My game can make money starting from the Three Kingdoms period.

next day

Lu Congtian immediately used his position as county magistrate to draft a decree to increase taxes.

Cheng Dong appears to be a powerful figure, but he holds no official position. Yet, the Cheng family has infiltrated almost every aspect of Dianjiang.

With Cheng Dong's support, Lu Congtian's tax decree could be implemented easily.

Otherwise, the lack of cooperation from the various officials would be enough to entangle Lu Congtian in a quagmire, just like their previous "reasonable inspection."

Lu Congtian understood that issuing decrees was one thing, but implementing them at the grassroots level was another.

From the officials in charge of household affairs and granary affairs, to the three elders, officials in charge of rank, and tax collectors, from top to bottom, if connections are not established, implementation will be a long process.

With Cheng Dong's support, things were different, and tax collection began that very day.

The progress was exceptionally smooth and successful.

The people, however, did not buy it.

The government claimed it was for water management, to provide a guarantee for everyone's future, to ensure a stable harvest regardless of drought or flood, and to encourage the reclamation of more wasteland.

In the eyes of ordinary people, this is just the government taking the opportunity to amass wealth!

The people harbored deep resentment about this, but there was nothing they could do.

The government seemed to be forcing them to rebel.

The Cheng family secretly mobilized all their manpower to ensure the smooth progress of the forced requisition, urging the grassroots to intensify their efforts and use a high-pressure approach to forcibly requisition the people.

The Cheng family is not afraid of inciting public resentment, since Lu Congtian will take the blame and someone will cover for them if anything goes wrong.

Cheng Dong also wondered why Lu Congtian was so violent in amassing wealth. Wasn't he afraid that the people would be driven to desperation and rebel?

However, the lure of profit was too great, and the people's anger wouldn't be directed at the Cheng family.

If the people rebel and the authorities punish them, Lu Congtian can be ousted, and the Cheng family will remain unscathed. The Cheng family will always be the ultimate winner.

Just as Cheng Dong has always believed, who would turn down money?

Why not do it?

Half a month has passed in the blink of an eye.

Cheng Dong was all smiles as he tallied up the cartloads of money and silk that had been delivered to Wubao.

"Give some to Lu Congtian; it's still necessary to show he's being courted and rewarded. I'll keep some for myself and send some more to Jiangzhou..."

The money and cash have already been allocated by Cheng Dong.

"Master, many people have gathered in Dianjiang City, and there is a fear of a rebellion."

Someone reported this to Cheng Dong.

Cheng Dong waved his hand dismissively, "What I want is rebellion!"

"The patriarch hopes for a rebellion?!"

Cheng Dong laughed, "That way I can use suppressing rebellion as an excuse to gain military merit and put my Cheng family members on the path to officialdom."

Cheng Dong made improvements based on Lu Congtian's tax collection methods.

When officials force the people to rebel, he can seize the opportunity to gain military merit!

Therefore, he ordered local officials to intensify their efforts, raising the tax rate from one thousand coins to two or even three thousand! This forced the people to sell their property and land, leading them down the path of rebellion!

The use of Lu Congtian has come to an end.

Cheng Dong would, of course, push the culprit out without hesitation, allowing the people to vent their anger.

Since no rebellion has occurred and Lu Congtian is still useful, Cheng Dong should give him some money to appease him.

As long as Lu Congtian is taken out and beheaded, the money will return to Cheng Dong's hands.

It can be said that Cheng Dong's plan was flawless.

Someone can take the blame, the tail can be cut off, and you can become the biggest winner with both fame and fortune.

"Now, we can add fuel to the fire and relax the defenses of my Cheng family's blacksmith shop. With weapons in hand, the desire to kill will naturally arise, enough to hasten the people's rebellion."

"Master, what is the reason for this?"

"We need to quell the rebellion as soon as possible, ending it before spring planting. After all, we can't let it affect next year's spring planting, can we?"

The impending rebellion was described by Cheng Dong as a trivial matter, nothing out of the ordinary.

The confidant suddenly realized what was going on and admired Cheng Dong immensely.

"The patriarch is brilliant! The patriarch's plans are truly flawless!"

A few more days

The anger within Dianjiang City could no longer be contained and erupted like a volcano.

only……

"Master! Something terrible has happened! Over a thousand rebel soldiers have seized the Cheng family's properties in Dianjiang City."

"What's the big deal? If they want to take advantage of the chaos, let them rob us." Cheng Dong had anticipated this.

Cheng Dong remained calm. "Deploy two thousand troops to suppress the riot!"

The garrison in Dianjiang numbered only four hundred; they certainly couldn't withstand the rebellious populace.

Now, watch the performance of the Cheng family's three thousand private soldiers!

Then, as if remembering something, Cheng Dong asked, "Where's Lu Congtian?"

"I don't know!"

Cheng Dong vaguely sensed that he had overlooked something. But the rebellion had already begun, and no matter what, Lu Congtian was doomed. The people wanted to kill him, and even if he were lucky enough to survive, Cheng Dong would still kill him.

The subordinate accepted the order and left.

Cheng Dong sat firmly in the fortified position, calmly giving orders.

An hour later, someone came to report, "Report! Master, our troops have arrived in Dianjiang, but there is no sign of the rioters, only a scene of utter devastation!"

"how so?"

Cheng Dong panicked a little.

Logically speaking, when a mob rebels, their primary task should be to occupy the city, and then burn, kill, and loot.

Cheng Dong wanted the mob to rebel so that he could openly and legitimately suppress them.

It now seems that the other party is following orders without question and is secretly carrying out some kind of plan!

Reality began to slip out of Cheng Dong's control, and he had a vague sense that something was wrong.

The thought that he had three thousand private soldiers, two thousand of whom were out in the field and one thousand guarding the dock made him feel much safer.

At that moment, a servant came to report, "Report! The mine has sent someone to request reinforcements!"

"What?! So the mob attacked my mine?! What's their purpose?!"

The Cheng family controlled the largest coal mine in Dianjiang, which was arguably their greatest economic lifeline. It was through the mining of this mine that the Cheng family rose to prominence in Dianjiang.

Dianjiang City is empty; it's useless to us now that we have no military purpose. What if a mob sets fire to our coal mines? The consequences...

Cheng Dong immediately ordered, "Have the troops in the city mobilize at full speed to rescue the mine!"

The mine must not be lost!

"promise!"

Time passed

Cheng Dong paced anxiously inside the fortified village, unsure whether the rescue had reached the mine.

For some reason, he always had the illusion that he was being led by the nose.

"Report! A mob! A mob..." the servant stammered, his face filled with panic.

"Tell me, what about the mob? What about the mines?!"

Cheng Dong slapped the servant awake.

The servant covered his face, utterly terrified, "A mob! They're attacking!"

"What?!" Cheng Dong's eyes widened. "They actually attacked my fortified village?!"

This isn't disbelief, but rather a mocking tone implying that the other party has walked right into a trap.

"Yes, yes." The servant had never seen such a large scene before and was so frightened that he wet himself.

Cheng Dong kicked the man away, "Useless thing! My fortress still has over a thousand men guarding it, why should we be afraid of these few rioters? Once my Cheng family troops return, we can attack and kill them from both sides! Well done!"

Cheng Dong had already figured out the mob's movements.

Now, instead of panicking, he exuded confidence. "Order all your troops to return to the fortified village, and together we will slaughter all the rioters!"

"Ridiculous! First, seize the city's properties and acquire weapons to lure my Cheng family troops out."

"Then they moved on to the mines, trying to catch me off guard."

"Their ultimate target is my Cheng family's fortified village; they want to catch us off guard."

"However, are the fortified villages of powerful families merely for show?"