Blocking roads to redress grievances must be done to officials whom you admire and trust.
Duke Cheng Guo was indeed so deeply loved in the capital.
The soldiers at the front couldn't help but feel proud.
I wonder what grievances these people have?
As soon as the thought flashed across my mind, I heard the group of people shouting loudly.
"Gong Chengguo went to war and demanded money!"
"Gong Chengguo raised an army and was warlike, causing trouble all over the world!"
"Dong Chengguo used war to make money and rob people of their livelihood!"
This shout echoed on the road, making everyone look horrified.
The soldiers who were a little excited at first were even more stunned.
What?
Raise troops and be warlike? Trouble the world?
Who? Say...them?
In a daze, one of the kneeling people raised his hand and smashed a rotten fruit over.
Either because the distance was a bit far, or because the person who threw the fruit was nervous and shivering and lacked strength, the fruit did not hit the soldiers, but fell to the ground in front of them with a snapping sound.
The sound was actually not loud, but for some reason, it sounded particularly loud in the soldiers' ears, just like the stone bombs thrown by the Qingshan Army in front of the formation, which made their ears buzz with explosions.
The juice from the fruit seemed to have touched their faces and bodies, making them sticky, stinging and hot.
"Raise troops and fight!"
"Disaster for the country and the people!"
"Give me a way to live!"
"Depleting the treasury!"
"The people are in dire straits!"
There were shouts one after another, more fruits were thrown at them, the sluggish crowd finally came to their senses, and the scene was in an uproar.
The soldiers on duty rushed in to drive them away, but the kneeling people resisted vigorously, ignoring the swords, guns and clubs in the hands of the soldiers.
"The officers and soldiers killed people!"
Several old women rolled to the ground, wailing and bumping into the soldiers.
Of course, it was impossible for the officers and soldiers to actually kill these people. For a moment, it was like being stuck in a mud pit and the scene was in chaos.
"What's going on?"
"It's the people who were not allowed to set up stalls because they couldn't pay the money some time ago."
"What do you pay for?"
"Of course it's the money given to Duke Cheng as a reward."
"Didn't you hear that?"
"You're stupid, you haven't heard that all officials' salaries have been levied, and of course these merchants are no exception."
Questions and discussions spread like the wind, the original cheers dissipated, and the expressions of the onlookers became strange and complicated.
The military formation was still in order, and the soldiers and horses were standing still and motionless, but the iron-blooded spirit from before seemed to have been weakened a lot under the noisy cries and complicated eyes.
……………………………………………
Countless officials lined up in front of the imperial city according to their status. Because the emperor had not arrived yet, everyone was chatting and laughing in low voices, and the atmosphere was relaxed and leisurely.
But soon the Imperial Guards came rushing over and whispered a few words to an official. The official's expression changed and he hurried inside. Soon the news spread and the place became a little noisy.
"how so?"
"I was actually stopped."
"What should we do?"
Ning Yunzhao stood in the back row, listening to the whispers of the people around him, and sighed.
"Ning Xiaoguan, who are you sighing for?" Someone asked in a low voice, "Are you sad for Duke Cheng?"
Even though Ning Yunzhao keeps a low profile, he is Ning Yan's nephew after all. Ning Yan was dismissed from his post for defending and supporting Duke Cheng in petitioning for war. Many people still unconsciously attribute him to the faction that supports Duke Cheng.
"You can say that." Ning Yunzhao replied with a calm expression, "But in fact, I feel sad for His Majesty. After all, Duke Cheng Guo is the emperor's face. At this time, he was blocked and could not meet on time. His Majesty also lost face.
"
Well, Ning Yunzhao is a person who only follows the emperor's orders, and everyone knows this.
The man coughed lightly and pointed at several senior officials who were walking out quickly.
"The adults have all gone, and it should be settled." He whispered, "It won't delay the auspicious time for His Majesty's interview."
Ning Yunzhao also nodded.
"I believe Cheng Guo will protect His Majesty's face," he said.
Believe Cheng Guogong? How can Cheng Guogong defend him? Should he admit his fault to the small businessmen, hawkers, old men, women and children who blocked the road and ask them to get out of the way?
The officials who received the news hurriedly left the city, but the commotion seven miles away was already even louder.
The incoming crowd almost blocked the officers and soldiers on duty who came to reinforce the order after hearing the news. The crying and shouting people on the road were fighting with the officers and soldiers. Some people who were lured by Deshengchang's money to the middle of the road also began to follow.
Yelling and making noise.
"I want to see Duke Cheng!"
"Let Duke Cheng come out!"
"Give us an explanation!"
Nearly a hundred people shouted loudly, waved banners, and even rushed towards the military formation.
The faces of the soldiers standing at the front of the military formation had long since lost their excitement, replaced by dullness, confusion and loss.
The army formation suddenly separated, and an armored man came over on horseback.
Everyone present was stunned when they saw the visitor.
Although she was wearing armor and a hat, her face was covered, but she was definitely a girl.
Are there actually women in the army?
The appearance of this woman surprised everyone, and the noise unconsciously became much quieter.
"Hey, are you here to make trouble because the government collects money and is unwilling to pay it?" Zhao Hanqing asked loudly.
I heard that Duke Cheng Guo was rescued from Yizhou by his daughter-in-law leading troops. Is this the girl next to the prince's wife?
The leader's eyes flashed.
No matter who is coming, as long as he comes out to ask questions, the matter will be settled. Look at the officers and soldiers who were originally pulling them, hesitantly stopped at this time.
And he asked a little girl to come out to ask questions. How easy it is to deal with a little girl.
The man suppressed the ecstasy in his heart and shouted in response. Others also agreed, and the scene became chaotic again.
"...The government collects our money because..." the man continued to speak loudly, but as soon as he spoke, he was interrupted by the girl.
"Failure to obey orders is a crime." She said loudly, "Gathering a crowd to cause trouble is a crime. Those who offend the people and cause chaos will be punished according to the law. You will be arrested as soon as possible."
What? Offending the people and causing chaos? He was arrested without any help?
The noisy scene was quiet again.
What are you talking about? Why did they offend the people? Who did she think she was!
The leading man came to his senses and was both amused and furious.
What a remote warrior woman, ignorant and ridiculous.
"We are not rioters, we are being oppressed..." he shouted.
Before he finished speaking, he was interrupted again by the girl.
"We have been ordered to enter the city. You must retreat quickly, otherwise you will be disobeying the emperor's order." She shouted loudly, "Those who dare to disobey the emperor's order will be killed without mercy."
Kill without mercy? Real or fake?
Everyone present was stunned. What big talk was this little girl talking about?
As soon as the thought flashed, he saw the little girl raising the crossbow in her hand and pointing it at them. Following her movements, the soldiers behind her raised their crossbows almost simultaneously.
The bright and cold crossbow arrows flashed in front of their eyes, which made the people who had never seen such a scene scream in surprise and rush back.
The chilling atmosphere made the leading man feel frightened and his expression changed.
Kill without mercy? How is it possible? If they were facing Jin Yiwei at this time, they would not have any doubts, but how could Duke Cheng Guo behave like Jin Yiwei?
"Don't panic, I don't believe it. Cheng Guo, who loves his people like his own son, will shoot us, the people who have been wronged." He shouted loudly, taking a step forward.
Everyone else also calmed down.
"That's right, we have grievances and want to complain."
"We are common people, not gold thieves."
"The officers and soldiers dare not kill us."
"Gong Cheng is going to kill the people."
Chaotic shouts, curses, and cries rang out, and the crowd surged forward again.
"Fire the arrow."
A clear yet cold female voice sounded, and accompanied by a buzzing sound, crossbow arrows flew towards them one after another.
Screams rang out all around, and even the officers and soldiers on duty to maintain order subconsciously shouted out.
Fortunately, those arrows did not actually hit people, but were inserted in a row in front of the feet of the crowd of people.
Rao was so frightened that the people in the row in front sat down on the ground and howled.
He actually fired the arrow!
The man standing in the middle looked frightened, but he gritted his teeth again.
Look, although they dare to shoot arrows, they don't dare to shoot people. It's just a bluff.
"Don't be afraid of them." He shouted, waving his hand, "We want an explanation! We want an explanation!"
Accompanied by his shouts, the surprised crowd moved forward hesitantly again.
Zhao Hanqing put away her crossbow. Following her movements, the soldiers behind her also put away their crossbows.
Look, look, they are afraid!
The crowd burst into joy, and before their joy faded, they saw the girl pull out a spear.
"Form up and move forward!" she shouted loudly, waving the spear forward and pointing it at the crowd blocking the road.
There were clattering sounds behind them, the military formations moved together, the crossbowmen in the front line retreated, and a group of spearmen appeared.
"drink!"
Accompanied by unanimous cheers, the horses marched forward in formation.
Horse hooves rolled and the ground shook. Their expressions were solemn and dull, as if they were facing gold thieves instead of ordinary people. The spears in their hands were cold and bloody.
The chilling air came overwhelmingly.
….
...........
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After so many days, I finally climbed up to the backstage to take a look. I felt really lonely during the first update. (To be continued)