Frost for a Thousand Years

"Lord Wang, we've caught him! We've caught him!"

The anger of the people, if united, is like a raging flood. Even if the invincible Qin Dynasty had gathered all the troops in the land, the uprising in Dazexiang could have spread like wildfire, burning the entire sky of the land red.

Under Wang Shuishan's leadership, the soldiers and civilians in this branch camp immediately found their leader. The official's arrogance was truly out of place; in the blink of an eye after his outburst, he was trampled over by the people like weeds.

Someone shouted that he had been caught. Wang Shuishan was about to go over to check when a burly man came out carrying a blood-red head, as if he were carrying a chick, roughly and with a sense of satisfaction.

In his other hand, he held a blood-dripping scythe.

"The people of Dayu hate corrupt officials the most!" Wang Shuishan shouted. "Anyone who tries to steal our grain, my sickle can not only harvest the rice, but also cut off their head!"

Upon hearing this inspiring declaration, the soldiers and civilians alike enthusiastically waved their arms and shouted the declaration.

The soldiers were not elite troops to begin with, and they had no armor to protect them. When they saw this formation, they were all terrified and could only retreat in a panicked huddle.

Having just captured the military agricultural officials, the people's anger had been vented, and they were about to continue their fury and seize power by force when Wang Shuishan immediately ordered: "Brothers and sisters, please stop! Do not raise your swords against our comrades! The culprits are not these soldiers, but those scoundrels who embezzled taxes and stole grain! Stop! Stop!"

Wang Shuishan and Song Shi'an had a long talk that lasted all night, during which the other party raised a question.

Who makes history?

Both of them agreed that it was Yingjie.

There is no disagreement on this point.

But Song Shi'an also said that heroes are always the people's favorites.

Peasant uprisings are extremely difficult and rarely successful because the dynasty is too powerful and the conservative forces are too strong. So why can't there be another combination, where heroes and common people join forces to achieve devastating destruction?
Then, a brilliant idea emerged.

The peasant uprising was led by those who had already benefited from the system.

In this way, all paradoxes can be resolved.

Of course, this is the biggest paradox in itself.

Historically, there has almost never been a peasant uprising launched by the ruling class.

Yes, it's surreal to even think about it. You're the son of a powerful and wealthy family, your family has been rich for generations, your father is a high-ranking official, and you've passed the imperial examinations. What would you do to rebel against your own father? What's the point?

Song Shi'an's ideas completely transcended his time, making one feel that he was not a human being.

But it can be followed.

After Wang Shuishan shouted the slogan, the people all stopped in their tracks. However, they did not put down their farm tools, because the soldiers and the military commander had threatened them with "military law" and acted aggressively, so they still did not trust the violent organs of the imperial court.

At this moment, Wang Shuishan had someone clear a path for him and walked forward to the front of the group.

The military commander noticed his nervousness but remained hostile, saying, "I am here to guard the garrison camp under the orders of the Duke of Li. Without military orders and the tiger tally, I cannot carry out my duties... and I cannot easily entrust this place to you."

"Lord Wang, why are you wasting your breath talking to him!"

"With so many of us, we could drown him with just one spit from each of us!"

"They can't escape now; they're just bluffing!"

Public opinion is strong, but once it is ignited, it is very restrained. If it weren't for a leader like Wang Shuishan personally overseeing things, this place would have been overrun by the Tutu long ago, and all the food would have been stolen.

The more the civilians reacted this way, the more frightened the soldiers became, and their hands trembled even more violently as they gripped their spears.

“You’re right. As a warrior, obeying the general’s orders is our duty,” Wang Shuishan said calmly, without getting excited. “But can the Duke of Li, whom you mentioned, lead you?”

“He is now the commander-in-chief of the army, so why can’t he?” the military commander retorted.

"The Crown Prince's decree stated: 'General Wei Wusheng of the Left shall be in charge of all military affairs, oversee all garrison troops, and all his troops shall be under his command.'" Wang Shuishan said, "How can you say that the commander-in-chief of the army is the Duke of Li?"

"But later, the Duke of Li took over and also issued the Crown Prince's Decree."

"Did they say that the Left General was dismissed from his post?" Wang Shuishan asked.

"..." This question immediately stumped the military commander.

These officers all knew that when the Duke of Li and the Crown Prince arrived, they killed several generals who had attempted a coup before taking control of the army.

It can also be said that it was a power grab by force.

However, the difference is that Wei Wusheng was not formally dismissed from his original official position.

Because issuing an edict to remove someone from office requires a reason, and if Wei Wusheng is falsely accused, his subordinates will naturally be filled with fear and live in constant anxiety.

Therefore, when the Duke of Li took over, the procedure was quite flawed.

It was purely due to the Crown Prince's title and the prestige of the Duke of Li that they were kept in check.

“But since His Highness the Sixth Prince is not here, we can only obey the Duke of Li and His Highness the Crown Prince,” the military officer said. “Please understand, sir, I have no choice but to obey your orders.”

To be precise, it's that they couldn't disobey orders.

It would be better if this place were close to the Grand Ceremony of Settlement and Reclamation.

But it's not close at all.

This is just one of fifty military settlements. There are camps all around, in every direction, and they are all under the control of the Duke of Li.

If he were to join the rebellion and be suppressed, how could the Duke of Li let him off the hook?
"The Sixth Prince is not here, but does his word still count?" Wang Shuishan asked.

“…Of course it counts.” The military commander held out his hand. “But sir, can you produce a military order with an official seal?”

Wang Shuishan had been waiting for this moment.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he slowly took something out of his sleeve.

The moment the military commander saw this object, his eyes widened in surprise.

Half a tiger tally.

In ancient times, the mobilization of troops relied on the tiger tally.

However, simply holding a single piece of land does not grant one the power to mobilize troops at will.

The main generals each carried a separate left half of the tiger tally, which could not be used independently. Only the commander-in-chief, or rather, an envoy sent by the emperor, could take out the right half and match it with the tiger tally. As long as they matched perfectly, it would be effective.

Of course, this military commander was certainly not worthy of possessing even half a tiger tally, but the structure of this thing was quite complex, making it virtually impossible to forge.

This piece is extremely similar.

"Could this represent the King of Qin?"

Wang Shuishan questioned.

"..." The military commander froze on the spot, speechless. After a brief pause, he knelt on one knee, clenching his fists. "I obey your command!"

That's it.

In this situation, neither the Tiger Talisman nor the Wang Shuishan Talisman alone are effective.

Only after almost all the problems have been solved can such procedural justice be used to achieve a stabilizing effect.

"Notify the entire camp to raise the banner bearing the character 'Wei' from the Sixth Prince. This place is now completely under the control of the new Emperor Anshun," Wang Shuishan ordered.

"Yes!"

The military commander took the lead in responding, and the others followed suit.

This branch camp began operations.

However, the core demands of the people have not been addressed.

"Lord Wang, what about the matter of distributing grain that you mentioned?"

"That's right. No matter how much grain there is, it must be distributed so that we can trust the imperial court."

"All the grain from the military settlement ceremony was burned."

Everyone looked at Wang Shuishan anxiously and expectantly, hoping that he would keep his word, otherwise the court official would have been killed in vain.

Wang Shuishan, of course, could not deny it.

Even the rumor that all the grain was burned during the Tuntian Grand Ceremony could not be dispelled.

The people's unease stemmed from the burning of their grain. Logically, the people should bear the loss, and their lack of security is what allows public opinion to be gathered.

There was no grain available for the military agricultural settlement, but the people needed grain, so they had no choice but to ask those who had grain for it.

These five main camps then held all the remaining grain.

If they knew that Song Shi'an still had a lot of grain, the people wouldn't fight to the death against the Duke of Li.

"I, Wang Shuishan, will never break my promise to you all!"

Then, Wang Shuishan said to one of the officials who had already surrendered, "Come here, bring me the account books for the branch camp's granary!"

"Yes!" The clerk hurriedly went to get it and then presented it to Wang Shuishan.

After taking it, he frowned and asked, "Is this really all the grain we have?"

“Sir, we only have four thousand shi.” The clerk immediately explained, “As you know, the grain for the military farms is concentrated in five large camps, then distributed to fifty surrounding sub-camps, and then distributed to various villages. We don’t have much grain stored here.”

"Four thousand shi, is that all?" "Even if it's all distributed, each person will only get thirty jin of rice with the husk on."

"Thirty pounds is fine too, it's better than nothing..."

People are only thinking about securing their profits now, and they won't listen to any empty promises.

Wang Shuishan is indeed a trustworthy person, but they need to see the grain.

What they hold in their hands belongs to them.

Trust comes from actions.

"Brave man, could you take a few men to check if this is all the grain you have?" Wang Shuishan said to the man carrying the head.

"Alright!" The man threw his head aside, picked up his sickle, and headed to find someone.

"I go!"

"Sir, let me go!"

"I am coming too!"

Upon hearing this, many people raised their hands, wanting to test it themselves.

The common people aren't fools. How could Wang Shuishan come here alone? What if these people are shills, putting on this show to lead them in a rebellion?
The problem remains the same: the people are angry, but the Duke is too cruel, and this place is too far from the Grand Ceremony of Settlement and Land Reclamation, so Song Shi'an's influence cannot protect this area.

"Alright, please go and check."

Wang Shuishan was so upright that he seemed to have no evil thoughts whatsoever, remaining open and at ease.

Not long after the people sent representatives to spontaneously participate in inspecting the granaries, they returned.

"There are really only four thousand shi (a unit of dry measure), no more."

"Let's break up first and then talk about it."

"Yes, distribute the grain!"

Seeing the people's outcry, Wang Shuishan said, "Gentlemen, even if all this grain is distributed, each person will only get thirty catties of rice with husks, which won't even last a month. What will happen after a month?"

This is a real mathematical problem.

Furthermore, there is no solution.

You won't starve to death this month, but after a month, will you be eating tree bark?
"Listen to me, everyone!" Wang Shuishan said. "I and Lord Song were fellow graduates of the imperial examinations and became Jinshi in the same year. I once swore to be Lord Song's follower. Now that I have come, it means that Lord Song has not abandoned the people. Please take your hoes and sickles, guard this branch camp, and wait for the royal army to arrive. When that time comes, we will storm the main camp and take back the grain that belongs to us!"

Wang Shuishan wanted to hold the stronghold.

Flowering in the center.

Only in this way can the army of the Duke of Li be disintegrated from within.

The people looked at him and were all eager to try.

"Lord Wang is indeed a close friend of Lord Song. He's here, so what do we have to fear..."

"Is this really Lord Wang Shuishan?"

"How could that not be? He even personally led us into the fields when we were fighting locusts."

"Moreover, I also transported grain, and the main camp does indeed have a lot of grain."

After whispering and heated discussion, the people gradually came to a consensus.

They wanted to reclaim the 30% of grain promised by the imperial court, not just a month's worth of rations.

"We will all obey Lord Wang!"

"Whatever Lord Wang says, we'll do!"

"Lord Wang, lead us into battle!"

At this point, the entire branch camp was finally captured by Wang Shuishan.

"Alright, everyone, please listen to me."

Taking advantage of the situation, Wang Shuishan began to issue orders: "First, all personnel in the twenty villages under the sub-camp shall take turns patrolling to ensure safety day and night. Second, read aloud the decree of Lord Song on the distribution of grain to the remaining villages and sub-camps. Third, resist the tyranny of the rebel Duke Li and fight against all invading enemies!"

.........

The 'uprising' that Wang Shuishan started by blowing up in the middle quickly began to spread.

As a result, several branch camps were assimilated and put on Wei Wusheng's flag again.

Of course, the news quickly reached the Duke of Li.

"The Duke of Li, who resisted the rebels..." Upon hearing this, the Duke of Li laughed and said self-deprecatingly to the few people in the tent, "Have I become a rebel?"

The Crown Prince, or more accurately, the Prince of Wu, who was sitting at the table, cursed, "This Song Shi'an is really biting the hand that feeds him. He not only harmed His Majesty, but also slandered a loyal minister."

"Yes," Zhao Yi angrily echoed, "He is a traitor, a rebel, a villain! I should capture him alive, eat his flesh, and sleep on his skin!"

“We couldn’t find Wang Shuishan all this time, but he suddenly appeared and did something really big.” Hua Zheng said solemnly, “This must have been arranged by Song Shi’an long ago.”

"Presumably, the Tiger Tally was delivered to him by the assassins around that time," Zhao Yi concluded.

"I should have just removed the tiger tally from him back then," King Wu thought with some regret. "It was all for his pride that this disaster has come to this."

He increasingly felt that he was wrong.

I clearly had those two under control back then.

If I had known they had such a crazy opportunity and actually carried it out, I should have just killed them on trumped-up charges.

No, it's all Father's fault.

The emperor was too confident that he could handle everything perfectly, which led to him raising a tiger that would eventually become a threat.

“The key issue now is that he has instigated a rebellion among the common people.” Hua Zheng saw through the most fatal problem. “His Majesty was afraid of him before because he worried that these 500,000 soldiers and civilians would become bandits. If he continues like this, there will be problems.”

If the mutiny is tolerated, the Great Yu Dynasty may perish.

"Don't panic, it's not like Song Shi'an's words are always true."

When the incident occurred, the Duke of Li was not too surprised, which meant that he was somewhat prepared for it.

"What brilliant plan does the Duke have?" King Wu asked.

"The brilliant plan is to fight fire with fire," the Duke of Li said calmly to the group. "The people will not rebel when their grain is burned. They will rebel when not a single grain is left."

“Indeed.” Hua Zheng nodded in agreement. “If they were to act like they’d die just because they’ve suffered some injustice, there would be five hundred rebellions in the Great Yu every year. They wouldn’t rebel until the food is completely gone and they’ve gone hungry for a couple more days.”

The people have a very high tolerance for hardship.

The emperor's fear of a rebellion of 500,000 soldiers and civilians was based on the premise that the food had indeed been burned, and that the people would inevitably revolt in the end.

Instead of burning all the grain today, the people would march on Sheng'an the next day.

"Mobilize the army and surround those rebellious sub-camps," said the Duke of Li.

"Should we fight?" Zhao Yi asked.

"What's the point of fighting? If Song Shi'an can use palace intrigue, why can't I?" Duke Li said, "Surround them without attacking, and read out the Crown Prince's decree that Song Shi'an spread rumors that all the granaries were burned down, but in fact seven were preserved. He also smuggled the granaries belonging to Jia Guihao's troops to Song's old residence and took them for himself, inciting the people to fight against the Crown Prince."

They are waging a war of words against each other.

"What a brilliant plan!" Hua Zheng quickly realized. "Those branch camps only have enough food for less than a month. As long as we surround them without attacking, cutting off their food supply, they will gradually disintegrate."

"Moreover, their reason for daring to rebel is that Song Shi'an will send troops to take over all the military camps." Zhao Yi also realized the shrewdness of the Duke of Li. "As long as there are no reinforcements, they will realize that they have been deceived. Song Shi'an is using them as a shield to charge forward, and the people's hearts will soon collapse."

"As long as Song Shi'an dares to send troops."

The King of Wu looked up in surprise and said, "This is the best opportunity to fight them."

.........

The grand ceremony of the Huai County land reclamation took place inside that stone house.

The triangular meeting between Song Shi'an, Wei Wusheng, and Xin Yue.

“Shuishan’s uprising has succeeded, and several battalions have already responded. But after all, they are deep behind enemy lines, and if reinforcements do not arrive, they will be suppressed quickly,” Wei Wusheng said.

Why did the resistance against Japanese aggression occur behind enemy lines?
Because of the constraints imposed by the direct resistance against Japan.

The pressure from the front lines is insufficient, but the so-called resistance behind enemy lines will turn into a massacre.

"Hmm." Song Shi'an nodded and asked Xin Yue, "Are our people ready?"

“Yes, it’s all ready,” Xinyue said.

“Shi An, I’m ready too,” Wei Wusheng said firmly to him.

"Alright, next plan."

Song Shi'an, like a chess player, decisively played his move: "White-robed Crossing the River." (End of Chapter)