Reborn as Murong Fu: This Time I'm the Protagonist

Chapter 534 Constant Trouble
Xiao Feng suppressed his anger, strode forward, grabbed the clerk's wrist, and with a slight exertion, used a technique to dislocate the clerk's wrist.

The clerk screamed in pain like a pig being slaughtered. He was about to unleash a torrent of curses, but when his gaze met the towering man in yellow robes before him, he involuntarily shivered. The profanities that were on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back, and he shouted, his voice trembling with fear, "Who are you? How dare you assault your superior? How dare you resist the law?"

When Xiao Feng heard this insignificant clerk, who was not even worthy of the rank, call himself a "superior official," he found it extremely amusing: "What kind of pig or dog are you? How dare you act so high and mighty in front of me? If you anger me, the head of your Yunzhou prefect is no different from that of a pig or a dog in my eyes."

"Be bold!"

"presumptuous!"

Upon hearing this, a group of yamen runners and several men in tight-fitting clothes flew into a rage and attacked Xiao Feng with various weapons.

Xiao Feng smiled contemptuously, not even bothering to move his hands. With a few sweeping kicks, several crisp "crack" sounds rang out, and each of the dozen or so people had a leg broken. Instantly, the previously arrogant and domineering henchmen all clutched their ankles and fell to the ground, howling in pain.

Xiao Feng stepped forward and looked down at the minor official: "Whose power are you relying on to act so arrogantly here? Answer properly and tell the truth, or don't blame me for smashing your dog's head."

The minor official was used to seeing things and knew who he could mess with and who he couldn't. This man with his extraordinary appearance and superb martial arts skills was someone he couldn't afford to offend. He was either a famous chivalrous hero, a powerful bandit who ruled over a mountain and controlled multiple prefectures and counties, or a noble official traveling incognito. In short, none of them were people he could afford to mess with.

The minor official quickly smiled obsequiously and said, "It's good that you've been informed, sir. In the past few days, the Song army has crossed the border. The prefect has already ordered the government office to post notices, instructing those outside the city to take shelter. Who knew these unruly people would disregard the government's declaration? They deserve to suffer the calamity of war. But these unruly people are subjects of the Great Liao. They should be grateful for the Emperor's boundless grace. Since they are alive, they must pay taxes to the court. Otherwise, wouldn't the country lose its dignity?"

Xiao Feng angrily retorted, "What nonsense are you spouting!"

The clerk shrank back, hurriedly saying, "Yes, yes, yes, that's nonsense. In the end, I was just doing this because I was ordered by my superior. The prefect puts pressure on the county magistrate, the county magistrate puts pressure on the county assistant, the county assistant puts pressure on the clerk, and the clerk has sent me to do this arduous and scolding job. I don't want to do this kind of heartless job that harms the people. But it's easier to be the king of hell than a lowly ghost. My superiors have given orders, so I have no choice but to obey. Please, great hero, have mercy on me for the sake of my eighty-year-old mother and my three-year-old child!"

As he spoke, he tried with great effort to squeeze out some tears, but after howling for a long time, all he could do was thunder without rain. When he saw Xiao Feng staring at him coldly, he couldn't help but shrink back and dared not speak.

Xiao Feng pondered for a moment and felt that this matter was somewhat tricky. As Xiao Feng said, let alone a mere minor official, he could take the head of the local prefect at will. But the problem was how to protect this group of elderly, weak, women and children?

For the first time, Xiao Feng felt a profound sense of powerlessness in the face of personal martial prowess.

Xiao Feng pondered for a moment, then thought to himself: "I've been foolish. Since that prefect is a greedy and corrupt official who harms the people, even if I kill him, I fear his henchmen will still be spreading endless poison. I should capture him, make him confess, and hand his crimes over to the higher authorities for punishment. I don't think the Liao Kingdom is so corrupt that it would allow its officials to harm the people."

Having made up his mind, Xiao Feng said, "You parasites who harm the people, you have fallen into my hands today. I should have killed you all with one palm each!"

Upon hearing this, the minor official turned ashen-faced, trembling like a leaf, and begged for mercy. But Xiao Feng's tone shifted abruptly, and he shouted, "However, killing you dogs would be pointless, just dirtying my hands. I'm letting you go back today, but I'll tell your damn prefect that in three to five days, or ten days to half a month, I'll definitely meet him. I'll teach him that there is still law and justice under heaven!"

After saying this, Xiao Feng struck each of them with a pressure point to induce sleep, and the dozen or so people fell into a deep sleep. Xiao Feng said, "Fellow villagers, this place is no longer safe to live in. If we stay here, we will either be raided by the Song army or suffer the exorbitant taxes imposed by the Liao government. We need to find a place to take refuge."

An old man from the village said, "From here, the Yanshan Mountains are 120 li to the north. If we set off overnight, we can reach them in just three days. Once we hide deep in the Yanshan Mountains, the authorities will not be able to find us."

Xiao Feng nodded: That's a good idea.

Xiao Feng said, "The local prefect is so incompetent and levies exorbitant taxes. Does His Majesty the Emperor of Liao remain indifferent?"

The old man smiled contemptuously and shook his head dismissively: "Our emperor has no other skills, but he is adept at levying exorbitant taxes and seizing wealth by trickery. Since ascending the throne, he has spent almost thirteen months of the year hunting. State affairs have been completely neglected, allowing a few treacherous officials to control the government. He is harsh on the people, but very kind to bald monks. He once offered alms to 200,000 monks and ordained 10,000 monks. This absurdity can probably only be compared to Emperor Wu of Liang in the Southern Dynasties, who gave up being an emperor to become a monk."

Xiao Feng was greatly surprised to hear this: he never expected that an ordinary old shepherd from a village in the north could utter such profound words, which truly broadened his horizons.

"It seems the old saying is true: those who know where the roof leaks are those under the eaves, and those who know where the government fails are those in the countryside. There are indeed wise men among the mountains and fields."

Xiao Feng thought to himself.

"May I ask your name, sir? And why are you so familiar with the political situation in the Liao Kingdom?" Xiao Feng asked, bowing with his hands clasped.

The old man smiled slightly: "My ancestor's surname was Yang. In the past, when the Liao and Song dynasties were at war, my ancestor lost his homeland to the Liao. However, he was favored by the Liao emperor and married a princess. Thus, my ancestor's branch of the family took root in the north. I am now the fourth generation."

Xiao Feng asked in surprise, "Your ancestor was the fourth son of the Yang family?"

The old man smiled, which was taken as tacit agreement.

Just as Xiao Feng was about to ask something else, a teenager stumbled up to the group and cried out, "Something terrible has happened!"

Upon looking at the child, Xiao Feng recognized him as one of the men who had gone with Elder Zeng to sell the batch of military horses that Xiao Feng had acquired the day before.

Xiao Feng's heart skipped a beat: Something had happened.

Old Man Yang said, "Don't panic, what happened? Tell me slowly."

The child, breathless from running, cried out, "The authorities arrested people, and the horses were stolen!"