The Great Rebel at the End of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 005 Tracking

After hearing Zhou Lun's story, Wang Tieniu and Li Shoutian felt their hearts sink.

They never expected that Officer Zhao would be so ruthless, demanding such a large sum of money.

Thirty taels! How can we possibly come up with that?

Silver was extremely valuable in the Ming Dynasty. In the early years when things were good, one tael of silver could buy two shi (a unit of dry measure) of rice. And this was rice, not coarse grains! Keep in mind that even the lowest-ranking official of the ninth rank received only five shi of rice per month, equivalent to just two taels and five mace of silver. By this calculation, a high-ranking official of the second rank would only receive around thirty taels of silver per month, demonstrating the immense value of silver.

Farmers like Li Shouyi, tending their meager plots of land, toil year-round. Even in bountiful years when taxes are light, saving two taels of silver is considered quite good. This year, however, the harvest is poor, and the crops are on the verge of total failure. They don't know how they'll survive. Even if the entire village sold everything they owned, they couldn't scrape together thirty taels of silver. Where would they get it?

"What should we do?"

Wang Tieniu panicked, and Li Shoutian was even more anxious, like an ant on a hot pan.

Compared to the two of them, Zhou Lun was much more composed. From the moment he came out of the prison, he had already thought the matter through again and again.

There is no silver. Not only can Zhou Lun not produce it, but the entire village cannot produce it either.

Even if they manage to scrape together the money, how will they survive? Don't forget how Li Shouyi was arrested—wasn't it because the court increased taxes? How will they pay those taxes? That's no small sum either. Even if they sell everything they own to pay, what will they eat and drink? Are they just going to wait to die?

Besides, Zhou Lun saw Zhao the constable's true colors today; he's a greedy and shameless bastard.

Although he asked for thirty taels, he deliberately added the word "starting" when he said it. This word was like planting a hook. If he really gave thirty taels, and then Officer Zhao said that this amount was not enough and asked for more, where would Zhou Lun get the money?

Without the money, all the previous expenses would be wasted. Officer Zhao could easily shrug and say it wasn't that he didn't want to help, but the money hadn't arrived, so he couldn't help. Then Li Shouyi could continue to imprison them, forcing them to sell their houses and fields to raise more money, squeezing oil from every stone imaginable. He wouldn't stop until he got enough.

As a seasoned business elite who had risen through the ranks in his previous life, Zhou Lun never tested the limits of human nature. There were far too many greedy and ruthless people in this world; Officer Zhao was not the first, nor would he be the last. Zhou Lun had absolutely no confidence in placing all his hopes on such a person.

Without money to satisfy Zhao the constable's greed, Li Shouyi wouldn't be released. Staying in prison, without any bribes, the jailers would still be just as exploitative. Zhou Lun could imagine Li Shouyi's fate once all his money was gone. He had clearly seen Li Shouyi beaten and bruised; even the strongest body couldn't withstand such treatment!

"How about... we go back to the village and discuss it with the elders?" Wang Tieniu finally blurted out after hesitating for a long time.

"What's the use of asking the clan elders? Do you think they can come up with that much silver? You know the situation in the village. The silver that Lun-ge brought is what everyone has managed to scrape together." Li Shoutian didn't think much of the idea and immediately retorted.

"This won't work, that won't work either. What are we going to do about Brother Shouyi's matter? Lun'er just made it clear that the government won't release people without money, but where will the money come from?" Wang Tieniu suddenly became anxious and asked back, sticking out his neck.

"Yes, where will the money come from?" Li Shoutian was speechless, unable to utter a word for a moment. Thirty taels of silver felt like a mountain pressing down on his chest. Was he really just going to stand by and watch Li Shouyi stay locked up in jail forever?

"Enough!" Zhou Lun was furious as he watched the two of them talking back and forth, and he shouted in a low voice.

The two immediately fell silent, looking at each other, at a loss for what to do.

"Rest for now. Tomorrow you two go back to the village and give the elders a message. I'll stay here a few more days and think of something else," Zhou Lun said to the two, his tone softening.

Wang Tieniu and Li Shoutian nodded helplessly. This was all they could do for now; they hoped Zhou Lun could come up with another solution.

They spent another night there. The next day, Zhou Lun sent Wang Tieniu and Li Shoutian back first, while he stayed in the county town to continue looking for connections.

However, on this day, Zhou Lun went to Taibai Tower to inquire whether Master He had returned. After learning that the return date was uncertain, Master He headed towards the county prison.

On the way, he first went to Renji Pharmacy to buy some medicine for his wounds, and then found a shop to bring some food for Li Shouyi. When he arrived at the county prison, he found the jailer who had led him in yesterday and asked to visit Li Shouyi again and bring him some medicine and food.

The jailer was quite nice yesterday since he had taken Zhou Lun's money. Of course, he still had to pay today, but without Constable Zhao intermediary, Zhou Lun got into prison for less than a tael and met Li Shouyi.

He handed over the food he had brought and watched Li Shouyi wolf it down. Then Zhou Lun had him turn around and lean against the fence to apply medicine to him. He also chatted with him for a few minutes, repeating the same things he had said the day before, telling him to rest easy inside and that he would continue to think of ways to help him from outside.

After the visit, Zhou Lun left the county prison.

However, compared to yesterday, he paid more attention this time, carefully observing the environment, terrain, guard positions, number of people, and how to enter and exit... He took it all in and remembered it.

After coming out, Zhou Lun didn't leave immediately. Instead, he strolled around the perimeter of the county prison, carefully memorizing the layout of the surroundings and pondering the routes in and out and the time required.

But after turning around once, Zhou Lun frowned slightly. Something was wrong! He vaguely sensed that someone was following him.

Zhou Lun maintained his pace, keeping the same step. After passing the intersection ahead, he didn't turn right but instead turned left, walking cautiously and wondering who might be following him.

"A jailer? Or a constable? A low-ranking officer? Or a local thug?"

Thinking this, Zhou Lun continued walking forward at a leisurely pace. After walking for a while, he suddenly darted into a small alley, then shrank back against a wall in the shadows, his eyes fixed on the alley entrance.

A series of light but hurried footsteps sounded, and a figure rushed into the alley. The moment the figure stepped in and looked around for Zhou Lun, Zhou Lun suddenly sprang out from the shadows, flashing behind the man and holding a gleaming woodcutter's knife directly to his neck.

"Who are you? Why are you following me?"

Zhou Lun gave a low shout, tightening his grip on the woodcutter's knife. The sharp blade was pressed against the man's throat; a gentle pull would surely sever his trachea.

"Lun...Lun-ge...it's me...it's me!" A familiar voice rang out, trembling with fear.

"Shoutian?" Zhou Lun was taken aback. He turned the wood-chopping knife in his hand, removed it from Li Shoutian's throat, and casually put it back into his waistband.

"What are you doing here? And why are you secretly following me? Oh right! Didn't I tell you and Tie Niu to go back? What's going on?" Surprised, Zhou Lun couldn't help but ask.

Then, as if remembering something, his expression changed slightly, and he asked, "You kid, you're not worried that I'll take the money and run away, are you? So you're secretly following me to see if I'll abandon Brother Shouyi and leave alone?"

"No! Absolutely not!" Li Shoutian subconsciously touched his throat. He was terrified just now. It was the first time in his life that he felt death was so close to him.

He never expected Zhou Lun to discover he was following him, and to act so quickly and decisively. If he hadn't shouted in time, he would probably be lying on the ground with his throat slit by now. Glancing at Zhou Lun with lingering fear, Li Shoutian said no, but avoided meeting Zhou Lun's gaze.

Seeing his expression, Zhou Lun knew that this kid probably had this in mind, afraid that he would just leave without a second thought. He pretended to have listened to Wang Tieniu's instructions to return to the village, but actually, after parting ways at the City God Temple, he secretly followed him. Luckily, Zhou Lun was alert, otherwise he wouldn't have noticed.

Although he felt a little uncomfortable, Zhou Lun didn't blame Li Shoutian too much. Although he was Li Shouyi's sworn brother, he was, after all, an outsider with no kinship or connection to the village, so it was normal for Li Shoutian to have such concerns.

"Where's Tie Niu?"

"He's behind me. I didn't dare let him get too close, in case you noticed," Li Shoutian replied awkwardly, pointing in the direction they came from.

Zhou Lun shook his head and didn't say much. He just told Li Shoutian to rest assured that he would never abandon Li Shouyi and would do whatever it took to rescue him.

As for the two of them, there's no point in them staying in the city any longer. They should go back to the village to send a message to the clan elders and then wait for news.

"I'm not going back!" To everyone's surprise, Li Shoutian stubbornly refused to go back, saying that he wouldn't leave until Li Shouyi was rescued.

Looking at this guy, Zhou Lun didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He understood that Li Shoutian's intentions were good, but they were actually a burden instead of being of help. There were some plans Zhou Lun couldn't elaborate on, so he could only offer further advice.

To everyone's surprise, after only a couple of words of persuasion, Li Shoutian not only shook his head vigorously, refusing to leave no matter what, but also hesitated and asked Zhou Lun a question.

As soon as he said those words, Zhou Lun's expression changed drastically.