Chapter 1011: Solving the Problem
Li Daoxuan couldn't help but sigh deeply, thinking: *The imperial court truly acted inhumanely, once again forcing the border army to rebel. How far did those fools at the top intend to push the border army before they would finally relent?*
The caravan manager poked his head out from the side. "Heavenly Lord," he asked, "it seems Yinchuan is on the brink of great chaos. What should we do?"
Li Daoxuan replied, "If Yinchuan falls into chaos, we certainly won't be able to conduct our wool trade properly. You should first lead the caravan to hide in Dingbian Fort; the border troops there will surely be willing to protect you. Once our village sends more supplies, you are to take them and come to Ningxia Prefecture."
The caravan manager bowed respectfully. "As you command!" he exclaimed. "Oh? Heavenly Lord, does this mean you won't be staying here?"
Li Daoxuan stated, "I must make a trip to Ningxia Prefecture, which the border army is currently attacking."
The manager immediately understood. The messenger had just reported that the border army from the seven rebellious forts was advancing on Ningxia Prefecture. For the Heavenly Lord to personally go to the target of the rebel attack, it could only mean he intended to avert this disaster.
He quickly bowed deeply. "Then this subordinate will wait here," he declared, "and as soon as the subsequent supplies arrive, I will immediately deliver them to you in Ningxia Prefecture."
Li Daoxuan ran a few steps forward, and once he was out of everyone's sight, he flattened himself. His internal mechanism revealed several wheels, engaging four-wheel drive, and he sped towards Ningxia Prefecture.
Ningxia Prefecture was the administrative seat of the Ningxia Governor.
A subordinate replied awkwardly, "Yes, the messenger has gone, but Supreme Commander Hong is in Guyuan. How quickly can he dispatch troops to suppress the rebellion?"
Wang Ji panicked, "It's over, it's all over! If the reinforcements sent by Supreme Commander Hong cannot arrive in time, my life is forfeit!"
In truth, he wasn't the only one panicking; Hong Chengchou was equally anxious.
The moment he received the news, Hong Chengchou immediately ordered Military Preparation Vice-Commissioner Ding Qirui to lead troops to suppress the rebellion. However, it was over five hundred li from Ningxia Prefecture to Guyuan. For a messenger to run there, and then for Ding Qirui to muster his troops and march back, would mean a round trip of over a thousand li.
By then, it would truly be too late!
Hong Chengchou could only silently pray in his heart: *Please, don't let the border army cause a major catastrophe! This realm cannot withstand such repeated turmoil.*
During the Guyuan Rebellion of yesteryear, large numbers of border troops joined the roving bandits, causing their fighting strength to skyrocket. If the Yinchuan border troops were to join the roving bandits again, what then?
Seven border forts, led by Dashapu Fortress, amassed three thousand soldiers and surrounded Ningxia Prefecture city.
No one could stop these three thousand men!
They were the border army, the most elite of the Great Ming Dynasty's forces. Only other border troops could hope to stop them, but those other border troops had also had their pay withheld for over a year. They weren't madmen; why would they come to stop them?
Now, the only thing that could slightly delay the rebels was Ningxia Prefecture's tall city walls.
The three thousand border troops prepared their tools for scaling the walls. Meanwhile, outside the city, they roared, "Governor Wang Ji, come out and die!"
"Wang Ji, where is our pay? Did you embezzle it?"
"If you can't produce our pay today, we'll eat Wang Ji for dinner!"
"Eat Wang Ji! Eat Wang Ji! Eat Wang Ji!"
Outside the city, a thunderous roar, like crashing waves, shook the heavens.
The common people inside the city trembled in fear.
The common people knew that if these border troops truly broke into Ningxia Prefecture city, they wouldn't stop at merely killing Governor Wang Ji. Troops blinded by rage would surely set fires, plunder, murder innocent civilians, and violate respectable women... leaving the entire city of Ningxia Prefecture utterly ravaged.
At that point, if you stood before these border troops and claimed that the imperial court's unpaid wages had nothing to do with the common folk, do you think they would listen?
In such a moment, the only thing the common people could do was hide at home, trembling, secretly watching the situation outside through the cracks in their windows.
The common people soon noticed that amidst the city's widespread panic, a young man, dressed as a chivalrous warrior, was walking down the deserted street, heading towards the city walls.
As the young man walked, he stopped before a residence and knocked on a window. He asked the person inside, "Elder brother, is Governor Wang Ji currently at the North Gate?"
The common person secretly peeking from the window was startled, and quickly replied, "Yes, yes! Young hero, what are you going to do with Wang Ji? Quick, hide yourself!"
The young chivalrous warrior smiled. "I'm going to solve his problem," he said.
The common person stared, dumbfounded.
The chivalrous warrior was, of course, Li Daoxuan. He had just arrived at Ningxia Prefecture city, and by luck, the South Gate was still open. It turned out some wealthy citizens had bribed the gate guards to open the South Gate and escape. He had simply happened upon it, and so he strolled grandly through the South Gate, unchallenged.
He then started asking people in the city. The common people informed him that the Governor was at the North Gate, so he made his way there.
Soon, he reached the North Gate.
A small old man, dressed in a Governor's robes, stood atop the city wall. Around him were only a few hundred scattered soldiers, their faces etched with terror. Outside the city, before them, three thousand border troops were preparing siege equipment, their killing intent soaring to the heavens.
"Wang Ji, replenish our pay now, and we might still spare your life!"
The rebels outside the city organized a few dozen men to shout together: "We don't want to rebel either! As soon as our pay is in hand, we can withdraw immediately. Any blame, I, Zhao, will bear alone!"
Wang Ji's face was clouded with sorrow. "This official has no money in hand; I cannot disburse it," he pleaded. "If the imperial court doesn't give me money, what am I to give you?"
Zhao Bazong roared in fury, "Then don't blame us for being ruthless!"
Wang Ji cried, "Don't! Don't be impulsive! If you attack, it's a capital offense!"
Zhao Bazong retorted, "Capital offense or not, I don't care. As long as I chop off your dog's head first, and you precede me in death, I'll consider it worth it!"
Wang Ji could only stare, speechless.
This was a truly deadlocked situation!
At this point, Wang Ji was out of options. He knew that anything he said would be useless; no delaying tactics would work. If he couldn't produce their pay, these border troops would absolutely not retreat.
Just then, Li Daoxuan ascended the stairs behind the city wall.
His sudden appearance on the wall startled the few hundred defending soldiers. Someone shouted at him, "Who are you? This is a critical military situation; do not climb the walls recklessly! Get down at once!"
Li Daoxuan replied, "I am here to help Wang Ji solve his problem."
"Nonsense! This is no time for foolishness; get down now!" A soldier attempted to push Li Daoxuan away, but Li Daoxuan grabbed his arm, swung him back, and the soldier was instantly sent flying a considerable distance.
The remaining soldiers gasped in alarm, and with a series of sharp shimmers, countless waist-swords were drawn.
Wang Ji, on the city wall, witnessed this scene. He didn't know if this young man truly had the ability to solve the immediate problem, but what did it matter? One might as well try to treat a dying horse as if it could still be saved. What if he really did have a solution?
He quickly shouted, "Let him come up!"
Wang Ji's subordinates sheathed their swords and stepped back. Li Daoxuan, with an easy demeanor, walked onto the city wall and stood before Wang Ji.
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