(2)

"--like rebellions in Bun Province (文州)."
The time Risai entered the Inner Hall (内殿, Nai-den), all main trusted officials had already arrived. Risai, who rushed to the Inner Hall upon calling, was greeted by the first voice from Haboku (芭墨) the Daishiba (大司馬), head of the Military Affairs Department (夏官, Ka-kan).
" Bun Province has long been a troublesome place."
Haboku said while stroking his nearly-white beard.

At the north of Tai, straight north of Zui Province (瑞州), stands Bun Province, a harsh and cold place in winter. The bitterness in winter there is the same as Jyou Province (承州) at the northeast, but Jyou Province has farmlands and large pieces of forests. In contrast, Bun Province is of steep mountains, few farmlands and no forests. Only sparse freshwater springs barely supports the people's lives, but even those freshwater springs are drying up, due to that people gather around the springs for a long time. The cold and barren nature of Bun Province fueled difficulty in administration and discontent among the people, and this is no surprising news. This time, rebellion broke out again in Bun Province. Many rebellions were because of people unable to bear the hardship of life, but more probably they were invoked by ill-natured native triad gangs. Such gangs controlled freshwater and mineral water springs, incited riots to seize power or settle disputes, and turned riots into large-scale rebellions.

" A change in provincial lord loosened control over the situation, I believe. The previous provincial lord was a tyrant just like a ringleader of native gangs. His cruel and brusque deeds were even above the native gangs' level. Such character might be advantageous in controlling though, I presume."

Risai nodded. The previous provincial lord of Bun Province is a villainous character who feasted on even the barren Bun Province. However, it seemed now that even such a character has some merits.

" The lax control due to change in provincial lord spurred growth in native gangs. Instead of a rebellion, the situation is more of a riot incited by conflicts between the native gangs and city officials. Whichever the case, such gangs occupied the city in their full force, and even extended their influence to surrounding towns, to the extent that we could not neglect."

" We should never let them be so happy with themselves. We must teach them a lesson on what it means by a kingdom's rules!"
In a deep voice said Gantyou (巖趙), general of Imperial Left Army. His huge body seemed to be full of fight, but there was no sign of anxiety. Everyone in the scene was the same as he.

--They have already anticipated such a scenario for long.

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