Chapter 28: Encountering Official Obstruction Once More

Chen Tong gazed at the busy crowd, his heart filled with a sense of relief. Although he had now secured a legitimate identity, surviving in these chaotic times remained fraught with difficulty.

He found Xie Qingshuang, and the two sought out a quiet spot to sit. Chen Tong’s expression was grave as he spoke slowly. "Qingshuang, it is a good thing that we now have new land and a proper status, but the situation in this turbulent era is too complex. We cannot afford to let our guard down."

Xie Qingshuang nodded slightly, his gaze fixed intently on Chen Tong as he replied, "Brother Xie, I share your sentiment. While we intend to walk the straight and narrow, I fear that in this world, relying solely on farming will hardly be enough to ensure a stable life for the brothers."

Chen Tong continued, "You are right. I have thought about it for a long time. Under the circumstances, the activities of the mountain bandits will likely have to continue. However, we cannot act recklessly as we did before; we must operate with a plan and be selective. We can rob the rich to aid the poor; this way, we gain resources while building a good reputation among the people."

Xie Qingshuang pondered for a moment before saying, "That is indeed a viable approach. But what did you mean by developing other businesses centered around the village?"

With a firm gaze, Chen Tong replied, "We can utilize this land to develop some side businesses. In fact, there is something even more important I want to do: produce salt and sugar. Salt and sugar are in high demand during these chaotic times. If we master their production, we will have a stable source of income. Furthermore, I plan to visit Boss Zhang in the city again. He is well-connected and resourceful; collaborating with him on other ventures will surely bring us many benefits."

Xie Qingshuang’s eyes lit up with excitement. "That is a brilliant idea! However, producing salt and sugar is no easy task. We must find a way to secure the appropriate techniques and raw materials."

Chen Tong nodded. "I have considered this, and I will find a way to resolve these issues. Also, the men of Black Wind Stronghold cannot rely on brute force alone; they must study military strategy. With the guidance of military tactics, we will be better prepared to handle both our bandit operations and any future crises."

Xie Qingshuang agreed. "Indeed, studying military strategy will improve the tactical proficiency of our brothers, which is crucial for our long-term development. But where shall we find suitable books on military strategy and someone to teach the men?"

After a moment of thought, Chen Tong said, "I can search for books on military strategy in the city’s bookshops. As for instructors, I am considering whether we might invite some retired veterans or down-on-their-luck martial arts masters to pass on their experience to our men."

Upon returning to his quarters, Chen Tong thought things over carefully. To develop new businesses, a significant amount of capital and supplies would be indispensable.

The copper coins collected by everyone amounted to a considerable sum. With these coins, Chen Tong found a secluded spot. At a thought, a virtual screen emitting a faint blue glow instantly appeared before him. He scanned the items on the screen, calculating rapidly.

In these troubled times, salt was of vital importance; it was not only a daily necessity but also a hard currency that could be traded for other essential supplies. Without hesitation, Chen Tong selected a batch of salt on the virtual screen and clicked to exchange. With a faint flicker of light, the salt appeared before him out of thin air.

Next, his attention was caught by some crystal-clear glass wine cups and tableware on the screen. In this era, such exquisite items were rare treasures. If traded with the high-ranking officials in the city, they might fetch a handsome return.

...

However, the cold, mechanical voice of the system suddenly echoed in his mind without warning.

[Ding!]
[Chen Tong has successfully acquired a plot of land and begun a normal life with the others.]
[But in this chaotic world, there is no such thing as a normal life. Soon, government troops will arrive to demand taxes.]
[Yet, since farming has only just begun, there is no grain to pay them.]
[At this moment, a soldier will recognize Xie Hu, and the troops will launch an attack on the people of Black Wind Stronghold.]
[Black Wind Stronghold will suffer heavy losses in this battle, and Xie Qingshuang will unfortunately perish.]

Upon hearing this prophecy, Chen Tong was struck as if by lightning. The smile vanished from his face, replaced by extreme anger and shock.

"How is this possible!" Chen Tong shouted, startling the birds nearby. "Damn it! Why now of all times!"

He paced back and forth, cursing. He would never allow such a thing to happen. "No, I must go back immediately. I must find a way to prevent all this."

Muttering to himself, he hastily packed his things, closed the virtual screen, and rode at full speed back to Black Wind Stronghold. Upon his return, he immediately gathered everyone and, framing the system's prophecy as a vision from an immortal, told them everything. The crowd was thrown into an uproar.

"How could this be? How can those soldiers just attack as they please!" Xie Hu clenched his fists in fury, his eyes burning with rage as if he were ready to charge out and fight the soldiers to the death.

"Are we just going to sit here and wait to die?" Tie Niu asked anxiously, his face filled with worry as he wrung his hands.

Chen Tong took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm. "Brothers, we must not panic. Since we know this prophecy, we have a chance to change it. Brother Hu, take the men and find a place to hide. I will go and deal with the soldiers. After all, I am still a scholar; perhaps I can reason with them."

Although the others were worried, they knew they had to follow Chen Tong’s arrangements. Xie Hu led everyone to hide quickly in the forest behind the stronghold.

Not long after, a group of government soldiers arrived at Black Wind Stronghold, full of menace. The commanding officer, looking arrogant, shouted, "You unruly peasants! This land belongs to the Imperial Court. If you are farming here, you must pay taxes!"

Chen Tong hurried forward, bowing respectfully. "My lord, I have long heard of your reputation. I am Chen Tong of this village, a scholar. We have only just arrived, and the land has barely been planted. We truly have no grain to pay the tax. I hope you might grant us some more time."

The officer sneered, about to erupt in anger, when a familiar figure stepped out from the ranks—the very official Chen Tong had dined with at the brothel.

"Is this not Scholar Chen?" the official said with a smile. "What is the meaning of this?"

Chen Tong felt a spark of hope. "My lord, you have come at the right time. We have indeed only just settled here and have no harvest yet; we simply cannot produce the grain for taxes."

The official looked at Chen Tong, then at the dissatisfied officer, and said, "This is Captain Li. You should speak with him properly."

Chen Tong immediately turned to Captain Li. "Captain Li, I know you are only following orders. But we are truly in a difficult position. How about this? I have some rare items here—they are not of great value, but they are a token of my sincerity. I hope you will accept them."

As he spoke, Chen Tong produced several exquisite glass wine cups from his robes and handed them over. Captain Li took the cups, and seeing their crystal-clear texture, a flash of surprise and delight crossed his eyes.

"Captain Li, these wine cups are rarely seen on the market. If you like them, I can find a way to get you more in the future," Chen Tong added, striking while the iron was hot.

Weighing the cups in his hand, the captain’s expression softened considerably. "Seeing as you are a scholar and quite sensible, I shall let you off this time. But it must not happen again. If you cannot pay the taxes by next time, do not blame me for being ruthless."

Chen Tong quickly expressed his gratitude. "Thank you for your magnanimity, my lord. We will certainly find a way to pay the taxes as soon as possible."