Chapter 516: Riot
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
An urgent message arrived from the capital, reaching the southern military camp, prompting General Chen to swiftly follow the instructions and mobilize his troops.
Upon receiving the order, Qin Silong and his companions set out towards Three Flowers County.
Per the instructions, upon reaching each county, they were to deliver the document to the county magistrate and, in return, receive five to six hundred soldiers provided by the magistrate.
To worsen matters, these soldiers were unprepared, with some counties even resorting to last-minute recruitment, unexpectedly scrambling to gather
young men.
The Imperial Court’s decision to send troops to quell the unrest and recruit last-minute soldiers caught everyone off guard. Typically, county defense teams consisted of 100 to 200 part-time members, primarily reserved for sudden incidents.
Despite the unconditional requisition of these individuals, the numbers fell short.
The impromptu recruitment faced obstacles, with few volunteers willing to join. Without proper training, these recruits were essentially being sent to the battlefield unprepared and unwilling to risk their lives.
County magistrates resorted to drawing lots, compelling families chosen by the draw to contribute a man. Those not selected had to pay a fee.
Wealthier individuals opted to pay, having the means to find substitutes even if they were chosen. Money, in their eyes, could persuade anyone.
All these processes consumed valuable time. In addition to recruiting soldiers, there was the added challenge of provisioning food for the upcoming campaign.
The inhabitants of various counties voiced their complaints, while county governors frowned and cursed the emperor for his perceived incompetence.
Sending troops to quell the unrest, the emperor had failed to provide sufficient troops and grain, exacerbating the dissatisfaction among the people.
Qin Silong’s anxiety proved futile, as military orders were absolute, and failing to recruit enough personnel would constitute a violation of these orders.
The waiting period extended for more than seven to eight days, during which they managed to recruit around 4,000 people. Seeing that it was time, Qin
Silong led the army on a two-day, two-night march to reach the rioting Three Flowers County.
Upon arrival, Qin Silong ordered the army to rest, positioning them about three days away from Su Bin and the others.
Having received Su Bin’s letter and cross-referenced it with the accompanying
personnel, Qin Silong also received a private message from Qin Zhenzhen. She employed a secret code unique to her and Fourth Brother, encouraging Qin Silong to stay composed and learn to navigate the situation to emerge victorious. She hinted at the possibility of personally offering assistance from behind the scenes.
The prospect of reuniting with his little sister brought a smile to Qin Silong’s face, bolstering his confidence.
Three Flowers County was nestled in the mountains, surrounded on all sides by elevated terrain—a strategic location ideal for troop garrisoning. With mountains serving as natural barriers, guarding the entrance and exit would be a feasible strategy.
Establishing traps at both the exit and entrance not only served as a deterrent but also transformed into a practical and defensible natural barrier.
In case of an attack, the defenders could retreat to the mountains for concealment, turning the strategically chosen Three Flowers County, surrounded by mountains, into an advantageous location that was easy to defend and challenging to assail.
The rioters had deliberately selected Three Flowers County for these reasons.
While the Imperial Court remained unaware of the instigators behind the riot, Qin Silong had insight.
The leaders were remnants of the previous dynasty, concealing their true identities by posing as impoverished individuals without access to food. Exploiting the season of scarcity, they agitated a group of impoverished commoners who lacked sufficient rice. Armed, they stormed the county office, captured the governor alive, looted the office, and raided the county granary.
Distributing the food to the needy, they capitalized on the chaos to employ the same tactic, pillaging wealthy families in the county, ransacking their granaries, and plundering their gold and silver..
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