On the tower of Changmen.

"What?" Xu Xu didn't bother to correct the servant's address, and said in amazement: "What nonsense are you talking about? Aren't the government troops outside the city?"

"There really are thousands of soldiers entering Panmen!" the servant said anxiously, "I escaped from there. Find a way quickly, steward!"

"Why didn't I hear any sound of siege? How did they get into the city?" Xu Xu couldn't believe it.

"We didn't attack the city at all. It was the Gu family who opened the gate!"

"Where are our people?" Xu Xu was stunned.

"Aren't they all transferred here?" the servant said with a sad face.

"Ah..." Xu Xu's legs went limp and he leaned against the city wall, boundless fear looming in his heart.

It was obvious that Lin Run had mobilized a large army to enter the city to quell the rebellion. He was just a small servant. If he fought against the governor's army head-on, wouldn't that be like an ant trying to shake a tree?

The guys who were causing trouble with him on the city wall were all frightened, and a large number of them sneaked away and hurried back home.

Under the herd effect, more and more people ran away, and in a blink of an eye, the number was reduced by half.

Seeing that people were losing their minds, Xu Xu took advantage of the situation and said, "Don't panic, everyone. In the dark, the government troops don't know who is who. Go back and hide. What can they do to me?"

The rest were all members of the Self-Defense Forces. They felt as if they had been pardoned when they heard this, and they all said goodbye to their boss and left.

"Don't hang out on the streets these days. Let's get together again after the storm has passed." Xu Xu nodded with a stern face.

In just a few minutes, there was no one left on the city gate tower that was crowded with people just now.

Even Xu Xu disappeared into the dark city with a group of Xu family servants.

"Butler, let's get out of the city quickly." The subordinate suggested nervously as they walked through the streets and alleys.

"Since Lin Run has mobilized a large army, he will certainly set up an ambush outside the city gate. If we go out now, we will probably walk into a trap." Xu Xu analyzed calmly.

"Then where are we going?" The men were panicking.

"I'm not going anywhere. Let's go back to the Humble Administrator's Garden." Xu Xu sneered and said, "Who dares to enter my Xu family's garden to arrest people? Don't you want to keep your official hat?"

"That's right." The men were all excited when they heard this. "The one who dared to come to the Xu family to arrest people wasn't even born yet!"

~~

At three o'clock in the morning, Panmen, Suzhou.

The fully armed soldiers held torches, lighting up the city gates inside and outside as bright as day.

The soldiers of the large group carried sharp spears and marched in neat steps towards the governor's office.

Lin Run rode on a snow-white warhorse and, accompanied by Cai Guoxi and others, rode into the city gate.

After entering the city, the officials found that the streets were quiet. Not only were there no people, there was not even a dog.

Although the Gu family helped open the city gate, they did not show up to welcome the governor into the city.

It’s not that they don’t take Lin Run seriously, but Governor Lin has already issued an order that after the army enters the city tonight, anyone who appears on the street will be treated as a rioter.

"The Dongting Chamber of Commerce has made great contributions. It has indeed brought the situation under control." Prefect Cai breathed a sigh of relief and did not forget to compliment the prefect.

"Zhongcheng is a master at using troops. He used the thousands of stonecutters from Jiangnan Company to lure all the rebels to Changmen. We were able to recapture Suzhou City without having to fight a single soldier."

Yang Chenglin and Zhang Defu also echoed:

"Yes, yes. Once the weavers and the citizens go home, those rogues will lose their cover and their weak nature will be exposed!"

"Catch everyone who's still wandering the streets, no mercy!"

Lin Run turned a deaf ear to the noise. He knew that the riots had actually ended from the moment the army entered the city.

What we need to consider now is what will happen after the rebellion is quelled.

His face was as gloomy as water, and he ordered: "First, patrol the city."

Torches lit up countless streets in Suzhou, and the people in the city all knew that Lin Zhongcheng, the demon-slayer, had returned.

~~

The citizens were worried all night, but fortunately nothing happened that night, and there were no incidents of soldiers breaking into homes to rob.

At dawn, citizens who got up early found that notices to reassure the public were posted in every street and alley in the city.

"Scholar, please read to us what it means." Common people gathered around the notices and asked those who could read to read them.

"The first is that the outdated rules and regulations imposed by the Weaving Bureau will be permanently abolished from now on!"

"Great, this one is great!" The weavers cheered loudly, as this was the source of their trouble.

With this, they felt better.

"Second, weavers who promise to resume work today can go to the silk merchant to sign a long-term contract and receive silver and raw silk on the spot."

As soon as this was read out, the weavers called their weavers and ran out in a panic.

"Let's go, stop looking!"

"Hey, you haven't finished reading the notice yet, why are you in such a hurry?" the neighbor joked.

"Looking back, it's more important to queue up to get the silk and silver!"

The weavers left their words and hurried away with their weavers, squeezing out of the crowd.

"Now, Suzhou City can finally be peaceful..." The knowledgeable man who read the notice shook his head. He knew that once the long-term contract was signed, the weavers would be put on a bridle. If they wanted to cause trouble again, the Chamber of Commerce would fine them to the point of bankrupting all their property.

But if it were him, he would probably sign the same thing. When it comes to making a living, everything else has to take a back seat. Perhaps this is the sadness of ordinary people.

Sighing, he calmed down and continued to read:

"Article 3: Anyone who took advantage of the situation to rob people in the past few days can surrender to the county government within three days and return the stolen goods, and the past will be forgiven. If the prefecture and county government issue a complaint after three days and the victim accuses him before he surrenders, his crime will be three times more severe!"

Upon hearing this, the citizens were completely relieved.

When the riots first started, everyone saw others grabbing things and felt that they would be at a disadvantage if they didn't grab some as well. But now that the government has put down the riots, everyone is worried that they will be punished later...

It seems that the government does not intend to pursue the matter vigorously, but rather wants to keep the matter quiet.

Many people quietly withdrew from the crowd and prepared to return the extra things they had at home in the past few days to the government office.

Otherwise, when you file a complaint, you'll be in big trouble if the victim sues you.

The wise man continued to recite loudly:

"Article 4: Anyone who sets fire to the prefectural government office must surrender within three days. Accomplices will be exempt from punishment, and only the principal offender will be held accountable..."

No one took this news to heart. After all, most people didn't have the courage to get involved in something as exciting as burning down the government office.

~~

At noon, the sounds of looms could be heard from places where silk weaving industries gathered, such as Huaqiao and Guanghuasi Bridge.

By the afternoon, the sound of looms could be heard throughout Changzhou, Wu County.

The clacking sound that was usually quite annoying was so pleasant at this moment.

Just as President Weng said, as long as the looms are running, no matter how big the problem is in Suzhou City, it will not be a big deal.

p.s. Write another chapter.