While that bookish fool Wang Kuiyi, who hadn't even read through the "Opposite Classic," was gloating over misfortune, Huang Shijie had already arrived together with Zhang Guoliang and Zhang Dingxiang, riding tall horses and joining forces.
Of course, Huang Laozu knew about the incident where Dai Wenying, a camp official under Zhang Guoliang's jurisdiction, grabbed people off the street.
This matter has indeed gone too far.
But Huang Shijie isn't planning to back down; admitting defeat would mean having to pay a debt!
Debt must be repaid, it is a matter of course!
Where could Huang Shijie find money to repay the debt? He not only couldn't repay the money but had to stand up and beg for food!
So he can't show any sign of backing down. Not only can't he, but he also has to put on an air of arrogance and fierce behavior, relying on Luo Bingzhang and Zuo Zongtang to cover for him—the two would have to depend on the militia who stand in the street asking for alms to defend Changsha. If they don't want to support him, Huang Shijie, then what's the incentive for other militia leaders to follow them? After all, Huang Shijie was the first one to bring the militia to Changsha.
Thinking about this, Huang Shijie's face twisted into a very terrifying expression, and his voice became a bit creepy: "What's going on? How did my shop become a killing ground? Why are there several people dressed as officials with axes to chop off heads? Are they counterfeit triads pretending to be officials?"
Among those unfortunate guys kneeling, someone recognized Huang Shijie and cried out immediately: "Mr. Huang, it's me. Yu Dexing from Fu Fuxing!"
Huang Shijie asked coldly, "Manager Yu? What have you done to deserve a death sentence?"
The wealthy appearance of Yu Dexing, the manager of Fu Fuxing, who was white and plump, had never seen such a scene before.
He now realizes that something is wrong, as Huang not only refuses to repay his debt but also wants to kill the creditor. Is there any law left?
Thinking of this, his hair stood on end, and he dared not say that he came to collect a debt; he stammered and didn't know what to say.
That Dai Wenying was an impatient person. Seeing the Manager Yu stuttering, he simply answered for him: "Mr. Huang, these people are blocking your shop's entrance to collect a debt. Your family didn't give it to them, and they even fought with them. I took them all away!"
"Oh!" Huang Shijie laughed coldly, "These are your debtors, huh?"
"Disrespectful, disrespectful."
"We don't want to collect the debt."
"It doesn't need to be repaid."
Who dares to demand repayment? Our lives are more important!
"Hahahaha!"
Huang Shijie laughed heartily three times, showing a fiercely arrogant and insolent attitude. He glanced around the main street of Chaongu gate, taking in all the expressions of fear and astonishment from the crowd.
The people here have yet to realize that the era of chaos has arrived!
It's time for them to know!
Halting his laughter, Huang Shijie spoke in a serious tone, "Don't be afraid, everyone. The yellow family of Eotang has always repaid its debts. However, I am currently short on funds and need more money to support the army. If you trust Huang Shijie, please lend me an additional 100,000 to 800,000. Huang Shijie will repay what he borrows!"
Pay back... borrow?
Why don't you just rob them?
Everyone was shocked that Huang Shijie was so shameless!
"How about it? Do you all agree?" Huang Shijie's tone grew colder, taking on a deadly serious expression.
"Agreed!"
"I agree!"
"Since Mr. Huang is borrowing, how could I dare not agree?"
Those debtors wouldn't dare not agree. If they didn't agree to Huang Shijie's command, their heads would be chopped off.
This guy now has no home, his assets are ruined, and besides the thousand or so murderous soldiers he has on hand, he's left with a pile of debts. What is he not willing to do to make money?
"All of you agree?" Huang Shijie smiled coldly, "How much are each of you willing to lend? Give me a number, and I'll have it noted. I'll send troops to collect it tomorrow!"
Truly, he has no morals!
In the minds of everyone being detained below and those watching around, the words "unruly and lawless" popped up.
"The inspector of the Tiantian office of the Hunan provincial official is here. All irrelevant people should avoid!"
The debtors being detained hadn't even gotten the chance to say how much they were willing to pay to save their lives when they suddenly heard loud shouts and the sounds of troops marching forward.
Turning their heads to follow the sound, they saw large groups of Qing troops emerging from the Chaongong Gate.
Is this a campaign to quell the rebellion or a mass melee?
Good! The Taiping troops haven't arrived yet, but you've already fought among yourselves?
The people watching the commotion on the street began to feel something was amiss and started to scatter in different directions.
Zhang Guoliang and Zhang Dingxiang both felt a bit nervous, and they each touched their sabers while edging closer to Huang Shijie. However, Huang Shijie simply raised his hand and loudly declared, "No need to worry. It's Zuo Jiagao, the chief of Luo Rumen's team, who I have agreed to meet!"
Before his words were even finished, the green-clothed troops that had emerged from Chaongong Gate ceased their advance. Then, as the flag was raised, a pale-faced, bearded, and seemingly cultured Green Army officer appeared on horseback with a small litter escorted by his side.
The mounted officer pulled up his horse slightly and looked at the scene before him, a posture of someone about to be executed. He didn't interfere in the affair but instead bowed slightly and asked, "May I inquire if these are soldiers from the Daozhou Camp?"
This person opened his mouth and spoke without a single Xiaohe accent, clearly a Bei-Qing official from the Qing army serving in the green camp.
"Mr. Huang Shijie, a prospective county magistrate, and his underling lead 1,500 men of the Daozhou militia to Changsha at the order of Dai Shengchang!" Huang Shijie bowed from his horse and smiled at the Green Army officer, "I wonder if this respected elder brother can reveal his name?"
"This humble one is Ta Qizhu, acting as the military defense of the Left Camp of the Hunan Provincial Military Station!" The pale-faced officer bowed in reply and then dismounted, standing beside the litter. He pulled back the curtain with a respectful gesture and said, "Mr. Zuo, County Magistrate Huang and his party have arrived."
"Very good!"
With a cheer, a man of short stature and middle age emerged from the litter. He was dressed in a long robe of green cloth, wearing a melon-seed hat, holding a folding fan in his right hand. Ignoring those arbitrarily detained creditors, officers, and literati, he smiled warmly and bowed with a flourish: "I am Zuo Zongtang from Xiangyin."
Huang Shijie dismounted and walked quickly forward, bowing three times towards Zuo Zongtang and said with a smile, "I am Huang Shijie from Daozhou, and I have long heard of the great master's name!"
Zuo Zongtang laughed heartily and said "I am unworthy," then he glanced over the troops of Daozhou who had followed Huang Shijie, nodding with satisfaction: "Indeed, they are robust!"
Then he glanced at the group of creditors and officials and literati from Shanhua County who had been captured by Huang Shijie's men.
He naturally knew what was going on here, and he had come to support Huang Shijie!
Because Huang Shijie was a talent — a talent at begging for food while standing up!
As Zuo Zongtang was planning to establish a militia, he too had to beg for food, appealing to the wealthy households within Changsha City who were "growing poorer" by the day. He couldn't afford to delay because the Taiping Army was approaching quickly, and there was little time left.
So having someone like Huang Shijie is also good, it would teach those wealthy households a lesson about the consequences of messing with him.
Thinking about this, Zuo Zongtang withdrew his gaze from the group of creditors, officials, and literati and then made a gesture of invitation: "Quanying brother, please follow me."
Huang Shijie laughed heartily, feeling quite pleased, and turned his head to look at the creditors being detained outside his family's main store and at Zhao the literati as well as the few police officers.
These people all had a gloomy expression on their faces. By now, they should already know that Huang Shijie and Zuo Zongtang were of the same affiliation!
Zuo Zongtang, who is a high-caliber expert sought by Luo Bingzhang to help defend Changsha, now ranks second in Changsha City.
Of course, Huang Shijie would not commit murder in the street, and right now, he was only after money and not taking lives. So he beckoned to one of the managers at his family's main store, saying, "Manager Guo, find out how much money they are willing to lend me and write it down!"
"Yes, yes, master!" Manager Guo trembled with fear and answered, taking out a ledger to ask.
"Guan Xu Dai," Huang Shijie continued to speak to Dai Wenying, "Once Manager Guo finishes questioning them, you can release the people."
"Yes!"
Dai Wenying answered loudly.
Huang Shijie advanced quickly and walked hand in hand with Zuo Zongtang into Changsha!
On the main street outside Chaongong Gate, Wang Kui watched the backs of Huang Shijie and Zuo Zongtang, muttering to himself, "In times of chaos, there has been no law for a long time!"
