Chapter 40: The Emperor is Killed

  （0040）

  Yang Kaideng already knew that Hei Bao had been killed, and his emotions were naturally quite excited, but he still cautiously asked again: "Is Hei Bao really dead?"

  It was as if they had heard Yang Kaidi's words, and the villagers' attention was immediately drawn to this side. In fact, everyone on the way had already learned that Hei Bao had been killed. However, they still wanted to hear Zhang Zhun confirm the news in person. It was like a joke from later generations, where someone kept making harassing phone calls just because "I like hearing about your chairman's death."

  Zhang Zhun saw the situation and walked up to a mound, saying loudly: "Fellow villagers, I can responsibly tell you that Hei Bao is dead! Dead as can be!"

  The crowd erupted in thunderous applause.

  The black leopard will not be eliminated, and Yangjiatun will never have a peaceful day. This evil tyrant is a nightmare for all the poor military households in Fushan Village. Thinking of the hardships they suffered before, they would like to chop the black leopard into pieces. Now that the black leopard is dead, the anger in everyone's heart has not completely dissipated yet!

  Zhang Zhun understood the mood of his fellow villagers and gave a wink to Li Jiaxi on the side.

  Li Jiaxi nodded in agreement and led his men to carry out the black leopard's body, placing it in the middle of the crowd.

  "That's right, he is Black Panther!"

  "That's right, I recognize the mole on his chin!"

  Soon, the villagers identified clearly that this corpse was indeed Hei Bao without a doubt.

  "Hum!"

  The angry crowd swarmed up, surrounding the black leopard's body in the middle, with cleavers, hatchets, long spears, bamboo guns, clubs, fish forks, stones, fists, and feet... raining down. Because the crowd was so dense, the villagers behind could not squeeze in, so they threw stones and other things into the middle of the crowd, almost hurting their own people.

  Yang Zixuan couldn't help but stick out his tongue.

  Hao Linyong Mingzhi asked knowingly: "Xiucai, what does it mean?"

  Yang Zixuan said with a lingering fear: "If the black leopard had known it would be like this, he wouldn't have come to Yangjia Village even if he was beaten to death."

  Hao Linyong burst out laughing.

  Yang Zhiwen beside him sneered and said, "Unfortunately, he doesn't know."

  Li Jiaxi said fiercely: "Even if he doesn't come, we will still go and kill him at his door!"

  "That's right, he absolutely can't escape!"

  The fathers of both men died at the hands of Hei Bao, and their hatred for him is understandable. If not for the restraint of military orders, they would have rushed forward to tear Hei Bao limb from limb. However, judging by the angry mood of the crowd on the scene, even if the two men didn't take action themselves, Hei Bao wouldn't have been left with a single shred of dignity either.

  Wu Xin's eyes flashed and he said slowly: "Killing Hei Bao is not enough, there is also Wang Shixin!"

  Li Jiaxi and Zhang Yatie both nodded repeatedly.

  Yang Zixuan said slowly and calmly: "According to you, we killed the black leopard, and then there's Wang Shixin. After killing Wang Shixin, there's Zhao Yin. After killing Zhao Yin, who knows who's next? I think in the end, we might even have to kill the emperor."

  Yang Zhiyuan and Hao Linyong looked at each other without saying a word.

  "Kill them and be done with it! The captain is right, the reason we're so poor and struggling to survive is because of those corrupt officials in the imperial court and the emperor himself. Wang Shixin is just their lackey. If we want to change our fate once and for all, we have to kill that emperor and those corrupt officials. Killing the emperor would be perfect, let the captain become the new emperor! We can all live a good life together!"

  Li Jiaxi immediately said: "Right! I agree!"

  Yang Zhiyuan and Hao Linyong looked at each other again, still without saying anything.

  Yang Zixuan smiled and said: "I agree too."

  Zhang Zhun just happened to hear, frowned and said coldly: "What nonsense are you talking about? Do you have the ability to kill the emperor now? The emperor can pinch you to death with one finger! Others command tens of millions of troops! There are not a few elite! Go back to your own position! Think carefully about what was not done well in the battle just now, and hold a summary meeting tomorrow morning. Everyone must summarize some experience and lessons."

  Yang Zixuan and others immediately secretly stuck out their tongues and returned to the midst of the warriors.

  The summary meeting is a big killer, how dare they take it lightly? Zhang Zhun wants everyone to summarize some experience and lessons, if they can't do it tomorrow, they will definitely be criticized. The captain's temper, they are very clear about it. Doing well, praise. Doing poorly, criticism. Talking about relationships? Hehe, you go talk to him and see what the consequences are.

  As the angry crowd gradually dispersed, where the black leopard's body was originally placed, there was only a blurry bloodstain and the surrounding mud formed a dark red area. There were no longer any signs of "human" presence. Apparently, the black leopard had even its bones completely crushed and then deeply buried into the soil.

  After venting their inner anger, the crowd gradually returned to normal. Some people began to walk up the grass slope and look down at the willow tree ditch, only to find a piece of wolf skin, black panther and his entourage, corpses scattered all over the place, the scene was bloody. Some timid people didn't dare to continue watching. Only a few brave people dared to enter the battlefield, personally experiencing the feeling of hell.

  The guards who were already proud in their hearts are now even more proud. It was these young men, along with the Black Panthers, who fought to the death and ultimately annihilated the enemy! How much courage and strength did that take?! In the past, these young men at Yangjia Village almost no one thought they could defeat the Black Panthers. However, under Zhang's leadership, they really did it.

  All of this is Zhang Zhun's credit.

  Well, to be exact, it's Zhang Yulin's credit, and fellow villagers don't know this name Zhang Zhun.

  Yang Kaidie returned to Zhang Zhun's side and anxiously asked: "Yulin, how many casualties did we suffer?"

  Zhang Zhun said regretfully: "Three have left."

  The names of three martyrs were mentioned.

  The three family members were also in the crowd, hearing that their son had died in battle. As parents, they were naturally heartbroken, but they tried to endure it, with tears rolling down uncontrollably. The siblings looked both sad and angry, tightly clenching their fists, warning themselves to be strong and hold back their grief.

  The elderly relatives around them rushed to comfort them. The crying gradually stopped, replaced by an unshakeable determination. The parents of the martyrs came to Zhang Zhun's side one after another, begging him to send their other sons to join the guard troops to avenge their brothers. Zhang Zhun naturally agreed.

  In fact, the folks in Yangjia Village are very clear that as long as there is fighting, there will be sacrifices. Wanting no one to die at all is absolutely impossible. The key lies in whether their sacrifices are worthwhile and whether they can gain sufficient benefits. That's right, such a description may be extremely cold-blooded, without any human touch, but war is just that way, especially for the poor common people.

  At first, Yang Kaidao and others went to the Liaodong front line, tens of thousands of people died, including Zhang Zhun's father Zhang Laosan. As a result, Kaiyuan, Tieling and other places were still lost, their deaths were completely worthless. Now, at the cost of three people, more than sixty enemies are eliminated, such a price, from any angle, is impeccable. If Hei Bao leads his men to Yangjiatun, the consequences can be imagined.

  Yang Kaidi fell silent for a moment before saying to Zhang Zhun, "Yulin, I think we should prepare three coffins of the best quality to bury our little brothers. What do you think?"

  Zhang nodded and said: "I agree."

  Yang Kaidi had Yang Rui Feng arrange for someone to prepare a coffin.

  The families of three martyrs also sent people to help find coffins.

  In the past, people who were beaten to death in Yangjiatun were all buried wrapped in straw mats. Where would they have coffins? Having a slightly better straw mat was already quite good. An ordinary coffin would cost about two taels of silver, and if it's a bit better, it would cost about three taels of silver. The silver used to buy a coffin could be used for many things.

  Zhang Zhun said: "I'm going to hold a funeral, and when the time comes, everyone in the village will come to attend."

  Yang Kaidi immediately said: "Want to, want to."

  After the busiest time, the Liushuigou battlefield was swept clean, and all kinds of weapons and equipment were collected by the guards. The obvious bloodstains were also covered with mud. All the bodies of the enemy were buried on the spot after digging a few large pits nearby. Those who helped dig the pits were not the soldiers of the guard team, but the people from Yangjiatun who came to help.

  Originally, they intended to leave the bodies of these scoundrels exposed in the wilderness, letting wild wolves eat them away, without even needing a burial. In the end, Zhang Quan still felt that doing so was too inhumane and unsanitary, making it easy for diseases to spread, insisting on burying them instead, and wanting to bury them deeper, lest the wolves roaming at midnight dig up the bodies again and drag them all over the place.

  That afternoon, Zhang Zhun led the guard team back to Yangjiatun in a grand manner, surrounded by relatives and friends. Most of the soldiers were taken back to Hongshitantou by Yang Zhiyuan and Hao Linyong for rest, clearing up the spoils of war during the day, and preparing for tomorrow's summary meeting. Zhang Zhun stayed in Yangjiatun with Zou Mingjia and Yang Zixuan to handle the aftermath of the three martyred soldiers.

  The families of the three martyred warriors each received fifty taels of silver as consolation money. Because Yangjia Village is still poor, the consolation money can only be given out to this standard. Zhang Zhun personally delivered the consolation money into their parents' hands. At the same time, the guards accepted one of their brothers into the team, giving them a chance to avenge their brother's death. Everyone was very satisfied with this result.

  That night, three coffins temporarily purchased from Maojiatun were carried back to Yangjiatun. The three martyrs were dressed and placed in the coffins. The burial site was on Niutoupo, west of Yangjiatun. The three graves were lined up in a row, with wooden tombstones bearing the names of the three martyrs. Around the tombstones were various wreaths, paying their respects to the deceased.

  Additional update 1 has been delivered~~~~】