In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 872 Coming and going in a hurry

Pan Jing fell to the ground, and the scene became extremely quiet.
Everyone present felt their heart skip a beat, and their pupils contracted to their maximum.

The newly appointed commander-in-chief is about to die upon arrival.

When this matter reached the imperial court, how should it be explained?

Just as the situation was becoming increasingly out of control, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from afar.

A group of people arrived at breakneck speed.

The leader was Zhou E, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Liaodong.

He was clad in black armor, his face was stern, and his eyes exuded an undeniable authority.
He reined in his horse, and the horse reared up, letting out a long neigh that stood out starkly in the chaotic battlefield.

His eyes were sharp as he scanned the area, then he shouted:

"Stop! All of you! I am here. Anyone who dares to act recklessly will be killed without mercy!"

The sound, like a grand and resonant bell, carried clearly through the shouts of battle.

At the same time, the nearly two thousand city defense soldiers behind him marched forward in unison.
He raised his crossbow and drew his long sword.

A chilling atmosphere suddenly filled the air, making the weather even colder.

Upon hearing this angry shout, the chaotic soldiers paused slightly and turned to look at Zhou E.

Zhou E seized the opportunity to speak loudly again:

"I am aware of the grievances you have suffered."

Lord Pan is new to this place and there are still many things to sort out, but that is absolutely no reason for you to mutiny!
Lay down your weapons, and I will forgive and forget!

The bearded soldier, wielding a large sword, stepped forward, his eyes wide with fury, and said:
"Lord Zhou, you make it sound nice."

But when we were starving and freezing, where was everyone? Now you say this, who can believe you!

Zhou E's gaze was steady as he looked at the soldier and said in a deep voice:
"I know you are in trouble, and I will give you an explanation today."

The supplies needed for winter will be distributed to everyone within three days.

Armor and armor should be redeployed and replaced immediately.

The owed military pay will be paid in full within ten days!

Upon hearing this, the soldiers exchanged glances, their eyes filled with both surprise and a hint of doubt.

The bearded soldier frowned and asked loudly:
"Lord Zhou, are you telling the truth? Or are you trying to deceive us?"

Zhou E's expression was serious as he solemnly said:
"As the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Liaodong, my word is law. How could I possibly deceive you with such a thing!"
If the military pay hasn't arrived in ten days, or the supplies haven't been distributed within three days, you are welcome to come and settle accounts with me again!

At this moment, Bai Wenzhao also shouted loudly:
"Brothers, Lord Zhou always keeps his word."
Think of your families; treason is a serious crime.
If you lay down your sword now, the government can let bygones be bygones!

Let it go, let it go!

The soldiers looked at each other, and the atmosphere gradually calmed down.

"Ding-dong."

For some unknown reason, a soldier dropped his long sword, and more and more soldiers followed suit.

The chaotic scene began to gradually subside.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this, but their faces remained serious.

The mutiny was easily quelled.
But dealing with the aftermath was extremely difficult; there were so many people, you couldn't just kill them all.

Zhou E turned to the general beside him and said:

"Immediately arrange for men to be taken to the hospital to treat the wounded brothers."

Send someone to the warehouse to allocate supplies; make sure to implement what you just mentioned as soon as possible.

Upon receiving the order, the general quickly led his men into action.

After doing all this, Zhou E immediately jogged over to Pan Jing's side.

At this moment, the blood flowing from Pan Jing's wound had stained the snow red, and the smell of blood permeated the air.

Pan Jing was barely breathing, his breathing was rapid, and his face was pale.

"Quickly, quickly, take Lord Zhou to get medical treatment!"

"I'm coming."

The group hurriedly lifted Pan Jing onto the carriage and sped off into the city.

Although the matter has been temporarily calmed down, the commander's problem has not been solved.

Upon returning to the military headquarters, Zhou E immediately summoned a group of officials to discuss the matter.

The atmosphere inside the conference hall was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

Zhou E sat at the head of the table, his face grim as he looked at everyone, and slowly said:
"To fulfill our promise to the soldiers, we need a large sum of money. The Commandery is currently short of funds. Do any of you gentlemen have a good solution?"

Zhai Yunxi frowned and spoke first:

“Lord Zhou, the Commandery really can’t come up with that much money right now. How about we postpone it a little longer?”
Besides, these are all rebels! You really intend to give them this money?

Zhou E's gaze turned cold as he looked at Zhai Yunxi and said:

"Lord Zhai, what promise did you make in the army just now?"

If we delay now, and another mutiny breaks out, it will be impossible to stop, and who can bear that responsibility?

Moreover, with so many people participating in the mutiny, are they all to be killed?

Another adult hesitated for a moment, then said:

"Lord Zhou, how about we squeeze some money out of our various expenses?"

Zhou E gently shook his head and said:
"All expenses are already tight, and we simply can't squeeze out that much money."

The fact that not all winter supplies were distributed was already the fault of the Commander-in-Chief, and the same applies to the unpaid wages.

The situation has progressed to this point, and we can't delay any longer.

In this way, in the name of the commander, a sum of money can be borrowed from wealthy families in the city to appease the soldiers and at least ensure they can get through the year comfortably.

These words immediately caused an uproar in the conference hall.

An adult suddenly stood up and said loudly:

"Lord Zhou, how absurd is it for the imperial court to borrow money from wealthy families!"
Moreover, this is easier said than done; they are known for their stinginess, why would they easily lend us money?

Zhou E's gaze was firm as he said:
"It's not like we haven't borrowed before. I've already thought it through."

He borrowed 60,000 taels of silver from them in the name of the military commander, promising to repay it a year later with interest.

Zhai Yunxi's expression changed, and she said:

"Lord Zhou, 60,000 taels is no small sum, and those wealthy families may not agree to it."

Furthermore, what guarantees does the commander have that the money will be returned after one year?

Zhou E slammed his hand on the table, stood up, and shouted:
"The situation is critical now. If the financial problem is not resolved, the Liaodong Military Command will fall into chaos!"

At that point, neither of us will be able to keep our jobs!

Now they have no choice but to lend it!
"That's settled then. If anyone tries to obstruct it again, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Seeing Zhou E's resolute attitude, the crowd exchanged glances, and although they were dissatisfied, they dared not say anything more.

In the afternoon, the stove in the meeting hall of the military headquarters was burning brightly, making the room warm and cozy.
But the warmth did not ease the hearts of the people inside.

Zhou E sat upright at the head of the table, his face cold and stern.

Below the hall, the heads of the five major families and some stewards of prominent households sat on both sides.
Their expressions varied; some were calm, some were worried, and some had inscrutable expressions.

Zhou E slowly swept his gaze across the crowd and began to speak:
"I'm sure you all know why I've summoned you here today."

The military command is now facing difficulties, with soldiers lacking winter supplies.

If not addressed promptly, it could lead to major chaos.

Therefore, the Commander has decided to borrow some money from you all to alleviate this urgent crisis.

As soon as he finished speaking, a murmur arose from the audience.

At this moment, Old Master Liu Yanchen bowed slightly and said with his hands clasped:
"Lord Zhou, the Liu family has been in Liaodong for many years and has always been closely connected with the Commander."

Now that the Commandery is in trouble, the Liu family should naturally do their part.

I am willing to lend you 15,000 taels of silver to help the Commander overcome this difficult time.

Upon hearing this, everyone turned their gaze to Liu Yanchen, their eyes filled with surprise.

Liu Yanchen remained calm, as if he had only done a trivial matter.

Immediately afterwards, Zang Shengjie smiled and said:

"Lord Zhou, although I am not as wealthy and powerful as Old Master Liu,..."
But I am also willing to lend ten thousand taels of silver to do my part for the Commander.

Zhou E nodded slightly, a hint of approval on his face, and said:

"Elder Liu and Elder Zang, you two are very understanding and righteous. On behalf of the Commander, I would like to express my gratitude to you both."

With two of you taking the lead, I'm sure the others will follow suit. However, the other three clan leaders remained seated, looking hesitant.

Among them, Wen Jingchen frowned and said:
"Lord Zhou, it's not that we're unwilling to help, but this 60,000 taels of silver is no small sum."

We also promised Lord Pan that we would support the Commander-in-Chief in building roads.
"With all this going back and forth, even we at home don't have that much cash."

Zhou E remained expressionless and said:
"Manager Wen, things are really urgent now, let's solve the immediate problem first."

Don't worry, a year later, Dusi will repay the loan in full and pay the interest as agreed.

If the commander is unable to return it by then...
"You may choose any land under the Commander's command; I will not stop you."

Another major household manager, Li Maocai, shook his head slightly and said:
"Lord Zhou, words alone are not enough."

Given the current situation, no one can predict what will happen in the future.

"Why don't you have the commander draw up a written agreement for us? That way, we can explain things to our families when we get back."

Zhou E's gaze sharpened, and he said:

"The Commander-in-Chief is an official of the imperial court; how could he break his word?"
If the money is not repaid, it would damage the reputation of the Commander and bring shame to the court. The Commander would never do something so self-destructive.

However, since you all have concerns, the Commander can leave you a written agreement.

Upon hearing this, everyone lowered their heads in deep thought.

Seeing this, Zhou E pressed his advantage and said:

"Gentlemen, the Liaodong Military Command and you are now in a position of shared prosperity and shared loss."

Only when the capital is stable can your businesses flourish.

If the Commander-in-Chief falls into trouble, none of you will be able to escape unscathed.

When the imperial court comes to punish them, no one will be able to escape unscathed.

This 60,000 taels of silver is not only for the Commander, but also for yourselves.

A hint of helplessness flashed in Liu Yanchen's eyes, but he still spoke up in agreement:
"Lord Zhou is quite right. The situation is delicate right now. If we don't unite and support the Commander, we will be in serious trouble."

If chaos breaks out in Liaodong, our family fortune will be destroyed. You all should think about this carefully.

The group exchanged glances, all seeing the hesitation in each other's eyes.

After a moment, Wen Jingchen sighed and said:

"Alright, alright, since Lord Zhou and Old Master Liu have both said so..."

My Wen family also lent ten thousand taels of silver to help the Commander overcome his difficulties.

Seeing that he had already agreed, Li Maocai gritted his teeth and said:

"Li also lent out eight thousand taels of silver, hoping that the Commander will keep his word."

Other shopkeepers, big and small, also spoke up.

A hint of relief appeared on Zhou E's face as he cupped his hands and said:

"Thank you all for your understanding and wisdom!"

Everyone stood up and responded with a cupped-hand salute.

Subsequently, Zhou E ordered a group of men to go to the homes of several wealthy families to collect money.

He himself then sent someone to summon a group of officials.
Then, under the pretext of discussing military affairs, they lured the generals who had led the disturbance to the military headquarters.

The generals, completely unsuspecting, swaggered in.

Zhou E sat at the head of the table, coldly observing them, and said:
"Do you know your guilt?"

The generals looked at each other, and one of them said:
"Lord Zhou, what crime have we committed? We are merely seeking justice for ourselves and our brothers!"

Zhou E slammed his hand on the table, stood up, and shouted:
"Justice? You've mutinied and rebelled, disrupted military discipline, and ruined the overall situation of the Commandery. You still dare to talk about justice! Guards, seize them!"

A squad of soldiers rushed in and pinned the officers to the ground.

The generals shouted loudly:
"Sir, you have broken your promise! We refuse to accept this!"

Zhou E's gaze was icy as he said:
"I will fulfill my promise."

But your actions must be punished!

Today, in front of all these adults, I will shoot you all dead as a warning to others!

After speaking, Zhou E waved his hand, and several archers stepped forward, nocked their arrows, and shot.

With a few "whoosh" sounds, the arrows shot out like meteors.

The generals screamed and fell to the ground, their blood staining the ground red.

Zhou E looked at the crowd and said coldly:

"I hope that you gentlemen will take today's events as a warning."

Anyone who dares to disobey military orders or disrupt the overall situation of the Commandery in the future will be severely punished!
Furthermore, these individuals plotted a rebellion, but the military command has already quelled it.

His family members will be punished according to the law as a warning to others!

Upon seeing this, the adults turned pale and looked at each other strangely.

A day later, Zhou E managed to squeeze some money out of the storeroom.
He then used the borrowed money to purchase some military supplies, barely managing to fulfill his promise to the soldiers.

A disturbance was mysteriously quelled in just three days.

Three days later, Pan Jingyou slowly woke up.

I felt as if my head had been hit by a heavy hammer, and the pain was so intense that it felt like it was going to split open.

He slowly opened his eyes, and what he saw was a dimly lit curtain, the dark color of which carried a sense of oppression.

He tried to move his body, but felt weak and powerless all over, as if his muscles and bones had been removed, and every movement was accompanied by excruciating pain.

At this moment, his face was as pale as paper, devoid of any color.
His lips were cracked and peeling, and his eyes were dull and lifeless, revealing his weakness.

He slightly opened his mouth, as if to speak.

It only emitted a faint, indistinct sound, like an old bellows being blown by the wind.

"My lord, my lord is awake!"

Upon hearing the news that Pan Jing had awakened, Xu Cheng was extremely anxious and rushed over.

He walked quickly to the bedside, sat down gently, his eyes filled with worry, and said softly:

"My lord, you're finally awake! I've been so worried about you these past few days."

Pan Jing turned his head slightly to look at Xu Cheng, a hint of urgency flashing in his eyes. His lips moved, and finally, a clearer sound came out:
"Lord Xu, what's the situation? A mutiny."

Xu Cheng sighed softly, a hint of helplessness on his face, and slowly said:

"My lord, since you were injured and fell into a coma, the situation in the Commandery has become increasingly complicated."

Although Lord Zhou temporarily quelled the mutiny, subsequent troubles continued.
Lord Zhou killed several of the generals who led the riot.

The army was filled with unease, and resentment towards the commander had not completely dissipated.

Pan Jing breathed a sigh of relief. In any case, the mutiny did not turn into a rebellion, which was good.

Xu Cheng paused for a moment, then continued:

"My lord, the commander has taken measures to quell this mutiny."

He borrowed 60,000 taels of silver from wealthy families in the city and squeezed out some more from the treasury.
With the help of various fundraising efforts, they barely managed to gather enough winter supplies and pay to distribute to the soldiers.

However, this left the military command's accounts almost empty, and they were even heavily in debt.

A look of shock flashed across Pan Jing's eyes.

He tried to sit up, but his strength gave way and he fell back down heavily. He asked anxiously:
"How's the road repair going?"

Seeing Pan Jing's anxious expression, Xu Cheng felt a pang of pity, but still told the truth:
"Sir, quite a few people have come to our door these past few days."
They said they were unable to fulfill their previous promises, citing a variety of reasons.

Upon hearing this, Pan Jing felt a sudden darkness before his eyes and his head buzzing.

"Sir, please don't worry. Elder Liu and Elder Zang have sent a letter saying they will lend you money."

Pan Jing shook his head, somewhat bewildered.
"Ten thousand taels of silver! Sixty thousand taels have already been spent before the money even arrived. How can this road be repaired?"

"Absurd! Absurd indeed!"

Pan Jing originally thought that the road construction was a done deal, but now there are unexpected complications.

A wave of despair washed over him, and in his emotional state...
He couldn't catch his breath, everything went black, and he fainted again.

Upon seeing this, Xu Cheng was greatly alarmed and hurriedly shouted:

"My lord! My lord! Someone come quick!"

The room erupted in chaos as doctors rushed in and frantically began inserting needles.

A short while later, Pan Jing groggily woke up again, tilting his head to look at Xu Cheng:
"Go write a letter to Lord Lu, telling him that I agreed to what he asked for last time."

(End of this chapter)