After the first rank of soldiers fired their arrows, they immediately retreated, and the second rank of soldiers stepped forward in a crisscross pattern, firing their arrows in a continuous motion.
After the launch, the ones behind skillfully moved to the front.
Screams rose and fell, and some shouted, "The tyrant is immoral! The Song Dynasty is doomed..."
The crowd was still in turmoil, and many people began to flee.
Han Shizhong said, "The cavalry must pursue and kill them, leaving no one alive!"
He Qingchen hid far away, but he could still hear the heart-wrenching and desperate screams.
He couldn't help but shiver.
About two hours later, the bright moon had risen high overhead, and the already desolate Yunzhou appeared even more deserted, with only desperate screams coming from some boxes.
Han Shizhong appeared at the prefectural government office, and He Qingchen was waiting at the entrance. Everyone was too afraid to make a sound.
"Prefect He, the reins are now in your hands."
"Rest assured, Marquis Yongwu, I will handle it immediately."
He ordered the assembled troops to set off to clear out the enemy lines.
As the cold moon sets in the west, it outlines the rugged angles of the imperial palace's eaves.
The bustling city of Tokyo remains brightly lit, and people continue to vent their emotions tirelessly.
The palace, however, remained austere. After a rain, the lake shimmered, with occasional fish creating ripples.
The emperor sat by the lake fishing, and the empire's prime minister, Xu Churen, also sat beside him, fishing with him.
There was another person standing nearby, Duan Zhijie, who had only served as the Qin Feng Road Military Commissioner for a few days three years ago.
Back then, he went on a killing spree on Qinfeng Road, causing unrest in the important border town. He was severely reprimanded by the emperor and demoted.
After three years of silence in the Song Dynasty's officialdom, no one knew that he had entered the imperial palace and was fishing with the emperor and prime minister.
The emperor said, "The Jingdong Circuit not only has a well-developed river transport system, but it is also the central hub connecting Jiangnan and Hebei. It cannot be disrupted."
Xu Churen said from the side, "Your Majesty is wise. Jingdong Road is the land of Qi and Lu. Mizhou and other places are important ferry crossings for trade with Goryeo. Agriculture and maritime trade are very prosperous. Moreover, the academic atmosphere there is strong. It is the hometown of Confucius. During the Spring and Autumn Period, there was the Jixia Academy, where the philosophers debated."
"Lord Xu, the Jurchen invaders still harbor ill intentions towards our Great Song Dynasty, so let's not bring up academic debates anymore. Zhang Kang was a good official who loved the people like his own children, yet he was beheaded in the street. Is this something they would do? If everyone did that, wouldn't our Great Song Dynasty be thrown into complete chaos!"
Although the emperor's tone was gentle, it conveyed a sense of imposing authority without anger.
"I have heard that He Qingchen, the newly appointed prefect of Yunzhou, is worried that killing too many people will cause the situation to escalate."
Xu Churen said, "He Qingchen has only been there for a short time. The court is in dire need of capable people. I beg Your Majesty to give him another chance. He is an upright and incorruptible man."
Zhao Huan paused for a moment and then said, "Prime Minister Xu, I recommend Duan Zhijie to you to serve as the Military Commissioner of Jingdong Circuit. What do you think?"
“Your Majesty, the position of military commissioner is not permanent, and the Jingdong Circuit is not a border region.”
"It is now!"
Zhao Huan's tone suddenly turned cold, and Shao Chengzhang handed Xu Churen a confession.
Xu Churen opened it and was immediately stunned: "This..."
Suddenly, Duan Zhijie, who was standing to the side, said, "Your subject dares to ask."
"The Song Dynasty is currently facing an unprecedented crisis. To ensure the implementation of the new policies, we must proceed with extreme caution."
How to be cautious?
Duan Zhijie continued, “Since ancient times, the people have suffered when the country prospers and when it falls. Your Majesty’s new policies are truly a strategy to enrich the country and strengthen the people. However, I believe that there are still conservatives in the local areas who are trying to obstruct Your Majesty’s reforms. I am willing to travel to the eastern part of the country on Your Majesty’s behalf to observe the implementation of the new policies. If the eastern part of the country cannot be transformed within three years, I will offer my head to you!”
The local conservatives that Duan Zhijie was referring to were clearly those who had not been completely purged or who had hidden themselves well.
These people attempted to infiltrate the Imperial City Guard, the Imperial Gazette of the Great Song Dynasty, and the local militia.
A network was formed throughout the entire official system, from the imperial court to the local level, filtering out or preventing the new policies from being implemented effectively.
This could even become a hidden danger for an outbreak, because they are accumulating strength, and they will launch a counterattack as soon as the time is right.
Duan Zhijie's words struck a nerve with the emperor.
Moreover, this person is ruthless and cruel, which fits Zhao Huan's criteria for choosing a person for Jingdong Road.
Zhao Huan had already planned it out. In less than three years, as long as Duan Zhijie performed well, he would send him to Jingdong Road to accumulate merits, and then transfer him back to the capital to serve as the head of the Censorate, to cooperate with Qin Hui and, incidentally, to check and balance Qin Hui.
He was bound to clash with the Imperial Guards, the Song Dynasty Gazette, and the local militias on Jingdong Road, and then kill a number of people.
They are the perfect candidates to monitor the army and the Imperial City Guard in the future.
Xu Churen couldn't keep up with the emperor's divergent thinking for a moment. He thought the emperor had sent Duan Zhijie only to temporarily quell the situation in Jingdong Road.
After all, Duan Zhijie had a criminal record in officialdom, and for the time being, no one in the court stood up to speak for him.
After a moment of silence, the emperor said, "Minister Xu, you must make good use of Duan Zhijie!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
P.S.: I've been really busy all day, so I only have one chapter left. I'll update more tomorrow.
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