Wenning in Peril, Wang Jian Requests Reinforcements

What Wang Jian held in his hand was the last official dispatch he had received from Wenning County.

In the dispatch, the Wenning County Magistrate had nearly begged the Circuit Censorate in a voice hoarse with desperation to send troops at once. Otherwise, he would no longer be able to hold Wenning County's town, which had nothing but earthen walls.

"...With a heart crushed and tears of blood, this official reports to the Circuit Censorate: since the day before yesterday, ignorant peasants from the countryside have gathered like ants and surged like bees outside the city. They proclaim their reverence for the Azure Heavens, cut off all passage in and out, and forge weapons outside the city day and night. Rumor has it that demon sorcerers come and go among them. Their bandit chief, Li Hong, calls himself the Old Lord descended into the world..."

"...The patrol officers have all retreated three paces at the sight of danger. This official searched throughout the yamen and found only a dozen or so aged and infirm laborers. Registrar Tian and I patrol the walls day and night, not daring to suffer the slightest lapse. At night, the lights beyond the walls stretch from earth to sky, while the horn calls never cease. Yet should anything go awry, I fear that once the rioters raise a clamor, the city will fall. This official's death is not worth lamenting, but I fear only that these great bandits' treasonous hearts may fully awaken..."

Su Che gave the dispatch a cursory read. Its contents bore all the most common hallmarks of madness in Great Liang's officialdom.

Wenning County was surrounded by rioters, but the rioters were merely forging weapons outside the city, conducting collective activities, and their leader was named Li Hong. Therefore, Wenning County was