Chapter 342 Are You Afraid?

Everyone believed every word Xiao Jiuer said, including Master Hongkong who had just arrived.

Zhao Xingjian's voice trembled with excitement. "Xiao Jiuer, is the iron mine far from our Heihe Village?"

Daewoo implemented the "Salt and Iron System", in which salt and iron were controlled by the court, and private mining was not allowed by the people.

If the iron mine that Xiao Jiuer mentioned is too far away from Heihe Village and cannot be mined secretly, it will also be a difficult matter.

The little dumpling shook his head, "Not far! The debt is catching the cow!"

"The place where they catch cattle?" Ye Yanping was stunned. "Is that what Xiao Jiuer was talking about those two stone mountains?"

"Tie, tie, tie!" Little Jiuer jumped for joy. "Red stone! It's iron!"

Zhao Xingjian suddenly realized, "So the red stones are iron ore! No wonder when we passed Stone Mountain earlier, Xiao Jiuer asked me if I wanted to rebel!"

Ye Buwei couldn't help but sigh, "Actually, Xiaobao asked me at the time, but I refused. Only a few months have passed, and things have become out of control."

Thinking back to what he said at that time and the stone he dug out that day, Ye Buwei realized what it meant that fate’s will could not be violated.

Zen Master Huineng said, "No one living in this world can escape fate. My arrival in Heihe Village has only exacerbated the conflict between the village and the imperial court. Whether I am here or not, you are destined to embark on this path. This is the mission assigned to you by Heaven."

"Tie, tie, tie! The brain bag is the best brain bag! The brain bag should be the emperor!" The little dumpling clapped his hands.

Ye Buwei touched the little head of the little dumpling and said, "Xiaobao, Naobao doesn't want to be an emperor, but Naobao will clear all obstacles for you."

"Why me?" The little dumpling waved his hands hurriedly, "I don't even want to be the emperor!"

Master Hongkong couldn't help laughing, "Xiao Jiuer, you are a girl, you can't be the emperor."

Zen Master Huineng gave him a look.

Master Hongkong's pupils trembled instantly and the corners of his mouth began to tremble.

The village head, who had been unable to get a word in, finally found his chance to speak. "Since we've decided to rebel, the iron ore must be mined as soon as possible! But our village has been digging in the fields for generations, and no one knows how to make iron!"

"Even hungry Susu can do it!" Xiao Jiuer said with certainty.

As for Second Uncle, there is nothing he can't do as long as you give him an instruction manual.

The village head breathed a sigh of relief.

"Then I'm relieved. As long as we can smelt the iron, we can leave the weapon-making to Ironhead. Mining and smelting iron are confidential matters and require someone who can be absolutely trusted. But everyone in our village is busy with the inn's affairs. How can we have extra manpower to mine iron?"

Hawkeye said, "The Black Eagle Village is very suitable for this task, because the brothers of the Black Eagle Village are absolutely loyal to our boss, but the temple has not been built yet, so they don't have time to mine the iron ore."

Zen Master Huineng smiled and said, "There's no rush for the temple. The Buddha sits in my heart, and I can practice anywhere. Let Black Eagle Village focus on more urgent matters first!"

Hawkeye said, "Okay, I'll go back today and inform the brothers to report to Heihe Village tomorrow and follow Brother Yan An's command."

"Come back the day after tomorrow." Ye Buwei said, "They've been very busy lately. Let them rest for two days. It's a good time for you to arrange the affairs of the village."

"Okay, then I'll listen to you!" Hawkeye was very convinced of Ye Buwei.

"I think the rebellion should be kept secret for now. It won't be too late to talk about it after I finish the meeting with the villagers." The head of the village was a little anxious.

"Rebellion is a heinous crime that will implicate the entire clan. Not everyone is brave enough to do it. I'm going to test their resolve first. If there are those who are unwilling, we won't force them. We'll find a reason to expel them from the village. Those who remain must be on the same page with us!"

Zhao Xingjian praised: "The village head is courageous and meticulous. With you here, there will be no trouble in Heihe Village."

The village head was delighted by Zhao Xingjian's praise. "I'm uneducated, so I can't help with big things, but I can still handle small things like this. I'll gather the whole village for a meeting tomorrow morning!"

The next morning, all the villagers of Heihe Village gathered in front of the ancestral hall.

The village head coughed a few times and stood in front of everyone with a frown.

"My fellow villagers! I couldn't sleep last night, tossing and turning in bed. I wonder if you feel the same way."

The villagers laughed and said, "Headmaster, you were comforting us yesterday! Why are you so nervous now?"

"Don't worry too much. The court is still waiting for the imperial guards to return and report! They won't come looking for trouble so soon!"

The village head remained scowling. "I understand that, but if a hundred or so imperial guards disappeared for no apparent reason, the imperial court will surely come knocking. Even though their deaths had nothing to do with our village, the imperial court won't reason with the common people. In all likelihood, they'll blame us for the imperial guards' disappearance!"

The villagers sighed after hearing this.

"Even if you don't say it, we know it in our hearts."

"Even if the imperial court doesn't care about the Imperial Guards, they will definitely not change their minds if the emperor wants to deal with Fuxing!"

"So, fellow villagers!" the village head said with a worried look on his face. "Heihe Village is bound to go to war with the imperial court sooner or later! Resisting the imperial court is a serious crime punishable by the death of nine generations of the clan. I heard that rebels will be sentenced to death if caught! Are you afraid?"

The villagers were silent for a moment, then began to speak noisily.

"If Master Xiaojiu wasn't here, I'd definitely be scared!"

"But we have Master Xiaojiu, so we are not afraid!"

"Master Xiaojiu is favored by the heavens! If the emperor wants to deal with Master Xiaojiu, he is defying the will of heaven! Why should we be afraid of a fool like the emperor who is in the dark?"

Village head: “…”

The village head looked at the Ye family.

Why is it different from what I imagined?

He originally thought that many people would be scared to tears!

Some villagers took the initiative to ask the two masters.

"Two eminent monks, I heard that even the Heavenly Dao is not very convenient to interfere too much in the affairs of this world. Is this true?"

Zen Master Huineng and Master Hongkong looked at each other.

The villagers asked this because they were worried that Heaven would not punish the emperor?

Master Hongkong sighed and said, "Indeed, the gods in heaven cannot interfere too much in the affairs of the mortal world."

Zen Master Huineng added, "Don't make the mistake of thinking that heaven is unfair and the earth is unequal, and that you can do evil at will. The Buddhist scriptures say, 'When karma meets fate, the consequences will be borne by the individual.' Good people may be deceived by others, but heaven will not. Evil people may fear others, but heaven will not. Everything has cause and effect, and everything is subject to reincarnation. In short, good and evil will eventually be rewarded, and reincarnation is the law of heaven."

The villagers said, "Thank you, Zen Master, for your guidance and teachings. From last year to this year, we have indeed witnessed many cases where good and evil will eventually be rewarded."

"But the reason we asked the question just now is actually because, since Heaven is not in a position to punish the wicked, then we should enforce justice on Heaven's behalf and help Heaven punish the wicked!"

The two masters: "..."

How did the villagers of Heihe Village develop such an incredible sense of justice?