Chapter 34: The Gentry Must Be Exterminated
Meanwhile, Li Gui pressed on with a clear objective, heading straight for Quanli Village. Upon arrival, he identified the largest residence, knowing that was the target.
With a wave of his hand, a squad of men marched forward, kicking the door open. Amid the frightened gaze of the gatekeeper, Li Gui’s blade swiftly felled him as he cried out in panic. The group charged inside, shouting and killing.
After a brief clash filled with screams and chaos, the leader dragged a fat man by the collar and threw him before Li Gui.
“Great Chief, this is Li Yuanwai of Quanli Village.”
Li Yuanwai collapsed weakly on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly as he begged for mercy. “Heroes, spare my life! I’m willing to pay with silver to save myself!”
Li Gui ignored him and turned to ask, “Is the public trial platform ready?”
“It’s just a makeshift structure of wooden planks, barely usable.”
“That will suffice. Go gather the villagers to witness the trial.”
The squad promptly scattered, summoning the villagers from all directions. Soon, a group was herded nearby. Li Gui noticed most were elderly or weak; the able-bodied men had fled with their families upon learning of the bandits’ intrusion, leaving only those who could not escape to face their fate.
“Damn it!”
“This is our leader’s first show, and he’s already being disrespected!”
Li Gui cursed under his breath, then dragged Li Yuanwai onto the wooden platform. Men, women, and children of the Li household—servants and retainers alike—knelt in a row below, all to be judged together.
“Fellow villagers, I am Li Gui, the Great Chief of Yushan Stronghold, the Star of Heaven’s Wrath!”
“This Li Yuanwai has oppressed men and women, recklessly killed people, enslaved and assaulted others, schemed to seize land, and lent money at usurious rates... Colluding with officials and gentry, he has run rampant in the village, committing countless evils that have brought the wrath of heaven and the hatred of the people...”
Without bothering to change a word, he recited the litany of accusations like a rote script, fabricating the charges against Li Yuanwai. Then he announced:
“Today, I act on heaven’s behalf to bring justice. The entire Li family shall be executed as a stern warning.”
“All lands owned by the Li family and rented out shall henceforth belong to those tenants. All produce shall be theirs, with no further tribute to the Li family.”
“All debts owed to the Li family shall be canceled in full, requiring no repayment...”
The elderly villagers listened with blank expressions, silent and unmoved. Only when Li Gui publicly burned the loan notes seized from the Li household did a faint glimmer of joy appear on their faces.
But that was all.
“Damn it, still lacking experience, not thorough enough,” Li Gui muttered to himself, then without further delay, hauled the Li family members out and had them pressed down one by one, preparing for execution.
The dozens in the Li household wailed and begged, crying out in despair and cursing, yet Li Gui remained unmoved.
What does it mean to act on heaven’s behalf? It is simply human retribution!
---
The Li family’s stewards and servants, dozens in number, had long relied on their masters’ power to bully others and commit their own misdeeds in the village. Now facing death, they scrambled to shift all blame onto Li Yuanwai, each eager to accuse him of directing their crimes.
Li Gui deliberately spared those who confessed enthusiastically, which only encouraged more accusations. One after another, they filled in the details of the fabricated charges with facts.
The old villagers, who had been numb through the trial, finally learned what evils the ostensibly virtuous Li family had committed in secret. A murmur of unrest stirred among the crowd, but it quickly died down.
Such is the world. What use is it to know? They are still forced to endure.
Life is about getting used to it.
Only after Li Yuanwai’s head was severed and blood sprayed three feet did the crowd shudder in horror, fearing the mountain bandits might target them next.
They could curse Li Yuanwai in secret, but who among them had the courage to kill? This was their lot.
The Li family’s heads rolled in chaos, blood splattered everywhere, staining the ground like a muddy stream. The stench was so foul it knocked several weak old villagers unconscious, and it was uncertain if they could be revived.
Li Gui paid no mind to them, personally finishing off the remaining Li family members and trusted retainers. Only then was the purge complete.
As for the Li family mansion, Li Gui did not burn it down. Instead, he left a bloody message scrawled on the wall: “Those who prey on the people shall be killed!”
“If any gentry in Quanli Village oppress the good folk again, send word to Yushan. I will come down the mountain to deliver justice.”
With that, Li Gui waved his hand, signaling the elders to disperse quickly.
The superstitious villagers dared not believe entirely, fearing the bandits might play tricks again. They glanced back nervously with every few steps, awaiting another assault.
It was only when they returned home and found themselves unharmed that they began to thank heaven and their ancestors for protection, though not a single soul expressed gratitude for Li Gui’s act of heavenly justice.
After thoroughly looting the Li mansion, Li Gui had the spoils loaded and drove the livestock—chickens, ducks, pigs, and sheep—back to the mountain stronghold.
By nightfall, all the dispatched groups had returned, each boasting rich plunder.
Without a word, a feast was laid out; they would enjoy the spoils first.
When the food and wine arrived, Huang Silang took the lead in raising a glass.
“Brother, I toast you first.”
“Today, I have finally vented a long-held grievance.”
“That arrogant official Huang never once looked our poor folk in the eye. Today, I trampled him beneath my feet, his howls like a lost dog—it was truly satisfying.”
“I tormented him thoroughly, leaving him unable to live or die, before finally granting him release.”
“As for Huang’s sons, all but the youngest were eradicated to prevent future trouble.”
Having spoken with relish, Huang Silang was about to drain his cup when Li Gui suddenly pressed his hand down on the glass.
“Wait!”
Li Gui glared and scolded,
“You filthy rogue, how could you do such a thing and leave a survivor?”
Huang Silang was taken aback and hurriedly explained, “Brother, please don’t be angry. The youngest Huang boy is only four or five years old. I truly could not bring myself to kill him. If he returns for revenge when he grows up, I will bear that risk myself.”
“Fool!” Li Gui pointed at him vehemently.
“I don’t care about his father, so why should I bother with some little brat?”
“Do you know why I insist on wiping them out completely?”
Everyone was stunned, unsure of his meaning. “Please enlighten us, brother.”
“All these lands and properties belong to someone.”
“If any heir of the Huang family remains, then the lands still belong to the Huangs, even if it is only a child.”
“Other gentry, eager to seize this property, will use that as a pretext to interfere. As long as the Huangs exist, the land remains theirs.”
“Whoever controls that child controls the Huang lands; no other gentry can intervene.”
“Believe me, if a few constables patrol the fields, the lands you parcel out will return intact under the Huang name, forcing the peasants to pay tribute to their original lord again.”
“If others want to seize it, they must first fight among themselves.”
“Now that autumn harvest is near, the landlords have already divided the spoils, and this year’s grain has fallen into the villagers’ hands.”
“If the landlords dare to forcibly levy taxes, do you think those cunning peasants won’t inform us, so we can come down the mountain once more?”
“We don’t need to win them over; the officials and gentry will push them into our camp.”
Hearing this, Huang Silang slapped his thigh. “Ah! I have erred grievously!”
He hurriedly stood. “Brother, please sit tight. I will descend the mountain now, root out the problem, and be back soon.”
Li Gui grabbed him back. “It’s late; there’s no need to rush. Besides, if you truly cannot kill, bring the boy to the stronghold alive. You don’t have to kill him outright. It suffices that outsiders believe the Huang family is wiped out.”