Chapter 119: The Lower Rungs of Western Xia

The Western Xia man Blackie, who had staggered out of the city, arrived at the camp under the care of the Revolutionary Army, where he saw a group of Western Xia people likewise gathered around a cooking stove.

Seeing them, many of those Western Xia people greeted them warmly: "Hey, fellow villagers, come sit over here. I was wondering why the Revolutionary Army prepared so much food today — turns out it's because you've arrived. Fellow villagers, come sit, we can squeeze together and have a proper meal."

Seeing his compatriots in high spirits, wolfing down their food around the stove, Blackie suddenly felt hungry too, but upon seeing the strange things they were eating he couldn't help asking: "Fellow villagers, what is that you're eating? Could it be poisonous?"

Hearing this question, the Western Xia man still wolfing down his food was stunned, then waved his hand and said: "No way, we've been eating this stuff for a month now. If it were poisonous, something would've happened long ago. Besides, the Revolutionary Army people are eating it too."

After saying that he continued wolfing down his food. The Western Xia man who had just come out of the city figured that dying a full belly was better than dying a starving one, and resolutely joined the ranks of those wolfing down their food.

They peeled the round thing and took a bite.

Once it entered their mouths, they were pleasantly surprised to discover that this seemingly ordinary foodstuff actually emitted a sweet, intoxicating aroma.

All right, at least those Revolutionary Army people let them have a good meal before dying — that counts as benevolence and righteousness.

Nothing more to say — everyone felt they had to stuff themselves until their bellies nearly burst before stopping.

The well-fed Western Xia people naturally lay on the ground and began chatting. During the conversation, Blackie learned that the man who had called him over to eat was called Agudu.

"Agudu, why does the Revolutionary Army bring you people along? With their strength, attacking a city doesn't need you as cannon fodder," Blackie asked curiously.

Agudu waved his hand and said: "We're not here as cannon fodder. We're following the Revolutionary Army to Xingqing Prefecture to beat the local tyrants and divide up the land."

Hearing this, Blackie, who had just come out of Xingqing Prefecture, scratched his head and asked: "What's 'beat the local tyrants and divide up the land'?"

"Oh, you folks who just came out of Xingqing Prefecture wouldn't know. Let me tell you — beating the local tyrants means criticizing and trying those masters who used to bully us. Dividing up the land means giving the masters' property to us poor folk — land, cattle and sheep, all divided up. Of course, slaves can't be divided — they're now citizens of the People's Government, and just like us they get land, cattle and sheep, and tools," Agudu hurriedly explained to Blackie.

"You mean those Revolutionary Army people come to our place, kill those masters, and give the masters' property to us? No — they came all this way, fighting for their lives, for what?" Blackie was dumbfounded by Agudu's words. It was the first time he'd heard of an army that didn't rob him of money but actually gave him money.

No — this wasn't just giving money, they were giving land and cattle and sheep too.

"Honestly, I was puzzled at first too. Soldiers fight for a bit of grain and pay so they can rob money, grain, and women after a battle, right? But they didn't do any of that — instead they divided money, land, and cattle and sheep among us. I really couldn't understand it. Later I heard their soldiers say that they fight to build a government where the people are the masters."

After hearing Agudu's words, Blackie quickly asked: "What's a government where the people are the masters?"

Agudu felt the question was rather profound for him. After thinking for a long while he said: "The people, you can understand as folks like us poor people. The government is something like the yamen. A government where the people are the masters is a yamen where us poor folk have the final say."

"Us poor folk having the final say — doesn't that mean those official masters are our servants? Would they have to kneel and bow to us when they see us?" Blackie asked in astonishment.

"Not exactly. This government has abolished the rituals of kneeling and kowtowing. Anyway, you don't have to kneel to them, and they don't have to kneel to you either," Agudu delivered yet another unbelievable piece of news to Blackie.

There was nothing for it — for Blackie, this day held far too many shocking things. He needed to take it slow. And the Western Xia people who had come out of Xingqing Prefecture with him were also finding it hard to accept and believe this news for the moment.

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

"Who's there? Stop right now, or I'll fire!" A sharp shout from the soldier immediately brought patrolling soldiers from the surrounding area rushing over, and in no time they seized these sneaky figures.

"It's you?" The soldier on patrol took a closer look and realized these people were the ones who had withdrawn from Xingqing Prefecture that very day.

Seeing themselves caught by the Revolutionary Army, the men kowtowed repeatedly and begged for mercy: "We're sorry, masters sergeant, we lost our heads for a moment and tried to run. Please spare our lives, masters sergeant."

As the commotion grew, the political instructor of the patrol regiment hurried over and asked: "What's going on here? Why are these fellow villagers kneeling and kowtowing to you? Don't you know our military discipline?"

"Sir, don't blame them — we were the ones who tried to run ourselves!" Seeing this officer getting angry, the Western Xia men who had escaped quickly tried to explain on their behalf.

After all, in their view, this officer would at most scold these soldiers a bit and there'd be no real punishment, but they'd still be under their watch afterward. If they stood by gawking at the spectacle now, life would get pretty miserable for them later.

"Fellow villagers, why were you trying to run? You should know we're about to beat the local tyrants and divide up the land in Xingqing Prefecture. You're all locals of Xingqing Prefecture — you can all get land, cattle and sheep, and production tools." The political instructor's gaze toward the Western Xia men softened, and his tone became gentler.

The Western Xia men exchanged glances, at a loss for how to answer — they couldn't exactly say they didn't believe the Revolutionary Army's nonsense.

But the political instructor, who had been doing political work for a long time, could read their meaning at a glance. He sighed and said: "Since you fellow villagers insist on leaving, we won't stop you. How about this — I'll have someone prepare food and travel money for you. Take the food and travel money and go."

The men exchanged glances. Clearly, the political instructor's behavior was completely beyond their expectations. Before long, the instructor handed the travel money and food over to them and instructed: "Western Xia isn't peaceful right now. Be sure to stay safe on the road."

The men stood in place watching the soldiers and the political instructor walk back. One of them gritted his teeth, stepped forward, and asked: "Instructor, I don't want to leave anymore. Can I stay? I want to join your ranks."

The political instructor, who was walking back, turned around and said warmly: "Of course you can."

That very night, a notice was posted throughout the camp: anyone in the camp who wanted to leave could go to the quartermaster's office to collect travel money and food, and the Revolutionary Army would let them pass without hindrance.