Chapter 825 - 575: The Gate of the Mysterious Female

Supreme Dao Country.

Golden Water Mansion.

The newly issued government decree on land reform and Daoist teachings had only been posted in villages for three days, and already the countryside was in upheaval, like a boiling pot.

To the clans occupying the countryside, land is their lifeblood, and not an inch can be moved.

Wang Jia Dam in the west of the city is the gathering place for one of the most prominent families in Golden Water Mansion.

The clan’s ancestral temple is also extraordinarily grand, with flying eaves and distinctive architectural angles, showcasing the power accumulated by the clan over hundreds of years.

At this moment, sandalwood incense curls in the temple.

The gentries and clan leaders who had rushed in from various places sat according to their rank, tapping their jade pipe stems on the blue bricks, echoing a rhythmic sound, everyone’s face was dour.

The Clan Leader Wang, seated at the main position, stroked his white goatee, his eyes sharp like a hawk, slowly scanning over the people below.

He suddenly slapped the sandalwood table, causing the teacups on it to tremble, and took the lead to challenge:

"Fellow clansmen, dear neighbors, this new policy is not benefiting the people—it’s digging up our ancestral graves!"

"Throughout history, the imperial power has never reached the countryside! The rules of this ten-mile community have always been dictated by our clan!"

"A bunch of Daoists have taken power, establishing the so-called Supreme Dao Country, but what do they know about governing the nation and ensuring the people’s well-being?"

"It’s sheer nonsense!"

"Yes! Clan Leader Wang is absolutely right!"

Immediately, there was an explosion of agreement from below, with someone slapping their thigh and cursing angrily, their faces twisted in rage.

"Our ancestors spilled blood and sweat for these lands, why should they just be handed over to tenant farmers and vagrants? A bunch of mud-legged folks don’t deserve territory!"

"The government is cutting off our income, destroying our foundation—we absolutely cannot accept this, not even to the death!"

Zhang, the gentry from a neighboring village, hurriedly stood up, his obese body shaking uncontrollably, his voice sharp and grating:

"Brother Wang speaks the absolute truth!"

"My family’s three thousand acres of rice paddies, if distributed according to the new policy, how will the hundreds of elders, servants, and workers in my household survive?"

"They’re forcing us to death!"

"In my opinion, we should band together and resist. When the officials come, we close our doors and refuse to meet, let our clan members stand up, see what they can do to us!"

However, some timid gentries showed a troubled expression:

"But...but this is the Royal Decree of Supreme Dao Country, opposing it is a capital offense, and threatens to implicate the clan... maybe we should just give away a few acres to appease them?"

These words were immediately interrupted by an angry dark-faced gentry beside him.

The elder slammed the table, spewing saliva, eyes fierce and glaring:

"Foolishness! If we start, when will it end? Give up three parts today, and seven tomorrow, sooner or later they’ll strip us of everything!"

"We shouldn’t be reckless with the government; it’s not worth being labeled as resisting the decree!"

"Let them collect the land deeds if they want, but the rules of the countryside are decided by us!"

"We’ll manage the villagers under the clan’s name; those who disobey will have their water sources cut off, ancestral graves sealed, expelled from the clan—make life impossible in the countryside.")

"For the truly stubborn troublemakers, we’ll hand them over to our brothers in the back hills, slap them with the label of traitors to the state, drag them into the mountains at night, disappear without a trace!"

The crowd exchanged glances, each eye filled with hard-bitten resolve, instantly understanding one another.

This group of local overlords, entrenched in the countryside for generations, had already turned their clan power into personal justice, viewing villagers as assets for exploitation. How could they easily relent on their benefits?

...

Outside the ancestral hall, on the embankments, another side of human life unfolded.

The villagers, in tattered and patched clothes, gathered in groups, squatting or standing, each looking sallow and emaciated.

Some frowned and sighed in despair, others looked toward the direction of the city with eyes full of hope; some quaked in fear at the harsh words of the gentries.

"We’ve farmed our whole lives, facing the earth, backs to the sky, only to live as beasts of burden to the lords, with barely a grain left at year’s end."

"After paying the rent this year, there isn’t even husk left at home, the children are crying from hunger...this new land policy, it’s a blessing!"

"But the gentry has ordered that even if we collect the land deeds, we should still pay rent, and disobedience will result in broken legs!"

"Yesterday, the Li family boy secretly went to the county to inquire about the specifics of the new policy, and on his way back was thrown into a sack and beaten into injure, now lying bedridden, unable to afford a doctor!"

A woman holding a swaddled baby turned pale with fright, clutching her crying child tightly:

"Let’s forget it; we can’t afford to offend those big families, at least we still have some food."

"If we lose our lives, what will happen to the child? We can’t let the child lose his parents..."

"They are just trying to scare us!"

Amid the people, a brave youth in ragged clothes raised his neck, his face flushed, and shouted:

"Since Dao Country has issued the new policy, they will certainly send people to manage it! They can’t just sit by and watch us be oppressed by the gentries!"

But amid the complaints, most villagers could only rage internally.

The power of the gentries was deeply rooted, and generations of oppression had long eroded their courage to resist.

Not many days later, a group of fierce "bandits" suddenly emerged from the back hills.

These people, with faces covered, holding knives and sticks, took advantage of the night to loot villages, burning down the grass houses of three families supporting the new policy, their methods extremely cruel.

For a while, the countryside was in panic, and homes closed doors at dusk, not daring to light lamps, fearing trouble would come.

...

Inside the Golden Water Mansion’s office, candlelight flickered in the main hall; the dim glow rendered the room solemn.

Lord Bai Guangdong clutched the urgent report filled with records of bandit looting, his eyes dark as a deep pool, showing no anxiety.

Having just been promoted to Guardian Warrior, Bai had been dispatched here to shepherd the people, now serving as the lord of Golden Water Mansion.