Chapter 20: The Surging Masses

Before departing, Zhao Bin handed an envelope to Xing’er. After seeing Xing’er and the others off, Zhao Bin did not return to the Wang Mansion. Instead, he sat for a while at the mansion’s gate, then, accompanied by Wang Wu, went to the salt workshop. The two guards on duty immediately saluted upon seeing Zhao Bin approach.

“No need for formalities. Thank you both for your hard work,” Zhao Bin replied.

One guard chuckled, “No trouble, Your Highness, we just changed shifts.”

“Then please convey my thanks to the brothers coming off duty,” Zhao Bin laughed heartily.

“Yes, Your Highness,” the guard responded, then opened the gate secured with shackles to let Zhao Bin in.

The salt workshop maintained strict confinement to prevent the purification technique from leaking out. The technique was not particularly sophisticated, and if revealed, it would be easily mastered by others.

Upon entering, Zhao Bin saw that the workers had just started their shift. Seeing him, they all saluted respectfully.

Walking to the center of the courtyard, Zhao Bin addressed them: “Brothers, you’ve all worked hard these days. How about a roast whole lamb tonight?”

“Good! Good! Good!” the guards shouted, “Thank you, Your Highness.”

“If thanks are to be given, it’s I who must thank you, brothers. Without your hard work refining the salt, we wouldn’t have livestock to trade for—without cattle, horses, and sheep, there would be no meat for you to eat and no animals for the people to farm the land.

“So I thank you on behalf of all the people of Yan City. Hold on a little longer. Once the salt workshop is completed, you won’t have to endure such hardships anymore,” Zhao Bin said.

He then removed his coat and joined the guards in salt refining, chatting and laughing. Just before noon, a guard from the Wang Mansion hurried over with urgent news.

“Your Highness! Your Highness! Something’s wrong!”

Everyone was startled, pausing their work and turning toward the guard.

“What’s the matter? Don’t exaggerate,” Zhao Bin asked calmly.

The guard, panting, said, “Your Highness, tens of thousands of commoners have gathered outside the city, all armed with tools. It looks like they intend to besiege the city. Captain Qin has already ordered the city to be sealed.”

“Tens of thousands? Besiege the city? Where did so many come from? I haven’t heard of any rebellion,” Zhao Bin asked in confusion.

“I don’t know either. Captain Qin sent me to inform Your Highness,” the guard replied.

“Gather the men at the mansion. Let’s go see for ourselves. Lao Wu, get the clothes ready,” Zhao Bin said urgently.

“Commander Xiao has already assembled the men. Your Highness, it’s too dangerous for you to go,” the guard cautioned.

Zhao Bin took the clothes Wang Wu handed him, threw back his coat, and put them on.

The salt workshop workers were ready to follow, but Zhao Bin stopped them: “We don’t yet know the situation. Brothers, don’t panic. Stay where you are and stand by.” With that, Zhao Bin headed outside.

At the mansion gate, Xiao Chu was assembling the troops. Aside from over fifty men taken by Xu Ling, fifty from the salt workshop, and fifty guarding the mansion, more than three hundred had gathered, clad in armor with spears and shields, clearly in a state of battle readiness.

Seeing Zhao Bin, Xiao Chu quickly saluted. “Your Highness.”

“Where is the messenger?” Zhao Bin asked.

Xiao Chu pointed to a soldier nearby and shouted, “You, come here.”

The soldier hurried forward and saluted.

“Spare me the formalities. What exactly is going on?” Zhao Bin asked.

“Not long ago, I was on duty at the city gate when I saw a large crowd approaching—at least twenty to thirty thousand—carrying hoes, carrying poles, all sorts of tools. Captain Qin ordered the gates to be closed immediately and arrows fired to stop them. I heard someone shouting they wanted to report something to Your Highness, but it was too far to hear clearly. Captain Qin sent me to notify Your Highness at once,” the soldier explained hurriedly.

“What report?” Zhao Bin was puzzled.

“Revenge, Your Highness. Someone wants to seek revenge on you!” Wang Wu suddenly exclaimed.

“Damn it! Revenge? I haven’t harmed anyone, nor committed any crimes. Why would anyone want revenge on me?” Zhao Bin snapped irritably.

“Your Highness, have you forgotten? Didn’t you cause a stir in the capital city? Maybe the rumors spread among the common people, stirring resentment,” Wang Wu suggested.

Zhao Bin ignored him. Wang Wu’s intelligence was sometimes sharp, sometimes absent.

“Let’s go see for ourselves,” Zhao Bin said to Xiao Chu.

Xiao Chu hesitated and reached out to stop him. “Your Highness…”

“No matter. Yan City isn’t large, but a mob won’t easily break through the walls. If things get dangerous, I can still run,” Zhao Bin said confidently.

Back in university, he had once won the hundred-meter dash. If he ran, few could catch him.

The group jogged toward the South Gate. Citizens parted to let them pass. Meanwhile, news had reached the government office. Wei Xiang was absent, but Cao Li, escorted by a dozen officials, hurried toward the gate.

Zhao Bin and Cao Li arrived almost simultaneously at the city wall and quickly climbed up. Qin Fang saluted upon seeing Zhao Bin.

“Captain Qin, what’s the situation?” Zhao Bin asked urgently.

“I don’t know either,” Qin Fang replied.

“Send someone out to inquire,” Zhao Bin ordered.

Qin Fang hesitated.

“No harm done. Open the gate, and I’ll send someone out,” Zhao Bin insisted.

“No need. I’ll send someone,” Qin Fang said, then turned to a soldier, giving brief instructions. The soldier ran down from the wall.

The gate was opened slightly, and the soldier dashed outside. After speaking with the crowd, he returned quickly, smiling.

“Your Highness! We have the details,” the soldier called up.

“What’s going on? Why are they here?” Zhao Bin asked from the wall.

“They’ve come to do corvée labor and to express gratitude,” the soldier reported.

“They said Your Highness has not only reduced taxes but also distributed cattle and sheep to the people. Upon receiving the corvée notice, the people all rushed here. I even saw my second uncle in the crowd,” the soldier added.

“Cao, how did you distribute the corvée notices? Why are there so many people?” Zhao Bin turned to Cao Li.

Cao Li looked confused. “Your Highness, I only issued notices for five thousand people, with quotas assigned to each village.”

“Then who are these twenty to thirty thousand?” Qin Fang asked.

A soldier below shouted, “Your Highness, the people came voluntarily. Many brought provisions. The leading village head said those without quotas came along anyway. They couldn’t be stopped.”

Cao Li stepped back, bowed deeply, and said, “Your Highness, this is the people’s gratitude for your kindness!”

Zhao Bin gazed at the vast crowd and felt moved.

He shouted to the soldier on the wall, “Go again. Tell those with quotas to stay, and the rest to return. Soon, there will be other tasks, and they can come then.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” the soldier replied, running toward the crowd.

After a while, a commotion stirred within the crowd. Many shouted, but it was too far to hear clearly.

Eventually, some began to return by the way they came, but about ten thousand remained.

The soldier came back, helpless. “Your Highness, some still refuse to leave. The leading village chief is so angry he’s given up.”

“Let them come inside. I will speak with them personally,” Zhao Bin said, glancing at Qin Fang. Seeing no objection, he nodded, “Go.”

The soldier ran back to the crowd.

Soon, the crowd slowly moved beneath the city wall. When they arrived, everyone knelt in unison, a thunderous roar rising: “Greetings to Your Highness, Prince of Yan!”

Zhao Bin took a deep breath and loudly called out, “Friends, please rise.”

“Thank you, Prince of Yan,” the people stood gradually.

“I am truly grateful to you all, but Yan City does not need so many people at the moment.

“Follow Cao’s orders: those with corvée quotas stay; the rest return home for now. In half a month, there will be other work for you to do,” Zhao Bin addressed the crowd.

“Your Highness, please let us stay. We can continue with later corvée work,” one voice called out.

“Yes, Your Highness, let us remain,” many echoed.

Zhao Bin’s throat was hoarse from shouting. He gestured to Cao Li to respond.

“Everyone must obey the Prince’s orders,” Cao Li said clearly. “Yan City does not require so many hands. Too many people only cause crowding. Please return quickly.”

Gradually, people began to leave but handed their possessions to neighbors—some holding chickens, others baskets with a few eggs, or small grain sacks hung around their necks.

“Old Cao, the people must be tired from the journey. Let’s have them camp outside the city for tonight.

“Tomorrow morning, only those building the factory inside the city stay. The others will go to the Western Hills to mine coal.

“Assign Team Five’s Zhou Hu to lead a hundred guards to accompany and protect the people,” Zhao Bin instructed Cao Li.

“Yes, Your Highness. But it’s already mid-Autumn, and the nights are getting colder. Leaving the people to camp outside worries me...” Cao Li said.

“Captain Qin, your barracks should have marching tents, right?” Zhao Bin asked Qin Fang.

“We do,” Qin Fang replied.

“Bring them out for me to use. No, rent them—I will pay you rent,” Zhao Bin smiled.

“Your Highness, better consider it a loan. If word of rent payment reaches the court, I’m afraid my head will be forfeit,” Qin Fang chuckled.