Chapter 282: Southward Lies Life

After Xu Hongru said this, he set the ledger in his hand aside and asked, "Have the four evangelists who stole church property in Chengwu and Shan County been dealt with?"

A man who looked like an old farmer rose, bowed, and answered, "My lord, the four evangelists have been locked in the incense hall, awaiting your decree."

Xu Hongru nodded. The old farmer hesitated, then said in a muffled voice, "My lord, these men had a moment of foolishness. Their families are in dire straits too. They saw the grain being distributed in such quantities and couldn't resist their greed. I beg you to reconsider..."

"They must suffer the great punishment of heavenly fire." Xu Hongru spoke coldly. The old farmer shuddered. Xu Hongru's tone hardened as he said sternly, "The faithful are in hardship, and this church is duty-bound to aid them. But this undertaking is momentous. For every extra bowl they steal for themselves, several more suffering common folk will die. Our great plan will be delayed. Wretches like these, who sabotage the greater good for petty gain, must be severely punished!"

The old farmer hastily acknowledged the order. His body was still trembling as he sat down. The hall grew even quieter.

But then Xu Hongru's tone softened. Smiling, he said, "You have all toiled hard these past two months. For the tribute in the fifth month, each of you may send twenty percent less. If matters are handled capably, I shall have further rewards for you."

At these words, the previously somber atmosphere instantly livened up. Everyone on both sides, regardless of their dress or appearance, showed expressions of excitement.

The various branch congregations of the Smelling Incense Sect regularly submitted tribute goods and wealth. The sums were not small, but they were very difficult to conceal or skim from, because the Smelling Incense Sect had layers of secret reporting. Any tampering on one's part was easily reported by subordinates and those nearby. Not only would one lose their position, but they would also face severe punishment. Moreover, this Sect Leader Xu was exceedingly shrewd. He had eyes and ears in every branch congregation across Shandong and the surrounding regions. Nothing could be hidden from him, so no one dared to skim.

But sending twenty percent less next month was equivalent to leaving twenty percent of the wealth and goods in everyone's hands. That was a huge sum. Wealth moves the heart, so naturally, the group was excited.

A smile also appeared on Xu Hongru's face. At that moment, a big man beside him spoke, "My lord, Shandong is now plagued with famine and refugees everywhere. The faithful are swelling in number in every region, and the officials are utterly overwhelmed. This is the perfect moment for great deeds. In such circumstances, with but a single command from you, my lord, the land below will become the Buddha's homeland."

The crowd fell silent again, all turning their gazes toward Xu Hongru. Every pair of eyes burned with fervor. But Xu Hongru slowly shook his head and said in a deep voice, "The time is not yet right."

The big man was taken aback. Before he could speak further, Xu Hongru explained, "Right now, the disaster only truly afflicts four prefectures in Shandong, Fengyang Prefecture and Xuzhou in the Southern Metropolitan Region north of the Yangtze, and three prefectures along the Yellow River in Henan. Shandong is hit hardest; the other areas can still hold on. The court's troops and the powerful gentry clans have not yet been wounded in their vital energy. If we move, catastrophe will crash down upon us instantly. Have you seen the disaster victims outside the city walls? A mere hundred-some soldiers and a thousand militiamen from Yuncheng County are enough to keep these tens of thousands from daring to stir. This shows they still harbor hope in their hearts, still dare not throw everything away completely. In such a situation, if we move, not only will our great undertaking fail, but we will also be forced into the open."

His analysis made everyone present nod. The big man said with some regret, "To let such an opportunity slip by is truly a pity. What if the harvests improve next year..."

"What if the harvests improve? This Great Ming has acted tyrannically and perversely, and has already lost the favor of Heaven's will. From now on, the High Heavens and the Buddha will ceaselessly send down disasters and famines. When that time comes, only the faithful of our church, who worship the Buddha and spread the incense, will receive blessed fortune and Heaven's favor. This is the true decree of Maitreya Buddha and the Eternal Venerable Mother." Xu Hongru declared in a ringing voice. The crowd rose to their feet in unison and chanted along with him, "Maitreya descends to the world, spreading the incense across all under Heaven."

After everyone had resumed their seats, Xu Hongru said with a smile, "I understand your sentiments. But for a matter of such magnitude, even with the Buddha and the Eternal Mother's blessing and protection, we must still prepare meticulously and act with utmost caution. Let me ask you all: how many faithful do you have at your beck and call? How many weapons and arms do you possess? Do you have enough grain to last half a month? Without these, do we charge at the soldiers' blades and spears armed only with wooden clubs and farm tools?"

After this speech, the fervor in everyone's eyes faded, replaced by a hint of dejection. Seeing this, a smile reappeared on Xu Hongru's face. Gently, he said, "We are not doing nothing. This current deployment is a test. These countless disaster victims, these human mouths, are a sharp weapon. But how to use them, how to use them well — we do not yet know. This time, we will find out."

"My lord, but Xuzhou is a great city, is it not?" "There's also the Xuzhou Regional Commander guarding it..." someone murmured from below.

"If we are defeated, we will know how to proceed next time. Those who survive will become the backbone of the church. If we are victorious, then Xuzhou, as a land transportation hub — once we take it, the situation across the three provinces of Henan, Shandong, and the Southern Metropolitan Region will improve dramatically. Our great undertaking can be achieved. Victory or defeat, both benefit us. Why should any of you worry?" Xu Hongru said leisurely.

Everyone nodded in agreement. A portly old man in his fifties said, "Our lord possesses great wisdom. Every audience with him is like clouds parting to reveal the sun. All that was unclear becomes understood. Since that is so, we shall all follow the Sect Leader's instructions. Endure small losses to gain great advantages — this principle holds true for everything we do."

Xu Hongru nodded with a smile and said, "The main force will mobilize tonight. Everyone, carry out your tasks with diligence. There are a few more matters I must impress upon you. Along the way, do not leave too obvious a trail. There are sharp-eyed people among the disaster victims. And if our preaching and recruiting are too blatant, the officials and local strongmen along the route will also interfere. Furthermore, within the borders of Shandong, exercise as much restraint as possible. We have too many faithful here. If we trample and ruin everything along the way, we will lose the people's hearts."

Everyone rose and cupped their fists in salute. Xu Hongru's smile deepened as he continued, "However, once you enter Xuzhou, you may all act freely."

Knowing smiles appeared on everyone's faces. A man who looked like an old farmer coughed and said, "My lord, there's been talk everywhere in Dongchang Prefecture about the matter of the Holy Maiden. Is my lord aware?"

The room fell silent again. The smile on Xu Hongru's face stiffened for a moment, then returned to normal as he said, "They are also doing this for the good of our church. The bigger they make it, the greater the benefit to us."

"Gentlemen, this great undertaking must not be treated lightly. All of your personnel will be under the command of Xu Hongju. Is that understood?" Xu Hongru stood up, directly changing the subject, and spoke solemnly. The crowd responded with solemn assent.

"Ten percent of this month's tribute will be delivered to your residences within the month. With the great undertaking now in motion, you should all return to your posts to oversee matters. I will not keep you." Xu Hongru smiled as he saw his guests out. That ten percent was also an enormous benefit. Every face bore an expression of excitement as they bowed and took their leave.

Once everyone had left the hall, young maidservants dressed in white entered to tidy up. The expression on Xu Hongru's face vanished, and he sat there impassively. The big man seated to his left, however, stared intently at those maidservants. The maids all kept their heads lowered, not daring to meet his gaze, yet not daring to show any anger either, for they knew this big man was the Sect Leader's own brother, Xu Hongju.

As the maidservants were tidying up, the old servant standing behind Xu Hongru left for a moment. When he returned, he waved a hand at the maidservants, and soon only the two Xu brothers and he remained in the room.

"My lord, that Advisor Lou beside the county magistrate is worried whether his magistrate can even finish out these four years. He also said the great calamity lies within, not without," the old servant reported in a low voice.

"Damn him! Does that bastard have a death wish? I'll send men to hack him to pieces today!" Xu Hongju roared.

Xu Hongru shot his brother a glance and simply said, "Old Bai, arrange for our people in the county yamen to keep a close watch. Continue to review all official documents and private correspondence. Beyond that, there's no need to do much else. That county magistrate is either genuinely muddled or just pretending to be — he can't touch us."

The old servant addressed as "Old Bai" nodded. These words were spoken for him to hear, but also for Xu Hongju.

Xu Hongju chuckled twice, then leaned forward and said, "Big Brother, the Mu family keeps stirring up trouble endlessly, even setting up some Holy Maiden. I've heard many people in Dongchang Prefecture have fallen for it. How about I take some men over there, kill that Mu Wuzhen in a gang fight, and snatch Little Lan back?"

"Don't act recklessly. Wang Haoxian may be muddled, but he still knows the Mu family are his trusted confidants and core supporters. If you make a move like that, it will ruin our great plan." Xu Hongru's expression immediately turned stern.

"Second Master, that Mu family served the old Sect Leader Wang Sen. This generation has a few shrewd brothers. Wang Haoxian doesn't like the Mu family controlling his debauchery, but he also knows to send them here to check our lord's power. If we move against them, our lord's current position will face trouble. After all, many in the church still recognize the Wang family as the orthodox line. And our lord is now sailing with the wind at his back..." the old servant said earnestly.

"Do I need an old thing like you to tell me that? As if I don't already know! It's just that I find those Mu family people a nuisance! And that girl, Little Lan..." Xu Hongju grew more and more animated as he spoke.

"Wine and women ruin great plans! If you hadn't taken silver to buy up liquor for resale, how would that batch of weapons from Cloud Mountain Monastery have fallen into someone else's hands?" Xu Hongru said coldly.

The excited Xu Hongju instantly wilted. He just lowered his head and said, "Didn't I make silver from that?"

"You made that silver to buy out that courtesan in Jining Prefecture. Do you think I don't know? Do you think those people today don't know?" Xu Hongru pressed.

At these words, Xu Hongju leaped up from his chair, cursing furiously, "Who around me dares—"

Under Xu Hongru's stern gaze, Xu Hongju lowered his head and sat back down. Xu Hongru shook his head, let out a long breath, and said slowly, "Wine, women, wealth, and temper are all trifles. Once the great undertaking is accomplished, everything will be ours. This glittering world will all belong to us. Why fixate on these petty things before your eyes?"

Xu Hongju just remained silent. Xu Hongru shook his head and spoke in a more serious tone, "In this operation, you must remember these key points. Over the past few years, we've gathered quite a few men who came out of the official army. This time, you must win them over. Spend as much silver as it takes. If we secure them, our great undertaking gains a few more measures of assurance. Also, on this trip to Xuzhou, you must be extremely cautious around Xu Family Village. After opening what needs to be opened, touch nothing else. Remember this, remember it well."

Xu Hongju muttered with his head down, "Big Brother, you've said it countless times. I've remembered. That Xu family, really... they sell to those bald donkeys at such low prices, but charge us so much. And we still have to go through all this trouble to stage such a huge spectacle. If there's nothing else, Big Brother, I'll go out and prepare. We're leaving the city this afternoon. With me gone, Big Brother, you must be extremely careful. Don't let anyone ambush you."

As he spoke, he stood up. Xu Hongru also rose, placing his hands on Xu Hongju's arms. "I have Old Bai here to look after me; nothing will go wrong. Hongju, you have martial valor, but you only know the brawling and killing of the Jianghu. On this journey to Xuzhou, you must learn more along the way from Hou Wu and Xia Zhongjin. When attacking Xuzhou City, observe more and ask more questions. In the future, you will be my Grand Marshal of the army. You must master these things. Also, Hongju, when you go there, you must be extremely careful. Blades and arrows have no eyes. Remember to wear your armor. If things go wrong, just flee. The most important thing is that you don't come to harm."

This rambling from Xu Hongru made him sound less like a sect leader. Xu Hongju's voice was a little hoarse as he said gruffly, "Big Brother, don't worry. You take care of yourself here too."

After speaking, Xu Hongju stepped back two paces, bowed solemnly, then turned and walked out the door. Xu Hongru did not return to his seat, but stood there watching Xu Hongju leave. Old Bai stepped closer and said, "My lord, you needn't worry too much. Branch Leaders Hou and Xia are both old campaigners. This time, we've gathered over four hundred men with military backgrounds from various places. Add to that the experts from the Jianghu and the greenwood, plus these tens of thousands of disaster victims from north and south — who knows, Xuzhou might even be breached."

Xu Hongru remained silent for a moment. Only after a long pause did he speak: "It's not that easy. I only hope more of them will come back."

Old Bai behind him lowered his head. Xu Hongru raised his voice slightly and added, "Those who return alive will certainly be put to great use in the future."

With that, Xu Hongru turned and walked toward another door, saying as he went, "Send more men to watch the Mu family. A Holy Maiden... letting their own daughter show her face in public. They're willing to go that far!"

Outside the city, tens of thousands of disaster victims and refugees clamored to enter and beg for food. If they broke in, the city's residents would suffer catastrophe — either their families destroyed and lives lost, or they would be reduced to the same subhuman state as these wretches.

Precisely because of this, the soldiers, constables, and organized militia of Yuncheng County guarded with extraordinary vigilance. Looking at the dense mass of people below the city walls, smelling the foul, nauseating stench, every man was taut with tension. But what no one expected was that, even in such a situation, some people still managed to profit. Every day at noon when the city gates opened, enthusiastic local gentry would come up onto the walls to reward the troops, providing fine food and drink. And every day, some people had to be lowered by rope outside the city — for that, they always had to offer some bribes.

The men guarding the city walls, of course, had no idea that the daily noon visits to reward the troops were precisely to keep them from seeing what was happening outside the city...

Still, these small benefits could not offset the tension and exhaustion. Several guards on the city wall had already fallen ill. Heatstroke occurred daily, and two men had even died from it. It was only the fourth or fifth month, yet the sweltering heat had already reached such an extreme.

In the early hours of the eighteenth day of the fourth month, just as the sky was beginning to lighten, the drowsy soldiers and militiamen on the city wall heard movement below. They hurriedly grabbed their weapons and looked out, only to stand there dumbstruck.

The disaster victims who had been encamped below the city for dozens of days were actually leaving. They were all heading south, leaving behind only a field of filth and refuse, along with some already rotting corpses. Bold wild dogs had already dashed into the area, and the crows circling overhead had multiplied.

"They're gone!" someone on the city wall shouted. After a moment of silence, others took up the cry. Soon, the shouts spread from the wall into the city. The city's residents, who had been on edge for so many days, also began to shout wildly. They were saved! The disaster victims were finally gone. Then, no one knew who started it, but someone in the city shouted: "Buddha be praised!"

Perhaps the chanting outside the city over these many days had influenced those within. Now, whether they believed or not, the city's residents all began to chant, "Compassionate Buddha," and "Buddha protect us."

Everyone inside the city breathed a sigh of relief. Everyone was celebrating wildly. Meanwhile, among the refugees outside the city, the atmosphere was also different from before. It was no longer one of hopeless despair, but of hope — albeit a very, very faint glimmer.

Over these past days, many kind-hearted people had appeared among the disaster victims outside the city. These kind-hearted people were also refugees from various parts of Shandong. They took the initiative to help the weak, sharing whatever food they managed to get with their fellow townsmen and companions. The refugees and disaster victims gathered around these individuals, forming circles large and small, and they obeyed these people's every word.

Yesterday, after the Perfected One displayed his great divine power and healed those two brothers, the moment he left, countless people went to ask the brothers exactly what secret technique the Perfected One had imparted to them.

By nightfall, the secret had finally been ferreted out — it was nothing more than "Maitreya protects, pass the incense and be safe." That wasn't the crucial part. The Perfected One had also told the two brothers something else: "Go south and you will live."

The people outside the walls of Yuncheng County had been sinking deeper into despair with each passing day. Only when the Perfected One appeared daily did they feel they could still hold on. His daily alms, his daily aid, and the "divine powers" he had been compelled to display on several occasions — all of these made the refugees believe in him without the slightest doubt. Now that the Perfected One had actually said this, everyone believed it completely.

Those two brothers could no longer be found. Word was spreading everywhere among the refugees that the two brothers had already set off southward. Yet most people still hesitated. Staying here meant they could still wait for the Perfected One. If they left — what if this "go south and you will live" was a lie?

Some were cautious and hesitant, while others were bold. That night, one group broke away from the main body and began heading south. In the middle of the night, someone from this group came back in wild excitement, saying that less than five li to the south, they had actually found several sacks of grain. They had boiled some into gruel, shared it among themselves, and continued walking south.

There was grain, there was gruel — you could even see traces of rice broth on the face of the man who came back with the news, could even smell the fragrance of grain. This had to be real. They had gone so many days without eating anything proper. The grain and flour handed out as alms inside the city were snatched up in an instant. Even when gruel sheds were set up, the gruel was so thin you could see the bottom. The cakes the Perfected One distributed each day were a mere drop in the bucket. Outside the city, batch after batch of people starved to death, and batch after batch of newcomers filled their places. Some had already begun eating human flesh. Everyone was in despair, not knowing where to go, able only to wait here for death. Who would have thought there really was grain to the south — that they could even drink gruel...

Every "kind soul" was calling on everyone to head south — there was still a path to survival there. The example of those who had found grain was all the more tantalizing. And the second group, the third group that set out into the dark night — they all found something too. Even though they had to walk farther to find grain, it was grain all the same!