Magistrate Wu knew that he was in a dangerous city and had no chance of breaking out, so he was determined to hold on to the end and wait for reinforcements from the city. He did not believe the Kun thieves' claims that Guangzhou had fallen: such a big city, even if the Kun thieves could capture it, would not be able to defeat it. It took ten days and a half, not to mention not even a single cannon shot was heard from night to now.
But he also knew that the people were not of the same mind as him, and the officers and soldiers were only willing to defend the city because he squandered money without hesitation. So he issued a notice: Anyone who dares to seduce thieves outside the city will be beheaded; his property will be confiscated and rewarded to the soldiers and civilians defending the city, in an attempt to strengthen the determination of the troops defending the city. At the same time, the people guarding the city were strictly prohibited from talking to the rebels outside the city. However, most of the soldiers in the city were familiar with the people, and they were all afraid of revenge if the city was breached. Therefore, when they found people on the city talking to people outside the city, even though they kept scolding and brandishing swords, they did not really respond. hands-on.
When Wu Guangzhi saw people talking to people in the city, he was afraid that the people would be deceived by the Kun thieves. When he saw many Kun thieves soldiers approaching the city, he immediately ordered the city to light cannons.
The officers and soldiers hesitated and refused to take action. Wu Guangzhi was furious: "Hurry up and fire!" Then he shouted: "If you fire a cannon, you will be rewarded with five taels of silver!"
Now Nanguan's two cannons fired at the same time. The shells flew out, but the gunner deliberately aimed too high. One fell directly into the river and the other landed on the mudflat.
The naval guns on the patrol boat immediately fired back, and six cannons were ignited at the same time and fired towards the city. Wu Guangzhi saw a flash of fire on the city, and immediately waved his hand, asking everyone to disperse and hide. The cannonballs damaged two more battlements and cut three strong men hiding behind them into two pieces. One cannonball flew into the city, destroying a thatched cottage and setting it on fire.
At this time, several big tin trumpets were set up under the city, and a few soldiers with loud voices were asked to shout: "The soldiers, civilians, gentry and other people in the city are listening: seize the county magistrate immediately and open the city to surrender, otherwise we will capture Xin'an and massacre the whole city. Destroy it, leaving no chickens or dogs behind!”
There was a commotion in the city. Wu Guangzhi held a Japanese sword and shouted with blood-red eyes: "Don't be afraid, everyone! This is a false threat from the bandits. They only have a few hundred people and a few boats. Don't even think about touching my Xin'an." A hair of a hair! Drive away the bandits, and the soldiers and civilians guarding the city will be rewarded fifty taels each! Those who die in battle will be doubled!"
There were dozens of soldiers and civilians around him who had been fed with money, and they also roared. From time to time he would wave the sword in his hand. Suppress the commotion for the time being.
Seeing that people's hearts were unstable, Wu Guangzhi stared and saw a Minzhuang not far away peeking out, as if making some gesture. He immediately pointed the knife and shouted: "Take it down!"
The soldiers rushed over and pushed the Minzhuang man in front of him, twisting his arms and grabbing his shoulders. Minzhuang looked confused and panicked. He shouted again and again: "Can you please help me?"
Wu Guangzhi said solemnly: "I can see clearly that you were talking to Kun Thief in the city, and just now you were making gestures outside. You must be Kun Thief's spy! Come on! Cut him off!"
The Minzhuang company complained that he was wronged, and soldiers from both sides pulled him down the horse slope, and then cut off his head with a knife under the city wall.
"The order is at the city gate!" Magistrate Wu shouted, "Whoever dares to collude with the Kun thieves again and fails to defend the city, this will be the fate!"
Wu Guangzhi killed people and established his authority. Suppress people temporarily. However, at this time, more than a dozen noisy arrows were shot from outside the city, and the noisy arrows were tied with "Xiaoyu". Wu Guangzhi was afraid that someone would pick them up and shake people's hearts, so he sternly warned, "Don't pick up the noisy arrows!" His soldiers hurried over to pick them up, but Some of them were picked up by those with quick legs and feet.
He opened the "Xiaoyu" and saw scrawled on it in ink that the soldiers and civilians in the city were to open their doors to dedicate the city within one hour, so that the army would not commit any crimes and save the lives of the city. The army entered Xin'an County and only killed the county magistrate.
Although he tried his best to block the news, the officials and gentry in the city still saw the "Xiaoyu", and some soldiers also saw it. Everyone discussed it privately. Cannot be banned.
The gentry and people in the city were willing to surrender and did not want to fight. Australians have always had a reputation for not committing crimes, but they also have a reputation for being ruthless to those who resist. Therefore, everyone felt that regardless of whether the city fell or not, the most important thing was to surrender first to save their own property and lives. Especially the gentry. Having been forced to spend a large sum of money to defend the city, he felt that his interests had been damaged and no longer wanted to be "loyal" with Magistrate Wu.
Wu Guangzhi knew that the people in the city were unstable, especially the gentry's ambiguous attitude. This made him very alarmed. Because when he was serving in Shaanxi, he defeated "rogue bandits" who attempted to attack the city more than once, relying on the strong support of the gentry in the county. But the thieves here seem to be different from the bandits - neither the gentry nor the common people have any hatred or fear towards them.
He summoned several county officials to discuss. No one could come up with any ideas, and instead advised him not to keep it any longer. The county academic edict said: The Kun thieves are well-known in the local area, and neither the common people nor the gentry will support them if they fight head-on. He added:
"The Kun thieves have always been lenient to those who obeyed, and harsh to those who rebelled. There is no big battle yet, and there are no major casualties. If Wu Ling goes out of the city to surrender, the Kun thieves will definitely not harm him."
Wu Guangzhi ordered them to withdraw and stay alone in the house, thinking repeatedly and unable to think of a good solution. There was gunfire again on the river. He couldn't help stamping his feet and sighing, wandering around the pillars, and said to himself:
"Oh, I didn't expect that I would end up like this!"
Towards noon, the officials and gentry in the city came to the county government office to ask for an audience. Wu Guangzhi welcomed everyone into the flower hall. The scene in the hall today is very different from the past. He first arrived in Xin'an three months ago, and the elders of the Jin gentry were there to welcome him. He felt very unhappy in the hall. In the morning, he suppressed Mr. Qian, who attempted to rebel, and summoned officials and gentry to discuss matters of strengthening the city's defenses. The elders of the Jin gentry were also respectful and obedient. Call him a rare "talent". However, the situation suddenly changed, and there were sad faces in the flower hall.
After everyone sat down, a leading gentleman said first:
"Now the officials and gentry of a city come to see Wu Ling for no other reason than to ask Wu Ling to try to save the lives of the officials, gentry, soldiers and civilians of the city."
He understood their purpose of coming, and wanted to try his best to persuade them again: "This county is trying its best to defend and prepare to fight to the death with the bandits. This is to protect the lives of the officials, gentry and people in this city."
Another gentry said: "You can never win in a deadly battle, and you can't be sure of defending the city. If you hold on, not only will you not be able to save the lives of the officials, gentry and people, but you will suffer the massacre of the city. Has Wu Ling ever thought about it?"
Wu Guangzhi said: "Of course you can survive for a while if you are captured without restraint, but it will only become fish and meat on the sword. After the thieves enter the city, whether they burn or kill them all depends on their thoughts - even if they don't slaughter or burn, you elders of the Jin gentry Each of you has a family, a career, and a group of wives and concubines. If the thief wants you to repay the military salary and sacrifice your beautiful women, at that time, will you parents obey the order or not? You must know that you will not be able to do it at that time!"
These words are well founded, and if placed elsewhere, these words alone would be enough. When he was a county magistrate in Shaanxi, he repeatedly used such words to motivate the Jin gentry, and he almost always tried his best. But it doesn't work here. A gentleman said: "Australians have always been true to their word, and they are not greedy for money or lust."
The gentry all knew about the various deeds of the Australians who invaded the Pearl River a few years ago. The Australians did not destroy any market towns and villages that were obedient to the Australians and donated food and wages, and the "reasonable burden" levied was very light; they even wiped out many scattered local water bandits along the way, and the public security was stabilized for a while. Those who organized groups to fight were severely punished, and the powerful local gentry was wiped out. The Jin gentry were all afraid that they would end up like this, so they tried their best to urge Kaicheng to obey.
"Even if the master himself is confused for a moment, we will still speak kindly to the Australians and do our best to preserve it."
Another gentleman hurriedly said: "Even if the Australians are here not long ago, as long as the master is not in a false position, the Australian temperament will never force him. The matter is urgent at this time, and the situation must be changed. We cannot stick to one word of loyalty. Australia After the people retreat, we still defend the land for the imperial court. Wouldn't it be best of both worlds? Even if the imperial court wants to pursue something, the gentry of this county will try its best to speak for the master."
Wu Guangzhi smoked from his orifices and secretly cursed "shameless". He suppressed his anger and said slowly: "Chan Hui (his words have been taught since he was born, and what he read is the book of a saint. These words of loyalty to the emperor and patriotism have been kept in his heart since he was a child, and he will never forget them. After eating the emperor's salary, With divine grace, there is no reason to surrender.”
The county's edict didn't want to say more, but now that the gentry had reached a dead end with Wu Guangzhi's words, he had to say: "Master Wu, please think again. Today's people have no strong will, and the isolated city has no help. Everything can be broken." . I am also an official of the imperial court, and I am here to protect the land. Wu Ling is loyal to the imperial court, am I not loyal? I am also from Bagong, and have been taught by Confucius and Mencius. Right now, the safety of the people of this city is in danger! Master If we look at the people, temporarily surrendering and saving the people can be considered a good thing."
Wu Guangzhi sneered and said: "Since you are born in Juren, you are favored by the country, and you receive the emperor's salary, how will you treat the emperor in the future? Even if the people are considerate of you, how can the national law be considerate of you?"
The teaching said: "Mencius said: The people are the most valuable, the country is the second most important, and the king is the least important. Master, don't risk the lives of a whole city for the sake of the word 'loyalty'!"
Everyone agreed. Seeing that he was in a very isolated situation, Wu Guangzhi was silent for a while, sighed, and said:
"You guys go out and let me think about it first. Don't worry, Wu will never harm the officials and gentry of the city!"
"Time is running out..."
After the meeting, Wu Guangzhi wandered around the flower hall alone, feeling very depressed. This morning's ambitions have been reduced to ashes. He thought of committing suicide. If he died, he would be worthy of both the people and the emperor...
However, before he could finish his thoughts, there was already a commotion outside the county government office. One of his servants stumbled in covered in blood, threw himself on the ground, and shouted with his last strength: "Master! It's not good, the soldiers... the soldiers... have changed!" (To be continued.)
