This defeat had been expected a long time ago, but when it came so quickly and violently, many people were caught off guard.
Even the few nobles in the city who had originally planned to fight to the end were so shocked by the powerful performance of Xiao Heng's army that they lost their spirit and retreated to their homes.
However, unlike the nobles in the city, the common people simply lined the streets to welcome the imperial army. In fact, the reason why Xiao Heng was able to break into the city gate so easily was because of the brave people who rushed to the city gate, opened it, and let Xiao Heng and his men in.
Over the years, the people actually knew that Mu Tong was far less kind than the old chieftain.
Yunnan is mostly populated by natives, and chieftains control the people below. To the imperial court, the common people are common people, but to the chieftains, they are actually no different from slaves. Everything they have belongs to the chieftain, and most of the annual harvest must be turned over. However, if they meet a benevolent chieftain, they can still make a living, but Mu Tong is not a benevolent one.
He was famous for his brutality and the large number of murders he had committed. Once when he was on patrol, he met a farmer who went up the mountain to pick wild vegetables. The farmer didn't know his identity, so he asked him why he was picking wild vegetables. The farmer then said that the chieftain was too harsh in exploiting him and that life was difficult for him. As a result, his entire family was killed by Mu Tong.
Although Mu Tong was unpopular, in this area, the chieftain's words were the golden rule and more useful than the emperor's edict. Naturally, whatever he said was the truth, and the people had long been accustomed to obeying him. No one had ever thought of resisting, because the consequences of resistance were often even more tragic.
However, they did not resist when there was no opportunity. Once they had the opportunity, the people were extremely angry about Mu Tong's evil deeds over the past few decades.
In addition, the court promised to exempt them from taxes for three years, which made them overjoyed.
Last night, Mouton released the elephant soldiers, which was the last straw that broke the camel's back.
Xiao Heng had already issued a death order, asking the generals to restrain their subordinates and not to touch the property of the people in the city. He also promised that Mu Tong's private property would be distributed to the soldiers in due time. Therefore, the army's entry into the city did not cause much noise. They were well-organized and the soldiers were not like Mu Tong's troops, like hungry wolves entering a village.
The people felt relieved when they saw this.
Cui Daru also mentioned this to Xiao Heng with emotion: "In fact, the people have never asked for much. They just want to have enough food and clothes. But Mu Tong is unwilling to satisfy even these. He is so paranoid and violent. Even without us, his good life will not last long."
Fourth Master Cui nodded: "Those who are righteous have many supporters, while those who are unrighteous have few supporters. The saints are not deceiving me."
While they were discussing these things, there were quite a few women among the people. The natives did not pay much attention to the separation of men and women. They regarded men and women as the same. Women had to do farm work and other things, and there was nothing to hide. Therefore, the girls were very enthusiastic and unrestrained. At this time, they saw that the leader, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, was actually very handsome, and they could not help but get excited.
Some people couldn't help but shout, "Goddess!"
Cui Daru was old after all, and he only saw a lot of purses flying towards Xiao Heng, but he couldn't hear what the other side was shouting, so he stopped talking.
Master Cui couldn't help but laugh: "Your Highness, these girls all praise you as a god descended from heaven!"
Miao girls are naturally beautiful and passionate, and Cui Daru knew this, so he also laughed, stroking his beard.
Xiao Heng smiled and waved to the people on both sides.
This caused the girls on the street to shout even louder.
Su Rong stared at him and snorted softly in his heart.
The army entered the city and quickly captured almost all those who should be captured.
Mu Tong had not yet recovered from a serious illness. As soon as the city gate was broken, the Mu Mansion received the news. Now he was lying in bed and could not do anything. The others had to find a way out. Qin Fen and the others were preparing to run away, and the other people in the Mu Mansion had the same idea, so they packed up their things and wanted to run away. But before they could do so, Xiao Heng's vanguard troops had already arrived and surrounded the entire Mu Mansion.
The city gate had been breached, the situation was hopeless, and everyone was busy thinking about how to survive, and no one cared about Mu Tong.
Mu Tong was lying on the bed, almost smoking with thirst, like a fish thrown on the shore. It was not until he heard the door creak that he turned his head with difficulty and shouted excitedly, "Is it Yoona?"
Yoona is the only son he has left.
In fact, he also knew that there was almost no one in his life whom he could trust and be worthy of. If there was anyone, it would only be the three sons he was sincere to.
So at this time, if there is anyone who can still come to see him, it can only be his son.
However, the voice that answered him was not a familiar one, but a clear female voice with a hint of sarcasm: "Yoona won't be coming."
This sound!
Mu Tong suddenly opened his eyes wide, and it seemed as if a fire was burning in his throat, burning his mouth dry and his heart uneasy. He choked for a long time, and finally asked in disbelief: "Old Three?"
It’s Miss Mu San!
It was he who personally forced his third sister to leave Dali and flee in a panic!
His whole body was numb, and goose bumps began to appear on his arms, layer after layer, and they would not go away at all. His broken arm was also aching slightly.
Miss Mu San had already reached his bedside and was staring at him coldly. There was no warmth in her eyes at all. She looked at him as if she was looking at a ridiculous clown.
Mu Tong thought he didn't know what fear was.
He killed his own father, strangled his own brother to death, and blood splattered on the spot, but he was not afraid. He had dreamed of his father and brothers in the middle of the night over the years, but he had never been afraid. But for some reason, at this moment, when he met his sister's eyes, he couldn't help but shudder.
Miss Mu San walked forward a few steps, sat on the edge of his bed and looked at him sneerfully: "What? Didn't you expect this day to come?"
Her eyes fell on Mu Tong's broken arm, and she exclaimed in surprise, "Oh, how come the arm is broken? Doesn't this mean that if he died, he wouldn't even have a complete body left?"
Miss Mu San hated him to the core, so the words she said were certainly not nice, and they always hurt Mu Tong's heart.
Mu Tong moved his lips with difficulty, but in the end he couldn't say anything.
At this point, he also knew that begging for mercy was impossible. Not to mention begging for mercy, even if he knelt until the floor was worn through, Miss Mu San would not let him live.