" I am not saying I take Eisyou's stance. Timing, dignity, gang suppression afterwards, all these trivial matters are right now unimportant."
" May I ask if they are really trivial?"
Eisyou was annoyed, but Gyousou crisply nodded.

" They are not worth our attention. Now the biggest problem we must address is not the gangs but the people! Instead of battling against the gangs and suppressing them, the priority should definitely be protecting the people and gain their trust."

Risai was dumbfounded, and knew that everyone else was also gulping. Eveyone in the scene fell into silent in shame.

" Eisyou, lead the Middle Army, and team with the provincial army in Bun Province to suppress the native gangs. No need to win every time, but you must expel all gangs from all cities. The Middle Army is to release all cities, and to stay at Bun Province for a little longer. Help with the provincial army to strength the cities and towns' defense. Never pursue the gangs deep without reason. Our priority is to let the people settle their hearts, and let them understand that the government is on their side, and they do not need to fear the native gangs anymore."

Understood, replied Eisyou in admiration. Not only Eisyou, everyone under Gyousou was putting all his trust onto Gyousou's words. However wild the administrative discussions became, everyone's opinion converged once Gyousou announced his decision, Risai learnt.

Eisyou arranged the Middle Army in a short time and went off to Bun Province. One month later, news arrived that cities were released, and riots were suppressed shortly afterwards. However, at the same time, it was learnt that gangs-incited riots broke out somewhere else in Bun Province.

A total of three battlegrounds were identified, along with frequent outbreaks of small scale battles. Instead of that sudden riots sprang up like wildfire, it looked more like the riots were developing into organized rebellions. After half a month, the situation worsened, and the earlier occupation of cities was obviously just a tip of a large-scale rebellion involving the whole Bun Province. Sougen (霜元) was first sent with the Zui Province Left Army, and then Gyousou himself led half of the Imperial Right Army towards Bun Province. Riots which were spread everywhere were pulling one another, and the center of rebellion was moving towards the vicinity of central Bun Province, around a city called Tetsui (轍囲).

-- Tetsui had had a deep relation with Gyousou before.

***

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