As dusk fell, the setting sun turned blood red, dyeing the west a deep red, as if the blood of the gods had been spilled all over the ground.
The East Lake project area is about to be completed. Zhu Ping'an, with his official robe tucked into his waist and sleeves rolled up, worked with the common people to carry bluestone and reinforce the lake embankment. This is the last 300 meters of the lake embankment. After reinforcing this section of the lake embankment, the East Lake project area will be completed.
"Report!!!!!!!!!!!! County Lord! Something terrible has happened!"
An officer with disheveled hair and blood on his body kicked the horse desperately, shouting as he galloped.
The speed was very fast! The sound of horse hooves was like a violent storm, and the dust behind them flew up, raising a yellow dust.
"Young master, be careful." Liu Dadao, Liu Daqiang and others instinctively stood in front of Zhu Ping'an to prevent any accidents.
"It's He Xiaoer!"
When Zhu Pingan saw the person coming, his pupils shrank. He Xiaoer was a young man who had the courage to defend the city against the Japanese invaders. He was later hired as a county yamen official. He was honest and hardworking. Zhu Pingan had a good impression of him, but why was He Xiaoer covered in blood? ! What happened? !
"Your Excellency!" When He Xiaoer saw Zhu Ping'an, he pulled the reins hard and the horse slowed down, but he himself was exhausted and fell off the horse. He fell heavily to the ground and rolled down along the newly built lake embankment.
There was a piece of unprocessed bluestone in the direction where He Xiaoer was rolling. If he hit it, the consequences would be disastrous.
"Hurry up and save him." Zhu Pingan shouted hurriedly.
Liu Dadao responded and quickly stepped forward, his steps were as fast as flying, he flipped over the boulder and saved He Xiaoer at the critical moment.
"He Xiaoer, how are you? What happened?!" Zhu Ping'an walked quickly forward, squatted down and asked.
"Ahem..."
He Xiaoer wanted to report hurriedly, but as soon as he opened his mouth he couldn't help but spit out blood, his face turning red and purple.
"No hurry! No hurry!" Zhu Ping'an used his hands to help He Xiaoer breathe, then turned his head and shouted to the people below, "Water, bring some water."
Someone rushed up from below and handed over a water bag. Zhu Pingan took it and fed He Xiaoer a sip of water.
He Xiaoer took a sip of water and swallowed the bloody phlegm stuck in his throat. As soon as he could breathe, he hurried to report to Zhu Pingan: "County Master... something terrible has happened. The Nanman Miao people in the southeastern mountainous area have rebelled. They have broken through the southeastern flood refuge area, robbed the 3,000 dan of stored grain in the flood refuge area, and also kidnapped a large number of refugees..."
"What? The southern barbarians are rebelling again?! What should we do?!"
"Oh my God, why are these damn barbarians coming down the mountain again! These barbarians are ten thousand times more terrifying than the Japanese pirates! They drink human blood and eat human flesh! How can those refugees who have been taken away have any chance of survival?"
"Oh my god, why are those damn southern barbarians rebelling again? What should we do?! Remember the rebellion of the southern barbarians five years ago? The county magistrate invited the garrison to lead 5,000 soldiers to suppress the rebellion, but the rebellion was not suppressed, and the people were killed by the southern barbarians, and most of the garrison soldiers were also killed or injured."
"Don't say it. It's scary just thinking about it. That time the southern barbarians came down the mountain to rebel. It was like a plague of locusts. No grass was left wherever they passed. Many villages were affected. They almost broke through the county town."
When the common people in the Donghu work-for-relief project area heard about the rebellion of the Nanman Miao, they turned pale with fear. They were several times more terrified than when they heard about the Japanese pirates besieging the city.
The Nanman Miao rebelled!!
Zhu Pingan was shocked after listening to He Xiaoer's report. When he entered Jingnan, he heard that there were five major evils in Jingnan. The first evil was corrupt officials, collusion between officials and bandits, collusion between officials and merchants, and collusion between officials and mines, which oppressed the people; the second evil was the rebellion of the southern barbarians and Miao people, which caused disasters to the people; the third evil was the invasion of mountain bandits, the fourth evil was the invasion of sea pirates, and the fifth evil was the massacre and looting of Japanese pirates. The rebellion of the southern barbarians and Miao people was the second biggest evil, which was even more harmful than the mountain bandits and Japanese pirates!
However, I had only been in charge of Jingnan for a short time, and was busy with the Japanese pirates and flood control. The Nanman Miao had not made any moves, so I ignored it. Unexpectedly, at this critical moment, the Nanman Miao actually rebelled! They broke through the southeast flood refuge area, robbed food and grass, and kidnapped a large number of refugees!
good!
You're just in time! Just before I leave for my new post, I can get rid of this evil for Jingnan! Zhu Ping'an's eyes were firm.
"He Xiaoer, you did a great job. I have already received the news. You should take good care of your injuries and I will leave the rest to you."
Zhu Ping'an patted He Xiao'er's arm approvingly and instructed his subordinates to take good care of He Xiao'er.
"Don't worry, fellow villagers. As long as I am here, I will ensure that you are all safe!"
Zhu Ping'an remained calm, stood up, and shouted loudly to the frightened people below with confidence.
Zhu Ping'an's confidence and calmness infected the people below, and they calmed down from their panic.
Yes, we have the County Monarch. If the County Monarch can drive away the Japanese pirates, he will definitely be able to quell the rebellion of the Southern Barbarians and Miao people!
"Liu Dianli, I'll leave this to you. Everything will be done as before. Lizheng Wang, Lizheng Zhang, Lizheng Xia, Lizheng Tao, you will assist Liu Dianli. After the lake embankment is built, gather everyone to return to the flood shelter, set up fences and camps, and do a good job of security. Gather the officers with swords and spears, and follow me back to the county town as soon as possible."
Zhu Ping'an remained calm and arranged the affairs of the engineering area one by one. Then he gave a few instructions to Liu Dianli and others, and then he took Liu Dadao, Liu Daqiang and dozens of assembled officers and quickly returned to the county town.
On the way back, Zhu Ping'an sent several runners to different engineering areas and flood avoidance areas, and ordered them to gather all the clerks and runners to the Jingnan County Government as soon as possible without any mistakes.
The setting sun was blood-red. Zhu Ping'an, Liu Dadao and his party returned to Jingnan County in the blood-red afterglow.
The county government has already received the news, and Han Dianli and other clerks in the government are as anxious as ants on a hot pan.
"County Master, the Miao people in the south have rebelled..."
After Zhu Ping'an arrived at the county government office, Han Dianli and others seemed to have found their backbone and quickly came to greet him.
"I already know." Zhu Ping'an gave orders as he walked. "Zhang Dianli, you take people to open the treasury and take out all the weapons and equipment; Qian Dianli, you take people to open the warehouse and count the 30,000 shi of grain and fodder, and load them onto the carts for use; Liu Dianli, Han Dianli, you two take people to quickly gather a thousand young and strong people; Sun Dianli, you draft an official document in my name and announce it to all the people in the county..."
Zhu Ping'an's orders were issued one after another, in an orderly and well-organized manner. Zhang Dianli and others were infected by Zhu Ping'an's calmness. They calmed down under his well-organized orders and responded one by one.
After Zhu Ping'an came back, the county government seemed to have a brain. Soon, the entire county government was mobilized by Zhu Ping'an, and everyone performed their duties and quickly prepared.