The Shang Twelfth Armies were quite different from other guard stations.
Not only were all of them born into hereditary military households, but many were also non-inheriting younger or youngest sons. They might not be good at marching and fighting, but having been steeped in it, they understood the affairs of the Imperial Court far better than many colonels from other guard stations.
Having made a decision, several commanders exchanged winks and quickly got the message across, deciding to follow Yuan Yunzhong.
The orders issued by Yuan Yunzhong had to be carried out meticulously.
After all, the refugees were just ordinary people who couldn’t fill their stomachs or survive.
The scouts quickly found out who were leading the three groups.
"Lord Yuan!" Commander Wang immediately reported to Yuan Yunzhong, "Heading to Chengde Prefecture is a young man with the surname Zhou, who used to be a hunter. He saw someone kill the city gate guards and set fire to the Wanping County Yamen, then led a group of people to leave the Capital City overnight. The one who occupied the Wanping County Yamen is a hefty man called Dunzi, formerly known as Flower Monk, who was expelled from a temple for stealing pork and roamed everywhere. When the refugees gathered in the Capital City, he recruited a group of young strong men and lived by robbing. It was this Dunzi who killed the city gate guards, and was also the first to rush into the Yamen."
Speaking of the group entrenched on Shijingshan, Commander Wang paused, "Known only by the surname Zhao, called Fifth Master. His background is a mystery. However, this Zhao acts with clear methods. He not only organized the strong youths to confront that person named Gou Zi, but also collected the grain previously distributed by the Imperial Court, had people gather wild vegetables, and made them into porridge to uniformly distribute to those refugees. Thus, he was able to command the refugees’ absolute obedience, and when Gou Zi wanted to seize the Yamen, he led most of the people to build shanties on Shijingshan."
All present were astute people.
The words of Commander Wang instantly made them aware of the peculiarity of the people at Bixia Temple.
Someone even exclaimed, "Isn’t Zhao Laowu targeting the grain stored in Bixia Temple?"
Some hesitated, "It can’t be that coincidental! Weren’t they all coming from Gu’an and Yongqing? We don’t even know the grain is stored in Bixia Temple; how would they know?"
Someone even looked toward Lord Bai.
Lord Bai closed his eyes, adopting an attitude of "Since Yuan Yunzhong decides everything, nothing concerns me."
Naturally, there were people who came forward to smooth things over, saying, "Whatever the case, we follow Lord Yuan. We will just do as Lord Yuan says."
Yuan Yunzhong glanced at the person.
The person immediately smiled ingratiatingly at Yuan Yunzhong.
Yuan Yunzhong seemed lost in thought and, after a moment, came to his senses and asked Commander Chen, "Has the fortress in Wanping County been marked on the map?"
"It has been marked!" Commander Chen immediately stepped forward, and with the Government Subprefect at his side, displayed the map, "Look here, here, and here, all are essential paths. There is an Inspection Division here, and although they don’t have many troops, they are very familiar with the terrain of Wanping. I have already summoned their inspector."
Commander Chen tried his best to show his capabilities in front of Yuan Yunzhong.
Yuan Yunzhong nodded, "If I remember correctly, there are two grain depots near Wanping County, next to Gongji City, used by the Imperial Court to stabilize the grain prices in the Capital City. Have you sent someone to check on the situation of these two grain depots?"
The people in the council hall looked at one another.
It was another oversight by them.
Yuan Yunzhong said gravely, "The urgent task is to find a way to cut off the refugees’ food supply, otherwise they will continue the siege." As he spoke, he looked at Lord Bai with a smile that was not quite a smile, "Whether it’s suppression or pacification, they can’t act if they have nothing to eat, right?"
"Indeed, indeed!" Several commanders flattered Yuan Yunzhong.
A civil official who followed Imperial Censor Xiang stepped out, bowed, and said in a low voice, "Sir, I had once observed the government at the Ministry of Revenue. I still remember the specific locations of those two grain depots, and I can take people to inspect them."
Yuan Yunzhong couldn’t help but give him several more glances and politely said, "What should I address you as, sir?"
The official respectfully replied, "This humble official’s surname is Shi, an Imperial Scholar from the fourth year of Tianshun."
The fourth year of Tianshun was when Yuan Yunzhong’s uncle served as the chief examiner.
Yuan Yunzhong was somewhat surprised but still bowed respectfully to the man, calling him "senior brother," and said, "Then I must trouble senior brother to take some colonels from the Guard Station on a trip."
Lord Shi was slightly excited to be called "senior brother" by Yuan Yunzhong and hurriedly replied, "Not at all, not at all!"
Yuan Yunzhong and Lord Shi, along with Commander Chen, discussed the matter of going to the granaries.
Someone quietly whispered in front of Lord Xiang, "He really walked into some dumb luck, even managing to cling to that."
Lord Xiang glared at him displeasedly.
The man quickly stepped back but his eyes slanted, noticing someone peeking in from outside the council hall.
He angrily shouted, "Who’s there? Skulking about. Where are the guards outside? Where have they all gone?"
The people’s gaze involuntarily turned towards the door.
A man entered with an awkward expression and chuckled, "I am Xu Guangzeng, here by the command of the Five Armies Governor’s Palace to report to Lord Yuan."
What a mess of an explanation that was.
Though the Five Armies Governor’s Palace and the Ministry of War each hold half of the Tiger Talisman, they are not subject to the administration of the Ministry of War, and the appointments and reassignments of officers have to pass through the Ministry of Personnel. Besides, the Five Armies Governor’s Palace consists of military officials, while Yuan Yunzhong holds a position in the Metropolitan Censorate, a proper civil official.
Xu Guangzeng hastily added, "The Duke of Ding is my biological brother!"
Several commanders simultaneously thought to themselves, "Ah, that must be that fool who can be spoon-fed and still lose his duties," as they sized him up.
Those civil officials, however, decided not to pursue the matter.
The "Imperial Official" from the emperor had already made them somewhat numb.
Such blurring of the lines between civil and military affairs could only be the emperor’s doing.
Moreover, the emperor had previously been worried about Yuan Yunzhong leaving the city to console the refugees might put him at risk. He even pushed forward an Imperial Censor from the Metropolitan Censorate to take Yuan Yunzhong’s place and fend for him, intending to let the censor go out of the city instead, yet record the achievements under Yuan Yunzhong’s name. Had not Yuan Yunzhong been rather upright, this absurd order would indeed have been forced through by the emperor in the Imperial Cabinet.
Yuan Yunzhong furrowed his brows.
Xu Guangzeng, however, ran over very obsequiously, and said respectfully, "My brother wants me to redeem myself through meritorious deeds by following you, sir, in appeasing the people outside the city."
This was probably the only way to quell the emperor’s anger.
Yuan Yunzhong was busy with important matters and didn’t care to entertain him, nodding slightly before continuing the discussion with Commander Chen, "If those refugees haven’t found out about the granaries yet, think of a way to secure those two granaries. If they have already been opened, do not engage in combat; protect Lord Shi and immediately return. As for Lord Shi, since you are in the Ministry of Revenue and remember the locations of these granaries, it is evident that you are a thoughtful person. Usually, granaries are rigged with mechanisms to prevent robbery. If both granaries are still intact, try to keep the Guard Station’s men there for seven days. After seven days, regardless of whether I have quelled the unrest or not, you are to withdraw."
Lord Shi solemnly promised.
People from Wanping County Inspection Division arrived.
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