When this news broke, it wasnât just the common people who found it hard to believe.
Even the members of the Rebel Army themselves were stunned.
âWe havenât even secured our own rations yet,â they thought. âWhere are we going to get grain to distribute for disaster relief?â
However, Li Changâan did not leave them wondering for long.
After taking command of the Rebel Army, Li Changâan quickly sent men to "invite" a group of wealthy merchants, rich households, and major landlords who owned thousands of acres of farmland around Sanhuang County to be his guests.
These landlords and wealthy families had already heard the news that the Rebel Army had occupied Sanhuang County. Although they were a little nervous now that the rebels had come knocking, they had long been prepared for this.
âWhat else could a group of men who are risking their necks with every breath want from them?â
âItâs obviously just for extortion and to line their own pockets!â
They didnât believe a Rebel Army with just over a thousand men would dare to do anything to them, so the group had already coordinated with each other beforehand.
âThey want money? We have none!â
âThey want land? We donât have that either!â
âAt most, weâll fob them off with a bit of grain as protection money. Just enough to save face, and thatâll be the end of it.â
Under the Rebel Armyâs "enthusiastic" invitation, the surrounding gentry reluctantly and sluggishly gathered in Sanhuang County.
Outside the simple military tent, the invited gentry looked at the sallow, emaciated, and sloppily dressed Rebel Army soldiers and breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
âWhat kind of bullshit Rebel Army is this? Theyâre clearly just a mob of riffraff who canât be taken seriously!â
âUnder normal circumstances, theyâre the kind of force the Imperial Court could crush with a flick of a finger.â
âIf not for the dumb luck of running into an incompetent ally like Magistrate Chai, who transferred away part of the cityâs garrison and caused the main gate to fall, this bunch of mud-caked peasants would have never been able to take Sanhuang County.â
Thus, when they saw the almost ridiculously youthful-looking Li Changâan, the group of gentry appeared respectful and fearful on the surface, but inwardly, they didnât take him seriously at all.
The gentleman Huang Sunan offered a bow and got straight to the point. "Sir, I wonder for what important matter you have summoned myself and the others here?"
Li Changâan unhurriedly took a sip of tea and said with a pleasant expression, "Gentlemen, please, sit down. Sit down. We can discuss whatever it is after weâve had some tea."
He took a very humble tone and greeted them with a smile.
This only further convinced the gentry that the Rebel Army wouldnât dare to do anything to them.
Huang Sunan was not at all polite. He immediately stood up and said, "Thereâs no need for tea. If you have no other business, Sir, then I will take my leave."
With that, he turned and prepared to leave.
LĂŒ Changning, watching from the side, almost let out a laugh of exasperation.
âSo this is the full extent of the gentryâs audacity,â he thought. âJust as Li Changâan said, theyâre the type who wonât shed a tear until they see the coffin.â
Li Changâan quietly set down his teacup and spoke nonchalantly, "Come as you please, leave as you please... Mr. Huang Sr., do you take my Rebel Army camp for a brothel?"
Hearing this, the few Rebel Army soldiers standing at the entrance drew their sabers, their faces fierce.
Seeing this, Huang Sunanâs face turned livid. He flung his sleeve and said, "What do you think youâre doing? Do you really think my Huang Family is so kind and easily bullied?"
The Huang Family was a scholarly lineage that owned over a thousand acres in Sanhuang County, all of it the most fertile land near the Three Yellow Rivers. They kept over a hundred private slaves alone.
On their own, they might not be able to handle the Rebel Army.
But one mustnât forget, he wasnât the only one here. There were several other major families whose influence was no less than his.
With such a powerful coalition, even the County Magistrate would have to think twice before touching their interests, to say nothing of a band of sallow, emaciated rebels.
Hearing this, Li Changâanâs smile returned. He said feigning innocence, "Please, Mr. Huang Sr., donât be hasty. I merely invited everyone for a cup of tea and a bit of casual conversation!"
Huang Sunan glanced at the saber-wielding soldiers at the entrance and gave a cold snort, but said nothing.
He turned and returned to his seat.
The brief confrontation put all the gentry present on alert.
They had originally thought this was just a disorganized mob, but now it seemed their leader had some tricks up his sleeve.
After everyone had distractedly finished their cup of tea, Li Changâan said with a wide smile, "I have indeed invited you all here today to ask for a favor!"
âAfter all that suspense, his true colors are finally showing!â
Alarm bells went off in the gentryâs minds.
They exchanged glances, all seeing the determination in each otherâs eyes.
âNo matter how Li Changâan threatens or cajoles, even if he holds a blade to our necks, our bottom line is, at most, to raise 2,000 *dan* of grain and 3,000 taels of silver for the Rebel Army.â
âAny other demands will be refused, period!â
They were convinced the Rebel Army wouldnât dare touch them. After all, if they offended the gentry, the Rebel Army wouldnât be able to establish a foothold in Fengzhou, even if the Imperial Court didnât send an army to suppress them.
However, just as the gentry were pondering what conditions Li Changâan would propose to bargain with them, his next words left them utterly astonished.
"Iâm sure you are all well aware that the demonic Yaoqing dynasty is unjust. It treats the people of the Central Plains like pigs and dogs. Once the fires of rebellion are lit across the land, they will only multiply in the days to come..."
"In every chaotic era, it is the common people who suffer. A few days ago, a Flood Dragon passed through the upper reaches of the Three Yellow Rivers, causing a catastrophic disaster for the people on both banks. Not even one in ten people or livestock survived. Therefore, I would like to trouble you gentlemen to take out all of your familyâs land, money, and grain and distribute it to the people!"
The assembled gentry could only stare in disbelief. âWhat?!â
After hearing Li Changâanâs words clearly, they thought there was something wrong with their ears.
âThis mud-caked peasant from the Rebel Army is actually telling us to take out all our familyâs land, money, and grain and give it to the people of Fengzhou?â
âOur shiny silver, given to the common folk?â
âHas he lost his mind?!â
Huang Sunan, their leader, stared at Li Changâan as if he were looking at a complete moron.
This time, he didnât even bother to pretend. He slammed his hand on the table and sneered, "You little brat who hasnât even finished puberty, who the hell do you think you are? Youâre worthless trash whose entire family probably couldnât even afford to pay the land tax! The fact that we even showed up today was us giving you more than enough face, and now you dare to make a fool of us?"
Under the furious gazes of the gentry, Li Changâanâs smile never faded. He said slowly and deliberately, "Iâve always been one for courtesy before conflict, but donât blame me for not warning you beforehand. This is the last chance Iâm giving you."
Huang Sunan flung his sleeve, knocking the teacup on the table flying. His eyes were wide with fury as he roared, "Kid, donât even think about it! The most we can raise for you is two thousand *dan* of grain and two thousand taels of silver!"
Li Changâan said nonchalantly, "So, we have no deal?"
Seeing that he still wasnât satisfied, the gentry were so incensed they started to laugh, and then burst into a torrent of curses.
Even LĂŒ Changning, standing beside them, couldnât help but feel his lips twitch. âYou ask for their entire family fortune right off the bat. Of course no sane person would ever agree to that!â
But Li Changâan seemed to have been prepared for this all along. He simply waved his hand and said, "Since we canât reach an agreement, then kill them all. Itâs the same if we take it ourselves."
Upon hearing this, the group of gentry fell silent, as if their throats had been seized.
âWhat the hell? Who negotiates like that?â
âWait, that offer was just a starting point! Our bottom line is flexible! Youâre supposed to haggle! What the hell kind of negotiation is demanding everything and killing anyone who disagrees?!â
However, Li Changâan gave them no further opportunity to haggle.
Dozens of elite Rebel Army soldiers, who had been lying in ambush, rushed in. In a flash, they seized the gentry and dragged them out.
A few Martial Artists responsible for their safety tried to rise up and resist, but LĂŒ Changning sent them flying with a couple of kicks.
For a moment, the air was filled with an endless chorus of roars, curses, and pleas for mercy.
Li Changâan couldnât care less if they regretted it. Of these landlords and powerful gentry, it was no exaggeration to say that nine out of ten deserved to die and then some.
Soon, the thick stench of blood filled the rear hall of the County Magistrateâs Office.
Until their very last moments, these landlords and gentry could not believe that Li Changâan had actually dared to treat them this way.
After nonchalantly having the entire group killed, Li Changâanâs expression did not change in the slightest. He turned to LĂŒ Changning and said, "Assemble the troops. Prepare to move out!"
LĂŒ Changning asked instinctively, "Where to?!"
Li Changâan smiled. "Since they werenât willing to give it, weâll naturally have to go and take it ourselves."
...