When this news broke, it wasn't just the common people who found it hard to believe.
Even the members of the Rebel Army themselves were stunned.
'We haven't even secured our own rations yet,' they thought. 'Where are we going to get grain to distribute for disaster relief?'
However, Li Chang'an did not leave them wondering for long.
After taking command of the Rebel Army, Li Chang'an quickly sent men to "invite" a group of wealthy merchants, rich households, and major landlords who owned thousands of acres of farmland around Sanhuang County to be his guests.
These landlords and wealthy families had already heard the news that the Rebel Army had occupied Sanhuang County. Although they were a little nervous now that the rebels had come knocking, they had long been prepared for this.
'What else could a group of men who are risking their necks with every breath want from them?'
'It's obviously just for extortion and to line their own pockets!'
They didn't believe a Rebel Army with just over a thousand men would dare to do anything to them, so the group had already coordinated with each other beforehand.
'They want money? We have none!'
'They want land? We don't have that either!'
'At most, we'll fob them off with a bit of grain as protection money. Just enough to save face, and that'll be the end of it.'
Under the Rebel Army's "enthusiastic" invitation, the surrounding gentry reluctantly and sluggishly gathered in Sanhuang County.
Outside the simple military tent, the invited gentry looked at the sallow, emaciated, and sloppily dressed Rebel Army soldiers and breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
'What kind of bullshit Rebel Army is this? They're clearly just a mob of riffraff who can't be taken seriously!'
'Under normal circumstances, they're the kind of force the Imperial Court could crush with a flick of a finger.'
'If not for the dumb luck of running into an incompetent ally like Magistrate Chai, who transferred away part of the city's garrison and caused the main gate to fall, this bunch of mud-caked peasants would have never been able to take Sanhuang County.'
Thus, when they saw the almost ridiculously youthful-looking Li Chang'an, the group of gentry appeared respectful and fearful on the surface, but inwardly, they didn't take him seriously at all.
The gentleman Huang Sunan offered a bow and got straight to the point. "Sir, I wonder for what important matter you have summoned myself and the others here?"
Li Chang'an unhurriedly took a sip of tea and said with a pleasant expression, "Gentlemen, please, sit down. Sit down. We can discuss whatever it is after we've had some tea."
He took a very humble tone and greeted them with a smile.
This only further convinced the gentry that the Rebel Army wouldn't dare to do anything to them.
Huang Sunan was not at all polite. He immediately stood up and said, "There's no need for tea. If you have no other business, Sir, then I will take my leave."
With that, he turned and prepared to leave.
Lü Changning, watching from the side, almost let out a laugh of exasperation.
'So this is the full extent of the gentry's audacity,' he thought. 'Just as Li Chang'an said, they're the type who won't shed a tear until they see the coffin.'
Li Chang'an quietly set down his teacup and spoke nonchalantly, "Come as you please, leave as you please... Mr. Huang Sr., do you take my Rebel Army camp for a brothel?"
Hearing this, the few Rebel Army soldiers standing at the entrance drew their sabers, their faces fierce.
Seeing this, Huang Sunan's face turned livid. He flung his sleeve and said, "What do you think you're doing? Do you really think my Huang Family is so kind and easily bullied?"
The Huang Family was a scholarly lineage that owned over a thousand acres in Sanhuang County, all of it the most fertile land near the Three Yellow Rivers. They kept over a hundred private slaves alone.
On their own, they might not be able to handle the Rebel Army.
But one mustn't forget, he wasn't the only one here. There were several other major families whose influence was no less than his.
With such a powerful coalition, even the County Magistrate would have to think twice before touching their interests, to say nothing of a band of sallow, emaciated rebels.
Hearing this, Li Chang'an's smile returned. He said feigning innocence, "Please, Mr. Huang Sr., don't be hasty. I merely invited everyone for a cup of tea and a bit of casual conversation!"
Huang Sunan glanced at the saber-wielding soldiers at the entrance and gave a cold snort, but said nothing.
He turned and returned to his seat.
The brief confrontation put all the gentry present on alert.
They had originally thought this was just a disorganized mob, but now it seemed their leader had some tricks up his sleeve.
After everyone had distractedly finished their cup of tea, Li Chang'an said with a wide smile, "I have indeed invited you all here today to ask for a favor!"
'After all that suspense, his true colors are finally showing!'
Alarm bells went off in the gentry's minds.
They exchanged glances, all seeing the determination in each other's eyes.
'No matter how Li Chang'an threatens or cajoles, even if he holds a blade to our necks, our bottom line is, at most, to raise 2,000 *dan* of grain and 3,000 taels of silver for the Rebel Army.'
'Any other demands will be refused, period!'
They were convinced the Rebel Army wouldn't dare touch them. After all, if they offended the gentry, the Rebel Army wouldn't be able to establish a foothold in Fengzhou, even if the Imperial Court didn't send an army to suppress them.
However, just as the gentry were pondering what conditions Li Chang'an would propose to bargain with them, his next words left them utterly astonished.
"I'm sure you are all well aware that the demonic Yaoqing dynasty is unjust. It treats the people of the Central Plains like pigs and dogs. Once the fires of rebellion are lit across the land, they will only multiply in the days to come..."
"In every chaotic era, it is the common people who suffer. A few days ago, a Flood Dragon passed through the upper reaches of the Three Yellow Rivers, causing a catastrophic disaster for the people on both banks. Not even one in ten people or livestock survived. Therefore, I would like to trouble you gentlemen to take out all of your family's land, money, and grain and distribute it to the people!"
The assembled gentry could only stare in disbelief. 'What?!'
After hearing Li Chang'an's words clearly, they thought there was something wrong with their ears.
'This mud-caked peasant from the Rebel Army is actually telling us to take out all our family's land, money, and grain and give it to the people of Fengzhou?'
'Our shiny silver, given to the common folk?'
'Has he lost his mind?!'
Huang Sunan, their leader, stared at Li Chang'an as if he were looking at a complete moron.
This time, he didn't even bother to pretend. He slammed his hand on the table and sneered, "You little brat who hasn't even finished puberty, who the hell do you think you are? You're worthless trash whose entire family probably couldn't even afford to pay the land tax! The fact that we even showed up today was us giving you more than enough face, and now you dare to make a fool of us?"
Under the furious gazes of the gentry, Li Chang'an's smile never faded. He said slowly and deliberately, "I've always been one for courtesy before conflict, but don't blame me for not warning you beforehand. This is the last chance I'm giving you."
Huang Sunan flung his sleeve, knocking the teacup on the table flying. His eyes were wide with fury as he roared, "Kid, don't even think about it! The most we can raise for you is two thousand *dan* of grain and two thousand taels of silver!"
Li Chang'an said nonchalantly, "So, we have no deal?"
Seeing that he still wasn't satisfied, the gentry were so incensed they started to laugh, and then burst into a torrent of curses.
Even Lü Changning, standing beside them, couldn't help but feel his lips twitch. 'You ask for their entire family fortune right off the bat. Of course no sane person would ever agree to that!'
But Li Chang'an seemed to have been prepared for this all along. He simply waved his hand and said, "Since we can't reach an agreement, then kill them all. It's the same if we take it ourselves."
Upon hearing this, the group of gentry fell silent, as if their throats had been seized.
'What the hell? Who negotiates like that?'
'Wait, that offer was just a starting point! Our bottom line is flexible! You're supposed to haggle! What the hell kind of negotiation is demanding everything and killing anyone who disagrees?!'
However, Li Chang'an gave them no further opportunity to haggle.
Dozens of elite Rebel Army soldiers, who had been lying in ambush, rushed in. In a flash, they seized the gentry and dragged them out.
A few Martial Artists responsible for their safety tried to rise up and resist, but Lü Changning sent them flying with a couple of kicks.
For a moment, the air was filled with an endless chorus of roars, curses, and pleas for mercy.
Li Chang'an couldn't care less if they regretted it. Of these landlords and powerful gentry, it was no exaggeration to say that nine out of ten deserved to die and then some.
Soon, the thick stench of blood filled the rear hall of the County Magistrate's Office.
Until their very last moments, these landlords and gentry could not believe that Li Chang'an had actually dared to treat them this way.
After nonchalantly having the entire group killed, Li Chang'an's expression did not change in the slightest. He turned to Lü Changning and said, "Assemble the troops. Prepare to move out!"
Lü Changning asked instinctively, "Where to?!"
Li Chang'an smiled. "Since they weren't willing to give it, we'll naturally have to go and take it ourselves."
...