GBP Chapter 678 Escape
Chapter 678 Escape
When arranging for the people to board the ship, Panda fully displayed the ruthless and vicious nature of the officials of this dynasty. Many people who questioned leaving their homes were whipped to death by his men.
That noon, another ungrateful young man refused to enter the port and board the ship, repeatedly saying that he wanted to go back to his hometown of Changping.
“I don’t go to sea… My family has lived in Changping since my great-grandfather’s time. It’s been four generations, and I’m the only son left in my generation. I can’t afford to let the Wang family line die out…”
Panda had seen too many similar scenes these past few days. The common thread was fear of going to sea. Unlike those on the coast, inland people held a deep-seated dread of the ocean, believing that once they set sail, they would never return, their bodies never to be found. Panda didn't bother explaining to them one by one; he simply used his whip to make an example of them. Seeing yet another reckless young man stepping forward, he didn't even raise an eyebrow, signaling his men to act.
The accomplices were several of his old subordinates from the Military Affairs Office. Ever since Panda was captured by the ruthless Qionghai soldiers, the entire Military Affairs Office had been living in constant fear. When Panda returned with a new identity and recruited them to work for the Qionghai Army, they agreed without hesitation.
These men were all street urchins and scoundrels who had spent years hanging around the government offices. They were very adept at dealing with ordinary people, and their skills were quite proficient. Their whips cracked loudly, and the blows hurt, but they only caused superficial wounds and did not damage the bones. These peasants were the labor force that the Marquis of Pingnan needed. If they were seriously injured and rendered unable to move, the Marquis of Pingnan would be furious.
The young man, who was determined to return to Changping, was very strong, the kind of man the army liked. However, despite his robust physique, he dared not resist at all, letting the whip lash his head and body. He only used his hands to protect his head. His clothes on his arms and back were torn to shreds, and the tattered cloth flew around with the whip, leaving clear streaks of blood.
The sycophant whipping the child said, "Want to go home, huh? I pointed out the right way, but you won't take it, huh? You won't know what's good for you until you're beaten. Today I'll teach you a lesson..."
Panda glanced at the young man and said, “If we hadn’t rescued you from the Tartars, you’d probably be working like slaves in Liaodong by now. The Tartars only use whips to deal with bondservants; if you anger your masters, beheading them is commonplace. Now that you have a way to live, and you’ll have your own land after going to sea, you should be grateful, not ungrateful and only thinking about leaving. Besides, what will you have if you go back? Changping, Tongzhou, and Shunyi are all burned down; going back will only mean waiting to die.” These words seemed to be spoken only to the young man, yet also to everyone.
Whether it was the threat of the whip or the effect of those words, the surrounding people dared not mention leaving anymore, and simply watched the young man being beaten in silence.
Zhu Jinhu stood a short distance away, gun in hand, watching the young man rolling on the ground with mixed feelings, as if seeing his own past self. His situation had been even worse back then, which was why he hadn't hesitated at all when the Qionghai Navy offered him a position. As it turned out, that choice was right: after several battles and numerous merits, he was now a platoon leader, eating and dressing well, with a monthly stipend far exceeding his wildest dreams. His fate had changed dramatically from the moment he joined the Qionghai Navy. He wanted to tell this young man, and all the other people: Come, join our group, escape your miserable past, and never be bullied again, living a happy life.
However, he was only assigned to maintain order; it was not his duty to "persuade" people to board the ship. Strict discipline made him suppress the urge to rush out and he could only watch silently.
In the distance, Liu Ye happened to be leading his men on an inspection tour and witnessed this scene. Liang Xiaoming, standing nearby, couldn't help but ask, "Look at this Panda you took in! He's a complete scoundrel of a corrupt official who preys on the people. Do we really have no one else to rely on? Why did we have to use him? We originally had a good reputation among the people; don't let this black sheep ruin it!"
Liu Ye calmly replied, “Everyone has their value; it’s just a matter of how you use it correctly. It seems Panda is doing a good job. Right now, I want results, not the process. If you were overflowing with sympathy and possessed by a saintly spirit, trying to persuade every single person in the capital region to go to sea, I guarantee you wouldn’t succeed even in a year. The image and reputation of the Qionghai Army aren’t built on being a pushover, but on enabling them to escape the oppressive taxes of feudal society and live a prosperous life—these people are hesitant or even resentful about going to sea now, but once they harvest their crops on their own land, they will thank us. As for whether Panda will have a negative impact on us, that’s not a big problem. I can use his strengths, but he must act within the framework I set. If he does anything out of line, I can make him disappear in a heartbeat. In the end, he’s just a vicious dog, or a tool…”
Liang Xiaoming shuddered and said, "You politicians are really ruthless."
Liu Ye smiled slightly, put his arm around his shoulder and said, "Politics has always been dark. None of the emperors or rulers in history were good people, otherwise they wouldn't have survived. Even Li Shimin, such a great and righteous 'wise ruler,' could kill his own brothers in order to ascend to the throne. Kang Youwei was praised by later scholars as a 'great emperor of all time,' but you can't even imagine how cruel he was in his literary inquisitions... But don't worry, my brotherly feelings for you will never change, and these methods will never be used against you."
Yan Guang chuckled softly. The general's promise was based on the premise that Liang Xiaoming had no ambition to seize power. If Liang Xiaoming were to harbor such thoughts, things would be unpredictable. Even if Liu Ye couldn't bring himself to kill him, his supporters would act for their own vested interests. However, he only thought these things to himself and wouldn't be foolish enough to say them aloud.
One person expressed their feelings on this side, while another encountered a problem on the other.
The young man who had been beaten, perhaps unable to bear the physical pain any longer, suddenly sprang up, pushed the sycophant wielding the whip to the ground, and then rushed off in the opposite direction from the dock.
The incident was so sudden that Panda and his cronies were stunned for a moment before reacting, then shouted angrily, "They've run away! Chase them!"
Although the young man had been whipped quite a few times, it was all superficial wounds, not serious injuries. He ran with great agility, weaving through the long procession of people like a leopard, heading towards the outer edge. The people spontaneously made way for him, but when Panda's men caught up, they intentionally or unintentionally blocked them. These lackeys could only watch helplessly as the young man ran further and further away.