Chapter 4: Playing Tricks and Deception

"Good, good, low profile, low profile." Li Niu was indeed quick-witted. He immediately understood Wei Ming's intention. Stealing a glance at the common people still kneeling in reverence, he stealthily followed Wei Ming into a narrow alley. After a couple of turns, they vanished from sight. By the time the common people realized what had happened, there was no trace of Wei Ming left. Although they felt somewhat reluctant, they had no means to pursue him and could only return home in disappointment. The events of the day were rather extraordinary, leading to much discussion in the various tea houses and theaters in Xi'an for quite some time afterward. Eventually, the incident was even adapted into a play and widely performed.

"I let you hang out with me, do you want to or not? If not, then forget it. I'm leaving." Wei Ming was not willing to waste time with him here. From the moment he first saw Li Niu, Wei Ming felt that this guy was just a petty opportunist, the type who bullies the weak and fears the strong. If it weren't for this guy's sudden change in attitude, Wei Ming wouldn't have bothered with him at all.

"Stop chattering, can't you be a little more low-key? Hurry up and leave this place," Wei Ming said to Li Niu'er. If the common people heard this, what would happen? It was likely that at least one person from the reinforcement team would follow him. How could that be? How could he support them? He was barely managing to get by himself, having just enough for this meal without knowing where the next one would come from.

"Deities and books, you, what do you mean?" Li Niu was quite doubtful whether he had misheard. A deity actually wanted him to follow him in the future? Could happiness come so suddenly? How much virtue had his ancestors accumulated to grant him such an opportunity!

Thank you, divine being! Hurry, hurry, hurry, bow to the divine being, thank you, divine being! Under the guidance of the elder, more and more people rushed over, kneeling on the ground to bow to Wei Ming. This was all because of a mere empty promise from Wei Ming that had no actual basis whatsoever

Of course, I am willing, thank you..." Before Li Niu could finish speaking, Wei Ming covered his mouth.

"Hey, how about teaming up with me in the future?" Wei Ming suddenly turned his head and said to his companion. He could no longer tolerate the atmosphere here. He was even considering leaving Xi'an. If another disaster struck next year, these common folks could really tear him apart. When pushed to the limit, they would dare to engage in risky and low-reward actions like rebellion; what else would they not dare to do?

Thank you all. Originally, Wei Ming wanted to bow to everyone, but after recalling the previous scene, he decisively abandoned that idea. If there were to be another situation where a large group of people was kneeling on the ground, Wei Ming truly feared for his longevity. Therefore, he clasped his hands, took two steamed buns, and signaled for everyone to take their things back. Some families even went so far as to kill a chicken. Sigh. Had he known this would happen, he wouldn't have let everyone prepare food for him. This is simply a sin! In this day and age, not even being able to fill one's stomach, having a chicken at home is already considered a luxury.

"Divine Being, are you still blaming us? We truly recognize our mistakes. Please do not impose further divine punishment upon us. We beseech you!" The old man knelt down first, and the others quickly followed suit. Wei Ming watched, feeling a pang of sorrow in his heart. During the late Ming Dynasty, the continuous peasant uprisings were not without reason. The Tartars in the northeast never ceased their activities, always stirring up trouble. The late Ming Dynasty saw incessant peasant revolts, which were indeed justified. The Tartars in the northeast were never at rest, always looking to create disturbances. Entering the fifth Little Ice Age, winters were bitterly cold, with snow falling incessantly. Summers offered no warmth, often resulting in barren lands and failed harvests. In such circumstances, how could people survive? Under the internal and external troubles of the Ming Dynasty, from the emperor to the common folk, no one lived comfortably.

However, Wei Ming's good intentions were not accepted by everyone

Everyone, please rise. I believe that through everyone's efforts, next year will surely yield a good harvest! However, Wei Ming himself spoke without confidence. How to continue the Ming Dynasty is a difficult question for future generations, let alone for the present. In his previous life, Wei Ming had some interest in the history of the Ming Dynasty. Every time he read about the Eight Banners cavalry entering the pass and trampling through the Central Plains, he felt a piercing pain in his heart. If the Ming Dynasty could have continued, would there have been a phenomenon of internal sanctity and external kingship? Wei Ming could not be certain, but it would surely be better than having those Tartars occupy it, right? Looking at what they turned the whole of China into in the following hundreds of years, lagging behind the world by hundreds of years. In other words, since they occupied China, they have been standing still, or even regressing. This may be an eternal pain in the hearts of all Chinese people. Even during the Ming Dynasty, the island nation to the east was definitely not something China could take action against. The Wanli Emperor's three great campaigns, which one did not leave those little dwarfs in disarray? How could it be that hundreds of years later, they were bullied by those who couldn't even figure out their own surnames!

Everyone, please get up. I, hetushu.com, will definitely not lower the heavenly punishment! Absolutely not! Wei Ming felt tears welling in the corners of his eyes, suddenly realizing that the two steamed buns in his hands felt as heavy as a thousand pounds. How simple and honest are these common people. Why must they be tormented like this? Have they done anything wrong? For such common people, if they were not truly driven to desperation, who would rebel? Look at what they are wearing, and then look at what they are eating. This is still in the city of Xi'an; what about outside? What kind of scene is it out there? Wei Ming did not want to think about it, nor did he dare to. Suddenly, he felt that since he had come into this world, should he not do something? Now that he is here, if he does not do something, he would truly be betraying his own conscience

May the divine grant us a good harvest next year! It was unclear who initiated the chant, but the people began to bow and shout in unison. Wei Ming shook his head; he truly wished to grant them a good harvest for the coming year. However, in his memory, he recalled that a great disaster had struck the Yangzhou region the following year, where people resorted to eating tree bark and other materials due to famine. If there were to be a good harvest next year, why would such a situation arise in places like Yangzhou? Alas, the onset of the Little Ice Age for the fifth time plunged the entire Ming Dynasty into a predicament. It would not be an exaggeration to say that heaven intended to bring about the downfall of the Ming. To achieve this, heaven even brought forth the fifth Little Ice Age, demonstrating considerable effort.