Chapter 458 Hu Ma's One Liang Two Fen of Concern

Hu Ma’s one liang two fen of concern wasn't as grand as Immortal Maiden Miaoshan's, who seemed to care little for the Grand Hall Official outside, focusing solely on making her Lantern Blessing Ceremony lively.

Now, his heart felt heavy, with a vague sense that events in Stone Horse Town were spiraling out of control.

Although the Yiqian Sect intended to hold the Lantern Blessing Ceremony, having announced it long ago, and the Great Virtuous Teacher did have corresponding principles, everyone knew the situation was dire, and the so-called Lantern Blessing Ceremony was no longer so important.

When your life is almost gone, why bother trying to play tricks?

Moreover, sealing off the town was originally easy to deceive, since most in the town were either followers or merchants who wouldn’t take it seriously. But now, with so many commoners suddenly flooding in, how could that be calculated?

Fewer people are easier to deceive, but with so many suddenly appearing, the sheer number of heads represented an immense amount of karma…

Furthermore, their arrival was strange. Did they not realize the danger in the town? Did they not see the ghostly mist blocking the way?

Or were the Grand Hall Official and the Meng family deliberately letting them in?

No, even if they were simply let in, so many commoners shouldn't have come. Now it was in the mountains, with difficult mountain roads. Even with blessings, how many could come? Now it seemed as if everyone within a hundred *li* had rushed over.

The more he thought about these questions, the heavier Hu Ma’s mood became.

Lost in thought, he stepped out and into the now bustling town, his eyes scanning the faces filled with the joys and sorrows of human life.

Most who came to Stone Horse Town were raggedly dressed and sallow-faced, and it even appeared that some were barely clinging to life, forcing themselves to come to the town.

Stone Horse Town already had a large population, and with the commoners who rushed over from within a hundred *li*, it became even more bustling and lively, as if the pressure brought by the year-end Grand Hall Official outside the town had become insignificant.

Hu Ma, accompanied by Little Red Tangerine, walked through the crowd, wanting to see if there were any sinister schemes hidden within. But the result surprised him. The town was indeed filled with commoners who had come from all directions.

He walked around but only saw widespread poverty, as if someone had deliberately gathered all the commoners within several hundred *li* here.

"Don't rush, don't rush! The Lantern Blessing Ceremony will begin at night. Immortal officials will bestow blessings upon you."

At street corners, Yiqian Sect followers dressed in white paper robes welcomed the commoners who had come from all directions, guarding large pots. They burned paper talismans and threw them into the pots, then shouted to the commoners, "But our talisman water, which cures all diseases, is available now."

One sallow, hungry face after another desperately held bowls, waiting to receive a bowl of talisman water that could cure all diseases, not minding the black, charred talisman ash, as if they truly believed it was life-saving medicine…

…Hu Ma would have believed it too. After all, there were large drops of oil floating on the talisman water, and bones with meat were bubbling in it, looking very magical. He saw those thirsty faces and knew this was not someone else's trickery. These were indeed commoners who had come to seek relief from their suffering; otherwise, they wouldn't be so eager for this talisman water.

The thin, black child nestled in their parent's arms almost buried their little head in the big pot…

"But it's strange…"

Standing among the bustling commoners, Hu Ma frowned slightly and muttered to himself, "I haven't heard of any major droughts or floods nearby. This area belongs to Gun Prefecture. The Five Fiends disaster in Ming Prefecture didn't affect this area…"

"…Why are there so many destitute commoners here, as if they've suffered a disaster?"

"There aren't that many who have suffered a disaster; they're just commoners…"

As he was pondering, a weak voice sounded beside him. Hu Ma turned in surprise and saw Old Abacus’s resentful face. Beside him were the resentful donkey and the disdainful horse.

Old Abacus was also holding a bowl, squeezing into the crowd waiting to receive talisman water. His appearance was indeed similar to the surrounding disaster victims, easily overlooked if one wasn't careful.

"There are still many people behind. The talisman water's magic power might not be enough…"

He waited in line to receive a bowl of talisman water, squatted beside Hu Ma, and slurped it down, not forgetting to suggest to the Yiqian Sect follower by the pot, "...Quickly throw in that half a sheep in the back and cook it!"

Hu Ma wasn't surprised by the old fellow's appearance but directly brought up the doubts in his heart, "This area of Gun Prefecture, even if it's not blessed with good weather, is almost there. The government still collects taxes but is also low-key, not daring to oppress too much. Are people really unable to survive?"

He indeed had doubts in his heart. If it were just one or two households, even if they couldn't survive, it wouldn't reach the point of rebellion. This was why he had always disagreed with the Yiqian Sect's rebellion.

In his previous life, he at least knew that rebellions mostly occurred where people were destitute and had no way to survive. If they could have survived but were incited to rebel, then they were truly demons, not knowing how many heads would fall.

"But the situation just now isn't just in one or two families…"

Old Abacus, while craning his neck to look at the big pot in front, said in a low voice, "It's like this all over the world, especially in recent years, it's become increasingly obvious."

"Less and less is being harvested from the fields, and strange diseases are also increasing."

"Of course, looking at just one household isn't obvious. It's just that the amount of grain collected is one or two *fen* less, and occasionally one or two people in a household fall ill. But what if it's all like this?"

"Compared to twenty years ago, the taxes haven't increased, and the people above are also suppressing bandits. But every year, it's less by one or two *fen*. Now, little by little, it has accumulated. Calculating it now, the grain has been reduced by a whole one *liang* two *fen*…" (one *liang* = approx. 50 grams; one *fen* = 0.1 *liang*)

"The fields all over the world are harvesting one *liang* two *fen* less. What do you think this is?"

"Those who have silver, even those whose silver is increasing, don't care about this one *liang* two *fen*. They even feel that since the people above aren't managing, it's becoming increasingly relaxed…"

He spoke slowly, his eyes scanning the people on the street, and said in a low voice, "But they can feel it…"

"The people above only need to spend a few more *liang* of silver to fill their bellies, but what about them…"

"One *liang* two *fen*?"

Hearing Old Abacus's words, Hu Ma’s heart trembled involuntarily, and he inexplicably thought of the words the old white-bearded man had said to him: "Could this be what the old man said, the world has become lighter?"

All of a sudden, the information that Great Red Robe had initially told him, about something like weighing the world, began to come together.

The world has become lighter, so there are more disasters.

Could it be that the world is really being sold off bit by bit, and the consequences of this deal have already appeared?

No wonder there are so many poor commoners. No wonder the Yiqian Sect revealed this sign and immediately affected so many people…

Rebellions happen in chaotic times. People rebel when they can't survive. The Bushi Sect disciples teach people to rebel everywhere, not only because they are forcibly bewitching the commoners and ambitious clans, but there is also this internal reason.

Thinking about it carefully, there is nothing more terrifying than this. For twenty consecutive years, the grain in the fields has decreased year by year, and there are ghosts and gods causing trouble, natural and man-made disasters. It would be a miracle if ordinary people could survive…

"Why do you have that expression?"

Seeing Hu Ma’s appearance as if he understood something and was sighing softly, Old Abacus also seemed to be feeling emotional. He slowly slurped down half a bowl of meat soup and gave the bowl and the remaining meat to a thin, small-headed child, then turned to Hu Ma and smiled:

"It's not us who can't survive, it's these poor ghosts."

"You're a good Blood Food Gang manager; you wouldn't listen to those demonic words and follow the Yiqian Sect to rebel, would you?"

"How is that possible?"

Hu Ma smiled at him and said, "I'm not a professional in this kind of thing. Besides, with my little ability, even if I wanted to follow them, they might not be willing to take me!"

"Don't wander around, go back to the inn and stay there. Take good care of our donkey and horse. I see there are many poor people coming to this town. In case someone is so hungry that they can't bear it and eats our livestock, we'll really have no place to cry!"

"I…"

Old Abacus hesitated, and seeing that Hu Ma was really leaving so carefree, he could only sigh heavily, his face full of helplessness, and could only remind, "You should pay attention too…"

"My old life is still hanging on you…"

"Got it."

Hu Ma just waved his hand and said, "Your life is very valuable to me!"

These words made Old Abacus feel much better, and he led the donkey towards the inn, "At least there's still some conscience…"

And Hu Ma, who understood this, also let out a long breath, squeezed out of the crowd, and walked towards the main altar mansion. Immortal Maiden Miaoshan hadn't followed but had been waiting by the mansion, with White Fan and others anxiously waiting to ask her some questions.

But when she saw Hu Ma coming from afar, she waved and dismissed these people, waiting reservedly for Hu Ma to approach, with a probing expression on her face: "Martial Uncle, what do you think of our Lantern Blessing Ceremony…"

"The people have already arrived, and the words have been spoken. How can we not hold it?"

Hu Ma sighed softly, waved his hand, and said, "I've seen your account books; they're very thorough, aren't they?"

Immortal Maiden Miaoshan looked happy, as if once Hu Ma gave the word, the Lantern Blessing Ceremony would already be held. She quickly said, "But the blessing on the altar…"

Hu Ma stopped and said, "The gods on the altar are all dead, aren't they? Then I'll lend you a lucky one…"