Chapter 395: Eyes Unable to Recognize Mount Tai

Yizhangqing was once again escorted back to prison.

Her outburst served as a timely warning to Zhong Gaoliang. Prison security needed even greater attention going forward, and the management of the labor offenders required stricter and more cautious oversight. Even when dealing with the elderly and weak, women, and children, they couldn’t afford to lower their guard.

Therefore, the prison established new security standards and a more standardized management system.

Ground Rabbit and Zheng Gouzi, who had handled the entire incident, returned to the barracks. Ground Rabbit was full of energy. “Gouzi! We’ve done another chivalrous deed today.”

Zheng Gouzi rolled his eyes. “Really? We barely did anything. Don’t look so proud, like you just scored a major merit.”

Ground Rabbit: “Hmph, you have no idea, do you? What we just did carried significant virtue.”

Zheng Gouzi, puzzled: “Wasn’t it just a minor matter with a woman? Speaking of which, I find it really odd. Why did the Deity go to such lengths to talk to that woman for so long? Like Old Nan Feng said, isn’t execution the simpler solution?”

Ground Rabbit: “Ah, that’s where you don’t understand. That woman didn’t just represent herself. She represented all the families of the bandit troops. And not just those seven thousand! In the future, we might defeat more bandit troops, even defeat the official troops. We’re going to kill many more bandit soldiers, government soldiers, Mongolian troops, Jurchen troops… And the families of those soldiers, many like that woman, will become our enemies. There could be millions, even tens of millions of them! Filling prisons all across the land! So should we kill them all? That won’t do. Therefore, winning over their hearts is the superior strategy.”

“The Deity’s attitude towards that woman established the approach for handling all such enemies in the future. We just need to follow this plan, and that’s the right way.”

Ground Rabbit’s explanation finally made sense to Zheng Gouzi.

So that was it!

Ground Rabbit continued: “That woman, after returning to prison, will carefully consider the reasoning she heard today from the Deity’s own lips. She’ll spread it within the prison, letting all the labor offenders think deeply too. They need to ponder – should they really hate us? What attitude should they adopt towards their future lives?”

Summing up smugly, he declared: “Therefore, the Deity wasn’t just facing that one woman back there. He was facing countless future labor offenders. Do you still think that was a minor matter?”

Zheng Gouzi had a sudden realization: “No wonder!”

Ground Rabbit: “This Mr. Rabbit’s cunning wisdom is rarely matched under heaven.”

He spoke with great pride. Coming up ahead was a wall corner, but he wasn’t paying attention to his path. As he rounded the corner, he collided thump right into someone’s body. It was Wang Er.

It so happened that Wang Er, White Cat, and the villagers from Wangjia Village had just finished their “Thought Lesson” and were emerging from the “Cultural Room,” heading towards the drill field.

Wang Er, masked and now renamed Old Tiger Wang, had only joined the Gaojia Village Militia a few months prior. He kept a low profile, not drawing much attention, knowing his own men needed time to rein in their energies after years of drifting outside.

Therefore, he didn’t dare take these men out yet. Instead, he led them to Thought Lessons every day, studying the three major disciplines and eight points of attention. He wouldn’t take the group out of camp until they had properly learned these rules.

Ground Rabbit and Zheng Gouzi, chatting as they walked, rounded the corner and thumped directly into Wang Er, who was leading the group. Ground Rabbit felt like he had run into a brick wall. He tipped backwards and landed heavily on his backside with a thud.

Wang Er quickly reached out to help him up. “Oh my! Brother, apologies! I didn’t notice anyone at the corner. Are you hurt?”

Ground Rabbit dismissed it carelessly. “Of course not! This Mr. Rabbit isn’t made of paper! How could a little bump hurt me?”

He clapped his buttocks and scrambled back to his feet, just in time to see Zheng Gouzi beside him, forcing back a laugh.

Ground Rabbit: “What are you laughing at?”

If anyone else had asked, Zheng Gouzi might have lied, saying he wasn’t laughing. But he and Ground Rabbit were close buddies now; buddies don’t need to be polite. He burst out laughing. “I’m laughing at you! Practiced martial arts for so long, yet you’re still such a weakling. A tiny bump and down you go! Hahaha! A paper tiger!”

Ground Rabbit: “!!!”

This was unforgivable.

Ground Rabbit turned to Wang Er. “I remember you! You’re the man Mr. Bai brought back from Heyang County. At the battle of Qiachuan Port, you led a hundred militia local gentry, wearing a yellow hat in the fight.”

Wang Er, seasoned by years of hardship and turbulent times, naturally possessed a calm and steady demeanor. His tone was measured and composed. “Yes. My name is Old Tiger Wang. Mr. Bai introduced me to join. I’m still just a new recruit. Please enlighten me on anything I don’t yet understand.”

Ground Rabbit: “Do you recognize this Mr. Rabbit?”

Wang Er clasped his fists respectfully. “Of course I do. You are Ground Rabbit. Everyone calls you Mr. Rabbit. At the Qiachuan Port battle, Mr. Rabbit threw the cannon’s bomb to destroy the border army’s shield formation. It earned the admiration of this brother.”

Ground Rabbit laughed heartily. This guy was so perceptive! Praising him right from the start! Well, he decided, he wouldn’t hold the collision against him. But his face (dignity) needed redeeming!

Ground Rabbit declared: “That bump just now? It wasn’t that this Mr. Rabbit is weak! This Mr. Rabbit was distracted and not paying attention. Come, let’s bump again. Let me show you Mr. Rabbit’s prowess!”

Upon hearing this, White Cat behind Wang Er shifted uncomfortably, stepping forward as if ready to intervene.

But Wang Er, as if he had eyes in the back, pressed down one hand on White Cat’s shoulder silently, telling him not to act rashly.

He hadn’t endured these past years for nothing. He’d met all sorts of people, especially among the bandit troops – all manner of strange “gallant heroes.” Characters like Ground Rabbit were no novelty. Getting worked up over Ground Rabbit was a losing proposition. Wang Er smiled slightly. “A repeat bump won’t be necessary. This humble man is weak. I was walking forward with my head down just now when you, Mr. Rabbit, were turning to speak with Brother Zheng Gouzi. Bumping like that, of course you took the fall. If we’d both been walking straight ahead, surely I’d be the one on the ground.”

Ground Rabbit: “Ha! Brother, your words are truly pleasing! I like you! If anyone bullies you in the future, just drop my name – Mr. Rabbit!”

As he spoke, he fished out fifty wen coins. This was the “Special Prize” he got for escorting Yizhangqing – not much, just fifty coins, a token gesture. He placed the entire handful into Wang Er’s palm, then turned and left cheerfully.

Zheng Gouzi followed, his expression peculiar.

After they’d walked a good distance, something suddenly occurred to Ground Rabbit. “Gouzi, strange! It’s not odd that guy knew my name. After all, I, the Rabbit, have earned acclaim far and wide! Heroes across the land hold this Rabbit in high regard! That’s no surprise! But… why did he know your name?”

Zheng Gouzi: “In our villages around here? He used to be quite the famous hero and righteous man! Everyone was under his protection. Even the big brother in my village called him big brother! I followed him out to fight alongside him once! So why wouldn’t he recognize me?”