362: Chapter 362 Who's in favor, and who's opposed?

Song Jiang knew that the matter of surrendering was of great importance; he had to bring his brothers onto his warship.

Thus, after nightfall, he quietly gathered a group of his trusted lieutenants in the most secluded thatched hut deep within the camp.

These minor leaders were all filled with confusion, their eyes looking at Song Jiang with suspicion, wondering what business he had for gathering them here so mysteriously.

One must know that there were many guards stationed outside their hut.

It was obvious that Song Jiang did not want the contents of their meeting to be leaked.

This caused their moods to grow tense.

Those with clever minds had already faintly guessed Song Jiang's intentions.

Once everyone had arrived, Song Jiang slowly stood up, his gaze sweeping over everyone present like a hawk as he said in a heavy voice, "Brothers, I called you all here today to discuss a major matter."

Hearing Song Jiang speak with such gravity, everyone felt more and more that this matter was not simple.

Song Jiang had lit many oil lamps inside the hut specifically so he could clearly see the reactions of these minor leaders.

"I plan to lead our group of brothers to surrender to Great Qin. They have promised that as long as we submit, not only will past offenses be forgotten, but I will be appointed as the Commander of the Water Ghost Camp, and you brothers will all be able to seek a good future."

"I have finished speaking..."

Song Jiang's gaze swept across the face of every minor leader as he said in a low voice, "Who among you supports this, and who opposes?"

The hut instantly fell into a deathly silence. Everyone looked at each other, stunned into helplessness by this sudden decision.

If the news of Song Jiang's betrayal got out, then the leader, Peng Yue, would definitely kill him!

As Song Jiang's confidants, if they did not draw a clear line between themselves and Song Jiang, Peng Yue would also hold them responsible.

It was no wonder Song Jiang had arranged so many guards outside the hut.

If the news leaked, Song Jiang would certainly die!

The crowd exchanged glances and then looked back at Song Jiang.

"Everyone, give me your opinions..."

Song Jiang placed his left hand over his chest and said in a flat tone, "...Don't just keep looking at me!"

"I oppose it!"

After a long while, Liu San couldn't help but stand up, his brow furrowed as he said, "Brother, this decision to surrender is something I truly find hard to accept! You are betraying our brothers in the Yunmeng Marsh!"

"That's right!"

"Indeed!"

...

Liu San's words successfully garnered the approval of the other minor leaders.

"Liu San, what do you know!"

Song Jiang said impatiently, "Currently, the Great Qin Lou Chuan Soldiers are powerful. If we continue to oppose them, there is only a path to death. Surrendering is for the brothers' own good, to allow everyone to have a bright future!"

Of course, he didn't care whether the other brothers' futures were bright or not. To him, his own bright future was what mattered most!

"Brother!"

Liu San pointed a finger at Song Jiang and said with grief and indignation, "You say this is for the brothers' own good?"

"But in my view, you clearly want us to treat the other brothers of Yunmeng Marsh as stepping stones for your own advancement!"

"We brothers of Yunmeng Marsh have gone through life and death together for so many years; that is a bond forged in blood! But you? For the sake of becoming some Commander of the Water Ghost Camp, you would easily discard the brotherhood of your comrades. Do you think this is honorable?"

The hut was silent. Everyone was shocked by Liu San's words. They all knew Liu San had always been straightforward, but they didn't expect him to dare criticize Song Jiang so bluntly.

In truth, they were actually quite in favor of surrendering.

Water flows downward, and people strive upward. Seeing that the water fortress of Yunmeng Marsh was about to be breached by Great Qin, surrendering to the Qin Army was actually quite normal.

However, they were worried about being discovered by Peng Yue.

At the same time, just as Liu San said, selling out their other brothers in Yunmeng Marsh for the sake of their own futures was dishonorable—it was the act of a traitor!

Even though they had all become Water Bandits, they still cared about their reputations and couldn't get past the moral hurdle in their hearts.

The expressions on everyone's faces shifted.

Song Jiang's expression became extremely unsightly.

Liu San's few words had caused his trusted subordinates to waver.

To him, this was not a good thing at all.

"Liu San, stop being so unreasonable. I made this decision after careful consideration, for the sake of the future of us brothers."

His words clearly referred to the minor leaders gathered here in the hut.

The expressions of the minor leaders in the hut shifted once again.

Between reputation and practical benefits, everyone leaned more toward their own interests.

Liu San gave a cold laugh and said, "Careful consideration? I think you've been blinded by wealth and status!"

"Brother, didn't you used to loathe those who sold out their brothers for their own gain the most?"

"But now, you are doing that very thing yourself!"

Song Jiang's face grew even more unsightly.

Liu San was using his own words against him, leaving him with no way to refute.

"He who understands the times is a wise man!"

Song Jiang could only try to forcibly justify himself.

He said once more, "I intend to surrender to Great Qin. Who among you supports this, and who opposes?"

"I oppose it!"