Chapter 25: Raiding the House

When this news broke, the common folk were not the only ones left in utter disbelief.

Even the members of the rebel army themselves were completely bewildered.

They had yet to secure their own rations, so from where on earth were they supposed to obtain food to distribute for disaster relief?

Li Changan, however, did not leave them wondering for long.

Upon taking command of the rebel forces, he swiftly dispatched men to invite the wealthy merchants, prosperous households, and the great landlords who held thousands of acres of farmland around Sanhuang County to a gathering as his guests.

These landlords and wealthy elites had already learned of the rebels occupying Sanhuang County, and though this sudden summons made them slightly nervous, they were not entirely unprepared.

What else could a band of desperate men with their heads tied to their waistbands possibly want from them?

It was nothing more than an attempt to extort food, demand money, and take cheap advantages.

They refused to believe that a rebel army of barely over a thousand men would dare do anything drastic to them, and so the group had already conferred with one another beforehand.

Want money? None!

Want land? None either!

At most, they would toss them a bit of grain and fodder as a protection fee to save face, and that would be the end of it.

Under the warm "invitation" of the rebel army, the local gentry dragged their feet, reluctantly gathering in Sanhuang County.

Outside the simple military tent, looking at the sallow, emaciated, and disheveled rebels around them, the invited gentry breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

What kind of damn righteous army was this? They were clearly just a pack of low-class vagrants who couldn't even make it to a proper stage.

Under normal circumstances, they were the sort of existence the imperial court could wipe out with the mere flick of a finger.

If they hadn't struck absolute luck by running into that pig of a teammate, Magistrate Chai, who had reassigned a portion of the city defenses and caused the county gates to fall, these clodhoppers could never have captured Sanhuang County.

Consequently, when they met Li Changan, whose face was remarkably and overly youthful, the gentry appeared respectful and trembling on the surface, but in reality, they did not care in the slightest.

Squire Huang Sunan offered a polite bow and cut straight to the chase, "I wonder what grand business the brave warrior has in mind, sending men to gather old men like us here?"

Li Changan unhurriedly took a sip of tea and said amiably, "Please be seated, elders, please sit. Whatever business there is can be discussed after a cup of tea."

He kept his tone very low and welcomed them with a smile.

This only made the gentry more certain that the rebels dared not cross them.

Huang Sunan did not stand on ceremony; he immediately stood up and said, "There is no need for tea. If the brave warrior has no business, then this old man shall take his leave."

With that, he turned, preparing to depart.

Watching from the side, Lü Changning was almost provoked to a laugh by their arrogance.

He had truly witnessed the stiff spines of these squires; just as Li Changan had said, they were a bunch that wouldn't shed tears until they saw the coffin.

Li Changan silently set down his teacup and spoke calmly, "Coming as you please, leaving as you please. Does Elder Huang mistake my rebel camp for a brothel?"

Hearing this, several rebel soldiers standing at the entrance drew their blades, their faces filled with fierce intent.

Seeing this situation, Huang Sunan’s face turned ashen. He flicked his sleeve and snapped, "What is the meaning of this? Do you think my Huang family is soft and easily bullied?"

The Huang family was a scholarly lineage that owned over a thousand acres of land in Sanhuang County, all of which was the most fertile soil near the Sanhuang River, and they maintained over a hundred private servants alone.

Fighting alone, they might not beat the rebel army.

But it must not be forgotten that he was not alone here; there were several other prominent households whose scale was not inferior to his own.

Against such a massive force, even the county magistrate would have to think twice before touching their cake, let alone a pack of emaciated rebels.

Hearing this, Li Changan resumed his smile, putting on an act as he said, "Elder, do not be anxious. This junior merely invited everyone to have a cup of tea and chat about casual matters."

Huang Sunan glanced at the soldiers holding blades at the entrance, snorted coldly, and said nothing.

He turned and reseated himself.

This brief clash put the attending gentry on high alert.

They had originally thought this was just a disorderly mob, but looking at it now, the opponent's leader possessed some methods.

Once everyone had absentmindedly finished their cup of tea, Li Changan said with a beaming smile, "I have specially invited you all here today because there is indeed a favor I must ask!"

After beating around the bush for so long, the dagger was finally revealed at the end of the map.

Alarm bells rang wildly in the minds of the gentry.

They exchanged glances, each seeing the absolute resolve in the other's eyes.

No matter how Li Changan threatened or enticed them, even if a blade were pressed against their necks, their absolute bottom line was to raise two thousand dan of grain and three thousand taels of silver for the rebel army.

Any other demands would be flatly refused.

They were determined that the rebels dared not harm them; after all, if one offended the gentry, even if the court did not send an expeditionary army, the rebels could forget about establishing a foothold here in Fengzhou.

However, while the gentry were still pondering what conditions Li Changan would propose to bargain with them, his next words left them utterly shocked.

"Surely everyone is aware that the demonic Qing is unprincipled, treating the people of the Central Plains like pigs and dogs. Once the fires of rebellion are lit across the lands, they will only multiply in the days to come..."

"In every chaotic era, it is the common folk who suffer. A few days ago, a flood dragon stirred the waters upstream of the Sanhuang River, causing severe disasters to the people on both banks, leaving barely one out of ten humans and beasts alive. Therefore, I would like to trouble you gentlemen to hand over all your family lands, money, and grain to be distributed among the common folk!"

The gentry were stunned.

After hearing Li Changan’s words clearly, they thought there was something wrong with their ears.

This pack of rebel clodhoppers actually wanted them to surrender all their family lands, money, and grain to distribute to the common folk of Fengzhou?

Plain, glittering silver, given to the peasants?

He must have lost his mind!

Huang Sunan, leading the group, looked at Li Changan with an expression as if he were staring at an idiot.

This time, he didn't even bother to feign politeness. He slammed the table, snorted coldly, and said, "You hair-brained boy, what do you think you are? A piece of filth whose entire family combined couldn't even afford the land tax. Our presence today is already giving you face, and yet you dare to play us like monkeys?"

Under the furious glares of the gentry, the smile on Li Changan’s face remained unchanged. He said deliberately, "I have always preferred courtesy before force, but don't blame me for not warning you in advance—this is the final opportunity I am leaving you."

Huang Sunan flung his sleeve, sending the tea on the table flying, his eyes wide with rage as he roared, "Boy, don't even think about it! At most, we will raise two thousand dan of grain and two thousand taels of silver for you!"

Li Changan replied indifferently, "So, we cannot come to an agreement?"

Seeing that he was still unsatisfied, the squires were nearly driven mad with rage, bursting into loud curses.

Even Lü Changning, standing nearby, couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth—demanding someone's entire family estate the moment you open your mouth, no human being could possibly agree to that!

Yet Li Changan acted as though he had long been prepared for this. He immediately waved his hand and said, "Since we cannot agree, then kill them all. It will be the same if we take it ourselves."

Hearing these words, the group of gentry instantly looked as if they had been choked by the throat, falling into a dead silence.

What the hell? Who negotiates like this?

Although that proposal was their bottom line, their bottom line was very flexible. You should at least negotiate a bit! Demanding the entire family estate at the start, and killing everyone if they disagree—what kind of madness was that?

But Li Changan did not give them any further opportunity to bargain.

Dozens of rebel elites who had been lying in ambush rushed inside, swiftly overpowering the gentry and dragging them out.

A few martial artists responsible for their safety attempted to violently resist, but they were kicked flying by Lü Changning.

For a time, the sounds of roaring, cursing, and begging for mercy filled the air.

Li Changan did not care whether they regretted it or not. To say nothing more of these landlords and wealthy gentry, killing nine out of ten would still leave some who deserved to die.

Soon, a thick, metallic scent of blood drifted through the rear hall of the county magistrate's office.

Until the very last moment before their deaths, this crowd of landlords and gentry could not believe that Li Chang'an actually dared to treat them this way.

After wiping these fellows out with nonchalant ease, the expression on Li Chang'an's face changed not a whit; turning his head to look at Lüy Changning, he spoke: "Assemble the troops, prepare to set out!"

Lüy Changning asked subconsciously: "Where to?!"

Li Chang'an smiled and said: "Since they are unwilling to give it, naturally we must go to their doorsteps and take it ourselves!"

...