Chapter 101: The Expansion of the Farmers' Association

That night, the entire Broken Gold Town was filled with the aroma of wine and meat, and the garrison soldiers ate until their mouths dripped with grease. With Li Yi stationed in Broken Gold Town, the garrison troops had restrained themselves considerably.

Li Yi carried around drinks, toasting each group of soldiers and chatting with them. Having fought alongside these men on the battlefield, he had formed some bonds with them. When he called for help this time, they had all come to assist, becoming potential allies.

After several rounds of drinking, their spirits surged, and they began to fiercely criticize the exploitation by the garrison officials. At this, the soldiers kept toasting Li Yi.

One of them shouted loudly, “We are a bunch of down-and-outs who can barely feed our families. If it weren’t for the bounty the lord granted us, we’d be living miserable lives today. Let’s toast the lord together!”

One by one, the soldiers stood up, raising their cups high.

Li Yi rose and said, “Fighting on the battlefield, defending the land and its people, earning rewards is only right—no need to thank me.”

A soldier sneered coldly, “If only those officials wouldn’t skimp on our pay or seize our land. If it were them, they’d never hand out any rewards.”

“Exactly, they’d never give us a cent.”

“These officials are as greedy as wolves and as ruthless as tigers—each one devours people without leaving a bone.”

The soldiers all vented their anger at the officials, their eyes fierce with deep hatred.

Li Yi asked, “Are the lives of you garrison soldiers also that hard?”

“Hard? Even oxen and horses have enough to eat. We go hungry and suffer. Lord, tell me, are we not living in hardship?” one man scoffed.

“Hardship is an understatement. Before, we used to get a bushel of grain as monthly pay; this year, it’s all been withheld. There’s no bounty pay, our military fields have been seized, and we’re mere tenants selling our labor. The landlords and officials strip us bare, and then the garrison officers extort us again. We can barely survive—how can we say we’re not suffering?”

Another choked up, “I work hard all year but can’t support my family. Two years ago, my old mother starved to death in bed; last year, my wife died of illness. If it weren’t for risking my life to get that bounty, my two children would have starved to death this year.”

“Desolate graves, barren fields—where aren’t there starving people? We garrison soldiers suffer more than common folk. Many have starved to death.”

The group of soldiers recounted their hardships, some secretly wiping away tears when memories overwhelmed them.

Li Yi felt a pang of sorrow hearing this.

Looking at the soldiers, he said, “If things continue like this, even if you earn some bounty, you’ll eventually lose it all. Have you thought about buying property or land?”

“Hmph, taxes on land rise every year. Who dares to buy land? The landlords exploit us; officials extort us. We just get by day by day.”

Li Yi smiled, “You yourselves have said you cannot live in peace because of the government and the landlords. If that’s the case, why not take measures against them? Then everyone could live in peace.”

“That’s easier said than done,” a young soldier sneered.

“Shut up,” a burly soldier pulled him back and looked at Li Yi. “Lord, what do you mean by that?”

Li Yi gazed at the soldiers and asked, “Have you heard of the Ganquan Farmers’ Association?”

“My wife’s from Ganquan. She says the association was founded there. When the government demands taxes, or landlords want rent or interest payments, they have to negotiate with the association first.”

“I’ve heard of it too. The association pools funds to buy farming tools, raise oxen and horses, which everyone rents in turn. They also work together to dig canals and build water wheels.”

Many of the soldiers had never heard of such a farmers’ association.

Hearing of its benefits, they were all eager and curious.

Li Yi nodded, “That’s right. The association binds the village together, uniting everyone’s strength. One farmer might fear the landlords and officials, but hundreds or thousands united in one association scare those landlords and officials.”

The soldiers nodded in agreement.

Li Yi explained the general outline of the association. Soon, they surrounded him, listening intently to the benefits.

When they heard that the Ganquan association had abolished the harsh taxes and fees imposed by landlords and officials, they cheered excitedly.

They also learned that in just a few months, the association had reclaimed hundreds of acres of wasteland and dug irrigation canals so farmers no longer had to carry water to their fields, their eyes filled with envy.

These soldiers were not greedy; they only wished the government would collect fewer taxes and landlords would not charge outrageous interest, so they could farm properly and have enough to eat.

Understanding the advantages, they wanted to establish their own farmers’ associations.

Li Yi seized the opportunity, saying, “The Ganquan association has been running for several months and has gained much experience.”

“In the next couple of days, I will invite officials from the Ganquan association to come talk to you and send people to help you set up your own associations.”

“But first, you must discuss among your villages and hamlets. The success of the association depends on unity—you must unite your fellow townsfolk and even neighbors.”

Over the next two days, most soldiers stayed in Broken Gold Town, with only a few unwilling to participate leaving.

Li Yi invited the venerable elders, Tai Ye Ye and Elder Gao, to give lectures about the farmers’ association—what it is, how to establish one, the issues that arise, and how to solve them.

All the teachings were practical and proven by the Ganquan association, extremely useful.

At night, Li Yi spoke frankly with Tai Ye Ye and Elder Gao, saying this was a great opportunity to develop farmers’ associations.

He urged them to mobilize people skilled in organization, clever and bold, to help the soldiers establish their associations.

Tai Ye Ye and Elder Gao hadn’t expected such a heavy responsibility and were a bit worried about doing it well.

But after Li Yi’s enthusiastic encouragement, they were immediately filled with energy.

With Li Yi’s backing, they were excited to undertake such an important endeavor.

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The Tartar invasion in the south had come to a pause, and Mishi County lifted martial law.

The county government began to press for tax collection again.

The county town had already been thoroughly squeezed by Yan Zibin, leaving little to extract. Following Advisor Zheng’s suggestion, Yan Zibin started levying taxes on rural areas.

But when officials took their tax warrants and went to the countryside, they found the situation was not as expected.

When they used their customary methods—using rods to break into the homes of villagers who owed taxes to beat and seize property—they were suddenly surrounded by hundreds of villagers.

The once arrogant officials were so frightened their legs went weak. The lead clerk raised an iron ruler and shouted, “We are county government agents! You rioters, are you not afraid the government will arrest you?”

The villagers were frightened at the mention of government arrest.

But to the managers of the Ganquan Farmers’ Association, who had seen Li Yi openly call the county magistrate a corrupt dog, this was a minor matter.

“We are not rioting; we are here to manage the village’s injustices. You government agents must follow rules—you were born of flesh and blood, you cannot bully people.”

With a leader speaking up, the villagers gained courage.

“Right! Collecting taxes doesn’t give you the right to beat people.”

“Nor to wantonly break things.”

The villagers spoke out, one after another.

The lead clerk frowned and waved for the agents to continue their duties.

An old woman knelt with her two grandchildren, begging bitterly.

“Dear agents, it’s not that I refuse to pay taxes. But with only eight acres of land, yielding barely three bushels of grain, after summer wheat and autumn silver taxes, I simply cannot pay more.”

“The extra Liao levy and harsh taxes suck us dry. I have no more bones to pick.”

This family was not refusing to pay; they had already paid half the harvest as tax.

But after repeated rounds of verification, levies, and additional taxes, including frontier military surcharges and various named but extortionate fees, they could not pay more.

Though the old woman and her grandchildren were pitiable, the agents had hardened hearts from seeing many such cases.

They had their warrants and came to the countryside to make money; failure to collect taxes meant a loss.

“I think you don’t know when to stop. Tie her up!” the clerk commanded harshly.

The agents drove away the watching villagers and tied the frail old woman to a tree.

The lead clerk struck her with the iron ruler again and again; the old woman screamed in agony, feeling as though her bones were breaking.

“No hitting! No hitting!” the farmers’ association manager shouted as he rallied villagers to break through the agents’ blockade, rushing forward to overturn the clerk.

The villagers freed the old woman and shielded her.

The manager bellowed, “You may collect taxes, but you cannot hit people. If you dare hit anyone again, get out of this village!”

The clerk stepped forward, glaring fiercely and pointing, “Who do you think you are? Get lost!”

But the manager stood firm, stepping forward a few paces.

Behind him, nearly a hundred villagers stood together, eyes filled with hatred, staring at the clerk.

The clerk was uneasy but tried to keep face.

“Kid, if you know what’s good for you, stay away. Or we’ll take you to the county office and punish you.”

The villagers were frightened at the mention of punishment.

The manager sneered, “Can the county office really override justice? No matter what is said today, you won’t bully people anymore.”

“I think you’re courting death! Seize him!” the clerk shouted.

Two agents moved forward to grab the manager.

The villagers quickly surrounded the two agents.

In the ensuing scuffle, the agents were knocked to the ground, groaning in pain.

The clerk furiously accused, “You dare attack government agents? Are you planning a rebellion?”

Before he could finish, a stone slammed into his head with a loud thud.

He cried out in pain, clutching the wound, looking for the attacker.

More stones rained down.

The clerk and agents were battered and swollen. Seeing the villagers’ fierce spirit, they dared no longer to act arrogantly and fled from the village, tumbling and crawling.

Seeing the once domineering, extortionate agents driven away, the villagers burst into loud cheers.

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The old woman clutched her grandchildren, weeping with relief at having escaped disaster.

With the support of the Ganquan Farmers’ Association, and the garrison soldiers’ silver and reputation, many villages formed their own associations.

They drove away tax collectors, forced landlords to lower rents, reduced loan interest rates, and many villagers learned of the association’s benefits, eagerly joining.

Once a member, they took on responsibilities to resist government and landlord oppression, uniting firmly under the association’s banner.

In villages without associations, the tax collectors employed brutal and cruel methods.

No matter the reason, failure to pay taxes meant villagers were tied to trees and beaten, their families forced to pay.

When families could no longer bear the screams of their loved ones, they agreed to pay, and then the agents called in landlords’ stewards to force villagers to sell their land cheaply.

If no land remained, they would send brokers to pawn wives and children, or even sell entire families into slavery.

Women were sent to filthy places; men to the mines, without mercy.

The cruelty of tax collection left many families broken and destitute; some forced into servitude, others hanging themselves or drowning—a grim and heartbreaking sight.

Yan Zibin was furious upon hearing this.

He had already secured connections with Hong Chengchou, and as long as he accumulated political achievements, he could be promoted to magistrate of a top-tier county in Jiangnan.

Recently, he had used any means to collect full taxes, hoping to curry favor with the court and advance his career.

Now, rural tax resistance was obstructing his plans.

“Impossible! How dare these unruly peasants defy me?”

Fuming, Yan Zibin smashed his teacup on the ground.

Advisor Zheng hurriedly advised, “Your honor, the agents say these peasants are gathering in groups—it seems premeditated.”

Yan Zibin’s face darkened. “What do you suggest?”

Zheng’s eyes flickered. “Since the peasants are troublesome, why not send Li Yi? He’s invincible in battle. If he handles the peasants, not only can taxes be collected, but it will also enhance Li Yi’s reputation—a win-win.”

Yan Zibin’s eyes lit up. “Send word at once, have Li Yi bring troops to disperse these peasants and help the tax agents.”

Zheng left the government office, a cunning smile on his lips.

His previous schemes had been thwarted by Li Yi, whom he deeply resented.

Now, the chance for revenge had finally come.

He rushed to a residence in Mishi County.

Soon, a disheveled Ai Wanhua emerged, face full of impatience.

“Advisor Zheng, you’re so urgent—what’s the matter?”

Zheng hurried over. “Second Master, haven’t you wanted to deal with Li Yi? I have an opportunity for you—do you dare take it?”

“Why? Is this revenge for Li Yi ruining your plans with Xiu Niang?”

Ai Wanhua saw through him at once, and Zheng smiled awkwardly.

“Second Master, before, Li Yi had Hong Chengchou and Shi Kefa as protectors; we couldn’t touch him. But now he’s like a stray dog. If we don’t seize this chance, he might turn the tables again. I’m doing this for you.”

Ai Wanhua glanced at Zheng thoughtfully. “Speak—what’s the opportunity?”

Zheng smiled wryly but said nothing.

Ai snorted coldly. “Fifty taels of silver.”

“Second Master, your estate is vast. I only want some silver for my upkeep. Please, give me more.”

“You greedy rat! If I hated Li Yi any less, I wouldn’t give you a penny.”

Ai wagged his folded fan at Zheng and scolded, then said, “One hundred taels. Now spill it.”

Zheng quickly outlined the plan.

Ai’s eyes brightened. Listening seriously, when told Li Yi would certainly cause trouble, he clapped with glee.

“Good, good. I just got a new little toy. Using it to kill Li Yi is perfect timing.”

Then he summoned some ruffians and ordered them, “Disguise yourselves, follow the tax agents to the countryside. If the peasants riot and Li Yi intervenes, blend in with the rioters and stir up trouble. The rest will be handled.”

Meanwhile, Li Yi and Elder Gao held a meeting in Broken Gold Town.

The farmers’ associations were developing rapidly.

Under the crushing pressure of government tax collection, villagers struggled for survival by joining the associations.

Li Yi arranged for association managers to meet regularly in Broken Gold Town, sharing their experiences, challenges, and brainstorming solutions.

Elder Gao led these managers.

Gradually, Broken Gold Town formed a leadership organization for the farmers’ associations.

From top to bottom, associations were established; from bottom to top, leadership emerged.