Thief Emperor

Chapter 91 I am sick of the inequality between the rich and the poor!

Because when they went to Shidai, it was already close to the end of the year, so it was fine to stay in Shidai. It was already the second day of the Chinese New Year, and the county government was closed. Li Yun couldn't stay too long. After saying a few words, he stood up and said goodbye, smiling, "It's the New Year, I won't bother you, the county lord. Goodbye."

Master Xue looked up at Li Yun, thought for a moment, then stood up, took out a gold nugget from his sleeve, handed it to Li Yun, and said, "I'm sending you on a business trip during the New Year, and this is a reward for you."

In this era, neither gold nor silver was a circulating currency and was not even commonly used. The most commonly used were copper coins and silk, with the latter being used more often.

Things like gold are mostly used to reward people, after all, it is more convenient to carry around.

Li Yun didn't hesitate to take it, and said with a smile: "I'll just treat it as the New Year's money given to me by the county lord."

Master Xue smiled silently, patted Li Yun on the shoulder, and suddenly changed the subject, saying, "Gu Wenchuan acted ruthlessly and arrested Governor Tian and others. If he had any sympathy for the people, he should go to Xuanzhou and temporarily take charge of the affairs of the governor of Xuanzhou."

"If he is only interested in merit, he will escort Governor Tian and others back to the capital. By then, Xuanzhou will be without a chief official, and there may be some unrest."

At this point, Master Xue sighed: "This world is getting worse day by day. After this year, no one knows what the next year will be like."

At this moment, Li Yun had already walked to the door of the study. He looked back at Master Xue and said with a smile, "Have you ever heard a saying, County Master?"

Mr. Xue smiled dumbly: "Just as you said."

"When winter comes, flowers will bloom soon."

After saying that, Li Dutou clasped his fists, turned around and left.

Mr. Xue stared at his departing back in a daze for a long time, until a cold wind blew in his face, and he came back to his senses. He smiled silently, turned around and went into the study.

"This kid..."

…………

When Li Yun returned to his yard, Liu Bo had already left Qingyang and returned to Lingyang Mountain. After all, the new Ten Kings Village was still in its early stages, and many things needed a backbone to take care of.

Originally in Cangshan Village, when Li Yun was not in the village, Liu Bo was in charge most of the time. Now that he is in charge of Shiwang Village, he can handle it with ease.

The two people who stayed in Qingyang were still Zhang Hu and Li Zheng. They were members of the anti-theft team, and it was legitimate for them to follow Li Yun.

Because he did not have a very good New Year, and it snowed for several days in a row, in the next few days, Li Dutou spent his time at home reading books and drinking wine with his two brothers. He lived a happy life.

In the blink of an eye, more than ten days had passed.

Seeing that the snow in the city had mostly melted, Li Yun and others who had been staying at home for the winter finally left the yard and went to the street to get some fresh air.

Li Yun had been walking on the street for less than an hour when he was stopped by an acquaintance from the county government.

"Li Dutou!"

Li Yun turned around and saw that it was Magistrate Xue's old servant, so he stepped forward and said with a smile: "Uncle Xue, what's the matter?"

"There is a guest at the county government office, who wants to see Li Dutou. The master asked me to invite Li Dutou to come."

Li Yun had already guessed who had arrived. He looked at the two brothers behind him and said with a smile, "The holiday will be over tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. We should go to the county government office."

The three brothers walked down the street, one in front and two behind. Just as they arrived at the gate of the county government, before they had time to see Magistrate Xue, a woman rushed up and grabbed Li Yun's arm: "Is it Li Dutou? Is it Li Dutou?"

Li Yun was surprised and asked, "I am Li Zhao, who are you?"

The woman grabbed Li Yun and started crying, saying that her husband had not been home all year and only returned home two days ago. She went out to ask her husband's colleagues and found out that the anti-theft team had issued a sum of money before the New Year, a total of five or six strings of money, and her husband lost it all in one year!

Li Yun was confused.

Is it because of this matter that County Master Xue asked me to come here?

While he was stunned, Master Xue walked out from the back hall. When he saw Li Yun, he frowned and said, "What are you doing in the front hall? Mr. Wenchuan has been waiting for you for an hour!"

Li Yun finally reacted and quickly broke free, saying to the woman, "Go find Chen Da. Go find Chen Da!"

"Let Chen Da talk to your husband. If your husband can't stop gambling, let Chen Da send the money from the anti-theft team directly to your home in the future!"

He followed Master Xue and trotted into the back hall. When he got closer, he smiled and asked, "County Master, Mr. Wenchuan... is going back to the capital?"

Magistrate Xue nodded silently.

"Hey, the county lord really guessed it right."

Mr. Xue did not speak, and took Li Yun to his study. In the study, Gu Yuan and Gu Wenchuan, dressed in scholar's robes, were drinking tea leisurely. Li Yun stepped forward and saluted: "Greetings, Mr. Wenchuan."

After hearing Li Yun's voice, Mr. Gu put down the teacup, pressed his hands, and said with a smile: "Sit down, sit down, sit down and talk."

Li Yun took a seat as instructed. Gu Wenchuan looked at him and said with a smile, "Brother Li is brave and resourceful. He really made great efforts in Shidai this time. Don't you plan to go to the capital with me to show your skills?" Li Yun smiled and shook his head, "Thank you for your kindness, sir. I really don't have such ambition."

"Pity."

Mr. Gu shook his head, feeling somewhat regretful.

After drinking a sip of tea, he said, "After I return to the capital, I should be able to meet the recruiting envoy assigned to Xuanzhou. When I meet him, I will definitely say a few good words to Brother Li and ask him to employ you."

"Brother Li, you have done your part for the country by making great achievements in Xuanzhou."

Li Yun thanked him neither humbly nor arrogantly.

Mr. Gu then turned his head to look at Xue Song, and said with a sigh, "Brother Yue Ji, given the situation in Xuanzhou, I should have stayed to temporarily take charge of Xuanzhou's affairs, but the court's affairs are more tense. For the sake of the court and for the truth of Xuanzhou's affairs to be revealed as soon as possible, I have to leave and return to the capital today."

"I left a special person in Xuanzhou City to take charge of Xuanzhou affairs temporarily."

"But a lot of people have been arrested this time, and there may be trouble in Xuanzhou again. Brother Yue Ji, keep a close eye on it. If there is anything, report it to the court as soon as possible. Don't let any trouble happen."

Mr. Gu paused and continued, "The new governor was sent here urgently and will take office in a month or two. During this time, Brother Yue Ji will have to spend a little more time on this."

Hearing this, Li Yun looked at Master Xue, and the two looked at each other. Then Magistrate Xue said, "Brother Wenchuan, I am the magistrate of Qingyang. I can only take care of the affairs of Qingyang County. I really can't take care of other things."

"Brother Yue Ji, you don't need to worry about it. You just need to help the court and keep an eye on the imperial guard who is waiting for punishment. Make sure he doesn't do anything wrong during this period of time."

Xue Song thought about it and then nodded in agreement.

"I have no choice but to accept your request."

In this way, the three of them had lunch together in the back court of Qingyang County.

In the afternoon, Gu Wenchuan set out from Qingyang in a carriage. Li Yun and County Magistrate Xue accompanied him all the way to three or four miles outside of Qingyang County, and then they watched Gu Wenchuan's carriage gradually go away.

"The county magistrate is as good as a god, but Mr. Gu really doesn't have the slightest thought of sympathizing with the people."

Mr. Xue walked towards Qingyang with his hands behind his back and also let out a long sigh.

"Things must always be prioritized."

Li Dutou chuckled.

"Yes, toppling political enemies is naturally the most important and urgent matter."

Magistrate Xue was speechless and waved his hand in annoyance.

"Let's go back to Qingyang!"

…………

Just when Li Dutou of Qingyang County saw off the imperial envoy, in Shan County of Yuezhou, 500 miles away from Qingyang County, a middle-aged man named Qiu Dian, wearing tattered clothes, was repairing the city wall in the county town with farmers from the same village and neighboring villages.

This is called "labor service" and can be offset against taxes.

Every household has to send someone out, and sometimes they have to bring their own dry food.

This mission assigned by the government was very urgent. After all, the entire eastern route of Jiangnan was now infested with thieves, and the reputation of the Hexi thieves had spread throughout the entire Jiangnan!

The local officials also wanted to strengthen the city walls to prevent thieves from breaking into the city like the Hexi thieves and killing them.

In the afternoon, when the city wall was being repaired, it started to drizzle. Two villagers slipped and fell off the city wall, with bloody heads.

As the leader, Qiu Dian could only negotiate with the yamen runners and wanted to send the injured back home to recuperate, but the runners decisively refused.

Qiu Dian, who had a hot temper, immediately became furious and pulled out the sword from the waist of the yamen runner. He was born with great strength, and with just one blow of the sword, he stabbed the yamen runner through.

On that day, Qiu Dian led more than 100 people from the same village and rushed into Shan County. They killed all the people in the county government and successfully occupied the county seat of Shan County.

Being a rebel is a very technical job, because you have to tell everyone clearly that you are going to rebel.

Moreover, you usually have to come up with a few slogans, or at least a jingle.

On the afternoon of the day when Qiu Dian occupied the county town, he climbed up the city wall, raised his arms and shouted his own rebellion slogans in front of the people of Shan County.

"I am sick of the inequality between the rich and the poor. I will make it equal for you!"

As soon as these words were spoken, many people responded.

A grand uprising in eastern Zhejiang officially kicked off with Qiu Dian's words "I'll divide it equally for you!"
(End of this chapter)