Chapter 505: The Carrot and the Stick
Chapter 500 of "The Great Ming in the Box" opens revealing: This giant hand descending from the heavens wasnât just terrifying for the bandits; even many... Keep going!
This giant hand descending from the heavens wasnât just terrifying for the bandits; even many soldiers from the Gaojia Village Militia were startled. Their thoughts raced: Weâve only seen such a hand in the âDao Xuan Deityâs Demon Elimination Tale,â never imagined weâd see it with our own eyes today.The common folk at the Yongji Ferry Dock were equally frightened.
Many muttered secretly: I must never do evil deeds again. If I commit evil, the Deity will send divine punishment. A strike like this⌠who could withstand it?
The chaotic uproar among the five thousand bandits fell into utter silence instantly.
In the profound quiet, Xing Honglangâs voice rang out once more: âTsk, old lady rather liked your rebellious, unruly attitude from earlier.â
The five thousand bandits trembled uncontrollably. Rebelling? Forget it.
Defiance in circumstances like these could only mark one as a mindless fool unaware of heaven and earthâs heights and depths.
Xing Honglang: âThrow your weapons onto that slope.â
Not one of the five thousand dared disobey. What use were weapons now? What weapon could fight against that gigantic golden hand? Everyone surged into action, scrambling to toss their weapons toward the foot of the small slopes.
Interestingly, while most were discarding weapons, a few remained seated on the ground, unable to rise, failing to join the disarming. Feeling Xing Honglangâs gaze upon them, these terrified souls burst into tears, hastily pleading: âBoss Xing, weâre not defying you! Our legs went weak from fright! We canât stand! Give us a moment! Weâll throw them as soon as our legs stop trembling⌠wuu wuu⌠these legs⌠why wonât they listen?â
âWeâll obey! Please donât kill us! Donât summon that big hand!â
âWeâll listen to your every command!â
Xing Honglang regarded the group with an icy expression, neither threatening death nor offering reassurance. Paralyzed by terror, their tears and snot flowed freely, legs growing weaker and weaker, rendering them utterly unable to stand.
After a long while, apparently satisfied, Xing Honglang finally shifted her gaze. The men instantly sighed in relief, finding they could move their legs. Frantically, they scrambled to the small slopes and discarded every last bow, arrow, sword, and spear. They dared not keep even a single hard object on their person, fearing it might be mistaken for a weapon.
Old Nan Feng nudged Gao Chuwu: âSee how easily your wife spooked that lot? Hahaha! A proper salt smuggler from the greenwood indeed. She knows how to handle worthless thieves better than you.â
Gao Chuwu: âHuh? My wife is really something!â
Old Nan Feng slung an arm over his shoulder: âHowâd a fella like you snag such a fierce wife? With respect⌠you lag far behind her. Quite the mismatch, I reckon.â
Gao Chuwu: âHuh? Isnât it that I got to marry her because I defeated her?â
Old Nan Feng: ââŚâ
Shortly after, the five thousand bandits were stripped of weapons and armor. Left wearing only burlap clothing and bare-handed, they werenât allowed inside the stockade. Instead, they were herded to sit and wait near a section of the Yellow River bank outside.
The group vaguely understood the commands awaiting them. But anything was preferable to being crushed by that golden hand. They could only wait meekly.
Soon, three enormous cannon ships appeared on the river. Gleaming silver cannons lined each deckâtwelve per shipâsending waves of panic through the bandits: What kind of person is this Xing Honglang? How does she command three cannon ships?
The cannons aboard the three ships trained on the bandits. Then, a flotilla of broad, flat cargo ships arrived, nosing against the shore. Xing Honglangâs face darkened: âGet your asses on board!â
The crowd obeyed meekly, boarding the flat cargo ships and sitting down tightly packed. Each ship held several hundred. Soon, a dozen or so vessels swallowed the entire five thousand. Escorted by the three naval ships, the convoy began its journey upstream against the current.
After an indeterminate time, a dock emerged ahead.
One bandit abruptly yelled: âHuh? Qiachuan Port? Over a year ago, Boss Bai Yuzhu led us to attack this place! We were beaten back by heaps of firearms and strange bombs!â
His shout drew echoes from others: âI fought then too!â
âMe too!â
âSo the ships came from Qiachuan Port!â
âHow is Boss Xing connected to this place?â
While they murmured in confusion, a figure in pristine white robes appeared atop the Qiachuan Fortress by the shore. His flamboyant posture was unmistakable. Spotted by many bandits, shouts arose: âAh! Itâs him! The militia instructor who beat us at Qiachuan Port! That white robeâI could never mistake it!â
They watched as Bai Yuan received a tin microphone from an aide and addressed the fleet on the river: âWelcome, gentlemen, to your new life as labor offenders! I am Bai Yuan, current Lord of Bai Family Fortress, Chief Instructor of the Chengcheng County Militia, and Admiral of the Gaojia Village Naval ForcesâŚ.â
He finished listing his extensive titles, basking in the prestige, then flicked open a folding fan with his free hand, revealing the characters âĺĺâ (jĹŤnzÇ â Gentleman). Then he continued: âYou will disembark here and walk several dozen miles to the Huanglong Mountain Prison. I strongly advise against any rash moves. The Deity watches you from above.â
The bandits, unfamiliar with âDeity,â instinctively glanced heavenward at the mention of âabove.â The sight chilled them: the clouds had parted, revealing the golden hand suspended just beneath them. It held no imminent threat for now⌠butâŚ
Connecting his words, they understood instantly: any reckless move would bring that hand crashing down.
Obedience, therefore, became immediate and absolute.
But Bai Yuan differed from Xing Honglang. He wasnât merely intimidating. He knew cajolingâcarrot and stickâwas essential for true leadership. This skill was honed managing Bai Family Fortress, distinct from Xing Honglangâs raw methods.
Bai Yuanâs face softened into a benevolent smile: âWhen you fled Hequ County, most of you abandoned your families, didnât you? Do you long for your parents? Your wives and children?â
The question visibly pained many faces.
Even beasts held affection, let alone men.
Even the fiercest bandit possessed vulnerabilities.
Their desperate flight, abandoning the vulnerable, relied on the gamble that the court wouldnât massacre tens of thousands of elderly and weak, women and children all at once. It wasnât truly heartlessness.
Bai Yuan: âYour wives and children have already been brought here. Theyâre settled in the Huanglong Mountain valleys. Obey, and you can reunite. Should you contemplate lawless acts⌠well⌠hehâŚâ
He deliberately left the consequence hanging, letting the banditsâ imaginations run wild.
Filled with dread, their thoughts naturally strayed: If we donât obey⌠theyâll kill our families! Ah!
An act utterly unthinkable for Gaojia Village, forbidden by the Deity against harming the elderly and weak, women and childrenâremained unknown to the bandits. Assuming Bai Yuan capable of such cruelty, their terror peaked. Any thought of rebellion evaporated instantly.