YM778.TV Chapter 508 - Five Hundred and Four: Punishment
“I request all gentlemen of Xiling to halt the relief food distribution and convene at the main hall of the peak.”
“All who follow my commands, from this moment forward, retreat to your residences and remain confined for three days as a warning to others!”
“Those who are not my followers, from today onwards will no longer enjoy the benefits of relief food distribution. Any who commit crimes, seize or steal will be executed without mercy!”
Mountains echoed back, valleys reverberated, as the divine-like instructions were repeated three times in full. Apart from the deaf, even the commoners deep in sleep could hear the unmistakable tone of authority in the commands.
The people kneeling on the central peak were deeply affected, not daring to raise their heads as they scrambled frantically towards their homes or camps.
After issuing the orders, Tang Luo dismissed his Undying Battle Body, turning to Gong Zheng beside him, “Gather all those who become followers on the central peak in batches, three days from now.”
Gong Zheng, surprised, looked up with disbelief spread across his face. He had initially thought that he would be severely punished for his grave mistake, yet he didn’t anticipate that Tang Luo would still give him tasks.
“There will definitely be those who’ll risk everything in these three days. You will lead the Righteous Gang to take responsibility for the security of the homes of the Red Cloud Mountain residents. Three thousand men are certainly not enough, so you can borrow troops from each noble of Xiling, and while you’re at it, recruit the former police officers from Xiling security.” After giving these instructions, Tang Luo turned to the still shocked Gong Zheng and said, “Did I make myself clear?”
“I understand, I understand!” Gong Zheng jolted back to his senses, “I will gather the followers at the central peak in three days, and also take up the responsibility for the security of Red Cloud Mountain. I will do my best to not let the master down!”
Gong Zheng, once a leader in the world of martial arts, had always looked down on those nobles, thinking they were just useless individuals in seats of power. But since he met Tang Luo, he felt like he never did anything right and kept inviting trouble.
His past self-bravado seemed to have turned into stupidity, which only solidified his determination to follow Tang Luo. Not only because of Tang Luo’s status but because in a short period, Tang Luo had shown him a bigger world, so he didn’t want to lose this opportunity.
Tang Luo looked at Gong Zheng’s determined expression, nodded nonchalantly, and headed towards the meeting hall of the Du Clan.
Frankly, he wasn’t too satisfied with Gong Zheng’s foolish handling of things. However, he understood that there’s no one who doesn’t make mistakes while working, especially for someone who was suddenly promoted from being a gang leader.
While being frustrated at subordinates’ mistakes, he should ponder upon their merits. The merits like Gong Zheng, who despite being severely injured, persisted to return to the Star Pavilion to report the situation. Tang Luo wouldn’t forget it. He believes in rewarding based on merit and not completely disregarding a follower’s previous achievements due to a mistake.
This mistake occurred because Tang Luo put a follower in a role that he was not suited for. Ultimately, he had too few competent subordinates, so he wished each one could handle all situations effectively.
But where in the world were people who were born to be capable of everything? Most people grow by accumulating experience from their mistakes, that’s it.
Stepping into the gloomy meeting hall, it hadn’t been even half a month and the once lively and prosperous Xiling nobles had all become dejected, looking completely miserable. Du Ting, Du Wei, and Du Ling, on the other hand, sat stoically with their eyes closed, seeming completely unfazed.
Hearing footsteps, the three opened their eyes and seeing Tang Luo, they promptly stood in reverence, “Greetings to the clan leader.”
The other nobles also stood, offering their greetings to Tang Luo, their faces full of shame and desolation.
“Why is everyone looking so miserable?” Tang Luo asked with a smile, “Isn’t my early return something to be happy about?”
With a derisive smile on their faces, Du Ting and the others glanced around at the people in the hall. Sun Jinfang replied with a bitter smile, “My Lord, don’t ridicule us. It has only been less than a month, and there’s a major slip in the relief food distribution that you had entrusted us with. If you hadn’t returned in time to stop the spread of the people’s resentment, I wouldn’t know how to face your kindness.”
“Yes, my Lord,” said Shen Dafa dressed as an old farmer, seemingly bearing a great grievance. Thinking of the scene where the peasants pointed fingers at him, he felt like the accumulated good deeds of the Shen Family generations had been destroyed by his own hands, lamenting, “I just want to die now, but I dare not face my ancestors of the Shen Family.”
Depressed, the old boss Shen let out a sigh, tears rolled down his face without restrain. The sight made the nobles in the meeting hall sympathetic, as they all turned away their heads.
In just three days, these once loved nobles of Xiling came to know what it was like to be subjected to a tidal wave of criticism. They could ignore one person’s slander, vehemently refute two or three people’s vilifications, but when the criticisms inflated to thousands or tens of thousands, it was a different matter.
Being drenched by such a deluge of criticisms was overwhelming. They didn’t understand what was wrong with the people who once loved them, and even began to question whether they were really as hypocritical as the slander suggested.
Gong Zheng looked at the Xiling nobles before him with frowns on their faces. They were scared, and he found it both amusing and infuriating.
He had always thought that with their martial arts prowess, they could see through such a situation. But it appeared that he needed to guide them after all.
“Do you all really think that the state the people displayed today is their true nature?” Tang Luo asked, amusement written all over his face, “It’s just the result of some people fueling the situation. The Mi Clan’s Wind Media, small families reluctant to lose power, self-proclaimed extraordinary wandering martial artists, the twisted-hearted vagrants. The common people, not understanding the situation, and coupled with the high-intensity environment, appeared agitated. It’s just because they think they’re right, that they’re challenging greedy Xiling nobles at the risk of their lives. Give them a few days to cool down, and they’ll be scared thinking about it.”
A group of people with cultivation levels just beginning to transcend the physical realm dared to challenge the nobles who were at the pinnacle of transcendence. Tang Luo didn’t know who gave them such courage.
It must be due to the hundreds of years of peace in Xiling. If it were in a place of constant warfare, no civilians would respond to such absurd and foolish action. Tang Luo, seated in the heavens, saw clearly. The loudest shouting individuals in the crowd were cultivators, surrounded by fervent followers. Under these circumstances, if Tang Luo couldn’t figure out where these people came from, his time spent in the Tang Clan’s Wind Media Department would be in vain..