People in the Three Kingdoms: Starting from Preaching

Chapter 37 Officials are worse than thieves!

Thousands of troops entered the county. They followed orders and gathered the people in the city from house to house. Then, a devastating news fell on the heads of all the people.

"Gongsun County Magistrate has issued an order that all the wealth and food distributed by the Yellow Turban bandits before were obtained by looting government offices and wealthy families. Even though they have been distributed to you now, they are still illegal!

You have accepted the property of the bandits, which makes you suspected of colluding with the rebels. However, County Magistrate Gongsun has sympathy for the people. As long as you honestly hand over the illegal property, the county magistrate will not pursue the matter!"

Facing the people standing on both sides of the street, an officer announced orders while riding a horse. His sharp eyes made many people lower their heads and dared not look at him.

However, when people heard that they had to hand over their property, they found it difficult to remain calm.

As happy as they were when the Yellow Turbans distributed these wealth to them, as uncomfortable as they were when they were asked to give them back now. They absolutely could not accept vomiting out what they had already eaten.

The docile sheep finally raised their heads and looked at the officer, their eyes filled with anger.

"Why? The Heavenly Master said that these were originally our things, and now they are just being returned to us. Why should we hand them over?"

"That's right. The Yellow Turbans never robbed the people when they entered the city. Could it be that the government is even worse than the Yellow Turbans?"

"I won't give it to you, even if you kill me. The bandits can understand our difficulties and take the initiative to share our things with us, but the government wants to take food from us common people. How can this be justified!"

"What kind of government is this? These treasures were kept in the homes of wealthy families before. If you wanted them, why didn't you go and take them then? Now that the Yellow Turbans have divided up their wealth, you come out to rob them. Do you still have any shame?"

"Well said, you just think we are easy to bully, bah, disgusting!"

All of a sudden the whole county was in turmoil. The people were outraged. In order to defend their property, even the sheep dared to roar.

Everyone was venting their dissatisfaction. They guarded their doors tightly, fearing that soldiers would rush in and rob them.

The officer's face suddenly turned cold at the reaction of the people. He was not discussing this with them, but was conveying the county magistrate's order to them.

If they dare to disobey orders, they would be really ignorant.

If they don't understand the principle that the people should not fight against the officials, then I don't mind teaching them!
The officer's eyes looked at a figure in the distance, that was Gongsun Zan who issued the order.

When he saw Gongsun Zan nod, the officer looked at the people with a cold gaze and his voice became even colder.

"You cannot keep what is not yours. All soldiers, listen up and start searching every household for supplies immediately. Anyone who refuses to comply will be punished for disobeying the government!"

Without any mercy and without considering the people's thoughts at all, they made such a tough decision, completely ignoring those angry eyes.

The soldiers immediately began to carry out orders and turned around to start searching house by house. The people immediately became anxious and blocked the door and refused to move.

When the soldiers came, the women would rush over, pushing and crying, the men would wrestle with them, and even the children would run over and bite people.

All of a sudden, there were cries of the people and shouts of the soldiers everywhere. The scene was in chaos, with every household in turmoil and dust flying everywhere.

In order to protect their own homes, these docile people were forced to show their fangs, but this was of no use. Ordinary people had no ability to resist the soldiers at all.

Soon, all the rebellious people were subdued, and those who still refused to obey were beaten and kicked. The soldiers controlled the situation and did not cause casualties, but also taught the disobedient people a lesson. After the situation became one-sided, the tyrannical attitude of the officers and soldiers finally intimidated the remaining people. Sheep are always sheep, and their resistance is just a joke in the eyes of the government.

The whole county was suddenly filled with gloom, with people crying and cursing everywhere. They never expected that it was not the Yellow Turbans who robbed them, but the government!

Countless people were filled with resentment, and some were so hot-blooded that they even had the urge to fight to the death. If they hadn't been held back by their families, who knows how much more tragedy would have occurred.

Liu Bei, who was watching all this from a distance, sighed with reluctance.

"The people have done nothing wrong. Bogui's tyrannical behavior will only alienate them. I'm afraid it will not be beneficial in the long run. It's better to stop for now."

Seeing the miserable plight of the people, Liu Bei couldn't bear to watch any longer. Such a scene seemed a bit absurd to him. Just as some people said, were the officers and soldiers even worse than the bandits?

After returning to his hometown, Liu Bei was relieved to see that his mother was safe. Only then did he learn about what the Yellow Turbans had done in the county.

The Yellow Turban Trial executed all the nobles in the county, and even some of Liu Bei's distant relatives were not spared. Fortunately, his family had already fallen on hard times, so his mother did not suffer, and Liu Bei was very grateful for this.

The Yellow Turbans' methods were brutal, but they were also very gentle towards the people. This surprised Liu Bei and made him overestimate them.

No matter who you are, it is worthy of recognition if you can have compassion for the people.

The more this happened, the more embarrassed Liu Bei felt after seeing Gongsun Zan's actions.

Thieves all know not to rob civilians, so why did Gongsun Zan, the county magistrate, start robbing? This is unacceptable in any way.

"Stop it, Bogui. Listen to my advice." Liu Bei persuaded again, his tone clearly filled with a request.

"Stop! How can Xuande ask me to stop?" Gongsun Zan glanced at him, frowned at first as if he was dissatisfied, but then he sighed.

"All the money and grain in the county were swept away by the Yellow Turbans. There is not a single grain left in the granary. If I don't take it back from the people, how will the government be maintained in the future?

Furthermore, all the county soldiers in my county were killed in an ambush by the bandits, and I can only recruit brave warriors again. If I don’t have money and food, how can I support the army?

So it is not that I, Gongsun Zan, want to rob the people, but if I do not take back the money and grain, I will be a county magistrate without any troops. Xuande, what can I do?"

Liu Bei was speechless for a moment. It seemed that what Gongsun Zan said was not without reason. It would be very serious if the county had no money and food.

But this would mean the matter would become a dead end, and the government would really have no choice but to seize it.

After taking another look at the gloomy people, Liu Bei could only sigh in silence.

Gongsun Zan changed the subject and said, "I heard that Xuande has been appointed as the county lieutenant. However, the Yellow Turbans are rising again now, so maybe you don't need to rush to take up the post. It would be better for you to follow me and defeat the Yellow Turbans first!"

Liu Bei looked over and realized that Gongsun Zan had no soldiers at hand and was interested in his five hundred volunteers. "Xuan De is an official of the Han Dynasty and has the responsibility to fight against the enemy. He will be dispatched by Bo Gui along with these five hundred soldiers. We will discuss the appointment later!"

Gongsun Zan laughed loudly: "Xuan De is indeed a man of honor. I was not wrong about him!"

(End of this chapter)