Chapter 458

Jia Wentao's kneeling instantly triggered a chain reaction across a large area.

The crowded masses on the main street, like wheat knocked down by wind, all fell to their knees with a clamor, shouting in unison for the granaries to be opened and grain distributed.

Chen Wuji laughed angrily at the sight before him.

He seemed to have just said he would open the granaries and distribute grain, and would also temporarily allocate some grain to these aristocratic clans.

Among the three, Jia Pangzi is the youngest, yet his hearing is the worst.

He's gone deaf at such a young age; if he gets older, it'll be even harder to bear, ah.

"Old Yang, open the granaries!" Chen Wuji said to Yang Tiejiang, deliberately stressing his tone, "Each person gets five catties of grain; find more scholars or accountants in the city to keep records, noting where they live and how many people are in their household, all to be entered in the register."

"Those who receive grain repeatedly will be punished with twenty strokes of the cane; those who deliberately cause trouble will be beaten to death."

"Yes!"

The naturally fierce Yang Tiejiang gave a deep response, hand on his sword hilt, shouting loudly, "No more kneeling, everyone line up to receive grain. Left and right, bring men to keep them in order—my lord's words you just heard: repeat offenders get twenty strokes, troublemakers get beaten to death."

"Yes!"

The soldiers, full of killing intent, received the orders.

The people kneeling on the ground, though somewhat frightened by this show of force, all wore smiles of joy, for they would receive grain and no longer have to starve.

Jia Wentao remained kneeling on the ground, with about several hundred people behind him who also did not choose to line up but followed him in kneeling there.

Chen Wuji glanced at them and paid no attention.

He ordered someone to fetch two chairs from the government office, gave one to Yang Tiejiang, then plopped himself down at the office gate and personally supervised Yang Tiejiang directing the troops to distribute grain.

He couldn't fathom what game Jia Wentao and his two companions were playing, and he didn't want to guess.

Gu Wenjie had been driven off by him, and frankly he really didn't take these few people seriously.

The biggest trick they could possibly pull was probably just inciting the populace.

And still pretending to be deaf and mute there…

How to put it? He looks like he's not quite right in the head.

At this moment, Zhu Zaidao stepped forward, gave Chen Wuji an awkward smile and clasped his hands, then suddenly brought up a topic that surprised Chen Wuji: "I wonder, Deputy Commander Chen, are you interested in the position of prefect?"

"I am indeed interested in this post, Master Zhu—what do you mean by saying this? Could you actually arrange this position for me?" Chen Wuji asked with a half‑smile.

"We, the people of Hezhou, are willing to write a petition of ten thousand names for Deputy Commander Chen to submit to the court!" Zhu Zaidao said.

Chen Wuji looked at Zhu Zaidao with amusement, "Old Master Zhu, I'm merely a deputy commander of the provincial troops—do you really think a ten‑thousand‑name petition could persuade the court to grant a prefecture of Hezhou to someone like me, who has no merit or title?"

The post of prefect is no minor office; at minimum it holds a rank of fifth grade.

For a deputy commander of the provincial troops to become a prefect—something that probably never happened in the many years since Da Yu founded the state—if they managed to pull it off, that would be truly awesome.

Zhu Zaidao said, "Deputy Commander Chen, we are aware of all you've said, but today is different from before. Outside the Lingnan Six Commanderies the Qiang people are attacking, while inside there are rebels like Lu Ping'an and Gu Wenjie holding territory, and the entire Lingnan Six Commanderies have fallen into utter chaos."

"Deputy Commander Chen is one of the few who still holds fast, defending the nation's soil and protecting the people."

"Although we dwell in hardship in the countryside, the court still has some old friends, former comrades, and disciples who could urge it to take extraordinary measures in these extraordinary times, promoting the capable to office so as to preserve the entirety of Da Yu's territory."

Chen Wuji understood at once—there were backers in the court.

"Let that fat fellow get up first—I've already opened the granaries, yet he's still kowtowing there for no reason?" Chen Wuji pointed at Jia Wentao, then added, "If he keeps getting in my way, I'll have his whole clan descend to the netherworld."

Zhu Zaidao shuddered all over and quickly gave a glance to the young man beside him.

The young man hurried over, whispered something in Jia Wentao's ear, and the fat fellow sprang to his feet, trembling as he approached Chen Wuji: "Commander, please calm your anger—I didn't mean to obstruct you; just two or three carts of grain are truly a drop in the bucket for us."

"How much do you want?"

"I… I would like half, and the rest I could present as tribute to you, Commander, to support the troops—what do you think?"

Chen Wuji stared at Jia Wentao with a flat gaze, "Tell me your purpose—my patience is limited; if you don't speak now, don't bother later."

"Deputy Commander Chen, we have no other aim—we simply want grain." Jia Wentao gave an embarrassed laugh, "Gu Wenjie's requisitions have been so harsh that our homes have long run out of stored grain; we truly have no other recourse, which is why we've come to you."

Zhu Zaidao glanced at Jia Wentao and said, "Master Jia, stop feeding Deputy Commander Chen these excuses; just speak plainly."

Jia Wentao stared, stunned, and said, "Old Master Zhu, what are you talking about?"

"Out with it!"

Jia Wentao fixed his gaze on Zhu Zaidao, then straightened up and said to Chen Wuji, "Since Deputy Commander Chen is blunt and straightforward, I'll stop beating around the bush."

"Our families have some connections in the court; taking advantage of the current turmoil in Lingnan, securing a prefecture for you, Deputy Commander Chen, shouldn't be difficult. We also have considerable wealth and some standing in Hezhou; if you wish to hold firm there, we could be of use."

"Besides, each of our households has some good‑for‑nothing juniors; we'd like you to find them a post, a livelihood."

Chen Wuji remained calm, "If you two can influence the court and help me break through such high barriers to obtain a prefecture, why go to all the trouble of asking me to find posts for your clans' juniors? Isn't that counterproductive?"

Jia Wentao put on a smile that looked somewhat forced, leaned forward slightly, and said, "Deputy Commander Chen, you now hold Hezhou, which is also our ancestral land; to seek minor posts for our juniors from you rather than going through the court would actually be the real case of going south while aiming north."

Chen Wuji chuckled.

He suddenly recalled Liu Biao entering Jingzhou with a lone cavalry.

This really feels like history repeating itself—Liu Biao back then faced a similar situation, except he had only a single great seal, whereas he now commands troops.

Having said that, he finally figured out a bit of what these people were thinking.

They clearly aren't just looking for petty posts for their juniors; they outright want authority over the populace.

"What if I refuse?" Chen Wuji lifted his chin, his eyes narrowing.

The expressions of Jia Wentao and Zhu Zaidao both stiffened slightly.

"Deputy Commander Chen, may I ask why? With your wholehearted support, governing Hezhou will become far easier." Zhu Zaidao asked in a low voice.