The Zigui County Magistrate's words of comfort were met with silence from the people present.
Although their status is humble, they are not fools. What Zigui County Magistrate said is partly true and partly false.
Not to mention anything else, how did the remaining bandits outside the city sneak into the city in the middle of the night, and why did they only attack civilians? The attacks in civilian areas, why the soldiers in the city were unable to stop them, and really waited to control the situation. Those men in black Not even one was caught.
Zigui County Magistrate did not directly answer these questions, but simply characterized the attacking men in black as remnants of bandits outside the city. This was somewhat ridiculous.
In this attack on civilian areas, without exception, what was taken away was the people's food, especially the food that Su Qi'an had given during the day, as well as the land deeds, were all taken away.
After thinking about it for a moment, he probably had a guess in his mind, but no one in the crowd dared to question him.
They knew it very well, even though Zigui County Magistrate didn't say anything, the men in black who attacked made it very clear, allowing them to see their identities clearly.
There are some things that you shouldn't get your hands on and don't touch them. If you don't answer questions, forty or fifty people will be beaten to death. That's the end.
The people were silent, and Zigui County Magistrate acted as if he didn't see it, and continued to talk to himself.
"This time the common people were attacked and suffered heavy losses. I am very heartbroken. I would like to promise you that in addition to eradicating the banditry, I will properly handle your losses and never let your losses go in vain."
After the Zigui County Magistrate finished speaking, the officials on the side took over the words and said quickly.
"Everyone, tonight's matter will be handled properly if Lord Jun Cheng has spoken. Don't worry, it's too late at this point. Everyone should go back individually. We will handle it one by one as soon as daybreak."
"Tonight there will be soldiers from the prefecture and city accompanying us on duty. Please sleep peacefully. This evening's affairs are over and done with."
The words of his officials made these injured people feel quite chilled.
On the surface, they appear to be accompanied by state soldiers who are on duty at night, but in fact it is a kind of secret surveillance on them.
If they can be obedient, everyone will have a good time tonight. If they are disobedient and spread some bad things, they will definitely suffer.
After living in Zigui County for so many years, they have already seen through the faces of local officials.
If it had been done before, perhaps these officials would have had to endure it due to their power, but tonight's attack by the men in black not only robbed them of their land deeds and the grain rewards.
They even took away all the valuable things in the house, even the last remaining food rations. This completely cut off their escape route and forced them to go to a dead end.
Just as the Zigui County Magistrate and other county officials were preparing to return home, suddenly, among the silent people, someone finally couldn't help but speak.
"Master Jun Cheng, please wait a moment. What you did tonight may have gone too far!"
As soon as these words came out, all the officials' expressions changed and they looked at the person who said the words coldly.
This person is none other than Wang Wu, who was the first successful challenger during the day.
Wang Wu was supported by someone. Although he was weak, there was no fear on his face and he asked loudly.
All the officials had cold faces and looked at Wang Wu indifferently. They all felt that this pariah was extremely courageous and dared to question the county magistrate.
Just when several officials looked at the soldiers to teach this untouchable man a lesson, they were stopped by the county magistrate.
Zigui County Magistrate stopped, turned around, looked at Wang Wu who was questioning him, and asked with a smile.
"I remember you, your name is Wang Wu, right? Oh, you think my handling of this situation is a bit inappropriate, please tell me."
The Zigui County Magistrate looked like he was willing to listen to the opinions of the people at the bottom, but it was this smiling look that made many people feel intimidated.
Wang Wu was silent for a while, as if he had made some kind of determination, and then said calmly.
"Since the Lord Commander wants to make decisions for us, he must set an example. But for tonight's attack, Sir, firstly, he was not in a hurry to capture the so-called remnant bandits. Secondly, the civilian areas suffered damage and there was no reconstruction plan at all. Thirdly, he asked these state soldiers to accompany him on night duty.
Being with us sounds nice, but in fact it is just monitoring us. "
"Master Jun Cheng, if you express your stance like this, it's hard not to make the common people think that you and those men in black are in the same group."
"Are you brave enough to slander Shangguan and seek death?"
"Come here, take down Wang Wu, punish him with a hundred sticks, and then put him in jail!"
Before the Zigui County Magistrate could speak, his officials couldn't help but scolded him.
In their view, a little untouchable not only questioned the superior, but also threw dirty water. Who gave him the courage!
After a while, a team of soldiers quickly took action and captured Wang Wu directly.
Regarding all this, Zigui County Magistrate did not say anything to stop him, but looked at it all coldly with a smile on his face.
The meaning of that smile was very obvious. No matter how many doubts Wang Wu had, there was only one thing: the identity was there, and the status of the two sides was very different.
Before answering the question, first get rid of the punishment of slandering the superior. This is the law and regulations.
If the one hundred strokes were really completed, it would be a question whether Wang Wu could survive.
While being tortured, Wang Wu completely ignored him and shouted loudly.
"Everyone, take a good look at the faces of these officials. What they say is better than what they sing."
"They dare to fool and bully us like this just because we dare not resist and are manipulated by them. It doesn't matter what happens to me, Wang Wu, today."
"But please think carefully about what the Overseer said to us. As long as we work hard and complete the challenge, those things are what we deserve. As long as we live a good life, it is the greatest reward for the Overseer."
"But with such a group of officials who eat people without spitting out their bones, how can we survive? Tonight's sneak attack is the best proof. If we don't resist, there will be a next time, and the next time..."
"Come here, shut up Wang Wu's mouth. He has gone crazy. One hundred strikes is not enough. I need two hundred sticks and he will be beaten hard."
Wang Wu's words were like poking at their sore spots, and all the officials under his command shouted angrily, with expressions that made them want to tear Wang Wu's mouth to pieces.
Wang Wu's mouth was blocked, but his impassioned speech left a mark on the hearts of the people, and many people's eyes flashed.
His hands were clasped, as if he was thinking about something.
The changes in everyone's expressions could not escape the eyes of Zigui County Magistrate. This time he no longer pretended. The kind smile on his face instantly faded and he said coldly.
"I'm here to advise some emotional people. If you want to do something outrageous, it's okay, but you know the consequences."
"If you still don't understand, it doesn't matter. This Wang Wu in front of you is the best example."
"After two hundred battles, if you are not dead, you will be directly imprisoned for the crime of demagoguery. You will be executed after the fall, and all your family, relatives and friends will be exiled."
"Wang Wu has a saying that is right. If you don't resist, you will continue to be oppressed. But I have marked the price of resistance for you. If you want to try it, I will not stop you."
The words of Zigui County Magistrate are tantamount to a showdown. If you want to resist, you can be executed yourself, and your family and friends will be exiled. Who can bear the price?
The Zigui County Magistrate dares to be so upright. To put it bluntly, it is because he is the County Magistrate, the second in command of a county, and the people in front of him may sound like civilians, but in the eyes of the officials, they are just a bunch of pariahs.
That is, you can bully them at will. Even if something happens and arouses the boiling resentment of the people, just use force to suppress it. If the trouble is serious, just kill a group of people.
This is not the other states with stable order, nor is it the city of Kyoto at the feet of the emperor, but a place where pirates and Japanese pirates fight all the year round.
Every year, pirates and Japanese invaders cause countless deaths and injuries to innocent people in Dongzhou, but in the nine counties behind them, they are the sky above these people's heads.
Either be sent to the front line, or disappear quietly, these are all common sense.
Originally, the Zigui County Magistrate didn't want to make things so ugly, but after hearing a few words from the so-called supervisor, someone felt sober and couldn't position himself correctly.
Then we have to teach these untouchables a lesson and let them
We all know each other, who is the emperor of Zigui County.
The execution soldiers ordered one to beat him to death, beating him more than twenty times. Wang Wu almost fell into a coma, and it looked like it would be difficult to survive.
The faces of the people present were not good-looking, and they wanted to stand up, but the words of the Zigui County Magistrate were left there, and a group of soldiers had expressionless faces, waiting at any time to capture those who were ready to stand up.
But they were very reluctant to take this breath. These officials really pushed too hard this time. Even if they survived today, what about the future? Don't you want to starve to death?
Just when the people were in a dilemma, suddenly, a loud voice suddenly sounded in the controlled civilian area.
"Everyone, stop it!"
"Master Jun Cheng, you are so majestic. This evening is really an eye-opener for me."
The moment this voice sounded, everyone was stunned. This voice was too familiar to them. It was none other than the supervisor who had left, Su Qi'an.
Compared with the excitement of the people, the expressions of Zigui County Magistrate and other officials suddenly changed. They turned around suddenly, and at some point, behind them, Su Qi'an and about a hundred or so people appeared silently in front of them.
Many officials who saw this scene were stunned. They quickly rubbed their eyes for fear that they had seen it wrong.
But regardless of their repeated rubbing, in front of them, Su Qian and a group of subordinates were standing in front of them alive.
The first person to react was naturally Zigui County Magistrate. He quickly put a smile on his face and walked quickly to Su Qi'an with a friendly look.
"Ah, my lord, why are you here?" This official was really flattered. Why are you standing there in such a daze? It's hard to entertain the lord back to Zigui County. "
Su Qi'an seemed not to notice the Jun Cheng's eagerness, and just as the Jun Cheng stepped forward to help Su Qi'an dismount.
The next moment, whoosh! Whoosh!
Two arrows passed by his ears and hit the two people behind him. The Zigui County Magistrate was stunned for a moment. When he turned around and looked, the two arrows accurately hit the two soldiers of Wang Wu.
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