Chapter Three, the 51st year of the Guangxu era

It seems that Guan Fengsheng is also a rough person, and he is more concerned about Li Si's situation, not paying much attention to it. He grunted heavily, indicating for Li Si to ask questions

Guangxu

The flame in his heart gradually extinguished, and the unspoken grievances of Guan Fengsheng, along with the reality that Guan Yunniang, a woman with small feet, also had to go up the mountain to gather mulberries, caused a slight stir in Li Si's heart. Moreover, the earlier scene where Guan Erjie was so tempted by the corn cake that she swallowed her saliva was like a knife stabbing into his heart, still swaying gently now.

Feigning a headache, Li Si concealed his frustration

He is a simple-minded person, unable to discern the rich connotations in Li Si's gaze; as long as Li Si still recognizes him, he is content.

Guan Fengsheng set his heart down and laughed heartily

What is the use of being busy with those matters? Is it more important than taking care of the Fourth Brother?

Rebellion? The rebellion led by Zhu Yigui in Taiwan was quelled in just two months, which illustrates how unpopular he was. The common people were focused on living a good life; who would join him in rebellion? Throughout the 18th century, the Qing Dynasty was peaceful and harmonious, with the White Lotus Society's rebellion only occurring at the very end of that century.

It doesn't matter what you lose, just make sure you don't lose your Uncle Guan!

Guan Fengsheng turned to look at Li Si, hesitating to speak, then sighed and turned away, softening his tone towards Yun Niang.

Take a few more days to rest. If there's anything, Uncle Guan is here, so don't worry! I have always said that Fourth Brother, you are not cut out for physical labor

Is the fourth brother really well

The White Lotus Rebellion, which shook the Qing Dynasty, occurred over eighty years ago, while the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, which turned the entire land of China into a sea of flames, took place one hundred and forty years ago. Although Li Si has engaged in numerous online debates with the descendants of the Manchus, he is merely an outsider to the study of history and must admit that during the later years of Kangxi's reign, the common people lived relatively peacefully. The Qing Dynasty's rule was as solid as an iron plate, leaving no room for his buzzing like a fly.

Guan Fengsheng clearly repeated with clarity.

Uh... my mind is still a bit hazy

Why is Second Sister watching over you? What about Yun Niang? That stubborn girl just won't listen. Just wait and see how I will teach her a lesson!

1712? Grass! Isn't this exactly three hundred years ago!

Oh, it seems I have returned to the original place

Confirming that Li Si is no longer in serious trouble, Guan Fengsheng gave one last round of instructions before leaving. Watching the retreating figure, with the small braid at the back of the head swaying back and forth, the emotions that Li Si had previously suppressed surged up again.

Yun Niang bit her lip, responding softly, and walked away holding a bamboo basket. Before leaving, she cast a glance at Li Si, her eyes reflecting something that Li Si could not comprehend; it was certainly not shyness, nor was there the slightest hint of affection. Observing her swaying gait, it was evident that her feet were bound.

This is ... ... Shaozhou ... ...

The concern on Guan Fengsheng's face was unmistakable, and Li Si forced a smile.

Guan Fengsheng turned around, and Li Si also looked over his shoulder. A girl of about fourteen or fifteen, dressed simply, walked over. Although her dress was old, it was still clean. Her eyes and brows bore a faint resemblance to those of Guan Fengsheng. While she could be considered beautiful, she was entirely different from Guan Erjie. Li Si was quite puzzled; could it be that Guan Erjie was adopted?

With a deep voice, broad shoulders, and sleeves stretched tight by his muscles, Guan Fengsheng is a blacksmith, working as a furnace operator in the iron mine where the incident occurred before him, responsible for the smelting of pig iron

As Li Si said this, Guan Fengsheng was momentarily taken aback. It was then that Li Si found his personality profile. According to the records, he was originally quite reserved; now, his tone of speech was somewhat assertive, no wonder Guan Fengsheng was not accustomed to it

This issue is quite critical, spanning from 1644 to 1911, during which the Qing Dynasty ruled over China for more than two hundred years. Which emperor is currently in power? Li Si surprisingly could not recall this from memory. It seems that for these commoners, the emperor is too distant; who sits on the dragon throne is fundamentally irrelevant to them, and thus they do not pay much attention.

What other grievances could there be? It all boils down to one word: poverty

For the Qing Dynasty, this was the worst of times, but for those determined to rebel, it was the best of times! The court's control over the localities had weakened to its limits, raising a troop and hoisting a banner to transform this Yingde County into a revolutionary base should be effortless

The hand that held the pig's tail gradually loosened, and Li Si's heart began to freeze with a crackling sound.

Although Li Si is known as King Li, reckless and unrestrained, he still understands the vast distance between boldness and madness. The idea of overthrowing the Qing Dynasty, in hindsight, seems exceedingly unlikely, much like how journalists in later years often faced retractions of their articles; some realities are simply unavoidable for him to accept

Now that heaven has truly given him such an opportunity, how can he act inconsistently with his words

His father was a scholar, but unfortunately, he never even passed the imperial examination to become a licentiate. He wanted his son to inherit his career and forced him to study and practice calligraphy when he was young. Although he did not show any exceptional talent, now that he has joined the ranks of the working people, he still occasionally fondly looks at books in his spare time

1712, during the Kangxi and Qianlong eras, Wu Sangui had already stirred things up, and Taiwan had been pacified for nearly thirty years. Li Si still remembers when he interviewed a certain historical "expert," who proudly stated that the Kangxi and Qianlong eras were the most "blissful" times for the common people during the feudal period.

Fifty-one years

It's nothing, Uncle Guan. It seems that nothing has been lost in my mind

Still living in the twenty-first century, he, Li Si, has engaged in countless online debates, firmly sitting on the side of the Chinese people. Whenever the topic arises about what one would do if they were to travel back to the Qing Dynasty, he simply responds with these two words: Rebel! Reason? No explanation!

Father, I am going to pick mulberry leaves. It is the time when the silkworms are just hatching, and they eat a lot

Faintly hearing Guan Fengsheng utter two words, upon hearing this pronunciation, Li Si felt so happy that he almost fainted.

Thoughts were racing rapidly, about to delve deeper into rebellion, when footsteps sounded outside the door, followed by a sturdy middle-aged man bursting into the room

Kangxi ... ... In the fifty-first year of Kangxi, today is February 18

This is Guan Fengsheng, who took care of him like a son after his father's death

Oh heavens, are you doing this on purpose to toy with me

Repeating the term "Qing Dynasty" over and over in his mind, this noun rolled restlessly in Li Si's thoughts, like two pieces of dry wood rubbing against each other, with sparks gradually beginning to rise.

Although the direction one sits may differ, this statement still holds value. Applied to the current situation of Li Si, it implies rebellion? Dream on! Who is rebelling with you? This is, in the eyes of many, a prosperous era of universal peace and stability, unmatched for three generations.

Li Si's heart was boiling with passion. Commoners? What about the commoners? This is a tumultuous era filled with opportunities. Since he has crossed over, how can he not achieve great things to justify the "favor" of heaven?

Guan Feng and the scholar had a very unpleasant tone. Guan Yunniang lowered her head even further, saying, "Daughter was wrong, please punish me, Father."

Having something in his stomach and feeling a bit stronger, Li Si got out of bed and surveyed the room. The space, about thirty to forty square meters, was not much different from a straw hut, with the only semblance of order being a set of wooden table and chairs. On the table were some books, along with ink and paper, which was probably similar to straw paper. Li Si remembered that beneath the straw mattress, there were also several boxes of books.

What is the current year and month

What a ridiculous book, this is the Qing Dynasty! Since Li Si has returned to the Qing Dynasty, there is only one thing he can and must do: rebel

Li Si finally understood clearly, his forehead buzzed and went numb, and he could no longer feel the sharp pain at the top of his head

This is not an era of great upheaval.

Li Si spoke uncertainly

Fourth brother, is there any serious issue?

There is no expectation for you to do anything at home; even climbing the mountain is a hardship for you. You should go back first and inform your mother that dinner needs to be prepared for Fourth Brother.

Initially, she felt indifferent towards her father, but under Li Si's gaze, Guan Yunniang immediately lowered her head and turned her body to the side

The expert spoke with a beaming face, and Li Siqiang suppressed the impulse to smash the voice recorder against his head in order to complete the interview

Li Si groaned in pain.

Li Si indeed has quite a few matters that remain unclear, with memories fragmented and scattered. The two most important things, surprisingly, Li Si is unable to locate.

Without mentioning the common people and sycophants, let us speak of Emperor Kangxi, who is known as the "Emperor of Great Virtue, Wisdom, and Benevolence, who governs with Harmony, Martial Prowess, and Enlightened Philosophy, and who is Respectful, Frugal, Generous, Filial, Honest, and Accomplished in Virtue." He has claimed all the beautiful titles for himself. His various deeds are well-known in later generations, such as his clever capture of Aobai, his efforts to pacify the Three Feudatories, his campaigns against the Russian invaders in the east, and his confrontations with Galdan in the west. He is also remembered for his policy of never increasing taxes and granting tax exemptions every three years, earning him the title of "Emperor of All Time." To create such a "Sage Monarch," one would need a figure like Zheng Keshuang from "The Record of Dongning," who could focus solely on farming in Taiwan, but he is now merely a destitute commoner.

Li Si quickly mediated the situation: "I really don't need anything, Second Sister has taken good care of me, and Yun Niang should focus on her own matters."

Continuing, Guan Fengsheng reported the year, leaving Li Si momentarily stunned. The fifty-first year of Guangxu? Which dimension's Qing Dynasty is this

Isn't it said that Kangxi was a benevolent ruler? He had the insights of three hundred years more than Li Si, living leisurely during the Kangxi era, so there should be no problem, right? Money is merely a means of making a living

Is this the Qing Dynasty, later referred to as one that traversed the Qing without rebellion, adorned with chrysanthemum-patterned electric drills? Is this the Qing Dynasty that measured the material strength of China and sought to win the favor of the nation? Is this the Qing Dynasty that could collapse like a house of cards with just a soldier's urine?

Guan Fengsheng was gritting his teeth as he spoke, when a timid female voice sounded from behind him

Li Si stood dazed for quite a while, his boiling blood had long since cooled. He smiled bitterly and thought, then let us temporarily remain in this Kangxi era and strive for survival.

In the fifty-first year of the Kangxi reign

Rebellion

Shaozhou Prefecture, Yingde County, Fengtian Village

Li Si reached out and grabbed the pig's tail that was behind his head, his gaze wandering around, looking for scissors to cut off this braid. It is now the Guangxu era, what use is there for this braid?

Uncle Guan, I ask and you answer, let's see if you've lost anything in your mind

Guan Fengsheng spoke in a vague and evasive manner. Li Si, who in his previous life had been a journalist, immediately sensed something unusual. Just as he was about to inquire further, Guan Fengsheng changed the subject, causing Li Si's own emotions to become unsettled.