Chapter 313: Chapter 313: Temptation

Wen Hao joined the bureaucracy through martial merit, receiving the position of Commander by accumulating military achievements himself, unlike the civil servants with their circuitous machinations.

He usually spends most of his time training troops and seldom interacts with people in officialdom. Being watched with awe by soldiers daily didn’t make him feel anything, but the gazes of these common folk took him by surprise.

That reliance and trust, that gratitude and expectancy, were like layers of faith!

Every man has a dream of heroism, and under such gazes, isn’t he just the hero in their hearts?

Wen Hao felt as if something was added to his shoulders, as if something was filled into his heart. Previously, he prepared firewood and kerosene, listening to Yu Shikui’s advice to burn the “source of infection” to death.

There was no particular feeling in his heart; after spending two years on the battlefield, killing enemies, and staining his sword with blood, would he still care about human life? Besides, what is the concern of the people of Wangshan Town to him?

But now, amidst the villagers of Wangshan Town under their gaze, he suddenly felt that he was one with them, their helplessness and despair was his helplessness and despair.

However, he can help himself!

These villagers cheered for him, shouted for him, trusted and relied on him, most of them were driven from other places to the quarantine area; this indicates they were not originally infected, even if infected, as Huangfu Jingchen said, they could recover after ten days to half a month.

Before seeing them, they were nothing to him.

But now, these people were all around him, living, breathing, flesh and blood!

For a moment, the situation fell into a stalemate.

Wen Hao held a bow with an arrow drawn, but he knew clearly that he was facing his former five thousand subordinates with the strength of one man. Once anyone disrupts this calm, what follows would be the clash of blades, blood spraying everywhere.

With his own strength, he couldn’t handle so many trained soldiers.

A sense of sadness rose in his heart, born from his martial origin, priding himself on his martial arts, priding on his battlefield experience, he carried some arrogance, was strict with subordinates, and did not bond closely.

Every Commander can have ten personal guards, these guards should be fixed, meant to ensure his safety, but he deemed it unnecessary, so the people around him changed often, serving more like mobile sentries than personal guards.

As a result, when he was in trouble, those people were indifferent indeed.

He realized his mistake; if he had the chance to survive, he would learn to be humble and lead his troops well!

Yu Shikui’s eyes were cold as ice, like they were lined with poison. His gaze squeezed through gaps between people toward Wen Hao, clearly things were close to succeeding, but they got ruined by the last person he expected.

Has Wen Hao gone insane?

He was merely angry with Wen Hao, yet didn’t consider that if he hadn’t wanted to kill Wen Hao, he wouldn’t have pushed him to this unfortunate situation. Yu Shikui squinted as he looked at the scene before him, quickly analyzing in his mind that actually the toughest challenge now was getting rid of Wen Hao, and without Wen Hao, the rabble couldn’t form a threat.

No, as soon as he thought this, he overturned his judgment.

Those two youths seemed more troublesome than Shang Jingwang.

What are their identities?

They dared to openly snatch Shang Jingwang back without fear, panic, or hesitation. Their poise and courage were beyond common people’s comparison.

Wen Hao dared oppose them, Shang Jingwang dared disobey his orders, could it be because these two people had unusual identities.

However, Prince Kang Mansion’s Second Young Master identity, Yu Shikui absolutely didn’t believe it!

His eyes shifted, deciding to proceed with caution, he raised his voice: “Although General Wen and Lord Shang might have contracted the epidemic, they haven’t been examined by a doctor, after all. Both are court officials, this Prefectural Governor wouldn’t kill you, only requesting your temporary cooperation, waiting for orders from the Capital City. But, not a single infected resident might stay. General Wen, Lord Shang, to avoid swords coming out of accident, come over here!”

With a sudden change in attitude, Wen Hao was taken aback.

Shang Jingwang frowned slightly.

Wen Hao, a crude fellow, felt a bit tempted. Shang Jingwang, after all a civil servant, being tempered by local affairs, thought more, he bowed from a distance: “Lord Yu, since you are willing to show leniency, why not give us more time? Just ten days, I assure you will see visible results within ten days!”

Because surrounded tightly by attendants and can’t see Yu Shikui, but his voice was unaffected, impatiently coming out: “Lord Shang, Mr. Wen, this Prefectural Governor is also considering our mutual role as parent officials of Northern County, not minding you being in the midst of epidemic, willing to spare your lives, why are you dilly-dallying then? Whether these villagers are infected, when they can be cured, naturally this Prefectural Governor will consider rationally!”

Wen Hao felt quite tempted, Shang Jingwang, however, hesitated, turned to Huangfu Jingchen, saying: “Young Master Jing, what do you think…”

Huangfu Jingchen was yet to speak, but Yu Shikui suddenly seemed incredibly perceptive, coldly laughing: “Shang Jingwang, are you foolish? You think this is Prince Kang Mansion’s Second Young Master, you are deceived, this Prefectural Governor already told you, he isn’t!”

Upon saying these words, Huangfu Jingchen remained silent, Xia Wenjin didn’t show any peculiar expression.

Both had met Huangfu Jinxuan before and knew the veracity of Yu Shikui’s words.

Wen Hao, though, widened his eyes, bigger than a cow’s, looking at Huangfu Jingchen, scrutinizing up and down, saying: “You are Prince Kang Mansion’s Second Young Master? Then aren’t you an imperial family kin? If you’re an imperial relative, Lord Yu wouldn’t dare harm you, you can come with us!”

This simple man took Yu Shikui’s words as mere noise by the ear, probably emphasized only the six words “Prince Kang Mansion’s Second Young Master”.

Shang Jingwang’s gaze dropped, neither to inspect nor inquire.

Actually when Yu Shikui previously questioned Huangfu Jingchen’s identity, he already suspected Yu Shikui’s claim was most likely true, though the situation was urgent then and he didn’t think deeply, now being raised again, his feelings were complex.

Because this “Young Master Jing”, personally came to Wangshan Town to oversee epidemic treatment and protection, according to “Young Master Jing”’s suggestion, isolating zones were built, daily checking for infected people, separating them from uninfected ones, deploying all power possible from Huainan Prefecture, confined the epidemic within Wangshan Town, promptly sent reports to the Capital…

He knew clearly, every suggestion from “Young Master Jing” was for the benefit of Wangshan Town’s people, at heart for his sake.

So, he very much trusted Huangfu Jingchen, because every suggestion Huangfu Jingchen gave was with foresight, had a broad view, carefully considerate, factoring in every aspect, for him it was win-win, not only benefiting his political achievement, but also protecting Wangshan Town’s villagers.

Now, saying “Young Master Jing” isn’t an imperial family kin, does it mean he was being used?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep