Zhu Nao

Two days later.

When it was daylight, the officers and soldiers who had been guarding the gate of the state capital all night were already reeling.Some people leaned against the wall and fell asleep, and some people breathed heavily, listening to the sound of water drops on the eaves and counting the time in boredom, and they can go back to rest when it is time to change shifts.

"It's freezing to death today," one person rubbed his hands and complained in a low voice, "How long will it take before we can go back to sleep?"

"Should be soon? Wait a minute."

"Every time they change shifts, those people are dawdling, and let us wait for a long time. Next time they shift, we will come out later and let them stand a little longer."

"Oh, it's so cold, so sleepy, so hungry..."

Those who dozed continued to doze, and those who were awake chatted absently to pass the boring time.After a while, they heard footsteps from nearby, thinking that the shift changer had finally arrived, and hurriedly began to pack their things and prepare for the handover.

Gradually, the footsteps got closer and closer, and became more and more obvious.Someone noticed something was wrong, and hurriedly woke up the person who was still dozing off beside him: "Hey, wake up, do you hear footsteps?"

The person who was awakened almost stumbled, shook his head quickly, and asked in a daze, "What happened?"

"Listen to the footsteps, why do I feel like a lot of people are coming?"

"what?"

Originally, it was still dark, but today it was foggy again, and the visibility was only two or three meters away.The officers and soldiers heard hurried and chaotic footsteps, and vaguely saw someone coming in front of them, but they couldn't see clearly at all.The vigilant people have already noticed that something is wrong, but the big-hearted people are still unprepared and walk forward with their heads stretched out: "Who is it? Is the shift changer here?"

When the distance between the two sides was close to the face, the officers and soldiers finally saw clearly-there was a large crowd of people in front of them, where were the officers and soldiers who came to change shifts?It is clearly the angry people!

"what!!"

The terrified screams broke the silence in Yuzhou City, indicating that a new day had begun.

=====

"State shepherd! State shepherd! Wake up, something is wrong!"

Crazy knocking on the door woke up Wang Zhoumu who was still asleep.He rubbed his eyes and sat up, the cold outside the bed invaded his body, he shivered suddenly, and asked angrily: "Who is it?"

The outside said: "Zhou Mu, something serious has happened, many people have come outside, and they have already broken into the state capital!"

"Ah?" Wang Zhoumu looked dull, suspecting that he was still dreaming.

After a while, Wang Zhoumu put on his robe and opened the door, only to see the anxious captain wandering quickly at his door.Seeing him coming out, the captain immediately stepped forward: "Zhou Mu, what should we do now? People have already broken into the vicinity of Yimen!"

Wang Zhoumu still couldn't believe it: "People broke into the state capital? How many people?"

The captain said: "I don't know the number, I'm afraid there are hundreds of people!"

Wang Zhoumu was startled: "How many, how many hundreds of people!?" He thought that at most dozens of people would cause trouble, why suddenly hundreds of people appeared? ?With so many people making trouble, is someone secretly organizing it?Why didn't he hear the wind before? ?

He quickly pricked up his ears and listened carefully, vaguely as if he could really hear the noise outside, he suddenly became anxious: "What are you doing to eat, why did you let them in the gate?"

The captain didn't dare to speak up.It was still early in the morning before dawn, and the officers and soldiers were sleepy, and their spirits were inevitably a little slack. Who would have expected this to happen suddenly?There were so many people and menacing people, and when they made a commotion at the gate, the officers and soldiers guarding the gate panicked and ran away, that's why people broke in.

But even though the door was mentioned, Yimen was not easy.The officers and soldiers who had woken up hurriedly closed the gate of the ceremony. At this moment, the common people were knocking on the door and shouting. The two sides were at a stalemate.

Although Wang Zhoumu was annoyed, he remained calm.His state shepherd's mansion is in the deepest part of the state capital. After Yimen, there are the lobby, the second hall, the officials' house, the master's office, the state's office and the back garden. It will take a long time for ordinary people to break into here. It may not be possible to break in.

He quickly rushed back into the room, found a talisman, rushed out of the room, and stuffed it into the captain's hand: "Quick, immediately go and mobilize all the people to suppress the rioting people. We must not let them break in again!"

When the officers and soldiers saw the talisman, their complexions immediately changed. They didn't dare to reach out to pick it up. Instead, they said cautiously: "Zhou Mu, do you want to send someone to talk to the people? I see that there are many old and weak women and children among the people..."

"Old and weak women and children?" Wang Zhoumu stared, "Why are old and weak women and children here?"

The captain hesitated for a moment, then whispered: "I heard them yelling to ask the state government to release the people in the prison, and... and..."

"What else?"

"There are also executions of profiteers and corrupt officials..."

Wang Zhoumu: "..."

He suddenly became more angry: "The mob, a bunch of mobs! Didn't I already issue a decree of atonement? If you pay a little money, you can be exonerated. What do they want to do when they break into the state capital?! Who else do you want to execute? My state shepherd Just let them do it!"

Just as he was talking, another shout came from outside. Although the sound was still far away, it seemed to have passed through the Yimen Gate.

He immediately stuffed the talisman into the hesitant lieutenant's hand, glaring at him: "Why don't you go soon?!"

This talisman is used to open the arsenal.On weekdays, most soldiers are not equipped with weapons and armor. One is to prevent soldiers from rebelling, and the other is to prevent incidents of weapon theft and loss.Soldiers can only open the arsenal and use weapons if they get this talisman kept by the state pastor.

At this time, Wang Zhoumu gave this talisman and ordered the suppression, and the meaning was very clear - he did not intend to resolve the conflict peacefully, but to suppress it by force, allowing the officers and soldiers to kill and injure the rioting people.

The captain got the talisman and didn't dare to disobey the order. He heard the shouts outside seem to be approaching, so he hurriedly mobilized his hands to get the weapons.

Wang Zhoumu didn't have the mood to go back to catch up on sleep, so he quickly put on his clothes and shoes, and headed towards the official's house.

……

In the official's house, a group of officials were also awakened by the noise, and gathered in the yard to discuss the incidents outside.

Seeing Wang Zhoumu appear, everyone hurriedly surrounded him.

"Zhou Mu, I heard that hundreds of people are making trouble outside!"

"I know, I've heard." Wang Zhoumu frowned, "I've asked the captain to open the arsenal."

"Open the arsenal?!" The officials were also taken aback.

There was immediate objection.

"State herdsman, you can't do it! Those people are unarmed, and they must have grievances when they come to besiege the state capital. If the officers and soldiers are allowed to open the arsenal, I am afraid that many people will be killed. It is better to send someone to listen to their grievances and resolve them properly. This matter."

"Yes, Zhou Mu, they came here today because of the Zhengda grain store. The government arrested dozens of people back then, and today there are hundreds of people making trouble. If the government suppresses hundreds of people today, I'm afraid it will happen in the future." There will be thousands of people making trouble!"

Some people objected, while others applauded.

"They've already broken into the state capital. What if it's not mobs? Don't suppress it at this time, wait for them to break in and kill us all?!"

"It should be suppressed! If they make trouble this time, let them go, and they won't have to come to the state capital every day to make trouble?"

"Even if those people have grievances, we have to suppress the riots first and then listen to their grievances. Otherwise, they will break in, rob the arsenal and grain depot, and get weapons. Is that okay?!"

There are also people who are very puzzled.The situation in Yuzhou has not been very good. The contradiction between the government and the people has not been a day or two, but everyone has made do with it.Why have the conflicts suddenly intensified recently?It was smashing the grain store and breaking into the government. When did it start?Thinking about it, it seems to be starting from a non-traitorous food company... Forget it, now is not the time to think about it.

Wang Zhoumu was so quarreled by the crowd, he waved his hands impatiently and said: "It's all right, stop arguing, I am the state shepherd and I have the final say. If these foolish people don't take my official's benevolent government seriously, they must be suppressed! Only Let them know their weight. They will not dare to make trouble in the future!"

Someone persuasively persuaded: "Zhou Mu, water can carry a boat and capsize it."

Wang Zhoumu said angrily: "Don't say such bad words! The common people are just a mob. When the officers and soldiers show their swords, they will be able to scare most of them away. Don't be scared by them."

As soon as the words fell, someone suddenly exclaimed: "Look, why is there smoke there? Is something burning?"

The officials hurriedly looked in the direction of the man's finger, only to see black smoke indeed rising not far away.Seeing the direction of the smoke clearly, everyone was stunned.

Soon, the captain holding the talisman ran back in a panic.

"Zhou Mu, it's bad! The arsenal is on fire!!"

"What???" Wang Zhoumu was dumbfounded, and rushed to grab his lapel, "Why did the arsenal catch fire???"

"I don't know!" the captain wanted to cry, "I've already sent someone to fetch water to put out the fire, but I'm afraid it will be too late. Next to the arsenal is the grain depot. If the grain is burned, it will be over!"

Wang Zhoumu couldn't believe it, and yelled with spittle: "You lied!! Is it because you refused to open the arsenal and deliberately lied to me?!"

The captain called Qu Budie: "How is it possible? If Zhou Mu doesn't believe it, go and see for yourself, the arsenal is really on fire!"

And the direction from which the black smoke came was indeed the direction where the arsenal was located.

Seeing that his expression did not seem to be fake, Wang Zhoumu immediately took a deep breath.The breath stuck in his nasal cavity, causing a burst of dizziness, his body swayed, and he almost fell, but was supported by the quick-sighted people around him.

Trembling, he raised his hand and said urgently: "Block, block the door! Be sure to let the door be blocked! Don't let ordinary people break in..."

Without the weapons in the arsenal, there were hundreds of people making trouble, far more than the officers and soldiers.If the officers and soldiers can't stop them and let the people break in, the angry crowd will probably beat him to death.

As soon as his words fell, another officer and soldier ran in from outside in a panic: "Zhou Mu, it's not good! The officers and soldiers blocking the gate heard that the arsenal was burned, and they all ran away in fright! The common people have already passed the gate of Yi , coming to the lobby!"

Wang Zhoumu: "..."

Wang Zhoumu: "!!!"

=====

The morning fog dissipated and the sky gradually brightened.

A teahouse not far away had just opened early in the morning, and a customer was already seated on the second floor.He was the only guest in the whole teahouse.He was sitting by the window, blowing the hot air in his teacup while looking at the street outside.

It was just dawn, and the city was already very lively.Someone is knocking on the door of the neighborhood, sharing the latest happenings.The people who heard the news suddenly showed interest, and they all came out of their homes and ran towards the state capital.

Suddenly a young man came against the crowd, stepped into the teahouse and went up to the second floor.

He walked up to the young man, with a slight smile on his young face: "My lord, everything is going well."

Seeing that his cheeks were flushed by the cold wind, Zhu Nao handed him a cup of hot tea: "Can the fire be controlled?"

Jing Zhe took the teacup and nodded: "It's under control."

It was they who set the fire in the arsenal.They brought in a great deal of straw and wet wood, which burned modestly, but the smoke was thick and choking enough that no one could come near it.In this way, enough time can be delayed, and the fire will not be too large, burning down the nearby grain depot or even the entire state capital.

And the reason why Jun Nao ordered them to capture the arsenal, because once they hold this place, the situation can be controlled.People break into the state capital and make trouble, no matter how many people there are, as long as both sides are unarmed, at most they will hit a few with bruises and swollen faces, and the casualties are limited.But once a large number of weapons appear, things will be difficult to deal with.If the weapons fall into the hands of officers and soldiers, they will become officers and soldiers slaughtering the people; if the weapons fall into the hands of the people, the security of Yuzhou Prefecture is so chaotic, and there must be a lot of thugs who fish in troubled waters and lose their minds, and it will be difficult to end in the end.No matter what kind of ending, it is not what Junao wants to see.

What he wants is not violent conflict, but negotiation.

"What's the situation now?" he asked.

Jing Zhe said: "The officers and soldiers of Yuzhou Mansion heard that the arsenal was burned, and they were in chaos. When I came out, the people had already passed the lobby, and if we went further inside, we would soon reach the officials' quarters. Wang Zhoumu had already confessed, and sent Lu Lianshan out to appease Talk to the people."

It has only been half an hour since the incident started in the morning, and the people have already broken into the lobby.Junao smiled and shook his head again.The officers and soldiers of Yuzhou Prefecture are really more vulnerable than imagined.

Jing Zhe finished drinking the hot tea with her head up, put the teacup back on the table, then ran downstairs quickly, and continued to inquire about news.