The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 1005: Chapter 982: Honor Amid Chaos 50

Yu Youcai got up, groggily looking at the arrangements in the study.

He looked for a while, then came out of the study, raising his head to see the sky full of rosy clouds, as if he had slept for a long time.

After that, he felt much clearer in his mind, as if someone had taught him many tactics.

In a daze, several days passed again.

He used these tactics to gather a lot of local support, and one night, Yu Youcai was awakened in the middle of the night by someone shouting outside: ”Master, get up quickly, something happened, the earthquake has struck.”

Yu Youcai was shocked.

He felt the ground moving, so he grabbed his clothes and ran out.

At this time, not only was he not afraid, but he was particularly happy.

He stood in the courtyard, feeling the ground constantly shaking beneath his feet, and saw his house sway twice, but not a single room collapsed.

Yu Youcai stepped out and stood on the street, where neighbors were all rushing out for refuge.

Then he heard that many people’s houses had collapsed, mostly the thatched or old houses, while generally newly built brick houses were not heavily damaged. Perhaps a few tiles from the roof fell, or the house leaned a bit, but very few actually collapsed.

Yu Youcai felt that his opportunity had come.

Subsequently, he performed many daring maneuvers, gathering a large number of people.

Especially those impoverished people whose houses had collapsed, at this time, he heard that a huge earthquake had struck Salt City, killing many salt workers as numerous salt wells were destroyed, leaving that area almost deserted.

The surrounding areas of Salt City also suffered disasters, resulting in countless deaths and injuries.

Yu Youcai started spreading rumors, claiming that the current ruler was unworthy, and Heaven was punishing him, labeling it as divine retribution, while also claiming the emergence of a wise and bright ruler.

He then led the commoners to loot many rich families, seizing grain and gold and silver from their homes.

Yu Youcai led the chaos, and the Prefecture City became uncontrollable, with even the Magistrate fleeing with his whole family.

Once the Prefecture City lost its Magistrate, it naturally became Yu Youcai’s domain.

Yu Youcai, along with his followers and recruited civil servants and military generals, went on a killing spree, quickly departing from the Southern Yi region and conquering much of the territory, eventually ascending the throne and proclaiming himself Emperor.

Seated on the Emperor’s throne, wearing the bright yellow Dragon Robe, Yu Youcai, overwhelmed with pride, couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Laughing, he awoke from his dream.

Yu Youcai sat up, wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth, and looked around to find himself still in the study, with the silk book still on the desk, the eight characters on it even more prominent.

Yu Youcai tightly grasped the silk book, his heart surging with indescribable ambition.

In Jingtian Village, the Old Madam had prepared herself and lay on the bed feigning illness, feeling pains here and there.

Mrs. Zhao sent someone to find Xiao Yuan and Xiao Jin, hoping to have them come see the Old Madam.

However, the third and fourth branches turned out to be empty houses, with their occupants reportedly having gone to Prefecture City for business, leaving quietly without a sound.

Not only did they leave, but they also entrusted the village chief to watch over the houses, stating an indefinite return, possibly staying as short as ten days to as long as a month.

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Zhao was so angry that her face turned green.

She thought that with the third and fourth branches gone, at least Lao Liu should be home, since he was recently married, surely he couldn’t have vanished with his wife.

Turns out, no one was at the sixth branch either.

Lao Liu had left with the Third, while Lao Liu’s wife was said to have returned to her parent’s home, though others said she also went with the third branch.

Mrs. Zhao gritted her teeth in frustration, yet was helpless.

On Xiao Yuan’s side, he took two brothers, eight sons, and a nephew to the salt fields, seizing the good weather to harvest a batch of sea salt.

He instructed Dong Da to transport the sea salt to the mountains, where he had taken in many displaced persons seeking his refuge.

With the sea salt moved, Xiao Yuan went to check on the sea ships.

By this time, the sea ship Xiao Yuan had bought had already sailed out to the South Ocean, expected to return shortly.

The craftsmen Xiao Yuan had found, under his guidance, had constructed quite decent looking sea ships, with eight unfinished ships docked at the shipyard, expected to be fully operable by the end of summer.

After inspecting the sea ships, Xiao Yuan took people to the mountains.

There were many refugees hiding here, alongside the refugees Xiao Ying had brought back on the return trip from picking up Marquis Guangning’s Mansion members, and additionally some trained soldiers hidden in the mountains by Xiao Yuan.

After reaching the mountains, he led people on several hunts, supplementing the meals for the sheltered people. He also continuously indoctrinated them, in a matter of days gaining their heartfelt loyalty and near fanatical admiration and trust.

At the Prefecture City, Anning organized everything meticulously, and, when free, strolled about with her entire family of female relatives, went to the theater to watch plays, sat in tea houses listening to stories, or shopped for clothes and jewelry.

Before they knew it, over ten days had passed.

That evening, before going to bed, Anning informed Hui Family and Yuan Family: ”Sleep tonight without changing clothes, and stay alert.”

Additionally, Anning had all the children gather in her room, spending half the night playing games and listening to their stories in turns.

Once the children were extremely sleepy, she let them doze off on the chairs.

Just as they were drifting off into sleep, Anning felt a slight disturbance underfoot.

She immediately stood up, waking the children one by one: ”Quickly, everyone outside, Huihui, you and Fufu go wake your Fourth Aunt and Sixth Aunt, tell them to come out quickly.”

Anning led the young ones out, and soon after, Xiao Hui pulled Xiao Keke and Hui Family outside, with Xiao Fu drawing Yuan Family from the house.

When everyone was standing in the courtyard, they felt the tremor beneath their feet.

”The earthquake has struck.”

Yuan Family turned pale: ”Third Sister-in-law, we...”

Anning held Yuan Family’s hand: ”It’s alright, the tremor isn’t strong. Let’s wait a bit. The house shouldn’t collapse.”

The house wouldn’t collapse, but other things were more uncertain.

Yu Youcai awoke in the middle of the night.

Upon waking, he felt the earth moving.

Immediately, Yu Youcai was overjoyed.

The events in his dream had come true.

Quickly donning his clothes, he ran outside.

In the courtyard, Yu Youcai gathered his men, having made arrangements prior. He assembled them and instructed them to start spreading rumors.

Furthermore, Yu Youcai sat cross-legged on the road, pretending to be compassionate. As many neighbors ran out, they saw Yu Youcai sitting there, surrounded by a faint mist and halo, which only made Yu Youcai appear more benevolent and mysterious.

His clothes fluttered without wind, exuding an immortal aura.

Many people unconsciously knelt down.

Yu Youcai half-opened his eyes: ”Rise, my dear followers, I pity you, and have descended to enlighten you. This tremor is Heaven’s warning to the unworthy King of Da Qi, a muddle-headed ruler bringing hardships to the people. I am here to save the people from fire and water.”

He then said loudly: ”This earthquake began at Salt City, which is now nearly deserted, with many salt wells already destroyed...”

”Ah, is it true?”

”With the salt wells destroyed, how will we get salt?”

”We can’t live without salt, it’s already expensive, and it’ll be even more so now.”

”What do we do?”

While everyone was discussing, Yu Youcai’s men brought many citizens from the impoverished southern city, who knelt in front of Yu Youcai: ”Saint, please save us, Heaven seems determined to end us.”

Yu Youcai softly said: ”It’s the unworthy King who causes our suffering, only by overthrowing him can we survive.”

He stood up, flicking his sleeves: ”As you all are in trouble, I cannot stand idly by. I will lead you to find grain and salt.”

At his command, many responded.

Soon, Yu Youcai led them through the night, taking advantage of the chaos to ransack many wealthy households, seizing an unknown amount of grain and salt.

The Magistrate, upon receiving the news, hurriedly tried to quell the rebellion, sending troops to capture the rioters.

But, Yu Youcai had more men, and many of the government soldiers were already bought over by him. When the Magistrate dispatched troops, they did not last long, with many soldiers surrendering or killed.

Seeing things turn for the worse, the Magistrate fled with his family.

Thus, the entire Prefecture City fell under Yu Youcai’s control.