Within days of Fang Yun's departure from Xiang Prefecture, some people began stirring restlessly, but Fang Yun had won the people's hearts and Dong Wencong had won the officials' loyalty. Their schemes failed before they could even act.
Unwilling to concede, people from the Qing Kingdom tried the old trick again, resorting to smashing, looting, and pillaging. But Xiang Prefecture's officials and citizens, already well versed in dealing with such trouble, joined forces to stamp it out.
Dong Wencong did not let his guard down, however. He remained vigilant at all times, knowing that the Qing Kingdom and Liu Shan would never give up easily. They would surely launch an enormous attack before Fang Yun returned to Xiang Prefecture.
The Discourse Ranking was also discussing events in Xiang Prefecture. Some scholars noticed that, just a short while ago, its citizens had been like headless flies. They believed whatever Qing Kingdom spies or members of the Left Prime Minister Faction said, yet refused to trust Xiang Prefecture's authorities.
After undergoing the baptism of so many recent events, the citizens of Xiang Prefecture seemed to be opening their minds. Some people from the Qing Kingdom who spread rumors were instead caught red-handed by the citizens, and many citizens had become difficult to deceive.
After some discussion, everyone soon concluded that there were several important reasons for this awakening of public understanding in Xiang Prefecture.
Most importantly, Xiang Prefecture had gone from its former subjugation, through the struggle between Qing Officials and Jing Officials in recent years, into its present period of relative peace. The people's hearts were settled. They no longer lived in constant fear, unable to get through a single day in peace. Their lives had genuinely improved, so even when someone tried to stir them up, they would not easily