Chapter Fifty-One: The Onset of Turmoil

The next day.

Hexi Village had been reduced to a barren wasteland, scorched white by fire. Except for those villagers who escaped eastward—toward Li Yun’s side—the rest either surrendered and were captured by armored soldiers dispatched from the prefecture, or perished in the inferno. Those captured were unlikely to fare much better.

The sole piece of good news was that, over the course of the night, nearly a hundred people managed to escape through Li Yun’s route. Though many would still be seized by the soldiers, even if only a fraction survived, it meant dozens of lives spared.

Li Yun gazed at the charred remains of Hexi Village, silent for a long while. A sense of helplessness weighed on him. Last night, he had done everything possible, exhausted every measure within his power. Had the two hundred armored soldiers from the prefecture not arrived overnight, Chief Li had even contemplated killing both Prefect Tian and Commandant Cao, to throw everything into chaos. But ultimately, reason prevailed over fury.

Fortunately, the previous Chief Li possessed a carefree temperament, and some of that spirit had rubbed off on Li Yun himself.

After a moment’s silence, Li Yun turned away, quietly reciting in his heart, “In times like these, the longer one lives, the more one suffers. You have found your release.” Yet, he clenched his fists inwardly, “Even I, a mere bandit, cannot stomach such things. One day, retribution will come.”

With that thought, he glanced toward Prefect Tian and Commandant Cao in the distance, a cold smile flickering at the corner of his lips. “They will get what they deserve.”

He turned then to his subordinates and called out, “There’s nothing left here. Pack up—we’re heading back to Qingyang!”

“Chen Da, go fetch a few carts to take us back to Qingyang!” Chen Da hurriedly nodded and asked, “Chief, your horse is tied nearby. Will you ride back or travel with us by cart?”

“My arm is wounded,” Li Yun replied slowly. “I’ll ride with you.”

Chen Da grinned, eyes bright, and Li Yun shot him a glare, retorting, “You can ride the horse then!”

Chen Da could barely contain his joy. Though he’d ridden before, such opportunities were rare; now, at last, he could ride all the way from Shidai to Qingyang—a journey of over a hundred miles!

As Chen Da left, beaming, Li Zheng remarked, “That lad is hopeless.”

Li Yun withdrew his gaze from Prefect Tian and asked quietly, “Skinny Monkey, how many villagers escaped Hexi last night?”

“Dozens, at least,” Li Zheng whispered. “And those who evade the authorities will surely be the strong and able. If they gather again…”

He surveyed the ‘ruins’ of Hexi Village and sighed, “With such deep hatred, I fear they’ll never reconcile with the government.”

Li Yun nodded silently. “Meng Chong has quite the resolve. If he escaped, there may one day rise a force among the people dedicated to opposing the court.”

Li Zheng chuckled, “His son’s still in our mountain stronghold.”

Li Yun smiled in turn, “You sly fox. If those children join our band, they’re brothers—no other thoughts allowed.”

“Enough,” Li Yun patted Li Zheng’s shoulder, his gaze drifting to Prefect Tian. “The county deputy here is letting us go, likely afraid we’ll witness things we shouldn’t. Let’s pack up and leave.”

Li Zheng followed his gaze and muttered, “Second Brother, should we come back again?”

Chief Li’s face was expressionless, “There’s no use in returning to Shidai. Wait a while, and I’ll take you to see the prefectural city.”

As the two brothers spoke, Prefect Tian and Commandant Cao were conversing in the distance, where Li Yun’s gaze lingered.

Strictly speaking, Cao was reporting to Prefect Tian.

“My lord,” Cao Rong bowed his head. “Yesterday we lacked enough constables, and Hexi’s people were too many. Some escaped, but our prefectural troops are pursuing them now.”

“Rest assured, my lord, I’ll personally lead men and capture all those fugitive rebels.”

Prefect Tian stretched lazily and shook his head, “Brother, you still don’t see it.”

“Whether we catch these remnants or not matters little. Once they leave Hexi, whether they’re still Hexi folk is up to us.”

“Once they flee, even imperial envoys won’t find them again.”

Cao considered and nodded, “You are wise, my lord.”

“My lord, many rebels driven out by the fire yesterday have been detained. How should we deal with them?”

Prefect Tian frowned, “I have no knowledge of this matter, nor do I know which rebels you’ve captured.”

Cao’s expression shifted slightly, then he nodded silently, “I understand.”

…

Upon entering Qingyang’s territory, Li Yun had Li Zheng leave the group under the pretense of visiting home, sending him and Zhang Hu back to Cangshan stronghold. Li Yun himself returned to Qingyang County with the constables, entering the county office and immediately alarming Magistrate Xue. Seeing Li Yun with his arm in a sling, Xue frowned, “How were you injured?”

Li Yun replied quietly, “Wounded by rebels.” He spoke those words with emphasis.

And, in truth, he wasn't wrong; he himself now felt somewhat like a rebel.

Magistrate Xue glanced at the others. “Any more wounded?”

Li Yun shook his head.

Xue studied him, then said, “Follow me.”

Li Yun nodded, turned to his companions, and spoke sternly, “Three days’ rest—disperse.”

The group cheered and left in high spirits.

Li Yun proceeded to Magistrate Xue’s study, unceremoniously taking a seat. Xue did not mind, even pouring him a cup of tea. “What really happened in Shidai? I heard County Magistrate Du was killed in the county office by those rebel villagers?”

Li Yun sipped his tea, then snorted, “Not only Magistrate Du—the registrar and the bailiff of Shidai were all slain by the rebels.”

“How did it come to this?” Xue returned to his seat, frowning, “It’s been years since officials were killed.”

Li Yun set down his tea, his voice calm, “Because Shidai’s taxes reached eight hundred coins. Hexi Village, thanks to the headman, was assessed at a whole string of coins. What ordinary family could produce so much cash?”

He looked at Xue, forcing a smile. “Now I see, Magistrate, you are a rare good official.”

Xue was startled by this, then shook his head and sighed deeply, “That’s as much as to curse every official in the realm.”

Li Yun put down his cup and, after a pause, asked, “Magistrate, are these taxes collected in all counties throughout the empire?”

“I don’t know,” Xue shook his head, sipping his tea. “But I suspect so. The court’s been desperate for money these years.”

“Then tell me, Magistrate, do you think the court really gets the five hundred coins?”

Xue fell silent.

Li Yun narrowed his eyes, “Layer upon layer, each taking their share.”

He set down his tea and stood. “Magistrate, there’s more than one Shidai County, and more than one Hexi Village. After this tax increase, I fear many places will see… will see rebels rise.”

He meant to say ‘uprising,’ but restrained himself out of respect.

Xue looked up at Li Yun and sighed heavily. “Even you can see it… even you…”

He gazed out the door at the sky, worry etched across his face.

“Troubled times are near…”