Chapter 1379: Chapter 1379 The Fury of the People

Ji Wanrong, upon learning this news, exclaimed loudly that heaven was protecting them.

She immediately dispatched people to Linjiang City; Governor Yi Zhongcheng had already sent officials to appease the populace.

Yi Zhongcheng handled his tasks, while Ji Wanrong took care of her own affairs.

She incited those wealthy households that had been robbed, encouraging them to bring their tenants and family members to the Southern Capital City to petition.

Officials along the way, as long as they were her people, received orders not to hinder them.

Within just three short days, Linjiang City mobilized over a thousand boats, advancing both on land and water, assembling a crowd of over a hundred thousand people to head to the Southern Capital City.

They gathered outside the city, holding banners, pulling white cloth with the words, “We earnestly request the Governor to eliminate the water bandits and make decisions for the people!”

“Without removing the water bandits, the people will find no peace!”

And even harsher ones, stating directly, “Officials who do not eliminate bandits should go home and sell sweet potatoes!”

With such a large gathering, the guards at the Southern Capital City dared not let them in, and blocked all eight city gates, deploying soldiers from the City Defense Camp for a staunch standby.

The matter became widely known among the residents of the Southern Capital City. Inside the city, under Ji Wanrong’s planning, some began to respond to the citizens from Linjiang City outside.

They raised banners, demanding the opening of the city gates and asking Governor Yi Zhongcheng to provide an explanation to everyone.

Among these people, some were simply joining in the excitement, some were relatives of Linjiang City citizens, and some were those who couldn’t stand the chaos caused by the water bandits.

The most active were the students from the Southern Capital Academy; in the Great Xia Country, academies were established everywhere.

Ordinary people seeking advancement had two paths: one was to join a sect for cultivation, and the other was to join an academy to enter the world.

Academies also taught methods of cultivation, although not as professionally as sects.

However, the benefit of academies was that graduates could enter the Imperial Court and civil organizations as officials.

It seemed that disciples of merchant sects graduating from the Southern Capital Academy were heavily recruited by major business firms and shops.

These students had a sense of justice and were currently distressed about having nothing to do.

With someone igniting a spark beside them, the entire academy became restless, and they immediately took to the streets with banners.

This situation somewhat resembled the world outside.

They held signs in their hands and organized under various slogans.

Some spoke on serious issues, saying, “Combat water bandits and restore my peace.”

Others directly hit on, “Without eliminating corrupt officials, water bandits are hard to destroy!”

Some were even nonsensical, under banners of “Gender equality and women’s liberation.”

Within just one day, all sorts of banners emerged.

Some were even advocating to overthrow the cafeteria, claiming that the Southern Capital Academy’s cafeteria used inferior rice to pass as good rice, eating two mouthfuls would chip a tooth, and eating three would cause diarrhea.

Long Fei and his group sat in a street-side pavilion, sipping tea.

Chu Feng, observing the young female students outside, laughed and teased, “It seems the young have more fighting spirit!”

Wang Jie sighed, “The world has suffered under Qin’s rule for long; this is the rage of the people, this is the power of the masses.”

Murong Chong commented, “This fire is still too small; only if it burns bigger will it be effective.”

Wang Xun looked at this group, unsure of what they were talking about.

He had never been outside and was somewhat unfamiliar with the outside world’s affairs.

However, it was apparent that these young people were not causing trouble but were acting with orderliness.

Long Fei, sipping tea, casually said, “Rest assured, that fool Yi Zhongcheng will surely help us fan the flames.”

He had seen Yi Zhongcheng at the Liuu Family; a typical official clan child, relying on ancestral favor to become a governor, ambitious yet incompetent, lacking any insight.

He had already offended such an important family as the Liuu Family.

Faced with this situation, he could not possibly resolve it smoothly; instead, he would only escalate the matter even further.

In the Governor’s Mansion, Yi Zhongcheng was indeed already at wit’s end.

He summoned Commander Sima Yan of the City Defense Camp, newly appointed County Magistrate Su Peiyuan of Linjiang City, and various military and political officials from all sides.

Inside the council chamber, everyone sat like they were on pins and needles, constantly wiping sweat from their foreheads.

Yi Zhongcheng sat in the center, his eyes glaring like a bronze bell, staring at Su Peiyuan and cursing, “You useless piece of trash, didn’t I instruct you to properly appease the citizens. What is happening out there? How dare they still come to the Southern Capital City to cause trouble?”

Su Peiyuan nervously replied, “Governor, it’s not that I failed to appease; it’s just that the water bandits this time have caused too much chaos! They looted all the stored grain and silver coins, leaving me helpless without resources!”

Yi Zhongcheng sipped his tea, smashed the tea bowl on the table, and demanded, “How much silver is left to cover now?”

Su Peiyuan handed over the freshly calculated account, introduced it to Yi Zhongcheng, “The losses of merchants and farmers in Linjiang City add up to a total of six hundred and fifty million taels of silver. According to the minimum appeasement standard, at least sixty million taels of silver are needed!”

Yi Zhongcheng cursed angrily, “Nonsense, Linjiang City pays how much in taxes a year? How dare they demand sixty million taels of silver in one go, why don’t they go rob instead?”

Su Peiyuan coughed dryly and hung his head, not daring to speak.

Commander Sima Yan of the City Defense Camp, a hot-tempered son of the Sima Family, also an ambitious yet incompetent official clan child.

He advised Yi Zhongcheng, “Governor, in this situation, heavy punishment is necessary to control the situation. While the condition in Chang’an City remains unclear, we cannot allow any more chaos here, lest we create more trouble for the Third Prince. I suggest arresting all the leaders causing trouble and make an example of them. Then provide some incentives to other leaders, so they take the remaining people back to their original places obediently.”

A staff officer suggested, “Governor, I agree with General Sima’s approach. These troublemakers need to be dealt with harshly so they won’t think we at the official residence are easy to bully, or they will become even more impudent.”

“I agree.”

“I agree too.”

Many people expressed their agreement.

Yi Zhongcheng wiped sweat from his forehead, unable to decide.

At this moment, outside the prefectural government office, a neat shout rang out, “Down with corrupt officials, annihilate water bandits, and restore my peace!”

“Without removing corrupt officials, water bandits are hard to destroy!”

“Eradicate water bandits, seek revenge!”

“…”

Waves of shouting surged one after another, and some even climbed onto the walls of the Governor’s Mansion, spit fiercely inside.

Some even rolled up their pants and began urinating on the doors.

The steward of the Governor’s Mansion quickly reported, “Master, things are not good, chaos has erupted inside the city as well. A group of troublemakers has gathered, urinating and spitting at our door!”

Yi Zhongcheng stood up abruptly, cursing angrily, “Troublemakers, don’t know the good from the bad. I’ve been patient again and again, yet they advance again and again, truly thinking I’m a soft persimmon that can be squeezed at will?”

He took out a token for mobilizing troops, and loudly instructed the commander of the City Defense Camp, “Sima Yan!”

“I am here!”

Sima Yan stood up excitedly, looking ready to gain merit and rewards.

Yi Zhongcheng ordered, “I command you to mobilize your troops, use any means necessary, and quickly quell this chaos. All organizers of the trouble must be apprehended and severely punished!”

“I accept the order!”

Sima Yan received the token for troop mobilizing, shook his golden armor, flicked his red cloak behind him, and strode out the door.