Chapter 229: Turmoil

Since ancient times, village names have often been whimsical—those near mountains take the name of the mountain, those by water take the name of the water; villages with famous residents often simply use the famous person’s name as their title. But more commonly, they are named after surnames such as Zhaojiazhuang, Lijiatun, or Wangshicun. These surname-based villages usually indicate the most powerful clan, as in such communities, the orders of the clan elders carry more weight than those of the imperial officials assigned to oversee them. The respected elders in the villages also wield influence greater than that of the government.

Since early spring, the government had implemented various beneficial policies—reclaiming wasteland, establishing farmland, providing oxen, and lending seeds—resulting in a surge in the number of people working the land. Yet human effort cannot overcome nature’s will; once signs of drought appeared, panic set in among the villagers. Those who had dug ditches fared better, while those who hadn’t could only beat their chests in despair. As a result, conflicts over water and ditches between villages and clans, led by clan elders and respected villagers, grew increasingly fierce.

In Xiaohézhuang and Gāoshāntun within Shouguang County, two villages fought over a ditch that led directly to the Juyang River. Two respected elders called for action, bringing up old grievances from previous years. Within just seven days, there were three armed clashes. Though no one died, many were severely injured.

Early that morning, when Zhang Yue arrived with his men, he immediately saw that many fields, which should have been lush green, were in disarray. Due to the lack of rain for days, dark red stains could be seen on the soil, seemingly indicating past battles. Zhang Yue ordered his men to find the village head, then stood by the ditch with a grim expression.

It was not a wide ditch, and after years of use, it was quite clogged. In rainy seasons, it wasn’t a problem, but now, with the drought, it had become a catalyst for conflict.

“Sir, the village officials have arrived.”

In those days, village officials were assigned in rotation based on tax obligations. Those who had connections to the government not only reaped more benefits but also held significant power in the villages. However, the village heads of Xiaohézhuang and Gāoshāntun were merely holding temporary positions and were considered juniors in their own villages. Last year, they had begged and pleaded during the collection of summer taxes and autumn crops, almost wearing themselves out. Now, faced with such a crisis, they were at a loss.

A few days earlier, the county magistrate from Shouguang County had visited and fled at the sight of the violent clashes between the two villages. Now, learning that the incident had even alarmed the prefect’s office, they were all filled with disbelief.

“How many years has this irrigation canal been built?”
Zhang Lizheng from Gaoshan Tun quickly smiled apologetically and bowed in response, “Your Excellency, this canal leads directly to the Juyang River and was built twenty years ago specifically to make it easier for our village to fetch water for irrigation.”
An official from Xiaohexiang Village immediately retorted, face red and neck swollen, “Nonsense! This was clearly built by our village—what does it have to do with you? We only shared a little bit because we pitied your village’s crops, which were about to wither. Who would have thought you’d be so shameless!”
“Who’s shameless! If this canal really was built by your village, may thunder strike down everyone in our village!”
“Stop arguing! I don’t care which village built this canal. All I see is that it’s in disrepair. Since you’re arguing over lack of water now, why didn’t you report it to the authorities back then so they could fix it properly?”
Seeing that the two sides were at odds and about to fight, Zhang Yue became angry, and both sides immediately fell silent. At that moment, Liansheng behind him noticed from afar two groups of people carrying hoes rushing toward them and quickly warned him.
The officials from the two villages glanced over, and Zhang Lizheng’s expression changed drastically. He quickly stepped forward with an apologetic smile, “Your Excellency, the elders of the two villages have brought people to resolve this. Please stay back to avoid any clashes. I must go and keep an eye on things; otherwise, lives will be lost!”
As soon as he said this, he led a few people and ran away. The officials from the other village said the same thing and hurried back to their own group. Soon, the two groups confronted each other just dozens of steps away from Zhang Yue. At first, they shouted insults at each other, and eventually, they started waving hoes and other farming tools as a threat—another fight seemed inevitable.
“Go take a look!”
Hu Qi and the others obeyed without question. Liansheng and Lian Hu originally came from poor peasant families. The reason they followed their uncle to serve the Zhang family as slaves was because similar conflicts had already led to several deaths, with many people in the village arrested and imprisoned, and their land seized. Seeing this scene again, their childhood horrors rushed back to mind.
“Young master, we can’t go up there. Those peasants won’t care about reason once they get angry!”
“Young master, let them fight. If something happens, it will be the responsibility of Shouguang County’s authorities. They can arrest them, beat them, and put them in prison—then those troublemakers will calm down!”

“Damn it!” Zhang Yue, who was usually gentle and rarely got angry, suddenly swore and shouted angrily at the two brothers who were trying to stop them. “The farming season is approaching, and all those strong men have been beaten and imprisoned. Who will harvest the wheat or repair the irrigation systems? By then, everyone will be dead and things will get even worse. What’s the use of beating them into prison! You fools, get out of the way!”
Pushing aside Lian Sheng and Lian Hu, Zhang Yue led Hu Qi and the others toward the arguing crowd. Although they got closer, the crowd was noisy, speaking in the local Shandong dialect, which made it difficult for him to understand. Still, he could tell that tension was high—any moment, a hoe could fall, and several deaths might occur!
“Stop it all!”
The village elders of both villages were gray-haired men in their sixties, but it was they who were the most excited and red-faced. Hearing this, the two men, whose eyes seemed to be blazing, turned around to look at these unexpected visitors. At that moment, the previous village leaders were terrified and rushed over to whisper something to the two elders.
Learning that they were from the government office, one of the elders forced a smile. “Sir, this is a matter between our two villages. There’s no need for you to worry. This canal either belongs to the Zhangs or the Lis. We must resolve this today! Our village has been bullied by them enough. If we don’t seek justice, they’ll think our village is weak!”
“Well said! Our two villages must get a resolution. If this canal remains unclaimed, everyone will starve! Today, we’ll risk our lives so that future generations can have a chance to survive!”
Normally, the mention of officials would make the people back down, but today it was for the sake of survival. So, once the village elders spoke, the others didn’t care who the young man trying to stop them was—everyone tightly gripped their hoes and farming tools.
Without water for irrigation, the wheat that had grown through winter and spring would wither in the fields, and everyone would starve!
“If you have the strength to fight to the death here, don’t you have the strength to fix the irrigation systems? Even if this canal has an owner this year, it’ll be in ruins in a couple of years. What will happen then? Not to mention future generations!”

Seeing the hands of the two village leaders gradually lowering, Zhang Yue suddenly raised his voice even louder: “If this canal was originally enough for both of your villages to use, it’s clear it was sufficient to irrigate the land of both villages. But look at what it’s become now—no one cleans it, no one maintains it, no one takes care of it. Yet you still insist on forcing a fight between the two villages instead of putting effort where it’s needed!”
“What nonsense are you spouting, you dog official? This isn’t something that concerns you!”
As soon as Zhang Yue finished speaking, a sickle suddenly flew from the crowd and headed straight for him. At that critical moment, he felt someone grab him and throw him to the side. When he turned to look after landing, he saw the gleaming sickle deeply embedded in the spot where he had stood, its handle still trembling slightly. In that instant, not only were the people behind him silent, but even the villagers from both villages, who had been on high tension, fell utterly quiet.
Who threw that sickle!
Staring at the razor-sharp blade, still shaken, Zhang Yue’s first thought was that if Peng Shisan hadn’t left and those four men he sent with his father hadn’t been by his side every day, he might not have reacted in time! In his haste, he had only seen someone throw the sickle; he hadn’t noticed anything else.
Hu Qi, who had instinctively pulled Zhang Yue to safety, was still terrified. He ordered the other three to protect Zhang Yue, then shouted sternly, “How dare you attack an official appointed by the imperial court in broad daylight? How bold of you! This is Lord Zhang, the deputy magistrate of Qingzhou Prefecture!”
The village leaders, who had been furious moments earlier, were now stunned, then turned pale as death. It wasn’t a big deal if they injured farmers from the neighboring village, but if this official suffered even the slightest injury, it would be a crime punishable by the destruction of their entire family! The two village leaders, who had always been enemies, exchanged glances, swallowed hard, and were about to explain when a loud voice rose from the crowd.
“Fellow villagers, surround them! Don’t let them escape! The government officials never act fairly. If we let them go and bring troops to retaliate, neither of our villages will be safe! If heaven won’t give us a chance to live, then the government won’t either! Let’s fight them and create our own pure land!”
At these words, not only did Zhang Yue’s face turn pale, but the two village leaders also turned deathly white. The farmers, who had been silent out of fear, now reacted—some out of fear, some out of anger, some in agitation, some in shock… After a few ringleaders started shouting, more people began to stir.