Chapter 99: The Fairy of Magpie Bridge (Part 2)
Han Qing and Tan Guangwen went to the prefectural government. Thinking of the woman he had seen at the city gate, he turned around and asked the person following behind him, "Why is Ni Su here?"
"She said she came here to look for someone."
Zhou Ting said truthfully.
"Looking for whom?"
Zhou Ting paused, "Probably, it's that Mr. Ni."
"Master Han, I heard that Master Ni is an aide to Qin Jixun. He is very powerful," Tan Guangwen interrupted, "but he seems to be missing. I'm afraid he is in danger. Otherwise, I really want to meet him."
Han Qing walked up the stone steps and pursed his lips, "General Tan, please."
"Master Han, please go first."
Tan Guangwen laughed.
The two men walked into the prefectural mansion in a friendly manner, and were immediately greeted by an eunuch who led them to the main hall. The road was in a mess, and all the good rockery and landscaping were gone. Not a single piece of the good stone that Shen Tongchuan had stored for many years was left, as he had sent all of them out by his personal soldiers to block the road.
After the heavy snow, the courtyard looked even more desolate and deserted.
Qin Jixun, Wei Dechang, and Yang Tianzhe were all injured. Medical workers were bandaging and treating them in the main hall. Shen Tongchuan also had his hands burned by kerosene, and only now was he applying a thick layer of ointment.
"General Qin, Commander Wei, Commander Yang, and Lord Shen," Han Qingren called out before he even entered the room. Then, his skirt brushed across the threshold. He looked at the four people in the main hall. They were all unfamiliar faces. This was the first time they met. "We are late. Sorry, everyone."
"Tan Guangwen!"
Wei Dechang stared at the tall general in armor who looked to be about 40 or 50 years old. He waved away the doctor's hand, and the blood-stained cloth fell off his arm. The festering wound looked particularly hideous. He strode forward and grabbed Tan Guangwen by the collar, "I'm going to kill you!"
"Wei Dechang! What are you doing!" Tan Guangwen's face darkened and he grabbed his wrist.
"Why does Commander Wei have to do this?"
Han Qing was standing beside him, speaking slowly.
"If it weren't for him, Tan Guangwen! Why would we have to wait for twenty days! If it weren't for him, how could Master Ni..." Wei Dechang choked.
Qin Jixun has always been rational, but he couldn't help but lose his mind at this moment. He even forgot to persuade his brother Dechang.
"What is Commander Wei saying?"
Tan Guangwen looked at Han Qing who was standing aside. "As soon as I received the imperial edict, I immediately summoned the troops from Jianchi Prefecture and Zezhou and rushed to Yongzhou. I couldn't do anything when I met the reinforcements from the Danqiu Nanyan tribe on the way! Lord Han knows all these things. He is the military supervisor of Yongzhou appointed by the emperor himself. He can testify for me!"
"yes,"
Han Qing nodded under the gaze of everyone in the hall, "I came to Yongzhou with General Tan. I know best whether he has delayed the military operation or not."
Wei Dechang still didn't let go. "Shen Zhizhou sent you so many documents to Jianchi Prefecture, but you never paid attention to them! If you had come earlier, Yongzhou would not have become an isolated city, and my Yongzhou army would not have suffered such heavy losses!"
"During the cessation of hostilities, the prefectures and cities cannot mobilize troops without the imperial decree. Don't you, Wei Dechang, know this? I am just following the court's rules. What's wrong with that?"
"you……"
Wei Dechang was about to curse, but he heard Han Qing say coldly, "Commander Wei, please don't lose your sense of proportion."
"Dechang, let him go."
Qin Jixun lowered his head and spoke.
"Brother..." Wei Dechang turned around and saw that Qin Jixun, Yang Tianzhe and even Shen Tongchuan were all silent. He angrily let go of Tan Guangwen and sat back in his chair.
Tan Guangwen showed sarcasm on his face and was about to invite Han Qing to take a seat, but he saw Han Qing walked up and sat down next to Shen Tongchuan, then raised his eyes.
"Zhou Ting."
Hearing the voice, Zhou Ting immediately raised his hand to the personal attendant behind him. The personal attendant shouted "Come here", and then the sound of dense footsteps approached.
Several personal officers of the Night Police rushed into the main hall, quickly bent Tan Guangwen's arms behind his back and controlled him.
This scene happened too suddenly.
Both Tan Guangwen and Qin Jixun and the others were stunned.
"Master Han!"
Tan Guangwen was shocked. "What do you mean?"
Zhou Ting took a step forward and kicked Tan Guangwen in the knee, forcing him to kneel down.
Han Qing picked up the tea bowl on the table and blew away the tea foam floating on the wall of the bowl. "Didn't I tell you? I came to Yongzhou with you, Tan Guangwen. I know best whether you have delayed the military operation or not."
He pronounced the last few words with a little emphasis.
Tan Guangwen stared at him intently, "Did I delay military operations? What's wrong with me following the imperial decree? What do you want to do now?"
"Of course it's the official's family," Han Qing raised his hands, showing respect to his father and emperor, and said slowly, "I'll ask you about Tan Guangwen's crime."
"What crime have I committed?"
Tan Guangwen insisted on getting up, but Zhou Ting's scabbard pressed against his knees, causing his knees to bend again in pain. He glanced at the people in the main hall, and finally looked at Han Qing, "I am the commander of the two armies of Jianchi Prefecture and Zezhou, and I am the General Weiyuan appointed by the government! How dare you, a eunuch, put me here?!"
"That's right. I'm just a eunuch," Han Qing said with a fake smile, "Why do you, General Weiyuan, have to fawn on me all the way?"
The words were like piercing needles, and Tan Guangwen's face turned pale and blue.
"Is it because Prince Nankang died six years ago, or because Grand Tutor Wu Dai has lost power? You are worried that you have no one in the court, and now you have to station troops in Yongzhou to defend Yongzhou with Qin Jixun. You have to put aside your dignity as General Weiyuan and make friends with our new military supervisor of Yongzhou."
Han Qing explained Tan Guangwen's thoughts in just a few words.
Tan Guangwen spat, "Eunuch! I hold the military power, how could I be afraid of you? You dare to be so rude to me now, but the men in my army are not vegetarians!"
"Lü Long! Where is Lu Long?"
He called out to his lieutenant.
"General!" Lu Long was outside, but the door was blocked tightly by the officials of the Night Police. The two sides drew their swords and confronted each other, with a tense situation.
Tan Guangwen turned around, his eyes wide open, "Han Qing! I am innocent! Even if I go before the government, I will never be afraid of you!"
Han Qing was calm and composed, "What about sixteen years ago?"
Tan Guangwen was startled. "What...are you talking about?"
"Sixteen years ago, the Yongzhou Army reported that Miao Tianning was stationed in Yongzhou City and fought a bloody battle with the famous Danqiu general Yelu Zhen. The city was broken, and the barbarians entered the city, but were defeated by Miao Tianning and repelled outside the city gate. When you led the Yongping Army to rescue, Miao Tianning and the Yongzhou Army were both killed."
Han Qing put down his tea bowl and stood up. "What a coincidence! I heard from the deputy envoy of the Night Division next to me that the one who led the troops to attack the city this time was Yelu Zhen, who killed Miao Tianning that year."
The muscles in Tan Guangwen's cheek twitched slightly.
"But the strange thing is,"
Han Qing walked up to him and leaned over, "Yelü Zhen didn't know that Miao Tianning was dead."
"Yes! We all heard it!" Wei Dechang immediately replied, "We all heard it clearly on the city wall that day! Yelu Zhen clearly thought Miao Tianning was still alive! He even wanted to use this to shake Brother Yang!"
"absurd!"
Tan Guangwen stood up, but was held down by his personal officer again. "How dare you believe the words of a barbarian!"
"Then why did he lie?"
Zhou Ting pressed his scabbard against him. "How can his lie benefit Yelu Zhen? General Tan, today, we must hear your explanation."
"Don't count on the military power in your hands," Zhou Ting looked at him coldly, "Don't forget that most of the soldiers in your Jianchi Mansion are former Huning Army. Tell me, if they knew that Miao Tianning died in your hands, what would they think? Will they continue to serve you as a general, or avenge Miao Tianning?"
These words almost instantly pierced through Tan Guangwen's defenses. The Huning Army was once the Huning Army of the current Grand Marshal Miao Tianzhao, and Miao Tianning had been in the Huning Army for many years. For the soldiers of the Huning Army, both Miao Tianzhao and Miao Tianning always had irreplaceable power.
Even though he had been in charge of the Huning Army for several years, he was unable to truly turn these soldiers into his own.
The current government is very suspicious of military generals. Since Da Qi and Danqiu signed an alliance to share peace sixteen years ago, Emperor Zhengyuan issued an edict to order the army to change its garrison every three years, while the generals do not move with the army. In this way, the soldiers do not know the generals, and the generals do not know the soldiers, thus eliminating the possibility of military generals establishing their prestige in the army and gaining countless supporters.
Besides, most of the soldiers in Zezhou were bandits who were recruited and sent together to form an army. They had lax military discipline and were not very capable. If it were not for them, when they met the reinforcements from the Nanyan tribe, Tan Guangwen would not have been in a stalemate with them for many days before rushing to Yongzhou.
It is naturally impossible to rely on these people.
"General Tan, you also know that you don't even have anyone to speak for you in the court now," Han Qing sighed slowly, "It's a pity for our family. If your family members in Jianchi Mansion knew your current situation, they would be very worried."
Tan Guangwen immediately raised his head, "Eunuch! What did you do!"
"Nothing."
Han Qing turned around and sat back, saying nonchalantly, "It's just that Deputy Envoy Zhou was thoughtful and left some close officials from the Night Police in Jianchi Mansion to take good care of your family. Including the servants, there must be about a hundred people in your family, right? I heard that your mother is now eighty years old?"
How could Tan Guangwen not know the methods used by the Night Police? No matter whether one was an official or a civilian, once they fell into the hands of the Night Police, life would be worse than death.
His chest heaved and he struggled violently.
Zhou Ting turned his hand and hit Tan Guangwen's waist and abdomen with the scabbard of the knife. He immediately spit out blood.
"Tan Guangwen, our family will only give you this one chance."
In front of Qin Jixun, Shen Tongchuan and others, Han Qing put one hand on his knee, sat upright, and asked in a cold voice, "Tell me, how did Miao Tianning die?"
Tan Guangwen had never expected that he would end up in a dead end when he led his troops to Yongzhou. Now the lives of his family members were in the hands of others, and he could not control the Huning Army... Tan Guangwen closed his eyes, looking dejected.
After a while,
His dry lips moved, "I killed him."
Shen Tongchuan was horrified when he heard this. He stood up and walked quickly to Tan Guangwen, "Why did you want to kill Commander Miao? He defended the gate of Yongzhou for our Great Qi. If it weren't for him, Yongzhou would have been lost long ago!"
"It's not that I want to kill him, but his existence endangers a person's future and official life."
"who?"
Tan Guangwen's teeth were soaked with blood. He spat out a mouthful of blood foam and slowly uttered a name: "Wu Dai."
Shen Tongchuan, Qin Jixun and others were shocked and suspicious, but Tan Guangwen looked up and saw Han Qing sitting there with a calm expression, "Before Lord Han came, you should have found out the connection between me and him, right? Otherwise, you wouldn't have mentioned King Nankang or Wu Dai to me."
Han Qing did not refute, but leaned back in his chair and raised his chin slightly, "Go on, General Tan, tell me why Wu Dai had to kill Miao Tianning."
"Wu Dai was the Privy Councilor at the time. The detectives he sent out reported that the Danqiu tribes were not united, and the Rili tribe hated war the most. Prince Rili wanted to end the conquest, but was forced to join the war due to the general trend. Wu Dai thought this was an opportunity to disrupt the unity of Danqiu from within, so he secretly communicated with Prince Rili."
"When Wu Dai was recruiting the rebels in Zezhou, Danqiu General Mengtuo was threatening General Xu Hexue of Yujie with the lives of the entire Xu family in Qingyazhou. He received a handwritten letter from Prince Rili, which included a map saying that the Danqiu royal court had built warships and that they were going to take advantage of Mengtuo's attempt to persuade Xu Hexue to surrender and send troops to bypass the rivers and head straight for Jianchi Prefecture."
The Danqiu Hu people were afraid of water and had never been able to cross the river. This was the fundamental reason why they would rather attack Juhan Pass several times than take a detour.
"so……"
When Han Qing heard the words "Xu Hexue" from him , he immediately remembered Zhang Xianggong's loud cry on the execution platform, "Is he thinking of withdrawing troops from Yongzhou?"
"Yes, during wartime, the mobilization of troops at the border is temporarily not subject to the steward's decree," Tan Guangwen turned his head and looked at Yang Tianzhe, who was unable to move on the couch due to serious injuries. "The Yongzhou Army is in the hands of Miao Tianning. As long as we have his token and the consent of the prefect Yang Ming, we can mobilize the troops."
"Yang Ming is attached to the King of Nankang, and Wu Dai is secretly on good terms with the King of Nankang. Yang Ming believed Wu Dai's words without a doubt. When he failed to persuade Miao Tianning to support Jianchi Prefecture, he took a risk and drugged Miao Tianning, took his token, and personally mobilized half of the Yongzhou army to rush to support Jianchi Prefecture."
"impossible!"
Yang Tianzhe trembled, "My father can't be like this!"
He has always believed that Miao Tianning was the one who did it, but now, Tan Guangwen mentioned his father's name in person.
"Then," Shen Tongchuan continued, taking over Tan Guangwen's words, "halfway through the journey, the Yongzhou army encountered the people of the Nanyan tribe, and they were slaughtered by the Nanyan tribe."
This was the news that Yang Tianzhe had read in the military report of the Nanyan tribe. Shen Tongchuan recalled the military report that he and Master Ni had read together sixteen years ago. "But their deaths were counted in the number of soldiers defending Yongzhou."
"yes."
Tan Guangwen lowered his head. "Wu Dai realized something was wrong, but it was too late."
If Miao Tianning were still alive, he would definitely hold on to this matter. No matter from which perspective, Miao Tianning must die.
"What about Shepherd Mountain?"
This should be what Han Qing is most concerned about. He stepped forward and grabbed Tan Guangwen's collar. "Sixteen years ago, General Xu Hexue ordered the troops to split into three groups. He led the Jing'an Army to Mushen Mountain to lure Mengtuo. You and Ge Rang came from Nianchi and Longyan respectively to support and besiege Mengtuo... Is this true?"
Tan Guangwen felt a lump in his throat.
His silence made Han Qing impatient. "Tan Guangwen! I'm going to make it clear to you today. If you don't tell me everything you know, or if I leave you out for even one thing, I'm going to kill your entire family!"
"You know the punishment Xu Hexue suffered. Our family doesn't mind. Let your ten-year-old child try something different." He spoke every word like a poisonous snake, which was frightening. "Cut a few times a month, and then treat him after the cuts. Repeat this process. He will never die easily..."
"Han Qing, you dare!"
Tan Guangwen could almost imagine such a cruel scene from his words, and he couldn't help but tremble all over.
Han Qing said nothing, just stared at him coldly.
Tan Guangwen almost collapsed, "Yes!"
"Back then, it was not only the Yongzhou Army that reinforced Jianchi Prefecture, but also me! Wu Dai urged me to go to Jianchi Prefecture. At that time, there was also a Du Cong. He brought the general's order, saying that the general ordered me to go to Jianchi Prefecture first and then rush to Longyan... I didn't know it was a false alarm until I arrived at Jianchi Prefecture. Originally, I went to Jianchi Prefecture first and then to Longyan, which would not have wasted time, but I was not familiar with the terrain of Longyan and got lost. In this way, everything was too late."
After that, the Jing'an Army was completely wiped out at Mushen Mountain, and General Yujie Xu Hexue was sentenced to death by slicing for treason.
The greatest evidence of this is
It was what Wu Dai's detective had found out from the Danqiu royal court that the specific imperial edict regarding recruiting General Yujie of the Great Qi, and even the title and fiefdom, had been finalized.
Tan Guangwen knew that there was something wrong. For example, the military order from the general brought by Du Cong was most likely fake, but he remained silent for sixteen years.
As for Ge Rang, the general guarding Juhan Pass, he was probably really unaware of the military orders, otherwise, Wu Dai would not have let him live to this day.
There was deathly silence in the main hall.
Be it Qin Jixun, Wei Dechang, Yang Tianzhe lying on the couch, or the prefect Shen Tongchuan, none of them expected that the death of Commander Miao Tianning was actually related to the treason of General Yujie.
"...Lord Han,"
Qin Jixun spoke after a long pause, "You mean, Xu Hexue..."
The people of Yongzhou City have hated Xu Hexue for sixteen years. Qin Jixun and Wei Dechang used him as a tool to consolidate people's hearts. But now, Han Qing said that Xu Hexue's surrender to the enemy was fake and his true intention was to lure the enemy.
"Ask me what I want to do?"
Han Qing suddenly grabbed Tan Guangwen's throat and used all his strength, "Ask him!"
In order to prevent a mutiny in the army brought by Tan Guangwen from Jianchi Prefecture and Zezhou, the news that Tan Guangwen killed Miao Tianning, the commander of Yongzhou sixteen years ago, spread throughout the city in just half a day.
Ni Su was in the felt tent, holding an oil-paper bag and listening to Qingqiong's story. She didn't say anything, but just opened the oil-paper bag, revealing pieces of snow-white lactose.
She was so busy that she had hardly come back for long. She found this oil paper bag under her pillow when she was packing her luggage just now. It must have been put there by Xu Hexue at some point in time.
She picked up a piece and ate it.
He handed another piece to Qingqiong.
"Let's go."
She stood up and hung the small medicine bag at her side.
When they arrived at the prefectural government gate, Duan Rong walked out. Seeing Ni Su's red and swollen eyelids, he knew that she must have cried. He didn't know how to comfort her: "Miss Ni, we are still looking for Master Ni. He..."
"Captain Duan, I would like to meet the new Lord Han. Could you introduce him to me?"
Ni Su bowed to him.
Duan Rong didn't know why she wanted to see the new military supervisor, but he couldn't say no, so he nodded and led her and Qingqiong in.
The wind and snow have not stopped and the ground is wet.
Ni Su followed Duan Rong into the courtyard and watched him walk into the main hall. After a while, Duan Rong came out and waved to her.
She walked up immediately.
The main hall was extremely quiet.
Qin Jixun and Wei Dechang both looked unhappy, and Shen Tongchuan was sitting aside in a daze. Ni Su first glanced at Tan Guangwen, who was tied up and kneeling there.
"Miss Ni, I never thought I would meet you again at the border of Yongzhou."
Han Qing wiped his hands.
"Han Envoy."
Ni Su bowed and raised her head to meet Han Qing's gaze. "May I ask Envoy Han, did Tan Guangwen really kill Commander Miao Tianning?"
Han Qing nodded, "Why are you asking this?"
Ni Su didn't say anything. She turned her head and looked at Zhou Ting beside her.
Zhou Ting was confused when he saw her walking towards him. She stretched out her hand, and Zhou Ting immediately clenched the knife in his hand. However, her eyes were fixed on him, and Zhou Ting was distracted. When his knuckles loosened, she pulled out his scabbard and hit Tan Guangwen hard on the back.
She used up all her strength and hit him several times, causing Tan Guangwen to fall to the ground. Qin Jixun and others who were in a trance in the main hall immediately came to their senses.
"Miss Ni! What are you doing?" Shen Tongchuan jumped up from his chair, his face full of shock.
Ni Su threw away the scabbard, sweat already forming on her temples. She looked at Tan Guangwen, who was curled up on the ground and coughing with blood all over his mouth, and said, "Envoy Han, please excuse me and talk to me for a moment."
Han Qing stared at her without saying a word, but stood up.
"Miss Ni, what exactly are you going to do?"
When Ni Su was about to follow Han Qing out, Zhou Ting grabbed her sleeve.
"Master Xiao Zhou, I don't want to do anything."
Ni Su shook her head, pulled out her sleeves, and followed Han Qing out. She stood opposite Han Qing in the corridor. Before Han Qing spoke, she said, "Han Envoy, I asked you to come out because I want to ask you why the man inside didn't reinforce Mushen Mountain?"
As soon as these words came out, Han Qing's face changed.
"What do you know?"
Han Qing stared at her and spoke in silence.
"It is precisely because I don't know anything that I dare to ask Han Shizun. I would like to ask you to give me an answer."
"Why should I give you an answer? But you, do you know that what you are telling me right now is enough for me to put you in jail?"
"I have been to prison before, and I am not afraid of being imprisoned again. I dare to ask you because someone told me that you are a trustworthy person."
Snow was falling outside the corridor. Ni Su turned her head to look. "The reason why I know these things is because that person told me. I came to Yongzhou with him and watched him work as a staff member under General Qin. He died. Today, the Jing'an Army is truly wiped out."
These words almost made Han Qing's mind buzz.
"you……"
Han Qing realized that the person she was talking about was Master Ni, who had killed Yelu Zhen but whose whereabouts were unknown. "You said he was an old member of the Jing'an Army?"
"yes."
Ni Su nodded, then she bent her knees and knelt in front of Han Qing, looking up, "Envoy Han, I know you are an upright person. You must remember the last words of Zhang Xianggong before his death. Master Ni lived for the souls of the dead Jing'an Army, but now, he died for the country and the people. Apart from you, I don't know who else can restore the innocence of the Jing'an Army..."
"Ni Su begs you, if one day their names can exist in the writings of the world with a clear conscience, please, and those who care about this matter like you, join me in speaking out for them."
She did not point out the relationship between Han Qing and Meng Yunxian behind him. She was saying these words to Han Qing, and also to Meng Yunxian who was far away in Yujing.
Han Qing lowered his eyes and stared at the woman who was kneeling in front of him and dared to talk to him about the old case of treason. After a while, he asked, "What can a woman like you do?"
He really didn't understand where she got the courage from.
"I will do what I can and try my best. Even if the person has been dead for sixteen years, even if it happened sixteen years ago, no one can choose to let it go for them."
Ni Su supported herself on the cold ground with her hands and kowtowed to Han Qing. White snow particles flew towards her and landed on her hair. She quickly stood up and walked out of the corridor.
"Miss Ni, let's go." Qingqiong saw her kneeling and kowtow to Han Qing from a distance in the courtyard. When she came over, he asked.
"Um."
Ni Su nodded.
There were many people gathered outside the prefectural government, and before Ni Su got close, he could hear their noisy voices.
"Miao Tianning, Commander Miao, was such a good person...how could he be killed by someone..."
"Sir, the prefect! Please write to the government and seek justice for Commander Miao!"
"Your Excellency the Governor!"
The people of Yongzhou hated Xu Hexue as much as they respected Miao Tianning. If it weren't for Miao Tianning, all the people in the city would have been slaughtered by the Hu people.
"Your Excellency the Prefect! This villain who killed Commander Miao deserves to be tortured to death!"
"Yes! Lingchi is not too much!"
Ni Sucai had just stepped out of the door. Amid the overwhelming shouting, she looked at the angry faces one after another and suddenly laughed sardonically.
"Miss Ni?"
The old patriarch Qin, who had come to see the prefect, pushed through the crowd with his servants and saw her. Seeing that she was carrying a bag, he asked, "Are you leaving?"
"Why are you in such a hurry to leave?" Chief Wei also came over with a crutch, and when he heard this, he interrupted.
The two of them had noticed that their attitudes towards Ni Su had changed so much that they looked at each other. It was the old patriarch Qin who spoke first, "Miss Ni, you have been working hard for the soldiers and civilians of Yongzhou these days. We have seen it all. I looked down on you before, and it was my fault as an old man."
"Miss Ni, Master Ni died for Yongzhou," the Wei clan leader took over the conversation. "We are all planning to erect a monument and write a book for him, and we wanted to ask you for his name. Please stay for a while, so that I can make up for all the wrongs I have done to you before."
"Miss Ni, let's go later!"
"Yes, Miss Ni!"
The people echoed one after another.
Little did they know that the more they did this, the more Ni Su's heart felt like it was being tightly grasped by an icy hand. She almost couldn't hold on. Qing Qiong noticed her abnormality and came forward to support her.
Ni Su calmed down and said, "I want to ask Patriarch Qin and Patriarch Wei, did you gather here like this in the beginning, shouting... to torture that person to death?"
The broken stele of Sangqiu that recorded Xu Hexue's crimes is still there, but now they want to erect a stele and write a book for a Mr. Ni.
"What did you say?"
Patriarch Qin was startled.
Ni Su broke free from Qingqiong's hand and stood up straight. She looked at the two clan leaders Qin and Wei, and then glanced at the people behind them one by one. "I say that General Yujie Xu Hexue is innocent, and the Jing'an Army is innocent. You were here back then, and with such public opinion, you tortured an innocent person on the execution platform!"
The noisy crowd suddenly fell silent.
"I dare to say these words here, and I dare to say them in Yunjing as well!"
Ni Su's eyes were red, but she held back her tears. She would never cry in front of these people. She tried to keep her voice steady, "If there are people among you who have been treated by me, if you still have a little gratitude towards me, even just this little, I beg you to let me take his broken gun away."