Chapter 275: Youll Be the Head Guard

Gaojia Village had previously managed large numbers of labor offenders, but that situation was slightly different from the current one.Previously, most labor offenders came from villagers in Zhuangjia Village, Zhengjia Village, and the surrounding villages. After Zhuang Guangdao and Zheng Yanfu died, they immediately shed their fierce hearts and obediently took up the promising profession of being labor offenders.

Li Daoxuan had barely restricted their freedom at all, essentially giving them free rein. Yet they remained docile, not daring to cause trouble or make a fuss.

But the Guyuan rebel band was different!

These men weren’t ordinary civilians. They were battle-hardened soldiers from the border army. They had no friends here, no neighbors. Their numbers were substantial—over six hundred—far surpassing the previous groups of labor offenders.

They had to be strictly managed, otherwise trouble could easily arise.

Therefore, they couldn’t be settled in the “Labor Offenders Village.” A proper “prison” had to be arranged for them.

Ever since starting the Tiny Kingdom project, Li Daoxuan impulsively bought miniature models whenever he saw them on online shopping sites. Countless models were already piled up at his home. Rummaging through this pile, he quickly found a “Lego prison.”

Perfect. This would do.

Just then, Fang Wushang arrived, escorting over six hundred rebel prisoners to the outskirts of Gaojia Village. Thirty-Two came out to greet him, accompanied by Tan Liwen. Hearing Fang Wushang state these were rebels sent by the Deity for reformed labor, Thirty-Two was pondering how to arrange things.

A huge golden hand descended from the sky. Right before Fang Wushang and the six hundred prisoners, it began snapping Lego bricks together, clicking and clacking.

Li Daoxuan deliberately built it in front of the prisoners, intending to intimidate them and lessen the likelihood of them cooking up misdeeds during their reformed labor.

The effect was immediate…

Not only were the prisoners terrified, even Fang Wushang and his group were startled. They watched the huge golden fingers manipulate the bricks—clicking and clacking—and in no time at all, a massive grey structure was assembled. This structure had numerous rooms, each with a door made of “mesh.”

Though this type of door wasn’t identical to a Ming Dynasty “jail cell,” anyone whose minds were not blocked by tumors could instantly recognize it as a “prison.”

Once built, the golden hand swept away a patch of ground beside the road being built between Gaojia Village and the county seat. It cleared a flat area and deposited the enormous prison building there.

Thirty-Two immediately grasped the plan. “General Fang, please trouble your men to escort the prisoners into this prison, then hand them over to us.”

Fang Wushang was still dazed, but his subordinates spontaneously sprang into action.

Actually, while Fang Wushang might not have read the “Dao Xuan Deity’s Demon Elimination Tale,” his men surely had. Accepting the Dao Xuan Deity was far easier for them. Having just witnessed a “Deity manifesting divine power to conjure an immortal prison,” moving prisoners inside was plainly the next step.

“Get in…” A soldier prodded a prisoner with his spear shaft.

This prisoner was no ordinary captive. He was a fierce warrior, the very one who had stood firm against Gao Chuwu until Gao Chuwu’s spear shaft broke, forcing Gao Chuwu to chase him halfway across the battleground brandishing a thick-bladed large knife. His bandit name was “Old Nan Feng,” his real name unknown.

Skilled in martial arts, he hadn’t died on the battlefield. But Li Daoxuan’s massive hand had scared him into surrendering. Stripped of his armor now, he wore only a thin cotton shirt.

Poked by the common soldier’s spear shaft, Old Nan Feng flew into a rage, glaring fiercely at the offender.

The glare carried an imposing aura that made the soldier’s hand tremble. He didn’t dare strike a second time. “What? Get in! Otherwise… the Deity… will punish you…”

Old Nan Feng didn’t fear such soldiers; unarmed, he could have killed two or three of them easily. But hearing mention of the Deity, his defiance evaporated. He looked up at the huge golden hand still hovering in the sky, lowered his head, and obediently shuffled into the Lego prison.

The surrendered soldiers quickly filled the large grey prison.

Though scared witless by the skyborne giant hand, their ingrained military discipline kept them remarkably orderly. Once inside the prison, they acted as if entering a military encampment. Grouping in small numbers by cell, they filed in with an unexpected and almost methodical neatness.

Then, the huge golden hand descended again. With a gentle nudge, it shut the prison gate. All six hundred men were now securely confined.

Fang Wushang finally snapped out of his daze. His facial muscles twitched awkwardly. He cupped his fist. “My duty here is complete, Commander. I shall take my leave.”

Knowing the deity had manifested divine power right before Fang Wushang implied things must be resolved in the county town, Thirty-Two saw no further need for concealment. He smiled faintly. “Farewell, General Fang. Feel free to visit Gaojia Village again when you have time.”

Fang Wushang left with his men, still slightly befuddled.

The headache promptly shifted onto Thirty-Two’s shoulders.

He glanced up at the low cloud hanging in the sky, almost wishing to ask the Deity for guidance. But Gao Yiye wasn’t in Gaojia Village; she was “on official business” in the county seat. Clearly, that was the priority right now. Settling those tens of thousands of people in the county seat was undoubtedly what the Deity would focus on next.

The matters in Gaojia Village therefore fell entirely to Thirty-Two.

Rushing with pride, he thought hard for a moment, then turned to Tan Liwen. “Go find Zhong Gaoliang.”

Tan Liwen replied, “Plant sorghum? Certainly! Spring is coming soon, I’ll organize people to sow immediately.”

Thirty-Two clarified, “I said, find the man named Zhong Gaoliang.”

A question mark seemed to float slowly above Tan Liwen’s head.

Thirty-Two almost kicked him. His foot was practically aimed at Tan Liwen’s crotch when he sighed and pulled it back. “How did you become a clerk? A clerk’s most crucial skill is a strong memory, especially remembering key people among the populace! Have you forgotten Zhong Gaoliang? The one from the labor camp who got his sentence reduced and was released first?”

Tan Liwen finally remembered.

He hurried off to find the man. Shortly after, Zhong Gaoliang was brought over.

The sturdy man, who had just been plowing a field, felt a little apprehensive at being suddenly summoned by Clerk Tan. He rubbed his hands. “Manager Thirty-Two, what did you summon me for?”

Thirty-Two said, “You were an exemplary labor offender back in your day. You must have quite some experience with reformed labor life, right?”

Zhong Gaoliang jumped in fright. “Experience? No, no, nothing of the sort! I’d never commit crimes and get tossed back into labor reform!”

Thirty-Two pointed first at the newly built prison then at the golden hand still lingering in the sky. “The Deity just manifested divine power and built a huge prison. Over six hundred Guyuan rebels are locked inside. They need managing.”

Zhong Gaoliang blinked. “Huh? What’s that got to do with me?”

Thirty-Two continued, “I’ve been thinking. There’s a position perfectly suited for you. That position is: Head Guard.”

In modern terms, “Head Guard” often implies the most influential prisoner among inmates.

But in ancient times, the “Head Guard” referred to the person appointed by the magistrate to manage the prison—essentially a warden in today’s terms.

Zhong Gaoliang’s jaw dropped open. “M-me? Head Guard? M-me? Have I got what it takes?”