The Crowd's Righteous Indignation

The Land of Rice Fields has caused such a massive spectacle that it has naturally drawn widespread attention; such a large-scale military mobilization is impossible to conceal.

Facing this situation, most people are secretly mocking the Daimyo of the Land of Rice Fields.

They seem to already envision the pathetic sight of that Daimyo flying into a rage and frantically mobilizing his troops.

Regardless, the Land of Rice Fields has completely lost face this time, becoming the laughingstock of everyone's idle conversation.

However, this farce will surely end soon; after all, the Land of Rice Fields' army is about to launch, and that ignorant Dongfang Mao, who dared to offend the nation and the dignity of the Daimyo, is destined to die.

In everyone's eyes, there is absolutely no possibility of failure for the Land of Rice Fields' campaign to suppress the rebellion.

Meanwhile, this news has also reached Tsukimiura, which has gradually opened its gates to merchants.

For a time, the entire city was stirred into a commotion by this news.

Those residents who have already claimed their new identity tokens and begun to accept the rule of the Governor's Mansion cannot help but show worry on their faces.

Could it be that the lives they have only just managed to stabilize are about to fall into turmoil once again?

As for the other group, the die-hards who have consistently refused to compromise, they are currently peering through their windows, coldly observing the sorrow on the faces of the pedestrians below, sneering in their hearts.

"You traitors who betrayed the Daimyo, once the Land of Rice Fields' army wipes out that damned rebel, you'll get what's coming to you!"

Over this period, the common folk of Tsukimiura have formed two distinct camps. Residents who claimed their new identity tokens have gradually taken to the streets, resuming their normal lives.

What surprised them even more was that under the new policies of Dongfang Mao, they discovered that while their lives hadn't been turned upside down compared to before, the pressure was certainly much lighter; for a time, genuine smiles began to appear on their faces.

In stark contrast are the die-hards hiding in their homes.

Every day, they watch the happy "new citizens" on the streets, their hearts filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment.

The only thing sustaining them is the belief that the Land of Rice Fields will inevitably suppress the rebellion.

Now, the moment they have been longing for has finally arrived. Almost all the die-hards are hiding in their homes, eyes brimming with excited tears, even beginning to calculate how they will suggest that the "new citizens" who defected to the Governor's Mansion be dealt with once the army wipes out the rebels.

Only in this way can they vent the resentment and humiliation they have accumulated during this time.

"Governor, the Ministry of Finance has completed the preliminary statistics."

At this moment, Luzhen stands within the study of the Governor's Mansion, respectfully reporting to Dongfang Mao.

"Currently, there are twenty-five villages under the jurisdiction of the Governor's Mansion, with a population of approximately thirty-four thousand, and sixty-eight thousand mu of arable land remaining."

Dongfang Mao nods slightly; according to common logic, a person needs at least three to four mu of land to sustain a livelihood.

With the drought currently raging, less than seventy thousand mu of arable land remains, and most of that was previously firmly controlled by local manors; it is no wonder that Tsukimiura is filled with displaced people.

"Continue to monitor strictly; we cannot allow the situation to deteriorate further..."

Suddenly pausing, Dongfang Mao remembers something and immediately gives an order.

"Go to the Imperial Prison in a moment. The Night Patrol Bureau has finished breaking in those two Hidden Mist rogue ninjas; you can take them to use Water Release to alleviate the drought."

Upon hearing this, Luzhen feels a surge of joy. With two Water Release ninjas, the drought in the countryside will surely be improved, and at the same time, it will allow the Grand Governor to reap another wave of public support.

However, a look of worry appears on his face.

"Grand Governor, those two Hidden Mist ninjas are powerful and can only be suppressed by you. If you take them to the countryside and they suddenly revolt, what should we do?"

Dongfang Mao chuckles, explaining with full confidence.

"Rest assured, the methods of the Night Patrol Bureau are not simple, and their legs have already been crippled. I will also send twenty members of the New Martial Army to follow; even if an accident occurs, they will merely be sitting ducks, and the New Martial Army will execute them on the spot."

Seeing that Dongfang Mao has made such thorough preparations, Luzhen sets his mind at ease, bows, and retreats.

Not long after Luzhen leaves, Inumaru, the Chief of the Night Patrol Bureau, arrives in a hurry.

Seeing this, Dongfang Mao's expression immediately turns serious.

"Speak, how is the city now?"

Inumaru responds respectfully.

"The news has spread, and there is indeed unrest among the people in the city, but for the time being, no one dares to make any small moves."

Dongfang Mao nods.

"You must coordinate well with Mataichi during this time to strengthen patrols within the city. If you discover any abnormalities, suppress them immediately!"

"Understood!"

"By the way, how are the villagers outside the city reacting?"

Upon hearing this, a smile involuntarily appears on Inumaru's face, and he proceeds to tell Dongfang Mao about the situation in those villages.

As Dongfang Mao listens, his expression becomes somewhat strange.

He had originally thought that even if these villagers didn't have such strong reactionary sentiments as those in the city, they would at least feel fear and dread upon hearing that the Land of Rice Fields was coming to attack.

But he did not expect that the villagers in these villages, instead of being afraid, were eagerly signing up to join the army, wanting to defend against the Land of Rice Fields' invasion for him, the Grand Governor?

In truth, for these villagers, it does not matter who rules them.

But following Dongfang Mao's series of measures—distributing relief grain, changing the tax system, lowering taxes, dispatching Village Supervisors, selecting village heads, and maintaining order in the villages—they felt for the first time that they could live without it being so difficult!

Yet, such days had not lasted long before they learned that the Land of Rice Fields actually intended to strike back, eliminate the Grand Governor who sympathized with them, and then send back those detestable village headmen to continue exploiting and enslaving them.

In an instant, the emotions within all the villages were ignited like a powder keg.

They could have endured the darkness in silence, but only if they had never witnessed the light!

Furthermore, through propaganda, they learned that Dongfang Mao was just like them—once a farmer bullied by village headmen who eventually became a displaced refugee.

It was only when he could no longer endure it that he chose to raise the banner of rebellion.

This allowed them to empathize even more deeply with Dongfang Mao's actions in resisting the Land of Rice Fields.

For a time, the villages surrounding Tsukimiura were filled with righteous indignation, as countless people rushed one after another to the recruitment stations at the village entrances to enlist, determined to protect this Grand Governor who shared their peasant origins and cherished them!

There were even many sturdy women, as well as white-haired, hunched old men, who all came carrying their hoes.

Hearing this, Dongfang Mao was left somewhat speechless, yet at the same time, he felt a glimmer of gratification in his heart.

He reached out to take the military register handed to him by Inumaru, and as his gaze swept over the dense rows of names, his pupils suddenly constricted.

"Over 2,000 people?!"

This number truly gave him a start.

One had to realize that in Tsukimiura, which had a population of sixty thousand, they had only managed to recruit 800 new soldiers despite exhausting all their efforts since capturing the city.

Yet these villages, which had only just settled down, had seen over two thousand people eagerly enlist in just a few short days?