On Cai Yu’s side, men were being gathered with great fanfare, but outside the city the refugees had already swelled into a sea. In just one night, word of the porridge distribution spread across more than ten miles. Starving, hollow-cheeked people flocked in waves, packing tightly around Cizhou’s porridge sheds until there was no space left.
Watching the crowd surge, Qiao Tianya saw that the people maintaining order at the front were no longer enough. He shot Fei Sheng a look. Fei Sheng understood at once, withdrew, and led the Embroidered Guard to secure the grain carts, replacing Cizhou’s guards at the front to maintain order. Clad in black robes and carrying blades, the guards were all sharp and formidable, their presence alone intimidating anyone with ill intent.
“Master,” Qiao Tianya said quietly, raising an arm to hold back the press of bodies, “it’s getting dark. We’ve been here for two days and a night. That’s enough—we should withdraw to the back.”
Shen Zechuan had just finished speaking with an elderly refugee. Without turning, he tucked away the blue handkerchief he had taken out and said, “There’s no harm in staying.”
Qiao Tianya glanced around at the crowd—gaunt, desperate faces everywhere—and worried that if chaos broke out, someone might take advantage of it and injure Shen Zechuan in the scramble for food. “You can stand at the back by the grain carts just the same.”
Shen Zechuan looked toward the horizon. The forested hills were painted in layers of color, the sunset clouds like torn red cotton. The sun had already dipped halfway below the horizon; darkness would soon follow. After two days and a night outside the city, he finally withdrew his gaze and said, “No rush.”
As night fell, lanterns lit up along the streets inside the city. Teazhou no longer had many taverns or teahouses, but with traffickers rampant, brothels had sprung up in hidden corners. The men Cai Yu summoned were his gang leaders—men who depended on him, who had no honest trade, who bullied the weak and roamed the city with impunity. They frequented brothels year-round, and when called out one by one, many were still pulling up their trousers, bleary-eyed, some drunk beyond sense. Cai Yu’s confidant dared not offend them, coaxing and flattering until he finally got them assembled.
While names were being called and ranks formed on one side, Luo Mu and Kong Ling were moving on the other.
Kong Ling bowed to the minor gang leaders whom Luo Mu had been secretly assisting. “Everyone knows Cizhou has come to sell grain. If we can get through tonight safely, tomorrow’s price will only be lower.”
One of them said, “Words are cheap. Why should we believe you?”
Kong Ling stepped aside, bringing Luo Mu forward. “If my words carry no weight, surely Lord Luo’s do?”
Luo Mu had supported them repeatedly. In just half a month, he had given them substantial silver. Recently crushed by Cai Yu, they barely dared leave their alleys by day, and even the so-called cheap grain never reached them. Driven to desperation, they now relied on Luo Mu to survive—of course they trusted him.
Clearing his throat, Luo Mu said, “All the grain stores in the city are controlled by Cai Yu. The price is far too high—even we cannot afford it. Cizhou’s price is fair, close to that of the capital. More importantly, they promise it will never rise again. I’ve already signed a contract with them—black and white, no deception.”
The gang leaders leaned together, whispering among themselves.
Kong Ling continued, “I know you fear the Yan clan. But a long pain is worse than a short one. Instead of letting them control Teazhou through Cai Yu, why not take matters into your own hands? Cai Yu only lowered prices today because Cizhou forced his hand. If he isn’t removed tonight, once Cizhou withdraws, prices will soar again.”
To unite people, one must first lay out their interests clearly—Kong Ling understood this well. Cizhou’s original planned price had been one tael for one shi and eight dou, but Shen Zechuan had deliberately kept silent about it during the price drops, saving it for this moment.
After a brief pause, Kong Ling added, “According to our magistrate, if everyone is willing to act, once Cai Yu is brought down, the price will drop another three dou below one tael for one shi and three dou!”
The crowd erupted instantly.
Even in the capital, the price was one tael for one shi and five dou. Cizhou offering one shi and six dou far surpassed Cai Yu’s token concessions. What they saw was not just grain—but a future in Teazhou. Most crucially, the first batch of grain for autumn would not even come from their own pockets—Luo Mu would pay for it. And once Cai Yu fell, his granaries could be seized. Between the two, they would not have to worry about winter at all.
Cheers rose, morale surging.
Kong Ling nodded to Luo Mu, then said to the leaders, “Cai Yu’s men haven’t left the city yet. Stay calm—we have arrangements.”
Around midnight, Cai Yu’s forces marched out. These bandits were equipped from the Teazhou garrison’s armory. Though outdated, their gear was complete—swords, shields, everything. At a glance, they almost resembled a proper army.
Earlier that morning, the confidant had seen only a thousand or so people outside the city. But now, looking out, the crowd stretched endlessly—at least twice as many as before. Cai Yu had only fifteen hundred men total, and had brought a thousand. As they crowded at the gate, even he felt a flicker of unease.
“How are there so many now?” one leader craned his neck. “They stretch to the horizon!”
The confidant turned, smiling ingratiatingly. “They’re starving—they can barely stand. Hardly worth counting. The important thing is the grain carts. The master said—whoever takes them gets to divide them among themselves.”
The leaders quickly sized up the crowd. Seeing only ragged refugees and a pitiful number of guards, one said, “With that promise, we’ll do it! See those guards? Count heads—whoever kills more gets more grain later!”
They rubbed their hands eagerly. Without waiting for orders, they surged forward.
Shen Zechuan had just lifted a bowl of porridge when a roar of killing cries erupted. Bandits poured onto the road, blades flashing as they charged. Fortunately, Cizhou’s guards held the outer line, meeting them head-on. Fei Sheng immediately shouted toward the refugees, “They’re stealing the grain! Cai Yu’s men are here to take it!”
His voice alone was not enough—but panic spread like wildfire. Nearby refugees, already on edge, began shouting too: “They’re stealing the grain! Cai Yu’s men are stealing the grain!”
Hearing this, one of the gang leaders grew vicious, laughing harshly. “Steal the grain! Anyone who blocks us dies! Brothers, charge!”
The guards were too few to hold them. Behind them were the refugees, crushed together in chaos, cries rising as people were trampled. Seeing this, the bandits grew playful, dragging out the weak—the elderly, women, children—and threatening them with blades. “Not just grain—we kill too!”
A woman clutching her child was seized by the hair, trembling under the gleam of a knife, sobbing and begging. The bandits, long accustomed to cruelty, only laughed louder, reaching to snatch the child from her arms.
Suddenly, a hand shot out from the crowd, catching the blade.
Qiao Tianya flicked his sleeve, grinning. “If you’re going to kill, why bully like this? All that crying is annoying—make it quick!”
The bandit pushed, but the blade would not budge. “Let go!”
Seeing his face flush red, Qiao Tianya stepped back slightly, and the man stumbled forward.
From behind, Shen Zechuan said, “What’s the point of playing with them? Qiao Yueyue, let go and give it back.”
“Of course, of course—letting go now!”
The moment he released it, the bandit lurched forward from the force. Qiao Tianya sidestepped and kicked him hard, sending him crashing into the ground at Shen Zechuan’s feet.
The bandit tried to rise, his gaze traveling up the white robe—only to be stopped as the tip of a scabbard pressed against his crown.
Shen Zechuan’s expression turned sharp, his voice firm and righteous. “Cizhou came to aid Teazhou’s people. Cai Yu refused us entry—that is one thing. But now you would destroy even the porridge sheds? Then go ahead—just don’t harm the people.”
His voice carried clearly. The crowd, long oppressed by high grain prices, was already filled with grief and anger. Hearing the rescued woman’s sobs, many began to cry as well.
The bandit, unaware he had walked into a trap, only remembered the reward for killing. Unable to lift his head, he snarled, “The master is Teazhou’s sky! Who can stop him from killing or taking what he wants?!”
Shen Zechuan eased the pressure slightly. “This grain—”
In a flash, the bandit seized the fallen blade and slashed toward Shen Zechuan’s chest. Qiao Tianya moved—but the man was too close. The blade came straight at Shen Zechuan.
In that instant, the bandit saw it clearly—calm in Shen Zechuan’s eyes, as if he had been waiting for this.
The scabbard struck with a sharp crack, deflecting the blade—but blood still splashed, dotting Shen Zechuan’s sleeve.
The man beside him collapsed, crying out, “Murder!”
Qiao Tianya thought it was someone else’s blood—until he looked closer and saw it was Shen Zechuan’s left hand, bleeding.
Cries erupted all around. From afar, Fei Sheng roared, “Who dares harm my lord!”
At once, the Embroidered Guard drew their blades in unison.
The gang leader, having seen Qiao Tianya’s skill, realized they had met a formidable opponent. Stepping back, he ordered, “As the master said—cut them down!”
The bandit at Shen Zechuan’s feet had not yet died. Qiao Tianya kicked him aside—but before he could draw his blade, several figures rushed from behind Shen Zechuan, throwing themselves onto the bandits with fists and kicks. The refugees, their fury at its peak, surged forward as one, charging recklessly into the bandits.
“Open the granaries, Cai Yu! Down with the villain! Don’t harm our benefactor!”