I Can See Your Combat Power
Chapter 1248 - Chapter 1248 Chapter 540 The Method of Suppressing Rebellion

Chapter 1248: Chapter 540: The Method of Suppressing Rebellion Chapter 1248: Chapter 540: The Method of Suppressing Rebellion The monks descended from the mountain, the royal teachers went on patrol, but the unrest in Chaochang had not abated.

For the freemen of Chaochang were unlike those elsewhere in Longzhou. In other places, freemen were mostly peasants with their own fields and land, at the very least working as tenants.

The cause of their rebellion was nothing more than the oppression by the gentry, or a disaster year with no harvest to speak of. There were also a few young men who had lost sight of their future and went mad, but most were honest and compliant.

However, the freemen of Chaochang were different; they had neither land nor a business. Once they lost their jobs, they lost everything.

What made matters worse was that the farming lands in Chaochang were all private properties of clans. These freemen could not even steal some food to eat, let alone rob a grain depot or granary–it was a pipe dream.

They did not have the strength to survive on their own, yet they refused to die of hunger. Those who were good and law-abiding might choose to give up their freedom, but some idle youths, under the incitement of wandering warriors, chose to take risks.

The law of the jungle was the nature of animals, and in the chaos of the times, it was vividly played out.

The elite troops of the Forest Department initially thought that it was just some people struggling to survive being driven crazy by hunger, but after suppressing a few rebel groups, they discovered that things were not as simple as they had imagined.

“Father, something’s off about the uprising in Chaochang,”

Wang Po handed the information gathered by his subordinates to Wang Chang: “These rioters’ actions are not chaotic or savage but rather guided and organized by someone. Look here.”

Pulling out a testimony from the documents, Wang Po continued, “There is an organization called the Guangyao Association secretly operating. They gather people with grievances under the banner of overthrowing the tyrannical noble families and distributing the land. They also promote vagrants with martial arts foundations as leaders. In just half a month, they already have over a hundred thousand people joining. Besides them, there are also coachmen, sailors, agents, footmen, and individuals from all walks of life forming alliances. This is the true source of the rebellion.”

Wang Chang only glanced at the information before asking Wang Po, “What do you think we should do?”

“Punish one to warn others!” Wang Po, who already had a plan in mind, declared with conviction, “Wang Fan has located the roots of the Guangyao Association. We will organize our elite troops and, with a thunderous approach, eradicate all their cadres. We will publicize the outcome of these people throughout the city. Seeing the fate of the Guangyao Association, other groups will naturally hold back. Without these organizers providing arms, the leaderless rioters will disperse on their own without the need for suppression!”

“Straight to the heart, good,”

“Then I’ll take my leave!”

“Wait.”

Wang Chang halted Wang Po’s action, saying indifferently, “That’s good, but not sufficient. We need to suppress the uprising in the shortest time possible. Your approach is not swift enough.”

“Without the Guangyao Association, there will be others like the Association of Brightness or Association of Light. Ambitions born from chaos will not stop for fear. Unless the knife is at their own throats, they do not know pain,”

“What do you suggest, Father?”

Wang Po was somewhat puzzled.

“First, locate the leaders of the Guangyao Association and the chiefs of those groups, and make them comply. Then let Wang Fan take people to find a few noble families with abundant grain supplies and have them open their granaries.”

“The root of Chaochang’s uprising is that people see no path forward; they are angered and scared. The noble families just need to make slight concessions, and the Guangyao Association will be able to pacify the people, because for them, seeing the food is already a victory. Do you understand now?”

Experience always trumps the green; Wang Po nodded repeatedly, excitedly responding, “I understand!”

Forming alliances was always the Wang Family’s forte. Solving the problem in Chaochang was never a difficult task in Wang Chang’s eyes. His lack of enthusiasm stemmed from knowing that

such rebellions were like autumn leaves. No matter how diligently you swept (suppressed) them, they would pile up again after a night’s sleep. To resolve the issue once and for all required uprooting the tree, but that was something no one could do.

So what was the point in this leaf-sweeping? If it weren’t for the desire to have Yanshan return to Fuyun Temple swiftly, Wang Chang wouldn’t bother with such a futile effort.

…

East Market Street Alley

The Xiang Family had cleared all the items out of the courtyard, whether it was the belongings from Yun Xiu’s room, the medicinal herbs from the pharmacy, or miscellaneous items Tang Luo had left behind. Not even a single cornstalk was left.

The empty courtyard, along with the toppled walls, provided a dwelling not even a beggar would want during such chaotic times.

No one desired to sleep only to be stabbed to death in their slumber. This courtyard, with walls letting the wind through from all sides, was not even as safe as sleeping beneath a bridge.

“Aside from leaving behind two spies, the Xiang Family didn’t leave us anything,”

Tang Luo dropped two unconscious Wind Media agents by the wall and walked over to the woman standing in a daze in the empty courtyard. He spoke softly, “If you’d like, we can build a new one, an exact replica of what you had. What do you think?”

“No need,”

Yun Xiu shook her head, “Right now, the most important thing is to calm the unrest in Chaochang and ensure that the common people can settle down.”

Seeing the persistent worry in the woman’s eyes, Tang Luo said gently, “Don’t worry, Old Du has already had a heart-to-heart with the leader of the Guangyao Association. The young fellows are also persuading various guilds and groups. If those ambitious figures smart enough to take advantage of the chaos in Chaochang are clever, they should understand what this implies. It won’t be long before Chaochang’s turmoil will have been quelled.”

“I hope so,” Yun Xiu nodded, then turned to ask Tang Luo, “What do you plan to do with Xiang Lan?”

“She’s a potent weapon.”

Tang Luo smiled, “It just isn’t the right time for her to make an appearance yet. Once she memorizes the whole rhetoric, it will be time for her to perform.”

Remembering the tearfully poignant speech Tang Luo had written, Yun Xiu thought it was a tough ordeal for Xiang Lan.

Because it wasn’t just about betraying her maternal family, it was about pushing them into a pit of eternal damnation, a target of universal scorn.

Yun Xiu couldn’t fathom what kind of potion Tang Luo had given Xiang Lan to make her harbor such intense hatred for the Xiang Family.

In some ways, she even hated the Xiang Family more than she, the legitimate daughter of the Yun Family, did.

…

Jialan Village

“What?”

Wang Chang’s eyebrows knitted lightly, “Are you telling me someone has already taken control of the Guangyao Association and the guilds before us?”

“Correct.”

Wang Po also found it unbelievable, “And from the looks of it, their goal seems to be the same as ours–to stabilize the people’s emotions and rebuild the order in Chaochang’s Lower City District.”

“Have you found out who it is?”

“Still investigating.”

“Where is Yanshan now?”

“Since arriving in Chaochang, he has been traveling around treating the civilians injured in the riots. He’s currently in the eastern part of the Lower City District.”

“Keep a close eye on his situation and notify me immediately if there’s any movement.”