Chapter 290 - 284: Comfort
Ji Yuan returned to the Yu Yang County Government, where lights were already lit, and the Chief Clerk and County Magistrate, who had been hiding at home, were invited to the county government to work.
Less than half of the village chiefs in the city had come, while more than half were either surrounded at home or had fled. Still, these people were enough for Zhao Hanzhang.
Upon Ji Yuan’s arrival, Zhao Hanzhang knew that County Magistrate Sun had successfully been sent out. As expected, Ji Yuan reported, "County Magistrate Sun has successfully left Yu Yang to move reinforcements from Chen County."
The County Magistrate, Chief Clerk, and all the village chiefs were silent: "..." Wasn’t it said that the rebels had surrendered? Why was there a need to move reinforcements now?
Everyone looked towards General Ding, who was in the county government, and should be the most aware of the situation.
General Ding had already vaguely realized something, thus kept a tense face, not looking at them, nor responding.
Zhao Hanzhang had already met with scouts returning to report the situation. She lifted her chin slightly towards them and asked, "The leader of the rebels, Chen Wan, has already been pacified. He is also willing to assist the county government in calming the people. However, the city is chaotic now, and it’s late at night, with many taking advantage of the chaos. Do you have any means to calm the citizens and quell the rebellion?"
The people exchanged glances, knowing that County Magistrate Sun had already fled, and although Zhao Hanzhang was the County Magistrate of Xiping County, yet she was the highest-ranking official here apart from General Ding, they instinctively decided to heed her orders, "Willing to accept Lady Zhao’s direction."
After expressing loyalty, the County Magistrate said, "As long as they no longer riot, I am willing to personally visit each household to report peace and reassure the people."
The Chief Clerk immediately said, "I am also willing to go."
Upon hearing this, the village chiefs also said in succession, "We are also willing to personally visit each household to report peace, to reassure the people."
This was Zhao Hanzhang’s intention.
Now, the people in the city are in panic, only when the County Magistrate, Chief Clerk, and village chief personally appear to console them can they calm the residents who want to escape, including the gentry and wealthy households in the city.
Zhao Hanzhang said, "I will let the soldiers escort you."
She looked at General Ding.
General Ding, understanding the situation, immediately said, "I am also willing to protect you."
Zhao Hanzhang nodded in satisfaction and let someone take them down to arrange.
Tonight, the entire Yu Yang County City was sleepless.
Zhao Erlang and Zhao Ju led separate teams, one to the east city and the other to the west city, to eliminate the rebels who refused to obey orders, while also driving those willing to surrender out of the city or to the front of the county government.
Under the protection of soldiers, the County Magistrate and others entered the alleys, stepping over the chaos of blood and bodies on the ground to knock on doors, telling the people inside, "The chaos has calmed, keep your doors tightly closed, treat the injured, and await the dawn."
The accompanying soldiers shouted, "We are reinforcements from Xiping County, the chaos in Yu Yang County has been quelled by our Lady Zhao."
This was shouted once with drums and gongs before, but few believed. Now hearing the County Magistrate, Chief Clerk, and village chief shouting outside, people inside finally felt reassured.
Such scenes replayed in every alley, some quietly opened their doors to confirm, seeing no frenzy outside, and quickly closed them with a bang.
As the night deepened, the brightly lit county city gradually quieted down, with almost all rebels either driven out of the city or gathered at the county government entrance.
Zhao Hanzhang kept standing on the steps of the county government, watching everyone brought here looking up at her, quietly.
Near dawn, Zhao Ju returned with his team, forming ranks on both sides of the street. Seeing so many soldiers with hostility, the rebels moved uneasily.
Zhao Erlang and Fu Tinghan returned on horseback, covered in blood, leading their teams.
On the main street, the people were even more frightened, stirring uneasily.
Zhao Hanzhang looked at Zhao Ju and Fu Tinghan.
Zhao Ju said quietly, "Killed a dozen ruthless ones, the rest are driven here, some fled out of the city."
Fu Tinghan said, "Caught five people, had them secretly escorted to the back, the rest were driven here, and some fled."
Zhao Hanzhang nodded slightly, then spoke to the increasingly restless people, "The city gate is open, the path to the main gate is unobstructed, now you can turn around and return home."
Upon hearing this, the crowd slowly began to calm down.
"Today’s chaos is not only my pain, but also the pain of Yu Yang, and your suffering and nightmare. I hope you will always remember today’s chaos, as will I!"
Zhao Hanzhang said sternly, "In the future, you will not make such mistakes, neither will all officials, wealthy and powerful not commit today’s errors, pushing you to this... "
The whole street quieted down, everyone silently watching Zhao Hanzhang standing under the county government gate, listening to her speak.
"Now, you turn around, walk out of the city, return home and wait," Zhao Hanzhang said, "I can promise again, today’s event will not be pursued, nor will it be settled after autumn, and I will recheck the summer tax!"
The people standing on the street looked at each other, then one person first saluted Zhao Hanzhang, turned around and walked, that was towards the city gate.
Seeing this, the people hurriedly saluted Zhao Hanzhang and followed towards the city gate.
The quiet street surged, everyone turned towards the city gate.
When daylight appeared, showing the county city anew before the people, the whole main street had no civilians but soldiers.
Oh, there were two people standing below the steps of the county government, one Chen Wan, one Xiang Yu.
Ji Yuan, seeing the rebels had truly left without trouble, breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Hanzhang’s face showed no joy, as from midnight until now, the deep alleys that had been quiet were filled with cries.
At first, one or two small cries, then a mass of cries, and with the sun fully up, the whole city was filled with either suppressed or collapsed cries.
Ji Yuan was not happy either.
Everyone listened to the cries in silence for a long time without words.
Finally, Fu Tinghan broke the long silence, "Let’s go check the granary."
Whether it’s the grain tax to be handed over to Yu State, or the stability promised by Zhao Hanzhang to the people of Yu Yang, food was needed.
So the urgent matter was the granary.
Zhao Hanzhang nodded, looked at General Ding and County Magistrate-Chief Clerk, "Lead the way, let’s go see the granary."
"This..." The three exchanged glances, it was the lifeblood of Yu Yang County, County Magistrate Sun was not here...
"What," Zhao Hanzhang raised an eyebrow and asked, "Can’t I be the master of Yu Yang County now? Or should I let those people return again?"
The three’s faces turned dark, General Ding glanced at the County Magistrate and Chief Clerk then said, "We have two granaries in our county, one inside the county government, and another place, not knowing if the granary has been discovered or breached."