The old man turned ashen with fright at the sight of so many imposing soldiers before him, dropping to his knees and kowtowing over and over.
"Spare me, officers! Please spare me!"
Lü Bu glanced at the old man, then frowned at Gao Shun. "Why did you bring me an old man? Couldn't you find someone younger to question?"
Gao Shun looked troubled. "General, I searched the surrounding villages. There are only the old and weak left, no able-bodied young people."
"This elder is the headman of a nearby village called Yellow Ox Village. He knows a thing or two, so I brought him back."
Sima Yi paid little attention to that. He immediately stepped forward to help the headman up and spoke as kindly as he could.
"Don't be afraid, elder. We are the Imperial Court's army, marching south on the Son of Heaven's orders as part of the Southern Campaign to punish Cao Thief. The man before you is Duke Wen, Lü Fengxian."
"We mean you no harm. We merely have some questions to ask. If you answer truthfully, you will be generously rewarded."
Hearing that they were the Imperial Court's troops, the headman instinctively looked up at the banners fluttering above the army, then at Lü Bu. Shock appeared on his face.
"So the Royal Army has arrived!"
Once he recovered, the headman grew immensely excited. He knelt before Lü Bu again and wept bitterly. "Please uphold justice for this lowly commoner, Duke Wen!"
That cry left everyone stunned.
They had brought him here for questioning, not to redress the common people's grievances. Besides, they were on a military campaign. What justice were they supposed to uphold?
Still, as the Imperial Court's troops, they represented the Imperial Court's dignity. With a commoner openly pleading for justice, Lü