Zhang San and Li Si had already received word from the Ministry of Revenue: the men coming to work their fields were King Wen Ji Chang and King of Jin Chong Houhu.
Zhang San took a swig of wine and said, "We have to stop these High Officials from coming to the countryside. King Wen, King of Jin—so what? Ji Chang is over seventy this year. Can he farm? And that Chong Houhu, what can he do besides watch cockfights and eat chicken?"
Li Si gulped down a mouthful too, seething with indignation. "Exactly. Those two are coming to the fields today. They should be taking the South Gate. Why don't we get there first and stop their carriages?"
"Right, right! As long as we stop them, we can make another tidy sum from Heartless Vegetables this year."
Wine gave the cowards courage. The two stumbled to the South Gate and lay in wait by the road.
Before long, two luxurious carriages appeared on the road. The High Officials' carriages were difficult to distinguish, but Chong Houhu and Ji Chang had two of the few royal carriages belonging to feudal lords in Chaoge. Their exceptionally grand specifications made them recognizable at a glance.
"Good!"
The two shouted and charged toward the carriages, their faces brimming with righteous conviction.
The outcome was entirely unsurprising. The two coachmen instantly pinned Zhang San and Li Si beneath them.
One coachman caught a whiff of wine and called to Chong Houhu, "Your Highness, they've been drinking."
Chong Houhu waved a hand. "Never mind. Let them go. Getting to the fields is more important."
Although he did not know why King Zhou insisted on sending nobles and High Officials to the countryside, there had to be a deeper purpose. He could not delay it.
Zhang