Chapter 59

  Under the Toad Hill, in the night, there are cries echoing from time to time.

  "Mom, I'm hungry, when are we going to eat?" A child leaned against his mother's bosom.

  "Sleep, and you won't be hungry when you wake up."

  "Hmm...hmm..." A big Han sighed.

  "What's with you men and your humming, isn't it embarrassing!"

  "Brother, my leg... is rotten..."

  Lifting up the tattered pant leg, the calf was already festering, emitting a foul odor.

  These people have not been having a good time lately, and after falling into slavery, they had to do hard labor every day. Such as plowing fields, repairing cities, digging dikes, going hungry, and being whipped. And there were also some people who had grudges against the Liu family before, taking advantage of the situation to beat up on a fallen person, kicking them while they're down is also understandable behavior.

  So these ninety or so people, all had some injuries or illnesses on their bodies. And the environment of the mountain forest at night was not good no matter what, hunger, injury, fear tortured their souls.

  "Why must we endure this, why!"

  Someone finally shouted out, as if asking the unfair sky. But everyone understood that he was actually questioning Liu Mu Yun.

  This white-haired old man represents the last dignity and honor of the family.

  Liu Muyun responded with silence, guarding the bonfire alone.

  This indirectly encouraged everyone, and a flurry of discussions erupted.

  "If we were on the mountain, they would give us a full meal."

  "The food was still pretty good yesterday."

  "That thing called chili pepper, in the city, only nobles can afford to eat it..."

  "I don't care, I really don't care, but my child is only six years old..."

  These words fell into Liu Muyun's ears, and he let out a sigh in his heart: people's hearts have become chaotic.

  These ninety or so people included some of the Liu family's blood relatives, but more were former servants and slaves of the household who had also been reduced to slavery in this affair.

  Now, under the torture of life and death, these people's loyalty to the Liu family is slowly weakening. Even among blood relatives, it's not all harmony and mutual benefit, but rather a struggle for power and interest.

  Some people want to surrender and defect, while others still want to hold on to their honor. Opinions are divided, and the organization has already begun to disintegrate from within.

  Now these people, even if they go up the mountain, will still be divided into small groups and inevitably used by Cheng Da Lei. They cannot occupy the dominant position of the stronghold as before, and it is even more impossible to think about competing with Cheng Da Lei for power.

  Is this also part of your plan?

  Liu Muyun suddenly raised her head and looked up at the mountain, a hint of chill rising from the bottom of her heart.

  Actually, Liu Muyun didn't want to stay in Gama Ridge, after all he had nowhere else to go, but he also didn't want to become a fugitive, because his inherent concept did not allow him to do so.

  So, is there a way to have it both ways?

  Uh...... this question, Liu Muyun didn't go think about it.

  Although he was well-read in poetry and books, and was known for his erudition in the Liu family, it is clear that he did not have too much wisdom.

  He simply threw the question to Cheng Dairen, slightly showing off his skills in poker, facing a young man, showing off his old wrist: You're still too young, it's time to understand some rules, this isn't where you get to call the shots.

  However, Cheng Dalai did not play tricks with him, but kicked him to the ground with one foot and said viciously: Get out of here, I set the rules.

  Humiliation, or death.

  Liu Muyun was at a loss for what to do in the face of Cheng Darui's sudden question.

  Mengzi said, approaching Liu Mu Yun, in a low voice: "Grandfather Liu, I have a plan, I don't know if it will work."

  "Say..."

  "Bao'er is starving, we'll leave him at the gate of the village. I don't believe Cheng Da Lei won't open the door. As long as he opens it, we can send some old and weak people in and keep the strong ones behind. We can slowly negotiate with him."

  Liu Muyun suddenly raised his head, as if he had met Meng Ziyun for the first time. The two of them stared at each other with icy gazes, both sensing fear from the bottom of each other's eyes.

  Liu Muyun had to admit that Meng Ziyun's words were a clever move. Cheng Darui presented a choice between humiliation or death, and Meng Ziyun's move gave Cheng Darui a choice as well.

  Morality.

  Few people can face such interrogation, but facing this method, Liu Muyun chose silence, and after a long time, he slowly said one sentence.

  "The Master said: 'A resolute scholar and a man of virtue will never seek life at the expense of ren, nor will he sacrifice ren in order to preserve his life.'"

  Mengzi understood the consciousness in Liu Muyun's words, silently retreated, and gazed at his back, a deep chill surged up from the bottom of Liu Muyun's heart.

  The internal collapse came earlier than the predicted Big Bang.

  Before dawn, someone carefully made their way up the mountain road, avoiding traps along the way, and heavily pounded on the gate of the stronghold.

  "Open the door, I'm going up the mountain to become a bandit!"

  He is that big man with festering legs, his behavior is despised.

  "You're actually going to become a bandit, how will you face the ancestors of the Liu family?"

  "Even our ancestors would be unable to rest their eyes in the underworld!"

  Words like knives stabbed into the back of Hanzi, he didn't turn around, but instead pounded heavily on the gate with his fists, shouting loudly.

  The mountain stronghold's gate was shut tight, as if it would never be opened again.

  Now this gate is the last hope for Han's survival, and its closure seems to symbolize death. The bigger Han becomes more fearful, his voice growing louder.

  The people below looked at this scene, they ridiculed the big man, but perhaps their hearts were not shaken. Looking at the iron-clad man wagging his tail and begging for mercy like a lost dog, it seemed as if this thing had happened to them themselves, humiliation shrouded everyone.

  How humiliating!

  They were once invited back to the mountain stronghold with courtesy and had their food and lodging carefully arranged, even clean clothes were prepared for them.

  But they chose to refuse, for honor.

  Now he knelt on the ground, knocking on the door as if praying to the gods, hoping that this door would open a crack for him.

  What a shame!

  How much humiliation is needed for this door to open for him? Is kneeling not enough? Is kowtowing not enough? Is crying out not enough? I have already put aside my pride, put aside the dignity of being human, and humbly begged for your mercy on the ground. Isn't that enough?

  Not enough!

  A man can have his own glory, but you must be prepared to die for this glory. No one has the responsibility to pay for your glory except yourself.

  Put down your glory, dignity, and all that you believe in as a person. Then, this place can give you life, only life.

  We honor those who died for glory, but there is no place here prepared for their burial. Death, give me some distance too.

  This tightly closed door is just like Cheng Dairen's answer.

  He naturally heard the sound outside, turned over and went back to sleep, covering his face with the quilt.

  You won't understand until you're kicked hard.

  Just as you give him a dollar every day, if one day you don't give it to him, he will hate you.

  You slap him every day, and if you don't hit him for a day, he will love you.

  It's better to be beaten than to beg for food; it's better to have a swollen face than to lose one's dignity.