The course of this rebellion was outrageously slapdash.
Before they even stormed into the County Office, they had already suffered dozens of casualties, some trampled to death, others cut down by overseers when they tried to flee. They had no military discipline to speak of and few weapons in their hands, yet they charged in a disorderly mob from the south of the city toward the County Office.
Wang Yuan divided his followers into three groups, sending one to the County Office and another to the city gates.
He himself led men to attack the Armory.
Of the force of more than four hundred, no more than fifty could actually fight, and probably fewer than ten were firmly determined to follow Wang Yuan.
Guo Ze's impulsiveness had made this rebellion a hurried affair, with almost no preparation at all.
But those loyal subjects were even less prepared than they were.
Even Wang Yuan had never imagined that Guo Ze would suddenly rebel, much less everyone else in the county. Even when the county magistrate summoned everyone to the southern terrace, they had been leisurely occupied with their own affairs.
When the rebels broke into the County Office, a soldier at the entrance was wounded, while the others hastily fled. The officials who had no time to escape were captured outright.
A few tried to reason with these rebels, only to be killed by Wang Yuan's followers.
It was the same at the city's several gates. No one had expected an attack here.
Wang Yuan's men swiftly brought the county's officials and troops under their control.
After taking the Armory, Wang Yuan equipped his trusted aides and those Wanderers who could fight, then swiftly began bestowing rewards.
The trusted aides following him were all appointed generals: General Who Guards the West,