jdhmnovel Chapter 554 Returning to Hanshan
Chapter 554 Returning to Hanshan
Chapter 554 Returning to Hanshan
Two weeks later, Hanshan Square was packed with people, because today was the day that Wang Wenzhou and Wang Qingtian returned to Hanshan.
Although Wang Wenzhou's reputation is not good now, and people from other places all think he is a great traitor and a sinner, the people of Hanshan still think that Wang Wenzhou is still the same upright official who wholeheartedly serves the people.
At this time, Hanshan had become a metropolis with a population of over one million. On this day, approximately tens of thousands of people gathered in the square to welcome Wang Wenzhou.
After Wang Wenzhou left the capital, he was cursed by the people all the way. But the people still know him well. Even enemies have pride, which is why they mobilized the people to go to the square to welcome him.
As soon as the group entered Hanshan territory, Sheng Lan led the babies in Hanshan to greet them.
Wang Wenzhou hadn't seen the babies in Hanshan for a long time, and seeing them now immediately lifted his spirits.
"Lazy Blue, Lazy Blue, I missed you!" Wang Wenzhou picked up Sheng Lan and spun her around.
Zhang Jiao pouted and said aggrievedly, "Husband, I miss you too!"
Wang Wenzhou quickly put Sheng Lan down, hugged Zhang Jiao, and then hugged and kissed each of the babies. He said with a smile, "Babies, babies, let's go home. Today we must have a three-hundred-round battle. We won't stop until our legs are weak."
Liu Rushi smiled slightly and returned to Hanshan. Her unruly nemesis was finally back. Along the way, Liu Rushi and Wang Ying had quite a bit to worry about. Her nemesis was in a bad mood the whole way, drinking every day. When he got drunk, he would cry and make a scene, and no one could persuade him to stop.
Sheng Lan smiled and said, "Husband, don't rush home. The people are waiting for you in the square. You should go to the square to greet them first."
Wang Wenzhou nodded and said with a smile, "The people in the base areas are still the best. Those bastards in the Kuomintang-controlled areas are too wicked! I am a great honest official, serving the country and the people, and they actually call me a treacherous minister. Is that reasonable?"
"Pfft..." The children suppressed their laughter. You're really good at deceiving yourself. Aren't you ashamed to say that?
Surrounded by babies, Wang Wenzhou arrived at Hanshan Square in high spirits.
Upon seeing Wang Wenzhou, the people in the square immediately knelt down and greeted him.
"Wang Qingtian, this old man misses you!"
"Wang Qingtian, you're finally back! Hanshan can't live without you!"
"Lord Wang, you have been wronged!"
Tens of thousands of people knelt on the ground, calling him "Wang Qingtian" (a righteous official), which deeply moved Wang Wenzhou.
Wang Wenzhou strode up to the high platform and said loudly, "Fellow elders of Hanshan, please rise. I have been dismissed from my post and am now just an ordinary citizen like you. Please stop calling me Wang Qingtian and Lord Wang."
Upon hearing this, the business owners from Hanshan were all filled with righteous indignation. They said in unison, "Lord Wang, no matter what, you will always be the Prefect of Hanshan, the upright and just Lord Wang in our hearts!"
These Hanshan business owners were once incredibly wealthy, but after the three major industries of Hanshan were nationalized, their lives became much more miserable than before. Although Zhu Youjian gave them a compensation payment, compared to the goose that laid golden eggs, this amount of silver was insignificant.
So they all harbored resentment. Zhu Youjian was too unfair. Principal, what are you waiting for? Quickly lead your brothers and take back what has been stolen.
"Wang Qingtian, you will always be Wang Qingtian of Hanshan." The people echoed in agreement.
In truth, the people of Hanshan weren't fools. They had long realized that Hanshan was now a state within a state of the Ming Dynasty. Hanshan was Wang Wenzhou's territory, and the people had no objections. It wasn't that the people of Hanshan didn't love their country; rather, they loved Wang Wenzhou even more.
Under Wang Wenzhou's governance, Hanshan has developed from a small county town with a population of just over 10,000 into a metropolis with a population of over one million, a fact that is evident to all the people of Hanshan.
Moreover, what kind of life did the people of Hanshan live in the past? They often went hungry, and many of them were refugees who had fled there.
The refugees who had fled here were even more grateful to Wang Wenzhou; if it weren't for Wang Qingtian, they would have starved to death long ago. Along the way, the local officials treated them like flies, refusing to let them into the city. Only Hanshan, under Wang Qingtian's leadership, not only provided them with food but also gave them a bright future.
With the brainwashing of the Hanshan Weekly, the people of Hanshan felt that there was nothing wrong with Hanshan becoming a state within a state of the Ming Dynasty, and were even proud of it.
Whenever outsiders come to Hanshan, they look at everything with curiosity and surprise, like country bumpkins, and a sense of pride arises in the hearts of the people of Hanshan.
Wang Wenzhou said solemnly, "I thank you all for your love and support, elders of Hanshan. I will definitely work hard to develop Hanshan and give it a better future."
The bosses of the Hanshan Group took the lead in chanting, "Wang Qingtian is mighty! Long live Wang Qingtian!"
The people also shouted, "Wang Qingtian is mighty! Long live Wang Qingtian!"
Liu Rushi frowned. If things continued like this, her enemy wouldn't be far from rebelling. Although Liu Rushi and her children had almost rebelled themselves to save her enemy, now that he was safe, Liu Rushi truly didn't want Wang Wenzhou to become a traitor. She secretly resolved that she absolutely could not let Wang Wenzhou embark on the path of rebellion.
"Thank you! Thank you!" Wang Wenzhou hurriedly thanked the people, "Thank you, elders of Hanshan. I was framed by a villain and thus ended up with a criminal record. I have always been loyal to the emperor and loved my country, and I still want to contribute to the country and serve the Ming Dynasty!"
Wang Wenzhou declared righteously, “The Ming Dynasty is now beset by internal and external troubles. Internally, there are rioters causing chaos, and externally, the Tartars are eyeing us covetously. The Tartars have never given up their desire to destroy our Ming Dynasty and are invading our Liaodong territory! I am determined to recover Liaodong for the Ming Dynasty.”
"Buzz..." The square suddenly became noisy, with people saying all sorts of things.
"Wang Qingtian serves the country and the people; I support you!"
"Wang Qingtian is a true role model for us all, deeply concerned about the country and its people!"
"The Tartars like the harsh and cold land of Liaodong, so let's just give it to them. The best thing is that Hanshan can stay away from the war and its people can live in peace and prosperity."
Wang Wenzhou waved his hand, signaling the people to be quiet. After a while, the square quieted down, and Wang Wenzhou said loudly, "From today onwards, Hanshan will form an expeditionary force to pacify Liaodong. I hope that patriotic and passionate young people will sign up enthusiastically. Of course, I cannot let my brothers go to pacify Liaodong on an empty stomach. Each soldier will receive a monthly salary of ten taels of silver."
"Buzz..." The people in the square were completely dumbfounded.
Although the income of the people of Hanshan is much higher than that of other places in the Ming Dynasty, a monthly salary of ten taels is still a very high salary for ordinary people in Hanshan.
Wang Wenzhou continued, "After the expeditionary force is recruited, the soldiers will undergo grueling training. Three to five years later, when the army is fully trained, we will conquer Liaodong in one fell swoop!"
The bosses of the Hanshan Group were overjoyed and shouted, "Long live Wang Qingtian! He has pacified Liaodong in one fell swoop!"
Many people began to have ulterior motives. According to Wang Qingtian, the war in Liaodong wouldn't start for another three to five years. This meant that even if they joined the expeditionary force, there wouldn't be any fighting for three to five years, and therefore no danger. "Such a high monthly salary! My eldest son absolutely has to go! It's much better than carrying bricks on a construction site!"
Liu Rushi frowned deeply. Her enemy had even started training troops; they really wanted to rebel! No, she had to persuade her enemy to stop before it was too late.