Infinite Professions

Chapter 339 - 178: Divine Manifestation

After explaining these matters, Song Wen said no more, quickly leaving the crowd and returning to his room, lying on his bed in his clothes.

As soon as he closed his eyes, he entered the dream and arrived in a realm, precisely at the incense-filled, splendidly magnificent Land Temple.

Although he had been here many times, every time Song Wen saw this temple, he still couldn’t hide his inner shock, coupled with his yearning.

But the major matter was paramount, and he quickly refocused, bowing to the Divine Being above the offering platform.

"Father, just as you predicted, those bandits in the mountains came again. They’ve become more demanding, asking us to offer liquor and provisions, and also demanding thirty villagers be sent to their village. I’ve already followed your instructions, and gathered everyone at the threshing floor."

A brief statement, simply narrated the situation.

Actually, he didn’t need to say it; as a local Divine Being, could anything inside or outside Little Huang Village escape Shen Hex’s eyes?

Shen Hex didn’t say much: "It was expected, no need to worry. Your father has already made arrangements, just lead everyone according to the plan."

"Yes!"

Though these words lacked substance, they still soothed Song Wen, dispelling his panic instantly. He respectfully exited the Land Temple.

Just as Song Wen left, three people entered the temple: two men and one woman, exactly Nie Qian and other clerks of the Land Temple.

"Divine Monarch!"

Three people entered the temple and respectfully worshipped.

Shen Hex sat steadily on the high platform: "How is the preparation?"

The three spoke solemnly: "Reporting to the Divine Monarch, all is well arranged!"

"Very good."

Shen Hex nodded, waved his sleeve, and golden lights fell upon the three: "Be ready to act, do not relax."

"Yes!"

The three complied and respectfully retreated.

The Land Temple returned to tranquility again.

Shen Hex remained silent, sitting high on the platform, showing composure.

Bandits at the door?

Expected.

Tall trees in the forest are sure to be blown by the wind. Although he set a strategic policy of building high walls, accumulating food, and waiting to be king, some things cannot be concealed as you wish.

In this world, Primordial Spirit is scarce, and there is Divine Being overseeing, so Shen Hex cannot set up Illusion Arrays to conceal the anomalies of Little Huang Village.

Even with Divine Power, without the support of professions like Hermit, low-tier Illusion Arrays cannot block the vision of higher entities, and will not only fail to conceal, but attract their attention.

Moreover, Divine Dao is human-centered; if he conceals the anomalies of Little Huang Village, how can the means of a Land God be displayed? Without displaying divine majesty, how can Little Huang Village’s past attract people?

One must not waste food to avoid choking!

Therefore, he did not cover up the development of Little Huang Village or the Land God’s anomalies, but controlled them to a proper degree, generally attracting only small fish, not big crocodiles.

In recent years, the development of Little Huang Village and the various means of the Land God have been witnessed by the surrounding villagers. Being targeted is natural; if nobody sought trouble, that would be unreasonable.

Not envying is mediocrity.

Bandits at the door are a crisis, but also an opportunity, as opportunities and risks often coexist.

Shen Hex wants to use this chance to further reveal the means of Divine Beings and deepen control over Little Huang Village.

Govern the People not just with favors, but understand how to combine grace and might, establishing ruler’s authority in people’s hearts.

These years, he has given enough favors, but little chance to establish authority. Instead, as Little Huang Village developed and populations joined, the Song Family’s authority within the village faced certain impacts and challenges.

Though it may sound unpleasant, sometimes you must admit, some people are mean-spirited, fearing might rather than respecting virtue; without a few slaps, they won’t submit.

So...

At the threshing floor, in front of the Land Temple.

Hundreds of villagers gathered, mostly silent, with a heavy and oppressive atmosphere.

Song Wen stood in front of the Land Temple, flanked by Song Cai, Song Wu, and other nine sons of the Song family, along with household servants with sticks guarding them.

The villagers, seeing this setup, dared not speak, the atmosphere growing more grave.

Finally, Song Wen spoke, breaking the silence.

"Today, the group of bandits from Black Wind Village came again!"

"They demand our Little Huang Village give tribute of thirty thousand pounds of grain, ten thousand pounds of fish and meat, and five hundred barrels of good wine."

His solemn words, like a thunderbolt, exploded into the crowd.

"Wha, what?"

"Thirty, thirty thousand pounds of grain?"

"By my goodness!"

"These heartless thieves!"

"In previous years, even half of this was uncommon!"

"They also want fish and meat, aren’t they afraid of bursting to death?"

"These beasts, besides robbing, what can they do?"

The crowd stirred, exclamations rising, echoes of curses sounding.

Song Wen did not stop them, letting emotions ferment, then calmly pressed his hands: "Honestly, for years under the Land God’s protection, my Little Huang Village reaped abundant harvests annually, livestock thrived. We can provide this grain and meat."

"This..."

People looked at each other, unsure of its meaning.

Song Wen continued: "But they not only demand tribute of grain and meat, but also want us to send twenty men and ten women into the mountains, to join their Black Wind Village."

"What?"

"These insatiable beasts!"

"They want to force us to become bandits?"

"If the Court finds out, if the Government Office blames us..."

At this, people boiled over.

Though remote from the Emperor, bandit ravaging villages is common in the countryside.

However, exhausting resources is never a long-term solution; the Court and Government Office aren’t completely incompetent. Going too far results in a crackdown, and thus bandits have the saying "even thieves have principles," generally not slaughtering villages lightly, but coercing tributes like taxes.