Chapter 190: Chapter 190: Untitled
The next day, they encountered several more groups of highwaymen. Some, seeing their numbers, quietly retreated.
Others, emboldened, came forward to block the road. For these, Liu Pingkang simply offered some benefits to resolve the matter.
Some people were puzzled, wondering why, given the small number of adversaries, he would choose to give away silver so easily instead of dealing with them once and for all.
Guo Baoshu asked Liu Pingkang, "Boss, why not take care of them?" They were government officers, how could they coexist with these bandits peacefully?
"If you take care of them this time, does it mean you won’t walk this road again?" Liu Pingkang felt a small pang of pain thinking about the few ounces of silver he had just parted with.
"But doesn’t this encourage their audacity? Future travelers will have to pay them silver too."
"Do you know why there are so many bandits on this road?"
"That’s because those above us do nothing. We’ve already encountered several groups along the way."
"Let me tell you this, the road you’re on now is not a government road..."
"So what you’re saying is, these roads were built by them, and it’s justifiable for them to demand silver here?"
"If you built a road, would you selflessly contribute it to the public?"
Guo Baoshu said, "But this land wasn’t bought by them either..."
"How do you know this land is ownerless?"
Guo Baoshu’s eyes widened, "Boss, are you saying the officials are colluding with bandits..."
Liu Pingkang flicked his forehead, "What are you thinking all day long?
The people blocking the road are mostly villagers from around here. Would they risk everything if they weren’t driven by desperation?
And except for yesterday, did you notice anyone actually taking action against us?"
Guo Baoshu scratched his head, realizing it was true; these people simply formed a human barrier to stop the convoy, but once given silver, they let them pass.
No, that’s not the point. "But aren’t we emboldening them? In the future, they won’t need to work, just collect silver here every day. With such an easy profit, it’s no wonder so many groups are drawn to it.
I think we should report this so the soldiers can come over. I don’t believe they’d dare continue acting like this."
Liu Pingkang sneered, "The soldiers can’t possibly guard here year after year, can they?
Sometimes it’s better to have the locals guard it than the soldiers."
Guo Baoshu didn’t understand at first, but after thinking it over, his expression changed drastically, "So what you’re saying is that you and the passing merchants tacitly approve of this?"
Liu Pingkang almost burst into laughter out of anger, "Don’t slander me. I just want to keep things simple, ensure your safety, and get you out and back safely.
You ungrateful brat, stop getting in my way and go patrol."
There were some complaints from within the group, which he naturally heard, but so what?
They were just officers escorting criminals, not soldiers raiding bandits, and couldn’t risk their lives over personal property.
Although they gave a little silver to each household, ensuring the convoy passed safely was enough for him.
As for what those criminals thought or cursed about behind his back, it had nothing to do with him. If they were so capable, they could handle it themselves.
If they had known it would come to this, they wouldn’t have engaged in political schemes or corruption in court, pushing to eradicate the bandits or reforming the system for the people to live better lives.
But it was them who let the ordinary folks suffer undeservedly; who would choose to become bandits if they were living well?
Just like that, tired of staying in the carriage, he got out for a walk and overheard someone muttering, "This Liu is really timid. With so many men, can’t he deal with a few bandits?
Do you think they might collude? Pretending to give silver, but actually taking a share of our loot."
Liu Pingkang cracked the whip, making the loudmouth roll on the ground, "You sure know how to think and talk! Seems like you all are capable men."
He turned to Guo Baoshu, "How can such talent be buried in the team? Have your brothers bring them to the front. If we encounter blockade again, give them each a knife so they won’t need to spend anymore."
As soon as he spoke, the rolling man froze, bearing the pain and raising his head with difficulty, "Sir, I was wrong."
Walking at the front meant risking their lives.
The front of the convoy truly had to clear a path through the snow; the road was tough and they might step on traps laid by the bandits.
"No, you’re not wrong. Your suspicions are reasonable." Liu Pingkang said with a kind smile, "If you can drive these bandits away, I’ll have everyone raise some silver as your reward."
The man quickly waved his hand in fear, repeatedly saying he dared not.
His family also knelt, begging for mercy, with some elders even hitting his back, "I told you not to be a big mouth, spreading nonsense..."
Liu Pingkang ignored their farce, not wanting to see these troublesome people, standing at the roadside watching the convoy pass.
When he saw the escort agency’s team, his smile became much more genuine.
Indeed, traveling with two escort agencies had a strong deterrent effect. Initially troublesome bandits were now easily bypassed.
"Head Liu, I have a good pot of wine. Let’s invite Head Xu and have a couple of drinks tonight."
"That’s great," Head Liu jumped off the carriage, standing beside him, "I brought some braised meat, we can add a dish to the meal."
"The weather’s so cold, if the snow continues, it’ll be hard for us ahead, how about we travel more each day?"
Liu Pingkang didn’t mind, "I can do that, just worried about their stamina keeping up."
He pointed to those struggling in the front. Not every household of exiles could receive help from friends and relatives.
Several households were surviving on the daily rations distributed.
"That’s true, taking these people on a trip must be tiring for you."
Although they were convicts, there were indeed many trivial matters among them.
"We have no choice, doing this job, the good tasks never fall to us.
But your trip must have been profitable, right? The Bai Family is quite generous."
Head Liu initially wanted to ask which Bai Family, but remembering the employer’s wife had the surname Bai, he nodded in agreement, "Indeed, very generous, otherwise we wouldn’t be willing to travel so far in this cold weather.
This winter we can cross over to Lingnan, thinking like that, it feels more balanced."
"Exactly, this way, we can travel back together." Liu Pingkang extended the invitation.
But Head Liu was a bit hesitant, "Mr. Liu, I can’t promise you that right now.
You know, we run escorts all over the place, who knows where the next job takes us. But if we happen to be going the same direction and time suits, that’d be ideal."
