The hunter gave Huo Shu a surprised look. "Boss Huo just returned, yet you’re already well-informed."
"I was just about to go out and ask for news about that area."
Huo Shu took two more bows from the storeroom and placed them in the pile the hunter had chosen—his meaning was clear.
The hunter didn’t refuse either.
"Tenant farmers in Quan Village beat their landlord to death and didn’t spare his family of seven. After seizing money and grain, they fled. Within just a few days, several wealthy households have suffered the same fate—now, six big families in Quan Village have been targeted."
"The prefecture has sent troops to arrest these tenant farmers while suppressing the news to prevent panic and ensure spring plowing isn’t disrupted."
The hunter added, "The area near Lianjia Village is already blockaded by prefectural troops, strictly checking everyone entering or leaving the town. Had I not slipped through the mountain trails, I’d never have reached the town."
"I stopped by the blacksmith’s shop first—plainclothes officers were lying in wait there. Even buying an extra farming tool would get you watched."
Huo Shu’s brow furrowed deeply. This was far worse than the news they’d received.
Moreover, it sounded like a coordinated revolt.
The hunter looked at Huo Shu and said, "Just as you predicted, Boss Huo. When the bandit unrest broke out in Tongzhou, those same people came recruiting, though only a few joined back then."
"After the new taxes last year, many tenant farmers, struggling to survive, have since joined them. Now that they dare to act so openly, they must have gained enough strength to challenge the authorities."
Huo Shu asked, "Are they trying to start a rebellion?"
"Given the situation, it’s almost certain."
The hunter continued, "But from what I’ve seen, their leader is no righteous hero either. He's been riling up tenant farmers to raid wealthy households without distinction - good families or bad. Many village clans aren’t pushovers—they've put up fierce resistance, and plenty have died. Those who can’t resist either join the rebels or face death. With tactics like these, no wonder their numbers swell by the day."
"How long has this been going on?"
"About half a month."
Huo Shu’s frown deepened. Thankfully, he had returned in time.
He had anticipated unrest, but he hadn’t expected it to erupt directly from Tongzhou.
"No one knows the true scale of this or whether the prefecture can suppress it before it turns into full-blown war."
The hunter advised, "Whatever happens, Boss Huo, if you have the means, stock up on food and supplies—just in case."
Huo Shu acknowledged with a nod.
As the hunter bundled up his bows and prepared to leave, Huo Shu suddenly called out, "If things take a turn for the worse, you can come to me."
The hunter gave Huo Shu a long look, then clasped his hands in salute and left.
The streets were as lively as ever, no different from before.
Yet no one knew that the countryside was already in turmoil.
Despite learning of the crisis, Huo Shu kept his composure. Rather than accepting the hunter's account, he dispatched trusted men to quietly investigate further
By the next day, the scouts' reports had returned. Though lacking the hunter's ground-level details from Quan Village, they confirmed one critical fact - Lianjia Village was crawling with government troops, its access tightly controlled. The situation there had clearly deteriorated.
With the situation verified, he didn’t hide it from the family. He laid out the facts plainly.
Ji Yangzong was horrified. "Does this mean the world is turning upside down?!"
If tenant farmers were attacking wealthy households, and the unrest spread here, the Ji family—being one of the village’s prominent households—could easily become a target.
How could they sit idle now?
Huo Shu said, "Whether the world turns upside down or not, we must prepare. Caution is key."
"Don’t spread this news recklessly. Father, warn as many as you can discreetly. Stop selling grain for now. Those without reserves should buy what they can to last a while."
Ji Yangzong quickly agreed. After speaking with Huo Shu, he went straight to Ji Yangkai’s place and gathered the Ji brothers to discuss the situation in Quan Village.
At least this way, the family would be informed and ready to act if needed.
Huang Manjing found herself unable to remain idle. Initially she had stayed behind when Ji Yangzong departed, but after pacing restlessly at home, she eventually headed to the main house as well.
Ji Taoyu stood under the eaves, gazing at the night outside. He was no stranger to chaos—having traveled with Huo Shu on merchant routes, he’d seen his share of life-and-death struggles.
Perhaps because Huo Shu had often discussed such instability with him, he remained calmer than most.
Still, faced with impending turmoil, his thoughts were a tangled mess.
He rested a hand on his belly and sighed. He didn’t want his child born into such upheaval—yet he knew reality wouldn’t bend to his wishes.
"Don’t worry," a voice said from behind. "I’ll do everything to protect our family. You just focus on carrying our child safely. I’ll handle the rest."
Huo Shu stepped out, draping a cloak over Ji Taoyu’s shoulders.
Leaning into Huo Shu’s steady embrace, Ji Taoyu’s restless heart settled somewhat.
"I know. So what’s your plan?"
Huo Shu held him closer. "Stockpile supplies. If war breaks out, silver won’t matter—only food and necessities will."
"I'll send word north immediately - tell A-Shou and the men to sell off the goods at any price and return home with all haste."
"If Tongzhou becomes unsafe… we may have to leave."
Ji Taoyu pulled back slightly, looking up at Huo Shu. "Where would we go?"
The Ji family had lived in Tongzhou for generations. Though they had distant relatives elsewhere, as the saying goes, "Distant relatives are not as helpful as close neighbors"—none were close enough to rely on.
Even the northern frontier, Huo Shu’s homeland, was too far. And given that even his old neighbors had come south to seek his help, returning there wasn’t an option.
Huo Shu softened his voice. "That’s the worst-case scenario. Tongzhou is a major prefecture with stationed troops—it may not come to that."
Ji Taoyu considered this. Tongzhou was indeed a large garrison city with substantial military forces. The tenant uprising might just be a desperate cry for justice rather than an actual challenge to imperial authority.
Huo Shu wasn’t as optimistic. Having witnessed countless conflicts, he knew peace wouldn’t return so easily.
But he didn’t voice these darker thoughts—not with Ji Taoyu pregnant and already burdened with worry.
For the time being, cautious preparations would serve as their only armor against the gathering storm.
Thank you for the update!
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