radicalducati Chapter 5 The World!
Chapter 5 The World!
Zhong Yuan stood there, motionless.
Protecting the three treasures of the Fang family behind him.
They could only watch helplessly as the middle-aged official directed the servants and craftsmen to cut down the lacquer trees!
Since ancient times, the common people have never fought against the officials.
But if one has a sword in one's hand, one might be able to relieve the frustration in one's heart!
Practice martial arts!
Learn swordsmanship!
At this moment, this thought was incredibly strong in his mind!
At this time.
Then, Fang Youchang rushed over in a panic.
He shouted urgently towards the middle-aged official on horseback.
"Sir, this...this lacquer tree can't be used just by cutting it down!"
"These trees have been growing in the lacquer garden for over twenty years, and they are currently at their peak lacquer production!"
"If we cut it now, then...then we'll have nothing left!"
Before Fang Youchang could even reach the middle-aged official, he was blocked by two constables!
The constable drew his sword immediately, brandishing it and glaring menacingly.
Fang Youchang naturally dared not take another step forward.
"later?"
The middle-aged official merely raised an eyebrow and gave Fang Youchang a disdainful look!
It was as if they were just looking at a rock blocking their way.
"It is an honor for your Fang family's lacquer garden to use your timber to make imperial artifacts!"
"What happens from now on is your business; what does it have to do with the imperial court!"
at this time.
The black-clad craftsmen had already rushed into the lacquer forest with axes and saws.
They didn't care about the cuts or anything like that; they only targeted old trees with straight and thick trunks.
With one swing of the axe, the white wood shavings were exposed.
With two swings of the axe, the lacquer tree shook violently.
A short while later, it collapsed with a thud.
Leaves fell to the ground, startling a flock of birds away.
Fang Youchang watched helplessly as the old lacquer tree, which he had planted in his youth and watered for many years, collapsed with a crash.
It was as if all the energy and spirit had been drained from him.
He collapsed to the ground, his face deathly pale, muttering to himself.
"No, no!"
The fallen lacquer tree still had lacquer seeping from the recently cut wounds on its trunk.
The milky white paint flowed down the fallen tree trunk, seeped into the soil, mixed with the dew, and spread outwards.
"What a tragedy..."
A young worker, his eyes reddening, rushed forward, trying to snatch the axe from the hand of a black-clad craftsman.
Before long, two constables grabbed him and pinned him to the ground, unable to move.
The middle-aged official rode his horse along the forest path, pointing with his whip as he went.
"This one!"
"This one!"
"And those few trees over there, cut them all down."
"I don't want that crooked tree over there!"
"If the paint is of poor quality, the finished product will definitely be subpar."
His expression and tone were just like someone picking cabbages in their own garden.
The other employees were herded aside and didn't dare to utter a sound.
A woman carrying a child walked up from behind and stood behind Chung Yuan.
That was Aunt Liu, who cooked at Fang Youchang's house; her husband was among the workers.
She looked at her husband kneeling there with a worried expression.
The child in her arms cried loudly in fright, the cries echoing through the woods, mingling with the sound of the axe chopping down trees.
These scenes unfolded before Zhong Yuan's eyes, accompanied by the cacophony of sounds around him.
He felt a surge of energy and a burning sensation in his chest!
I feel so uncomfortable holding it in!
He clenched his fists.
But there's nothing we can do.
Fang Youchang knelt on the ground with a pained expression, his hands supporting him on the muddy ground.
Although he was the owner of the Fang family's lacquer garden.
But right now, there's nothing he can do.
Once most of the trees have been cut down.
A bailiff walked over and threw a piece of paper in front of Fang Youchang.
The paper was stamped with an official seal.
The constable said calmly, "This is the imperial requisition document. Go to the Imperial Works Bureau to collect your payment when you have time. Don't say the imperial court has wronged you and used your lacquer trees for free."
Fang Youchang's face was ashen.
These people are truly ruthless and heartless.
A single lacquer tree is valued at only 30% of its market price.
A 20-year-old lacquer tree was cut down; it represented the hard work of so many people, and it's all gone just like that!
About an hour later.
The officers loaded the felled trees onto the palanquins that were already prepared outside the lacquer garden.
The cart was pulled by seven or eight strong oxen, with mules and donkeys mixed in.
The middle-aged official left satisfied once he saw that the lacquer tree was almost finished being decorated.
After all the constables had left.
Only then did the employees dare to get up.
Zhong Yuan walked over and reached out to help Fang Youchang.
"Master, please get up."
Fang Youchang's eyes were glazed over.
He reached out and picked up the overturned clam shell from the ground.
There was still a little bit of paint left inside the shell, which was grayish-white.
Sunlight filtered through the trees, falling on the lacquer and reflecting a faint glow.
He held the clam shell tightly in his palm, and lacquer seeped out from between his fingers.
immediately.
Fang Youchang stood up and looked at the mess on the ground.
His eyes were red-rimmed, and his right hand was tightly gripping Zhong Yuan's hand beside him.
"Yuan-ge'er, you're the only proper scholar in Zhenjie Village!"
"You must pass the exam. In the future, when you become a high-ranking official, no one will dare to bully us like this."
Zhong Yuan looked at Fang Youchang's hopeful eyes, nodded, and hummed in agreement.
He now understood why Fang Youchang also strongly supported his imperial examination.
It turns out they wanted a powerful backer.
……
I witnessed the ravages that ransacked the lacquer garden.
Zhong Yuan felt somewhat heavy-hearted.
Even when teaching in the ancestral hall, he was absent-minded.
After the rooster in the ancestral hall crowed a few times.
After letting the children go home, Zhong Yuan packed his things early and returned to his own courtyard.
At this time of day, he would quietly read.
However, after flipping through a few pages of the book today, I just couldn't get into it.
The scenes in the lacquer garden that morning kept replaying in his mind like a movie.
Bang!
Frustrated, Zhong Yuan slammed his fist on the desk.
"What a damn world!"
The pain in his hand cleared Zhong Yuan's head considerably.
He raised his hand and rubbed his temples.
I got up to take out the "Great Shift of Heaven and Earth" manual that was lying under the bed and take another look.
Just then.
He heard a sudden clanging and clattering sound in the courtyard, as if something had been knocked over.
He prepared to go out and see what was going on.
Unexpectedly, as soon as the door opened, a sword was pressed against his throat.
The sword was sharp; it was clearly been sharpened.
Following the tip of the sword, Zhong Yuan saw a slightly pale face.
Her face was different from that of ordinary women from the Central Plains, possessing a touch of exotic charm.
She had a high nose, deep-set eyes, skin as smooth as cream, and long, flowing hair.
His eyes held a hint of ferocity.
The woman still had some bloodstains on her body, especially her clothes on her arm, which were torn in half, revealing a glimpse of her fair skin.
"Go in!"
The woman gave a soft shout.
Seeing this, Zhong Yuan had no choice but to do as he was told and retreated.
The woman carried her sword into the room, closed the door behind her, and then her body went limp and she fell forward.