Zhang Han was quite righteous. He said in a deep voice, "Zi Xuan, I'll go out and reason with him first! You leave first. A wise man knows when to retreat. I think we should go to Hulu Mountain Water Stockade first... There are only a little over a thousand people here, and Hulu Mountain must have four to five thousand. I doubt he would dare to act rashly?"
Liu Yingjie also advised, "Let's go first. I think Yu Da You and the others should be back soon... Hulu Mountain is a naval camp, after all. How dare they make trouble?"
Zhu Mo was naturally terrified, but looking at the entire drill ground now surrounded, the reform officers numbered at least three to four thousand. If it came to a fight, the musketeers could handle it, but if they fired, wouldn't that play right into Zhang Yu's hands?
He paced a few steps, unable to make up his mind. But one thing was clear: there must be no trouble! The imperial army had already stationed in the county and towns, and the overall situation was favorable to their side. If it became chaotic, it would be favorable to the other side.
He immediately ordered, "Command everyone not to open fire! Nor to step half a step outside the drill ground! Do not exchange insults with the reform officers!"
At this moment, Lu Kun suddenly said, "Zi Xuan, I think it's very dangerous. It's impossible to avoid trouble..."
Oh? Zhu Mo asked curiously, "You mean? They dare to make a move?"
Lu Kun, having handled matters independently during this period, had seen his understanding of the situation improve by leaps and bounds. He saw that the other side likely had further plans. He immediately said, "Zi Xuan, think about it. They know the situation is dire, why would they take such a risk? I think Zhang Yu has gone all out. He's worried about Yan Shifan's punishment and wants to save face... It's extremely dangerous right now. Zi Xuan, it's okay if there's some trouble! You lead the firearms out, and you can fire if necessary! Otherwise, if they become desperate, it will be terrible..."
This? Do they really dare? Zhu Mo hadn't considered this angle, but with Lu Kun's reminder, he suddenly felt it made sense. The west side of the drill ground was near the mountains, with dense forests. The firearms soldiers could forge a path, and it would be possible to leave... However, if the other side pressed forward and the firearms soldiers couldn't hold them back, they would have to fire... Wouldn't that turn into an armed conflict? And once an armed conflict occurred, the court would be in a very passive position. It would become Zhu Mo using his private troops against the crown prince...
"No... Shujian, once there's an armed conflict, the太子's imperial decree is clear. Wouldn't that be me using private soldiers against the court, against the crown prince? His Majesty is currently in the secluded Daoist palace and cannot speak. How can Xu Jie and Zhang Juzheng overcome the entire Yan Party in court?"
After speaking, Zhu Mo looked at the flickering flames all around the drill ground and inwardly cursed his bad luck.
Indeed, at this moment, a guard ran in and shouted loudly, "They're setting fires! Setting fire to civilian houses!"
Ah!! Everyone climbed onto the high platform and saw that three or four villages outside the drill ground were already ablaze.
Lu Kun murmured, "Truly ruthless, truly ruthless... Over there is an old weaving workshop. They're burning the workshop!"
"Hoo~" Zhu Mo let out a long sigh and said helplessly, "Indeed, it's impossible to avoid trouble..."
It should be known that burning a workshop could be falsely attributed to the common people's brave volunteers. These reform officers could use the excuse of the屯垦义勇 (Tun Ken Yi Yong - land reclamation volunteers) burning down the large workshop to act recklessly. Even if they killed a few villagers, they could get away with it at the time.
At this moment, seeing the workshop burning and the clamor outside the drill ground reaching a deafening roar, everyone was at a loss.
...
At this time, Wan Cai was also extremely anxious. He had wanted to attack, but when it came down to it, he forcibly restrained himself, deeply feeling that Zhang Yu and the Yan family had gambled everything. If he made any mistake, he would become a scapegoat. Therefore, he was under the supervision of the Yan family and did not allow anyone to enter the drill ground, thinking that as long as they surrounded it, and waited until dawn, or even a few days, there would be a turning point.
But he didn't expect that Yang Hengchang, following closely behind, saw that he was delaying action, so he simply sent people to set fire to a nearby workshop. This workshop also belonged to a friend of Shen Yishi and had been operating for over ten years. Once this fire was set, those gentry would truly believe that Zhu Mo's volunteers had done it, causing them great panic and forcing them to a corner.
As expected, once the great fire started, Wan Cai could no longer control himself. A leader of the reform officers from Qiantang shouted, "Zhu Mo's volunteers are burning the workshop! Brothers, let's fight!"
"Fight!"
"Fight!"
"Kill these lowlifes!"
"The imperial army is instigating the rebels to burn the workshop!"
"It was Zhu Mo who instigated it!"
"Kill Zhu Mo!"
The shouts shook the sky. Wan Cai was utterly dejected on the spot.
It should be known that these reform officers were originally the household retainers of various powerful families. The reason these gentry and powerful families re-organized their retainers was to make a comeback. Now, not only could they not make a comeback, but after the imperial army entered, a large workshop was burned down that very night. Wouldn't that mean the imperial army supported the common people and acted against these powerful families? This was unbearable!
Wan Cai, having not experienced major events, had no idea that all of this was Yang Hengchang's doing behind the scenes. And Yang Hengchang was actually not far away, staring at the situation with a sinister smile. If it couldn't be suppressed, he would immediately push forward, allowing everyone to rush in. At that time, he would take advantage of the chaos to kill Zhu Mo.
...
Inside the drill ground, as the clamor outside the walls grew louder, everyone was extremely anxious. Zhu Mo originally wanted to go out, thinking he could simply placate them, but hearing the shouts outside now included "Kill Zhu Mo," his heart became clear—Lu Kun was right. The disgraced Yan Party members in Hangzhou intended to kill him tonight... Based on his understanding of conspiracies, this fire was clearly set by these fallen Yan Party members, with the aim of forcing the reform officers to rush in.
He made a decisive decision and shouted loudly, "Form ranks!"
"Fire salutes into the sky!"
With a few clatters, over a thousand people had completed their formation. At the command, the sound of gunfire echoed through the night sky. Waves of white smoke diffused and dissipated in the firelight, and the deafening clamor outside the walls suddenly stopped. The three to four thousand thugs outside the walls were startled and retreated more than ten feet.
Wan Cai's heart became clear. He thought that if he didn't take the opportunity to let them leave now, he would never have another chance tonight. He immediately walked to a high mound and was about to give a grand speech when unexpectedly a voice shouted, "Zhu Mo is in rebellion! He attacked the reform officers! Charge!"
With a whoosh, from behind the crowd not far away, a group of people suddenly rushed out and began fiercely battering the camp gate of the drill ground. The loud banging sounds made Wan Cai's scalp tingle, and his whole body went limp...
At this moment, the reform officer leaders under Wan Cai also suddenly realized what was happening and immediately began to incite them. A wave of shouts and killings erupted—
"Zhu Mo is in rebellion!"
"Zhu Mo is privately deploying imperial troops in rebellion!"
"Capture Zhu Mo!"
"Kill Zhu Mo and receive a reward from the court!"
"..."
The three to four thousand people, some climbing walls, others ramming gates, suddenly became like madmen.
Yang Hengchang hid in the small woods, a sinister smile on his face, and muttered to himself, "Zhu Mo, Zhu Mo, how can you possibly contend with the Young Grand Secretary... What good are your fancy moves..."
But at this moment, Yang Hengchang suddenly heard the sound of urgent horse hooves sweeping in, the continuous clatter of hooves indicating a surprisingly large number of people. He immediately ran to a distant hill. As far as he could see, a large troop of cavalry was rapidly approaching. Although it was in the darkness and firelight, the banners were clearly visible. It was a "Qi" banner!
He inwardly cursed his bad luck, immediately turned and fled, heading into the woods behind the mountain and away into the distance.
At the same time, the actions of everyone besieging the drill ground also slowed down and stopped. The noisy sounds gradually disappeared. Everyone could only hear the deafening sound of hooves in their ears. Before long, a troop of cavalry with a strict formation appeared before them, and their total number was no less than three to four thousand.
A tall horse galloped forward and in a flash arrived at the camp gate. Many people recognized him—This person was precisely Qi Jiguang!
Qi Jiguang, with a whoosh, pulled out a military order and shouted loudly, "By order of the Crown Prince, who is overseeing the state, the reform officers are to disband immediately and return to their homes! The Tun Ken Yi Yong are to return to their respective garrisons at once! Anyone who dares to disobey will be regarded as bandits by the imperial army!"
Hiss!
Hiss!
As Wan Cai breathed a sigh of relief, the reform officers were completely bewildered. The political currents in the court were indeed unpredictable! Zhang Yu had established the reform officers a few months ago by order of the Crown Prince, and now, a few months later, by imperial decree of the Crown Prince, the reform officers had become illegal...
At this time, the people inside the drill ground also understood the reason. Zhu Mo, leading the firearms soldiers, marched out together, suppressing the reform officers.
A great chaos that had almost gotten out of control was finally resolved at the last critical moment.