Chapter 669: Strike
Editor: Atlas Studios
Seeing that Sanglin Ji only gritted his teeth and did not say anything, Chief Sanglin was extremely disappointed. Back slightly bent, the white-haired man looked at him sadly and said, “You have ten brothers. But only you and your second brother are still able-bodied and have survived until adulthood. There’s a saying among the Han people that when brothers are united, they can break gold. I’ve always hoped that you brothers can help each other, but look at what you’ve become now.”
He looked at his three sons sitting on the chairs and said, “Apart from the two younger ones, which one of you is wronged? Who doesn’t know about the shameful things your second brother did? Who thought of stopping him? Who thought of telling me?”
The brothers lowered their heads.
Sanglin Zhong raised the corners of his mouth and smiled mockingly. Chief Sanglin happened to see this when he turned around, making him so angry that he fell backward and kicked him to the ground. He pointed at his nose and scolded, “What are you laughing at? Among all my sons, you’re the most atrocious one!”
After saying that, he tore off the whip from the wall and cursed as he whipped, “You’re as stupid as a pig. How did I give birth to such a heartless thing like you? Have you ever thought that what you did would implicate your parents, brothers, relatives, and clansmen?”
Chief Sanglin was panting from the fight, but he still stepped on him a few times in fury and scolded, “We’ve only settled down for less than half a year. What you’re doing is pushing everyone down the cliff!”
Sanglin Zhong bit his lip and said indignantly, “The Qi brothers are just fourth-grade officials from the previous dynasty. If they can bring peace to the world, why can’t we? They only have two brothers, but I have seven!”
“Bullsh*t.” Chief Sanglin spat at him. “Will the Han people accept you as their leader?”
Sanglin Zhong straightened his neck and said, “Then Qiannan will declare independence from the country, just like what the Duan family from the Bai clan of Dali did. Father, the Miao and Han people are all the same. Why should we, the Miao, be bullied by the Han people for generations?”
Not to mention Chief Sanglin, even Sanglin Ji directly mocked him. “Second Brother is so ambitious. However, how many Miao stockades in this region of nine valleys and eighteen villages listen to you? The Duan family only had to wave an arm, and the entire Bai Clan would listen to his commands. What about you? Not to mention the other stockades, just go outside and shout in our stockade; let’s see who will respond to you.”
Sanglin Zhong’s face flushed red as he glared at him angrily.
Chief Sanglin suppressed the anger in his heart and slowly sat on the chair. He said, “Second Son, if you’re not convinced, why don’t you go out and shout now? I also want to know how many people in the stockade will obey you now.”
Shocked, Sanglin Zhong knelt on the ground, not daring to speak.
Chief Sanglin looked at them and sneered. “Seven brothers? The seven of you can’t even compare to a finger of the two brothers. Being of the same mind, they can overcome all difficulties. Meanwhile, you only know how to drag your brothers down.”
Disheartened, Chief Sanglin waved his hand and said, “I’m old and your eldest brother has passed away. I can’t control you anymore. Second Son, let me ask you, is Jilu dead or alive?”
Sanglin Zhong gritted his teeth. “Alive.”
“Send him to me.”
“Father.” Sanglin Zhong looked up and moved two steps forward on his knees. He hugged his leg and asked, “Prince Rong, he, he knows…”
“Do you think that the Qi brothers relied on luck to conquer the world?” Chief Sanglin sighed and said, “Second Son, it’s not that I look down on you, but if you really had the ability to separate Qiannan from the rest of the country, I’d wake up laughing in my sleep. However, you can’t even subdue the elders of our Miao stockade, so how can you subdue the 18 stockades of Qiannan? Not to mention the tens of thousands of Han people here. Don’t forget that Prince Rong has an army of 200,000 soldiers. He joined the army at the age of 12 and could already independently lead troops to resist the Jin soldiers at the age of 14. He’s more than ten years younger than you. When our Miao stockade was rendered defenseless against West Xia’s invasion, it was him who chased West Xia out with an army that was merely half the size of the enemy’s. Do you really think you can hide what you did from him?”
Chief Sanglin pointed at his other sons and said, “You can’t even hide it from your brothers…”
Sanglin Zhong’s face turned gloomy. Sanglin Ji asked anxiously, “Then, Father, what’s Prince Rong’s intention for coming?” Although he had watched from the sidelines, it did not mean that he was willing to see the entire Miao stockade get dragged down. He had never thought that the Imperial Court would find out about this matter and that things would get so serious.
Chief Sanglin sneered. “His Highness is kind-hearted and will spare us this time. However, if there are further such actions in the future, not only Second Son, but the entire Miao stockade will also be implicated.”
Although Sanglin Zhong’s face was pale, some life had returned to his eyes. Chief Sanglin shouted resentfully, “What are you waiting for? Hurry up and bring him to me.”
After Jilu was captured, he was locked in the dungeon. How much did he hear on the day of the interrogation? After these few days of torture, he was covered in injuries and was on the verge of death when he was dragged over.
Furious, Chief Sanglin glared at his second son and hurriedly sent for the Miao doctor in the tribe to treat him. After comforting Jilu, Chief Sanglin asked his third son to personally carry Jilu to Ju Prefecture City to see the Prince the next day. “Considering he has something on us, do build a good relationship with the people in the Prince’s estate when you get there.”
Chief Sanglin sighed. “Originally, I didn’t like the way Ji’an flattered the Han people. I felt that we could just maintain a lukewarm relationship with the Han people and live our lives behind closed doors. Even if the Qi brothers sympathized with the Miao people, how many years could it last? It was better to focus on managing our people well and plant more grains. However, now, I have no choice but to get involved in this vortex. Now that your second brother has a criminal record, it’s difficult to gain the Imperial Court’s trust again. Your two younger brothers are still young, and the rest are even…” Chief Sanglin sighed faintly. “I was negligent after all.”
Sanglin Ji suppressed the agitation in his heart. Did Father mean that he would be the one to inherit the position of chief in the future?
Sanglin Ji’s eyes lit up as he replied, “Father, don’t worry. I’ll definitely plead with His Highness.”
Chief Sanglin glanced at him and waved his hand to dismiss him.
After Jilu was carried to the Prince’s estate, Qi Haoran waved his hand and reunited their family.
Not expecting things to go so smoothly, Fan Zijin asked, “There won’t be any problems, right?”
Qi Haoran said, “Chief Sanglin is old, but he’s a smart person.”
Fan Zijin understood. He knocked on the table and asked, “What about the negotiation with Dali?”
“I’ve asked Sanglin Ji. After spring, his stockade will carry out a transaction with Dali as usual. When the time comes, I’ll follow them.”
Fan Zijin frowned. “It’s too dangerous.”
Qi Haoran nodded. “I know, but we haven’t settled things with West Xia yet. If Dali comes to attack at this time, how are we going to live? We have to go over and take a look. Don’t worry, I’ll flee if there’s any danger.”
The corners of Fan Zijin’s mouth twitched as he muttered in his heart about Qi Haoran’s lack of shame. However, he liked it.
Mu Yangling also instructed Qi Haoran, “If you can’t win, run. If you can’t run, surrender first. Think of a way to send a letter and I’ll get someone to save you. If all else fails, I’ll get Big Brother to save you…” At that moment, Fan Zijin could only look at the couple speechlessly. No wonder they could become husband and wife; as it turned out, they were actually equally shameless.
Qi Haoran said proudly, “Am I that kind of person who’s afraid of death?”
Chapter end
