What does it mean to cause a huge uproar?
That's it!
The murmurs that had subsided rose again, this time even more exaggerated than before. Someone even shouted at the person emptying the chamber pot, "Why don't you tell us how these guys managed to patronize prostitutes without paying?"
Upon hearing this, the onlookers burst into laughter.
"I've seen people dine and dash, but I've never seen anyone try to renege on a patronage for prostitutes?"
"These soldiers are disgusting!"
"What are you saying? It's not like you're only disgusting people for the first time!"
The people were all talking at once, practically trying to tear General Lu's face off and stomp on it.
Although he knew the person emptying the chamber pot was lying, he still felt embarrassed and wished he could just kill those idiots!
General Lu was angry, the common people watched the spectacle, and these few people felt they were being unjustly killed!
Some of them were put in sacks shortly after leaving the military camp, beaten into muteness, and now they are being falsely accused of soliciting prostitutes without permission.
Who could tolerate this!
But they have no choice but to endure it, even if they can't!
Because they can't get up, and they can't speak either!
The man who used to empty chamber pots didn't seem like a chamber pot cleaner anymore; instead, he sounded like a storyteller. Hearing the shouts of the people outside, he turned around and smiled: "These guys are regulars at the brothel. They always order the same girls. Who knew that this morning the girls would wake up to find that they hadn't paid them!"
The night soil collector said in a wronged tone, "Of course I had to ask them for it, but when I arrived, they were fighting amongst themselves. I just mentioned a brothel, and they ganged up on me."
The woman who was spitting out night soil pointed to the barely visible scar on her face: "Your Excellency, look, look! They slapped my face!"
"Even if I'm just a chamber pot scavenger, I still have dignity!"
"They go to prostitutes themselves and don't pay, they're fighting amongst themselves, so why are they taking it out on me?"
Upon hearing this, some of the people outside the gate actually clapped and cheered, "Good! The man who empties the chamber pot is right!"
Looking at the agitated crowd outside the gate, Prefect Ke sighed deeply.
The people of Quanzhou and the Northern Army should have had the closest relationship, but now...
After Bai Jiwu inexplicably sealed off the city three times, each lasting for several months, the people even came to hate the Northern Desert Army.
He turned to look at General Lu, silently conveying his meaning: "General Lu, your mission is arduous and far-reaching!"
It is important to understand that in many battles, it is not just the army that matters; the people often play a crucial role. If General Lu cannot restore the reputation of the Northern Desert Army, these people will not be able to serve as a strong support for the Northern Desert Army when the Northern Barbarians invade.
It was only at this moment that General Lu stepped forward.
He first walked up to the group of people, waved his hand to signal them, and the constables finally let them go.
As the men straightened up, General Lu finally raised his head and kicked each of them, sending them flying. The moment they landed, blood dripped from the corners of their mouths.
Each of them had a pained expression, as if their internal organs had been chewed up, and blood and foam came out of their mouths.
General Lu turned to Prefect Ke and clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Now that Prefect Ke has ascertained the truth of the matter, please allow me to take the person back to the army for severe punishment!"
Prefect Ke seemed to be considering whether to agree, and after a while he nodded and said, "I am willing to believe General Lu, but I also ask General Lu to tell the people of the whole prefecture about the punishment results."
He said earnestly, "General Lu, we can't let a few bad apples spoil the close bond between the people of Quanzhou and the Northern Army!"
General Lu stood ramrod straight, nodded emphatically, turned to look at the people of the entire prefecture, and declared loudly, "I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly and render a fair judgment!"
The people looked at each other, and no one spoke.
They didn't know whether they should trust this general who seemed so unreliable...
General Lu strung these people together like candied hawthorns on a skewer, and dragged them away.
The man who was emptying the chamber pot suddenly grabbed the last man's leg and wailed, "General Lu, you can't take them away! They haven't been paid!"
Prefect Ke ordered his men to stop the night soil collectors, and then, together with the constables and many civilians, headed towards the brothel alley. Before the people could react, Prefect Ke had surrounded the entire brothel alley.
More than 50 thugs and 100 prostitutes and maids were arrested in the alley.
When this matter was discussed yesterday, Prefect Ke had already discussed it with Gu Yuzhi. All the people who were captured would be sent to Xinliang to reclaim wasteland.
A special team was assigned to oversee the area, and these people were sent to the most difficult places to cultivate the land. Regardless of age or gender, they were kept busy.
But what Prefect Ke gained was not just people, but also ledgers hidden in the brothel alley and a large amount of money.
Holding the account book and banknotes, Prefect Ke found Gu Yuzhi and respectfully presented them to him: "Your Highness, these are the items we found in the brothel alley."
It was only noon, and Gu Yuzhi was still a little dazed and weak, swaying slightly as he sat in the chair.
He blinked and looked at Prefect Ke, and after a long while, he seemed to recognize who Prefect Ke was. He said "Oh," took the silver note, and glanced at it: "Prefect Ke, why are you giving me this?"
He scratched his head, his mind gradually clearing: "I don't need money now!"
Prefect Ke smiled broadly and nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, Your Highness is right."
"I have come today to ask Your Highness for help." He handed over the silver notes again. "Quanzhou was under lockdown for several months, but Your Highness's timely arrival relieved the crisis. However, the granaries in Quanzhou are almost empty now. I was thinking of asking Your Highness to help Quanzhou purchase some grain."
It's only April now, and there are still six months until the autumn harvest.
If anything happens in the whole prefecture in the next six months, the people of the whole prefecture will be in big trouble!
Therefore, Prefect Ke felt it was necessary to plan ahead and buy some grain to fill the granary.
Since this money is practically free, it's better to use it for the benefit of the people...
Gu Yuzhi then nodded and said, "Okay, okay! You can give it to Chief Secretary Xie first."
This time, Guard Shen did not come along; instead, he was in Changzhou handling business affairs.
There's nothing we can do about it. The Wen Clan is now the largest merchant guild in the Northern Desert, and Guard Shen is the president of the Northern Desert Merchant Guild. He's incredibly busy right now, and we rarely see him.
Therefore, this matter of managing the money of the merchant guild should be left to Chief Secretary Xie!
Sitting to the side, Chief Secretary Xie felt the weighty trust placed in the young prince, and his smile deepened...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
