Datang: From exiled prince to eternal tyrant

Chapter 184 The Teacher of Kindness and Righteousness
If this battle was fought in the Tang Dynasty, Li Ke would naturally order people to pursue him.

But considering the unknown terrain, poor physical strength and other factors, he could only choose to let it go.

The plateau terrain restrained the Shu army too much. Even after rigorous training, their endurance was by no means comparable to that of the Tibetans.

Turning around and looking at the huge fletching furnace, Li Ke finally breathed a sigh of relief. The first city was finally won.

After returning to the city and taking a short break at the guard's mansion, Gu Wu and Ma Liu Zhi had rushed over.

"Your Highness, the Shu army suffered nearly [-] casualties in this battle, and more than [-] enemy troops were killed, injured and captured."

"Your Majesty, there are still a lot of provisions and war horses in the city, and there are nearly [-] people!"

The two of them tallied up the results of the battle and reported to Li Ke.

Li Ke nodded, waved his hand and said: "After this battle, the army is exhausted, let's rest first!"

Gu Wu quickly took the order, but Ma Liuzhi remained where he was. He hesitated and asked Li Ke: "What about...the Tubo people in the city? What should we do?"

Li Ke thought for a moment: "Don't disturb the people first. This arrow furnace will be used as a transit point in the rear of our Shu army in the future. It is of great strategic significance. If the people's hearts are unstable, I'm afraid there will be chaos!"

Ma Liuzhi still didn't give up: "But how can foreigners obey us, there will definitely be chaos... It's better..."

Li Ke shook his head. The purpose of the conquest of Tubo this time is to expand the territory and occupy the plateau land.If a city is destroyed, they will continue to kill. I am afraid that if they go deeper into the plateau, they will encounter even greater resistance.

He thought for a while, then beckoned Ma Liuzhi to his side, and whispered something in his ear.

"Huh? Do you really want to do this?"

Ma Liuzhi was stunned for a moment, with a puzzled look on his face.

Li Ke smiled: "Act according to plan! Remember to notify every household!"

He stopped explaining and waved away Ma Liuzhi, who looked confused.

At noon on this day, the general order of the Shu army was issued to the people in the city, and the people they wanted to shoot arrows gathered in the square in front of the gate of the general's mansion. Li Ke, the king of Shu, had something to say.

Upon hearing the news, these people couldn't sit still.

The Shu army has newly occupied this archery furnace. You can think of what to do next with your feet - burn, kill, and loot!
Since receiving the news of Tubo's defeat, these people have long started digging tunnels in their homes, hoping to bury their valuables in order to avoid being shot by the Shu army.

But as soon as a hole was dug here, there was a news that a meeting would be held there.

What is the purpose of gathering the people together?
Smarter people can already think, is the Shu army going to massacre the city?
Don't they think it's too slow to kill people from house to house, and gather people together to kill them all?

Everyone was frightened, but they were terrified of the power of the Shu army, and had to obey.

So, that afternoon, all the people in Dajian Lu gathered together.

Everyone discussed separately, and they were all inquiring about the purpose of the Shu army.

"Hey! Did you hear that? This time it was the King of Shu of the Tang Dynasty who personally led his troops in... I heard that the King of Shu is very powerful!"

"Hmph! What's the use of killing people? I'm afraid we'll have to practice with our heads later..."

"It shouldn't be like this! I heard that the King of Shu is very good to the people!"

"Are you one of his people? We are from Tubo, and they only treat the people of the Tang Dynasty well. How can they treat us well?"

"Then he gathered us together, wouldn't he really want to kill people?"

"Oh... I'm afraid..."

The more people talked, the more afraid they became. Some wanted to escape, while others shivered in the crowd. Most of them knelt down and worshiped the sky, begging for the blessings of gods and Buddhas...

The chaotic scene didn't subside until Li Ke appeared on the stage.

I saw Li Ke walking out of the gate of the general's mansion with his hands behind his back in bright gold armor.

He waved his hand, and then the general of the Shu army blew a gong to warn everyone, and ordered everyone to be quiet.

Everyone was anxious, waiting for Li Ke to issue orders.

Li Ke stepped forward, and the bright armor on his body made a clanging sound. The sound was as cold as ice, and the hearts of the people trembled.

"Everyone, my Great Tang Heavenly Army is here, and Dajianlu is already a city under the rule of our Shu army. From now on, here, there will only be people from the Tang Dynasty, and no people from Tubo..."

Li Ke's first words shocked the people and almost fainted.

What do you mean there are no Tubo people, only Tang people?

Wouldn't that mean killing all the Tubo people?

Already a timid Tubo man, he has already pissed out at this time.

The Shu army wants to kill people, how should they respond?
These people are unarmed civilians, and naturally they cannot fight these soldiers.

There was another commotion in the crowd, and everyone started discussing. Some people begged for mercy, and some made harsh words. For a while, the square was in chaos.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

The gong sounded again, and another soldier shouted loudly to silence.

The people had no choice but to calm down and wait for Li Ke to pronounce the death sentence.

"What this king means is... from now on, you are no longer Tubo people, but people of my Tang Dynasty! Our soldiers of the Shu army will never kill the people of the Tang Dynasty. Don't worry, as long as you submit to my Tang Dynasty, There will never be any fear of life!"

Li Ke's voice was loud and clear, which made the people feel relieved again.

As long as you don't kill people, what's the difference between returning to Tubo and returning to Datang?

Li Ke spoke again: "Today our Shu army has won a new victory and its morale has been greatly boosted. In order to celebrate this victory, our Shu army is willing to take out the captured military rations and distribute them to the people! Most of this food was collected by the Tubo army from the people. Come here, and now it is returned to the people, it can be regarded as returning to the original owner!"

What he said shocked the people.

Food delivery?

How can anyone take down a city without burning, killing and looting, but instead sending food to the people?

The military rations are very important to the army. How could the Shu army be so benevolent that they would share the spoils with the common people?
And they are people from other races?

Everyone was suspecting that the soldiers of the Shu army had already started distributing grain with rice sacks.

"So this King of Shu didn't lie and can he really receive food?"

"This is truly the world's greatest spectacle, and the King of Shu is indeed a virtuous man!"

Seeing that the food was in their hands, these people really realized that what Li Ke said was true, and the Shu army was indeed a teacher of benevolence and righteousness.

In this meeting, no one was killed or injured, and instead they harvested food.

When everyone left the square contentedly, Li Ke leisurely returned to the guard's mansion.

The people are satisfied, but some people are dissatisfied.

"Your Highness, I really don't understand this humble job. The rations are so precious, and the soldiers fought them all with all their might...why..."

Inside the mansion, Ma Liuzhi kept muttering. From the very beginning, he strongly opposed this matter.

Li Ke was not annoyed, he beckoned and called Ma Liu Zhi to sit down.

He comforted him: "This king decided to distribute food because he was grateful for the hard work of the soldiers..."

"what?"

Ma Liuzhi's mouth opened wide: "These grains belong to our Shu Army officers and soldiers. His Highness took the military rations from their mouths and distributed them to the people, and he said it was to express his gratitude to the officers and soldiers? This... this is too... too ridiculous Come on!"

(End of this chapter)