Chapter 28: Liu Zongmin's Imprisonment

After passing through the checkpoint, there was no sign of refugees anymore.

They headed south for about a mile and a half, arriving at the northern gate of Mizhi County.

Though they had just crossed the checkpoint, entering the city was by no means easy.

A few archers with sabers at their waists maintained order, while small traders in tattered cotton jackets queued up with their goods, waiting to pay taxes.

They clutched copper coins in their hands, looking ingratiatingly at the bailiffs of the inspection office.

The archers stood there listlessly, not bothering to inspect thoroughly. They simply poked at the goods with their long spears, gave a cursory glance, and let the traders toss their coins into a wooden chest.

A middle-aged man carrying charcoal coughed while holding his young daughter's hand.

Suppressing his fear, when it was his turn, he threw in his coins and tried to enter the city, but was berated by an archer.

"Blast it! You think I'm blind? Of the three copper coins, two are counterfeit. Looking for trouble, are you?"

The man pleaded, "Sir, my family only has one real coin. Once I sell the charcoal, I promise to make up the rest."

The archer kicked him hard in the stomach, impatiently saying, "It takes three coins to enter the city. If you don't have them, get lost."

The man was knocked to the ground, coughing violently.

His little daughter ran over in tears, trying to help him up.

But he could only kneel there, begging repeatedly, "Sir, my girl and I haven't eaten for three days. Selling charcoal is our only hope. If you don't let us in, we'll starve to death."

"Starve? People die of hunger here every day," the archer said, pointing indifferently to the base of the city wall.

There, several rows of emaciated, ragged men, women, and children knelt, their faces dirty and their hair unkempt, each with a stalk of grass stuck in their heads as a marker.

The archer shouted without a care, "These days, there are plenty who die of hunger. Two more or fewer make no difference."

The man wanted to plead further, but the archer, already annoyed, raised his spear and began to strike.

The man begged for mercy amid the blows, and his little daughter, unable to bear it, rushed forward and bit the archer's leg.

Enraged, the archer raised his foot, about to kick her fiercely.

At that critical moment, Li Yi stepped forward and grabbed the archer, hauling him directly in front of himself.

The archer felt his body lighten, as though swept into the air, and was startled.

He turned to curse, only to meet a pair of cold, piercing eyes.

For some reason, his heart tightened, and he couldn't utter a single word.

He saw that Li Yi had lifted him effortlessly with one hand, the other hand resting on the hilt of his saber, his icy gaze full of warning.

No longer daring to act tough, the archer forced a smile. "Good sir, what do you need?"

Li Yi took two copper coins and tossed them into the chest, saying coldly, "I'll cover the coins they lack."

The archer's expression shifted several times, but in the end, he swallowed his anger.

He barked at the man, "You're lucky today. Go on in."

The man hurriedly got up, thanked Li Yi profusely, and entered the city with his daughter.

The archer glared menacingly at Li Yi's back.

Li Zicheng had already entered the city. Seeing Li Yi come in, he offered a word of warning.

"Yi, those archers aren't to be trifled with. Be careful."

Li Yi glanced back. The archer who had been brimming with malice now wore a forced smile and even cupped his hands politely at Li Yi.

The two of them passed through the gate and headed east.

Mizhi County was small; before long, they arrived at a humble blacksmith shop.

But the shop's doors were tightly shut, the furnace under the straw shed at the entrance dead cold. Clearly, no one had worked there for days.

Li Zicheng went to inquire at a nearby store and learned that Liu Zongmin had been arrested by the authorities.

The owner of the fodder shop sighed and recounted the events.

As the imperial treasury was empty, the court had ordered officials to remit all back taxes from previous years. For the sake of his record, Yan Zibin, the magistrate, instructed the tax department to collect these dues. Every merchant in Mizhi County was squeezed for every last coin, leaving many bankrupt and homeless.

Liu Zongmin, who had always refused to let officials take kickbacks, had made enemies. This time, short on taxes, he was targeted—his valuables seized to cover the debt, he was flogged, and paraded in shackles.

But Liu Zongmin, hot-tempered as ever, cursed the authorities and was thrown directly into jail, where he had languished for seven or eight days.

The fodder shop owner ground his teeth. "We’ve never defaulted on taxes, but these past years, on top of the inspection and tax offices' extortion, the authorities have invented new taxes and levies, some due seventy years in advance! Many merchants are ruined, selling their sons and daughters. How are we supposed to live?"

Li Yi and Li Zicheng had no answer—no one did.

Li Zicheng sat by the cold forge, considering. "Yi, with Liu Zongmin arrested, he's likely doomed. Should we try to save him?"

Li Yi was taken aback.

In the future, Liu Zongmin would be utterly loyal to Li Zicheng, but now, it seemed they were mere acquaintances.

If that was all, then this was an opportunity for him.

Li Yi nodded resolutely. "Of course we must save him. Setting aside our need for his skills in forging weapons and tools, his courage in defying the authorities alone earns my respect."

Li Zicheng slapped his thigh and stood. "Good. I know a few people at the county office. I'll go ask around."

Li Yi accompanied Li Zicheng to the county office.

But when the doorkeeper announced them, the answer was always that the person was out or too busy.

Li Zicheng's expression darkened as he waited at the entrance for ages, finally managing to intercept an acquaintance.

Unable to shake them off, the clerk spoke frankly, "Liu Zongmin resisted taxes and insulted the authorities in public. The magistrate was furious and had him jailed. Who dares plead for him? Besides, the county officials all pocketed quite a bit from seizing his assets. If he's released, how can they rest easy?"

With that, the clerk hurried away.

Hearing how many people were involved, Li Zicheng hesitated.

Li Yi, however, said straightforwardly, "If no one at the county office will help, then let's go straight to the jailers. They’ll have a way."

"This is a tangled web. The jailers might not dare get involved," Li Zicheng worried.

Li Yi patted the basket on the cart and smiled. "Money makes the mare go. I don't believe they won’t be tempted."

"But I don’t know any jailers in Mizhi County, and no one dares intervene. What now?" Li Zicheng was at a loss.

Li Yi had no answer either.

Just as they were at an impasse, Li Yi’s eyes lit up.

He spotted the two yamen runners who had come to arrest him at Lijiazhuang before.

He went straight over and stopped them.

The two runners were about to shout, but upon seeing Li Yi, immediately fell silent.

This youth had dared to scold the magistrate to his face and had walked away unscathed—a truly dangerous man.

"You two, come here. I have something to ask," Li Yi beckoned them to follow.

They exchanged glances but did not move.

One of them, mustering his courage, said, "Li Yi, this is the county office..."

Before he could finish, Li Yi smacked him on the back of the head.

"Do you want me to repeat myself?"

The runner instantly swallowed his words.

Li Yi didn't bother with more talk. He seized both men by the neck and dragged them aside.

They struggled desperately, but it was like being chained in iron—escape was impossible.

They wanted to call for help, but with Li Yi’s grip, a bit more force and their necks would snap.

What rotten luck, to run into this living devil today.

The two runners, on the verge of tears, could only let Li Yi drag them into a secluded spot, where they stood obediently, awaiting his questions.