Not Frightened

Yu Qian stood atop a rock, yet he could only see the faces of those at the front. The people behind kept their heads bowed so low that all he could see were the black crowns of their heads.

Yu Qian's gaze traveled from their thin, tattered clothes to their bare feet. With a sigh, he said, "You have suffered greatly~~"

The crowd froze. Behind them, someone quietly raised their head to look at him.

The frostiness had vanished from Yu Qian's ever-stern face, leaving only gentleness. "Once you return, live your lives well..."

Yu Qian had wanted to tell them to remember to seek out the authorities when they encountered trouble, not to act rashly again. But when he thought of Cai Sheng, he swallowed the words back down.

If they thought it was useful to seek the authorities, why would they have rebelled at all?

Yu Qian's brow furrowed deeply. It seemed the Imperial Court needed to find a way to improve the government's credibility and supervise local officials, ensuring they fulfilled their duties.

Yu Qian suppressed the thought. Of a thousand words, only one sentence ultimately remained: "Go home--"

No one moved. They merely looked at Song Dalin.

Song Dalin also withdrew his astonished gaze. He waved at the crowd and shouted, "Break it up! Everyone go home, everyone find their mothers!"

Those at the back immediately scattered in groups of three or five, sprinting away as fast as their legs could carry them.

They dispersed in every direction, leaving Sanhu Village from all sides. Some crossed the fields, some ran out along the paths, while most jumped onto the bamboo rafts arranged in advance on the lake and headed for the opposite shore...

More than two thousand people gathered together looked like a great many, but