Late Han Dynasty: Did the Yellow Emperor truly descend?

Chapter 50 Things Are Different Now

Those faces that had been overjoyed after receiving their grain and land a few days earlier now held a hint of sorrow in their eyes.

Once the initial excitement wears off, life goes on as usual.

The crisis is still there, the bandits are still there, and the government is still unreliable.

Reality was like a bucket of cold water, dousing their bodies, which had just warmed up by the fire, and chilling them to the bone.

"Wang Fu, who is the village militia captain you have chosen?"

Li Sheng asked.

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Wang Fu's face, and he stammered for a moment.

"This...this..."

Seeing that Wang Fu was speechless, Li Sheng roughly knew what had happened.

"No rush, let me see what you've accomplished these past few days."

Led by Wang Fu, he toured the village.

There is still a lot of grain left. Each family is eating it sparingly after it has been distributed, and there are still some reserves left in the granary.

Spring plowing is in full swing in the fields, and their enthusiasm is high now that the land belongs to them.

The local militia were called to the courtyard to line up. There were about twenty young men, each holding a variety of "weapons." They stood crookedly, but their eyes were still bright.

Li Sheng offered no comment, only nodding.

Back in the front yard, Wang Fu brought over a bench and invited Li Sheng to sit down, then busied himself pouring water.

Li Sheng waved his hand, signaling him not to hurry.

"Wang Fu, who's in charge of Xiangyang Village now?"

Wang Fu was taken aback, exchanged glances with the people around him, and then spoke cautiously.

"Reporting to our benefactor, we have chosen a few elders to discuss matters. The village is relatively harmonious."

Li Sheng nodded and was about to speak when footsteps sounded at the courtyard gate.

Several people walked in.

The leader was a man in his thirties, sturdy and wearing a coarse cloth short coat. He had a wood-chopping knife at his waist and walked with a steady gait, clearly indicating that he had some skill.

He was followed by three or four men, all young and strong, who appeared more composed than the local militia in the courtyard.

"Wang Fu, I heard our benefactor has arrived?"

The man spoke as soon as he entered the door, his voice loud and clear.

Wang Fu hurriedly went to greet him.

"Brother Zhang, you've arrived. Our benefactor just got here."

He turned to introduce him to Li Sheng.

"My benefactor, this is Brother Zhang Wu. He used to be a hunter in our Xiangyang Village. A few days ago, when the village militia was being selected, the brothers elected him as the captain. Brother Zhang is skilled; he can draw a hunting bow and has excellent archery skills."

Zhang Wu walked up to Li Sheng, clasped his hands in a respectful greeting, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Zhang Wu has met our benefactor. He still vividly remembers the heroic deeds our benefactor displayed in killing the bandits that day. Our benefactor saved the lives of everyone in our village, and Xiangyang Village will never forget this kindness."

Li Sheng stood up and returned the greeting with clasped hands.

"Brother Zhang Wu, there's no need to be so polite. Protecting the territory and ensuring the safety of the people is everyone's responsibility."

Zhang Wu looked at Li Sheng and the other man and spoke sincerely.

"My benefactor, a few days ago our village militia in Xiangyang Village discussed it and we all agreed that you are right. Relying on others all the time is not a solution. We are all farmers, and with you as our role model, we are all thinking about whether we can train our own militia and help each other with the militia brothers in Dongping Village. That way, when bandits come, we can help each other out."

After he finished speaking, his gaze remained fixed on Li Sheng.

Wang Fu's expression changed slightly, and he subconsciously glanced at Li Sheng.

The courtyard fell silent.

Li Shi raised his eyebrows.

Li Sheng looked at Zhang Wu with no expression on his face, only a faint smile.

"Mutual support is a good thing. I, Li Sheng, admire the Zhang brothers and the Xiangyangli brothers for their ambition."

Upon hearing this, a hint of smugness flashed in Zhang Wu's eyes.

The people behind him also relaxed a bit.

"By the way, my benefactor, I haven't yet asked what brings you to our Xiangyang Village. If there's anything we brothers can do to help you, please don't hesitate to ask."

Zhang Wu spoke in a hearty and forthright tone.

The people behind him chimed in, saying that they should let Li Sheng know if he needed their help.

Wang Fu stood to the side, looking embarrassed.

Seeing everyone's reaction, Li Sheng knew all too well that these people in Xiangyangli had already begun to develop ideas of independence and autonomy.

That's why he didn't directly agree to the villagers' request in the first place.

What he needs are people who are truly willing to follow him, not passively attached to him under the guise of "gratitude." Otherwise, once their minds change like they have today, they will feel that Li Sheng is taking advantage of the situation to oppress them.

He understood human nature perfectly.

He looked at the spirited Zhang Wu and said in a calm tone.

"Nothing much, just came to see how the brothers in Xiangyangli are doing with their training. Seeing everyone looking so radiant, it seems Brother Zhang Wu is quite capable."

"No, no."

Upon receiving Li Sheng's praise, Zhang Wu quickly waved his hand, but his eyes were already crinkling with a smile.

Li Sheng didn't reply. He simply picked up the bowl of water that Wang Fu had poured, took a slow sip, and then put it down.

"Brother Zhang Wu, you just said that I could bring it up as I pleased."

He raised his head and looked at Zhang Wu with a calm gaze.

"Well, I do have something I'd like to ask Brother Zhang Wu for a favor."

Zhang Wu was taken aback, then patted his chest and said.

"Please speak, my benefactor! Anything that Zhang Wu and Xiangyangli can do, we will do without hesitation!"

The people behind him nodded in agreement, each with an expression of gratitude on their face.

Li Sheng nodded, his tone casual, as if he were chatting about everyday things.

"Here's what happened. A few days ago, the county gave me a job as the head of Siyang Pavilion. As you know, a pavilion needs to have at least a dozen guards. But I'm new here and don't know the people in the ten li under the pavilion, especially the able-bodied men in each household. I have no idea who is capable or reliable."

He paused, looking at Zhang Wu.

"Brother Zhang Wu, you've lived in Xiangyang Village for so many years, you should know the situation there. I'd like to ask you for a favor. Please keep an eye out for suitable young men in Xiangyang Village who are willing to come and work as guards in the village."

He spoke casually, but the courtyard suddenly fell silent.

Zhang Wu's smile froze on his face.

The young men behind him looked at each other, their eyes filled with confusion.

Wang Fu was the first to react, suddenly raising his head and staring wide-eyed at Li Sheng.

"The...the head of the pavilion?"

Li Sheng tilted his head slightly, glanced at Wang Fu, and nodded.

"Yes, the head of the pavilion. The head of Siyang Pavilion. He's the county clerk; he just arrived yesterday."

As he spoke, he took the wooden tablet from his sleeve and casually placed it on the table in front of him.

The wooden document was small, tied with a dark green ribbon, with words engraved on it and a vermilion seal.

The sunlight shone on the seal, making it appear strikingly red.

Zhang Wu's gaze fell on the wooden tablet, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

He recognized the thing.

Those are official credentials; they cannot be forged.

"The head of the pavilion..."

He repeated the two words to himself, his voice hoarse.

His earlier boastful words, "Please feel free to ask, my benefactor," now seemed like a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head.

Li Sheng, however, seemed oblivious to the change in atmosphere and continued speaking at a leisurely pace.

"Brother Zhang Wu, you don't need to feel pressured. I just mentioned the post station soldier casually. You have a wide network of connections in Xiangyang Village and know many able-bodied men. Just pass on a message for me. If you're willing to come, come find me at the post station, and I'll personally test you."

He picked up the bowl and took another sip of water.

"Of course, if you, Brother Zhang Wu, are willing to come, I would be more than happy to have you. With your archery skills, it would be a waste to leave you as a village militiaman. You should at least come to the pavilion and do something great."