Forced Into the Palace: Becoming the Emperor's Favorite-Chapter 448: Da Jin Spy

But now, he looked at the scene before him.

He couldn’t help but feel a desolation in his heart that surpassed everything.

If such a family were truly to gain high power, would the people have any hope for survival?

He couldn’t answer that for the moment.

The earthquake caused large-scale housing collapses.

Anzhou fared better, and the people were temporarily settled in the Anzhou Military Camp.

So there wasn’t much chaos.

But Ganzhou was different.

They hadn’t received any news and were completely unaware that an earthquake would occur.

Because the earthquake hit with such suddenness and intensity, many didn’t have time to react and were buried.

Cries of despair filled the air, blood flowed everywhere.

Those who survived were now kneeling in front of their collapsed homes, digging desperately.

Even though their hands were already bloody, they couldn’t care about the pain.

They only thought about the family members buried underneath.

If they could rescue them just a moment earlier, perhaps there was still hope.

Along this stretch, several villages were severely affected, including Red Leaf Village at the foot of Cold Mountain.

For hundreds of years, the people of Red Leaf Village had lived off farming and hunting.

For some reason, in recent years, Cold Mountain had been sealed off by the Northwest Army, supposedly by decree of the court.

Therefore, the village that was not wealthy to begin with could only survive on a few acres of poor land.

The people considered themselves lucky if they could eat their fill.

Now faced with such a great calamity, naturally, the place was filled with moans of despair.

The five thousand elite soldiers led by Mr. Liu took only half a day to arrive outside Red Leaf Village.

From a distance, they saw that Cold Mountain could no longer withstand the earthquake and had mostly collapsed.

The air was filled with the smell of saltpeter.

But the people had no mind to pay attention to it at the moment.

However, Mr. Liu had to be cautious.

If word got out from someone, wouldn’t that cause trouble?

Therefore, before they even entered the village, killing intent had already arisen in him.

After all, in the face of natural disasters, a death is a death, a village’s death is also a death.

Since the secret needed to be kept, only the dead could give him peace of mind.

He thought for a moment, then waved his hand at the elite soldiers behind him.

"Dismount, enter the village!"

"Yes."

Their unanimous response showed the disciplined training of the Northwest Army.

The Liu Family were not like Prince Zhan, who rose halfway, they relied on real achievements over generations.

Five thousand elite soldiers entered the village.

As soon as they reached the village entrance, they were shocked by the scene before them.

Compared to their fortune, the people here were in a pitiful state.

Broken limbs were everywhere.

Some belonged to people, others to livestock.

Even on the battlefield, they had never been so terrified.

At this moment, everyone could truly feel.

How weak their power was in the face of the wrath of heaven!

Many in the Northwest Army were honest local people from the Northwest.

They joined the Northwest Army initially for the reputation of the Marquis of Northwest and secondly out of passionate patriotism.

But now, the place they depended on for survival for hundreds of years had become purgatory on earth.

Houses had collapsed, people were gone.

Thinking about this, those with richer emotions couldn’t help but tear up.

Sobs were everywhere, everyone was lamenting.

Yet powerless to do anything.

Compared to the somewhat moved elite soldiers, Mr. Liu was much calmer.

Though he pretended to come in the name of rescuing the people, only he knew his inner sinister thoughts.

Looking at the dismal scene in the village ahead.

The first order he gave was not to save people, but to capture people.

This made the accompanying elite soldiers frown.

"This general received a confidential report that there were Da Jin spies in Red Leaf Village, who intended to stir up public sentiment during the chaos of the Northwest earthquake, so I came specifically to capture them."

"Every one present, without exception, capture them all for this general!"

The elite soldiers looked at each other, unsure how to respond to such an order.

But years of training taught them to obey superiors’ orders.

Therefore, after a pause, they still replied, "Yes."

Then the capturing operation began.

Perhaps the people who survived the disaster did not expect.

That the troops from heaven were not here to save them, but to capture them.

So immediately, the howls became even louder than before.

Such actions naturally fueled much anger among the people.

This place was under Ganzhou’s jurisdiction.

So they should be managed by the Northwest Army.

But now, what was this supposed to mean?

Even if they were late, but coming to capture so-called Da Jin spies?

It instantly ignited the pent-up anger in the people’s hearts.

Then someone unafraid of death shouted.

"Isn’t the Northwest Army always claiming to be the backbone of us common people? How come they’re not here to save us when disasters strike? Now they’re talking about capturing spies? Where are the spies? Can’t you see the people trapped under the houses?"

"Yeah, yeah, what do you mean?! What do you mean?!"

Mr. Liu, surrounded by these "unruly people," was displeased.

These people truly did not know life from death. If it weren’t for the Liu Family and the Northwest Army guarding the place, they wouldn’t have their good days.

Now they dare to bite back, truly some ungrateful brats.

So his face darkened, and immediately he whipped the person who had just spoken.

Only to see that person’s skin split open, writhing in pain on the ground!

He kept shouting.

"Murder! Murder! The Northwest Army is killing people!"

The people hadn’t even recovered from the nightmare, when the Northwest Army’s whip turned on them.

How could they tolerate such a thing.

Immediately, they ran to spread the word and stood in confrontation with the Northwest Army.

Although they had no weapons, their unity was unstoppable.

Red Leaf Village was divided into three large sections.

The front village, middle village, and back village.

The people who were still alive and could stand up gradually gathered around.

Some with hoes, some with pitchforks, some with broken wood.

All eyes showed disappointment and anger towards the Northwest Army.

Making Mr. Liu feel somewhat uneasy.

He immediately raised his voice, intimidatingly saying.

"All of you get out of the way, just what are you planning? Rebellion? This general is here by order to capture Da Jin spies, and how could capturing them be wrong? One word against it and you’re trying to pin something on this general and the Northwest Army, speak! Are you the spy sent by Da Jin, attempting something sneaky!"

It must be said, Mr. Liu had a quick mind.

He quickly accused that person of being a spy.

Thus, his whipping of the spy was justified.

Unfortunately, he misjudged the situation before him.

These people had already lost their homes, would they fear any labels now?

So, the beaten man’s family immediately stood up.

Screaming at the top of their lungs.

"Wrongfully killed, our family has lived at the foot of Cold Mountain for generations, and now we’re being slandered as spies by this general. Oh heavens, do you still let people live?"