usatvline Chapter 3 New Identity
Chapter 3 New Identity
Thunder rumbled, lightning flashed like golden snakes among the clouds, and a torrential downpour enveloped the dark courtyard.
Liu Feng and Uncle Li's faces flashed in and out of focus in the lightning. The next moment, the two of them simultaneously leaped forward, brandishing their knives, and charged at each other.
"clang--"
Blades clashed, sending sparks flying. Then the sounds of weapons clashing continued, each impact igniting sparks that illuminated two rain-soaked faces.
Uncle Li, panting heavily, exclaimed in shock and anger, "You... how do you know swordsmanship?"
Liu Feng was also breathing heavily. This body was only sixteen years old, and even though he had secretly saved money to eat fish and meat to nourish his body over the past year, he was still not as healthy as an adult.
He sneered, "You're too old. You didn't even know I was secretly learning your martial arts."
Uncle Li laughed heartily, then bent his waist and assumed a starting stance: "Alright! Let's see if you surpass me, or if this old fox is spicier!"
He paused, then added, "Tonight, whether either of us leaves this courtyard is entirely up to fate!"
Liu Feng suddenly swung his knife: "My fate is in my own hands, not in the hands of heaven!"
A clap of thunder sounded, and the rain poured down even harder.
Uncle Li was taken aback for a moment, then his eyes turned cold and he swung his knife straight at him!
The two clashed again, their blades flashing and raindrops flying, exchanging more than ten blows in a short time.
Uncle Li's swordsmanship was deep, fierce, and ruthless, pressing forward relentlessly; although Liu Feng was not as strong, his movements were agile and his moves were tricky, allowing him to barely keep up with him.
"Waiter, show us your best moves, or you'll regret it later."
Liu Feng ignored him and used the flashes of lightning to dodge the incoming killing move.
Another bolt of lightning tore through the clouds. In the instant the light suddenly shone brightly, Liu Feng quickly twisted his wrist, tilting the blade to meet the lightning at an angle, using the blinding reflection to shine directly into Uncle Li's eyes.
Caught off guard, Uncle Li's vision went completely white for a moment. He instinctively closed his eyes and turned his head, causing his move to falter.
Seizing this fleeting opening, Liu Feng stepped forward and plunged his knife deep into Uncle Li's chest.
"Clang—"
Uncle Li's waist knife fell to the ground. He looked down at the knife piercing his chest, gave a bitter laugh, and blood gushed from the corner of his mouth.
He looked at Liu Feng, his eyes filled with complex emotions, "No, don't go to the capital... You can't fight them..."
His body crashed down, slamming into the puddle and splashing water everywhere.
Liu Feng slumped to the ground, staring blankly at Uncle Li's corpse, his mind a complete mess.
Who is their young master? What is the origin of the original owner of this body? And why is he regarded as a threat?
He didn't know how much time had passed before the biting cold pulled him back to his senses. Looking at Uncle Li's cold body, he sighed and was about to get up to pick up the military dagger he had forged himself when the ground beneath his feet suddenly trembled violently.
Was it an earthquake?
Or is it a resurgence of spiritual energy?
The thunderous roar was like ten thousand horses galloping, its power terrifying.
Before Liu Feng could react, the raging floodwaters swept in, instantly engulfing and carrying him away.
In August of the ninth year of the Yankang era, continuous heavy rains caused the Yellow River to swell, breaching its banks in Fangcunji, Xuzhou, and flooding countless fields and houses...
In the drizzling rain, the urgent message about the Yellow River breaching its banks was delivered to the Imperial Study and placed on the Emperor's desk, along with the draft proposals from the Grand Secretariat.
Ten years have passed in the blink of an eye, and the world has changed. The former King of Wei is now the supreme ruler, clad in a dragon robe, his black beard flowing. He sits quietly before his imperial desk, exuding an aura of imperial majesty.
After reading the draft proposal, Emperor Yankang snorted coldly: "It's the civil officials' faction again. Their influence is getting a bit too far."
The old eunuch who was sorting through memorials and official documents sighed silently. In that palace coup, the Wu Xun group suffered a heavy blow, and the vacated power was quickly seized by the civil officials. Even the Ministry of War fell into their hands.
Of the once-powerful four princes and eight dukes, only the Prince of Nan'an remains, guarding the southern frontier for the imperial family. The rest of the families live their own lives behind closed doors, indifferently observing the rise and fall of dynasties.
Aside from the fact that the retired emperor had been too ruthless back then, they might have guessed something else... Thinking this, he secretly glanced at the emperor.
"Dai Quan".
"This old servant is here!" The old eunuch shuddered in fright.
"Civil officials cannot be trusted. Of the one tael of disaster relief silver, 30% is lost before it even leaves the treasury. Then, with layers of skimming off the money, the common people probably won't even get a sip of soup by the time it reaches them."
Emperor Yankang did not notice his expression. He tapped his fingertips lightly on the imperial desk and said after a while, "Send Lin Ruhai. He is in Yangzhou, not far from Xuzhou. He can take advantage of this to squeeze money from the salt merchants of Lianghuai for disaster relief."
"Your Majesty is wise!"
Dai Quan hurriedly bowed and flattered Lin Ruhai, who was the son-in-law of the Rongguo Mansion and whose ancestors had been marquises for four generations. Naturally, he was ostracized and alienated by the civil official group, which was also the reason why the emperor valued him so much after ascending the throne.
Emperor Yankang made his decision: "Issuing an edict: Lin Ruhai is appointed as Imperial Commissioner to oversee all matters related to disaster relief and river works in the Xuzhou area, and is permitted to act expediently, acting first and reporting later; all local civil and military officials are to be under his command."
He paused, then said, "Draft another secret edict and send it to Lin Ruhai: The people of Xuzhou are known for their fierce and martial spirit. He is ordered to take advantage of the disaster relief and rectification efforts to select five hundred young men from good families to form the Salt Soldiers, who will be responsible for cracking down on illegal salt trade and rectifying salt malpractices. The necessary military equipment may be transferred from the Xuzhou Armory without prior approval."
The Lianghuai Patrol Battalion had long been saturated with money from the salt merchants, and its ranks were filled with spies. Lin Ruhai had sent troops to raid the smuggled salt operations several times, but the news always leaked out in advance, and each time the raids failed.
Out of the corner of his eye, Dai Quan noticed that the eunuch on duty was secretly giving him a wink, so he quickly walked over.
Emperor Yankang observed this without speaking, picked up his teacup and drank several mouthfuls before slowly putting it down.
Dai Quan returned and reported, "Your Majesty, the people from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs have returned."
"Is it cleaned up?"
"It's all cleaned up."
"Those who reap what they sow will not live." Emperor Yankang sneered. "Send your godson to tell those people in exile that my leniency is not indulgence. Anyone who dares to escape back into the pass... don't blame me for being ruthless with my sword and slaughtering them all!"
"Yes." Dai Quan's heart skipped a beat.
"You mean, that little beast really escaped to the south?" Emperor Yankang suddenly asked.
Dai Quan lowered his head: "All clues point to the south."
Emperor Yankang suddenly smiled, picked up the lamp on his desk and placed it on the 600-li urgent message, then lightly touched the shadowy area with his fingertip.
Dai Quan immediately understood: "Your Majesty means... the darkest place is under the lamp?"
Emperor Yankang rose and walked to the window, gazing at the drizzle outside: "Investigate thoroughly. Remember, don't let the Emperor Emeritus know."
Dai Quan responded with a "Yes," and thought to himself: Ten years have passed, and the emperor still harbors murderous intent.
......................
The Daqian Dynasty followed the Ming Dynasty system, compiling a book for each village (里). The village head and head of the village (甲首) would verify the changes in the population, land, taxes, and corvée labor of their village and submit it to the county government for verification and registration. This book was called the Yellow Book of Taxes and Corvée Labor, or simply the Yellow Book.
Two copies were made: one was kept in the county government's official register as proof of national revenue, and the other was kept in the village register for daily inspection.
This flood of the Yellow River not only destroyed villages and towns, but also turned the county seat into a vast wasteland.
Liu Feng, who had miraculously survived, made a special trip to confirm that all the official records of the county government had been destroyed by the flood, leaving not a single piece of paper. Only then did he feel relieved and head to the place where the disaster victims were being gathered.
With all the county government records destroyed and no files available, Liu Feng became a vagrant, completely freed from his original identity. He could change his name to whatever he wanted, and no one could check or verify it.
Liu Feng, dressed in tattered clothes and covered in mud, clutched the refugee register and relief coupons he had just received, and squeezed through the crowd toward the soup kitchen.
Everyone who knew him was dead, and he deliberately reported his age as two years older. From that moment on, the old Li Er was completely gone. He was like a fish in water, no longer bound by anything...