Chapter 185: Xian
Chapter 181 of "The Great Ming in the Box" begins the action: Seeing these people did seem genuinely remorseful, Li Daoxuan decided to reduce their sentences: âYiye,... Discover the next part!
Seeing these people did seem genuinely remorseful, Li Daoxuan decided to reduce their sentences: âYiye, go up on the stage and say a few words.âGao Yiye acknowledged the command. She leaped from her spectator position outside the stage onto the platform, taking center stage: âThough you have a repentant heart, your crimes are too heavy. We cannot restore your free civilian status immediately. The Deity grants you an opportunity. From now on, whoever performs well and contributes greatly will have their sentence reducedâŚâ
âReduced sentences?â The labor offenders were stunned.
âReducing the sentence means shortening the time of your labor reform,â Gao Yiye said. âThe Deity said, the crime you committed is called âattempted robbery and murder,â a very serious offense. Generally, at least ten years of labor reform is required.â
The term âten yearsâ made the labor offenders jump in shock.
Gao Yiye continued: âBut considering you are first-time offenders, misled by others, and caused no actual losses to Gaojia Village, among other mitigating circumstances, the Deity has decided that you will only serve one year of labor reform.â
The crowd erupted in joy: âOne year! Weâve already reformed for half a year! That means just half a year more and we can be free civilians again?â
âYes,â said Gao Yiye. âIf you show no further misconduct, another half year of labor reform will restore your free status. But if someone performs exceptionally well, makes a significant contribution, or greatly benefits Gaojia Village, the duration of your reform may be shortened accordingly.â
âWonderful!â The labor offenders cheered loudly.
Gao Yiye turned her head and gave Thirty-Two a look. She then stepped back, letting Thirty-Two retake the center position.
Thirty-Two raised his hand, silencing the cheers: âDid you all hear that? The Saint Lady personally conveyed the Deityâs command. Conduct yourselves well, work hard, strive to regain your free status soon.â
The labor offenders cheered again: âWeâll work hard!â
Hope suddenly ignited in their lives!
The endless-seeming labor reform period now had an end date. Why wouldnât they throw themselves into work wholeheartedly?
A large group of labor offenders surged out of the Labor Offenders Village. Some cut down trees, others focused on road construction. Everywhere was filled with enthusiasm, people eagerly busy at work.
Thirty-Two secretly rejoiced: Excellent, now everyone has drive. This canât be called the act of being poor but content without any aspirations, right? The Deity shouldnât be upset now.
He turned his head, whispering to Gao Yiye: âYiye, can you see the Deity? Is the Revered Deity happy now?â
Gao Yiye nodded, lowering her voice: âThe Deity wears a benevolent smile, like watching oneâs own child grow up.â
Thirty-Two was overjoyed: âThat truly is wonderful. Just bringing the Deity happiness makes me feel that this life has not been lived in vain.â
Meanwhile, in Xiâan Prefecture.
Xing Honglang arrived in Xiâan Prefecture with her subordinates.
Her last visit was several months ago, when things were still manageable. Yet, in just these months, the situation had drastically changed. Outside the prefectural city walls, emaciated refugees lay scattered across the fields, clad in rags.
These people likely couldnât even afford the âentrance fee,â forced to sprawl haphazardly in the fields beyond the city walls.
Xing Honglang hid her shock: Even Xiâan is like this? I wonder if the goods I broughtâsugar, lard, chocolateâwill even sell?
She approached the city gate and paid the entrance fee.
The gate guard, intending to inspect her goods to see if they were legitimate, received a deftly slipped piece of silver from Xing Honglangâs wrist. The soldier simply flipped open the top sack of sugar and waved them through: âA proper sugar merchant. Pass!â
Xing Honglang and her group entered Xiâan Prefecture easily.
The situation inside the city offered little optimism. Refugees filled the streets and alleys. A heavy, oppressive air hung over the entire city.
Xing Honglang thought: This is a disaster. My goods likely wonât sell.
She reached the familiar marketplaceâŚ
Sidestepping the vendors selling legitimate goods, I reached a dim corner of the market. At this hour every day, stewards from wealthy households gathered here, hoping to snag rare or illegal goods.
As Xing Honglang arrived, the stewards buzzed with excitement: âLook whoâs hereâYongji Xing Honglang! Hey! Weâve waited ages for you. Got any chocolate left?â
âMy master loved that crystal sugar from last time.â
âSaltâI need a hundred catties,â piped up a visiting wholesaler.
The crowd swarmed forward, ready to rush her goods.
Xing Honglang thought darkly: With refugees everywhere beyond these walls, I thought luxury items wouldnât sell. Yet you lot remain unchangedâŚ
The sorrows and joys of the rich and poor were worlds apart.
Inside vermilion gates reek the smell of wine and meat; outside lie frozen bones on the road!
Profiting from the wealthy? Xing Honglang felt no mercy. She doubled the price of crystal sugar and chocolate.
âHey! Why so much pricier than last time?â The steward of a Small Merchantâs household blurted out.
Xing Honglang rolled her eyes. âDo you not know what itâs like out there? This old lady risked her neck hauling these goods. Isnât my life worth more?â
A minor steward from Qin King Mansion laughed loudly. âTrue words! Delivering such treasures through chaos and war should cost extra. If you canât afford it, fuck off. Qin King Mansion will take these goods.â
After raucous haggling, Xing Honglang sold nearly all her stock.
Emerging from the market invigorated, she ordered her thirty-eight subordinates to sell the leftovers while she slipped toward the official workshop. The Deityâs task remained: to smuggle out some gunpowder makers.
Xiâanâs layout formed neat grids, each with its function. The cityâs official craftsmen clustered in one grid, housing all Official Workshops.
Security here was formidable.
Only two entrances pierced the grid, both guarded.
One glance confirmed it to Xing Honglang: smuggling out gunpowder makers would be no easy feat.
Just as a rotating worker exited the compound, she followed him into an alley and tossed copper coins at his feet. âBrother, I need information.â
Grasping the coins, the man beamed. âAsk away, little sister.â
Xing Honglang lowered her voice. âThis old lady needs bird-shotâlooking for gunpowder makers to help.â
The rotating worker recoiled. Instantly recognizing her as dangerous, he tried to flee. Xing Honglang blocked his way sideways, her left hand resting on her waist knife, her right extending pieces of silver.
The message was clear: take the coins and cooperate, or taste the blade.
Your choice.
He snatched the silver hastily. âEver since the capitalâs great explosion, Xiâan tightened gunpowder controlâno one touches it easily⌠Little sister, what you ask is⌠near-impossible.â