Wangjia Village, on the hillside behind the settlement.
Wang Er of Baishui stood before the gathered villagers, his face dark with fury.
Just the night before, he had led a group of desperate men into Gao Family Village to steal water. Instead, they had returned with two full buckets of flour each, an unimaginable fortune that had lifted everyone's spirits. For a brief moment, hope had returned to their lives, and they had walked home with lighter steps, already imagining full stomachs and warm meals.
But the moment they returned, that fragile hope was shattered.
While Wang Er had been away, county yamen runners had raided Wangjia Village under cover of darkness. Several villagers had been beaten and injured, one of the abandoned thatched huts had been burned to the ground as a warning, and worst of all, the officials had seized the villagers' seed grain.
The seed grain that represented their only chance of survival.
Several wounded villagers lay before Wang Er now, their heads wrapped in bloodstained cloth. Their faces were pale, their eyes filled with despair as tears streamed down their cheeks.
"Big Brother Wang… you must uphold justice for us."
"My family's seed grain is gone. Even if rain finally comes, we will have nothing to plant. We are doomed."
"My family too… without seed grain, we are as good as dead."
Each word drove deeper into Wang Er's heart, feeding the fire already burning inside him.
His fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
"Brothers," he said, his voice trembling with suppressed rage, "I brought back flour. Enough for everyone to eat."
He paused briefly.
"We will make noodles. We will eat our fill."
His eyes hardened.
"And then… we rebel."
The villagers gasped.
"Rebel?"
"That is punishable by death!"
Fear spread through the crowd, but Wang Er only laughed harshly.
"Death?"
His voice rose like thunder.
"You fear execution, but your families have already been sentenced to death by starvation. Without seed grain, you will die regardless. If death is inevitable, why not take that corrupt dog Zhang Yaocai with us before we go?"
His words struck their hearts like a hammer.
The villagers fell silent.
Because they knew he was right.
Wang Er bent down and scooped up a handful of black soil. Without hesitation, he smeared it across his face, turning his features dark and fierce.
Then he raised his arm high.
"Who dares to kill Zhang Yaocai?"
For a moment, no one moved.
Then one villager stepped forward and smeared mud across his own face.
Another followed.
Then another.
Soon, every man present had darkened his face, their fear slowly transforming into desperate resolve.
"We dare!" they roared in unison.
A grim smile appeared on Wang Er's face.
"Good."
His voice was calm now, but filled with deadly certainty.
"Light the fires. Cook the flour. Eat until you are full."
He turned toward the distant county seat.
"Once we are fed, we march to Chengcheng County and take Zhang Yaocai's head."
He swept his gaze across the gathered villagers, counting their numbers. There were fewer than a hundred men present, armed with nothing but farming tools and desperation. It was enough to start a fire, but not enough to ensure victory.
He pointed at two young men.
"You. Go to Zhongjia Village and Zhengjia Village."
The two men stepped forward immediately.
"Find Zhong Guangdao and Zheng Yanfu. Tell them that Wang Er of Baishui has risen in rebellion. Ask them if they dare to join me."
The two youths nodded and ran off at once, their figures quickly disappearing beyond the hills.
Meanwhile, Gao Chuwu and three other young men entered Chengcheng County.
This was their second visit to the county seat, and the difference was obvious.
The first time, they had walked cautiously, afraid even to lift their heads, intimidated by the unfamiliar buildings and crowded streets. But now, after witnessing the Tianzun's miracles and receiving His protection, their confidence had grown.
They still behaved politely, but no longer carried the same fearful hesitation.
They asked passersby for directions to the former strategist San Shier's residence, and before long, they arrived at his front gate.
Gao Chuwu raised his hand to knock.
Before his knuckles could touch the wood, the door swung open from inside.
His hand passed through empty air, and he quickly withdrew it, scratching his head awkwardly.
San Shier stood in the doorway. He had been shouting behind him just moments earlier.
"Hurry, hurry, everyone, we must—"
He stopped abruptly when he saw Gao Chuwu.
Recognition dawned in his eyes.
"You are from Gao Family Village… Gao Chuwu, correct?"
Gao Chuwu nodded eagerly.
"Yes!"
San Shier's expression sharpened instantly.
"The Tianzun has given instructions?"
Gao Chuwu froze.
He had not said a single word yet.
How did he already know?
As expected of a learned man, Gao Chuwu thought with admiration.
He scratched his head and explained honestly.
"The Tianzun told us to forge armor. He said bandits will soon appear and attack everywhere. Our village blacksmith is not skilled enough, so the Tianzun asked you to help us find better craftsmen."
San Shier's heart skipped a beat.
Armor.
Privately forging armor was a crime punishable by death.
But that was not the most important part.
The true meaning lay elsewhere.
Bandits will soon appear.
San Shier understood immediately.
Wang Er of Baishui was going to rebel.
His earlier speculation had now been confirmed by the Tianzun's divine foresight.
Cold sweat formed on his back.
Without hesitation, he turned and shouted toward his family.
"Leave everything that is not packed! We depart immediately!"
His wife rushed out, carrying their daughter. The maid and servant followed, burdened with bundles of valuables.
"Where are we going?" they asked anxiously.
San Shier grabbed Gao Chuwu's hands tightly.
"My brother, Gao Chuwu… I beg you."
His voice trembled with urgency.
"Escort my wife and daughter to Gao Family Village. Ask the Tianzun to protect them. Once they are safe, I will devote my life to serving the Tianzun."
Gao Chuwu blinked in confusion.
He still did not fully understand.
But he nodded anyway.
"Alright."
Simple people had simple virtues.
They obeyed those they trusted.
Soon, the group of eight left the county seat together and began their journey back toward Gao Family Village.
They had not even traveled two li when dark figures appeared on the distant hills.
Hundreds of men, their faces blackened with mud.
At their head stood Wang Er of Baishui.
Beside him were his sworn brothers, Zhong Guangdao and Zheng Yanfu.
Wang Er raised his weapon and shouted.
"Zhang Yaocai has stolen our seed grain and condemned us to death. We can no longer survive under his rule. Today, we take his head!"
His voice ignited the fury of the crowd.
"We take his head!"
"Who dares to kill Zhang Yaocai?" Wang Er roared.
"We dare!"
"Who dares to kill Zhang Yaocai?"
"We dare!"
"Who dares to kill Zhang Yaocai?"
"We all dare!"
Wang Er threw back his head and laughed.
"Then charge!"
Hundreds of starving villagers surged forward like a flood.
They carried hoes, wooden clubs, sickles, kitchen knives, and farming tools. Their weapons were crude, but their resolve was unbreakable.
They were no longer farmers.
They were rebels.
Thus, the great peasant uprising of the late Ming dynasty began.