North of the county yamen.
On the parade ground.
Over eight hundred city defense soldiers stood in the open space in coarse cloth tunics, whispering among themselves and talking animatedly.
"Hey, I heard they're paying out all three months of overdue wages today?"
"Oh, give it a rest. Where'd you hear that rumor? We should burn incense in thanks if they pay even one month."
In the middle of the ranks, the soldier Li San was chatting idly with the men around him.
He turned his head and froze when he saw that his companion was actually wearing padded armor.
"Liu Er, we're just collecting our pay. Why're you wearing padded armor?"
Liu Er said nothing.
He stared stiff-faced at the empty platform, his palms slick with cold sweat, an inexplicable unease stirring inside him.
Li San curled his lip.
He stood on tiptoe and looked around, discovering that quite a few men in the ranks were wearing padded armor.
By his rough count, there were at least several dozen.
Li San cursed inwardly.
Damn it, don't they find that heavy? Serves them right to spend their whole lives as rank-and-file grunts.
"Silence!"
In front of the platform, a row of yamen constables holding iron rulers barked in unison.
The noisy parade ground gradually quieted.
Everyone instinctively looked up.
A group of people slowly walked onto the platform.
The soldiers' eyes instantly fixed on the woman at the very front.
A young soldier swallowed, unable to stop himself from lowering his head and muttering.
"Good lord, what did that woman eat to grow so big..."
Before he could finish, the veteran beside him nearly had his soul scared out of his body and seized his sleeve in a death grip.
"If you're fucking looking to die, don't drag me down with you! Open those dog eyes of yours and look at what she's wearing!"
The young soldier froze, then raised his head for a closer look.
A black flying-fish robe, an embroidered-spring saber at her waist.
The Dragon Guard!
He shrank back, his legs going weak, and dared not utter another word.
Someone else began muttering.
"Who's that young man in the long robe? Why's he walking ahead of the county magistrate?"
"Never seen him. Probably the son of some powerful family."
Li San frowned and poked the veteran beside him.
"Old Zhang, something's wrong."
"Weren't we supposed to get paid today? Why haven't we seen our commanding officer, County Commandant Zhao?"
Old Zhang rubbed his head, equally baffled.
Not just Li San, but quite a few soldiers began to realize something was amiss.
The armored soldiers scattered throughout the ranks, in particular, all wore grim expressions.
Liu Er glanced from the corner of his eye at the several hundred constables guarding the parade ground's perimeter, and his heart slowly sank to rock bottom.
On the platform.
Shen Qing stopped and stepped slightly aside.
Lin Yuan strode forward and stood at the edge of the platform.
He swept his gaze across the men below, taking in all their reactions.
"You must be wondering why you haven't seen your county commandant."
An absolute hush instantly fell below the platform, everyone holding their breath.
Lin Yuan paused before continuing.
"I have some very unfortunate news to tell you."
"The Zhao Clan plotted rebellion. County Commandant Zhao Meng has been slain on the spot by the Dragon Guard!"
As his words fell, a constable walked onto the platform, holding a severed head high.
Once everyone saw it clearly, an uproar erupted.
"Heavens, it really is Commandant Zhao!"
"The Zhao Clan actually plotted rebellion? That's a crime punishable by the extermination of nine degrees of kin!"
The soldiers in the front row turned deathly pale with fear and backed away repeatedly.
Cries of alarm rose one after another as panic spread through the crowd.
Among the crowd, those several dozen armored soldiers looked ashen.
They exchanged glances, a ruthless look rising on their faces.
"Charge! Avenge our lord!"
They drew short blades and charged madly toward the platform.
The parade ground instantly descended into chaos.
On the platform, Lin Yuan sneered.
Diehard loyalists, are you? You're exactly who I was waiting for!
He pressed his left hand against his saber's hilt, curled a finger, and flicked.
Hum!
A three-foot blade of blood-red saber Qi burst into existence.
Squelch!
The dozen or so men charging at the front were instantly cleaved in two by the razor-sharp saber Qi.
The thick stench of blood spread.
The soldiers following behind stopped in panic, standing rooted to the spot.
"Seize them!"
The several hundred constables guarding the perimeter surged forward.
Heavy iron rulers whistled through the air, smashing viciously down at their heads.
Within just a few breaths, those soldiers lay motionless.
The remaining soldiers were utterly terrified and dropped to their knees, pleading for mercy.
"Spare us, my lord! This has absolutely nothing to do with us!"
Their cries and pleas mingled together.
"Quiet."
Lin Yuan pressed his palm downward.
"Don't be nervous, everyone."
"You weren't summoned here to be punished."
At these words, everyone paused and looked at him doubtfully.
Lin Yuan beckoned behind him.
Four constables struggled onto the platform carrying a large wooden chest.
The lid was lifted, and gleaming silver ingots shone dazzlingly in the sunlight.
Everyone's gaze was instantly drawn to them.
"As long as you give your all to defend the city, all your overdue wages will be paid in full, right here!"
Silence fell below the platform for an instant, followed by an eruption of astonished cries.
Lin Yuan waited a few breaths, pressed both hands down in the air, and changed tack.
"Of course, I know some of you are still of one mind with the Zhao Clan."
At these words, some faces changed slightly, and their owners quietly lowered their heads.
The corner of Lin Yuan's mouth lifted.
Since these men had not charged out earlier, they clearly lacked the resolve to follow the Zhao Clan down its dark road to the bitter end.
He held up one finger.
"I'll give you a choice."
"During this defense of the city, every rebel head you take earns you five taels of silver, with no upper limit!"
"Those disabled by their wounds will receive fifty taels. Those killed in battle will receive a death benefit of one hundred taels."
Boom!
As these words landed, everyone's breathing instantly grew heavy, their eyes shining green.
Even the soldiers harboring disloyal intentions felt their hearts pound with temptation.
Silver safely in their pockets was a tangible benefit.
Whoever they sold their lives to, wasn't it still selling their lives?
However.
A few old hands in the crowd soon calmed down and muttered softly.
"Sounds nice, but who knows if they'll actually pay?"
The heated atmosphere quieted, and everyone looked dubiously toward the platform.
Seeing this, County Magistrate Wu Wei gave two dry coughs and stepped forward, his hands behind his back.
"Rest assured, everyone. I stake my official position on it: the rewards will be paid in full!"
The men exchanged looks, still somewhat hesitant.
Wu Wei's expression darkened, his old face losing some dignity.
The deputy magistrate beside him seized the moment and strode forward.
"Everyone, I am Wang Ruogu, of the Wang Clan in the north of the city."
"As a local, I personally guarantee it!"
At these words, everyone responded.
"With Lord Wang's assurance, we'll sell our lives to the county yamen!"
The men waved their fists, their morale soaring to its peak.
Shen Qing turned her head and gave Wang Ruogu a satisfied look.
Beside her, Wu Wei looked sour and cursed inwardly.
Damn his mother, what's so great about being local? I passed the imperial examination's third tier myself!
"Now, everyone line up to collect your wages!"
Li San, who had long since been unable to contain himself, was the first to dart out.
The yamen's clerks and constables took over the distribution of wages.
Lin Yuan and Shen Qing exchanged a glance, then left without lingering, taking Lin Jiu with them.
Listening to the cheers behind them, Lin Jiu remarked quietly.
"Young master, the soldiers' hearts are ready for battle."
"With these eight hundred city defense soldiers, if we hold the walls to the death, we'll certainly last until reinforcements arrive from the commandery seat."
Lin Yuan was not so optimistic.
"Perhaps."
Since things at the county yamen had now stabilized.
Then next...
Lin Yuan abruptly raised his head, gazing coldly toward the Lin estate in the south of the city.
Lin Jiu shivered.
He followed Lin Yuan's gaze, and a bloodthirsty gleam appeared in his eyes.