Chapter 119: The Underclass of Xixia

A Xixia man named Heizi, trembling as he emerged from the city, arrived at the camp under the care of the Revolutionary Army, where he saw a group of other Xixia people sitting around the same cooking stove.

Upon seeing them, many of the Xixia people warmly greeted them: “Hey, fellow countrymen, come sit with us! I knew today the Revolutionary Army prepared so much food—must be because you’ve arrived. Come over, sit down, we’ll squeeze together and have a proper meal.”

Seeing these compatriots, full of spirit, wolfing down food around the stove, Heizi suddenly felt hungry—but seeing what they were eating, he couldn’t help asking: “Fellow countrymen, what are you eating? Isn’t this stuff poisonous?”

Hearing the question, the Xixia man still wolfing down his food paused, then waved his hand: “No way. We’ve been eating this for a month—if it were poisonous, we’d all be dead by now. Besides, the Revolutionary Army soldiers eat it too.”

With that, he went back to eating. The Xixia man fresh out of the city decided that dying full was better than dying hungry, and resolutely joined the group wolfing down their food.

They peeled back the outer skin of the round object and took a big bite.

As it entered their mouths, they were astonished to discover that this seemingly ordinary ingredient emitted a delicious, intoxicating sweetness.

Well then, the Revolutionary Army letting them have a good meal before death—now that’s decency.

No more words—everyone ate until their bellies felt ready to burst.

After eating their fill, the Xixia people lay down naturally and began chatting; in conversation, Heizi learned the man who invited him to eat was named Agudu.

“Agudu, why did the Revolutionary Army bring you along? With their strength, they don’t need you as cannon fodder to take the city,” Heizi asked curiously.

Agudu waved his hand: “We’re not here to be cannon fodder. We’re following the Revolutionary Army to Xingqingfu to smash the landlords and divide up the land.”

Hearing this, Heizi—who had just escaped from Xingqingfu—scratched his head: “What’s ‘smash the landlords and divide up the land’?”

“Oh, you newcomers from Xingqingfu don’t know. Let me explain: smashing the landlords means criticizing and judging the masters who used to oppress us; dividing the land means distributing the landlords’ property—fields, cattle, sheep—to us poor folks. Of course, slaves aren’t divided—they’re now citizens of the People’s Government, just like us, entitled to land, cattle, sheep, and tools.” Agudu quickly explained to Heizi.

“You mean the Revolutionary Army comes here, kills the masters, and gives their wealth to us? But why? Why go so far, fight so hard, for this?” Heizi was stunned—he’d never heard of an army that didn’t rob but gave money instead.

No, this wasn’t even just giving money—it was giving land, cattle, and sheep.

“To be honest, I was confused too at first. Soldiers fight for pay, right? To loot food, money, women after battle. But these guys didn’t do any of that—they gave us money, land, cattle, sheep. I just couldn’t understand it. Then I heard one of their soldiers say they were fighting to build a government where the people rule themselves.”

After hearing Agudu, Heizi quickly asked: “What’s a government where the people rule themselves?”

Agudu found this question too profound. After thinking long, he said: “‘People’ means folks like us, the poor. ‘Government’ is like the old bureaucracy. A government where the people rule themselves means the poor folks like us get to decide.”

“So the officials are our servants now? Do they have to kneel and bow to us?” Heizi asked in disbelief.

“No, that government abolished kneeling and prostrating. You don’t kneel to them, and they don’t kneel to you,” Agudu dropped another unbelievable revelation.

There was no helping it—Heizi had been shocked too many times today. He needed time to process it. Likewise, the other Xixia people fresh out of Xingqingfu found it hard to accept or believe this news.

At midnight, several dark figures slipped quietly out of the camp—but were spotted by the night patrol soldiers.

“Who’s there? Stop right now, or I’ll shoot!” The soldier’s sharp cry brought other patrol troops running. In moments, the suspicious figures were seized.

“It’s you?” The patrol soldier squinted—these were the men who had just evacuated from Xingqingfu that day.

The men, realizing they’d been caught by the Revolutionary Army, immediately kowtowed and begged: “We’re sorry, your honors! We were bewitched by demons and ran away. Please spare our lives!”

As the commotion grew, the political instructor of the patrol unit arrived and asked: “What’s going on? Why are these fellow countrymen kowtowing to you? Don’t you know our military discipline?”

“Your Honor, don’t blame them—it’s our fault for trying to run away,” the escaped Xixia men quickly explained, fearing the officer’s anger.

After all, in their eyes, the officer would only scold the soldiers—no real punishment—and they’d still be under their watch. If they stood by and watched the show, their future would be miserable.

“Why did you try to run away?” the instructor asked, his gaze softening, his tone gentle. “We’re about to smash the landlords and divide the land in Xingqingfu. You’re all locals—you’ll all get land, cattle, sheep, and tools.”

The Xixia men exchanged glances, unsure how to answer—they couldn’t say they didn’t believe the Revolutionary Army’s lies.

But the instructor, long experienced in political work, saw right through them. He sighed: “Since you’re determined to leave, we won’t stop you. I’ll have someone prepare food and travel money for you. Take them before you go.”

The men stared at each other—clearly, the instructor’s behavior had stunned them. Soon, the instructor handed them food and money, warning: “Xixia is unstable now. Be careful on your journey.”

The men stood frozen, watching the soldiers and instructor walk back. One of them clenched his teeth and stepped forward: “Instructor, I don’t want to leave anymore. Can I stay? I want to join your ranks.”

The instructor turned around warmly: “Of course you can.”

That night, the entire camp announced: anyone wishing to leave may report to the quartermaster for travel money and rations—the Revolutionary Army will grant all departures without hindrance.