Luring Away a Blacksmith

Wang Er of Baishui led several hundred men in a charge toward the County Seat.

The two old soldiers guarding the gate were instantly scared witless.

Thanks to the Ming dynasty's bizarre military farming system, Chengcheng County's troops were not stationed inside the County Seat.

They were busy farming at the Garrison Station more than ten li away.

The old gate guards knew no reinforcements would arrive anytime soon. Two old men holding off hundreds of rebels? They would not have dared even with a hundred times the courage.

Without the slightest hesitation, the two old soldiers ducked into a drainage ditch beside the road and stripped off their uniforms as fast as they could, transforming into a pair of decrepit old men...

The Peasant Rebellion Army poured onto the streets of the County Seat in an instant.

The townsfolk scattered in a flurry of squawking chickens and bounding dogs, retreating into their homes.

Wang Er had no intention of troubling them. He led his rebels straight toward the County Yamen.

Only after they had charged past did San Shier emerge from an alley. He glanced left and right along the deserted street, then raced toward the neighborhood where the artisan households lived.

After Gao Chuwu had escorted San Shier's wife and daughter away, San Shier had been about to find a blacksmith when he heard battle cries outside the town.

Wang Er of Baishui really had rebelled!

He hurriedly stripped off his long robes, put on coarse clothes belonging to a household servant, and tousled his hair until he looked like a disheveled, grimy middle-aged beggar. Only then did he leave home and dart through the alleys, where he saw Wang Er lead several hundred murderous rebels surging along the main street ahead toward the County Yamen.

Once they had all gone, San Shier took several deep breaths to bolster his courage, slipped out of the alley, and continued running toward the artisans' neighborhood.

Before long, he arrived at Artisans' Street.

It was a dark, narrow street lined with dilapidated houses, with filthy water flowing everywhere.

The residents were all registered artisans-blacksmiths, carpenters, and potters alike.

They were all very poor.

San Shier took a deep breath and knocked on a blacksmith's door.

With a peasant uprising raging outside, the blacksmith was huddled alone at home, trembling. The sudden knock nearly scared his soul out of his body. How could he dare open the door?

Only when he heard San Shier calling softly did he muster the courage to open it. "Ah, Third Secretary? What brings you here? And why are you dressed like that?"

San Shier slipped inside and pulled the door shut. "Shh! There are rebels running wild outside. That's why I dressed like this."

The blacksmith sighed. "Ah!"

San Shier lowered his voice. "Never mind the rebels for now. Even if they start killing, they won't get around to you. At most, they'll kill the County Magistrate, the county deputy, the chief clerk, and the rest, then slaughter the minor officials and yamen runners before looting the granaries. Our turn won't come just yet."

The blacksmith asked, "Then what brings you here?"

San Shier spoke quickly. "Li Da, you're the finest blacksmith in Chengcheng County, but none of its officials treat you like a human being. Only I appreciate your skill. That's what they call [an eye for talent]."

The blacksmith's name was Li Da, and he really was the finest blacksmith in Chengcheng County. He had forged many excellent weapons and suits of armor for the county's Three Patrol Inspectors and the soldiers of the Garrison Station.

(PS: A patrol inspector was a ninth-rank military officer, with more than a hundred soldiers under his command.)

But the imperial court placed little value on registered artisans. Skilled or not, an artisan stood a rung below an ordinary commoner. The County Magistrate would not even spare artisan households a proper glance, much less care how skilled they were.

Only the Secretary, who assisted the County Magistrate with his duties, would know what Li Da could do.

In fact, San Shier was a decent man who often spoke up for the poor. Li Da had benefited from his help before; otherwise, amid this chaos of war, he would never have opened the door and let him in.

Looking a little embarrassed, Li Da said, "Yes, only the Third Secretary appreciates this humble fellow's skill."

San Shier said, "I know you're poor and have always wanted to make your fortune. Now I'm giving you a chance. Come with me and become the private blacksmith of a very, very wealthy master. Interested?"

Li Da looked completely bewildered. "A very, very wealthy master? His private blacksmith? But... I'm registered in the Artisan Registry. Wouldn't it be bad if I just ran away?"

San Shier pointed outside. "The rebels are running wild out there, killing people everywhere. If you seize this chance to escape, no government soldiers will come after you. Everyone will assume the rebels chopped you into mincemeat. From then on, you can escape the Artisan Registry and follow a new master. Work hard for him, and if you make him happy, perhaps he'll arrange a new household registration for you. Then you can wipe the slate clean and attain Commoner Status."

Li Da was immediately tempted.

He did not even know which generation of his ancestors had been captured after losing a battle and forced to become an artisan. Ever since, their descendants had been entered into the Artisan Registry generation after generation, living utterly miserable lives. Even finding a wife was difficult—he was still unmarried.

Now San Shier was sweet-talking him into escaping to work for a wealthy master, with the possibility of attaining Commoner Status someday. The temptation shot straight to its peak.

People in ancient times were simple-minded, too. They had no experience of being tricked into going to northern Myanmar to have their organs sold, and readily trusted others. Since San Shier was a fairly decent Secretary, Li Da believed him all the more wholeheartedly.

He asked quietly, "Can you really give me a better life?"

"Trust me," San Shier said. "Come on, let's leave now. With the rebels rampaging through town, all the yamen runners are at the County Yamen, and the gate guards have gone into hiding. This is your chance to escape the Artisan Registry. Once the rebels settle down, you'll never get out. Your children and grandchildren will all be registered in the Artisan Registry."

Those words were truly terrifying!

Li Da gritted his teeth and took the plunge. "Let's go. Take me to meet that master."

San Shier was overjoyed. Excellent, I've hooked myself a blacksmith. With this silver tongue of mine, swindling and wheedling without a shred of shame, I, San Shier, have finally tricked a blacksmith into joining the Heavenly Deity. Hahaha! Now my position as the Heavenly Deity's lackey is assured.

That's far better than being the County Magistrate's lackey.

He patted Li Da's shoulder, took him by the arm, and slipped out of the door.

Shouts still shook the heavens throughout the County Seat. The chaos was concentrated around the County Yamen and the neighborhood where the wealthy lived. From the sounds alone, it was clear that the County Yamen had already fallen. Battle cries had spread into the wealthy families' courtyards, where household servants and guards were apparently still fighting the rebels.

Women's cries rang out from time to time!

San Shier did not need to look to know that many women would suffer violation in this chaos, especially the officials' daughters and their maids. With their lovely features and delicate, fair skin, once they fell into those rebels' hands, he feared...

He could not help letting out a long sigh. The authorities had been wrong to seize the seed grain, but what crime had these women committed?

The authorities were no good, and neither were the rebels.

Sure enough, only I, San Shier, can act with a clear conscience in this world. This is what they call [the whole world is muddy; I alone am clear].

He tugged Li Da's arm. "Come on, come on, let's hurry! Once the rebels finish slaughtering the wealthy households, the chaos will spread here."

The two raced along the streets and alleys. Ahead, the town gate stood wide open, with no one guarding it.

The moment he took his first step beyond the gate, Li Da's spirits soared. Hahaha! I'm a registered artisan, but I've finally escaped the authorities' clutches!