Chapter 162: Chapter 141: Flames of War Rising Everywhere

When it came to arranging the grain levy, Prime Minister Jia Wen’s plan, at least from the outset, appeared to be flawless.

As always, due to the urgency of the situation, Prime Minister Jia Wen distributed the shares—naturally targeting the civil and military officials, as well as the noble families of the Capital City of Jiankang.

On ordinary days, they receive hefty salaries, so now that the court is in trouble, shouldn’t they generously offer help?

"Did we not distribute the grain and silver during the previous northern expedition?"

Though they grumbled loudly, the civil and military officials as well as the aristocratic families all contributed willingly. After all, it wasn’t just one family contributing; the amount allocated to each was not overly burdensome and they could afford it.

As for the other part...

"What? Another levy?"

Upon seeing the notices for the levy being posted by the government constables, the people of the various states and counties of Da Chen were utterly stupefied.

"Didn’t we already pay for the previous northern expedition? What? You’re saying this is for quelling a rebellion?"

Hence, the common people, who had already endured one levy, had to contribute once again.

For those centuries-old powerful families, this amount was merely enough to cover some deficits, but for the common people, who had already paid once, this was a crushing additional burden.

For a time, resentment and complaints were widespread across all the provincial governments, leaving the people in dire straits.

Moreover, it was not only the common people who suffered.

The incident happened in the Huainan Dao, Yangzhou Prefecture, to a minor official in a government office. Though he held an official position, this minor official could not escape being levied some money and grain—fortunately, he had always been mindful of saving, so it did not hurt him to the bone.

Just as the minor official was relieved at overcoming this hurdle and prepared to go home to rest, a surprise happened.

"Why another levy?"

The minor official was utterly puzzled; he had clearly already paid, so why was it happening again?

But soon, this minor official realized that things were not so simple.

The soldiers demanded only money and grain to go on expeditions, but when experts went on expeditions, they required more than just that. Currently, the Yangzhou Governor’s Mansion had experts preparing to quell the rebellion, which also meant some prior preparations were needed—and what that mystical technique practitioner required was this minor official’s unwed wife.

According to the military officer, his Mystical Technique had reached a critical juncture and needed the assistance of a Tripod Furnace to advance further. The beauty of this minor official’s fiancée had long since caught the military officer’s eye.

"But that mystical technique..."

The minor official was dumbfounded; he never imagined he would face such a justification—to know that mystical technique, he had heard of it as well, it never produced any results and was at best just a marital pleasure, how could anyone truly take it as a cultivation method?

However, no matter what this minor official said, no one believed him.

Simply because that military officer indeed possessed extraordinary abilities.

That was a prowess far exceeding the ordinary, something even beyond imagination. In the past, the minor official had heard rumors that this military officer could slash apart a straw dummy from two or three yards away, and now, after seeing his resistance, this military officer indeed swung his blade and shattered a wall with a slash!

This was the strong; what they said could not be wrong.

The strong need not even care what the weak think.

This time, the military officer came merely to notify, whether or not the minor official agreed was irrelevant.

Could a mere minor official compare to a military officer who emitted Evil Qi?

That night, the minor official already learned that the arranged betrothal had been broken by his prospective in-laws, and his childhood sweetheart, with whom he grew up, had already been sent into that military officer’s mansion.

The soul-crushed minor official instinctively walked to the gate of the military officer’s mansion, seeking an explanation, but this time, the military officer did not even show up. Two gatekeepers were enough to beat the minor official out.

After a beating with sticks, the minor official was covered in blood, battered and bruised.

On the way home, the minor official’s mind had completely shut down; the overwhelming pain made rational thought impossible; the physical wounds mixed with inner anguish had rendered this minor official as good as dead.

It is said that when a person nears death, their brain recalls joyous memories to alleviate the pain of dying.

Yet, what this minor official could remember were all scenes related to her.

The first meeting, the first words, the first time holding hands, the first time stargazing, he even remembered how he once skipped a lesson for the first time to get her a rare Yangzhou pastry, leading to a beating from his teacher; similarly, she too got scolded by her mother for mending his clothes with family needle and thread.

Luckily, he later became a minor official, thus establishing a small foothold in Yangzhou City. At that time, he was so thrilled, finally able to formally propose thanks to his newly gained status.

But afterward?

He could not recall what happened afterward.

Between life and death, his brain had already blocked out memories that were too painful.

What remained for him now was only endless visions of a wonderful future.

Indeed, wouldn’t he have married his childhood sweetheart by then? They had been companions since childhood, with endless conversations. During the day, he would report to the government office, while his wife handled chores at home. After work, he would specifically go to the market to buy some vegetables and meat to prepare a fine meal with her—and it was merely out of question to leave the cooking to her alone, as her culinary skills were far inferior to his, which was a little secret between them.

After a satisfying meal, he would read books, while his wife occasionally read interesting stories from popular tales to him, until they eventually retired to their bedroom at night, to partake in marital intimacy. Though partly to hasten the arrival of grandchildren for the elders, using some widely-spread Mystical Technique occasionally added a unique flavor to their married life.

"Yes, that’s it, that’s it, she’s still waiting for me to come back..."

Thinking this, the minor official staggered back to his modest home.

The next day, during the roll call at the government office, the petty official appeared as usual—yet this most ordinary act left the rest of the people startled.

The reason was simple: they all already knew what had happened to this petty official last night.

After all, the household servants sent by the military officer were broad-shouldered and strong-waisted, and they showed no restraint in their beating. With the frame of this petty official, even if he wasn’t beaten to death, he ought to be a cripple for the rest of his life—but now, looking at the petty official, he seemed completely unharmed. How was that possible?

The abnormal event quickly spread, even the military officer learned of it.

He even came over especially.

"He has gone mad, all of you, back away quickly."

The military officer’s face was quite grim, and the long knife at his waist rang as it was drawn.

"Be careful, he might not recognize anyone and suddenly attack you without warning."

"Mad? I’m not mad. I’m perfectly clear-headed."

The petty official only shook his head.

"Yesterday’s insult from you, I haven’t settled it yet."

Saying this, the petty official drew his Treasure Sword from his waist.

To call it a Treasure Sword was stretching it. In the Great Chen Dynasty which esteemed martial virtues, many men had the habit of wearing swords, but not all carried Fine Iron Battle Swords. The so-called Treasure Sword at the petty official’s waist was merely polished bamboo, perhaps convincing while sheathed, but laughable once drawn.

At this moment, however, the military officer couldn’t laugh at all.

"No need, I will return your wife to you. Besides, with such abilities, what kind of woman couldn’t you have? Why do this?"

"Return? What are you talking about?"

The petty official frowned.

"My wife is right here beside me. Can’t you see her?"

"What..."

The military officer was dumbfounded.

Clearly beside the petty official, there was nothing but emptiness; where was this person?

But the petty official did not see it that way.

"He says he can’t see you. Do you think there’s something wrong with his eyes?"

Whispering to the empty air beside him, the petty official then turned back.

"Are your eyes broken? How can you not see such a beautiful person?"

"I..."

The military officer instinctively raised his battle knife.

It was at this moment that the petty official shook his head.

"If your eyes are useless, then don’t use them."

Buzz—

The old Bamboo Sword swung through the air, and the military officer’s eyes flew out.

Along with half of his head.

Seeing such an inhumanly powerful military officer die so suddenly, the whole government office was in chaos. Quickly, the Yangzhou Governor’s Mansion also learned of this bloody incident, and hurriedly assembled troops, intending to slay this petty official before the situation escalated.

But even surrounded by Strong Bow and Crossbow, the petty official remained untouched.

Whether it was arrows, or spears, or even the Evil Qi hilts brought from the armory, they all stopped within a foot of the petty official, unable to advance.

Yet the petty official was already weeping bitterly.

"Why stand in front? Clearly they were all aimed at me... It’s you! All of you!"

Looking up at the soldiers, the petty official’s eyes were already red with fury.

"How dare you harm my wife!"

Under the sweep of the Bamboo Sword, no one knew how many died that day. People only knew that Yangzhou City, the richest nearby state, changed its flag in just one day. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

And this was merely one of the many flames of war.

Of the fifteen Dao and two hundred and forty states in the Great Chen, more than sixty rebelled in one fell swoop.

By now, Yizhou, the first to raise the flag of rebellion, had become insignificant in this chaos.

After all, unlike the intense battles across other states, Yizhou had made no movement at all.