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Chapter 141: Incited Emotions
Chapter 141: Incited Emotions
September 25, 2017
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When Wang Jun saw the strongman, he knew that the situation was not looking good.
As expected, the moment the strongman saw Wang Jun leading a large group, he immediately became confrontational.
"What do you want? We just want to rest for a day, but you all look like you're ready to kill. Do you plan to slaughter us as well?" The strongman spoke with resentment, his expression perfectly conveying his sense of grievance, resonating with the citizens who had accompanied him.
"The wall construction is at a critical stage. Everyone is working tirelessly to create a lifeline against the foreign tribes. How can you think of resting at a time like this? Winter is almost here, and the foreign tribes will become more active. If they discover this place and the wall isn't completed, your lives will be at stake. How can you think of resting?"
Wang Jun was well aware of how to handle this group of citizens. He knew their fears, what they dreaded, and what they hated. As long as the threat of foreign tribes remained, he believed this minor issue could be easily resolved.
The situation seemed to be going as expected. After Wang Jun's speech, it was evident that many in the crowd began to murmur, their faces showing hesitation.
Although they hadn't come to the fortified camp willingly, they were generally satisfied with the living conditions and environment. Especially with Wang Jun emphasizing the threat of foreign tribes, many were susceptible to this fear.
The thought of the foreign tribes' threat made them feel that spending the winter here and leaving when spring arrived would be both safe and free. Thus, many began to waver.
However, the strongman was clearly not going to be easily dealt with by Wang Jun.
"Hmph, don't think I don't know your intentions. You're just a bunch of bandits. You're not building this wall to defend against the Xianbei and Xiongnu tribes; you're preparing to resist the government forces. Do you think I'm unaware of this?"
The strongman's words were like a boulder hitting the surface of a lake, causing the situation to spiral out of control.
"So, they really are bandits?"
"I suspected as much from the beginning. Their brutal methods, forcing us to relocate against our will, clearly mark them as bandits and robbers."
"Do they plan to make us build the wall and then drive us out once it's completed?"
"Of course. When have you ever heard of bandits doing good deeds? I believe they're just using us as free labor and will discard us once they're done."
This was clearly a planned operation. The strongman had accomplices, and as soon as they exposed Wang Jun's group as bandits, they immediately incited the crowd. Not only were there accomplices among the two thousand citizens present, but there were also some mixed in with the several thousand working hard on the wall construction outside the basin.
With this development, the situation gradually spiraled out of control. The citizens grew angry, accusing Wang Jun and his group.
Wang Jun and his men had never hidden their identity as bandits; anyone with a modicum of intelligence was aware of it.
However, many chose to ignore their bandit status. Some had been saved from the hooves of foreign tribes by Lu HaiKong and his men, fostering trust and gratitude.
Some had nowhere else to go, each with their own reasons, but they all deliberately ignored this fact. Yet, there remained a sense of unease and trepidation.
Even if their identities as bandits were suddenly exposed, it would still cause an uproar. Land, Sea, and Sky's gang was particularly notorious, spreading all sorts of rumors and inciting fear among the citizens.
"Look, everyone. We've only taken a day's rest, and they've come with their men, brimming with murderous intent. What does this tell us? These bandits don't see us as people. In their eyes, we're just laborers, slaves meant to build their walls."
The strongman pointed at Wang Jun and his group, passionately demonstrating his skills as an agitator.
His voice carried anger, and his expression, sorrow. He portrayed the image of a pitiful, unfortunate man with a sense of resentment, a character whose fate had been through many hardships.
"Brothers, we can endure leaving our homes and watching our elders and children shiver in the cold. We can endure building walls in the freezing wind as long as we have a tomorrow. We can do anything as long as we have a future."
"But look at these bandits. Look at their murderous aura and their gleaming blades. Do they seem like they'll give us a future? We must ask ourselves, can we truly have a tomorrow with them?"
"After we finish building the walls, can we still live here? When the imperial troops come to suppress us, will they push us out to take the brunt of the attack? Our future is in the hands of these mass murderers, and we don't even know it. Are you all at ease with this?"
The strongman's performance was filled with sorrow, and finally, his true nature was revealed. His accomplices, hidden among the crowd, seized the opportunity and began their own acts.
"We can't accept giving our future to them. We absolutely refuse to let these mass murderers decide our fate."
"These bandits can only lead us to death. Either they'll abandon us or the imperial troops will suppress us."
The crowd began to murmur, and then, like a spark igniting a fire, thousands of people erupted in unison, shouting and venting their anxiety.
The anger of the thousands suddenly burst forth, even startling Wang Jun.
Wang Jun had always been confident in his abilities, but he never expected Land, Sea, and Sky to trust him so much with the management of the fort. However, under his leadership, this situation had arisen, and he couldn't suppress the overwhelming sense of shame.
Just as Wang Jun struggled with his embarrassment, the strongman on the side revealed a faint, cold smile. He raised his arm and shouted, "Let's drive these bandits out! We don't want to live with them!"
The atmosphere ignited, and everyone, red-faced and shouting hoarsely, followed Wang Jun's lead. Yes, they were ordinary citizens; why should they live with these bandits? Wouldn't it be better to drive them out?
"Drive out the bandits! We won't live with them!"
"Drive out the bandits! We won't live with them!"
...
(End of Chapter)
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