Chapter 340 - The Little Prince
The pouring down of drizzle in the morning made one think of drinking hot soup and tea while admiring the outside world where beautiful scenery was just right in front of them. But at this moment, the people of Henzhou city couldn't admire the beautiful scenery as they were about to start a riot.
"What is happening? Why are they not letting us in?"
"Where is the city head? Shouldn't he come out and tell us if the rumors are true?"
"Yeah! We should have the right to know the truth!"
"Hmph! The rumors should be true seeing how they are hiding from us." One toxic fat man said before he gathered everyone's attention by purposely raising his voice, "Everyone! The city head doesn't want to see us... doesn't this mean that all the rumors are true? Doesn't this mean that we're going to starve? Why should we, the people who worked hard to harvest the crops and fished the fish out of the water, starve? Shouldn't we at least have the right to know if the food disappeared?"
A stone could create thousands of ripples once it was thrown at the sea. At this moment, the fat guy's words were like a thunder to everyone's ear, waking them up.
So what if the soldiers protected them?
So what if they're going to die in the hands of the enemy empire?
So what if the city falls?
We just can't continue starving to feed these soldiers!
Everyone's minds were linked as they nodded at each other. They were already planning to rebel and pierce through the gates holding them from going to the food warehouse. They didn't show any fear as they knew that the soldiers were tasked to protect them, not to kill them. If they struck their swords on them, they would surely have to answer to the emperor.
Although the city of Henzhou was small and near the mountains and sea water. Basically, in terms of resources, they were the closest to it. That must be the focal point that the Chu empire was eyeing. The city was closer to them and if they wanted to swallow all the mountains and sea water nearby, they would have to take the Henzhou city.
It must be their luck that one of the greatest generals of the Chu empire decided to show some morality and pride that he waited for Qu Xing Xu to arrive, or else, the city would probably belong to the Chu empire map now.
But these city people didn't think too much of it. The only thing they could see was what was in front of them and didn't know the consequences of their actions. But no one could really blame them as hunger was the most deplorable and hard to counter enemy of humanity.
However, there were still some who were too greedy and wanted to make trouble. One of them was the fat guy who started the idea of rebelling and rioting. He just wanted to take as much food as he could from the remaining food from the warehouse.
The fat guy also wanted to let these soldiers see that the city people were not their mother hen who would give them food to eat selflessly.
Standing before a window overlooking the small gathering of people, Ni Zixuan coldly glanced at the nonsense these people were talking about. His eyebrows furrowed as he laughed in a mocking tone.
Good! These people are all white-eyed wolves. They didn't even think of how many lives were lost to protect the city and their worthless lives!
Jiang Sheng saw how he was acting and sighed helplessly. "Zixuan don't look at them anymore. That's just how people are."
Ni Zixuan clenched his fist even tighter. "Jiang Sheng, why should we still help these people to live? We should just leave and let them see how difficult it is to fight with our stomach empty!"
Jiang Sheng could understand what he was feeling right now, but he still shook his head. "Leaving the city even before the war ends... That is an unacceptable act and punishable by a capital offense. Even before you can arrive in the capital after leaving the city, they will know about this and start to put a bounty on your and your family's heads. Do you think the emperor won't do it?"
He would do it... Ni Zixuan knew this in his heart. The emperor has been targeting not only Qu Xing Xu, but also the three of them. Because their names were sung throughout the empire and roared by everyone because of their achievements, the emperor was afraid that their popularity would overtake his own.
"Just what is that old man of yours thinking?" Ni Zixuan glanced at Jiang Sheng.
Jiang Sheng shrugged: "I don't know... and don't call him my old man. I will never accept a fatuous emperor as my father. As for what he's thinking... he must be busy thinking of how to get more beautiful and young girls inside his harem."
Ni Zixuan laughed when he heard his words.
That's right. Jiang Sheng's full name was Yu Jiang Sheng. However, he never wanted to use the family name of the royal family as he sees it as some dirty stain to his name.
Even though he was a prince, Jiang Sheng practiced to be more low-profile than his other siblings. He didn't let himself get shackled over the title of a prince and decided to follow Qu Xing Xu.
It was probably because of this that Emperor Yun was afraid that Jiang Sheng, one of his sons, who were too outstanding because of his involvement with Qu Xing Xu and has military achievements, could take the throne from him. Thus, Emperor Yun wanted to suppress this son of his and his group of outstanding men.
"That old man should really step down." Ni Zixuan glared outside again. Then, he said to Jiang Sheng, " You should also get ready to take his place.. We will surely give the throne to you once all our plans are done."