Even without the gatekeeper’s words, everyone in the residence came out in panic to look.

Because the roars of nearly a thousand people were truly too shocking. The refugees had lost all reason in their anger. The Gao residence’s main gate was tightly closed, not even daring to make a sound, which gave everyone tremendous confidence and courage.

The Gao family’s location was only separated from the yamen by one street. Just around the corner was the old capital’s prefectural yamen.

This boiling human voices frightened even the constables at the yamen entrance, who all retreated in panic into the yamen and barred the main gate.

Seeing that those fierce-looking constables didn’t dare stand forward even once, the common people’s confidence immediately doubled. The men took the lead in cursing loudly, picking up everything at hand—stones, rotten mud, horse dung, and other objects—hurling them forcefully at Chief Historian Gao’s main gate.

“Release Benefactor Qian!”

“Surnamed Gao, may you die a horrible death!”

“Why don’t you suffer broken lineage! Release all the benefactors who do good deeds!”

…

The few standing closest to the main gate threw most enthusiastically. Because each hit could make the gate shake and leave a large dirty stain. In the blink of an eye, the Gao family’s main gate, which had been specially decorated with red lanterns, couplets, and door gods for New Year, was already covered in patches of filthy matter, looking utterly miserable.

Even more terrifying was the mighty momentum of the refugees in their anger.

Without exaggeration, if the Yan Dynasty army that had resisted Great Zhou had possessed such momentum, Pang Xiao would probably have needed to expend considerable effort to break through!

“What’s happening? What’s going on outside!”

In the Gao family’s inner residence, Gao Jin Shi shrieked while grabbing Chief Historian Gao’s sleeve and shaking it violently. In her panic, her palms were covered with cold sweat, her sharp fingernails digging painfully into Chief Historian Gao’s arm.

Chief Historian Gao pushed his wife away and strode quickly to the corridor, listening carefully to the roaring outside.

Though the shouting was chaotic and confused, people are always particularly sensitive to their own names. Everyone outside was pointing at him and cursing, their vulgarity reaching unprecedented levels.

In Chief Historian Gao’s lifetime, he had never been cursed at like this, much less by so many people roaring in unison.

That earth-shaking sound frightened all the surrounding households into tightly closing their gates. A popular uprising was about to erupt.

Even with Chief Historian Gao’s tremendous courage, he was now completely panicked. No matter who it was, being angrily cursed and resented by thousands of people in unison, their heart would not remain calm and peaceful.

“Master, what, what should we do, what should we do!” Gao Jin Shi also understood what was happening, her voice sharp and fearful as she again grabbed Chief Historian Gao’s sleeve.

How could Chief Historian Gao concern himself with Jin Shi at this moment? He forcefully pushed her away and ran quickly toward the outer courtyard, shouting instructions to the household guards while running: “Grab weapons, block the front and back gates, don’t miss even the dog holes! Don’t let those beggars break in! Once those people break in, everyone in the residence from top to bottom, including you, won’t survive!”

The household guards, already frightened weak, forced themselves not to appear cowardly and scrambled with trembling legs to grab weapons—some taking axes, some grabbing door bars, and some even rushing to the kitchen to get rolling pins.

Gao Jin Shi was so frightened she retreated several steps to hide in her room, ordering the maids and old women around her to quickly move low cabinets to block the door.

“Quick, quick, quick, don’t let those stinking beggars break in!”

“But Madam, Master is still outside…”

“Aiya, we can’t worry about so much!” Gao Jin Shi was both shocked and afraid, retreating to the canopy bed to hold the unconscious Young Master Gao, cursing continuously: “That damned wretch, didn’t let us mother and son live good days, caused my son to be castrated, and now brought a group of thugs to our home. If those people break in, what dignity would we women have left!”

The maids and old women were so frightened they nearly burst into tears. Not only did they block doors and windows, but they also grabbed scissors from the sewing basket. Those who didn’t get scissors went to search through Gao Jin Shi’s cosmetic case for large hairpins, gripping them like daggers. They pressed their ears against windows listening to the increasingly boiling roars outside. The younger maids were so frightened their legs went weak, collapsing to the ground and covering their mouths as they cried quietly.

While the Gao family’s women and children were thus terrified, Chief Historian Gao recovered from his panic and turned to anger.

Having been tyrannical for many years and being a local despot, how could he fear a group of poor beggars? In the past, only he killed others—when was it the turn of these worthless people to kill him!

Chief Historian Gao put on his official robes, strapped on his sword, called his household guards, and angrily rushed straight to the main gate.

Separated by just one gate, outside was deafening angry cursing. That momentum like mountain calls and ocean roars would be difficult for anyone not to fear.

Yet Chief Historian Gao suppressed the fear spreading in his heart, grasping his sword hilt and ordering in a deep voice: “Open the gate.”

“Master, this absolutely cannot be done! Those people outside are all savages. If we open the gate and let them rush in, the residence will be finished!”

“Yes, Master, we should quickly flee!”

“Flee where?”

Chief Historian Gao angrily rebuked the servants who offered useless suggestions, sneering coldly: “A thousand people—can’t they break down a wooden gate? If we just keep the gate closed, do you think they won’t rush in? I, surnamed Gao, eat everything except losses! Open the gate! Let me meet those stinking beggars!”

The servants didn’t dare disobey Chief Historian Gao’s intentions. His hand tightly gripping the sword hilt made people feel he might draw his blade and strike them at any moment.

Before them was Chief Historian Gao, outside the gate was a group of angry rioters. They didn’t know which to hide from first.

Just as everyone hesitated, Chief Historian Gao had already angrily pushed aside those blocking his way, lifted the door bar, personally pulled open the side gate, and strode out with his hand on his sword.

Glaring furiously at the rioting mob gathered before him, Chief Historian Gao’s eyes nearly split as he gritted his teeth and shouted loudly: “Quiet down, all of you! Do you want to rebel! Do you want to die!”

The refugees were first stunned by this rebuke, and some people’s voices weakened.

After all, since ancient times the people do not contend with officials. These common people were accustomed to being oppressed daily. With their humble status, they truly had no experience directly confronting someone like Chief Historian Gao.

Thus, many refugees were immediately frightened into stunned silence, their shouting voices growing weak.

Chief Historian Gao laughed mockingly and strode forward with imposing momentum, pointing at the crowd with his scabbard: “Are you trying to rebel and cause trouble? Disperse quickly! Otherwise this official will call the army to suppress you! Do you know Prince Zhongshun? If you don’t know who Prince Zhongshun is, you should at least know Pang Zhixi, commander of the Huben Army! Prince Zhongshun was the former commander of the Huben Army, and now His Highness is stationed at the Pingnan Army camp! If you continue making trouble, I’ll request His Highness to come pacify you rioters!”

This was equivalent to pouring another ladle of cold water on everyone.

Pang Xiao’s fierce reputation was widespread. Having originally trampled Great Yan, besieged the capital, and finally forced the Yan Dynasty emperor to submit a surrender letter and tribute, bowing his head in complete submission and thoroughly destroying Great Yan’s rule—he was a figure who could make Great Yan’s people tremble with fear at the mere mention.

How could this person also be in the old capital?