Hearing Jiang Shan's words, the last traces of anger in the crowd were extinguished.
After all, back when they had been bandits, whenever they encountered people from the imperial court, they had been like mice meeting cats.
How could they have ever fought the court so boldly and come away without a single consequence like this?
At that thought, the elder who had opposed him earlier hesitated before saying, "Even so, killing brothers who have shared life and death over something like this..."
"It still doesn't sit right."
"Besides, those officials committed heinous crimes. Do you think they should be killed, Chief?"
Facing the elder's words, Jiang Shan said calmly, "Whether these people deserve to die isn't for us to decide."
"Also, although their crimes merit death, Sir is still in the capital."
"If nothing unexpected happens, Sir will naturally pull some strings for them. They may escape death, but they will not escape punishment."
"This will not happen again."
Upon receiving that answer, everyone's eyes widened.
"There's still room to turn this around?"
One bandit chief blurted it out instinctively. Jiang Shan glanced at him and said,
"You think it's a certain death because you're looking at things through a bandit's eyes."
"I say they won't die because I'm looking at this matter through a different set of eyes."
"If you truly don't want to live this kind of life, I can give you a sum of money and let you leave."
At those words, the bandits' previously dejected spirits instantly soared.
They had all despised corrupt officials in the past, but when it came to themselves, no one disliked such things.
Thinking of that, they said awkwardly, "Chief, we were rash just now. Please forgive us."
"From now on, our lives are yours!"
Facing their "oaths," Jiang Shan