New Policies Land, People Live in Peace; Wu'an Rises, A New Look Appears

When the news reached the circle of wealthy gentry, the remaining gentry were thrown into complete disarray. They gathered in the hall once more, their expressions even uglier than before.

"Damn it! They agreed to work with us, but they went and fled in secret! Now look at them—their whole family's heads are hanging outside the city. They deserved it!"

A short, stout gentryman stamped his feet in rage, yet did not dare raise his voice.

"Don't just stand there cursing them!"

A gentryman wearing a jade crown had gone pale, his voice trembling. "Didn't you notice those charges? Take Master Li's skimming of disaster-relief grain—even back then, he handled it so secretly that only a few of us knew about it. Yet now it's all written out plain as day, even more clearly than I remember!"

"Yes!"

Another gentryman chimed in. "These matters were buried for so many years. How could they suddenly be dredged up? Lord Wuwei's reach is far greater than we ever imagined!"

"Maybe... someone is watching us right now," someone said softly.

The moment those words were spoken, the gentry in the hall shuddered as one and swept their fearful gazes around.

The branches outside the window swayed as though shadows had flitted past them. The insects at the corner of the wall suddenly fell silent, as if ears were listening in.

They clearly could not see anyone, yet the spine-chilling feeling of being watched refused to go away.

"What do we do now?"

A younger gentryman spoke in a trembling voice. "They uncovered their crimes so thoroughly. Will we... will we be next...?"

The group looked at one another, but no one dared answer.

Everyone knew perfectly well that among the wealthy gentry, who had never done something to oppress the common people?

No