"Which prefecture are you from? How long have you been taken captive?" Yan Shuangfei's voice was deep, yet it carried a reassuring strength.
The man froze for a moment, then hesitantly raised his head. When he saw the Desolate Kingdom military uniform on Yan Shuangfei, a glimmer of light suddenly burst from his clouded eyes.
"General... we are farmers from Yunzhou. Three months ago, the barbarians raided our village, burning, killing, looting, and taking us here as laborers. Every day, we went hungry and cold, and they beat and cursed us...
If not for your arrival, General, we would probably have died here!"
As he spoke, tears rolled down his face. The commoners behind him began to weep as well, then knocked their heads against the ground and cried in unison, "Thank you, General, for saving our lives!"
Yan Shuangfei rose to his feet, his gaze sweeping across the sallow, emaciated commoners. He said gravely, "Get up! From this moment onward, you are free!
In a while, return to the Imperial Court with us. The Imperial Court will arrange lodgings for you and distribute grain."
"Thank you, General!"
"Many thanks, General!"
"We are saved!"
"We can finally go home!"
"Hahahaha... sob, sob..."
Overcome with joy, the commoners wept as they repeatedly kowtowed, until their foreheads had turned red.
Shao Qianren watched this scene, his heart filled with mixed feelings.
The lingering complexity he had felt earlier also dissipated considerably.
He stepped forward and cupped his hands toward Yan Shuangfei. "General Yan, not only did you save my daughters with this act, you also saved these commoners. You are truly a model for men of our generation, a pillar of the nation.
After this old man returns to the capital, I will certainly report this matter to His Majesty and request