Chapter 311: Chapter 311: What Are You Hesitating For?

Shang Jingwang was startled, but upon regaining his senses, he couldn’t help but look towards Huangfu Jingchen and Xia Wenjin. He understood that the only person capable of causing the bowstring to snap and preventing the fire from igniting was likely Young Master Jing.

At this moment, the smoke was carried by the wind and drifted towards the mountain. The villagers in the quarantine zone were both shocked and delighted; they wouldn’t be burned to death. Could this mean they could survive?

Huangfu Jingchen raised his voice and said, “The epidemic in Wangshan Town has dissipated. Does Yu County Magistrate still wish to create senseless bloodshed? Now the bowstrings have snapped, and the fire won’t burn. Can you still not see? This is heaven’s will to prevent you from slaughtering the innocent! If you persist, heaven might deliver punishment!”

His voice, infused with Inner Strength, rang clearly like a bell or drum, not only resounding in Yu Shikui’s ears but also reaching the ears of the five thousand soldiers surrounding the quarantine zone.

Many people’s expressions changed.

In just one night, over a thousand bows broke.

In just one night, the prepared wood and fire-starters to burn an entire mountain couldn’t even burn a quarantine zone.

Whether Yu Shikui refuses to think it or Sun Honghai is blinded by greed, what about those five thousand stationed troops?

Faced with inexplicable events, they were willing to attribute everything to gods and unknown higher powers.

The original plan was to burn everyone in Wangshan Town, regardless of whether they were infected. Even though the soldiers were accustomed to following orders unconditionally in the military, it didn’t mean they were completely numb to thought.

Some sensed something was amiss, and some felt it was cruel.

But they were soldiers and had to obey military orders.

Yet now, despite their obedience, heaven would not let them succeed!

If the epidemic in Wangshan Town truly has a cure and even heaven believes it’s wrong, hence the interference, should they still proceed?

Huangfu Jingchen stood in the front ranks, pointing at the people in the quarantine zone, and continued, “These people are not the enemy; they are citizens of Nanxia, citizens of Northern County! They have done nothing wrong. Although the epidemic has afflicted them, the cure has now been developed, and in at most ten days, the effects will be evident. You have family and loved ones; if they were sick, would you not seek medicine but rather straight away kill them?”

The soldiers, holding their weapons and facing the villagers, showed great embarrassment on their faces and lowered their weapons.

Wen Hao, at this moment, had a clear mind, knowing he was now tied with the villagers of Wangshan Town. He shouted angrily, “I am Wen Hao! Are you all blinded? Sun Honghai has stolen my Command Token, and you still won’t listen to my orders?”

However, his Inner Strength was limited, and though he shouted loudly, only those nearby could hear. Yet, the sound was clear enough for Yu Shikui and Sun Honghai to understand.

Some soldiers who heard what Wen Hao shouted couldn’t help but look at each other.

Did Sun Honghai steal the Command Token?

Previously, Sun Honghai didn’t say this. He said General Wen had temporarily left on business and entrusted the Command Token to him, making him fully responsible for local affairs.

If Sun Honghai merely stole the Command Token, it would be a serious crime. Even if they followed Sun Honghai’s orders, they would still be accomplices!

But Sun Honghai and Lord Yu are together.

Lord Geng is the Prefectural Governor, in charge of regional administration. Though the Prefectural Governor and the Military Commander are both Fourth Rank, ostensibly parallel, when real issues arise, the soldiers under the Military Commander are to be utilized by the Prefectural Governor to protect the territory and people.

It seems the Prefectural Governor has more authority!

And yet General Wen is among those infected by the epidemic.

Could Sun Honghai be acting under Lord Yu’s orders when he stole the Command Token? If so, he was merely following orders. After all, General Wen, now with epidemic patients, is perceived dangerous.

Who should they listen to?

Yu Shikui’s face turned dark and frightening, shooting a sideways glance at Sun Honghai, he slowly said, “Military Strategist Sun, aren’t you proud of your wisdom, the reason you remain beside Wen Hao as a Military Strategist? Wen Hao trusts you implicitly, revealing everything to you. Do you think if he’s fine this time, he’ll treat you as he did before?”

Sun Honghai’s expression kept shifting. Just thinking about it slightly made him realize Wen Hao would no longer treat him as before and might even harshly retaliate against him.

Now that he had already attached himself to Yu Shikui, he had no choice but to grip tightly onto Yu Shikui.

It was the only way he could survive and achieve a better future.

But at this moment, wanting to depend on Yu Shikui required displaying methods that Yu Shikui valued, especially since things had drastically spun out of control; bows were unusable, kerosene was unusable.

A vicious glint flashed in his eyes, but as he looked at Yu Shikui, it turned into a fawning and sycophantic expression: “Lord Yu, we cannot let that boy continue this nonsense; it will affect the soldiers’ morale!”

“Then what should we do?” Yu Shikui looked at him coldly.

Sun Honghai proposed, “Don’t they have weapons? They’ve been trained rigorously; how could they not handle defenseless civilians?”

“Is that your suggestion?”

Sun Honghai replied fiercely, “Since bows are useless and matches won’t ignite, we should act directly, kill them, and then find new kerosene to take care of the corpses!”

Yu Shikui calmly said, “Alright, the Command Token is in your hand, those soldiers now follow your orders. This matter is entrusted to you!”

Sun Honghai cursed Yu Shikui for his cunning, but he wanted to demonstrate his loyalty and immediately declared, “I will obey!”

He stepped forward two paces, raised the Command Token high, and shouted, “All troops, listen to orders!”

With the Command Token in hand, the troops and soldiers shouted in response, “Yes!”

Wen Hao saw that they recognized the Command Token over the person, and gritted his teeth in frustration. He was the living Military Commander, yet not as significant as the Command Token. If he didn’t die this time, he would definitely overhaul military discipline.

Sun Honghai shouted, “The epidemic is a source of calamity, a plague that knows no bounds. If we can’t control it at the start, it will spread till it afflicts a county, a prefecture, a province, even the nation. Our Nanxia spans thousands of miles; are we to allow this epidemic to ravage our homeland and harm our Nanxia citizens? The Command Token is here; all soldiers heed that your duty is now to guard the frontier and protect the populace. Raise your weapons and eliminate these carriers of pestilence, for you will be achieving merit for the nation and the people! Whom you save will be the other citizens of Northern County, your parents, wives, and children, even all of Nanxia!”

Though Sun Honghai’s words were extremely inciting, with bows broken and kerosene refusing to ignite, the soldiers still hesitated.

Sun Honghai grew anxious and shouted, “Military orders are as firm as mountains; soldiers must act upon orders. Are you now hesitating? Are you truly fit to be soldiers? Are you waiting for the epidemic to spread, and then regretting when it becomes uncontrollable? Our goal is not to kill; it is to contain the epidemic. What are you still hesitating for?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep