Chapter 341: The Four Dragon Kings Have All Arrived
Ma Tianzheng's performance was thorough, a complete ritual from start to finish.
Even Li Daoxuan hadn't anticipated so many steps from the man; he was already growing impatient. Now, seeing Ma Tianzheng kneeling properly, he knew it was almost time for him to act.
With a series of clicks and snaps, he plugged the four medical nebulizers into the power strip, poured in the water, and set to work.
Meanwhile, the threshing ground in Yang Village was already swarming with people.
Hordes of common folk encircled the area three layers deep, while Magistrate Feng Jun, the County Deputy, the Judicial Assistant, and others in the center were growing visibly restless.
The County Deputy couldn't help but grumble aloud, "This charlatan certainly puts on a good show, but can such a performance truly bring rain? I, for one, don't believe it."
Feng Jun murmured, "I don't believe it either, but it's good for the common folk to have some hope. Later, we can spread the word that rain might fall any time. If the people keep hoping, they won't rebel."
No sooner had they spoken than they heard a clamor rise from the crowd. "Look, look!"
"Look at the sky!"
"Wow, something's coming out of the clouds."
Hearing the villagers' excited whispers, Feng Jun and the others quickly looked up.
Directly overhead, at a height of sixty or seventy *zhang*, was a strange, low cloud. The cloud was now splitting apart, revealing a massive green draconic head that emerged from the cloud layers. It opened its gaping maw and spewed forth a hazy, rain-like mist.
Feng Jun gasped, sucking in a sharp breath. "Hiss! It's actually happening? Is that... a Dragon King!"
The County Deputy roared in a frenzy, "Look, in the distance... the distant sky..."
Everyone followed the County Deputy's pointing finger. In the distant sky, another low cloud appeared. As it parted, another draconic head emerged—this one red.
Then another low cloud, revealing a blue draconic head. And then, a yellow one.
Four draconic heads, simultaneously opening their gaping maws in the skies around Yang Village, all spewed forth a hazy, rain-like mist.
In an instant, a sky-shrouding, earth-covering mist of rain descended, engulfing an area of two *li* around Yang Village.
Feng Jun stared blankly at the sky, his mouth agape, momentarily at a loss for words.
The County Deputy said, "Your Excellency, you're... bleeding from the nose..."
Feng Jun wiped his hand across his face; the blood streamed down, staining the corner of his mouth before curving upwards, making it look as though he were grinning broadly.
"He really did summon the Dragon Kings for rain!"
"And he summoned four of them. The Four Dragon Kings have all arrived!"
The common folk erupted in a massive cheer, "Thank you, Heaven!"
Ma Tianzheng bellowed, "Wrong! It's not Heaven! It's the Heavenly Lord! You've thanked the wrong deity! Be careful, the Heavenly Lord might stop sending rain!"
That latter half had a potent effect. The villagers were startled and quickly corrected themselves, "Thank you, Dao Xuan Tian Zun!"
"Heavenly Lord protect us!"
"Dao Xuan Tian Zun has such immense prestige; he summoned all Four Dragon Kings!"
Ma Tianzheng thought to himself, *It wasn't prestige that brought them; it was grabbing them by the scruff of their necks! You fools will understand just how formidable the Heavenly Lord is in time.*
At that moment, the entire Yang Village was in a frenzy!
First, a vast amount of grain had been delivered, and now the Heavenly Lord had sent rain.
The villagers were already calculating in their minds: they would work first, earn some wages to fill their families' bellies, and then, when planting season arrived, they would sow their crops, tending to their fields while continuing to work.
In half a year, when the harvest came, they could return to their lives as they were in previous years.
Lost in these thoughts, the villagers couldn't help but dance and cheer wildly, leaping and shouting amidst the misty rain.
Instructor Zhang Yuanwai from Xiazhuang, a local squire, also stared up at the sky, his mouth wide open in astonishment. He had offered a chicken as a sacrifice, never expecting any real results, yet here it was—rain.
That chicken was more than worth it!
As thoughts of restoring his family's prestige swirled in his mind, Bai Yuan, resplendent in flowing white robes, stood before Zhang Yuanwai.
Zhang Yuanwai asked, "And you are?"
Bai Yuan smiled, "I am Bai Yuan, an instructor from the main militia in Chengcheng County."
Zhang Yuanwai exclaimed, "Ah! So it's you! I have long heard of Instructor Bai's great reputation. I heard that when you were in Chengcheng County, you decisively defeated the Supreme Bright King, Wang Er, Wang Zuogua, and Bu Zhan Ni... Just a few days ago, you even sniped Fan Shan Yao with a flintlock rifle from several hundred paces away. If not for you, our Heyang County could not have rid itself of that scoundrel, nor could we have invited the Heavenly Lord to bring rain."
Bai Yuan secretly swelled with pride, but maintained a composed expression. He unfurled his folding fan with a snap; on its surface were two large characters: "Gentleman." He used the fan to cover half his mouth and murmured, "Has Squire Zhang heard that the great bandit leader Wang Jiayin could attack our region at any moment?"
Zhang Yuanwai's face clouded with worry. "I have heard. I understand Wang Jiayin commands nearly fifty thousand bandits; their power is immense, and they have conquered many northern cities. Alas."
Bai Yuan gestured vaguely towards Magistrate Feng Jun of Heyang County and the Heyang patrol officers, then lowered his voice. "Squire Zhang, do you think that group of imperial officials can withstand Wang Jiayin?"
Zhang Yuanwai shook his head. "They might not even be able to stop a salt smuggler."
Bai Yuan nodded. "Great minds think alike! To resist these bandits, we ultimately must rely on our own organized militias. I've heard that Squire Zhang's militia is quite formidable and rendered great service in suppressing Fan Shan Yao's remnants."
Zhang Yuanwai demurred, "Oh, I merely did a small, insignificant thing, nothing much. Compared to Instructor Bai dispatching Fan Shan Yao with a single shot from several hundred paces away, it's not worth mentioning."
Bai Yuan pressed on, "Let's dispense with the pleasantries and useless talk, Squire Zhang. The militias of our Chengcheng and Heyang counties should unite to resist the bandits. Otherwise, when large bandit forces—tens of thousands strong—arrive, and our militias number only a few hundred, defending isolated villages and towns, we will merely be picked off one by one."
His words were sound!
Zhang Yuanwai's militia numbered only four hundred men. This small force had been helpless against Fan Shan Yao until the bandit leader was killed, and the enemy's morale collapsed. Only then, by joining forces with the militias of several other villages, had they managed to corner and eliminate Fan Shan Yao.
Zhang Yuanwai had long felt his own powerlessness.
Now, hearing Bai Yuan's suggestion, it perfectly aligned with his own thoughts.
Bai Yuan continued, "Imperial soldiers cannot leave their jurisdiction. For instance, Chengcheng's patrol commander cannot come to Heyang County to suppress bandits. However, our militias have no such restriction. We can freely cross county borders and return to our native lands after battle. Therefore, if Heyang County is in trouble, my Chengcheng militia can come to help. If Chengcheng is in trouble, Heyang County's militia can also assist. We are much freer than the imperial forces."
Zhang Yuanwai was overjoyed. "That is how it should be! Our two counties' militias will form a brotherhood of militias, to stand guard and aid each other in the future, and our fighting strength will greatly increase. If Militia Commander Bai doesn't mind, call me Brother Zhang, and I'll call you Brother Bai. From now on, I'll follow your lead, Brother Bai."
/.zero point]/
Comments