Chapter 2: The Flames Ignite

The moment Zhang Xing raised his hoe, it seemed to embody the last glimmer of hope for the entire village. Flames of determination burned in his eyes, a sight the villagers had never seen before. Faces that had once been numb now showed signs of life. They stood behind Zhang Xing like a wall—shaky, but unwavering.

The officer's sneer remained plastered on his face as he lashed his whip toward Zhang Xing. "Are you rebelling? Rebellion leads only to death! The imperial army isn't something you country bumpkins can handle!"

Zhang Xing didn't respond immediately. He glanced back at the villagers behind him, their once vacant eyes now fixated on him, awaiting his next move. He knew that this moment was no longer just about him, but for every single person in the village.

"The imperial court?" Zhang Xing scoffed coldly. "When has the court ever cared about us poor folk? Every year they raise the Liaoxiang tax, leaving us with nothing. This isn't about supporting the court—it's driving us to death! If we don't resist today, we won't even have a chance to live tomorrow!"

His voice rang out, reverberating across the village. The once-cowering villagers began to straighten up, expressions of pain and anger slowly surfacing. Deep down, they all knew Zhang Xing spoke the truth. Years of famine and endless taxes had driven them to the brink.

Seeing Zhang Xing stir the villagers, a flash of murderous intent crossed the officer's eyes. He raised his hand, and the accompanying soldiers immediately gripped their swords, taking a step forward. The villagers flinched and backed away. But just then, Zhang Xing spun around and bellowed, "Don't retreat! If we step back today, we'll never stand up again!"

His words hit the villagers like a boulder dropped into a lake, sending ripples through their hearts. Their feet froze. One by one, they clenched their hoes, sticks, and even stones picked up from the ground. Zhang Xing's courage seemed to spread through them, dispelling the fear that had long festered inside.

"Advance!" the officer shouted, waving his hand for the soldiers to move in and suppress the villagers.

As soon as the soldiers stepped forward, Zhang Xing roared and charged with his hoe raised. He struck hard, the hoe slamming into the shoulder of a soldier with a dull thud. The soldier screamed in pain and staggered to the ground. Zhang Xing's actions ignited the spark of rebellion. The villagers surged forward, attacking the soldiers in a chaotic rush.

Li He was the first to charge. Though old, the strength in his hands gripping the iron hammer hadn't faded. With a roar, he swung the hammer at a soldier's leg, knocking him down. More villagers rushed in, striking at the fallen soldiers with hoes, sticks, and whatever they had. The soldiers, caught off guard, were quickly overwhelmed, their cries mixing with the chaos.

The lead officer, seeing the situation spiral out of control, was struck with fear. He had thought the villagers were nothing more than a rabble, easily scared into submission. But now they were fighting back. He glanced at the soldiers he had brought—most were already pinned down, unable to resist the angry mob.

"Retreat!" the officer spun his horse, attempting to flee. But before he could escape, Zhang Xing came charging like a tiger, raising his hoe high and smashing it down onto the officer's head. The officer had no time to react. He only saw darkness as he tumbled from his horse, crashing heavily to the ground, lifeless.

Silence fell over the village. Everyone stopped, staring in stunned disbelief at the officer's body, his head a bloody mess, with blood seeping into the dirt.

"D-Dead…?" Li He gasped, still catching his breath, his face filled with shock. He had never imagined Zhang Xing would actually kill the officer.

Zhang Xing raised his head, his face spattered with blood, but he felt no regret. He knew there was no turning back now. Slowly, he walked to the officer's body, took a deep breath, and said coldly, "From today on, if we want to survive, we must take control of our own fate."

The villagers exchanged glances and then nodded one by one. They knew, at that moment, they had severed ties with the government. There was no going back. Zhang Xing stood up and faced the villagers, raising his blood-stained hoe as he called out, "Who will join me in fighting for a way out?"

At first, hesitation and fear lingered in their eyes. But as they looked down at the bodies of the soldiers, that fear began to fade. Zhang Xing was right—there was no other choice.

"I'm with you!" Li He was the first to step forward, gripping his hammer tightly as he stood beside Zhang Xing.

"I'm with you too!" More villagers followed, holding their simple tools as if they were swords, their resolve as firm as steel.

Seeing the villagers standing up one by one, hope flickered in Zhang Xing's heart. He lifted his gaze toward the distant mountains. Beyond them, to the south, there were likely countless others like them—farmers who had taken up arms to fight for survival.

"Everyone, gather your belongings and take anything useful," Zhang Xing ordered firmly. "We're leaving this place to find more brothers in the south!"

The villagers nodded. They knew staying here was no longer safe. The government would soon find out what had happened, and they had to leave before the authorities could react.

As night fell, the village was shrouded in silence. Zhang Xing stood at the village entrance, still gripping his hoe, his gaze fixed on the starry sky in the distance. He knew this path would be fraught with hardship, but for the sake of survival, there was no other option.

"Brother Xing…" a voice called from behind. It was Li He, his face etched with worry. "Can we really make it? The imperial court won't be easy to deal with."

Zhang Xing turned to look at Li He's weathered face and patted his shoulder. "We won't know unless we try. As long as we're alive, there's hope."

Li He was silent for a moment before nodding heavily. "You're right. As long as we live, there's a chance."

Before long, the villagers gathered at the entrance, carrying simple bundles of belongings. Their faces were filled with exhaustion and anxiety, but more importantly, a sense of determination. Zhang Xing stood at the front of the group, raising his hoe as he shouted, "Let's go find more brothers and carve out a path to survival!"

The group slowly set out, disappearing into the night. Their steps were heavy, yet filled with hope. In Zhang Xing's eyes, a flame of resolve burned brightly. He knew this was only the beginning. The real battle awaited them ahead.