Chapter 148 This is a case of officials forcing the people to rebel; we have no choice but to rebel!
On an open ground two miles outside Weizhou City, countless refugees were densely packed together, yet there was none of the chaos typical of a disaster relief camp.
The elderly, women, and children gathered around a makeshift stove to cook, and wisps of smoke drifted away on the wind.
The young and middle-aged men, armed with hoes, machetes, and even captured standard-issue long knives, lined up in the open space to practice. Although their movements were not perfectly synchronized, they exuded a fierce and courageous spirit.
They don't look like refugees fleeing famine; they look more like an army on the march.
Shi Zhu stood in a makeshift tent, discussing siege strategies with several leading refugees, drawing a simple Weizhou city defense map on the ground with a wooden stick in his hand.
"The western corner tower is the least guarded, but there's a moat outside the city. We don't have siege equipment, so a direct assault would definitely result in losses. The eastern gate is wide open, but it's garrisoned by government troops. We tried to breach it last time, but we couldn't..."
Before he could finish speaking, his gaze involuntarily drifted to the woman in black standing to the side.
It was Ru Mo, one of the princess's subordinates.
Just two weeks ago, he had organized the disaster victims to surround the hundreds of soldiers who came to attack. The two sides were deadlocked on Qianniu Mountain, and neither dared to make the first move.
Just then, she suddenly appeared, helping him break through the soldiers' formation, seize a lot of weapons, and even capture General He, who was said to be the deputy general of the Dragon Guard.
He didn't know how the princess's subordinates could be here in such a chaotic world, but seeing that she was keeping a low profile, he didn't ask any further questions.
Later, it was she who proposed the "feint to the east while attacking the west" strategy, which led him to lead a group of refugees to feign an attack on the suburban post station to attract the attention of the government troops, while the other group secretly sneaked into Qinghe County and went straight to the Cui family's old house.
It was only then that Shi Zhu realized that Ru Mo had already figured out the Cui family's defenses.
The main force of the Cui family went to suppress bandits in Qianniu Mountain, leaving only some servants to guard the old house. They launched a surprise attack with the captured weapons and stormed in with almost no effort.
There were already quite a few people among the disaster victims who resented the Cui family.
The Cui family hoarded grain year after year, driving up grain prices. Countless people watched helplessly as their families starved to death because they had to exchange their land for grain.
Now that they could finally take revenge themselves, everyone was blinded by rage and actually slaughtered the entire Cui family in one fell swoop. Even the grain hidden in the Cui family's granary was taken out and used as their supplies.
With manpower, weapons, and ample food, the refugees were overjoyed and looked at Shizhu with more awe.
It was then that he learned that Ru Mo's intention was to have him lead this "refugee army" into Weizhou City.
This coincided with his own thoughts.
In Weizhou City, there are officials who disregard the people, merchants who hoard grain and speculate on prices, and... the Second Prince Li Yuanyou, who is trapped in the city.
He had long wanted to rush into the city to avenge his deceased son.
But when they arrived outside Weizhou City in a grand procession, they discovered that things were far more difficult than they had imagined.
The city walls of Weizhou were tall and sturdy, the city gates were tightly closed, and the soldiers on the walls had plenty of bows and arrows.
They attempted to attack the city several times, but were driven back each time.
They could only remain in a stalemate outside the city, and this stalemate lasted for several days.
“Chief Shi,” Ru Mo suddenly spoke, interrupting his thoughts, “there’s no need to worry about siege equipment. Tonight we can try a night raid.”
She walked up to the city defense map and pointed to the northwest corner of Weizhou City.
"The city walls there have been in disrepair for years, and the bricks are loose. I have already had ropes and crowbars prepared. At night, I will send a team to quietly climb up and open the city gate, and then the army will take the opportunity to rush in."
Upon hearing this, the refugees all showed excited expressions, their previous dejection vanishing completely.
Everyone listened to Shi Zhu, thinking that once they entered Weizhou City, they could kill corrupt officials, seize grain, and avenge their families.
But when Shi Zhu looked at Ru Mo, who was standing beside her with a confident expression, a strange feeling suddenly arose in her heart.
Ru Mo's plan was too meticulous.
But what is her purpose in helping me like this?
Could it be that she also intends to take advantage of the chaos and kill the Second Prince, just like him?
Just then, Chen Er rushed over to report, "Brother Shi, our men intercepted a carriage on the official road to Weizhou. Inside were three women, two men, and several children."
Upon hearing this, Shi Zhu frowned.
Weizhou has been besieged for so long, people outside are trying to escape, so why would anyone willingly jump into the fire?
He was about to ask her more questions when he noticed a slight change in Ru Mo's eyes. Before he could speak, she vanished without a trace.
Shi Zhu knew that she had a special identity and didn't want to be seen by others.
"Where is he being held?" Shi Zhu asked Chen Er after the man left.
"They were in the small tent up ahead. The brothers didn't dare to touch them, but they didn't know what to do with them."
Chen Er scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed, "Although we killed the Cui family and those corrupt officials, we can't just kill innocent civilians indiscriminately..."
"I'll go take a look," Shi Zhu said, and walked towards the tent.
The moment the curtain was lifted, Shizhu stopped abruptly.
Inside the tent, a figure in a black cloth dress stood with her back to him, her back ramrod straight. Even in the most ordinary clothes, she exuded an aura that no one else possessed.
Isn't this...the Eldest Princess?
As if sensing his gaze, the man slowly turned around.
That icy gaze—who else could it be but the Eldest Princess?
Shi Zhu was deeply shocked and knelt down with a thud. "This humble subject... greets Your Highness the Princess!"
His kneeling startled everyone else in the tent.
Sitting to the side, Xue Nanzhi finally realized why the princess dared to come alone into the crowd of refugees; it turned out she had an inside accomplice.
Wasn't the eldest princess an imperial envoy sent by the court to suppress the rebels and quell the uprising?
How did she come to know the leader of the mob, and why did he trust her so much?
This is practically turning the world upside down!
The air inside the tent seemed to freeze instantly, with only the faint sounds of the refugees outside.
Shi Zhu knelt on the ground, her forehead pressed against the cold earth, but her heart was in turmoil.
Why did the eldest princess come here in person?
Did she come alone, or did she come on behalf of the court behind her?
Li Yuanzhao looked at him coldly and said, "Shizhu, you are the Grand Tutor's man. You have followed the Grand Tutor since childhood and learned a lot of principles. Now you are leading the refugees to plunder and slaughter, which is tantamount to rebellion. Do you know what crime you should be punished for?"
Upon hearing this, Shi Zhu's heart sank, and cold sweat instantly broke out on her back.
So, did the eldest princess really represent the imperial court to suppress these "rebels"?
Yet Ru Mo clearly helped them destroy the Cui family, seize grain, and even plotted to attack Weizhou City.
This contradictory behavior left him momentarily bewildered.
He raised his head and looked at Li Yuanzhao, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement.
“Your Highness, you are the person the young master wholeheartedly wants to follow and assist. I know you are a good person.”
"But as you have seen, this is the way of the world. Those people outside the tent were originally law-abiding farmers. It was the powerful families who hoarded grain and raised prices, the officials who ignored the disaster, and the Second Prince who failed to provide adequate disaster relief that caused them to lose their land, their families, and even a full meal!"
His voice gradually rose, tinged with emotion, "Your Highness, this is not a rebellion we want to carry out; it is a rebellion forced upon us by the officials. We have no choice but to rebel."
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