Chapter 7: Isn't this bullying honest people

You have a bountiful harvest, while we are destined to suffer from reduced yields and hunger

Although he bears the character of a hero, the actions of the Seventh Leopard are devoid of any spirit of chivalry; he only knows how to assert dominance in the neighborhood, parading around with his followers all day long

The Fifth Overlord glanced at the Seventh Clan Brothers: "Is it possible that the Seventh Clan is afraid?"

There are no other choices, nor can there be the slightest hesitation. At the time of sowing wheat, every moment is worth its weight in gold, as the wheat seedlings are eagerly awaiting nourishment in the fields. In the autumn and winter, they suffer from thirst, and when next year arrives with a gap between the harvests, it will be the wives and children who go hungry

... ...

From a distance of ten steps, the strength and accuracy are quite astonishing, as the powerful blows cause the tall Seventh Leopard to stagger back repeatedly, nearly losing the knife in his hand

Cousin, you are aware that there are fixed dates for sowing wheat. If we delay by a few days and miss the seasonal timing, the harvest will be significantly reduced. Moreover, considering that it has not rained for a long time, what will you do if the water supply diminishes even further or stops altogether in the latter half of the month after you have used up the supply in the first half?

The Seventh Leopard was once again enraged. While his elder brother was negotiating with the Fifth Overlord, he slowly rose, glanced at the knife in his hand, gently set it down, and approached the Fifth Overlord step by step, clenching his empty fists.

As he staggered over, shaking his head, he opened his eyes and saw the large foot of the Fifth Overlord kicking towards him, striking him squarely in the chest

If one retreats today, the fearsome reputation of the Seventh Clan will collapse, and their internal weakness will be exposed. The terror that was once established in the neighborhood through fierce struggles will instantly crumble, making it much more difficult to assert dominance in the future.

The seventh leopard indeed resembled a fighting cock with its neck feathers raised, and upon being insulted, its face turned livid with anger.

Befriend the kind and good neighbors? In the face of interests, what do distant relatives and close neighbors amount to

Well, since the Duke insists on intervening... why don't we all go to Linqu Township together and ask the steward and the three elders to adjudicate

They all call me brother, drinking and feasting together! We share a bond of life and death

The Fifth Clan wiped the blood from his hands and looked at the members of the Seventh Clan, who were intimidated by him, with eyes full of impatience: "Let today's matter end here. Listen to me, restore the water usage standards of our two clans to what they were in previous years. Anyone who causes trouble again, who dares to show their weapons in front of me, the Fifth Clan will support the other family!"

The sixth calf, whose face was covered in bruises, regarded the fifth tyrant as a savior, approached with a bow, and pitifully said: "Cousin, you have come at just the right time. The seventh clan has destroyed the previous water usage agreement and intends to cut off our family's livelihood"

After Brother Leopard returned, his demeanor was markedly different, as he claimed to have made acquaintances with many prominent figures in the Guanzhong martial arts circle, such as Yan Ben from Yangling and Shao from the Tumen in Sheling.

The sixth clan leader appeared somewhat anxious, as he knew that the first clan head, being a man of authority, held significant power in the community and had a good relationship with the seventh clan. If he were to show favoritism towards the seventh clan, then the fifth and sixth clans would not fare well even if they joined forces.

Of course, it is inappropriate

"All of you, sheathe your blades!" The Fifth Overlord drew his sword, glaring fiercely, causing both families to retreat in alarm

"Why have you come?" The character Ci Gong is known as the fifth hegemon. He merely scratched his ear and said: "I was taking a nap at home when I heard a commotion nearby, disturbing my peace. I specifically came to see which family's chickens and ducks are making such a racket by the ditch?"

The young man from the village believed his words and thus appointed the Seventh Leopard as the leader of the local heroes

It was of no use; the one taking the lead was the Seventh Biao, who remained indifferent to this clumsy provocation.

The seventh leopard was supported by his clansmen, clutching his painfully aching chest, and looked up at the fifth tyrant, cursing, "Where did this old scoundrel come from, daring to launch a sneak attack on me!" He grumbled and intended to step forward to reclaim his honor

Haha, in the countryside, where is there enough to litigate? In my opinion, it would be better to directly escalate the matter to the county and alarm the county magistrate!

With this thought in mind, the seventh leopard's fist tightened increasingly. After stepping into what he deemed an appropriate distance, he exerted force with his feet, leaping up suddenly, and his palm struck towards the fifth tyrant.

It is not a solution to remain stuck like this; I do have an idea.

As the sun rose higher in the sky, the sixth calf stood up and proposed, "Let us find a rope, using the ditch as the midpoint, with ten people from each side pulling. Whoever wins will decide how to divide the water, what do you think?"

Find a helper

The fifth clan's tribesmen stepped forward with simple spears, and when facing them, the light-hearted young warriors of the seventh clan found themselves at a disadvantage

The Eighth clan is fortunate, gathering in the south of the canal, and there is no need to get involved in this dispute. The Eighth clan also feels that it does not concern them, pointing to the distance and casually saying to his son: "Do you see that? In the future, avoid meddling in such trivial matters. The Seventh clan is fierce and aggressive, difficult to provoke, while the Sixth clan appears honest but is actually soft and difficult to deal with; once they latch onto you, they won't let go. Once you get involved, it is like being pulled by both sides at the same time, making it hard to extricate yourself. The Fifth clan is truly unwise."

The Seventh Biao understood that although his family was known for their bravery and fierceness, when it came to actually standing on the ground and competing in strength, they might not necessarily be a match for the farmers.

At that moment, an old man with white hair rode in on horseback, directly charging into the chaotic battlefield between the two parties

The sixth clan has already been intimidated by the seventh clan, merely shrinking behind the fifth clan: "Not to mention that this canal was originally constructed by my family, and the seventh clan has never contributed any effort, yet it has been used for several decades without compensation. My family has endured this. However, recently they have become excessively overbearing, even stating that all the water from the first half of the month must be diverted to the seventh clan, and only after they have used it will it be our turn."

As the situation once again reached a stalemate, a sudden sound of hooves approached from afar. Someone dismounted, pushed through the crowd, and came over, their hearty laughter echoing by the Chengguo Canal

Indeed, the division of the two miles of water is generally done over the course of one day each. How can there be a direct monopoly for half a month? Isn't this bullying honest people

It is that kind of rogue spirit that, despite clearly being outmatched, can still turn around and slap itself on the head, resulting in a face covered in blood

They are not as grand as the first clan, nor as wealthy as the fourth clan, and they cannot even compete with the fifth clan in fights; they can only disguise their strength through ferocity and a fearless attitude towards death

The Seventh Clan of Linqu Township is managed by two brothers, with the head of the family being Diqi Biao. Biao, being the elder, is focused on the management of the family’s agricultural land.

The dispute among the sixth clan ended without resolution, and the argument gradually escalated into pushing and shoving, ultimately evolving into this large-scale brawl between the two sides over a distance of two miles

Not acceptable

They could continue to fight in place, but facing two opponents would surely be disadvantageous. The seventh hero came up with an idea

However, the observant person has noticed that ... the fifth Lun now has an additional small item at his waist compared to when he left

Brother, please wait!

His brother, the seventh, serves as the head of the pavilion, holding an official position, and has a good relationship with the local tax collector. This allows the seventh brother to bully the neighbors with impunity.

The Fifth Overlord certainly understands this principle. The population in Guanzhong is burgeoning, yet the land and water resources are limited. The competition among the local factions is fierce, and the entanglement of interests is complex and unclear. My grandson said the other day that trying to unite the clans within ten miles and eight villages to collectively safeguard themselves in chaotic times is exceedingly difficult

The eighth correction was somewhat perplexed: "Father, does the classic not say that being kind to neighbors is a treasure of the nation? The sixth and seventh had a dispute, and the fifth clan intervened to stop their brawl, which was indeed the right thing to do. Our family should also go and help, shouldn't we?"

The Seventh Biao now has to face two families simultaneously, under immense pressure, yet he is well aware of the tricks that have allowed his family to dominate the countryside for over ten years

It is visible to everyone that the water in the Chengguo Canal is less this year, and the reduction in wheat production is almost a certainty. One can either accept this loss or shift the burden of loss onto neighbors by competing for water.

The Seventh Biao was greatly alarmed and hurried to help his younger brother up. He discovered that only his nose bridge had been flattened and it seemed that one of his ribs was also broken, but there was no danger to his life, realizing that the Fifth Ba had shown some mercy. He immediately changed his expression, lightly kicked his brother and scolded him a couple of times, then bowed to the Fifth Ba.

This is a matter between our two families, and has nothing to do with the Fifth family, right? Isn't it shameful to seek reinforcements?

The Seventh Biao supported his younger brother and said: "Let us see whether it is the miser or the Fifth family that holds the power in this village!"

The seventh Biao immediately stopped his younger brother, as he was older and remembered the time when the fifth Ba was renowned for his impressive presence during local excursions. He knew that this old man was not to be trifled with, so he only instructed the clan members to step back. He then stepped forward and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, smiling as he said, "How has Uncle Zong come here?"

His younger brother is named Seventh Leopard. He is a chivalrous person who, as soon as he reached adulthood, ran out to make a name for himself. It is said that he was once a junior under the renowned hero Yuan She of Maoling and has also mingled in the city of Chang'an, making him a person of experience.

The Seventh Biao retorted: "In the seventh area, there are one hundred and twenty hectares of land, while your family has eighty hectares. There is only one irrigation channel, and last year we agreed to allocate water in a six to four ratio. My family used water for eighteen days this month, while your family used it for twelve days. What is incorrect about this?"

The sixth calf, after speaking, took the initiative to hold the horse for the fifth tyrant, tightly gripping the reins, fearing that he would leave him behind.

Due to the interference of the Fifth Dominator, both sides have been at a stalemate by the canal for nearly an hour, still unwilling to yield. The Sixth Calf licked its cracked lips and looked up at the sun, while the Seventh Leopard remained like a fighting cock before the match, rubbing its blade against the whetstone, glaring fiercely at the Fifth Dominator

In an instant, the tall and robust seventh leopard was kicked into the ravine, falling into the mud in a disheveled state, transforming from a fighting cock into a drenched chicken

Therefore, it should follow the rules of previous years, rotating daily and taking turns to open the gate! With the fifth tyrant standing beside, the sixth cub fox is emboldened, its voice raised a few notches.

The two parties separated by the fifth hegemony are once again at odds: "My family has more land, so we naturally deserve a larger share"

The younger brother is unaware and has offended the clan uncle

As neighbors, one can tolerate other matters, but today’s dispute over water is directly related to next year’s harvest and concerns the life and death of our clan. We must not yield!

The sixth calf, one must not speak carelessly

The eighth straight man shook his head: "To believe in books entirely is not as good as having no books at all. When you go to the university in October, besides the Five Classics, what you must learn even more is the way to navigate the world and avoid calamities."

Your brother lost his father at a young age, so it is not surprising that he lacks proper upbringing. I can, however, take it upon myself to teach him how to be a man in place of your deceased father

It does not matter, the elder of the clan must uphold justice for my family

The Fifth Basha found this method quite agreeable, while the Seventh Clan categorically rejected it

However, how could the sixth clan, which has been honest and farming for generations, compete with the local ruffians and light-hearted heroes? The seventh clan, in addition to their farmhands, also raised a group of idle and unruly young men who fought fiercely. Moreover, they somehow acquired some iron weapons, and the seventh leopard brandished a gleaming ring-headed knife, forcing the sixth clan, armed only with pitchforks, to retreat step by step.

They found themselves in a stalemate here, and there were also more onlookers on the distant ridge, among whom was the Eighth Clan.

The Fifth Tyrant, accompanied closely by the Fifth Clan's Ding, pierced through the fields like a sharp sword, separating the Sixth and Seventh individuals. Meanwhile, the Seventh Leopard continued to pursue the Sixth Calf, and the old man directly picked up a short stick and threw it at the Seventh Leopard with precision

The fifth overlord, seeing that the other party was ungrateful, became furious: "You insolent fool, are you trying to turn white into black?"

The fifth force is immense, as the short staff spins and flies out, sweeping horizontally past the crowd, striking precisely and unerringly against the chest of the seventh leopard

As long as he strikes first at his neck just like he did earlier, knocking the old man unconscious. Once the members of the Fifth Clan are repelled, the Sixth Clan will be left powerless.

As everyone turned back, it was the weary Fifth Lun who had hurried to the county town, returning alone on horseback, without bringing any reinforcements.

However, he still remained patient and continued to persuade both families to cease hostilities, waiting for his grandson's return. After the matters of education and autumn plowing, the Fifth Overlord began to view his grandson in a new light. Although he still mocked his grandson's fanciful ideas verbally, deep down, the old man believed that Fifth Lun would surely handle today's affairs well and secure fame and benefits for their family

As everyone was caught off guard, at the critical moment, the fifth tyrant, who was originally sitting on the ground, seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. He suddenly dodged the sneak attack and without hesitation retaliated with a punch, striking directly at the garlic-shaped nose of the seventh leopard. In an instant, blood spurted from his nose, and the seventh leopard felt stars in his eyes, facing a blur of darkness.