At the same time, at a hot spring villa twenty li outside of Tong 'an City, the governor of Tong' an City had been running for his life. He had only calmed down when he reached this place. He hid in his residence and refused to come out, clearly scared out of his wits by the terrifying rain of fire in Tong 'an City.
"Is His Excellency inside?"
A middle-aged, long-bearded man in cotton clothes rushed to the door and anxiously asked the commander guarding the door.
The commander whispered, "His Excellency escaped from Tong 'an City, caught a cold and frightened, and has just fallen asleep."
The long-bearded man stamped his feet. "What time is it, and he's still sleeping?
How can he fall asleep?! "With that, he rushed inside.
The commander whispered, "His Excellency said that he doesn't want to see anyone."
The long-bearded man raged, "Even me?"
The commander smiled bitterly and repeated, "His Excellency said that he doesn't want to see anyone."
The long-bearded man flew into a rage. He lifted his robe and shouted, "His Excellency, it's me!
Are you not going to see me either?! "
The commander hurriedly stepped forward to stop him. He begged in a low voice, "Oh, my lord registrar!
Don't shout anymore. If you disturb His Excellency, I don't think the paddle will land on your butt! "
The long-bearded man sneered, "Tong 'an City is a fiery hell right now, with countless citizens wailing and dying. This is a time to save lives, and you're only thinking about your butt!"
The commander was displeased. He pulled a long face and spoke in a bureaucratic tone, "His Excellency Chu Yunchu, according to what you said, why aren't you saving people?
Why are you putting on airs here? "
Chu Yun said angrily, "I'm a registrar, not a commandant or a county magistrate!
I don't even have a single soldier under me, how am I supposed to save people?! "
The commander said eccentrically, "Aren't you a human yourself?"
Chu Yun was furious, "Zhang, what do you mean by that?!"
Commander Zhang rolled his eyes, "Nothing!"
Chu Yun stepped forward and grabbed Commander Zhang. "Speak clearly!
A mere commander actually dares to insult me with his words?
Do you still want your official status? "
Commander Zhang also said angrily, "Who do you think you are to have the right to dismiss me?!"
Chu Yun was infuriated and immediately began to fight with Commander Zhang. However, he was just a weak scholar, so how could he possibly be a match for this commander? Even if his opponent had neglected training, there was still a natural difference in their physiques.
In particular, the guards at the side all came up to stop the fight. However, all of them were unable to stop the fight. Punches and kicks landed on Chu Yun's body. In just a short while, Chu Yun was beaten black and blue, and his hair was disheveled.
At this time, an impatient voice came from inside the house, "What's the matter?
It's so noisy. Are you going to let me sleep? "
Chu Yun immediately straightened his clothes. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and nose and glared at Commander Zhang. Then, he suppressed his anger and shouted, "Governor, it's me, Registrar Chu Yun!"
"Oh, the registrar is here. Come on, please come in."
Chu Yun glared fiercely at the people around him and walked in with his head held high. However, the dusty footprints on his body made him look disheveled.
As soon as Chu Yun entered the house, he felt a gust of warm air hit him in the face. The kang in the house was as warm as spring. Governor Xu Tao leaned against a recliner with his big belly propped up. Beside him stood a shifty-eyed advisor.
Xu Tao glanced at Chu Yun and was immediately stunned. "Lord Registrar, why are you like this?"
Chu Yun immediately complained fiercely. "Just now, I wanted to see the Lord Registrar, but Commander Zhang actually stopped me and said that the Lord Registrar needed to rest!
Now that Tong 'an is as chaotic as the Nine Hells, the Lord Registrar must be burning with anxiety. How can he sleep?
This lowly person not only obstructs official duties and harms the common people, but he also slandered the Lord Registrar's innocence! "
Xu Tao lightly patted his chest. "This fellow is too outrageous. He even dared to stop the registrar!
He'll be punished with three months of offerings!
Lord Registrar, calm down!
When we return, I'll punish him for you!
Now … they're outside, and we don't have enough manpower. We still need them. "
How could Chu Yun say no? He felt as disgusted as if he had eaten sh * t!
Punished with three months of offerings?
That was only thirty taels of silver. For people like them who relied on others for money, thirty taels of silver was considered money?
Chu Yun swallowed his anger and bowed. "As you wish, Lord Registrar."
Xu Tao nodded his head in satisfaction and said, "Old Chu, why did you come to my place in the middle of the night? Is something the matter?"
"What is it?"
Chu Yun looked up in shock. He said anxiously, "Lord Registrar, the entire Tong 'an City is in chaos. The fire is spreading, and the common people are fleeing frantically. Countless people have been burned to death and trampled. People are burning, looting, and raping women everywhere!
Lord Registrar, if we don't send troops to deal with this, Tong 'an City … will be completely finished! "
Xu Tao let out a long sigh. "Send troops?
There are no troops left!
Besides, Lord Registrar, this is clearly an internal strife among the cultivators. We're just caught in the crossfire! "
"But … we still need to provide disaster relief!" Chu Yun was so anxious that his forehead was covered in sweat.
Xu Tao sighed. "Disaster relief?
Who will save them?
Where will the people come from? Where will the money come from? "
Chu Yun said anxiously, "But, Lord Registrar!
If His Majesty investigates, all the officials in Tong 'an City will lose their heads! "
Xu Tao and the advisor next to him looked at each other, and both of them smiled proudly.
The advisor said with a smile, "Lord Registrar, as the saying goes, you can't hide anything from your superiors, and you can bully the people but not the emperor!
Disasters are often crises, but blessings are often accompanied by misfortunes, and misfortunes are often accompanied by blessings!
If there's danger, there's an opportunity! "
Chu Yun looked confused. "What … do you mean, Advisor?"
The advisor said with a smile, "Although this meteor shower is a natural disaster, since they're all stones falling from the sky, they can naturally be auspicious signs!"
"What?"
Chu Yun was deeply shocked. He looked at the two smiling men in front of him in disbelief. He stammered, "Auspicious signs?
How could a natural disaster become auspicious signs?
"They're all meteorites falling from the sky!
Find a big one and decorate it. Won't this auspicious sign appear? "The advisor smiled wretchedly.
Xu Tao glanced at the arrogant advisor. The advisor immediately smiled apologetically and shrank back.
Xu Tao said slowly, "Chu Yun, this is a crucial moment for us to be united in Tong 'an City!
If we present this auspicious sign well, I'm afraid we won't be at fault and will even be rewarded! "
He chuckled, and the advisor next to him also smiled.
Chu Yun looked at them in shock. He subconsciously stepped back, as if he didn't want to be in the same room with such heartless people!
"But … what about the nearly ten thousand lives in Tong 'an City?" Chu Yun asked in a trembling voice.
Xu Tao said with a pained expression, "This old man had no choice. There was nothing I could do!"
"Don't tell me … we don't care whether they live or die?
Don't tell me … these ten thousand souls are so unclear and unclear that there's no explanation? "Chu Yun trembled all over and said with a sob.
Xu Tao's expression darkened. "Chu Yun, don't think you're the only one here who worries about the country and its people!
I want to save the people too, but how?
I want to redress their grievances too, but how?
How do I redress this injustice?
If you're so capable, go to the Spiritual Mountain Sect and demand that they hand over the culprit. Go! "
Chu Yun said agitatedly, "I'll go to the capital and lodge a complaint!
I don't believe His Majesty won't care, I don't believe the Imperial Advisor won't care! "
"How dare you!"
Xu Tao slammed the table and rose to his feet. "Chu Yun, do you know that you'll make a hundred black hats fall from Tong 'an City?!"
Chu Yun's hair stood up in anger. "Tong 'an City has been plunged into misery and suffering. The people have either died or cried!
How many wealthy families have become destitute overnight!
How many good families have died!
And all of you only care about the black hats on your heads! "
Xu Tao raged. "Chu Yun, how dare you!"
The advisor quickly tried to smooth things over. "Lord Registrar, it's not just the black hats that will fall, it'll also be the heads, and even … your own head!"
Chu Yun looked at them deeply. He saw Xu Tao staring at him with a murderous glint in his eyes. After a moment of silence, he took a deep breath and bowed deeply. "I was wrong. Boss, you're the one with the foresight!"
Xu Tao's anger turned to joy. "That's more like it!
Tong 'an City's officials are of one mind. We'll definitely get through this!
Come, Advisor, bring the wine. I'll have a toast with Lord Registrar! "
Chu Yun bowed again. He bent over and lowered his head, not daring to let Xu Tao see his angry gaze. He forced himself to control his voice. "I've rushed all the way here and I'm a little tired. I don't have much of a tolerance for alcohol, so I won't disturb your rest any longer!"
With that, Chu Yun bowed and retreated out the door, closing it behind him.