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,
It would take 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 willing to defend the city only because he spent money without hesitation. So he issued a notice: Anyone who dared to seduce thieves outside the city without permission would have his whole family beheaded; after the property was confiscated
Rewards were given 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 defending 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 that they would be revenged if the city was broken.
, so when they found people on the city talking to people outside the city, although they kept scolding and brandishing swords, they did not actually take action.
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 shoot!" Then he shouted: "If you fire a gun, you will be rewarded with five taels of silver!"
Now the two cannons at Nanguan were 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. When Wu Guangzhi saw a flash of fire on the city, he immediately waved his hand and asked everyone to disperse and hide. The cannonballs were damaged again.
The two battlements cut the three strong men hiding behind in two, and a 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 surrender to Kaicheng, otherwise we will capture Xin'an and massacre the whole city.
Destroy, 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 thieves. They only have a few hundred people and a few boats. Don't even think about touching me, Xin'an."
A hair of a hair! Drive away the bandits, and the soldiers and civilians defending 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 silver, and they also started to roar. From time to time, they would wave their swords to temporarily suppress the commotion.
Wu Guangzhi saw that people's hearts were unstable. He 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 Minzhuang, who was twisting his arms and grabbing his shoulders, in front of him. Minzhuang looked confused and panicked. He kept shouting: "Please help me?"
Wu Guangzhi said solemnly: "I can see clearly that you were chatting with the Kun thief in the city, and just now you were making gestures outside. You must be a spy of the Kun thief! Come on! Cut him off!"
The Minzhuang company complained that he was wronged, and the soldiers on 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 someone and established his prestige. He temporarily suppressed the people. However, at this time, more than a dozen loud arrows were shot from outside the city. The arrows were tied with "Xiaoyu". Wu Guangzhi was afraid that someone would pick them up and shake people's hearts, so he shouted sharply.
"Don't pick up the rattling arrows!" his soldiers hurried over to pick them up, but some were still picked up by the quick ones.
He opened the "Xiaoyu" and saw scrawled words on it. It said in ink that the soldiers and civilians in the city were to open their doors within one hour to dedicate the city. The army would not commit any crimes in autumn and save the lives of the city. When the army entered Xin'an County, they would only kill 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 and could not stop it.
The gentry and people in the city are willing to surrender and do not want to fight. Australians have always had a reputation for not committing crimes, but they also have a reputation for being cruel and ruthless to those who resist. Therefore, everyone feels that regardless of whether the city falls, surrendering first to save their lives is the most important thing.
.Especially the Jin gentry. They had been forced to spend large sums of money to defend the city. They felt that their interests had been harmed and no longer wanted to be "loyal" with Magistrate Wu.
Wu Guangzhi knew that the people in the city were unstable, especially the ambiguous attitude of the gentry. This made him very panicked. Because when he was in Shaanxi, he defeated "rogue bandits" who tried to attack the city more than once, relying on the support of the gentry in the county.
Great help. But the thieves here seem to be different from the bandits - neither the gentry nor the people have any hatred or fear towards them.
He summoned several officials in the county to discuss it. No one could come up with any ideas, and instead advised him not to defend it any longer. The county scholar said: The Kun thieves are well-known in the local area, and the common people and the gentry will not be able to fight against them.
Supportive. 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 and surrenders, the Kun thieves will definitely not harm him."
Wu Guangzhi ordered them to withdraw and stayed alone in the house, thinking repeatedly and unable to think of a good solution. Cannon fire was going on on the river again. He could not help but stamp his feet and sigh, wander around the pillars, and said to himself:
"Oh, I didn't expect that I would end up like this!"
When it was almost 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 was very different from the past. When he first arrived in Xin'an three months ago, the gentry and elders
He was so unhappy in the hall that he had received the favor. In the morning, he suppressed Mr. Qian, who was trying to rebel, and summoned the officials and gentry to discuss strengthening the city's defenses. The elders of the Jin gentry were also respectful and obedient. They called him a rare person.
"Qiancai". However, the situation suddenly changed, and the flower hall was full of sad faces.
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 mercy, but it will be like 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 noble gentry elders
A man has a family, a career, and a lot of wives and concubines. If the traitor wants you to pay the military salary and sacrifice your beautiful women, at that time, will you obey the order or not? You must know that you will not be able to do it at that time!"
These words are reasonable and well-founded. If they were placed in other places, these words alone would be enough. When he was the county magistrate in Shaanxi, he repeatedly used such words to motivate the gentry, and almost tried every time. However, it did not work here.
.A gentleman said: "Australians have always been true to their word, and they are not greedy or lustful people."
The gentry were all aware of the various deeds of the Australians who invaded the Pearl River a few years ago. The Australians did not destroy any towns or villages that were obedient to the Australians and donated food and wages, and the "reasonable burden" of the levy was very light; they even killed them along the way.
Many scattered water bandits in the local area were eliminated, and the public security was stabilized for a while. Those who organized groups to fight were severely punished, and the local gentry's power was wiped out. The gentry were afraid that they would fall into such a fate, so they tried their best to advocate
Kaicheng obeyed.
"It is the master himself. Even if he is confused for a moment, we will still speak kindly to the Australians and try our best to protect 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. At this time, the matter is urgent, and the situation must be changed. We cannot stick to the 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 name) has been taught by himself, and he has read the books of saints. These words of loyalty to the emperor and patriotism have been instilled in him since he was a child.
Keep it in your heart and never forget it. Now that you have received the emperor's fortune and received the divine grace, there is no reason to surrender."
The county magistrate didn't want to say more, but now that the gentry had reached a deadlock with Wu Guangzhi, he had to say: "Master Wu, please think again. Today, people have no strong will, and a lonely 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. The safety of the people of this city is now in danger! Master
If we look at the people, temporarily surrendering and saving the people, it 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 eat 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. Don't waste the lives of a whole city for the sake of the word 'loyalty'!"
Everyone agreed in unison. 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. His ambitions this morning had turned into ashes. He had the idea 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...changed!" (To be continued.)