Chapter 32 This... Just Left?

"This... just left?"

Before Ming Prefecture city, with a gust of wild wind rising, the entire battle array was filled with flying sand and stones, ghosts and gods wailing, everyone's eyes blurred, and they covered their faces with their sleeves.

When the wind stopped and they opened their eyes again, they saw that the Hu and Meng families were gone, as if in a dream.

Looking at the hungry ghost army in front, a large number had died, leaving only corpses, with strange expressions, either repenting or peaceful, but all without resentment.

Of course, not all of them were dead. There were still three to five hundred alive, but they had all laid down their weapons and knelt before the city, no longer looking like the fierce hungry ghosts they had been.

"They..."

Yang Gong didn't react for a moment, looking at the place where a strange, heavy mace had stood, with a spiderweb-like pit in the ground.

"General, it's time to enter the city."

While he was still dazed, the Tie Zui Zi (Iron-Mouthed Advisor) beside him also took a deep look at the noble's ceremonial tent, calmed his mood, and smiled at Yang Gong: "It is the general's good fortune."

"An Yi Ren (extraordinary person) took action to suppress the hungry ghosts for the general, and all the ghosts and gods came to help. It can be seen that the general is truly blessed by heaven."

"Now that the Grain Protection Army has won, and the Ming Prefecture city gates are open, it is the time for the general to enter the city!"

"..."

"Enter the city, enter the city..."

As more and more people reacted, someone in the Grain Protection Army began to shout loudly, the voices forming a wave, like a giant tide, surging and undulating.

"Good..."

Yang Gong still had many doubts and incomprehension in his heart.

Earlier, as a disciple of the Red Lantern Mother, he was considered a member of the trade, but his level was not high, and he had never seen advanced esoteric magic.

Now that he had broadened his horizons, he naturally felt awe for these methods. He felt a little uneasy for a while, but when he thought of the identity of that noble, he was instantly relieved. He lowered his head, lightly stroked his treasured sword, which had been stained with a touch of blood, then sheathed the sword with a whoosh, took a deep breath, and shouted: "Men, enter the city!"

Now the Ming Prefecture city gates were wide open, looking as if they were specially welcoming Yang Gong into the city.

The Tie Zui Zi (Iron-Mouthed Advisor) also rode his horse beside Yang Gong, saying: "The hungry ghosts are burdened with sins and should not be spared, but they volunteered to die to atone for their sins, so there is no need to make things too difficult for them."

"Later, the general can arrange for people to collect their corpses and bury them in a selected place. As for the remaining hungry ghosts, the ghost energy on them is not so heavy, presumably they have not eaten people, or did not eat people willingly, so there is no need to kill them again. Cook some rice porridge to help them recover, and they can follow the general to atone for their sins in the future. Now it depends on what those noble lords in the city will do."

"Our Grain Protection Army defeated the hungry ghost army in a fair and square battle. We should enter the city generously and see if they dare to stop us!"

"..."

Not only did he think so, but the enshrined masters and shopkeepers in the Red Lantern Society were also uneasy.

The Red Lantern Society had a great reputation earlier, known as a scourge of Ming Prefecture, and seemed to have unmatched power, but they knew that the Red Lantern Society was not the one with the most experts or the greatest skills.

In this city, whether it was the government office or those noble lords, they each raised private soldiers and supported some Yi Ren (extraordinary people), but they usually didn't cause trouble.

Now, although the Grain Protection Army had defeated the hungry ghosts, the hungry ghosts were outsiders. Would they be willing to let the Grain Protection Army enter the city?

If they didn't allow it, there would probably be another fight!

But when they entered the city, they didn't see anyone daring to stop them, and then they understood.

In Ming Prefecture city, there were indeed wealthy families and noble lords.

But this small Ming Prefecture, the so-called noble lords, added up, were not even worth a toenail of that noble from the Hu family.

And when facing the hungry ghost army, that noble from the Hu family first publicly praised the Grain Protection General for being better than the hungry ghost army, and then borrowed the Grain Protection General's sword to kill that Mandate of Heaven General.

Was the sword easily borrowed?

Only their own people's swords would be borrowed, so discerning people understood that when the Suppression Bureau borrowed the Grain Protection General's sword, it was equivalent to clarifying its attitude.

Since this was the case, who in Ming Prefecture city would dare to stop the Grain Protection General?

So, Yang Gong really led a thousand of his personal soldiers into Ming Prefecture city, while the main army, following the advice of the Tie Zui Zi (Iron-Mouthed Advisor), camped outside the city to avoid disturbing the people.

After entering the city, they went to the government office to discuss merits and rewards, receive officials, seal up granaries, and post notices everywhere to appease the people.

One of the most representative scenes was raising a red lantern high above the gate of Ming Prefecture city, with the Grain Protection General personally leading people to burn incense.

All the affairs were naturally extremely busy. If it were just Yang Gong, he really couldn't handle it, but with so many Yi Ren (extraordinary people) around him, they handled each matter extremely properly. First, they entered the government office, hung up the red lantern, and then discussed merits and rewards, hosting a banquet to entertain the White Armor Army who had come to help from Stone Horse Town. Both sides agreed to prioritize loyalty, share information, and advance and retreat together.

It was only at the banquet that Yang Gong realized that many of those who had contributed and made great achievements when he faced the hungry ghost army had already quietly left.

He also knew that these Yi Ren (extraordinary people) were not giving him face. The small Grain Protection Army couldn't keep them, so he could only thank them from afar.

In fact, it wasn't just these Yi Ren (extraordinary people), but even this ten thousand-strong Grain Protection Army couldn't all stay by his side in the end. Many would soon return to their villages.

After all the matters were properly handled, it was already two days later. At this time, the noble lords in the city, who had been waiting anxiously, came to pay their respects with generous gifts.

According to common sense, anyone who entered Ming Prefecture city would first discuss matters with them, after all, they were of noble status and familiar faces, the top people in Ming Prefecture city. But their face was useless in front of the Grain Protection Army. When the Grain Protection Army discussed merits and rewards earlier, they rarely received any benefits, so they could only wait.

Finally, when it was time to formally pay their respects to the Grain Protection General, the old and young alike bowed and paid their respects as soon as they entered, shouting: "With the Grain Protection King above, the people of Ming Prefecture are blessed."

"They are convinced and willing to call this Grain Protection General the Grain Protection King, giving him this title."

The disciples of the Abstain from Beef sect, listening to the commotion, sighed in their hearts, feeling that this major event had been accomplished, and the Abstain from Beef sect had created another grass-roots king.

It was just that the title was not very pleasant to hear, Grain Protection, Grain Protection, it was afraid it couldn't hold people down, so they had to think carefully about what title to give him.

But unexpectedly, Yang Gong heard it and said: "I am not any kind of king, don't call me that."

"I was originally from a mountain family, but I couldn't bear to see the people being deprived of their last grain and starving to death, so I led people out of the mountains, only to protect the livelihood of the people of Ming Prefecture. You should do what you should do, don't rush to put this big hat on me. Now I see you all bringing jewelry, gold, silver, cattle, sheep, pigs, and dogs to me, but what's the use of that?"

"This jewelry and gold, if you give it to those who are starving to death, will they even see it?"

"This cattle, sheep, pigs, and dogs, even if I burst my stomach, I can't finish eating them, but what about those people in the mountains who are still starving?"

"Let's be practical!"

"If you really want to make me satisfied, you might as well take out more grain, give out porridge to relieve the disaster, and don't let the villagers and neighbors not survive until the harvest next year, and I will appreciate your kindness!"

"..."

"..."

Seeing his firm attitude, the noble lords all nodded in agreement. When the notice was issued, there was another burst of cheers all around.

"Seems a bit different from the previous grass-roots kings?"

After watching for a few days, coupled with Yang Gong's firm attitude, refusing to take a title, refusing the kindness of those noble lords, and not rushing to divide officials and grant titles, even these disciples of the Abstain from Beef sect felt a little strange in their hearts. They had done similar things before, but each time they couldn't avoid dealing with these noble lords, or even being coerced by them.

But this Grain Protection Army seemed to be holding on?

Even with their twenty years of experience in rebelling with all their hearts, they couldn't accurately explain what was different.

"The leader is indeed the leader..."

Miao Shan Xiangu (Fairy Miao Shan), who had been in the army for the past few days, too lazy to fight and kill, and had been in charge of the grain and grass accounts, only felt that the momentum of the Grain Protection Army had greatly increased in an instant, shaking her head and praising endlessly.

"The Master is indeed amazing. As soon as Xiao Dou Guan (Little Bean Official) sees him, he wants to kowtow..."

Dou Guan (Bean Official) beside her praised the Master even more, saying: "But Aunt, I don't think you understand where the Master is so amazing!"

Miao Shan Xiangu (Fairy Miao Shan) was immediately displeased, glaring at him: "The leader was brought into the sect by me, picked out by me. If I don't understand, do you understand?"

"Dou Guan (Bean Official) is not smart, he only passed the imperial examination when he was ten years old, and he died before he became an official, so of course he can't compare to Aunt."

Dou Guan (Bean Official) hurriedly said to Miao Shan Xiangu (Fairy Miao Shan): "But I think the Master's demeanor is very clever."

"We also rebelled in Stone Horse Town. The other Senior Uncles and Senior Uncles have done a lot of work, but what is the most troublesome thing?"

"That is, no matter how much preparation you have made for this major event, how much effort you have put in, once you are crowned king, you will find that all the people around you are noble lords."

"Fighting for the world, no matter how you fight, whoever wins or loses, in the end, they will all join hands with the noble lords to rule this world, but only Ming Prefecture is different."

"Those people initially waved the banner of nobles, coaxing those noble lords to contribute money and people, but it turned into a joke."

"Now the Grain Protection Army has entered the city by its own ability, and those noble lords don't have much glory on their faces now. It's not so easy to get close to the Grain Protection General anymore!"

"In this way, in the future, when something happens, not so many people will interrupt the Grain Protection General when he speaks..."

"..."

Miao Shan Xiangu (Fairy Miao Shan) listened for a long time and didn't understand, only pursing her lips and saying: "You're only as big as a mung bean, what do you understand? Don't talk nonsense in front of people in the future, lest you implicate me and make people look down on me..."

Dou Guan (Bean Official) hurriedly said: "Yes, yes, next time I see the Master, I will only kowtow and not say anything else!"

"It's just that Dou Guan (Bean Official) is curious in his heart, and always feels that the Master's movement is so big, it's not just for this Grain Protection Army, I'm afraid there are even more ruthless methods behind..."

"But that's probably not to make the living people convinced, but to make those ghosts and gods convinced..."