The five hundred militia under Wang Er set up camp at Hanzhong North Train Station.
The station itself was barely worthy of the name. It consisted of little more than a straw shed that sold tickets. Wind passed through it freely, and if rain wanted to come in for tea, no one would dare stop it. Fortunately, the militia had brought their own tents and provisions. Within a short time, hundreds of tents rose not far from the tracks. A simple wooden palisade enclosed the camp, making one thing perfectly clear. Military zone. Keep out.
After a brief period of disorder, the station resumed operations. The townspeople returned in droves, crowding around the straw shed to buy tickets for Xi'an.
Prince Rui, Zhu Changhao, wandered about the station with restless steps. Even with Wang Er's men guarding the area, he still felt uneasy. What if the rebels rushed in and seized his precious train? What if all his investment vanished overnight? The thought made his chest tighten. Because of that fear, he had not allowed the train to depart earlier.
While he was pacing, a sudden commotion erupted from the ticket shed. He turned and saw a line so long it nearly curved back on itself like a dragon basking in panic.
"What is happening?" Prince Rui hurried over.
The clerk behind the counter saw him coming and understood immediately. Without stopping his hands from collecting silver and passing out tickets, he reported, "Your Highness, tickets for the next train are selling faster than hot cakes. We have already collected one hundred and fifty taels of silver. Judging by the line, we should reach two hundred and fifty taels once they are sold out."
Prince Rui's eyes nearly shone like polished copper. "Forty percent is mine. That means one hundred taels of silver. From a single trip. Astonishing. Ha ha ha. I am becoming wealthy!"
His joy burst out like fireworks. Then, just as quickly, suspicion crept in.
Why were tickets suddenly so popular?
As he pondered, he overheard a woman in line whispering to her husband.
"Will we truly be safe if we flee to Xi'an?"
Her husband whispered back, "Xi'an is a major city. Its walls are far stronger than Hanzhong's. If we reach Xi'an, we will be absolutely safe. The rebels would not dare approach it."
Only then did the woman release a long breath. "That is wonderful."
Prince Rui finally understood.
The rebel attack had terrified Hanzhong. The people were not traveling for pleasure. They were fleeing for their lives.
In that instant, his emotions became tangled beyond sorting.
If rebels came, train tickets would sell like this every day. Silver would flow in like a mountain spring. But if rebels came, they might also seize the train. And what good was silver if one's head was rolling on the ground somewhere in the Micang Mountains?
Should he hope for their arrival, or pray for their absence?
After thinking carefully, he concluded that it was better they did not come. After all, the sensation of one's heart trying to punch its way out of the chest was a cost too.
More and more townspeople flooded the station. Tickets for the next train sold out. Then the train after that. Then even the one after that. Each departure was packed with anxious faces and bundled belongings.
At first, Prince Rui danced with joy. After a short while, he suddenly froze.
"Oh no," he muttered to himself. "The common folk may flee when danger approaches. I cannot. I must remain in Hanzhong. This is dreadful. Utterly dreadful."
The train rumbled toward Xi'an, carrying wave after wave of refugees.
The moment they arrived, news of rebels outside Hanzhong spread across the entire Xi'an Prefecture like sparks in dry grass.
That evening, in Xi'an's market square, before the Celestial Mirror, a massive crowd gathered.
On the screen appeared the composed and dignified face of Gao Yiye.
"Breaking news," he announced. "A rebel army has appeared outside Hanzhong. Though repelled by local militia, they have not withdrawn far. They have retreated into the Micang Mountains south of the city. It is unclear when they may attack again, or whether they may bypass Hanzhong and head directly toward the Guanzhong Plain."
The people of Xi'an had already heard rumors. Now, hearing it confirmed by Gaojia News, they understood it was true. The square erupted in noise.
Gao Yiye continued, "All citizens are advised to remain cautious and avoid traveling near Hanzhong in the coming days."
The crowd muttered, "Who would dare go there? People from Hanzhong are fleeing here in droves."
Gao Yiye went on. "Governor Sun Chuanting of Shaanxi has begun mobilizing troops to address this threat. However, our main militia forces are currently stretched thin. They are securing the northern frontier while also fighting rebels in Henan and Sichuan. The number of troops that can be deployed remains uncertain."
At that moment, a coal miner from the Xi'an Bamei No. 1 Coal Mine suddenly roared, "If the main force is busy, then it is time for the reserve militia to step forward. The Bamei No. 1 Coal Mine Militia requests to join the battle!"
His roar ignited the crowd.
A worker beside him leapt up. "The Xigang No. 2 Steel Mill Militia requests to join the battle!"
"The Chang'an Automobile Factory Militia requests to join the battle!"
The entire square erupted into a thunderous clamor.
Then a powerful voice cut through the noise.
"Silence."
Governor Sun Chuanting himself stepped forward from the crowd.
"What use is shouting at the Celestial Mirror? This is a recorded broadcast. The Saintess cannot hear you."
The crowd fell silent at once.
Sun Chuanting continued, "Tomorrow, each factory militia unit will submit a written report to the governor's office listing your troop numbers and equipment. I will coordinate your deployment and determine how you shall fight."
A resounding cheer rose into the night.
Back at Hanzhong North Station, the trains continued their relentless shuttling. They carried Hanzhong residents north to Xi'an. At the same time, they carried the Gao Family Village Militia south to Hanzhong.
Before long, all two thousand five hundred of Wang Er's men had arrived. A vast encampment spread outside the station like a small military city.
Prince Rui was naturally delighted. With so many troops present, no rebel would dare seize his treasured train.
But the Prefect of Hanzhong and the Regional Commander Zhao Guangyuan could not help feeling uneasy.
Wang Er held no formal military rank. Yet he commanded a force of considerable strength. In strict terms, such a situation bordered on dangerous territory.
However, he had come from Xi'an. Governor Sun Chuanting himself had not objected. If the governor was unconcerned, how could a mere prefect and a regional commander dare raise questions?
Thus, they held their tongues.
That evening, the Prefect and Zhao Guangyuan went together to the North Train Station, bringing Prince Rui with them. The three entered the camp and sat before Wang Er.
Wang Er saw the three arrive in unison and immediately understood. Something important was coming.
"Gentlemen," he asked calmly, "what brings you here?"
Zhao Guangyuan cupped his fists respectfully. "The rebels we repelled are hiding in the Micang Mountains. They keep us in constant anxiety. The common people cannot live in peace. In the surrounding villages, the fields lie empty. No farmer dares to till the land. If this continues, next year we will face another great famine."
Prince Rui quickly added, "Indeed, indeed. A great famine is most undesirable. During the great famine of the seventh year of Tianqi, I spent seven thousand taels of silver on disaster relief just to calm the starving masses around Hanzhong. I truly do not wish to spend that much silver again."
His tone was grave.
His heart, however, was calculating.