Chapter Thirty-One: Reversal

“For the sake of a new tax policy that truly comes from the people and is used for the people—for the court, for the Emperor—I will never yield!” Zhu Cilang declared solemnly, bowing respectfully to the north.

“Those corrupt officials, who wallow in decadence and chase after petty gains, collect taxes only to line their own pockets, driven by selfish desires! Thus, the court’s extraction can be ignored, but their bribes, extortions, and schemes never go uncollected!”

“And I, what I seek to punish is precisely this breed of greedy, corrupt officials. When they saw my actions, they were frightened, they quaked with fear. They thought that by closing the water gates, they could force me to submit!” Zhu Cilang’s voice grew heavy at this point, as though thunder itself was rumbling beneath the calm.

At that moment, even Hou Fangyu stood dumbstruck. A vague sense of foreboding crept over him.

Sure enough, after a long, suppressed pause, Zhu Cilang’s voice rang out, stirring and forceful: “So tell me, compatriots of Great Ming, are you here to help the wicked do evil?”

Unnoticed, Yan Wei nudged a few merchants beside him in the crowd and slipped away, vanishing from sight.

Suddenly, the crowd erupted: “We were wrong! Terribly wrong! Brothers, this is all a trick used by the villains in the Timber and Bamboo Tax Office! The Tax Department’s adjustment of rates and the cancellation of advance levies—these are good things for us. We can’t become the accomplices of tigers!”

“If there’s injustice, there is a culprit—it’s the Timber and Bamboo Tax Office that’s been oppressing us!”

“Brothers, think about it—who doesn’t know the Tax Department saves us from paying those unfair fees? We can’t lose such good policy in the future!”

The murmurs among the crowd grew ever louder.

“This isn’t right!” Hou Fangyu suddenly shouted, “This is my show! I came here to denounce Qin Xia, so how did this turn into a rally against the Timber and Bamboo Tax Office?”

But by then, the crowd was already engaged in a lively debate about the benefits of Zhu Cilang’s new policies. Not a single merchant was a fool; all understood that being used as pawns to make trouble for Zhu Cilang was now futile.

They could hardly hear Hou Fangyu’s cries, and even if they did, most had already lost any desire to cause trouble for Zhu Cilang.

By the time Hou Fangyu’s throat was nearly hoarse from shouting, Zhu Cilang suddenly raised his hand, and something astonishing happened—the whole scene fell instantly silent, leaving only Zhu Cilang’s clear voice ringing out: “So, gentlemen, do you dare follow me to the Timber and Bamboo Tax Office and demand to know why the water gates were closed? And who gave them the audacity to defy the will of the people?”

As he finished, several merchants in the crowd responded with raised fists: “I trust Lord Qin Xia! I’ll follow Lord Qin Xia!”

“So will I! The ones blocking us are from the Timber and Bamboo Tax Office!”

“I believe in Lord Qin Xia!”

…

Witnessing this, Hou Fangyu’s mood crumbled further.

Almost frenzied, he rushed before Zhu Cilang and shouted in a hoarse voice, “That’s not true! I’m here to root out your corruption! Who doesn’t know it was you who brought on this disaster with the Timber and Bamboo Tax Office!”

But Zhu Cilang’s smile vanished, his tone sharp as steel: “Yet it is the Timber and Bamboo Tax Office who blocks you, not me! Young Master Hou, you come at me—do you really think it’s right for the people to pay not only the bamboo and timber tax, but a second levy for the boats as well? If that’s what you wish, then clearly you are Liu Pei’s lackey, here to force my hand!”

With those words, Zhu Cilang laid the truth bare, causing Hou Fangyu’s face to flush with shame. Of course he knew he was being used, but since their goals aligned, he hadn’t cared. Yet knowing it himself was one thing—having it exposed in front of everyone was quite another. Being taken advantage of in secret was merely incompetence; having everyone know he was incompetent—how could Hou Fangyu bear such disgrace?

At that, Hou Fangyu lashed out angrily: “That’s not so! I came here to denounce your reckless behavior! Qin Xia, who gave you the nerve to alter the ancestral rules set by the Grand Progenitor? Who let you provoke the Timber and Bamboo Tax Office until they closed the water gates?”

“Then do you dare come with me to the Timber and Bamboo Tax Office and let me explain face to face?” Zhu Cilang seized on the challenge, striding toward Hou Fangyu with the force of a thunderclap.

“Let me explain to everyone—why I dare to merge the boat fees with the timber and bamboo tax!”

“Let me explain—why I dare to adjust the tax rates!”

“And let me show—why I have won the people’s hearts!”

With each question, Zhu Cilang’s voice pressed in, leaving Hou Fangyu dumbfounded, watching as Zhu Cilang drew closer and closer, feeling himself reduced to a mere clown.

At that moment, Hou Fangyu was filled with bitter regret—how had he lost his senses and provoked such a formidable opponent? Not only had his assault been turned back upon himself, but it had grown even fiercer.

Yet now, retreat was no longer an option.

Taking a deep breath, Hou Fangyu called out, “Why would I not dare!”

At the same time, Hou Fangyu seethed inwardly—if I cannot deal with you, surely someone else can!

Zhu Cilang smiled serenely. “Then come, Young Master Hou, let us surround the Timber and Bamboo Tax Office together and demand to know—who gave them the right to close the water gates?”

Hou Fangyu froze on the spot.

Wait—why did I come here in the first place?

“Damn it, I’ve been used again!” Hou Fangyu howled inwardly.

A sense of inexplicable dejection welled up inside him. Qin Xia didn’t seem so fearsome—so why did he always find himself forced into a corner by mere words?

Or perhaps this feeling of being used was finally making Hou Fangyu want to step back?

In any case, it was too late for regrets.

Drawing a deep breath, Hou Fangyu fixed Zhu Cilang with a hard stare. “Fine! I want to see what twisted logic you’ll come up with next!”

Then, Hou Fangyu recalled that scar-faced burly fellow and the more than two hundred strong men from the Wanquan Trading House. With their background, surely dozens among them were hardened fighters, perhaps even soldiers.

At this thought, Hou Fangyu could almost picture Zhu Cilang being pummeled black and blue by those two hundred men, which brought him a trace of satisfaction.

To this, Qin Xia merely offered a profound, inscrutable smile, then led the crowd in great strides toward the Timber and Bamboo Tax Office.

Meanwhile, outside the Tax Department, a man watched the scene unfold, stamped his foot, and tore off running toward the Timber and Bamboo Tax Office.