All Heavens Strategy Game

Su Ming walked straight to the village chief Su Dashun's house, his footsteps crunching through the snow.

Su Dashun had just seen off two villagers who came to inquire about the details of offsetting debts with labor, and was rubbing his hands to warm himself by the charcoal brazier when he saw Su Ming come in braving the cold, his face still somewhat gloomy, and he couldn't help but be surprised.

"Sanlang? Why do you look so pale? What happened?"

"Grandpa Da Shun," Su Ming sighed, "Go and tell everyone in the village immediately, especially those families who may be running out of food, that they absolutely, absolutely must not borrow grain from Yang Tingzhang, no matter how eloquently he speaks or how low the interest rate is, they must not borrow a single grain! Our village should handle its own affairs."

Su Dashun was taken aback, his face showing confusion: "Why? Sanlang, what you're saying... Yang Tingzhang was just trying to help us out when we were in trouble, why do you have such a big problem with him?"

In his memory, although Su Ming was calm and decisive, he was never one to make baseless accusations or wild guesses.

This reaction today is truly unusual.

"Kind-hearted?" Su Ming shook his head. "If only that were true."

Before Su Dashun could answer, he recounted Yang Zhengxiong's plan of "exchanging grain for land" and his insidious methods of "making it impossible for people to repay."

The ancestral hall was so quiet that only the crackling of the charcoal fire could be heard.

The confusion on Su Dashun's face was gradually replaced by astonishment.

"Is this really the case?"

If someone else had said this, he might not have believed it, but when Su Sanlang said it, he believed it without the slightest hesitation.

He suddenly stood up, paced back and forth in the room, clenched his fists, and cursed:

"I thought... I thought he was a good official who cared about the people!"

"I was so touched that they came all this way in the heavy snow!"

"I never imagined... I never imagined he would have such a despicable and wicked plan that would wipe out his own lineage! He wants to drink the blood of the people of Sishui Village and eat our flesh!!"

He paced back and forth in the ancestral hall in anger, his breath trembling.

For ordinary people, farmland is their lifeline, and anyone who hears this news will be filled with rage.

Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks, as if he had remembered something extremely terrifying, and his face turned pale instantly.

"That's right...that's right! The year before last, Old Man Lin's family in Shanglin Village lost three mu of prime paddy fields just like that!"

Su Dashun's voice trembled as he looked at Su Ming, his eyes filled with lingering fear and bone-chilling coldness: "Back then, everyone said he was just unlucky. Before the summer harvest, the fields were suddenly plagued by insects. Overnight, the crops were crawling with insects and were completely devoured... That's why he couldn't repay the headman's grain and had to give up his land."

"Looking back now, what a coincidence! Why did it have to happen right before the harvest? And why did only his family suffer the worst? It turns out... it turns out someone deliberately released the insects!!"

Upon understanding this, Su Dashun felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.

This Yang Zhengxiong is no benevolent official; he's a wolf in sheep's clothing!

They are evil spirits lurking in the countryside, waiting for years of famine to suck the blood and sweat of the people!

"Sanlang, don't worry!"

Su Dashun took a few deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down. His eyes regained their firmness, even carrying a fierce determination born of being fooled: "I'll go door to door and tell everyone clearly what that bastard Yang Zhengxiong's scheme is all about!"

"He wants to borrow grain? Dream on! We have our own rules; no one will starve. We don't need to borrow his grain!"

He turned to go and report the situation, but then paused.

The anger on his face gradually faded.

Instead, a deep sense of worry prevailed.

He turned around, looked at Su Ming who had a calm expression, hesitated for a moment, and said in a low voice, "Sanlang... by openly ruining his plans, we're essentially cutting off one of his biggest sources of income."

As the saying goes, cutting off someone's money is like killing their parents.

"After all, he was the head of the village, who had managed this area for many years. He was an official and had power in his hands."

"He definitely knows you ruined his big plan. What if... what if he holds a grudge and secretly sabotages you? What will you do then? It's tough for ordinary people like us to fight against officials..."

His concern was genuine and heartfelt.

Su Ming was the village's hope and a junior he valued highly; he absolutely could not watch anything happen to Su Ming.

He would rather pay any price than let Su Ming get into trouble!

Su Ming felt a warmth in his heart as he looked at the village chief's genuine concern, but his expression grew even colder.

He walked to the window, gazing at the fine snow that had begun to fall again outside, his voice as calm as a frozen river:

"Grandpa Dashun, do you think that even if I don't stop him today, or tell the villagers about his bad intentions, and just let him do whatever he wants, he'll forgive me afterwards and treat me like one of his own?"

Su Dashun was taken aback.

Su Ming turned around, his eyes blazing: "I organized the village to help itself, and had the rich lend grain to the poor. It seemed like it was the village's own business, but in reality, I cut off his smoothest path to profit from the disaster in Sishui Village."

"Without me, without this relief program, would those starving people in the village begging and begging to borrow his 'low-interest grain'? Would he be able to easily exchange a little grain for vast tracts of fertile land through some underhanded means?"

"I blocked his way and took away his 'food'. In his eyes, I have long been a thorn in his side."

"He came to see me today. Before he left, he was all smiles and said that as long as I didn't stop him, we would still be friends. But that kind of smiling tiger, the more friendly he is, the sharper the knife in his heart is."

"He's probably been plotting how to deal with me for a long time."

"If you don't want him to target me, I'll have to join him. But Grandpa Da Shun, do you think I'd join him to target our own people in the village?" Su Ming retorted.

"You're a good kid, and we've all watched you grow up, so naturally we can't help him." Su Dashun's voice was a little hoarse. "Then... he'll definitely come after you, what should we do?"

"When soldiers come, we'll block them; when water comes, we'll dam it." Su Ming replied with only eight words, but his tone was as firm as a rock: "Right now, the most important thing is to protect the village and prevent anyone from taking advantage of the situation."

"Grandpa Dashun, I'm entrusting the matter of warning the villagers to you. I also need to go back and make some preparations."

After saying that, he nodded to Su Dashun, pushed open the door of the ancestral hall, and stepped back into the wind and snow.

Su Dashun stood there for a long time, gazing at the boy's slightly thin yet unusually upright back in the wind and snow.

Only now, watching the boy's lonely figure disappear into the distance, did Su Dashun suddenly realize:

If Su Ming were to agree to join forces with Yang Zhengxiong today, given the villagers' trust in Su Ming and their belief in Yang Tingzhang's good reputation as a good person, most families in the village would likely suffer!

They've probably been sold out by Yang Tingzhang, and now they'll be counting the money for him!

Su Ming, through this cooperation, could secretly obtain the many benefits promised by Yang Tingzhang, easily move into the city, and have a large sum of money.

In other words, Sanlang refused a sum of money and, risking being targeted by Yang Tingzhang, stood firmly with the village without hesitation...

Being targeted by Yang Tingzhang, given his ruthless methods, could cost you your life!

Faced with the choice between death and wealth, Su Sanlang chose death.

This young man chose to face danger alone for the sake of his village!

"Village head, why do you important figures always oppress us ordinary people..."

Su Dashun was actually timid.

Yang Zhengxiong was timid.

The other party is the village head!

The character for "official" has two mouths; it devours people!

The village head was the highest-ranking official he had ever met in his life.

But Su Sanlang, a junior in the village, had the courage to take on danger alone. Su Dashun was called "Grandpa Dashun" by Su Sanlang. How could he be inferior to a junior?

Since Su Sanlang is not afraid,

Su Dashun was no longer afraid!

"Sanlang, Sanlang, you are the future of our village. You are still young, and you have an even brighter future ahead of you. You still have to lead our village to prosperity. No matter what, you absolutely cannot get into trouble..."

Su Dashun's worried gaze faded, replaced by a gradually cold look: "This concerns the entire village, how can you shoulder this alone? You underestimate your uncles and elders. We may have no power or connections, but we have our worthless lives..."

"It's not your turn to take the blame for the village yet. As long as you have the will, we're at ease. We can still protect you from the wind and rain..."

Seemingly having made up his mind, Su Dashun slowly walked towards the village. First, he had to inform the villagers that he couldn't borrow grain from the village head.

Secondly, Yang Zhengxiong, the pavilion chief…

...

...

Back home, Su Ming's mindset did not ease after exposing Yang Zhengxiong's conspiracy; instead, it became even more tense.

The gun is easy to hide, and the dark arrow is hard to prevent.

A village head who has been operating at the grassroots level for many years and is familiar with all sorts of underhanded methods has far too many ways to target a farmer's son.

Extortion, framing, military service, collusion with bandits, even tampering with taxes and corvée labor... it's impossible to guard against them all.

Including the quota for corvée labor, once a quota is assigned to you, you have to obediently go and build dikes and palaces, do hard labor, and it's not certain whether you can come back!

"In the end, it's because I'm not strong enough." Su Ming clenched his fist, feeling the faint yet resilient internal energy within his body: "If I had the power to sweep away everything, or the authority to be high above, would he dare to harbor even the slightest evil thought?"

However, military strength cannot be improved overnight, and power is even more distant.

Right now, the only thing he can rely on quickly is the jar of deer blood wine that is about to be finished.

The days of waiting became somewhat unbearable.

He practiced his sword even more diligently, and his proficiency in the Five Elements Sword Technique slowly but steadily increased, from (Beginner 3/10) to (Beginner 6/10).

Every swing of the sword was accompanied by vigilance against potential danger and a thirst for power.

Finally, on the morning of the fifteenth day after the jars were sealed, Su Ming carefully broke the seals on the two wine jars.

—That's right, there are two.

One is big, and one is small.

To prevent any brewing errors, he brewed two as a precaution.

"Open the small jar first. If there's nothing wrong with that jar, then the large jar will be fine too..."

Su Ming opened the small jar.

An intensely fragrant medicinal aroma wafted out, instantly filling the entire room. Even Liu Shi and her children, who were busy in the outer room, couldn't help but peek out and exclaim, "It smells so good!"

No error!

Su Ming was overjoyed and quickly took a clean earthenware cup, scooping out about an ounce of wine from the small jar.

The wine-colored amber shimmered with an alluring luster in the morning light.

Without hesitation, he tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.

"boom--!"

The wine, upon entering the throat, initially felt like a blazing, scalding hot flame.

Immediately, the "fire line" exploded, turning into countless scorching torrents that rushed towards every part of the body!

Unlike the heat of ordinary alcoholic beverages, this heat contains a powerful vitality and a profound sense of strength. Wherever it passes, muscles tremble slightly, and bones emit extremely subtle, teeth-grinding cracking sounds, as if they are cheering and jumping for joy.

Su Ming immediately sat down cross-legged and fully activated his Xingyi Gong, guiding the violent medicinal power to circulate throughout his body along his meridians.

He could clearly feel that his blood and qi were slowly becoming more vigorous, and his internal organs were as if they were being enveloped and nourished by warm spring water. Some minor injuries and fatigue that were difficult to detect during his previous practice were being slowly repaired and soothed.

My breathing became deep and long involuntarily, and with each inhale, it felt as if I could take in more air, my lungs expanded, and my breath became long and deep.

About an incense stick's time later, the surging medicinal power in his body gradually subsided and merged into his flesh and bones.

Su Ming opened his eyes, exhaled a breath of turbid air, his aura was condensed, and a faint white streak more than a foot long was sprayed out in the cold air, which lasted for several breaths before dissipating.

He stood up and casually stretched his arms and legs.

My body felt both lighter and heavier; it was a very contradictory feeling.

Lightness is due to smooth blood and qi circulation, strong muscles and bones, and more flexible movement.

The heaviness is due to the apparent increase in the density of the muscles and bones, which suggests greater strength.

"Good!" Su Ming thought to himself.

This is just the first small cup, and the improvement it brings is already so obvious.

Not only has his strength increased, but most importantly, his internal organs have been nourished, and his breathing has become longer and more even, which is a sign of a solid foundation in internal strength.

If this continues, and I slowly digest and absorb this small jar of deer blood wine, my strength will surely reach a new level.

"Once I digest these two jars of wine, my Xingyi Gong will probably break through, and my strength will increase from 300 jin again..." Su Ming estimated in his heart.

but,

Every medicine has some degree of toxicity.

Even the best tonics need to be taken gradually.

Taking too much at once not only wastes the medicine's potency but may also damage the meridians.

Su Ming understood this principle well and knew that these two jars of wine could not be consumed at once. It was best to digest them slowly over the next month in order to absorb the medicinal effects most perfectly.

Just as he was planning his next training session, a series of hurried footsteps and noisy voices suddenly came from outside the courtyard.

"Quick! Get out of the way!"

"Be careful, hold it steady!"

"Someone go quickly and fetch Old Su to take a look!"

Su Ming frowned, pushed open the door, and went out.

Village chief Su Dashun and several able-bodied villagers were seen carrying a person on a door panel, hurrying past the door!

The person being carried was covered in blood, his clothes were tattered, and his face and hands were covered in abrasions and cuts. He was none other than Su Dalu, a well-known hunter in the village!

Beside him was Su Dalu's wife, Ma Xiuying, who was crying her heart out.

"Aunt Xiuying, Village Chief, what's wrong?" Su Ming quickly stepped forward.

Ma Xiuying looked up and saw Su Ming. As if grasping a pillar of support, she cried, "Sanlang! My damned husband... I don't know what possessed him, insisting on going into the mountains to check the snares in this heavy snow... and he came back like this! Covered in injuries, and we can't wake him up. What are we going to do?!"

Su Dashun also looked anxious: "Don't ask anymore, just carry it back first. Our village hunter, Old Su, knows a bit about herbs, let him take a look!"

Looking at Su Dalu's face, which was still twitching in pain while he was unconscious, and his disheveled body covered in bruises that could not have been caused by a simple wrestling match, Su Ming felt a sense of foreboding.

Something happened in the mountains?

It's probably not that simple!

He had a vague idea of ​​what was going on, and said in a deep voice, "I'll go with you to take a look."

The group hurriedly carried Su Dalu back to his home.

Upon receiving the news, the hunter Su Laonian also arrived carrying a worn-out medicine box.

When Su Laonian was young, he studied medicine and knew some basic methods of treating injuries. In addition, he was a hunter who often went to the mountains to dig for medicinal herbs and hunt, so he was regarded as the village's "doctor".

After a thorough examination and cleaning, and the application of crushed hemostatic herbs, Su Dalu finally regained consciousness, his eyes unfocused and filled with extreme fear.

"Wolves...so many wolves...a pack of wolves!!"