man named Sun, who was in charge of grain and fodder distribution under Que Xuan. He had previously worked as a minor official in the county's granary and was skilled in calculation.
"Angel, I have something to say, but I'm not sure if I should."
Que Xuan glanced at him.
"speak."
The leader surnamed Sun stepped forward two steps and clasped his hands in greeting.
"Angel, our food supplies are running low these days."
The atmosphere in the hall froze instantly.
Que Xuan frowned.
Explain yourself.
"Reporting to the angel, after we captured the county, we distributed some to the believers and gave some to the brothers. There's not much left."
The leader counted on his fingers.
"At this rate, we won't last more than a month."
There was a moment of silence in the hall.
The burly man with a face full of scars said in a nonchalant manner.
"That's easy. Just ask the believers to donate some more food."
"I can't donate."
The leader surnamed Sun shook his head.
"The believers have already donated most of their surplus food; if they take more..."
Que Xuan waved his hand, interrupting him.
"Tell the believers that the time has come for the gods to test them. Whoever offers the most grain will receive the greatest blessings when the Yellow Emperor rules the world. If they don't have enough grain, they can offer livestock, cloth, or anything else."
He paused, then added.
"This envoy will personally ascend the altar to perform rituals and pray for the believers who offer food to be blessed and free from calamities."
"promise."
The leader surnamed Sun said no more and bowed in agreement.
Que Xuan thought for a moment, then turned to look at another leader.
"Besides the believers, there's another way. Make a list of the local powerful families in the county. I will personally lead people to their homes and ask them to 'donate grain'."
The leader, his eyes burning with fervor, clasped his hands in a fist salute.
"Rest assured, angel, I will take care of it immediately."
Que Xuan nodded, sat back down at the head of the table, and glanced at the people below.
"Go and prepare. Eat and drink your fill, train your troops well. There are still half a month until the alliance meeting. By then, I will let the whole of Xuzhou know who the true chosen one is!"