Chapter 30: Someone Wants to Rebel

Zhang You’s response caught Qiu Zhuo completely off guard.

"Are you talking about that heretic?"

"If I hadn't been so preoccupied with official business, I would have convicted him and had him executed long ago! Zhang You, have you been bribed by that wretch to speak on his behalf before me?"

Qiu Zhuo slammed his hand onto the desk, shouting in a fit of rage.

That heretic had managed to rally tens of thousands of followers in a short period; his ability to bewitch the masses was truly terrifying. If he were released, who could foresee the extent of the chaos he might unleash? Qiu Zhuo could afford to target wealthy merchants, as that would only affect his future career prospects. But if this heretic were to incite an actual rebellion, Qiu Zhuo would lose his official cap—and likely his head.

Zhang You knelt in a hurry. "Magistrate, how would I dare to accept bribes? It is just that… the situation outside is spiraling out of control!"

Qiu Zhuo was stunned. He had been isolating himself in his study for days, receiving news of the outside world only through reports from others. He had assumed that although the situation was dire, it remained under control. Zhang You’s words suggested otherwise.

"Tell me exactly what is going on!" Qiu Zhuo urged.

Zhang You replied, "Magistrate, the plague is ravaging Taiyang County, and the public is restless. Every day, large crowds gather outside the yamen, petitioning for the release of the Great Virtuous Teacher. I had no choice but to have the County Commandant deploy the city garrison just to keep the residents somewhat contained. But lately, those unruly mobs have become increasingly volatile, leading to several deaths and injuries. More and more people from the surrounding towns are flooding into the city, all seeking the 'talisman water' of the Great Virtuous Teacher, which has made the situation even more dire."

"Especially today—I received intelligence that these mobs are plotting to storm the yamen tonight to rescue the Great Virtuous Teacher. That is why I urgently requested the Commandant to enforce a curfew to prevent a riot. But this is not a long-term solution; if things continue like this, I fear that ultimately..."

Zhang You left his sentence unfinished, but a chill ran down Qiu Zhuo’s spine. If the mob truly launched a large-scale uprising, his position would be impossible to preserve.

Qiu Zhuo sank back into his chair. After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "If we execute the heretic now and order the garrison to hold the line, could we stop the people from revolting?"

Under normal circumstances, once the ringleader is removed, the incited masses usually disperse on their own. That was why this was the first solution that came to Qiu Zhuo’s mind.

Zhang You shook his head. "In normal times, that might work. But now, with the plague rampant and the people suffering, the Great Virtuous Teacher has become their only hope. If we do that, it will likely trigger an immediate uprising. Furthermore..."

Zhang You hesitated, struggling to voice his next point.

"Speak your mind," Qiu Zhuo urged.

Zhang You gritted his teeth and said, "Furthermore, I fear that the heretic... truly possesses a way to cure the plague."

Qiu Zhuo snorted coldly. He had never believed in ghosts or gods, and the idea of curing diseases with talisman water was pure absurdity. He had not expected Zhang You to be so gullible.

Zhang You explained, "Magistrate, I am not speaking based on rumors. Since the heretic was imprisoned, the jailers have been fawning over him, arranging the cleanest cells and serving him the finest food. At first, I scoffed, thinking the jailers were simply misled by gossip and would soon come to their senses. But to my surprise, I discovered that while most of the yamen staff have been infected, those jailers remain healthy, and their families have also recovered after falling ill. Upon questioning, I learned that they obtained talisman water from the heretic in exchange for their favors, which cured their illness. Later, I personally went to Lu Family Village to investigate in secret and found that many former patients there have also recovered. I even sent men to infiltrate the Taiping Sect, and they confirmed that the talisman water is indeed effective."

Qiu Zhuo began to waver. He knew that Zhang You was a man who handled matters with great care. If even Zhang You could confirm this after an investigation, then perhaps that heretic did possess some genuine capability.

"Perhaps it is not the talisman water itself, but the fact that the heretic knows a way to treat the plague. Zhang You, can we obtain this method? If we can truly secure a cure for the plague, we will have performed a great service!" Qiu Zhuo asked excitedly.

Finding a cure for the plague and resolving the epidemic across the counties of Qingzhou would be a merit significant enough to earn Qiu Zhuo a promotion. As long as he could get the method, he didn't care what means Zhang You used.

Zhang You replied, "Magistrate, if we resort to force, we will likely pay a heavy price. The County Commandant told me that the martial artist who is always by the heretic's side is at least an eighth-rank expert; even the Commandant is not confident he could defeat him."

Qiu Zhuo scoffed, clearly dissatisfied with the threat posed by martial prowess. He said in a deep voice, "So what if he is a martial artist? If the Commandant cannot defeat him, we still have many yamen runners and can mobilize the city garrison. We could even seek help from the Six Fanmen at the provincial capital; do you really think we would run out of ways to deal with him?"

The Six Fanmen was the imperial department specifically tasked with dealing with martial artists. Zhang You remained silent, but Qiu Zhuo quickly realized the reality of the situation himself. Dealing with a single martial artist might not be a major issue, but the public’s mood was currently like a powder keg waiting for a spark.

If they were to torture or attack the heretic now, it would inevitably ignite that powder keg. Even the jailers within the yamen had received the heretic’s favor; such a thing could not be kept secret. Qiu Zhuo found himself in a dilemma.

Zhang You then spoke again, "Magistrate, even if the heretic is the one to control the plague, as long as we guide the narrative, the credit will still fall upon you. Furthermore, by utilizing the talisman water in the heretic's possession, we can make the wealthy in the city willingly open their purses. We could also have the heretic restrain his followers and stabilize the situation in the city—it is a plan that achieves three goals at once."

Qiu Zhuo sighed and leaned back in his chair. "You are suggesting that I negotiate with that heretic?"

Zhang You’s logic was sound, and Qiu Zhuo knew it. The heretic could neither be killed nor released; cooperation was the only path. The key was to ensure the heretic complied and listened to him. Given that the heretic had founded the Taiping Sect, his ambitions were clearly not small. Only by offering enough incentives could they each get what they wanted.

Zhang You replied, "Magistrate, the benefits outweigh the risks. I believe it is feasible."

Qiu Zhuo sighed again. He was a magistrate, yet he had been reduced to negotiating with a charlatan. His reason told him this was the right thing to do, but his pride and dignity made it difficult to lower his head.

"Tomorrow," Qiu Zhuo said dejectedly. "At first light tomorrow, I will go to see him."

Zhang You was relieved that Qiu Zhuo had agreed and prepared to take his leave. But at that moment, a sudden clamor erupted outside. The noise swelled rapidly, eventually turning into cries of "Kill!"

The sound echoed through the city in the middle of the night, truly terrifying. Qiu Zhuo and Zhang You were both shocked. Just as they were about to head out to investigate, a yamen runner burst in, panicked.

"Magistrate! It’s bad! The mob is rebelling—they are actually... they are storming the yamen! The County Commandant is currently locked in battle with them, and I urge you to prepare for evacuation at once, just in case!"