Ang Lee was here to solve the problem, not to pick a fight. Naturally, he would not force these people to move their ancestral graves. However, he would use his silver tongue to convince these people that moving their ancestral graves was a good thing. In this way, these people might be able to think it through and move their ancestral graves on their own accord.
"The ancestral graves of Zhao Village are in front."
The magistrate reminded them again.
Seeing that the magistrate had returned with more people, the fifty people in charge of guarding the place were naturally nervous. They immediately dispersed to inform the villagers. Not long after, they saw the people of three villages rushing towards the ancestral graves of Zhao Village. There were at least a thousand people. There were men, women, and children. There were also some elderly people and children. Although it was not considered a full force, it was the main force. Those who stayed at home were probably the elderly who could not walk and the children who were too young.
The young and strong were very fast. They were already very close to the ancestral graves. The elderly, women, and children behind them were much slower. However, they were still trying their best to rush over. Every villager was a force. They seemed to believe that as long as they were strong enough, they would be able to stop the imperial court's decision.
"Magistrate, these people are really giving me face. They knew that I was coming and they made such a big scene. Haha!"
Ang Lee said with a smile.
The magistrate frowned and said, "Assistant Minister Li, these people do not know the rules. Let me go greet them first and make them behave."
Ang Lee waved his hand and said, "No need. They are just a group of simple farmers. They are not man-eating demons. What are you afraid of? I am not afraid."
People who had experienced great battles would not be bothered by such small situations. Even if there were a hundred thousand cavalry, Ang Lee would not be afraid, let alone a thousand people in front of him. He would deal with whatever came his way. There was nothing that Ang Lee could not face.
Ang Lee's side was relaxed and not nervous at all. However, the people who stayed behind to guard the place were in a different mood. They were very nervous and even a little angry, but more than that, they were worried.
Previously, when the magistrate came, there were only thirty bailiffs with him. This was not enough to pose a threat to them. However, at this moment, the magistrate brought 150 people with him. Moreover, there were even more elite soldiers. This force was not weaker than their thousand people. Although they were not as many as them, if they really fought, they knew that they had no chance of winning. In the face of thirty bailiffs, they could beat them to a pulp with their farming tools. However, in the face of so many fully armed soldiers, these people did not have the confidence. As long as they were not stupid, they could tell that they would not be able to defeat this group of soldiers.
Since the enemy was stronger, it meant that the situation........ This situation was very difficult to overcome........... This made the old man who stayed behind was very..
"Sixth Uncle, what should we do? The imperial court is determined to touch our ancestral grave. I'm afraid we won't be able to avoid it this time. "
. "" What are you afraid of? At most, we will fight with them. The people in our hands are not to be trifled with. "
"Yes, if they dare to touch our ancestral graves, we will fight with them. At most, we will die. After 18 years, we will be heroes again."
A few young men said.
"All of you, shut up. Don't try to be brave. Don't you want to live a good life? It's easy for you to die, but what about the elderly and children in the family? Who will take care of them? Don't be impulsive. Use your brain. "
The old farmer scolded loudly.
His heart was vexed. Obviously, it was not his idea to compromise with the imperial court. If they resisted to the end, the strength of the Zhao family was limited. If they were really treated as bandits and suppressed, they would not be able to find a place to reason. In this way, it would be a disaster.
Young people might not know anything, but these people who had lived for half their lives were very clear. Some generals at the border were worried that they would not have the opportunity to perform meritorious deeds or be promoted. The people violently rebelled against the imperial court, which was tantamount to giving these people who were worried about performing meritorious deeds a good opportunity. In this way, once they encountered such people who were eager to perform meritorious deeds, their Zhao Village would certainly be annihilated as bandits. Once that happened, no one in their three villages would be left alive, and their family line would not be able to continue.
But the imperial court's request was too much. That was their family's ancestral graves. The imperial court could go anywhere, but they had to go through their ancestral graves. Wasn't this deliberately looking for trouble?
In fact, these people could not be blamed for being angry. After all, they had never seen a railway and did not understand what it was all about. In their impression, they might have equated a railway with an ordinary road. An ordinary road could be directly curved by 90 degrees, and could even go around in complicated terrain. But a railway was different. A railway must be as straight as possible. It did not matter if it was a little curved, but it must not be too curved. Otherwise, the train would not be able to run on the railway at all.
As for this point, the commoners had no idea. This was the main source of their resistance and anger. As for the county magistrate and the other local officials, they had never seen a railroad before and didn't know much about it. Naturally, their explanation wasn't very accurate. They could only bluntly ask the commoners to take away their ancestral graves. This naturally didn't have a good effect.
Seeing the people gathering nervously, Ang Lee knew that his arrival with the troops had agitated these people. In order to reduce the psychological pressure of these people, and at the same time to avoid causing chaos, Ang Lee ordered his troops to stop temporarily. They stopped fifty steps away from the people.
"County Magistrate, each of us will lead two attendants over. The rest of the people will stay where they are! Otherwise, these people will be nervous. "
Ang Lee looked at the county magistrate beside him and said.
The county magistrate looked quite nervous and said, "Assistant Minister Li, I'm afraid this is not appropriate. These people are too fierce. If they hurt Assistant Minister Li, I won't be able to atone for it even if I die a hundred times!"
It was no wonder that the county magistrate was nervous. Ang Lee's position was so high. If something happened to him in Wenchuan County, as the county magistrate, he would be in big trouble. Moreover, he was by Ang Lee's side, which made his crime even worse.
Ang Lee said with a smile, "Look at how scared you are. Aren't they just a group of people? They are not bandits from the mountains. What's there to be afraid of? Don't worry! Nothing will happen. "
With that, he urged his horse to continue forward. Chen Long and another lieutenant followed behind Ang Lee. The county magistrate had no choice but to follow with two yamen runners and let the rest of the yamen runners stay where they were.
Ang Lee and the other two were all riding horses. However, only one of the county magistrate was riding a horse, and the other two yamen runners were walking.
"Sixth Uncle, why did they all stop? There are only six of them."
"What are these people from the imperial court up to?"
"Forget it. Let's wait and see."
Several young farmers opened their mouths and said.
The old farmer frowned and said, "They are trying peaceful means before resorting to force. You young people, calm down. Don't be impulsive. No one is allowed to cause trouble."
When they were five steps away from the other party, Ang Lee and the other three dismounted and handed the four horses to two yamen runners. They each led two horses.
Ang Lee and the others looked at the group of people in front of them quietly. These people had no intention of saluting. They also looked at Ang Lee and the others quietly. Their expressions were different, but there was a hint of hostility. This hostility was naturally because the imperial court wanted to expropriate their ancestral tombs, which was unacceptable to them.
"How dare you not salute Assistant Minister Li when you see him?"
Seeing the farmers being so rude, the county magistrate scolded.
Several old farmers stepped forward and bowed slightly to Ang Lee. The young farmers looked at all this in a daze. They had no intention of saluting. At this moment, they were angry. How could they be willing to salute others? Only the more mature and steady elders could suppress their anger and salute Ang Lee.
All of this was within Ang Lee's expectations. There were many slick people in the city, and there were many rude and stubborn people in the countryside. These farmers lacked the slickness of the city people. When they encountered something unhappy, they immediately showed it on their faces. This was the characteristic of farmers. It also showed that these were very upright farmers. Even if they went against the imperial court, Ang Lee would not blame them. After all, this was their ancestral tombs. The imperial court expropriated it with a word, which indeed violated their rights.
"This official can see that everyone's hearts are filled with anger. It is written on your face, haha! "
Ang Lee could not help but laugh.
The fifty people who were waiting at the same place were still okay. The farmers who had just rushed over were even angrier. After all, they were panting from running and had not recovered their breath yet. Naturally, they were even angrier. The county magistrate had just left. How long had it been since he came back? Wasn't he torturing them back and forth? If he came back a few more times, they would not be able to do anything. They were actually tormented by this matter.
"This lowly farmer greets Assistant Minister Li. It is not that we are being unreasonable, but this is the burial place of our ancestors. How can we move it so easily? This is very unfilial!" The old farmer said.
Ang Lee nodded and said, "I understand, I understand. I understand all of you very well. If I were you and encountered such a situation, I am afraid my reaction would be the same as yours. Filial piety is human nature. There is nothing to blame. It is because of your filial piety that you disobeyed the imperial court's decree. This is pardonable. No one will pursue your responsibility, so you can rest assured."
Hearing Ang Lee's words, the old man and the villagers were greatly relieved. However, there were still some villagers who were uneasy. They felt that Ang Lee might not be telling the truth. Perhaps he was just fooling them.
"Assistant Minister Li, do you mean that we can stop moving our ancestors' graves?"
The old man asked tentatively.
Ang Lee smiled faintly and said, "If you insist on not moving the graves, the imperial court will not force you too much. At most, they will change the route. However, I still hope that you can move the graves. After all, this is the best route. Besides, the railway passing through here will bring you enough benefits."
Hearing this, the villagers were really relieved. Since the imperial court official said that they could stop moving the graves, how could they not be happy?
Of course, there were still a few people who were puzzled. Previously, the county magistrate's explanation was not very clear. It was mainly to convey the imperial court's decree. He did not explain the ins and outs of the railway.
"Assistant Minister Li, this lowly old man has a lot of questions. I wonder if I can trouble you …"
The old man said.
Ang Lee quickly nodded and said, "Of course, please go ahead."
The old man looked around and asked, "There are open spaces over there and over there. The road can be built anywhere. Why must it be here? Can't it be just a little detour? It won't take much effort. "
"That's right, that's right."
The rest of the villagers echoed.
Otherwise, it can't be built. Look, the mountain pass in front of us is where the railway must pass through. However, there are two mountains on both sides of the mountain pass, blocking the road. The railway can only pass through the middle. After the railway comes from the mountain pass, it can only pass through here. If it detours to the other side and the other side, the curve will be too big. Even if it passes through your village, the curve will be too big. The railway can't make such a big curve, so it must pass through here. "
Hearing this, the old man and the villagers behind him understood a lot and were not so hostile to the imperial court. However, they could not help but frown. If what Ang Lee said was true and this was the place where the railway ended, then if they insisted on not moving the graves, the imperial court's railway could not be built. They were just ordinary people. Would the imperial court really give up building an important railway to take care of their feelings?
"Assistant Minister Li, if we don't move the graves and the railway has to pass through here, then won't we have to give up building the railway? Will the imperial court give up?"
The old man asked.
Ang Lee smiled and said, "Of course the imperial court won't give up building the railway in Central Sichuan. However, when the route was planned, there were several plans for many sections. For example, passing through Wenchuan County was one of the plans. If this section can't be built, then the railway can be built from Bazhou County in the west. This way, the railway can also be built to Yizhou. There's not much difference in itself. It's just that passing through Wenchuan County is closer and the cost of building the railway will be lower. However, if the railway goes through Bazhou County, the cost of building the railway will be much higher. Therefore, in the end, the imperial court decided to go through Wenchuan County. However, Bazhou County has no choice but to completely bypass Wenchuan County. If you insist on not moving the graves, then I can only submit a memorial to the imperial court and request that the road be built from Bazhou County, completely bypassing Wenchuan County. "
After that, he sighed softly and calmly looked at the villagers in front of him, observing their expressions.
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