Section 4, Chaos arises

It is important to note that even if the Lingqing garrison is not at its best, the garrison's guerrilla generals can still muster several hundred elite troops. For these untested bandits to attempt to engage in battle with the garrison's elite forces would be akin to delivering themselves to death.

In that place, there were a large number of people from the provincial government, military supply offices, garrison offices, educational institutions, to the inspection and supervision offices, and the administrative offices, along with a multitude of family members, as well as the granaries in the inner city. Under such circumstances, who would dare to easily open the door

However, this world truly caught him off guard

"Go!" Feng You, who had just gotten off the carriage, lifted the dazed young servant standing by the carriage shaft with one hand and threw him onto the carriage. Then, with a swift crack of the whip, the spirited horse, feeling the sting, suddenly reared and galloped away

It is likely that we cannot get in.

Feng You shouted angrily, which finally roused the group of people. The two rough men hurriedly stumbled towards the dock, presumably to look for the person in charge.

"There is no time left." Although Feng You was unaware of the exact trouble that had arisen in Linqing City, his prolonged experience at the border, engaging in a battle of wits and courage against the Tatar cavalry, allowed him to sense the strong undercurrents of conspiracy hidden within this situation

The rough individuals standing beside the two piles of goods were also taken aback by the sudden turn of events, as fireworks erupted in the city while a surge of people flooded in from the dock

According to a certain author of unofficial history, had it not been for Liu Liu and Liu Qi capturing Linqing City and reviving their momentum, it is feared that the forces of the former Ming dynasty would not have been restrained by Liu Liu and Liu Qi in Shandong and Hebei. Consequently, the Great Zhou would not have been able to leisurely conquer Jiangnan and Huguang, ultimately laying the foundation for the Great Zhou dynasty.

To get to Yongqing Gate, one must detour around the Jinde Association. I noticed that the bandits who came out from Daming Temple came from that direction. Feng You is not very familiar with the situation in Linqing City, but he knows it somewhat better than Feng Ziying and the servant Ruixiang, having a general idea of the route. "It seems we can only go towards Hongji Bridge."

Previously, he had actually noticed some discrepancies, but after staying in Lingqing Prefecture for a few days, coupled with the fact that he had heard about the tax supervisor sent from the palace causing great anger and resentment in Lingqing before his arrival, he did not pay much attention to it

When I came here before, I felt that the market was much quieter than in the past, but at this moment, upon seeing it, it suddenly became a bustling scene again, only this time it turned into a chaotic rush, a complete mess.

"Uncle You, what should we do now? Can we board the ship?" Feng Ziying, unable to pay attention to the young servant Ruixiang who had fallen on the cart and whose eyes were red with pain, took a deep breath and asked.

The dental practices and the village head here are incomparable to those in other places, which is also the most difficult aspect for him to comprehend

The Feng family can be considered a prominent clan in Linqing City, but during such perilous times, the Linqing garrison may not necessarily show favor to the Feng family

Although the crowd was chaotic and densely packed, there were at least one to two thousand people present, and he also noticed the black smoke rising from the southeast corner, which clearly indicated that this was a coordinated effort of internal and external support.

With a swift motion, Feng You gracefully leaped from the earthen wall onto the roof of the shed, and with another agile turn, he flipped down.

Linqing Prefecture differs from other places; it originally followed the practices of the previous Ming Dynasty, with a brick city established during the Hongwu period. However, with the opening of the Huitong River, the flourishing of transportation and commerce soon led to the formation of a prosperous market in the southwestern area of the brick city, specifically in the region surrounded by the Huitong River.

Then shall we head into the city?" Feng Ziying glanced at the chaotic dock, and at this moment, his mind began to race rapidly. "Shall we enter the inner city?"

The streets became increasingly chaotic, as some individuals dressed as workers rushed out from the southern market, scattering in all directions. Additionally, there were people setting fires in the cotton market at Binyang Gate, leading to widespread flames throughout Zhongzhou, thick smoke billowing, and the sounds of shouting and killing echoing.

The issue that left Feng You feeling incredulous and torn was how banditry could arise in a place like Linqing Prefecture, situated in the heart of the canal region

At this moment, Feng You could no longer afford to be concerned about much; he repeatedly raised the whip in his hand, and the spirited horse, in pain, galloped wildly, driving the carriage straight ahead

If the bandits take the opportunity to break in, it would truly become a disaster that results in the loss of the city and brings calamity to the entire clan

If he has changed and is now the commander, it is likely that he has already sealed the gates of the inner city. Until the situation outside is thoroughly understood, no one dares to easily open the gates of the inner city

Go! Feng You urged the horse to gallop swiftly

However, during the reign of the Ming Dynasty's Zhengde period, Liu Liu and Liu Qi from Shandong raised an army, affecting the once prosperous city of Linqing. The bandits of Shandong, renowned throughout the land, besieged Linqing, which was originally surrounded by earthen walls, and captured it, obtaining a large amount of grain, cotton, silk, cloth, tea, and military supplies, thereby revitalizing their momentum

"Do not linger any longer, each of you should find your own way out. Are you really waiting here to meet your demise?"

He has already realized that today's situation in Linqing City is unlikely to end well, given the current momentum. The group of inept officials at the inspection office has probably already shrunk back, but he does not understand why the garrison in the brick city has not come out.

The carriage maneuvered around a barricade formed by a pile of burning door panels that had collapsed, and then proceeded forward. Ahead, one could see a group of people lifting a massive log to strike the entrance of a shop.

A surge of people poured out from the area of Suipi Street, igniting several shops along the line of Daming Temple and Zhugang Alley, as thick black smoke accompanied by flickering flames began to wreak havoc.

Daring to rebel right under the eyes of the Lingqing garrison, he does not believe that there is nothing else behind this

In the city, wealthy merchants gather in large numbers, and almost every larger shop has at least a few guards. If one wishes to signal for assistance within the city, it is hard to believe that it could be done without the involvement of someone from within the city.

Although his expression remained as stern as before, Feng Ziying was still able to perceive a chilling determination in the other person's eyes that had not been present earlier

What place is this Linqing Prefecture? It has several water and land docks in the northern region

Upon seeing Feng You and his group approaching, the two rascals' eyes lit up, and with a whistle, seven or eight individuals from the crowd that was trying to break down the door immediately surged over in this direction

Some wish to board the ship, but the voyage had long been sealed off, prohibiting any vessel from leaving the shore. All the sailors have been sent ashore, and in their urgency, where is there still time to act?

Feng Youjiu fought fiercely in the borderlands; standing at the edge of the wall, a mere glance was enough to glean a general understanding.

Feng Tang was dismissed and returned home three years ago, and has been idle at home since then. He is currently seeking to make a comeback, which is why Feng Tang was unable to come this time, allowing Feng Ziying to take his place.

However, the fire in this city left Feng You feeling utterly unimaginable

Go, Keng Ge'er! If we don't leave now, it will be too late, and we might be caught by bandits!

The old Feng family residence is located in the alley next to Yongqing Street, adjacent to Scorpion Pit. Exiting the alley leads directly to Yongqing Street, and heading north will reach Yongqing Gate. However, the only uncertainty is whether it is possible to open the Yongqing city gate at this moment.

Meanwhile, the other two ruffians were grappling with a young woman dressed as a musician, violently knocking her to the ground and snatching her bundle away.

Let's go, head east first, and see if we can shout to open Yongqing Gate to enter the city

Shandong has always been a place where bandits thrive. Liu Liu and Liu Qi started their rise in Northern Zhili, but in reality, they only truly gained strength after receiving support from the bandits of Shandong.

This is the most prosperous market in Zhongzhou, where many of the shops are constructed of wood. Once a fire breaks out, it is likely to spread extensively.

The dock has long been in complete disarray

Setting fire in the city is not something that a group of bandits can accomplish

A group of laborers and porters running around in all directions, along with the panicked peddlers and the managers of various shops and warehouses, scattered like startled sparrows after a camp has been attacked

If he does not believe it, who would dare to seek death right under the watchful eyes of the garrison