Outside the door were two officials.
One was holding a register, and the other wielded a long whip.
Tax collectors.
Without thinking, everyone knew what they had come for.
Chen San, with all due politeness, said, "Sirs, please give me just half a month more, and I will have the taxes ready!"
According to the regulations of previous years, the deadline for tax payment was still about twenty days away.
He strived hard, gathering three liang of silver should not be difficult.
However, the tax collector sneered, "Considering the barbarians from the north constantly harassing us and the thieves from the south causing trouble, the Great Sheng Dynasty needs your grateful contributions now. How can we wait that long?"
Chen Sansi inquired, "Then, Sir, how long do I have?"
"Seven days!"
The tax collector held up three fingers, "Within seven days, anyone who fails to pay their taxes will be sent to Hezhou to work on the canal!"
With that, the two clerks turned around and left, knocking on the next house's door—which had also not yet paid its taxes—like heralds of doom. If they encountered any resistance, they would administer a couple of lashes.
"Why has the tax collection been advanced by so much?"
"It must be related to the war and turmoil."
Chen Sansi's Yanbian Village in Po Yang County was situated right on the northern frontier of the Great Sheng Dynasty. Northwards were the garrisons and the Great Wall, beyond which lay the barbarian tribes.
In recent ten years, the frequency of barbarian raids had increased; there had even been instances of small groups of barbarian cavalry breaking into the territory, plundering an entire village before making a brazen escape.
It was only three years ago that the court sent a new elite military force to maintain control, stabilizing the situation, but the minor conflicts near the Great Wall never ceased.
Not just the north, the south was also restless.
Chen Sansi, although not well-informed, was aware of the constant uprisings in the south; although they were quickly suppressed each time, there was always someone new to take up the cause.
"Seven days!"
"What's the use of hurrying us like this? Can common folk just conjure up silver and food out of thin air?"
As someone with basic historical knowledge from the modern era, he knew that the dynasty was in its twilight years and chaotic times were approaching, making life increasingly difficult for the common people.
"Brother Shi, what's going on?"
Inside the house, Gu Xinlan asked with concern.
"It's nothing."
Chen Sansi didn't want others to worry unnecessarily. He pretended as if nothing had happened and, like usual, finished his archery practice, ate breakfast, then took his dry food and bow and left the house.
Since he had found himself at the bottom rung in these chaotic times, he could only try to survive by playing by the rules.
Gathering three liang of silver in seven days was no easy task.
Chen Sansi was under considerable pressure.
It wasn't just him; the fellow villagers were all in distress.
As he was about to leave the village, he saw a few familiar figures and frowned, attempting to avoid them.
"Little Stone."
Qin Xiong, leading two ruffians, moved purposefully towards him, "Why are you avoiding me?"
Chen Sansi could guess that the other party was planning to take advantage of the situation.
He bluntly stated, "Brother Qin, if this is about what happened last time, there's no need to discuss it further."
"Have you forgotten the tax collector's words? If we can't gather enough silver, we'll be sent to work on the canal."
Qin Xiong put on a façade of kindness, feigning sympathy, "Whoever ends up with that job, there's no record of anyone returning alive. Brother, take a loss here; give me that young woman you're hiding at home, and I'll handle your taxes for you. How about that?"
"If I really get taken to work on the canal, I'll accept my bad luck. No need for Brother Qin's concern."
Chen Sansi said expressionlessly and started to walk away.
Having learned the basics of archery, he relied on his physical strength considerably more when he spoke.
However, it wasn't necessary to escalate conflicts just yet.
Firstly, Qin Xiong had a group of ruffians at his command.
Secondly, this scoundrel had a brother who practiced martial arts, purportedly very formidable, not someone to provoke lightly.
Qin Xiong didn't stop him, just watched coldly as he walked away.
"Big brother, if you ask me, just rob him directly, why bother with the silver?"
One of the ruffians complained loudly.
"Idiot!"
Qin Xiong smacked the ruffian on the forehead, "Do you think the Great Sheng Dynasty has no laws at all?"
Abducting peasant girls used to occur frequently, but since the new Liangzhou Governor took office, no one dared to commit such acts again.
"What should we do now?"
The rogue asked, "Isn't Big Brother still waiting to use that woman to give Brother a gift?"
"What's the rush, does he really think he can gather three taels of silver that quickly?"
Qin Xiong sneered disdainfully, "By then, he'll be taken to work on the Canal and won't have to spend a penny!"
...
"Three taels of silver within seven days."
"It seems I must indeed hunt some big game."
"Once the tax matter is resolved, we'll find a way to deal with that Qin fellow."
After arriving at Tiger Head Mountain, Chen Sansi noted it was still early; many large animals only appeared at sunset, so he wasn't in a hurry and found a clearing to practice archery.
When he practiced archery, he felt effortless and rather adept.
Not to mention a hundred percent accuracy within forty steps, he also achieved over eighty percent of bullseyes within fifty steps.
Only it used up a lot of arrows.
"Crack!"
Another arrow hit the bullseye, but the arrow broke upon impact.
Chen Sansi felt quite distressed.
A new arrow would cost at least ten wen!
However, arrows are consumables, and since all he had were used ones, wear and tear were normal.
[Skill: Archery (entry-level)]
[Progress: (128/200)]
[Utility: Draw Six Power Bow, no misses within forty steps]
A panel appeared.
"If I push hard tomorrow, I should be able to advance to the next stage."
Chen Sansi ate some dry food to fill his stomach, then got back to work.
With his sharp senses, he missed no trace; soon after, he found a rabbit near some bushes through its droppings.
Without a doubt, one arrow pierced it through, and he bagged it.
"Isn't there any larger game?"
Chen Sansi was naturally not satisfied with just that.
But even with his tracking skills, he found no signs of any large animals having been around that afternoon until the sun set, when he finally spotted a pheasant through some feathers on a hillside.
The arrow struck like thunder!
The arrow pierced the pheasant's body, and its inertia carried the corpse and pinned it to a nearby tree trunk.
"About four pounds."
"Pheasant is delicious, only second to pork in price, and this one could sell for about seventy wen."
"But, it's still far from enough."
Chen Sansi could now be sure that there were no large game animals around the outskirts of Tiger Head Mountain.
After all, he possessed the skill "Tracking," and he would not overlook any clue; no trace meant there really was none.
[Tracking (entry-level)]
[Progress: 101/200]
[Utility: Keen observation, light steps]
"Tracking is also about to advance to the next stage."
"Perhaps, I should consider venturing deeper into the mountains."
The deeper the area, the more abundant the game, but also the more dangerous. Typically, only experienced hunters, like Uncle Zhao from his village, would venture there.
Starting from Second Layer Mountain, there are wild boars and even big cats and black bears; every year, many hunters perish there.
Previously, as a beginner in hunting, Chen Sansi wisely refrained from venturing too deep, but now it seemed he must.
However, his archery was about to advance, so he might as well give it a try.
"I'll return and prepare well."
"Tomorrow, I'll scout around Second Layer Mountain!"