Chapter 7

The Seventh Clan in Linqu Township was run by two brothers. The head of the household was named Seventh Biao, the elder brother, who focused on managing the family's farmland in the village.

His younger brother was named Seventh Bao, a man known for his chivalrous nature. He left home as soon as he was old enough to fend for himself, reportedly having served as a follower of the great hero Yuan She in Maoling and having spent time in Chang'an, making him a man of the world.

When Seventh Bao returned, he carried himself with a new air of authority, claiming to have befriended many prominent figures in the Guanzhong chivalric circles, such as Yan Ben of Yangling and Tu Men Shao of Sheling.

"These men call me brother, drink with me, and share meat with me! We have sworn oaths of life and death together!"

The young men of the village believed his words and hailed Seventh Bao as their chivalric leader.

Although he bore the name of a chivalrous man, Seventh Bao's actions lacked any sense of righteousness. He only knew how to bully the villagers, parading around the streets with his followers.

His elder brother, Seventh Biao, held the position of Tingzhang, a local official, and was on good terms with the Xiangshefu, the village magistrate. This gave the Seventh brothers the confidence to bully their neighbors without fear.

As neighbors, the Sixth Clan could tolerate many things, but the current dispute over water was a matter of life and death for the next year's harvest, and they could not back down.

But how could the Sixth Clan, a family of honest farmers, compete with the local chivalrous men? The Seventh Clan, besides their field slaves, also kept a group of idle and vicious young men who fought fiercely. They had even managed to obtain some iron weapons, and Seventh Bao wielded a ring-pommel saber, forcing the Sixth Clan, armed only with pitchforks, to retreat step by step.

At this moment, an old man with white hair rode up and charged directly into the chaotic battlefield.

Fifth Ba, followed closely by the Fifth Clan's men, cut through the field like a sharp sword, separating the Sixth and Seventh Clans. Seeing Seventh Bao still chasing Sixth Du, the old man picked up a short stick and threw it directly at Seventh Bao!

Fifth Ba was very strong, and the stick flew through the air, striking Seventh Bao's chest with perfect accuracy!

From ten paces away, the strength and accuracy of the throw were impressive. The impact made the tall Seventh Bao stagger backward, nearly losing his grip on his saber.

"Put away your weapons!" Fifth Ba drew his sword, his fierce gaze causing both sides to retreat.

Seventh Bao, supported by his clansmen, clutched his aching chest and glared at Fifth Ba, shouting, "Who are you, old man, to dare attack me?"

"Brother, hold on!"

Seventh Biao immediately stopped his younger brother. Being older, he remembered the days when Fifth Ba was a powerful Xiangyoujiao, and he knew the old man was not to be trifled with. He stepped forward and bowed to Fifth Ba, saying, "Uncle Zicong, why have you come?"

"Why have I come?" Zicong was Fifth Ba's courtesy name. He scratched his ear and said, "I was napping at home when I heard the noise, disturbing my rest. I came to see what was causing the commotion, thinking it might be some chickens or ducks squawking by the ditch."

Seventh Bao, like a rooster with its feathers ruffled, was furious at the insult.

Sixth Du, who had been beaten and bruised, saw Fifth Ba as his savior. He came around and bowed, pitifully saying, "Uncle, you've come just in time. The Seventh Clan has broken the old water agreement and wants to cut off our water supply!"

"Sixth Du, don't speak rashly."

Seventh Biao countered, "The Seventh Clan has 120 hectares of land, while your family has 80 hectares. There is only one branch canal. Last year, we agreed to a 60-40 split. We use the water for 18 days, and you use it for 12 days. What's wrong with that?"

"That's not right at all!"

Sixth Du, now afraid of the Seventh Clan, hid behind Fifth Ba. "Not to mention that this canal was originally dug by my family, and the Seventh Clan has been using it for decades without contributing. We've tolerated it, but they've become increasingly arrogant. They now claim that all the water for the first half of the month should go to the Seventh Clan, and only after they are done will it be our turn."

"Uncle, you know that planting wheat has a fixed schedule. If we miss the right time, the harvest will be greatly reduced. Moreover, it hasn't rained in a long time. If they use all the water in the first half of the month, what will we do in the second half?"

Indeed, the usual practice was for each clan to use the water for one day at a time, not to monopolize it for half a month. This was clearly bullying the honest farmers.

The Sixth Clan's arguments were in vain, and the argument gradually turned into a physical fight, leading to this large-scale brawl between the two clans.

"So, we should follow the old rules and take turns using the water each day!" With Fifth Ba by his side, Sixth Du felt emboldened and spoke louder.

The two sides, separated by Fifth Ba, began to argue again: "Our land is larger, so we should get more water!"

"Should we starve while you have a bountiful harvest?"

"Sixth Du! This is a matter between our two families, not the Fifth Clan. Isn't it embarrassing to seek help?"

"How is it not related? Uncle Zicong is an elder of the clan and should uphold justice for us!"

Sixth Du then took the initiative to lead Fifth Ba's horse, tightly holding the reins, afraid that he might leave.

...

As they were at an impasse, more onlookers gathered on the ridges, including the Eighth Clan.

The Eighth Clan was fortunate to be located south of the canal and did not need to get involved in this dispute. Eighth Zhi, seeing the situation, casually told his son, "Do you see? In the future, stay out of such trivial matters. The Seventh Clan is aggressive and hard to provoke, while the Sixth Clan, though seemingly honest, is actually difficult to deal with. Once you get involved, you'll be pulled into the conflict, unable to extricate yourself. The Fifth Clan is acting unwisely."

Eighth Jiao, however, was puzzled. "Father, don't the classics say that kindness to neighbors is a treasure of the state? The Fifth Clan is right to stop the fight between the Sixth and Seventh Clans. We should help too."

Eighth Zhi shook his head. "Believing everything in books is worse than not reading at all. When you go to the Imperial Academy in October, besides the Five Classics, you must learn how to navigate the world and avoid trouble."

Kindness to neighbors? In the face of interests, what do distant relatives and close neighbors matter?

Everyone could see that the water in the Chengguo Canal was scarce this year, and a reduced wheat harvest was almost certain. They could either accept the loss or try to shift it to their neighbors through water disputes.

There was no other choice, and no room for hesitation. Water was precious during the wheat planting season, and the wheat seedlings were eagerly awaiting it. If they were deprived of water in the autumn and winter, their families would suffer hunger the next year.

Fifth Ba, of course, understood this. With the growing population in Guanzhong and limited water and land, the conflicts between villages were intense, and the interests were intertwined. His grandson had once said that uniting the clans within ten miles would be extremely difficult.

But he still tried to mediate, waiting for his grandson to return. After the events of the school and the autumn plowing, Fifth Ba had a new respect for his grandson. Though he still mocked his idealism, he believed that Fifth Lun would handle the situation well and bring honor and benefits to their family.

Due to Fifth Ba's intervention, the two sides had been at a stalemate for nearly an hour, neither willing to back down. Sixth Du licked his cracked lips and looked at the sun, while Seventh Bao, like a rooster before a fight, sharpened his saber and glared at Fifth Ba.

"This can't go on forever. I have an idea."

As the sun rose higher, Sixth Du stood up and suggested, "Find a rope, and with the canal as the midpoint, each side sends ten men to pull. The winner decides the water distribution. What do you think?"

Fifth Ba thought this was a good idea, but the Seventh Clan rejected it outright.

"No way!"

Seventh Biao knew that although his family was aggressive, they might not be a match for the farmers in a physical contest.

Fifth Ba glanced at the Seventh brothers. "Is the Seventh Clan afraid?"

It didn't work. Seventh Biao, the leader, was unmoved by this poor attempt to provoke him.

But Seventh Bao was enraged again. While his brother was negotiating with Fifth Ba, he slowly stood up, looked at his saber, and gently placed it down. He clenched his empty fists and walked toward Fifth Ba!

If he could strike first, like he did earlier, and hit the old man in the neck, he could knock him out. Once the Fifth Clan was forced back, the Sixth Clan would be isolated.

With this in mind, Seventh Bao's fists tightened. When he reached what he considered the right distance, he leaped forward, aiming a blow at Fifth Ba's neck!

Before anyone could react, Fifth Ba, who had been sitting on the ground, suddenly dodged the attack and countered with a punch, striking Seventh Bao's nose. Blood spurted, and Seventh Bao saw stars, his vision going black.

When he staggered and shook his head to clear his vision, Fifth Ba's foot kicked him in the chest, sending him flying into the ditch, landing face-first in the mud, turning from a rooster to a wet chicken.

Seventh Biao was shocked, quickly helping his brother up. He found that his brother's nose was broken and a rib was likely fractured, but he was not in mortal danger. Knowing that Fifth Ba had held back, he changed his expression, lightly kicked his brother, and bowed to Fifth Ba.

"My brother is ignorant and has offended you, Uncle!"

"You and your brother lost your father at a young age, so it's no wonder you lack discipline. I can teach him in place of your deceased father."

Fifth Ba wiped the blood from his hands, looking at the Seventh Clan's men, who were intimidated by him. His eyes were full of impatience. "This matter is settled. Listen to me. The two clans will return to the old water distribution. Anyone who causes trouble or brandishes weapons in front of me will face the Fifth Clan's wrath!"

The Fifth Clan's men, armed with simple spears, stepped forward, and the Seventh Clan's young men, who were no match for them, backed down.

Seventh Biao, now facing two clans, was under immense pressure. But he knew the key to their family's dominance in the village for over a decade.

They were not as powerful as the First Clan or as wealthy as the Fourth Clan. They could not even match the Fifth Clan in a fight. They had to rely on their ferocity and fearlessness to appear strong.

It was the kind of thuggish attitude that, even when outmatched, they would still fight to the bitter end, even if it meant bleeding profusely.

If they backed down today, the Seventh Clan's reputation for ferocity would be ruined. People would see their weakness, and the terror they had established in the village would crumble. It would be much harder to maintain their dominance in the future.

But continuing the fight against two clans would be a losing battle. Seventh Biao had an idea.

Find an ally.

"Fine, since Uncle Zicong insists on interfering... let's all go to the Linqu Township office and have the Xiangshefu and the elders decide!"

Seventh Biao, supporting his brother, said, "Let's see who really has the final say in this village, the Xiangshefu or the Fifth Clan!"

Sixth Du looked anxious. He knew that the head of the First Clan, as the Xiangshefu, held significant power in the village and had a good relationship with the Seventh Clan. If he favored the Seventh Clan, the alliance between the Fifth and Sixth Clans would be in trouble.

Fifth Ba, seeing the other side's stubbornness, was furious. "You insolent boy, are you trying to turn black into white?"

As the situation became tense again, the sound of hooves approached. A man dismounted and pushed through the crowd, his cheerful laughter echoing by the Chengguo Canal.

"Ha, arguing in the village is not enough. I think we should take this to the county and involve the County Magistrate!"

Everyone turned to see Fifth Lun, who had just returned from the county, still riding alone and without any reinforcements.

But those who paid attention noticed that Fifth Lun's waist now had a small object that was not there before!

...

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