Indeed, public opinion could be manipulated!
Because of the first sentence from the Prefectural Governor's Manor's manservant, more than twenty thousand commoners became agitated. At this moment, several people in the crowd of more than twenty thousand people shouted loudly from different directions.
"Official Nanguo didn't embezzle any grain, where would he find so much?"
"Your Highness Duke of Qin, please spare Official Nanguo. Official Nanguo is devoted to the commoners and even took out his mother's grain!"
"That's right, please spare Official Nanguo, Your Highness Duke of Qin!"
"Everyone, let's beg Your Highness Duke of Qin!"
… …
Gradually, the voices begging for mercy for Nanguo Mingde grew louder and louder. Those who didn't want to beg for mercy for Nanguo Mingde had no choice but to keep quiet or shout with the rest.
Soon, quite a few people knelt and begged.
Long Fei Ye was fighting for food for the commoners, but in the end, it became the commoners begging for mercy for Nanguo Mingde. It had to be said that this was Nanguo Mingde's ability.
What skill!
Long Fei Ye was like a bystander in the face of all this. He lowered his head and looked at Nanguo Mingde, who was kneeling at his feet, with a trace of disdain on his lips.
How could Long Fei Ye care about such methods?
Nanguo Mingde didn't dare to look up at Long Fei Ye. He kept his head down and his astute eyes darted around a few times before he hurriedly looked at the commoners.
He raised his hands. "Everyone, quiet down! Listen to me! "
Needless to say, he was quite daring. As soon as he spoke, everyone quieted down.
"Everyone, today, to have all of you plead for mercy for me, I, Nanguo Mingde, didn't become the governor for nothing. It was worth it! If I die by Emperor Qin's sword today, I will die without regrets in front of everyone! There's only one thing I can't let go of. If I leave, who will ask for grain for everyone? "
Hearing these words and seeing Nanguo Mingde's solemn expression, the crowd couldn't help but feel sorrowful. Many of them even revealed expressions of reluctance.
Official Nanguo really cared about the commoners at all times!
Nanguo Mingde continued to speak loudly, "To be honest, only two thousand dan of the imperial court's food was distributed to South Ning County, which is what was distributed to the victims in the suburbs last month."
Everyone knew that there was very little food for the disaster relief, but they didn't know that there was so little food here.
Once these words were spoken, there was an uproar. No wonder Official Nanguo hadn't distributed any rations. It turned out that he had his own difficulties!
"Everyone! Everyone, listen to me! Please don't plead for me anymore! As everyone's official, I, Nanguo Mingde, am willing to die to atone for my crimes. I only ask that Your Highness Duke of Qin take pity on the tens of thousands of people in South Ning Prefecture and give us more food! "
After Nanguo Mingde finished speaking, he finally raised his head to look at Long Fei Ye. When he met Long Fei Ye's scrutinizing gaze, he felt guilty, but in the end, he held it in.
Suddenly, someone in the crowd shouted, "Where is the food from the imperial court? What took it away? "
In another direction, someone shouted, "There's still the money for the Imperial Court's disaster relief! I haven't seen it either! "
"Your Highness Duke of Qin, where is the money from the charity auction?"
Tsk, tsk, tsk. Who gave these commoners the courage to directly question Long Fei Ye?
Long Fei Ye's cold smile grew wider and wider, but Nanguo Mingde didn't understand. He turned to the source of the shout and said sternly, "Don't be impudent! His Highness Duke of Qin was sent by His Majesty to provide disaster relief. As an imperial envoy, His Highness Duke of Qin will definitely be able to save everyone from this disaster! He will definitely have a way to distribute food to everyone! "
Nanguo Mingde clearly knew that at this juncture, it would be extremely difficult to buy food even if one had the money, but he still flattered Long Fei Ye like this. This was no doubt kidnapping public opinion, or perhaps it was called overpraise!
"Everyone, let's beg His Highness Duke of Qin to distribute the food!"
"Your Highness Duke of Qin, don't make things difficult for Official Nanguo anymore. Please distribute the food for everyone!"
… …
Gradually, the long line of commoners surged forward, loudly begging for food with the people in front of them.
The situation was about to spiral out of control. The commoners kept shouting "Your Highness Duke of Qin," but Long Fei Ye didn't even spare them a glance.
He was as cold as an iceberg. He lowered his eyes to look at Nanguo Mingde, his voice low and icy. "Are you done pretending?" he asked.
Nanguo Mingde's entire body trembled, and he almost rolled down the stone steps. He hadn't expected this cold-faced prince to be so calm in the face of such chaos. He'd actually seen through his ruse with a single glance.
Although he was afraid, Nanguo Mingde gritted his teeth and steadied himself.
This was a moment of life and death. If he could pass this calamity, then everything would be fine. He would be promoted, become rich, and leave South Ning Prefecture. If he couldn't pass this calamity, then only death awaited him.
He pretended not to hear Long Fei Ye's words. He took a step back and dropped to his knees in an exaggerated manner, kowtowing repeatedly. "Your Highness Duke of Qin, please distribute the food! Your Highness Duke of Qin, please distribute the food! "
This was a secret signal. Seeing this, the servants behind him slipped away. Not long after, they came back with bad news.
"Reporting, a large number of disaster victims have poured into the southern part of the city. Your Highness Duke of Qin, please distribute the food!"
"Reporting, a large number of disaster victims have broken through the city gates in the western part of the city. They're out of control, and they're shouting for Your Highness Duke of Qin to distribute the food."
"Reporting, more than four thousand disaster victims are rioting in the eastern part of the city. The soldiers are unable to stop them, and they're already rushing this way!"
Without a doubt, Official Yu had rushed over to cooperate with Nanguo Mingde!
A sinister smile flitted across Nanguo Mingde's lips. He stood up. "Guards, protect His Highness Duke of Qin!"
It would have been better if he hadn't said this. As soon as he did, someone in the crowd immediately shouted, "You can't let His Highness Duke of Qin leave! His Highness Duke of Qin must give everyone an explanation! "
Voices of agreement rose from all around. "His Highness Duke of Qin can't leave! His Highness Duke of Qin can't leave without seeing the food! "
"Your Highness Duke of Qin, didn't you use all the silver from the charity auction to buy food?"
"Your Highness Duke of Qin, the national treasury sent so much food. Where did it all go? The common people haven't seen a single grain! "
The twenty thousand or so people were thrown into chaos. They surged forward in agitation. Someone let go of the fence, and a group of people rushed in from behind. They blocked the gates of the governor's estate and trapped Long Fei Ye in the center.
Pleas for food, protests, and questions rose and fell. Soon, countless disaster victims poured in from all four sides of the city gates.
These disaster victims were organized and had been incited long ago. They were even more agitated, indignant, and frenzied than the twenty thousand people present.
They all rushed forward without any regard for their lives. Their shouts were no longer polite, but direct questions.
"Your Highness Duke of Qin, rumor has it that you embezzled the money from the charity auction and didn't use it to buy food. Is it true?"
"Your Highness Duke of Qin, take out the food for everyone to see. Didn't you come to provide disaster relief?"
"Why didn't the imperial envoy bring any food?"
"Where's Qin Wangfei? Where's that troublemaker? Did Qin Wangfei spend all the money from the disaster relief? "
"Your Highness Duke of Qin, where's the food from the imperial court? Where did it all go? You have to give everyone an explanation! "
… …
The situation had completely spiraled out of control. There were even stampedes in several places.
Nanguo Mingde ordered the soldiers to form a circle with their spears, separating the people around them and forming the last line of defense.
At this time, he put on a helpless expression. "Your Highness, say something to everyone! How about this … "
"How about what?" Long Fei Ye countered.
He was indifferent to the accusations of the crowd. His cold gaze swept over the people around him. So the disaster victims he'd been unable to see were all here. They'd all come.
He'd been waiting for this group of people to come, waiting for them to make a scene, waiting for the person behind the scenes to show himself.
Nanguo Mingde had already thrown caution to the wind. He answered seriously, "Your Highness, there are tens of thousands of disaster victims in South Ning Prefecture. Why don't you avoid them?"
How could Long Fei Ye avoid them? If he did, it'd be a sign of guilt!
"Is everyone here?" he asked Coldly.
Nanguo Mingde was very surprised. He couldn't figure out what Long Fei Ye meant.
"Is everyone here?" Long Fei Ye asked again.
Nanguo Mingde felt uneasy. He opened his mouth, but didn't know how to answer. At this time, Official Yu, who was disguised in the crowd, saw the situation and hurriedly signaled the soldiers beside him with his eyes.
The soldiers holding their spears suddenly let go of their spears. In an instant, tens of thousands of disaster victims swarmed forward. They looked like they wanted to tear people apart. Anyone who saw them would be afraid.
"Duke of Qin, you can't leave!"
"Duke of Qin, hand over the grain! Hand over the embezzled grain! "
"Hand over the silver for the disaster relief and hand over Qin Wangfei!"
… …
These disaster victims had already become a mob. The words coming out of their mouths were even more terrifying than the rumors. They were filled with righteous indignation, accusation, questioning, and demands. Those who didn't know would believe that Long Fei Ye had embezzled the silver and grain. The previous rumors were all true.
Seeing that the disaster victims were about to pounce, Long Fei Ye pulled out his sword without warning and raised it high to pierce the sky!
In an instant, all of the oncoming disaster victims came to a screeching halt!
Who would throw away their lives for the sake of a mouthful of grain and a single life?
Long Fei Ye's single move stunned tens of thousands of disaster victims. By his side, Nanguo Mingde was gaping. He assumed that His Highness Duke of Qin would have no choice but to flee, but he'd actually pulled out his sword!
He … what is he planning to do?
Official Yu was surprised as well, but his lips curved into a sinister smile. He thought that the Duke of Qin must have been forced into a corner. Either he wanted to kill off the people or kill Nanguo Mingde.
In any case, the situation had already reached a point of no return. Even if His Highness Duke of Qin didn't want to face the disaster victims, he would have to face it. No matter what he did, it would be impossible to salvage his image. The rumors would come true: the Duke of Qin had embezzled and was incapable of taking on the role of imperial envoy for disaster relief.
Very soon, news would spread to all of the disaster areas. Official Yu had long made arrangements for the rest of the disaster areas to erupt in riots like this one.
All three disaster areas were rioting and denouncing His Highness Duke of Qin. When that happened, Emperor Tianhui could issue orders to thoroughly investigate His Highness Duke of Qin and strip him of his title of Qinwang to quell the people's anger.
Thinking up to here, Official Yu grew excited and decided to give the Duke of Qin another push.
He shot a look at one of his guards, who immediately threw himself at Long Fei Ye's sword. "Your Highness Duke of Qin, where's our grain?"
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