Chapter 0009: Offering Advice

Zhao Han asked again: "May I ask how many of these thousands and tens of thousands of chaotic people possess armor, how many have swords and blades, and how many have bows and arrows?"

Wang Yongshi directly asked: "At such a young age, what strategies could you possibly have to defeat the enemy?"

Zhao Han retorted, "May I ask how many people have risen in rebellion against the common folk?"

Last night I returned to the office for a while, only slept for two hours, and set out again early in the morning

Li Xing felt that something was amiss and instinctively asked, "What is the matter?"

Wang Yongshi suppressed the anger in his heart and asked, "Where are your people?"

Outside the city, there are a large number of residents living in the suburbs, as well as countless disaster victims who have fled from famine.

However, Fei Yinghuan and Wang Yongshi both seem to have completely forgotten about Zhao Han. This is understandable; who would keep two fleeing children in their thoughts

Song Chunming even abandoned his mount, relying on a willow basket to reach the city tower, and said in a panic: "County magistrate, the starving people have risen in revolt, and Duliu Town is already gone!"

Fei Yinghuan found it somewhat interesting and ambiguously replied: "I suppose so"

Zhao Han intended to step forward and initiate a conversation, but was directly pushed aside by the constable, as the crowd moved towards the northern gate

Carrying a spear, Zhao Han pulled up the tiger skin of Fei Yinghuan and inquired about the situation at the county office, but ultimately no one could say for certain where the county magistrate was

"Ten taels? At least one hundred taels!" Fei Yinghuan was bargaining.

Wang Yongshi said: "Lu County Magistrate, you should summon the prominent families in the city and have them immediately provide grain to relieve the people. If we let people in and do not ensure they are well-fed, I fear there will be chaos in the city as well"

I... I was leading a team to the countryside to apprehend thieves at that time" Song Chunming said hesitantly

Fei Yinghuan furrowed her brows and interjected, "Is it several thousand or over ten thousand?"

After watching the maid leave, when the medicinal soup on the table had cooled down, Zhao Han helped his younger sister sit up to drink the medicine

Wang Yongshi said: "They are currently plundering Duliu Town, which is ten miles away."

Zhang Fen, the deputy inspector of Yangliuqing Town, said in a sarcastic tone: "I have run over twenty miles to get here, and Inspector Song has only just arrived after riding ten miles on horseback?"

Before his words had finished, Wang Yongshi suddenly turned around and reached for the sword at Fei Yinghuan's waist.

"Where did this junior come from in our county? Get him out of here!" Wang Yongshi said impatiently

Wang Yongshi ordered: "Hang him up."

Wang Yongshi asked calmly, "How many rebels are there?"

Deputy Inspector Zhang Fen said: "Your Excellency, at this moment, the unruly citizens are likely plundering Duliu Town"

If these people are not allowed to enter the city, when the peasant army arrives at the city gates, it is likely that all of them will be coerced, and at that time, the number of enemies will increase exponentially

Song Chunming was furious and questioned, "Then why didn't you go to Duliu Town to report the news first, at least give me some preparation so that I wouldn't be caught off guard by the bandits!"

Because the police station only had one horse, the chief directly rode away on it

Together with the powerless magistrate of Luxian County, they exerted pressure on the local official Li, who was known as the "Tiger on the Ground," spending an entire day to take control of the three divisions and six offices of the county government. Subsequently, they convened a meeting with the prominent families in the city, compelling grain merchants to stabilize rice prices and semi-coercing the gentry to donate money and grain

He approached the maid and said, "Sister, I need to go out for a while, could you please help take care of my younger sister."

While Zhao Han was puzzled, he saw Wang Yongshi, Fei Yinghuan, Wei Jianxiong, and others rushing over from a distance, accompanied by several junior military officers.

The maid was dedicated to attending to the daily needs of County Magistrate Wang. When the master was not at home, she found herself with nothing to do. Zhao Han, with his sweet talk and a bribe in the form of a hairpin, made it easy for the maid to agree to help.

Dada dada dada!

From a military perspective, Duliu Town is more important than Yangliuqing Town, as the South Canal, Ziya River, and Daqing River converge here, which is the origin of the name "Duliu"

It is merely offering advice, not taking action oneself. If it succeeds, wouldn't that be a gain?

Wang Yongshi said: "The starving people rebelled, but they did not manage to seize the armory. What armor and weapons can they possibly have?"

All are gone, either killed or turned to banditry

Zhang Fen also angrily said: "How can you still have the face to say that? When I arrived at the Duliu Town Patrol Office, there was not a single person there, and the Patrol Office was empty. Where have you and your subordinates been wandering off to?"

The flash of the sword passed by, blood splattered, and the chief clerk Li Xing fell to the ground, clutching his neck and convulsing

Wang Yongshi could no longer bear to listen, and he interrupted the quarrel between the two. He said to Fei Yinghuan: "Brother Dazhao, the bandits have plundered Duliu Town today, and they are likely to come to the county town tomorrow. Please help me defend the city, and I will lend you an additional ten taels of silver for travel expenses at that time"

Knock knock knock knock knock knock

Zhao Han cupped his hands in a gesture of respect and said: "My younger sister is gravely ill and I have no money to buy medicine. I hope the county magistrate can extend a helping hand."

A major incident has occurred

Borrowing your head for a moment

At that moment, County Magistrate Lu Hui and Chief Clerk Li Xing rushed over, asking in panic: "Have the rioters come to kill us?"

You are slandering me! Song Chunming's neck turned red.

The inspector from the Ninth Rank was dismembered on the spot, while the deputy inspector narrowly escaped a calamity, fleeing in a panic and jumping into the river, only to take a long detour before arriving in the county town to report the news

The Inspection Office of Yangliuqing Town is equivalent to the police station of Yangliuqing Town. Although the post office (station) of the town has been relocated to Tianjin, the police station has been retained and is surrounded and attacked by the overwhelming peasant forces.

Wang Yongshi said: "This villain has occupied Jinghai for many years, and the evil deeds he has committed are too numerous to list. Now that bandits have appeared in the county, it is all due to his oppression of the people. Bring this scoundrel's head, and go outside the city to appease the disaster victims. First, calm the public anger before anything else. The county office, county school, Confucian temple, academy, and tribute hall must all be cleared to accommodate the people and disaster victims from outside the city. By dawn tomorrow, there must not be a single person left outside the city!"

Duliu Town, located between Jinghai County and Yangliuqing Town, is also a large town that emerged due to the development of canal transportation

The crowd was astonished, and the two guilty police station chiefs were so frightened that they fell directly to their knees on the ground

Wang Yongshi continued to issue orders: "Chen Dianshi (the county police chief), you are responsible for maintaining public order in the city. Huang Xunji, Song Xunji, Zhang Xunji, the three of you assist Chen Dianshi in recruiting local volunteers in the city. I want one thousand righteous soldiers before dawn!"

Zhao Han cupped his hands and said: "I pay my respects to the county magistrate"

Young master, rest assured, I remember everything

The county magistrate Lu Hui exclaimed, "Why is the county head like this?"

... ...

However, the medicine has run out, and Zhao Han is also short on money.

This County Magistrate Wang is surprisingly skilled in swordsmanship

Wang Yongshi continued, "The three divisions and six offices of the county government each have their responsibilities. Prepare the military salaries, provisions, and weapons. If swords, spears, and halberds cannot be found, use kitchen knives and sticks instead. Gather gold, vegetable oil, bricks, stones, and logs; this county will use them to defend the city tomorrow"

Upon ascending the northern city tower, Wang Yongshi gazed far and wide, yet he did not see any sign of the peasant army

"It's a trivial matter, leave it to me!" Wei Jianxiong said with a smile

It is ! Four individuals have been appointed.

Wang Yongshi did not provide a direct answer; instead, he showed a look of delight and said, "Li Zhu Bu, you have come at just the right time!"

Even Zhao Han, who was walking on the street, had heard of this matter, and thus he mustered his courage to come forward with a suggestion

The news that the rioters are about to attack the county town has already spread through the streets and alleys, clearly indicating that many officials do not understand the concept of confidentiality

The deputy director of a township police station and the director of a township police station began to argue in front of the county magistrate

Zhao Han asked again: "May I ask where the rebels are now?"

"After your old friend?" Wang Yongshi asked Fei Yinghuan

In various ways, the means employed can be considered exceptionally clever, and it is evident that tomorrow the warehouse will be opened to provide relief to the starving populace

Wang Yongshi said: "It is certain that we will not, we will definitely rest in Duliu Town tonight, tomorrow..." At this point, Wang Yongshi suddenly showed an expression of wild joy and laughed, "Haha, what a brilliant strategy, indeed the younger generation is formidable. Quickly call back Chen Dianshi, immediately recruit five hundred strong men with a generous reward, prepare more torches, slaughter pigs and cook rice, I will personally lead the troops for a night raid! Wei brother, you should immediately ride a horse to Duliu Town to gather intelligence on the military situation."

Having stayed in the county office for two days and one night, my younger sister's condition fluctuates between better and worse. At times, her temperature barely decreases, while at other times, she experiences particularly severe fevers, repeatedly cycling through this state without knowing when she will recover.

Thousands upon thousands

Thousands upon thousands, Song Chunming said

Wang Yongshi said with a broad smile: "Our county would like to ask Clerk Li for a favor"

Having completed all instructions, a soldier from the North City Gate suddenly came to report: "Your Excellency, a young gentleman requests an audience, claiming to be a junior relative of yours."

Since someone is standing up, Lu Hui also calmed down and cupped his fists, saying: "This official will go now"

Zhang Fen sarcastically remarked: "Crackdown on theft? It seems they are using the pretext of cracking down on theft to bring people into the village and exploit the local residents!"

The gatekeeper reminded: "He said he has a strategy to defeat the enemy to share."

County Respect

Sister, has the county magistrate not returned to the office yet

Suddenly, the sound of bells rang out from the direction of the bell tower, and the county officials hurried towards the city gates.

Wang Yongshi employed drastic measures to raid the homes of the most powerful families in the city

By the afternoon, County Magistrate Wang had still not returned to the county office, and Zhao Han could no longer wait.

If the county magistrate returns, please inform me, sister

Zhao Han was taken up to the city tower, and Wang Yongshi felt that he looked somewhat familiar. He quickly recalled that this was the child he had placed in the county office.

Wang Yongshi let out a cold laugh and thought for a moment: "Bring them over for questioning"

A rider suddenly appeared from the north, and it was Song Chunming, the director of the police station in Duliu Town, who had come alone on horseback to report to the county town

This matter is easy, hahahaha! Wang Yongshi laughed heartily, and his mood became exceedingly pleasant

These two fellows are in a dire situation, yet they still have the mood to joke around

Why is it only him?

Shut up

Zhao Hanfu inquired: "It will soon be dark; may I ask if the rebels will come to attack the county town overnight?"

Rushing to the city gates, Song Chunming shouted: "I am Song Chunming, the inspector of Duliu Town. I have urgent military news to report. Quickly let me into the city!"

Wang Yongshi turned to Zhao Han and asked, "You have contributed valuable strategies; what reward do you wish for?"

At that moment, an injured deputy inspector appeared, bringing news of the disaster victims' uprising

There was no other option; Zhao Han could only leave the county office and inquire along the way to find a pawnshop

Song Chunming said: "At least a few thousand, at most over ten thousand"

"Why is it the right time?" Li Xing was completely puzzled