Qing Yao

Chapter 399 Burn!
The Holy Ruler brings peace to the world, and the sun and moon usher in a new era.

A carpenter's square hangs on the wood, and all rivers and lakes return to the king!
What does this prophecy mean?
Among the salt bandits, there wasn't even a student who had received basic education, let alone a scholar. Therefore, the prophecy recited by Master Liu was like a foreign language to them, and they had no idea what it meant.

Faced with a group of illiterate people, the real person naturally had to explain.

"This prophecy signifies that the true sage destined to end the dark world of the Qing demons and restore the Han dynasty has been born!"

As he waved his whisk, Master Liu's voice suddenly became incredibly impassioned: "'Sun and moon' represent brightness, 'a carpenter's square hanging on a tree represents vermilion, these are signs of the restoration of the Ming dynasty and the birth of a new ruler, 'rivers and streams all return to the king' is clear proof of the unification of the world."
The current predicament is but a minor ailment, a test from the Eternal Mother and Maitreya Buddha. As long as we steadfastly uphold our faith, protect the altar, and sincerely worship, we will surely receive divine protection and heavenly assistance!

Having said that, he swung his whisk down with a sudden thud, producing a buzzing sound like black iron. Accompanying this sound were the Master's resolute words: "The Qing demons have been in China for a hundred years, and are already outwardly strong but inwardly weak. Their power cannot last long! When our Holy Lord raises the banner of righteousness, your perseverance today will be your merit in supporting the dragon tomorrow. Glory, wealth, and a place in history will all be within your grasp!"

"Wealth, honor, and a place in history are all within reach!"

The recitations of the young men and women were like a blazing fireball thrown into the hall, instantly igniting a fanatical flame in the eyes of the leaders, big and small.

"The True Man is right. This minor tribulation is merely a test from the Eternal Mother for us. We must not waver!"

"Our homeland is in the void, our eternal mother has appeared, the Holy Lord has been born, we are saved!"

"Fight the Qing demons to the death! Slaughter them all!"

"The Qing demons are human too. We were able to defeat them in the past, and we can do it again today!"

"."

The hall was filled with shouts, and two young men knelt on the ground, reciting the doctrines with tears in their eyes.

"Marshal, the True Man has already deduced that the Heavenly Secrets will surely lead to the destruction of the Demon Lord, and that the Holy Lord will soon emerge. We must defend Wulong Ridge no matter what, and wait for the day when we can join forces with the Holy Lord!"

Yang Biao excitedly grasped Xie Hongyi's right arm, as if he could already see the Holy Lord leading a million-strong army to attack.

Xie Hongyi's "emotions" were also completely stirred up by Liu Zhenren. Looking at his excited subordinates and listening to the shouts of "Holy Lord" and "Mandate of Heaven," although the face of his younger brother Xie Hongwu kept flashing through his mind, the last bit of reason was finally swallowed up by the fanaticism. He slammed his fist on the hardwood table next to him. With a "crack," the table cracked and wood chips flew everywhere.

"Pass on my command! The Eight Heavenly Dragon Soldiers shall guard all the gates and passes, and prepare plenty of rolling logs, stones, kerosene, and molten gold! Everyone in the village, regardless of age or gender, must fight to the death to protect my sacred altar!"

With bloodshot eyes, Xie Hongyi abandoned his plan to retake Black Rock Village and resolved to defend Wulong Ridge to the death.

On the Qing army's side, Xie Hongwu, who had been forced to pledge allegiance, led his men who had surrendered to the Qing army earlier, carrying green flags and wearing Green Standard Army uniforms, and carefully drove to the foot of Wulong Ridge.

After a sleepless night, Xie Hongwu, concerned for his elder brother's life, decided to personally go up the mountain to persuade his brother to surrender.

Therefore, he took off his seventh-rank officer's uniform and, without even a guard, walked along the familiar yet unfamiliar mountain path to the tightly closed gate of Wulongling Village.

On the stockade walls, the salt bandits, organized into eight divisions, stood ready, their archers drawing their bows and preparing to fire.

Upon learning that his younger brother had come alone, Xie Hongyi hesitated for a moment before finally arriving at the stockade wall. The two brothers looked at each other with complicated expressions.

"Big brother!"

Xie Hongwu raised his head and spoke his mind.

"The government troops are powerful, that's no exaggeration! Black Rock is lost, how long can Wulong Ridge hold out alone, no matter how dangerous it is? Brother, listen to me, that Lord Zhao is a good and honest official, and he genuinely wants to recruit you. As long as you surrender, Lord Zhao said he will not pursue your past crimes, and the brothers can earn a respectable life. Isn't that better than being labeled as bandits in these mountains?"

Upon hearing the news, Yang Biao rushed over and flew into a rage, cursing, "Xie Hongwu, you spineless coward! How dare you show your face here! You despicable traitor, you will surely fall into the deepest hell after death, never to be reincarnated!" But Xie Hongwu completely ignored him, staring intently at his elder brother on the stockade wall: "Brother, I beg you, please stop believing the White Lotus Sect's heretical lies! They spout empty words—the Eternal Mother, the Rise of the White Sun—it's all a lie! These demons are gambling with your and our brothers' lives!"

"fart!"

Unable to contain himself, Yang Biao leaned out and pointed at Xie Hongwu, angrily shouting, "Xie Hongwu, you cowardly coward, how dare you bark here? Let me tell you, Master Liu is all-powerful and has already deduced the prophecy that the Qing dynasty will perish. A sage will come to bring peace to China. You bastard, you are aiding and abetting evil, and you will surely be punished by heaven!"

A general beside him also chimed in shrill voice: "Xie Hongwu, you have angered the Eternal Mother. If you do not repent and turn back from the wrong path, you will surely die a violent death!"

Xie Hongwu remained deaf to the curses of Yang Biao and the others, his gaze fixed on Xie Hongyi's struggling and pained face.

"Brother! Look at the brothers on this ridge. Which one of them doesn't have a family and parents? Are you really going to let them die for these demons of the White Lotus Sect?"
Brother, I beg you, wake up! We were just trying to make a living and build a fortune by smuggling salt, not to rebel against the government!
What do we have left to fight against the imperial court?

Xie Hongwu's voice was filled with grief, and he was just short of bursting into tears.

Xie Hongyi trembled slightly at his younger brother's appearance, and his mind was in turmoil. He recalled the days when his parents died early and he struggled to survive with his younger brother, and how his brother had voluntarily been arrested by the soldiers to cover for him when they were smuggling salt.
Now, the two brothers have become enemies.

All of this was caused by his belief in the White Lotus Sect.

"marshal!"

Yang Biao was afraid that Xie Hongyi would be swayed by Xie Hongwu, and was about to point out that Xie Hongwu was undermining morale when Xie Hongyi waved his hand firmly: "Second brother, you don't need to say anything more! Everyone has their own ambitions. Since you have chosen to surrender to the Qing demons, then from now on, our brotherhood is over! You, go!"

"Marshal, you mustn't!"

Yang Biao grabbed Xie Hongyi's arm in a panic, "Xie Hongwu knows my strengths and weaknesses. How can we let him go back to the mountains? I beg the Marshal to order him to be shot dead with an arrow to stabilize the morale of the army and show my determination!"

"Yes, Marshal, you cannot let personal matters interfere with public duties, nor can you be soft-hearted!"

Two generals nearby also hurriedly tried to persuade him.

"Shut up, everyone!"

Xie Hongyi abruptly shoved Yang Biao aside, his eyes wide with fury as he roared, "Even if Xie Hongwu has a thousand faults and deserves to die ten thousand times, he is still my own brother, born of the same mother! Anyone who dares to touch him today, don't blame me, Xie Hongyi, for showing no mercy!"

Seeing this, Yang Biao and the others could only sigh and remain silent.

When Xie Hongyi looked at her younger brother again, her eyes were filled with resolute sorrow.

Xie Hongwu did not leave immediately. Looking at his familiar yet unfamiliar elder brother on the stockade wall, the last glimmer of hope in his heart was completely extinguished like a candle in the wind.

In his grief, he knelt down and kowtowed three times to his elder brother on the village wall, then turned and went down the mountain without looking back.

When Zhao An, who had led his army to Wulong Ridge, learned that Xie Hongwu's attempt to persuade Baili Yunlong to surrender had failed and that Xie Hongyi had not released Baili Yunlong, he led a group of generals to a high place to survey the terrain of Wulong Ridge.

The generals were discussing how to capture Wulong Ridge. Some suggested a frontal assault to contain the enemy from both flanks, others suggested a flanking attack to contain the enemy from both flanks, and still others suggested continuing to mobilize laborers and soldiers to dig trenches and build fortifications to block the ridge.

Unexpectedly, Zhao An did not heed his advice, but instead waved his hand and said, "Set the mountain on fire!"

(End of this chapter)