Chapter 166 - 165: Uprising
The 25th year of Yuan Jia.
The New Year had just passed, and its festive afterglow had not yet completely dissipated.
A shocking piece of news, like a piercingly cold wind, quickly spread throughout Liyang County.
A rebellion had broken out in Lishui County, which neighbored Jingshan County!
Lishui and Jingshan were in the same boat, both having been hit hard by last year’s national policy of converting paddy fields to mulberry orchards.
Plagued by rampant Water Bandits and exploited by the Noble Families, the people’s livelihood had long been decimated. Nine out of ten homes stood empty, corpses littered the fields, and refugees surged like a tide.
In their desperation, two men led the refugees to rise in rebellion.
One was named Xiao Zhong, the other Ye Buping.
Both men were wanted by the Government Office.
Last year, a complete Inner Qi Heart Method had been discovered in an ancient tomb in Mirror Mountain.
Two unknown young men had seized the Secret Manual in the chaos and vanished without a trace.
Who would have thought that a chance encounter back then would allow the two to become such a force to be reckoned with?
This rebellion in Lishui was completely different from Sun Zhengyi’s actions last year, when he had plundered the grain boats of the Noble Families in Jingshan.
Xiao Zhong and Ye Buping were extremely clever; they did not directly confront the deeply rooted Noble Families and Gated Communities.
Instead, they first aimed their spearhead at the remaining landlords, wealthy households, and local Gentry within Lishui.
These tough characters, overlooked by the Noble Families, instantly became the source of funds, grain, and supplies for the rebel army.
Since the fundamental interests of the Noble Families who held the real power were not affected, the major families, after their initial shock, did not move to suppress the rebellion immediately as had happened in Jingshan. Instead, they chose to watch coldly from the sidelines.
When the Lishui Government Office attempted to conscript their forces, they were evasive, uncooperative, and merely went through the motions.
This left Liyang County helpless for a time.
At the very beginning, they did nothing but delay.
By the time the official army finally resolved to gather its troops and march to suppress the bandits, it was already the second month, when the grass grows and the warblers fly.
By this point, Xiao Zhong and Ye Buping had gathered over ten thousand desperate refugees under their command, creating a formidable force.
The Lishui County Magistrate conscripted a thousand elite soldiers, prepared his men and horses, and marched grandly toward the rebel army, expecting an easy victory.
Unexpectedly, the rebel army was well-trained, and the Lishui County Soldiers were immediately locked in a bitter struggle.
What chilled the official army to the bone was the sudden appearance of several dozen martial artists with extraordinary skills among this supposed rabble.
Furthermore, their leaders, Xiao Zhong and Ye Buping, had both broken through to the Spirit Realm Cultivation in a very short time.
The County Magistrate, County Captain, and Inspector were all slain before their own lines by the combined might of Xiao and Ye, right in the midst of their army.
Their heads were hung high for all to see, and the official army instantly collapsed and fled.
When the news spread, it sent shockwaves in all directions.
For a time, all of Jiangzhou was in an uproar.
Chen Li, of course, had also received news of the Lishui rebellion.
"Xiao Zhong? Ye Buping?"
Chen Li frowned, a little puzzled.
Not long after the Jingshan County Magistrate’s Office had sent out the notice, he had run into Shu Qi and Ya Jiu.
He had subconsciously assumed that this Xiao Zhong and Ye Buping were actually Shu Qi and Ya Jiu in disguise.
He had sent Bai San to make a trip to the Zhuoyan Collection to ask Shu Qi, only to find out the truth.
Back then, to put on an act, they had indeed let Xiao and Ye snatch the Secret Manual, but they had later snatched it back.
Even Shu Qi himself hadn’t expected that the two would manage to memorize the formula in such a short time.
Of course, the two men’s rebellion had little to do with Chen Li.
After the start of spring, he was more concerned with the sale of land and had asked Liu Wende to keep an eye out for him.
On this day, Zhang Heming suddenly sent a government constable with an invitation, stating that Lord Zhang, the County Magistrate, had an important matter to discuss.
Chen Li took Shouheng with him to the County Magistrate’s Office.
The gatekeeper had obviously received instructions beforehand. Upon seeing them, he led them straight to the rear courtyard.
The County Magistrate, Zhang Heming, was seated in the host’s chair, reviewing official documents.
Seeing the two enter, he rose to greet them, his face breaking into his usual, placid smile. "My apologies for troubling you both to make this trip. Please, sit. Tea."
"Greetings, County Magistrate."
Chen Li and his son clasped their hands in salute and sat down calmly.
Tea was served. The Constable quietly withdrew, closing the heavy doors behind him.
Inside the room, the only sound was the soft crackle of the charcoal fire as it occasionally popped.
Zhang Heming picked up his teacup, using the motion of sipping his tea to stall for a moment. He then set the cup down, let out a long sigh, and adopted a troubled expression. "Brother Chen, the reason I asked you here today... it’s a difficult matter. I... I truly don’t know how to begin."
"Please speak plainly, County Magistrate." Chen Li watched him with a calm gaze, not taking the bait, simply waiting for him to continue.
Zhang Heming paused, then said hesitantly, "It’s about... about the matter of selling the four thousand three hundred mu of government land near Lingxi, which I previously promised to your esteemed family."
He paused again, observing Chen Li’s reaction. Seeing that the other man remained composed, he continued, "This matter... I’m afraid there has been a complication. The previous agreement... I fear... it can no longer stand."
"Can no longer stand?"
Hearing this, Chen Shouheng, who was standing to the side, frowned sharply. He couldn’t help but stand up, and though he tried to control his voice, it was still tinged with indignation. "County Magistrate, this matter was settled a month ago! How can the word of a County Magistrate be treated so flippantly?"
Being questioned so bluntly by a junior, Zhang Heming’s expression stiffened for a moment, but it quickly melted into an even deeper look of "helplessness."
He waved his hands repeatedly. "Worthy nephew, don’t be hasty! Don’t be hasty! It’s not that I intend to go back on my word. It’s truly... it’s truly that a superior’s order is hard to disobey, and the circumstances are forcing my hand!"
He sighed and said, "Brother Chen, you must know by now about the rebellion in the neighboring county of Lishui. The situation has deteriorated, and they’ve already occupied seven townships. It’s clear that this year’s Land Tax, due in the third month, will be impossible to collect."
The State and County Government Offices have issued a strict order. In all surrounding states and counties, all government land and confiscated properties awaiting sale must no longer be privately transferred. They must be uniformly registered and sold at public auction to the highest bidder. This is to cover the financial shortfall as much as possible!"
This is a direct, handwritten order from the Lord Governor himself! I... I am a person of little standing and my words carry no weight. I truly wish I could help, but my hands are tied. I can’t make an exception!"
He emphasized the words "Governor’s order" and "superior’s strict command" heavily, pushing all responsibility cleanly away.
Chen Shouheng wanted to argue further.
But Chen Li raised a hand and, with a gentle wave, stopped his son.
Then, his gaze returned to Zhang Heming. "I understand the County Magistrate’s difficult position. Since it is an order from above, it must naturally be obeyed."
He pondered for a moment, then asked directly, "I wonder, when will this public sale begin? Which families will be participating? Furthermore, how exactly will the four thousand three hundred mu of land near Lingxi be priced for auction?"
Seeing Chen Li ask about the practical details, Zhang Heming felt a bit more at ease and immediately replied, "It will be in three days, right here at the County Magistrate’s Office, personally hosted by the newly appointed County Magistrate Li. Participants will need this invitation to enter."
As he spoke, he took out a finely crafted invitation and handed it to Chen Li.
"As for that plot of land near Lingxi."
Zhang Heming paused, then continued, "After assessment and measurement by the Household Department, it has been divided into three grades. The nine hundred mu of first-grade paddy fields will start at an auction price of thirty-three taels per mu. The two thousand three hundred mu of second-grade paddy fields will start at twenty-eight taels per mu. And the one thousand one hundred mu of third-grade fields will start at twenty-three taels per mu."
After noting down the acreage of the paddy fields, Chen Li silently calculated in his head.
Just then, Zhang Heming’s tone suddenly shifted, and he added, as if offhandedly, "Brother Chen, to be honest with you, this land assessment... the way the great Noble Families have been acquiring land from the common people has not been disorderly. For instance, in the five villages around Lingxi, it has always been... the Liu Family doing the buying. This contiguous plot of four thousand three hundred mu... I’m afraid the Liu Family is determined to get it."