Eternal Immortal Dynasty: Starting as a Petty Official

As Liu Mao said, the news of what happened in the Song family hall spread throughout the countryside in just a few days.

This has sparked much discussion in the countryside.

Some praised Zhao Xian for his uprightness and unyielding spirit, while others criticized him for being out of touch with reality; such opinions were varied.

However, after this incident, when Zhao Xian and Liu Mao, the three officials, went to each pavilion to investigate the fields and population, the pavilion chiefs and village chiefs dared not shirk their responsibilities or be negligent in the slightest, and no one dared to underestimate Zhao Xian. They all treated him with the utmost respect.

The investigation of the farmland proceeded very smoothly.

Of the seven pavilions in Wohu Township, five have already been checked, leaving only Xiashanghu Pavilion and Dahu Pavilion yet to be investigated.

......

On the official road, a rider led the way, followed by an oxcart, slowly making their way westward.

The knight was Zhao Xian, the three officials of Liu Mao were on the oxcart, and the driver was his uncle Zhao Li.

After completing the investigation of the villages and towns, Zhao Xian and his three companions returned home for a day of rest.

Thinking of what Liu Mao had said before he returned home, that the remaining six pavilions were far from the village pavilion, and that carrying bamboo scrolls and books back and forth would be very tiring.

Zhao Xian then asked his uncle to leave home temporarily and drive his own oxcart to the village, specifically to take Liu Mao and the other two officials, to inspect the fields together with Zhao Xian.

Zhao Li readily agreed to his nephew's request.

Moreover, this job wasn't free; one ate and lodged in a country house, and received an additional twenty coins per day—a truly generous arrangement.

Chen Jun's friend Qi Lian bought land and built a house, hiring Taoist priests from Huting to build the house. They provided food and lodging, and paid twenty coins a day.

But building a house is nothing compared to the leisurely pleasure of driving a car!

Moreover, because Zhao Xian had specifically chosen them, all the laborers who went to work were from poor families in various villages of Shanghuting.

Zhao Li's family was relatively well-off, so he couldn't bring himself to take away the livelihood of poor clansmen. This driving job suited him perfectly.

"A gentle breeze caresses the face, the landscape is lush and green, and birds sing; this place is quite charming."

Liu Mao looked around and saw lush green trees and swaying wildflowers, and couldn't help but praise it.

"What Mr. Liu says is absolutely right!"

The other two officials echoed their sentiments.

"Mr. Zhao, does this place have a name or an elegant name?"

Liu Maofu then looked at Zhao Li, who was driving ahead, and asked with a smile.

"Oh dear, Mr. Liu, I really didn't know."

Zhao Li scratched his head and told the truth. After thinking for a few moments, he added in a low voice, "Liu Jun, don't think this place is beautiful. This place is dangerous and many bandits frequent it."

"Several months ago, Ah Xian was attacked by bandits when he returned home for a rest!"

"what!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Mao also looked surprised and exclaimed in surprise.

Looking at this place again, the scenery no longer seemed beautiful; instead, it felt as if thieves were lurking in the mountains and forests, and a sense of unease settled over him.

Upon hearing his uncle's words, Zhao Xian, who was sitting high on his horse, turned around and laughed, "Lord Liu, it is indeed true. If I hadn't reacted quickly and been agile, I would have been shot dead by that thief's arrow."

"This place is so treacherous! Bozhang, Zhao Jun, we must hurry and leave this place!"

Upon hearing this, another minor official immediately spoke up.

"Gentlemen, do not panic. After walking another two or three miles, you will reach the Great Tiger Pavilion."

Zhao Xian raised his riding whip and pointed it forward.

......

By the time they arrived at the Great Tiger Pavilion, it was already early morning.

The group stopped in front of the pavilion, and the pavilion's owner, who was guarding the gate, immediately went forward to greet them.

Before long, the head of Dahu Pavilion, along with the thieves and the guards, came out of the pavilion, greeted Zhao Xian and his group, and then led them to the first village.

The land survey had been going on for over a month, and Zhao Xian was already quite familiar with the process. Without needing to say much, he led Liu Mao and the other two officials to conduct a thorough survey.

The Great Tiger Pavilion is right next to the Upper Tiger Pavilion. Most of the Taoists in the two pavilions know each other. Zhao Xian and his group were busy counting the fields and verifying the population. Zhao Li, the uncle, had nothing to do, so he started chatting with the guards of the Great Tiger Pavilion and the Taoists who were watching.

Upon learning that Zhao Xian was Zhao Li's nephew, all the people of the Daodao showed expressions of envy.

"Ali, your ox is quite strong and robust. Where did you get it?"

A local man approached, looked at the ox pulling the cart, and asked with envy.

"Speaking of this ox, we must mention the night the bandits attacked Shanghu Pavilion!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Li became interested and raised his voice to recount what happened that night.

Just as they were talking passionately and the people were listening with great excitement, Zhao Li suddenly saw several blurry figures on a slightly higher mound in the distance.

Zhao Li glanced at it casually and didn't take it to heart, continuing to talk excitedly.

Unexpectedly, a moment later, a commotion suddenly arose in the distance. Zhao Li was startled by the sound, abruptly stood up, shaded his eyes with his hand, and looked towards the place where the crowd had gathered.

Hundreds of people were gathered in a tight circle, shouting loudly. Zhao Li strained his ears and listened intently, vaguely catching a few shouts: "You treacherous petty official, you devour the flesh and blood of us common people!"

"Kill you all!"

"To rid the people of this scourge!"

"..."

"This is bad news!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Li's expression changed drastically, revealing that the people's livelihood had changed.

When Zhao Li was young, he traveled to Xiao County for many years.

At that time, the people of Xiao County were living in misery, displaced and homeless, and peasant uprisings occurred frequently.

He had witnessed it with his own eyes several times, and each time it was a scene of carnage with heads rolling and blood flowing everywhere.

No matter how poor the Daoist people of Dahuting were, they were still much better off than the Daoist people of Xiaojun at that time!

The land survey and population calculation are carried out in accordance with the law every year. The residents of Dahuting Road have experienced this many times and are already used to it. It is impossible for them to suddenly cause trouble because of the land survey and population calculation.

Moreover, his nephew Zhao Xian is always cautious in his actions and would never provoke the Daoist people without good reason.

There must be more to this than meets the eye!

The only way to quell this matter is to disperse the troublemakers.

Thinking of this, Zhao Li leaped off the oxcart, hopped onto his mount, and then looked at the guards standing there dumbfounded. He shouted sternly, "If this matter of the Daoist gatherings reaches the county, all officials of the post station and the Daoist who caused the trouble, along with their entire families, will be beheaded and their heads displayed to the public!"

"Why aren't you all joining me in dispersing these Daoist followers!"

"But...but there are hundreds of people gathered here, and we are only a few. How can we possibly disperse them?"

Upon hearing the sound, a soldier at the post station immediately showed fear on his face and stammered.

"Cowardly as a mouse!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Li flew into a rage, raised his whip, and lashed it across the soldier's face!

The soldier, intimidated by Zhao Li's murderous intent, dared not resist and could only endure the lashes.

"You stay here and guard my oxcart, I'll go get reinforcements right away!"

"drive!"

Zhao Li uttered a single sentence, then immediately grabbed the reins, braced his legs around the horse, and whipped the old horse.

The old horse, in pain, immediately reared up and galloped away, disappearing into the country lane in the blink of an eye.

Meanwhile, in the very center of the siege by the villagers, Zhao Xian, along with the head of Dahuting Pavilion, Qiu Dao, and the village head, firmly protected Liu Mao and his two clerks.

"Gentlemen, listen to what I have to say!"

"Du Tian acted in accordance with the law and had absolutely no intention of mistreating anyone!"

Liu Mao shouted loudly from within the human wall, but all he saw were Dao Min glaring at him angrily, spitting out curses: "It's this scoundrel who forcibly seized my family's land tax!"

"This has driven my family to desperation, leaving us no choice but to borrow money from the Yan family!"

"Kill him! Kill him!"

Amidst the curses, some of the Taoist priests, their hair standing on end in fury, brandished their fists and charged forward recklessly.

"Lord Ting, Lord Zhao, what should we do now!"

"Why don't we fight our way out!"

Upon witnessing this scene, Da Huting Qiu Dao also gripped the hilt of his knife tightly, his face filled with panic, and he was at a loss for words.