Kastov's campaign (2)

The sun had already risen over Xianfeng when Xu Anping summoned all the villagers to the central square. The echoes of the nighttime assault still lingered, but now an expectant calm prevailed. The villagers, both curious and fearful, gathered before the presence of the new power that now controlled their fate. In front of them, Xu Anping's rebel army, well-organized and resolute, stood as a reminder that rebellion was not just a destructive force, but also a promise of change.

Xu Anping climbed onto a small wooden platform from where he could observe all the villagers. By his side, his closest officers, including Liang, stood silently. The tension was palpable, but Xu Anping knew he had to speak calmly and clearly if he wanted to win the people's hearts.

"People of Xianfeng!" Xu Anping began, his voice echoing over the expectant silence. "Today we have liberated your village from imperial control. No more exorbitant taxes. No more abuses by the nobles. This army you see here"—he gestured toward his soldiers—"is not your enemy. We are your allies. We are here to protect you and secure your future."

Some faces in the crowd showed signs of relief, while others remained wary. Xu Anping knew that earning their trust would not be immediate, but he also understood that he could not show weakness.

"From today, the imperial government will no longer control you," he continued. "Taxes will be reduced to twenty percent of your harvests. No more will be taken than what is needed to maintain justice and defend our land. Your families will not starve because of the oppression of a distant emperor."

Murmurs began to spread among the villagers. A reduction in taxes was almost unbelievable news to them. Accustomed to living in the shadow of the landlords' greed and the imperial authority, Xu Anping's announcement offered them a new hope. However, there were still other issues that needed resolution.

"But there is more," Xu Anping continued, his tone more serious this time. "We are not just here to change the laws. We are here to deliver justice. We know that in this village, you have not only suffered under imperial taxes but also under the cruelty of certain nobles and landlords who have taken advantage of you. Those times are over."

The murmurs among the crowd grew louder. Some villagers exchanged nervous glances, while others remained attentive, as if waiting for permission to speak.

"We give you the opportunity to denounce those nobles and landlords who have committed crimes against you. If someone has stolen from you, harmed you, or abused their power to oppress your families, now is the time to speak up. This army, your army, will ensure justice is served."

At first, there was only silence. The villagers looked at Xu Anping and then at each other, unsure. They feared retaliation, even though the nobles and landlords had been defeated. Doubt lingered. However, the sight of Xu Anping standing before them, imposing and confident, gave them an odd sense of protection. Finally, an elderly woman, bent with age, stepped forward.

"My son was killed by the landlord Zhou," she said with a trembling but clear voice. "He refused to pay more than his share of the taxes, and Zhou had him killed. Said it would serve as an example to the rest."

Xu Anping nodded slowly, allowing the old woman's story to settle in the hearts of the villagers. Her words seemed to unlock a flood of pent-up pain. One by one, several villagers began to speak, some with anger, others with tears in their eyes, denouncing those who had caused them suffering.

"The noble Liang Qiang kidnapped my daughter to make her his concubine," said a burly man, his face twisted with rage. "We never heard from her again."

"Landlord Han looted our harvests, even outside of the taxes," added another villager. "My children went hungry because of his greed."

The stories continued: kidnappings, assaults, murders. Xu Anping listened in silence, letting his officers take note of each name and each crime. He knew this was a crucial opportunity to earn the people's loyalty, but also to show that his rebellion was not just a military campaign—it was a movement for justice.

"We have identified four landlords and two nobles who have oppressed you," said Xu Anping when the testimonies ended. "These men have abused their power for too long. In this new order, there is no place for those who use their authority to inflict pain and suffering on the innocent."

With a wave of his hand, Xu Anping ordered the six men to be brought to the center of the square. They had been captured the night before during the taking of Xianfeng, and now they stood in chains, surrounded by soldiers. The villagers watched in silence as the oppressors who had controlled their lives for so long were dragged before them.

The landlords and nobles, some with fear-stricken faces, others trying to maintain a facade of dignity, knelt before Xu Anping. One of the nobles, Liang Qiang, tried to speak.

"General Xu, please, I was only following imperial orders. I didn't mean to harm these villagers. We can come to an agreement, can't we? I can pay, I can—"

Xu Anping cut him off with a gesture of his hand. The crowd fell silent.

"We are not here to negotiate," Xu Anping said firmly. "This army is not for sale to the highest bidder. We are not here for you to continue abusing your power. Justice has come, and your wealth will not save you this time."

He turned to the villagers, who watched the scene with a mix of surprise and satisfaction.

"Today, in the name of the crimes you have committed against this people," Xu Anping continued, addressing the nobles and landlords, "you will be executed. Let this serve as an example to those who think they can oppress and abuse the innocent. Power is not a birthright, but a responsibility, and those who abuse it do not deserve to live under its shadow."

The soldiers, already prepared for the order, approached with their swords drawn. The landlords and nobles struggled, begging for their lives, but Xu Anping showed no mercy. The executions were swift, and the blood of the oppressors spilled onto the plaza's ground, marking a new chapter in Xianfeng's history.

The silence that followed was thick, loaded with the tension released from years of oppression. At first, the villagers stood still, then slowly began to move, as if unable to believe what they had just witnessed. For many, seeing the fall of the men who had oppressed them was something they had never imagined possible.

Xu Anping, still standing on the platform, looked out at the crowd.

"Today, this village begins a new era," he declared. "Power will no longer belong to those who abuse others. Power will belong to those who work together for a better future. This army is here to protect you, and anyone who tries to oppress the people will face the same justice."

The villagers listened intently, but it wasn't just the executions that would change their lives. Xu Anping understood that justice had to be accompanied by concrete actions that would bring immediate relief to the families who had suffered under the nobles and landlords.

"In addition to justice, this army comes to redistribute what was stolen," Xu Anping continued, in a more solemn tone. "The lands that belonged to these landlords are no longer theirs. From today, they will be divided among you, the peasants. Those who have worked the land for generations will now be its rightful owners."

A murmur of astonishment ran through the crowd. It was a revolutionary promise. For many peasants, the idea of owning the land they had worked all their lives was an unimaginable dream. Now, with the fall of the landlords, that dream was about to become reality.

"Not only that," Xu Anping added. "The granaries and storerooms these nobles filled with your food will also be distributed among you. What they hoarded at the expense of your sweat and labor will now be returned to your families. Today, we will begin distributing the stored harvests."

The villagers' reaction was immediate. Some wept, others raised their fists in victory, while others embraced in disbelief. The people of Xianfeng, long accustomed to living under oppression and exploitation, were beginning to feel what it meant to be truly free. Xu Anping had liberated them not only from the imperial yoke but also from the landlords and nobles who had ruled their lives with an iron fist.

The rebel army's officers quickly began organizing the distribution of land and food. Liang, always efficient, took charge of supervising the process. With the help of several villagers, he marked the new boundaries of the lands that had once belonged to the landlords and assigned them to the families that needed them most. The granaries were opened under the watchful eyes of the soldiers, and sacks of rice, grain, and other provisions were handed out to those who had gone hungry until that day.

Children ran through the square, watching in awe as their parents received sacks full of food they had only dreamed of. The faces of the elderly, wrinkled from years of toil and suffering, lit up as they received parcels of land they knew would now belong to them and their descendants. For the first time in a long while, a spark of hope shone in their eyes.

Xu Anping watched all this from his position on the platform. He knew that much remained to be done, that the rebellion was not won with promises alone and that the war against the empire continued. However, today he had achieved a small but important victory: he had planted the seed of a different future. The fight was not just about defeating the military enemy, but about creating a new order where the people controlled their destiny.

Liang, having finished supervising the distribution, approached Xu Anping.

"The villagers are satisfied, General," he said, his voice containing a mixture of relief and admiration. "For the first time in their lives, they have something to call their own."

Xu Anping nodded, but he didn't let himself be lulled by the momentary success.

"This is just the beginning," he replied. "Now they are free from the landlords, but there are many more villages still under imperial control. We must be ready to move when the time comes. Our rebellion has only just begun, and we have many more battles to fight."