The Ouyang family’s position is already unshakable, possessing both fame and influence, and their wealth is abundant. No matter what happens in Great Chu, the Ouyang family can protect themselves.

And the eldest brother’s intention is also that the Ouyang family only needs to ensure self-preservation.

"Why are you still kneeling? Hurry back and think of a solution. Are you expecting me, the old man, to come up with one for you?" Master Ouyang waved his hand, showing an attitude of not wanting to see Gu Jin’an.

"Yes, student will return now. Thank you, sir." After rising and giving a bow, Gu Jin’an turned to leave.

But before departing, he glanced at Ouyang Ming and gave her a hand salute, thanking her for her help.

After he left, Master Ouyang glared at Ouyang Ming and said, "Why are you so stubborn, little girl? If I had known your chivalrous heart was so strong, I wouldn’t have let you practice martial arts back then."

He complained further, "I’m being put into a difficult position by the two of you. If it weren’t for your incessant pleading, I wouldn’t have agreed to anything."

Ouyang Ming chuckled, "With grandfather’s wisdom, if you didn’t want to, how could we possibly have cornered you? You also don’t want the people to suffer and don’t truly wish to follow uncle’s instructions—that’s why you relented and agreed to us."

Master Ouyang snorted quietly: "Hmph, stop flattering me. Get going, I don’t want to see you either."

Ouyang Ming smiled and answered obediently, "Yes, granddaughter obeys." Quickly, she went away.

...

After leaving the Ouyang estate, Gu Jin’an headed straight towards Da Feng Village and returned to the village in under an hour.

The village was noisy and chaotic, and the villagers grabbed Secretary Chen who had come to pronounce the decree, refusing to let him leave, spitting as they shouted, "Secretary Chen, you can’t leave! Explain clearly why we should pay double taxes and the Kangrong tax! One tael of silver per person for the Kangrong tax—are you trying to devour us?!"

Secretary Chen’s face was covered with villagers’ saliva, and his sleeve was torn. He struggled with the arm that was held and said, "Everyone, please calm down. This is an order from the Emperor, and I’m just the messenger. Holding me doesn’t help. If you really don’t want to pay the Kangrong tax, you’ll have to bring it up with the Emperor."

"Ah spit, Chen, is what you say even human speech? The Emperor lives in the Capital, how can we possibly find him?" He Tianwa and his wife surrounded Secretary Chen, saying, "We’re just looking for you because you delivered the message. You need to give us an explanation before you can leave!"

He Tianwa’s wife started crying, saying, "We were fined silver just months ago, and life is already hard enough. These Kangrong taxes will kill us!"

As she spoke, she sat on the ground and began wailing, "Oh God, I won’t live anymore; I’ll just die here now."

Mrs. Chen was also very angry and shouted at He Tianwa’s wife, "Yes, hurry and die to show them; let them know we can’t be bullied!"

He Tianwa’s wife paused, unsure which side Mrs. Chen was on.

Upon seeing Mrs. Chen, Secretary Chen was already feeling a headache. Ever since he first came to Da Feng Village with Government Officials to collect taxes four years ago, Mrs. Chen has always opposed him. Every time he comes, she scolds him. If it weren’t for showing face to Company Commander Qin and Squad Leader Luo, he would have punished Mrs. Chen long ago.

As he struggled with the headache, Secretary Chen saw his servant bringing his savior and immediately cried, "Squad Leader Luo, Village Chief He, help!"

"What are you guys doing? Didn’t I tell you we’d discuss this at tonight’s meeting? Grabbing Secretary Chen-like this, you want to be thrown in jail?!" Village Chief He was so angry that he pointed his cane at the villagers and scolded them.

But the villagers were too furious and still held onto Secretary Chen tightly.

With a swift motion, Luo Wu drew his knife, pointing at them, "The blade doesn’t see, everyone back off!!"

This shout was terrifying, and seeing it, the villagers quickly let go of Secretary Chen and retreated.

Secretary Chen was finally saved and immediately hid behind Luo Wu: "Squad Leader Luo, I’m glad you’re here; my life was about to end."

A group of shrews, grabbing him, for what? They all said he wasn’t in charge—just a junior clerk delivering the documents to each village, nothing more than a high-level runner.

Luo Wu glanced at Secretary Chen and said to the villagers, "If you’re unhappy, you can go to the government office to see the Lord County Magistrate. Making things hard for Secretary Chen and not letting him leave will only worsen the situation."

Luo Wu was also angry about the increased taxes, deeply thinking the Emperor was incompetent. Ever since Emperor Jingyuan ascended, the Northwest became chaotic, leading them to flee famine. Now, barely after a few years of peace, another incident occurs—it seemed they didn’t want the people to live.

Luo Wu, a squad leader in Tianfu County, often ran around Tianfu county’s various regions, knew Da Feng Village’s life was much better than Tianfu County’s other villages. But now, even Da Feng Village’s villagers were wailing to the heavens; Luo Wu couldn’t imagine the extent of chaos in other villages. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"Go to the county government? Will the Lord County Magistrate see us?" the villagers questioned.

Luo Wu: "I don’t know, but you’re not the only ones going. Once more people go, the Lord County Magistrate will have to say something."

"Brother Luo Wu," at this point, Gu Jin’an timely called to stop Luo Wu, aware that speaking such words was inappropriate for someone in the government’s position.

Luo Wu, seeing him safely back, was relieved and said to Village Chief He, "Chief, watch over the village matters closely; don’t allow everyone to do anything irreparable."

Then he said to Secretary Chen, "Secretary Chen, come to my house to rest for a moment; I’ll accompany you back to the government office later."

The words from County Magistrate Zheng had been brought by Secretary Chen, instructing these government officials to immediately return to the county office to prevent village residents from causing disturbances.

"Thank you, Squad Leader Luo." Secretary Chen breathed a sigh of relief and followed Luo Wu to the Luo Family.

Gu Jin’an then returned home to tell Gu Jinli what Master Ouyang had said, and sighed, "I thought about this all the way back, but it’s a deadlock. If the Emperor doesn’t change his mind, there’s nothing we can do."

Gu Jinli sneered, "Don’t worry, brother; the Emperor will change his mind."

With his eyes lit up, Gu Jin’an asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Gu Jinli: "Brother mentioned it’s a deadlock. Since it’s a deadlock, someone will risk everything to survive. Once the uproar reaches a certain level, the Emperor will naturally soften his stance and change his mind. But until he changes his mind, things won’t stop being chaotic here."

And her family’s reputation was well-known for being wealthy for miles around. Once chaos ensues, locals will surround their home, loot and burn it!

Damn it, greedy Emperor! Do you think making money’s easy for me? How could you trap me this way!

Having escaped famine, Gu Jin’an understood the principle of ’having a jade would invite trouble,’ and he realized this as well: "San Lang has people, plus Qiu Lang and others, can protect us."

"But it won’t be good if only our few families are safe. What if others besiege the village? Our situation will remain dangerous," Gu Jinli said, complaining inwardly about Emperor Chu again.

After a long silence, more than two quarters of an hour passed before she looked at Gu Jin’an and said, "I have a not-so-good idea. If done well, it could protect not just us but stabilize the surrounding counties, maybe even the entire He’an Prefecture. But achieving that requires help from powerful and wealthy families."