Chapter 667 - 106: The End of a Dynasty, When the Heavens Collapse

Even with the establishment of a new dynasty.

They can still rely on the power of the entire family to achieve glory once more.

The various facets of human nature are vividly displayed in the Great Tang of today.

And this has completely sealed the fate of the entire Great Tang.

It is worth mentioning that—

Under these increasingly difficult living conditions, the ritual related to the Luoshui River has been revived once again.

Countless common people have placed all their hopes on the Gu Clan in such circumstances.

They hope that the Gu Clan will once again emerge to save the entire world.

There are also those who choose to go to Julu, placing their last hope on the benevolence of the Gu Clan.

But the same words apply.

The descendants of the Gu Clan are not Saints.

While Julu is vast, it can save thousands, it can save tens of thousands, but in the end, it is not enough to save the entire world.

There’s no need to say that Gu Yi would not open this door.

He doesn’t even need to intervene, the members of the Gu Clan will themselves make the most appropriate choice, easily preventing any outsiders from stepping into Julu.

Of course, this is not to say that Julu has become an autonomous land.

As a Huaxia person, Gu Yi’s attitude towards the unity of Huaxia can never be swayed.

Julu will always be the land of Huaxia.

Whether it was in the era of the Great Han, or in the current times of the Great Tang, even during times of chaos, Julu has never changed.

The ability to continuously avoid numerous causes and effects over the centuries is merely because the foundation of the Gu Clan lies here.

...

In the second year of Qianfu, a great drought struck the Central Plains, leaving a thousand miles of red earth.

This natural disaster can be described as the most severe blow in the declining momentum of the Great Tang.

Throughout the Central Plains region, rivers dried up, wells parched, not a single crop survived, and granaries were long depleted. The people had to dig up grass roots, strip bark from trees to fill their stomachs, and even resorted to eating dirt to stave off hunger. Countless people died from bloated stomachs.

People eating their children is no longer a shocking rumor here.

Looking around, the Central Plains seem to have transformed into a living hell.

And all this—

Is becoming the fuse igniting the turbulent situation of the entire Great Tang Empire.

Puzhou, Pu Yang.

The refugees from the famine were densely packed beneath the city walls, all of them sallow and emaciated, with dull eyes.

Among the crowd came the weak cries of children, which were then swallowed by a deathly silence.

A man covered in dust suddenly pounced down onto the ground, thrusting his hands deep into the cracked yellow earth, letting out a blood-curdling wail: "There’s no way out... really no way out!"

This cry seemed to tear open a certain barrier, releasing more sobs and wails.

Some cried for themselves, some for their relatives, while others made sounds of struggle and pleas during the snatching of children.

Wang Xianzhi stood at the forefront of the crowd. He is an experienced private salt trader, having traveled far and wide over the years, witnessing all sorts of miseries.

Yet the scene before him still made his mouth tighten, his cheek muscles twitch uncontrollably, his expression complex beyond words.

The brothers who traded salt with him for many years had eyes reddened like blood, and a man who had just escaped from Song Province pounded the ground fiercely, his voice hoarse: "Big Brother!"

"It’s not just our Puzhou! People have been eating people in Song Province and Bianzhou for a long time!"

"The government put up notices about distributing porridge, but the porridge is so thin it reflects shadows!"

Another salt trader, with a face full of wind and frost, suddenly tore open his shirt, revealing a hideous scar on his chest, and said sharply: "I came from Huazhou, where the tax collectors are more ruthless than locusts!"

"To trade even a stone of salt, they peel off three layers of skin, and if you can’t pay up, they’ll beat you to death and throw you into jail!"

"Those sons of bitches..."

"They just bully us because we’re selling private salt?"

"In this day and age, doing honest business leads only to a dead end!"

Before he finished speaking, someone next to him coldly interrupted: "Huainan is no place for humans either!"

"The yamen soldiers steal the salt at sight, and afterward, they accuse us of breaking the salt law! Several brothers were beaten to death, their skins hung on city walls!"

As people spoke, they grew increasingly angry, with grievances rising to the heavens.

"The court’s salt tax gets heavier every year, the common people can’t afford government salt, yet we sell private salt to let the poor survive, and we’re deemed unforgivable?"

"The rice in the official granaries has rotted, and they still won’t give a single grain to the starving!"

"..."

Wang Xianzhi’s face grew darker and darker.

Hadn’t he gone through all of this?

If there is still a decent place left in the world today, it is probably only Julu. Other places, even without a natural disaster, the common people still can’t live.

Countless images flashed through his mind, involuntarily recalling the words he once heard when he set foot in Julu.

"Man can conquer nature—"

This was a phrase often spoken by scholars, but at this moment, another thought surged in Wang Xianzhi’s heart:

If heaven is like this, why not overturn this Great Tang?

If the government gives people no way to live, why not fight to the death?

After all, those who dare to risk dealing in private salt are people of courage.

Especially in such chaotic times as these.

The martial arts of these people were particularly extraordinary.

Listening to the scolding of the brothers beside him and the cries of the people, Wang Xianzhi didn’t even notice when his hand had already rested on the hilt of his knife.

The surrounding brothers seemed to feel something as well and all looked at Wang Xianzhi.

Wang Xianzhi slowly raised his head and looked at everyone.

Under the gaze of everyone, his chest heaved violently, and the long-suppressed anger, mixed with the towering resentment around him, finally broke through the final hesitation.

He suddenly drew the saber from his waist, meant for cutting through thorns and fighting against officials. The bright blade reflected a blinding cold light under the scorching sun, pointing straight at the sky.

"Heaven leaves no way to live!" His voice was like a great bell, overpowering all the sobs, "The officials don’t let us live!"

"Then let us rebel!"

"I, Wang Xianzhi, will lead you to carve a path to survival out of this cannibalistic world!"

The words fell, and everyone was stunned.

A brief, deathly silence.

Then, not knowing who was the first to nod heavily, one after another, the fury and ferocity in everyone’s eyes ignited completely!

Without hesitation, several of them drew their long knives from their waists with a series of "clangs."

In the next moment, explosive shouts erupted loudly:

"Good——!!!"

Wang Xianzhi wasted no words, his gaze sweeping over everyone, "Distribute all the remaining food to the villagers."

His tone lowered but each word struck the heart: "Ask them... do they want to fight for a way to live with me, Wang Xianzhi."

"If they are willing——"

"I, Wang Xianzhi, swear here: We shall eat together, farm together! All gains shall be divided equally!"

He was a rough man, unable to think of pretty words, and didn’t understand any grand principles.

Yet this simplest, most direct sentence, like a stormy wave, violently crashed into the dark mass of refugees.

It was almost instantaneous—

The will to survive, the pent-up hatred, the endless grievances... all these were suddenly ignited. Those who were trampled on, despised, and considered insignificant unleashed an earth-shattering response at this moment!

Under the leadership of Wang Xianzhi.

Without any preparation, and these people even without weapons, they directly followed him into Pu Yang Prefecture.

The news spread, shaking Kyushu.

——The last fig leaf of the Great Tang was eventually completely torn off by someone; the balance maintained for years was finally broken, which acted as a fuse, quickly triggering a series of chain reactions.

...

Caozhou, Yanju.

After leaving the Gu Academy, Huang Chao returned home and took over his father’s heavy burden, while also engaging heroes across the world through private salt trade.

——Yes, he was preparing to rebel.

Huang Chao’s objective was only ever this one.

But unlike Wang Xianzhi’s ideas, Huang Chao just wanted those in lofty doors to see what kind of hero the ones they repeatedly abandoned really were.

At this moment, as the news from Pu Yang came through.

Huang Chao stood up almost instantly, a smile appearing on that perpetually tense face.

"Good!!!"

He looked at the people in the room.

They were his nephews, and also his absolute confidants.

"Quick, gather the men immediately, we are rebelling too!" Huang Chao wasted no words, directly giving the order.

What does well-prepared mean?

These few were not surprised by Huang Chao’s decision and just rushed out directly.

While Huang Chao slowly walked into the study.

Picking up "Gu’s School" on the desk, which had been read countless times, his gaze became even more determined. ...

...

(Ps: Begging for monthly tickets, begging brothers for more support, Yu is very grateful.)