Chapter 1025: Chapter 861: Killing the Chicken to Warn the Monkey

Gu Chengyu thought this in his heart, but his face remained expressionless. He carefully observed the group of disaster victims to see if there were any more accomplices among them.

Originally, the disaster victims outside the city had quieted down, but only some of them continued to persist.

However, one shout from Yang Chaoying agitated these disaster victims again.

"He’s really going to kill us!" a man with a pale face looked up at a row of archers on the city tower.

The people below were also panicked, for they were still with these victims! If arrows were shot from above, it was highly possible they would be accidentally harmed.

How could these officials’ archery be infallible? If arrows were recklessly shot, they’d be loose arrows.

"We’re still down here! Does Lord Yang not care about our lives? He wants to kill us along with the disaster victims!"

One of the people’s faces turned extremely ugly, and he regretted being so agitated just now.

He retreated repeatedly, afraid of losing his life here! He had elderly and children at home. If he died, his family would lose their pillar.

The disaster victims saw the archers on the tower aiming at them and screamed as they ran towards the city gates.

Only there was safe; if they hid under the gates, the arrows from above wouldn’t hit them.

Moreover, if these officials truly didn’t care and slaughtered victims recklessly, they would inevitably rebel for survival. Even if they had to risk everything, they wouldn’t hesitate.

"Quick! Quickly head to the gate to hide. These officials don’t care about our lives at all."

A large crowd scrambled towards the city gates, and the officials guarding the gates shouted in despair.

...

Min Feng and several officials from the Ministry of Industry ran fearfully to the backyard of the government office, leaning against the door frame and breathing deeply.

"It’s truly terrifying! I didn’t know these disaster victims could be so fierce!"

The Ministry of Industry doctor Rui Shiliang was still scared; he wiped the sweat off his forehead and leaned weakly against the wall, his legs turning to jelly after his rapid run.

Duan Zhijie, after catching his breath for a moment, fell silent. He looked at Min Feng deep in thought, hesitated for a while, then spoke.

"When we fled, didn’t we hear that the victims wanted to capture Lord Yang? Is it okay for us to just run away like this?" Duan Zhijie frowned, feeling somewhat anxious.

Rui Shiliang heard Duan Zhijie’s words and quickly replied, "We’re scholarly men who can’t wield weapons. Should we stay and die?"

Just last year, he’d climbed up with Chief Minister Xia, hoping for a smooth ride upwards! He couldn’t die in Jiangnan, too shameful.

Besides, this was caused by Yang Chaoying, and he should handle it.

"Mr. Rui’s words are reasonable. If we stay, we’ll only make the victims angrier. Rather than staying and dying together, it’s better to go back and bring reinforcements!"

Min Feng’s eyes flickered; he wasn’t foolish, and naturally prioritized his own safety in such life-threatening matters.

"Where are we to get reinforcements? The gate is blocked by disaster victims, and we haven’t brought many hands when coming to Hangtian Prefecture. What should we do? If something happens to Lord Yang, as officials standing by, we won’t escape blame. Returning to the Capital, the Emperor will surely hold us accountable."

Duan Zhijie glanced at the people around him and noticed they avoided his gaze. His heart sank.

He understood that the talk of reinforcements was an excuse, and their true intent was to escape.

Min Feng felt displeased. What did Duan Zhijie mean? Wasn’t it obvious?

The officials in the office were likely all dispatched to the city gate; where were they to find reinforcements?

Moreover, if Duan Zhijie wasn’t afraid of death, why did he follow and run? If he could manage, let him stay behind to oversee everything!

The present people shared the same thought as Min Feng, feeling displeased with Duan Zhijie’s lack of understanding.

"I fear Lord Yang is doomed if the victims storm in, and they rob grain and silver in the Prefecture, Hangtian Prefecture will inevitably fall into chaos. We’re here now; we can’t escape association. The Emperor might strip us of our posts and investigate if he loses his temper."

Duan Zhijie felt guilty and glanced around, spotting a stick in the courtyard.

He rushed over, grabbed the stick in his hand, and turned to run towards the tower.

The present people were stunned, unable to comprehend why anyone would be foolish enough to risk death. Did Duan Zhijie not know the terrors of disaster victims?

Indeed, this person had always stayed in the Capital, how could he know the horrors of disaster victims?

When those people truly riot, it’s not quelling without a few deaths.

Meanwhile, outside the gates, Gu Chengyu observed the reactions of disaster victims and people and finally fixed his gaze on Hu Maoshen.

Hu Maoshen frowned, looking unfavourably at Yang Chaoying’s expression. He was still below, and Yang Chaoying dared to shoot arrows?

A group of disaster victims rushed forward quickly; a person who had just fallen was trampled by those running behind.

"Mother of the children!" a man grabbed the woman’s arm, and the woman tightly protected the child under her. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

In such a moment, many victims had already fallen, and were turned into stepping stones by their companions, struggling to call out.

Seeing this, Gu Chengyu’s eyes sharpened as he shouted, "I am an imperial envoy sent by the court, here to address the flood disaster in Jiangnan. Do not act recklessly; whoever dares to move, I shall make blood spill on the spot."

He took the bow off his back, drawing three arrows from the quiver on the horse’s back, aiming at the victims running to the gate.

This time, Gu Chengyu used seventy percent of his Inner Strength; his angry shout reached everyone’s ears.

The victims’ running paused, and they looked to see Gu Chengyu holding a bow, the string drawn with three arrows ready.

Earlier, the young man’s archery was witnessed by all, hitting every mark without fail.

Who knew if this person would use them as live targets, shooting through hands and feet, turning them into corpses like the one before.

Seeing Gu Chengyu raise his bow again, fear gripped their hearts.

A few victims close to the gate stopped in their tracks, looking at the few steps to the gate with reluctance.

Just a few steps to pass through the gates, enter the inner city, and find a place to hide.

Once the chaos passed, even begging along the streets would be better than facing hunger outside the gates.

They exchanged glances, finally closing their eyes and steeling their hearts, rushing towards the gate quickly.

Gu Chengyu’s eyes flashed coldly; now was the time to kill the chicken to warn the monkey. Since these people brought it upon themselves, they couldn’t blame him.