Chapter 40: The Commotion from Jiayuan County

  Three days have passed, and it has been three full days. In Jiayuan County, Ding Heng and his men have been stationed here for three days. He had already sent someone to rush to the prefecture's government office on horseback, and before the new county magistrate arrived, he might still have to continue staying here. Fortunately, thanks to the magical Resurrection Dan and also thanks to Huangfu Yanran's careful care, in just three short days, Ding Heng's injuries had almost recovered.

  "General Ding, Commander-in-Chief Ding, have some tea!" A steaming cup of fragrant tea was handed over.

  "Presumptuous! Although Gao Yi is already dead, before the official document from the imperial court arrives, he is still the legitimate commander-in-chief of Great Yan State, and I am just a deputy general!" Ding Heng rebuked lightly, but suddenly he felt that something was not quite right.

  "Huh? How is it you? Princess Huangfu?" It took Ding Heng a long time to realize that the smiling guard in front of him was actually Princess Huangfu Yanran in disguise. If not for her voice, he probably wouldn't have recognized her at all.

  "Alright, alright," Huang Fu Yanran pouted, "Gao Yi that idiot is dead, the position of General is now vacant. In terms of seniority and prestige, who else but you?"

  "Our great Yan state is vast and rich, with talented people and a land of spiritual energy. There are many people who surpass me in both talent and virtue." Ding Heng sighed and shook his head.

  "Nonsense!" Huangfu Yanran rolled her eyes, "How capable are those guys, I don't care. But they want to compete with my Ding Lang for the position of General, that's outrageous?"

  "Good grief!" Ding Heng was completely speechless. The Huangfu girl in front of him not only looked beautiful, but also had impressive personal abilities that could be described as "a heroine who doesn't yield to heroes". However, she had one major flaw - whenever they discussed serious matters, she would always talk nonsense and beat around the bush. It really made people feel like crying and laughing at the same time.

  "By the way, why did you pretend to be a little soldier? Did you think it was fun?" Ding Heng hurriedly changed the subject.

  "Is it fun? Do you think I'm so immature?" Huang Fu Yan raised her slender finger and gently poked Ding Heng's forehead, "If not for protecting you, who would be willing to wear such ugly clothes!"

  "I remember your Jadeite's auxiliary function was hidden..."

  "Silly, if I hide my figure beside you, who knows whether you'll ignore my existence or not? It's better to dress up as a personal guard and follow you every day, hovering around you, making it impossible for you to forget me!" Huang Fu Yanran threw her arms around Ding Heng's neck, coquettishly.

  Ding Heng's face turned red again.

  "Hehehe!" Huangfu Yanran let out a bright and cheerful laugh. She understood that the person in front of her was one of the few honest and upright gentlemen in the Great Yan Kingdom, and if she made even slightly intimate movements towards him, he would blush. But this was exactly what she found endearing about him.

  "Deputy General Ding, Deputy General Ding, something's happened!" Just as the two were being extremely intimate, a soldier rushed in hastily. Seeing an outsider intrude, Huangfu Yan quickly removed her hand from Ding Heng's neck.

  "Tell me! What's going on?" Ding Heng coughed twice, trying to restore his normal complexion.

  "Deputy General Ding!" The soldiers looked at Huangfu Yanran, then at Ding Heng, and said, "A group of rioters has appeared in Jiayuan County. They are armed with clubs and attacking the official treasury of the county government office. The government officials can't hold on much longer. Deputy General Ding, what should we do now?"

  "Huh? Why are they attacking the county government's treasury?" Ding Hengqi said.

  "Report to Deputy General Ding, the other day, wasn't it the bandits from Panshan Mountain who slaughtered the people of Jiayuan County? In that great fire, many people's homes were burned down. They said they can no longer survive and want to open up the official treasury and distribute all the goods inside!"

  "Can't live anymore? How is that possible? Jiayuan County did suffer a great fire, but I opened the government warehouse a few days ago and distributed some of the supplies. I don't dare guarantee anything else, but there should be enough to maintain daily food and clothing. How can they not make ends meet again?" Ding Heng was even more surprised.

  "The...this..." The soldier hesitated for a moment, but ultimately swallowed back the words that had already reached his lips.

  "You little fool, don't you understand this kind of thing? I'll tell you, human nature is greedy. As long as you give them some benefits, they will eagerly hope to get more sweetness. Those villagers must have seen that you're new here and thought you were easy to bully. That's why they gathered a crowd to make trouble!" Huangfu Yanran slapped Ding Heng's forehead without any politeness.

  "So that's how it is!" Ding Heng suddenly enlightened, a hint of coldness slowly appearing in his eyes. "You say, do I really look so kind?"

  Huang Fu Yanran didn't respond, only slightly shrugging her shoulders and then spreading out her hands. "I understand!" Ding Heng nodded. It seems that I need to take some action now, I want those who refuse to be content with their current situation to know that although I, Ding Heng, may look a bit gentle, my heart is not kind, and when I get angry, I can also kill people.

  "Hurry up and gather your brothers, let's go take a look at the scene of the crime!" Ding Heng stood up with a swoosh.

  "A real man should be kind when it's time to be kind, and ruthless when it's time to be ruthless. In a situation like this, one must be decisive and not hesitate. Ding Heng, I like you when you're like this!" Huang Fu Yanran gazed into Ding Heng's eyes, which were shining with little stars. Ah! Indeed, when infatuated with someone, every move they make seems perfect to oneself.

  "Good grief!" In the face of his opponent's inexplicable excitement, Ding Heng could only shake his head with a wry smile.

  "Huh? Do you have something else to say?" Just as Ding Heng finally noticed the strange expression on the face of the soldier who was following closely behind him.

  "This... this... Deputy Commander Ding!" The soldier swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and finally decided to speak out, "Deputy Commander Ding, you have high moral character, are humble, and handle matters fairly, we brothers have nothing to say against you. But... but..."

  "What's going on?" Ding Heng became more and more puzzled.

  "Deputy Commander Ding, I didn't want to interfere in other people's business. But there are some things that I have to say, you should also pay attention to your own daily life!" The soldier gritted his teeth and finally decided to speak out.

  "What's wrong with my daily life? Can't you explain it clearly?" Ding Heng became even more curious. He usually had a clear mind and few desires, never quarreling with others. As for eating, drinking, and gambling, those things were unrelated to him, so what else should he pay attention to in his daily life?

  "Deputy General Ding!" The soldiers and guards did not dare to look into Ding Heng's eyes. "The Sage once said that it is a major event in human relationships, it is natural, and there is nothing wrong with it. However, the Sage was extremely disgusted with those who cut off peaches and sleeves! Disgusted with having dragon yang goodness!"

  Ding Heng was stunned, his pale face suddenly becoming extremely awkward.

  "Get out!" The first to come back to her senses, Huangfu Yan's face turned red as she directly kicked out with a flying leg. The poor soldier directly drew a beautiful arc in mid-air.

  ……

  In front of the government office in Jiayuan County, a dozen or so bailiffs were holding knives and waiting solemnly. In front of them, a large group of Jiayuan County people gathered densely, holding clubs and extremely agitated.

  "Hey you turtle grandsons, hurry up and get out of our way!" a voice like a male duck sounded.

  "Who dares to take a step forward, first ask if the knife in our hands will respond?" The yamen runners hastily threatened. What a joke, behind them was the imperial treasury, once it was breached, these people would lose their heads.

  "Ghost son, what are you crossing? Only know how to be cruel to us common people. When the bandits of Panlong Mountain slaughtered Jia yuan county city, why didn't you dare to cross? Why did each and every one of you hide in your shells like turtles?" A man with a sly face squeezed out from the crowd.

  "Fellow villagers, you be the judge. A few days ago, bandits from Panshan Mountain slaughtered people in Jiayuan County, and a big fire has burned down everything we own. Now we can't even get the most basic food and clothing. But the government granary is storing so much grain, if they don't bring it out now, when will they? Fellow villagers, this is clearly an attempt to starve us to death, freeze us to death!"

  "You're talking nonsense. Didn't Vice Captain Ding distribute some to everyone a few days ago? How can you say that you have no way to make ends meet?" an officer argued.

  "It's just a trivial matter, not even enough to fill the gaps between my teeth!" The man with a rat-like face and beady eyes rolled his eyes, "There are so many in the official treasury, but they only give us such a small share. I think that Deputy Commander Ding is clearly harboring private intentions, wanting to keep it all for himself!"

  "To know that the things in the official treasury were originally ours, were originally our own. Fellow villagers, you judge this reason for yourselves, someone actually wants to embezzle what belongs to us, do we agree or not?"

  "We won't comply! Absolutely not!" A few scattered voices echoed in response from the crowd.

  "Alright, since everyone says so, let's charge in together and take back what originally belongs to us!" The man with the wolf-like head and mouse-like eyes roared loudly, taking the lead in launching a fierce attack.

  "Charge! Charge!" A few people scattered and charged forward from the crowd, then the majority of the crowd began to surge.

  "Don't come over! Don't come over!" The bailiffs panicked, they understood that if so many people were to go crazy, with just a dozen or so of them, they would be completely unable to resist.

  "Get out of my way, you turtle's son! Scram!" The man with the rat-like eyes and a donkey-like head raised his club and struck down at the bailiff's skull.

  "Ahh!" A miserable cry, the bailiff holding his bleeding head fell to the ground.

  "Charge! Whoever grabs it first gets it, and whoever is late gets nothing!" The man with the rat-like eyes and a wolf-like head was greatly encouraged.

  "Charge!" As soon as the man with a wolf's head and mouse eyes said this, the people who were still hesitant had their eyes turn red in an instant. If they hesitated any longer, there would be nothing left. The crowd surged forward to the government treasury, and the poor dozen or so bailiffs were instantly engulfed by the tide of people.

  "Give me a smash, break the door open!" Looking at the big lock on the gate of the government treasury, the man with a rat-like head and mouse-like eyes frowned. Suddenly, several people holding tools came forward, and there was a loud crashing sound.

  "Stop, you will all stop!" Just as the gate of the government storehouse was about to be smashed open, a stern voice sounded from behind the crowd. But at this time, people didn't care at all, their hearts were already occupied by one thought, that is, to rush in, there must be many good things inside, whoever grabs them first will get them, and if they are late, they will have nothing.

  "The official treasury is the foundation of our great Yan country's stability and peace. Without an imperial edict, anyone who dares to raid the official treasury is going against the imperial court, is opposing the government. The outcome will only be one path, that is death. If there are still people who dare to doubt the words of this deputy general, come try it!"

  But what's strange is that after hearing this sentence, many people who were originally noisy stopped their movements unknowingly.

  Ding Heng then smiled slightly, and such a result was already within his expectations. He understood that no matter where or when, ordinary people's fear of the imperial court and government offices was always hidden in their subconscious mind.

  "You'd better think carefully, without permission, sneaking into the official treasury is equivalent to rebellion and treason. Not only will you be put to death, but your family may also be implicated. Listen to me, disperse now, and I can pretend nothing happened, otherwise, I'll have to quell the disturbance for the imperial court!" Ding Heng glanced around behind him. Those robust soldiers immediately understood, and raised their knives, putting on a ferocious appearance.

  In the face of these fierce soldiers, the civilians finally felt afraid and retreated. Although the abundant supplies in the government warehouse were tempting, if their lives were lost, what use would those things be?

  "Everyone, calm down! Don't be intimidated by this guy!" The man with the rat-like eyes shouted loudly, "Don't listen to this kid's nonsense. We are being oppressed by the bandits of Panshan Mountain and can barely survive, so we came to the government warehouse to take some things that can support our families. What crime is there in that? Since ancient times, the people have been more important than the ruler. The common people can't even make a living, what's the point of talking about life or death?"

  "You, with the surname Ding, don't try to intimidate me with the imperial court's laws. Do you know what it means for officials and civilians to rebel? We've been persecuted by the bandits of Panlong Mountain until we have nothing left but our lives. You're trying to scare me? Who's afraid of whom?"

  "Fellow villagers, don't be afraid, don't mind their fierce appearance, they're just a few dozen people, if we really get angry, everyone will tear them to pieces!"

  "Yes! With so many of us, are we afraid of these few dozen soldiers?" Several cunning-minded people stopped in their tracks first, followed by even more reluctant ones who also began to halt.

  The man with the mouse eyes and a rat's head was even more furious, "You little brat with the surname Ding, do you know what it means to provoke public anger now? If you're smart, take your people and get out of here quickly. Otherwise, I'll tear you all apart!"

  "You dare to threaten my Tingheng, you're looking for death." Pretending to be Tingheng's personal guard, Huangfu Yanran was even more furious, and she immediately wanted to take action.

  "Huang... Xiaoyi, calm down, don't be impulsive!" Ding Heng hastily grabbed the furious Huang Fuyan's hand.

  "What's with the rabbit?!" The man with a rat-like head and mouse-like eyes looked at Ding Heng, then at Huangfu Yanran, and sneered, "At least I'm better than you, you rabbit!"

  "Bastard!" Hearing that the other party dared to scold her as a rabbit, Huangfu Yanran was so angry that she was fuming. But Ding Heng's hand held hers tightly.

  "You'd better perk up your ears and listen. I hope you understand that although I look friendly, I can also kill people. If you don't want to die, then hurry up and leave me!" Ding Heng was also suppressing the anger in his heart.

  "Kill me? Aren't you afraid of provoking these people and getting torn apart?" But Ding Heng's words did not intimidate the opponent, instead they made his demeanor even more arrogant. The man with a rat-like head and mouse-like eyes stretched out his neck towards Ding Heng in an extremely casual manner.

  "Kid, if you've got guts, come at me with a knife. If not, then cut off those two things in your pants."

  "Ding Heng's face turned pale with anger."

  When he saw Ding Heng's appearance, the man with a donkey head and mouse eyes became even more arrogant. He snatched a knife from a soldier's hand and placed it on his own neck. "You little boy, I've got everything ready for you! If you have the guts, come at me!" The man with a donkey head and mouse eyes was very clear in his mind that not only did his side have more people, but also looking at Ding Heng's refined and elegant appearance, even if he had ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare to attack him.

  But this time, the man with a wolf's head and mouse eyes was wrong. He not only made a mistake but also made a big one. He forgot that in this world there is a saying called "don't judge a person by their appearance".