Chapter 6: The Underlying Turbulence

The night was deep and quiet. Chen Zhiyuan, the village head of Chen Village, sat before a dim oil lamp, his face heavy with uncertainty. Zhang Xing's words still echoed in his ears, making it difficult for him to find peace. As the leader of Chen Village, he felt the weight of responsibility for the fate of everyone under his care. Zhang Xing's proposal was bold, but it was also incredibly dangerous. One wrong move, and they could all be executed.

A soft knock came from the door, causing Chen Zhiyuan's heart to tighten. "Come in."

The door creaked open, and a thin figure entered—it was Chen Zhiyuan's trusted confidant, Li San. He moved silently to the table, lowering his voice. "Village head, what did that Zhang Xing fellow say?"

Chen Zhiyuan hesitated for a moment before briefly summarizing Zhang Xing's proposal to unite against the government. After hearing the story, Li San's expression shifted, his face showing signs of doubt. "Village head, this is too dangerous. If we join Zhang Xing in rebelling, we'll lose our heads. But then again, if we don't, life is getting harder and harder."

Chen Zhiyuan nodded in agreement, speaking gravely. "I know. The issue is, Zhang Xing seems determined. Whether we agree or not, he's going forward with his plans. If we refuse and they manage to succeed, we'll miss our chance. But if we join and the court suppresses the rebellion, we'll be dragged down with them."

Li San frowned deeply, thinking carefully. After a pause, he asked, "Village head, what if we stall for time? We can wait and see if Zhang Xing's village survives. If they manage to hold out, we can join later. If they're crushed, we won't have done anything to implicate ourselves."

Chen Zhiyuan's eyes flickered in the light of the lamp. He nodded slowly. "You have a point. But we can't reject Zhang Xing outright—it would raise suspicion."

Li San leaned in closer and whispered, "I can quietly reach out to some contacts in town to find out what the government is planning. If they're already aware of Zhang Xing's village, we'll know to stay out of it."

After a moment of thought, Chen Zhiyuan made up his mind. "Alright, do that. Find out what the government's next move is. As for Zhang Xing, I'll string him along and decide later."

Li San bowed and left the room. Chen Zhiyuan sat back down, still torn. The situation was dire, and it seemed that whether they chose to rebel or comply, there was no clear path to safety.

Meanwhile, Zhang Xing and Li He were resting in a modest villager's home in Chen Village. Though the surface appeared calm, Zhang Xing couldn't shake a feeling of unease. Chen Zhiyuan's reaction had been noncommittal—neither a firm refusal nor a genuine show of enthusiasm. It made Zhang Xing realize that things wouldn't go as smoothly as he'd hoped.

"Do you think Zhiyuan is stalling us?" Li He asked quietly.

Zhang Xing frowned. "It's possible. He might be hesitant, worried that if we fail, his village will suffer the consequences. This kind of response was expected."

Li He sighed. "But we're running out of time. The soldiers could return any day now. If Chen Village won't ally with us, what do we do next?"

After a moment's thought, Zhang Xing replied, "No matter what, we have to keep moving forward. If we can unite more villages, eventually more people will join our cause. Zhiyuan may be hesitant now, but that doesn't mean he won't eventually come around. We just need to show them that victory is possible, and they'll follow."

Li He nodded, though concern still lingered in his eyes. "But what if Chen Village betrays us? They might report our location to the government for their own protection."

Zhang Xing's eyes flickered for a moment. "It's a risk. But we don't have many options. If Chen Village does betray us, we'll have to be ready."

The two discussed their options, deciding to stay in Chen Village a bit longer to observe the situation. At the same time, they sent messengers to nearby Zhao Village to try and expand their alliance further. As the night deepened, the wind rustled the leaves outside, sounding like a storm brewing—a storm that seemed to foreshadow the coming conflict.

Meanwhile, in the county office in town, a constable rushed into the county magistrate's study, dressed in official robes. "Sir, I've just received a confidential report. Several villages in the east appear to be stirring, especially Zhang Village. The villagers there reportedly fought off a squad of government soldiers a few days ago."

The magistrate set down his teacup, his brows furrowing slightly. "Zhang Village? They repelled soldiers? Are you certain?"

The constable nodded hurriedly. "Yes, sir. I've confirmed it. A man named Zhang Xing is leading the villagers. He organized a group of farmers who managed to drive off the officials sent to collect taxes."

The magistrate's face darkened instantly. "A mere village dares to rebel? How audacious."

The constable, treading carefully, asked, "Sir, what should we do next? Should we send troops to suppress them?"

The magistrate paused, then let out a cold laugh. "These foolish villagers are tired of living. Do they really think a rabble of hundreds can stand against the imperial court? Immediately send for the soldiers stationed in the county. Prepare the troops—we will crush them within three days!"

The constable bowed quickly. "Yes, sir!"

Unbeknownst to Zhang Xing and Li He, danger was quietly approaching them.