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墨書 Inktalez
Now, the Changping Villagers were right before them, and Chen Maoliang knew he could no longer deny the truth. Everything stemmed from the mineral deposits found in Golden Buddha Ridge.
It turned out that the method of searching for minerals in the mountains involved tasting a particular wild grass. This grass grew abundantly across Golden Buddha Ridge, and if there were minerals buried underground, the grass would emit a strange odor that could only be detected by tasting it.
This wild grass thrived from late April to mid-August, which was why the villagers from both villages ventured into the mountains during this time.
Additionally, this grass had a slight toxicity; while occasional consumption posed no significant harm, long-term tasting would accumulate toxins in the body. As a result, the men from Changping Village and Xiawa did not live beyond their destined years.
As the mineral resources in the mountains dwindled, disputes arose between the two villages. Zhao Dehui and Zhao Lao Si even conspired to eliminate the Changping Villagers!
Zhao Lao Si was a timid man who secretly informed Chen Maoliang of this plot. Upon learning the details, Chen Maoliang was heartbroken and vowed to rescue the villagers from their suffering!
During an outing, Chen Maoliang accidentally discovered a secluded valley that bore a striking resemblance to the Peach Blossom Spring described by Tao Qian.
Overjoyed, Chen Maoliang began planning this scheme several years ago. He understood that these villagers had lived under Golden Buddha Ridge for generations; they were essentially one family, making it impossible to disperse them. The villagers were not skilled in farming, and with no arable land in the mountains, imposing taxes on them would only lead to their demise.
Chen Maoliang set about transforming the valley himself, using his own funds to build homes and cultivate land for the villagers. He also purchased Paper Figurines in batches from neighboring counties to modify them, mimicking the events of Shandong Tang Sair's Rebellion. When officials saw this scene, they would burn the Paper Figurines and search frantically for a time.
Chen Maoliang did not intend to take all the villagers at once; firstly, there was limited housing and farmland in the valley, and secondly, such an action would surely raise suspicions among higher authorities.
The Changping Villagers were particularly simple-hearted, so Chen Maoliang shared his plan with them, and they expressed their deep gratitude.
On April 13th, both villages were set to pay tribute to the mountain god. The Changping Villagers took advantage of their trip to conduct business and secretly brought back Paper Figurines to their village.
Chen Maoliang was a master of painting and calligraphy. He had previously hand-painted a scene of Xiawa Village Entrance, which he placed there at night, enough to deceive anyone.
Taking advantage of the villagers' sacrificial ceremony, Chen Maoliang set up the painting on a wooden post at Xiawa Village Entrance, securing it with the help of local constables.
The Changping Villagers pretended to perform the ritual, moving the Paper Figurine into their homes. They donned cotton pads on their feet and swaggered down the main road alongside Chen Maoliang.
Later, Zhao Lao Si remarked that he had not seen the willow branches sway because he had only seen a painting. Fearing that Zhao Lao Si might expose any inconsistencies and worried that he and Zhao Dehui would publicly reveal his known conspiracies, Chen Maoliang decided to take drastic measures. He ordered Wang Tiesheng to disguise himself as a Paper Figurine and kill Zhao Lao Si and Zhao Dehui.
Wang Tiesheng was handsome and strong, but he was naturally short in stature, often wearing stilts inside his boots. Disguised as a Paper Figurine, with paper on top and bamboo poles below, he resembled an ordinary person. He could fight and move freely; as long as he removed the paper covering and blended in with the constables, no one from either village would notice him.
Chen Maoliang thought that no one knew about his plans, but unexpectedly, a the Tian appeared. At that moment, his subordinate reported that Zhang Qianhu's army was approaching. If they wanted to act now, they would have to divert the army.
Thus, Chen Maoliang hastily ordered people to set up a ritual altar in the mountains overnight to fabricate a scene and lure the official troops to a neighboring county.
Upon hearing this, Liu Fengling pointed at him and said, "You are supposed to be a local official, well-versed in the classics. Why would you engage in such absurdity?"
Chen Maoliang stepped forward in tears, pleading, "What I do is for the sake of the common people..."
Xu Yan angrily retorted from the side, "You claim to act for the people, but are Zhao Lao Si and Zhao Dehui not your people? They have committed crimes; there are laws to punish them. How can you take matters into your own hands? Since ancient times, those who kill must die! What more do you have to say?"
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