Cursed Mountains and Seas

Chapter 16 The Rooster Crows at Dawn, the Incense of Resurrection Returns (Please continue reading)
The sun sets, and night falls.

The bustling Moon Harbor during the day gradually fell silent.

Even with tens of thousands of households forming a yang-filled furnace and numerous temples dedicated to the gods and palaces of the heavenly princesses, few people dare to casually stroll around at night.

After finishing his shift, Xue Da changed out of his uniform and reverted to his former attire as a fishing tyrant, blending seamlessly into the everyday life of Yuegang.

"Young lady casts her net amidst the wind and waves, gazing at the bow of the boat, her heart yearning for whom? Do not despise your brother's worn clothes, for his fishing net will yield a full hold of fish."

After meandering through the crowds returning home, he sang authentic Tanka fishing songs, indistinguishable from ordinary fishermen and boatmen.

He walked while his eyes darted around, showing extreme vigilance.

Although today is only the first day that the Waterworks Company has moved into Yuegang, it has already caused chaos in Yuegang.

The conflict between fishing taxes and commercial taxes is not limited to the Zhang Fushun ship alone.

These days, those who dare to defy the "mountain and sea curse" and go into business are ruthless people. In a single day, violent tax resistance can result in several deaths.

The scene where Wang Xiucai stands up for justice is not particularly noteworthy.

However, only the people in the Water Conservancy Bureau know that, while they claim to be collecting taxes from the imperial court, the money actually goes into the pockets of certain powerful officials and nobles in the local prefectures.

They were doing this on their own, without any official approval from the court, so they were being extremely careful in secret.

"I, Xue Da, have roamed the rivers and seas for many years, relying on my boldness and meticulousness."

When you're in the fishing gang, you have to be bold and aggressive in public, but cautious and meticulous in private. The same applies when you're in the officialdom.

Once the tasks assigned by the masters are completed, one can be freed from the status of a lowly person, be granted official rank, and acquire property in the prosperous Jiangnan region, becoming a landlord is definitely not just a dream.

Um? "

Before he knew it, Xue Da had reached the outer edge of Yuegang. The pedestrians around him gradually disappeared without a trace, and the road was deserted.

He suddenly stopped, sneered, and shouted towards a dark corner:

"I've seen you, Xue. Come out here."

After waiting a while and hearing no response, he continued walking briskly forward. After passing two forks in the road, he shouted again in another direction:
"I've seen you, Xue. Who are you, sneaking around like that?"

Keep moving forward and repeat this process continuously.

It is obvious that this fishing tyrant is cunning and deceitful. If someone is really following him, they might be caught off guard and tricked into revealing themselves.

After several attempts, Xue Da saw that no one was following him, and finally felt relieved enough to enter an alley with a thousand weeping willows, and found the third house on the west side and pushed open the door.

More than twenty people had gathered in the courtyard, all of them burly men, each carrying the smell of fish and the stench of blood from those who had been through the wringer.

If the exploited fishermen and merchants came here today, they would immediately recognize that this was a group of tax collectors who had taken off their uniforms.

A large pot was set up in the courtyard, with whole chickens, ducks, and sheep being cooked inside. Next to it were more than a dozen jars of Qinghong wine, a specialty of Minzhou.

Upon seeing Xue Da enter, they all stood up to greet him.

"Brother Xue is here."

"Big brother."

"Brother Xue has found a good connection to help us old brothers get rich. We are extremely grateful. Please take your seats."

Judging from this, it turns out that all the tax collectors who followed Xue Da to join the Water Conservancy Bureau were former fishing tyrants of Yuegang.

Green Willow Lane was their specially chosen stronghold. The walls on both sides of the courtyard were knocked down, and for safety reasons, the whole group lived together.

Xue Da was outwardly rough but inwardly meticulous. He knew that Yuegang, as a world trade center, was unlike any other place. It had the most outlaws in the country, and only by relying on these skilled outlaws could one accomplish anything.

He laughed heartily at the compliments from the crowd:
"Brothers, you've worked hard. Now that we've returned to Yuegang with the Water Conservancy Bureau, we'll make a name for ourselves sooner or later."

From now on, we will no longer be thieving fishing tyrants, but government officials who are ordered to collect taxes.

Eat and drink to your heart's content today! From now on, there will be plenty of meat and alcohol!

The group didn't go inside; instead, they sat in the courtyard, sharing wine from large bowls and meat in large chunks, while two people stood guard at the door.

However, the group had only just started eating when a commotion suddenly broke out outside the door.

"Stop! What are you doing? What are you carrying on that load?"

"Hey, hey, hey, this is food and drinks ordered from the street next door, you can't steal it!"

"Ouch, how dare you hit someone? There's no law at all!"

After a brief period of noise, the two fishing tyrants came in excitedly carrying a load on a shoulder pole and respectfully placed it in front of Xue Da.

Upon opening the package, one finds ten dishes and a soup, forming a fine feast. The dishes include: pepper and vinegar shrimp, roast goose, roasted sheep's head and trotters, goose meat slices, salted mustard sheep's tripe platter, five-spice steamed chicken, lamb bones in broth, steamed fresh fish, and garlic and vinegar white blood soup.
There's also a large jar of Minyuanchun liquor, which together would cost at least several taels of silver.

The two men, as if seeking credit, set up a feast in front of Xue Da, explaining:
"Just now, a waiter from Wanfulou was carrying a food box and delivering food to someone nearby."

"Don't worry, brother. I've lived on this street since I was a kid. I know the neighborhood very well. There's no one here who's tough enough for us to mess with."

They had done this kind of thing countless times back then, and Xue Da didn't care at all, telling them to sit down and eat and drink together.

If someone else specifically delivers it to your door, you might have some reservations.

But they had stolen it themselves, and none of them felt there was anything wrong with it.

Some people, while enjoying the delicious and visually appealing food at the restaurant, complained:
"It's all that Prince Jinghai's fault for meddling in other people's business. For the past three years, he has sent out twenty-four generals and thirty-six fierce warriors to control the East Sea. He was quite impressive."

This forced us brothers to make a living inland along the Jiulong River, and only today, with our return and the help of the government, have we been able to regain our former glory.

"Absolutely, absolutely! The Prince of Jinghai was executed, and the Tanka people were crying and wailing. If you ask me, he died a good death!"

"If he doesn't die, how will we ever have a chance to rise up?"

When the distribution of interests changes, some people will inevitably benefit, while others will inevitably suffer losses.

These fishing tyrants, who were not much different from the "plundering" pirates, belonged to the latter group.

While others enjoyed a comfortable life at home over the past three years, they were forced to leave Yuegang like stray dogs, fleeing to the upper reaches of the Kowloon River inland.

Now that they have been able to make a comeback, they have naturally become the most loyal followers of the government and the gentry.

I vow to take back everything I've lost!
After drinking countless bowls, everyone was flushed and tipsy. Xue Da downed another large gulp of Minyuanchun baijiu and said to his brothers with no small amount of pride:
"Let me give you guys a heads-up."

Our deal this time is not as simple as just being an assistant to the Water Conservancy Bureau.

Did you know that the imperial court initially intended to recruit the Prince of Anjing and his powerful Five Peaks Banner, which dominated the East China Sea, and planned to reorganize an elite navy?

Otherwise, how could they have fooled someone as brilliant as Prince Jinghai?

But while the imperial court agreed to grant amnesty, the powerful figures behind us wouldn't allow it. They wanted Prince Jinghai dead, so he had to die!
Rest assured, no matter how much the Tanka people, maritime merchants, and officials on the waterways protest, the maritime ban will not be lifted, and the imperial court will not be able to take a single copper coin from maritime trade.

This boundless wealth will only belong to the masters behind us. Even the "ruler of the state" on the dragon throne can't even dream of getting a piece of it. The masters eat meat, and we'll have our share of the soup.

Brothers, the best is yet to come, come on, let's drink!

Hearing about such a "big pie," the others were naturally delighted and also picked up their wine bowls:
"Cheers to Brother Xue! Cheers!"

"Everyone says that it's a good place to cultivate oneself in the government, and I'm afraid it won't be long before you become an official."

Who knows, one day I might even recapture the prestige of the late General Tiancha Pinghai and Prince Jinghai. As the saying goes, "If you become rich and powerful, don't forget your friends!"

Once an ordinary person passes the age of thirty-five, it becomes difficult to ignite the inner light of their heart, and they are no longer able to receive ordination and be listed in the ranks.

Although Xue Da had been away for several years, he had mastered the [Yaksha Staff Technique] of the Cai Shui lineage, and his future was limitless. Naturally, everyone sincerely praised him.

Hearing this, Xue Da subconsciously looked towards his own room in the main house, his heart burning with desire.

'Actually, today I secretly divided up that 100,000 seafood treasures with two tax officials. After accumulating knowledge and experience, I have successfully lit the lamp of my heart.'

To be ordained and listed in the ranks, one also needs a pure Yang life force, a guide, and a talisman to suppress negative influences.

The treasure I snatched from Zhang Lu four years ago, I never sold even when times were tough, just so I could use it here!
I had already found out the best mentor.

Once you light the lamp of your heart, you can become a disciple of the Mountain and Sea Society, a neutral force established by the descendants of the ship's captains. You don't need to worship at temples or sell yourself to a family, and you'll even have the opportunity to establish your own lineage of water-gathering techniques.

I've heard that if you offer enough money, there's nothing that the Mountain and Sea Society wouldn't dare to sell or wouldn't be able to sell.

It took me nearly twenty years to go from being an unknown nobody to where I am today!
Now, finally, the clouds have parted and the moon is shining. I'll go and pay my respects to the Water Bureau during their holiday in a few days. *hiccup*

He hiccuped, his vision blurred, and all the brothers in front of him turned into three heads.

I shook my head hard, only to find that the three heads in front of me had turned into six, and my head was spinning even more.

So does everyone else.

A group of tax collectors were still talking when suddenly one of them collapsed onto the table.

Soon, a chorus of thuds filled the air. Xue Da held on the longest, but he too inevitably followed in the footsteps of the others, knocking cups and saucers off the table.

Waited for a while.

A suppressed, excited voice sounded from outside the door:
“Scholar, although the brothers all know that you are learned and talented.”

But you managed to concoct the "Chicken Crows at Dawn Resurrection Incense" using raw herbs bought from a pharmacy in just one day, and you still say that what we do isn't just treating people to noodles?
Are you really a respectable naval officer?

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(End of this chapter)