Niu Jinxing forced a smile that did not reach his eyes.
"Brother Li, do you not think your taxation idea is a little foolish?"
Li Yan blinked in surprise.
Just a moment ago Niu Jinxing had said he agreed with him. Now suddenly he was calling the idea foolish. The shift in attitude was so abrupt that Li Yan could not help but feel confused.
Niu Jinxing continued calmly.
"Let us imagine the future for a moment. Suppose our Chuang army successfully marches into Beijing and kills that old emperor. At that time Brother Chuang Wang will ascend the throne as emperor."
He grinned.
"You will naturally become the Grand Secretary. As for me, Niu Jinxing, I should at least manage to secure the post of a minister."
He leaned slightly closer.
"And yet you propose that the wealthy should pay taxes."
Niu Jinxing's grin widened.
"Would that not mean we ourselves would have to pay taxes?"
Li Yan was stunned.
"But if we truly become such important figures, then of course we will be wealthy. Paying a little tax for the sake of the people, what would be wrong with that?"
Niu Jinxing sneered.
"You may enjoy paying taxes. That does not mean others do."
"You even suggested collecting taxes from princes. Tell me honestly. If Chuang Wang's nephews heard that idea, do you think they would be pleased?"
Li Yan froze.
Niu Jinxing did not stop.
"Would General Liu Zongmin be pleased? Would Hao Yaoqi be pleased?"
"What about the veterans of the Old Eight Squad who followed Chuang Wang through life and death for years? The men who risked everything because they dreamed of becoming officials someday, of bringing honor and prosperity to their descendants?"
"Would they be pleased?"
Li Yan's heart sank.
The truth in those questions struck him like a hammer.
Niu Jinxing had already said enough.
Now it was time to kill.
He was about to shout for the hidden men to come out.
Suddenly laughter sounded from outside the bamboo grove.
A figure appeared beyond the trees.
A young man walked in slowly.
He wore a Daoist robe of fine quality. Though a few spots had been dampened by morning dew, it did nothing to diminish the calm and otherworldly aura surrounding him.
The golden threads forming a Taiji diagram on his robe reflected the morning sunlight, glimmering brilliantly.
Niu Jinxing frowned slightly.
He suppressed the urge to summon his men for the moment. It would be better to see who this Daoist was first.
The newcomer was of course Li Dao Xuan.
He waved cheerfully at the two men.
"Greetings, gentlemen."
Li Yan politely returned the greeting.
"Daozhang."
Niu Jinxing only stared at him suspiciously.
Li Dao Xuan flicked his sleeve, then pretended to pinch his fingers together as if performing a calculation.
"If my divination is correct," he said with a grin, "the two of you are currently arguing about the matter of abolishing grain taxes."
Both Li Yan and Niu Jinxing were shocked.
How did this man know that?
Li Dao Xuan walked to the stone table and casually sat down.
"Li Yan, you already know that abolishing grain taxes will not work. That is why you returned to persuade Chuang Wang to change strategies."
Li Yan stared at him in astonishment.
How did this Daoist even know his name?
Li Dao Xuan turned to Niu Jinxing.
"As for you…"
He deliberately stretched the last word.
From the expression on the Daoist's face, Niu Jinxing sensed a deep and mocking amusement.
Yet Li Dao Xuan ignored him and turned back to Li Yan.
"Li Yan," he said gently, "have you discovered what must truly change if you wish to change the world?"
Li Yan hesitated.
"The court? The laws? The system?"
Li Dao Xuan shook his head.
"People."
Li Yan felt as if lightning had struck his mind.
Li Dao Xuan continued calmly.
"The greatest resistance to change always comes from people. Whether you wish to change the government, reform the laws, or redesign the system, everything must begin with people."
Li Yan's eyes widened.
Li Dao Xuan smiled.
"If you follow the right people, you can accomplish the right things. If you follow the wrong people, nothing will succeed."
Then he turned toward Niu Jinxing with a playful grin.
"Would you not agree, Niu Jinxing?"
Niu Jinxing's eyes narrowed.
This Daoist knew his name too.
He could no longer stay silent.
"You Daoist," he said coldly, "what exactly are you here for?"
"Daoist?" Li Dao Xuan chuckled.
"I am not really a Daoist."
"I am merely a charlatan who acts on a whim."
He spread his hands.
"As for why I came here… well, I suppose you could say I felt like saving the world today."
Niu Jinxing's face darkened.
"Utter nonsense!"
He no longer wished to delay.
The longer this dragged on, the greater the risk.
Niu Jinxing suddenly leaped backward several steps, preparing to shout for his men.
But before he could open his mouth, Li Dao Xuan spoke first.
"Niu Jinxing, I will give you one chance to live."
"If you abandon your plan now, I will not kill you."
Niu Jinxing froze briefly.
At that moment he realized something.
This man knew everything.
That realization only made his killing intent surge even stronger.
He roared angrily.
"Men! Come out and attack!"
Figures burst out from the bamboo grove.
The ambushers who had been hiding for a long time rushed forward one after another.
In the blink of an eye the stone table was surrounded by Niu Jinxing's men.
Even Li Yan, naive as he was, finally understood.
His mouth hung open in shock.
"You… you planned to kill me?"
"Why are you so vicious? If Brother Chuang Wang learns of this he will never forgive you!"
Niu Jinxing snorted.
"You are still this naive?"
"If Brother Chuang Wang had not agreed, would I dare to kill you?"
Li Yan inhaled sharply.
Li Dao Xuan sighed softly.
"I offered you a chance to live, yet you refused."
He shook his head.
"Ah well. Everyone dies eventually. Some people merely need a little assistance."
As he spoke, two small pistols slid out from his sleeves.
"Firelocks!"
Niu Jinxing's men were startled and instinctively stepped back half a pace.
At close range these weapons could kill with a single shot.
Even Niu Jinxing quietly retreated two steps, though his mouth remained stubborn.
"So you are one of those firelock rebels."
Li Dao Xuan smiled.
"Calling me one of them is not quite accurate."
"I would say… their leader."
Everyone present was shocked.
The leader?
So the firelock rebels were led by a Daoist?
They had heard rumors that the firelock rebels belonged to a sect similar to the White Lotus, a group called the Dao Xuan Tianzun Sect, which promoted a so called deity to deceive the masses.
Niu Jinxing sneered.
"So you are the cult leader of that Dao Xuan Tianzun sect."
"Cult leader?" Li Dao Xuan laughed.
"Who told you the leader had to be the cult leader?"
Niu Jinxing frowned.
"If not the cult leader, then what?"
Li Dao Xuan grinned.
"Something slightly higher."
"Think carefully."
Niu Jinxing blinked.
In a religious organization, who could be higher than the cult leader?
Impossible.
Unless…
Wait.
If he reversed that logic…
Niu Jinxing suddenly shouted angrily.
"Enough with your tricks! Men, do not fear him!"
"He only has two pistols. That means only two shots. Once he fires, the rest of you can rush forward and beat him to death."
"He would not dare fire. He is only bluffing."
"Is that so?"
Li Dao Xuan chuckled.
"The truly frightening things have not even appeared yet."
The moment he finished speaking, both hands pulled their triggers.
Bang.
Bang.
Two gunshots echoed through the bamboo grove.
Two bandits clutched their chests and collapsed to the ground at the same time.