Wang Er hurriedly reached out to pull, but it was too late. The villager cursed viciously, "Why should we do those things just because Ye Feng opens his mouth? Are kings and generals born with seeds?"
"Good, good, good!" Staring at the panic in everyone's eyes, Ye Feng seemed oblivious, and only when the spear was around his body did he unhesitatingly reach out and grab it.
Seeing that something was wrong, the villagers hurriedly tried to pull the spear back, but Ye Feng's strength was extraordinary. No matter how they struggled, the spear did not move an inch.
Wang Er's face showed embarrassment. He also saw clearly that Ye Feng relied entirely on his own abilities and didn't need anyone else. Seeing the villagers hurriedly apologizing again, "It was just a momentary lapse in his judgment. Please forgive him this once, King Chu!"
"I originally intended to ambush this king, a crime unforgivable. Since you have spoken, this king will spare him this once." Ye Feng let go, and the villager fell heavily to the ground. "If this king sees him trying to be sneaky behind my back again, he will not be spared."
"Your Highness, don't worry. I will guarantee here that no one will do such a thing again!" Wang Er hurriedly said, "If there is such a person, even I, Wang Er, will not spare him!"
"Good!" Ye Feng agreed softly and nodded heavily, "I wonder how the elder I proposed has considered my offer? Is cooperation possible?"
Wang Er's face changed. "To be honest with Your Highness, this matter might be difficult to handle. If it were two days earlier, I could guarantee it, but now... alas!"
Hearing Wang Er sigh, Ye Feng's heart sank. Had something else happened? This absolutely could not happen.
"Elder, can you explain in detail what happened? Perhaps Your Highness can find a solution!"
"I dare not deceive Your Highness." Wang Er knew that Ye Feng possessed divine strength and was no match for him. He simply lay down and sat in front of Ye Feng to analyze.
"Originally, everyone was waiting for His Majesty or the Han dynasty to come forward and help us overcome the difficulties, but there was no news for a long time, until a few days ago..." Wang Er spoke vividly, sighing from time to time. "It seems that some General of Heaven sent people to deal with the epidemic, and it actually worked. Now, Da Niu, whom I watched grow up, is fanatically devoted. I fear Your Highness cannot persuade him in a short while!"
"What's so difficult about that?" Ye Feng sneered, "No matter how powerful Zhang Jiao is, can he overthrow the Han dynasty? If he doesn't succeed, you will have no standing, and you will be at his mercy!"
"Please save Your Highness!" Wang Er cried out hurriedly. "After much deliberation, I saw hope when I saw Your Highness today. Please save us!"
"It's not that I cannot save you, but that I should not save you!" Ye Feng sighed, "Saving you might bring trouble upon myself!"
"Your Highness, don't worry. We will take responsibility for everything. It will not involve you. We will still be commoners, and Your Highness will still be Your Highness." Wang Er said righteously, "However, what exactly does Your Highness intend..."
Before Wang Er could finish speaking, Ye Feng interrupted him without hesitation, "This king can save you, but I am truly puzzled about your status. Please advise me, elder!"
Ye Feng's goal was simple. He could say clearly that these people were all subjects of the Han dynasty, but they had to acknowledge it in their hearts, otherwise, trouble would surely arise!
"No matter what, we are originally subjects of the Han dynasty, and the imperial court would not..." Wang Er said aggrievedly, "If Your Highness could assist us, then..."
Ye Feng cut a piece from the sizzling lamb leg with a dagger and slowly fed it into his mouth. This made Wang Er subconsciously swallow. After eating a good portion, Ye Feng slowly spoke.
"Elder is right, you were originally subjects of the Han dynasty, but are you still now?" Ye Feng retorted, "Rebellion is a crime punishable by extermination of nine generations of kin. Fortunately, this king is compassionate and persuaded everyone to spare your lives. Now you want to push your luck?"
"But we are, after all..." Wang Er mumbled, his eyes instantly dimming. "Please think of a way, Your Highness. We will surely remember Your Highness's great kindness."
Seeing that the time was ripe, Ye Feng stopped teasing Wang Er and sighed heavily. "Alas, this king will do good to the end, sending the Buddha to the west. There is indeed an opportunity here!"
"Please enlighten me, Your Highness!" Wang Er's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly said, "We will surely repay you with our lives."
"It's not that serious." Ye Feng waved his hand. "I assume you have all heard that His Majesty has rewarded this king with a piece of land. I plan to build various taverns on it. After all, you are all skilled, and thus His Majesty will have no fault to find. What do you say?"
"Then what about our household registration?" Wang Er hesitated for a long time before forcing himself to ask.
If Ye Feng said it was agricultural registration, he would agree no matter what, as he would be a free person. But if it was slave registration, it didn't matter who he was a slave to, and there was no need to beg someone!
Ye Feng pretended to ponder for a moment, then solemnly said, "If you return to Liangzhou City, you will naturally be commoners, not anyone's slaves. However, that matter!"
"Your Highness, don't worry. We are not ungrateful people. My brothers will take on this task!" Wang Er readily agreed. After all, enduring hardship for a while in exchange for a lifetime of freedom was a good deal.
"Elder, please rest assured. During the renovation period, all food and drink will be provided by the prince's mansion!" Ye Feng said slowly. "Each person may receive some silver daily. Based on the progress, and for those who excel, their descendants can enter the academy to study!"
"Is this true?" Wang Er suddenly stood up and asked, tears visibly welling up in his eyes.
"Of course, it's true. A promise is a promise." Ye Feng gently patted Wang Er's shoulder. "Of course, as long as you follow this king, there will be plenty of such work for you, though it may be a bit harder."
"Then what about corvee labor and taxes?" Wang Er stared at Ye Feng, his face changing. He quickly knelt down and kowtowed to admit his mistake. "Your Highness, please forgive me. This old man should not be insatiably greedy. Your Highness, please forgive me!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he slapped himself in the face and muttered.
"To allow those little brats to study is already a great favor. How can this old man still be greedy? I really shouldn't have been, I really shouldn't have!"
Ye Feng grabbed Wang Er and said kindly, "Since you are working for this king, all matters will be handled by this king. You don't need to worry about anything, except that your monthly wages may be a little less!"
Wang Er's tears flowed uncontrollably. Others might not know, but he knew that a large portion of the taxes they paid went into the hands of corrupt officials. However, if Ye Feng collected them, such a thing would never happen.
"This old man agrees. I will do my best to persuade everyone to agree to Your Highness when I return." Wang Er quickly kowtowed twice. "Your Highness, don't worry, I'll go now!"
"Elder, wait!" Ye Feng hurriedly called out. Seeing Wang Er turn around, he said, "Elder, going back this time might be dangerous. Why don't this king go back with you? It will be easier to help if anything happens."
"Good, thank you, Your Highness!" Wang Er cupped his hands and led the way towards the camp. However, he did not notice that one person had already disappeared from their group.
"Not good!" Ye Feng glanced at everyone. The person who had attacked him was long gone. He grabbed Wang Er and explained the situation clearly. Wang Er clenched his fists tightly and cursed, "That scoundrel must have gone back in advance to report. Please order Your Highness to send someone after him immediately, otherwise the consequences will be unimaginable."
"Good!" Ye Feng immediately ordered a personal guard to chase after them in a hurry, while the rest quickened their pace. Wang Er only hurried on his way. Ye Feng wondered, "He's just an ordinary person, what kind of storm can he stir up!"
"Your Highness doesn't know, he has already defected to the Yellow Turban Army. This trip might make that brat Da Niu hesitate, which would delay the Great King's grand plan!" Wang Er suddenly froze in place, and after a long while, he showed an ugly smile.
The mechanical smile made Ye Feng feel extremely uneasy. Ye Feng tried to avoid the smile and immediately said, "Elder, whatever you have to say, please do. This king is not an unreasonable person."
"Alas, it's not about anything else, I just want to ask for a favor. No matter what happens, please spare Da Niu, that foolish boy's life!" Wang Er gritted his teeth and added, "I, Wang Er, am willing to sell myself to Your Highness in exchange for Da Niu's life."
"Why must you do this!" Ye Feng sighed heavily. "This king agrees, but if he remains stubborn, you cannot blame this king for being ruthless."
"Thank you, Your Highness!" Wang Er said with tears streaming down his face, and hurriedly added, "We will surely work diligently for Your Highness!"
"It's nothing, it's nothing!" Ye Feng waved his hand to stop him.
With Wang Er's presence, they were not obstructed along the way. Instead, under Ye Feng's propaganda, more and more villagers joined them.
"We have likely gathered sixty percent of the people," Wang Er said excitedly. "The remaining forty percent should not be difficult to win over. I wish Your Highness success in advance."
"May your words come true!" Ye Feng cupped his hands in return and returned to the mountain stronghold with Wang Er. Suddenly, his smile froze. He saw not an open welcome with the寨 gates wide open, but trebuchets and arrows, and even Yellow Turban talismans floating in the air.
"Elder, this..." Ye Feng hesitated for a long time and then asked directly, "Are there any other secret paths? Otherwise, how can so many people be explained to the masses!"
"Your Highness, there used to be." Wang Er was almost crying in distress. "But now they are all blocked. We can only break through by force, or let this old man see if it's possible to persuade him to change his mind!"
Wang Er, under the cover of shields, moved to the front. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Da Niu curse, "How dare you come back! Are you trying to capture us for your military merits!"