Chapter 43: The Source of Chaos

  Ran Zhihuan and Lin Chunhong have been working together for several years, and they have already extorted tens of thousands of taels of silver from the military households. However, Ran Zhihuan did not get the expected pleasure from these silvers. The submissive eyes of those military households who used to obey him are gradually losing their tameness, becoming more and more resentful and dissatisfied. This makes Ran Zhihuan feel a bit helpless. In the past, the military households had never been outside, under his deception and intimidation, they would only nod and agree with whatever he said, without daring to argue. Now, those military households see other workers living a relatively comfortable life, while they themselves are laboring every day without getting anything, becoming more and more dissatisfied with Ran Zhihuan. Moreover, this sentiment has already affected the military households who have not gone outside, making Ran Zhihuan feel increasingly out of control.

  Lin Chunhong intentionally fueled the discontent among the military households, treating them just like everyone else. He let them do what they were good at: some joined the guard troops, others followed Li Chengzong to do technical work, and some took on low-level leadership positions. He even distributed dividends to the hardworking military households. When Ran Zihuan found out, he took advantage of the situation and conducted a search, leaving the military households daring not to speak out.

  After thoroughly controlling the Zhijiang, Lin Chunhong cast his eyes on the Datian Thousand Households Department. This was exactly his plan. He needed to borrow the prestige of the Datian Thousand Households Department to expand his army and prepare for war, and to create a military arsenal.

  The third year of Chongzhen is about to pass, Lin Chunhong gave his soldiers a New Year's holiday and personally went to Gehouyan to see off the soldiers. He called them brothers and treated them like siblings, it was quite lively.

  Before leaving, Lin Chunhong was even more heroic: "Brothers, if you have any difficulties in the future, just come to me!"

  A bold military household immediately asked: "Governor, can we rent land for farming in Baili Zhou?"

  Lin Chunhong burst out laughing: "I just said we're all brothers, of course you can rent and farm the land!"

  These words made the military households' blood boil. They had endured when Ruan Zihuan took away their wages; they had endured when Ruan Zihuan took away their dividends; but when Lin Chunhong personally promised that they could rent fifteen acres of land at a low tax, they couldn't bear it anymore.

  All along the way, this group of soldiers' footsteps became exceptionally light and quick, with an atmosphere that was clearly different from usual.

  In a stilt house in the village of Dàtiān, more than ten people were gathered, discussing matters in hushed tones. These people were low-ranking leaders under Lin Chunhong's command, and normally three or four hundred soldiers would follow them. Among these people, the real core was Wei Yuxiang. Wei Yuxiang was a steady and down-to-earth person who valued loyalty, and he was deeply appreciated by Zhou Wangxin. He had extremely high prestige among the soldiers.

  "Last year, another whole year was wasted, and the grain we got wasn't even enough for a year's worth of food. If this continues, it won't be good! Everyone take a look, everyone under Lord Zhang's command is getting rich, I'm so envious I could die!"

  "We can't even get rich, at least we can buy some cloth for our wives and have a full belly. We're the ones who are suffering, it's all because of that guy upstairs taking away our wages!"

  "Isn't it? Even the dividend was taken away, that's almost ten taels of silver! At least leave us some wages, not a single cent of dividend was left."

  "Dianshi said we can rent land in Baili Zhou, if my brother and parents also rent 15 mu, that would be great. The Lantern Festival is coming soon, after the Lantern Festival, we will leave Datian, everyone must think of a way, if it goes on like this, our family will be bankrupt!"

  "Brothers, listen to me. Da Tian is definitely not going to be able to stay here, but our identity as a military household can't be shed either. No matter where we go, we'll still be caught by the authorities and brought back. Over the years, many military households have fled, only to be caught and executed or forced to change their names. We need to think of a way to protect ourselves." As Wei Yue Xiang spoke, everyone else stared at him, their faces gloomy as they listened to his words about the bleak outcome of fleeing.

  "Lawson isn't useless either, the key is that he needs Lin Dianshi's help!" Wang Liangquan said with a dazed expression.

  Wang's words sparked everyone's interest, and they chimed in: "Come on, don't hide it! What do you need Lin Dianshi's help with?"

  "It's Lin Dianshi who wants to take us in!"

  "Are you kidding us? If Lin Dianshi had taken us in, we would have left long ago and wouldn't be stuck here today?" The crowd began to blame Wang Liangquan. Wang Liangquan was quite talented and had been favored by Peng Xin, who brought him to the Duck Mouth Warehouse to assist him. Now he followed Peng Xin to the Yuezhou Warehouse. Having traveled extensively, he was well-informed and had a broad perspective.

  "I think Lin Dianshi will take us in." Wang Liangquan insisted on his opinion.

  "How is that possible? Lin Dianshi would make trouble for us poor military dependents and Ruan Zihuan? That's absolutely impossible."

  Wang Liangquan sighed and said: "I also hope so, everyone says that Lin Dianshi will not quarrel with us for Ruan Zhihuan."

  After finishing speaking, secretly pinched Wei Yue Xiang's butt with her hand and stopped talking.

  Wei Yuxiang's heart knew there was a difference, and he said to everyone in a calm tone: "It seems that this escape route is not feasible, let's think of another way. It's getting late today, everyone should get some rest early."

  After seeing off the crowd, Wei Yue Xiang lay on his bed with his clothes on, staring at the eaves of the roof. He was alone, his parents had passed away early, and he had no other siblings except for a younger sister who was married to Wang Liang Quan. About an hour later, a faint knock on the door came, and Wei Yue Xiang quickly opened it to let in Wang Liang Quan.

  Wang rubbed his hands together and said, "I'm freezing to death, can't you even light a fire here?"

  "I'm not cold, why bother lighting a fire and chopping wood, it's such a hassle." The winter in Datian is gloomy and damp, and it's really unbearable without a fire.

  Wang Liangquan continued: "I think there should be a mole between us, otherwise how did Ran Zhihuang know so clearly what we did at Lin Dianshi's place?"

  Wei Yue Xiao smiled and said, "It's not like we're inserting ourselves awkwardly. Ran Zhi Huan must have his doubts about us. Why were you so sure Lin Dian Shou would help us?"

  "It's just a thought, but no matter what we think of, before we escape, we must discuss it with Lin Dianshi. Once there is a problem, there will be no regrets. I plan to go to Zhijiang tomorrow and discuss it with Lin Dianshi, what do you think?"

  "You tell us your reasons and we'll consider it, let's see if Lin Dianshi is likely to take us in."

  "In the past, Lin Dianshi had to pay Ruan Zhihuan several thousand taels of silver every year to cut down trees on his land. Now that Lin Dianshi no longer cuts down trees himself and only buys wood from local people, he will definitely not want to pay this money to Ruan Zhihuan again. Moreover, Lin Dianshi currently has two or three thousand refugees working on the river embankment under him, so it would be easy for us to fake a refugee identity. Zhijiang and Datian are far apart, even if Ruan Zhihuan finds out that Lin Dianshi has taken us in, he won't have any way to do anything about it."

  "What you said makes sense, let me think about it carefully." Wei Yuxiang lowered his head and kept turning these things over in his mind. Wei Yuxiang and Wang Liangquan had followed Lin Chunhong for a few years, and to some extent, they were influenced by Lin Chunhong's careful consideration of problems.

  "You're saying that Lin Dianshi had to pay Ruan Zihuan silver before he could cut down the trees in the big field, but that's not right. It should be that Lin Dianshi was extorted by Ruan Zihuan at the time and had no choice but to pay the silver. I also participated when Ruan Zihuan extorted Lin Dianshi back then. However, this also shows that Lin Dianshi must have a grudge against Ruan Zihuan. Although taking us in doesn't affect Lin Dianshi much, why would he want to accept all these troubles? This is the key point, what's your solution?" Wei Yuxiang furrowed his brow and expressed his concerns.

  "This is easy, we can just do it for him!"

  "Wei Yue Xiang shook his head and said, 'Where can't we find people now? Will Lin Dianshi be particular about us? We must bring a huge benefit to Lin Dianshi in order to ensure it!'"

  "What can we offer Lin Dianshi with nothing?" Wang Liangquan felt extremely difficult.

  "Brother-in-law, do you want to play big?" Wei Yue Xiang said with a mysterious tone, his eyes wide open.

  "What's the big deal?"

  "I've been in the Guard for two years and I feel that Lin Dianshi has big plans. Think about it, where did the armor we wear come from? Where did our weapons come from?"

  "It was not Ruan Zhihuan and other guards who secretly sold it to him."

  "This is exactly what he needs!"

  Wang Liangquan was shocked and said: "Is it possible that Big Uncle is planning to steal the thousand households' weapons?"

  "How many weapons can be stolen? I want to move all the weapons in the warehouse! Kill that bastard Ruan Zhihuan! Weren't our parents killed by this bastard back then?" Wei Yuxiang said gritting his teeth. Wei Yuxiang's father was beaten to death by Ruan Zhihuan, and he died soon after returning home. Later, his mother also died of grief.

  "Rebellion? Would Lin Dianshi agree to this?" Wang Liangquan was also moved, but he had his reservations.

  "Let's talk to Lin Dianshi! Have you forgotten? Before we returned to Datian, the words Lin Dianshi said, I felt he was intentionally saying them. Moreover, I also want to see just how broad-minded and magnanimous Lin Dianshi can be!"

  Wei Yue Xiang's fists were clenched tightly, as if he was grasping Ran Zhi Huan.