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墨書 Inktalez
"Why?" Chu Yan asked.
Zhu Ji glanced at Chu Yan and replied, "They have taken our water resources; this is merely reclaiming what is rightfully ours. Now, everyone says you are as light as a swallow. In times like this, you must leverage that advantage."
"Go inform our clansmen. We need to gather at the ancestral hall for a clan meeting immediately," Chu Yan responded.
"Understood, dear." With that, he vanished from sight in an instant. His movements were incredibly swift, and soon he was gone without a trace.
The message spread rapidly, quickly reaching Xinghua Village. Every member of the Chu Family learned about the upcoming meeting at the ancestral hall. Although they were unclear about the reasons, they understood that clan meetings usually involved significant matters for the entire family. Therefore, they dared not delay, setting aside their tasks and hurrying to the ancestral hall.
Everyone speculated about what could be the reason for gathering the entire clan today. Who knows? The weather was getting hotter, crops were wilting due to lack of water, and the Hutuo River had very little water left. The clan leader was likely calling everyone together to discuss countermeasures. They could only hope for a solution—or perhaps a rainstorm would come.
"Hush, everyone be quiet; the clan leader has arrived."
As Zhu Ji entered, the once lively hall fell silent. It was evident how highly Zhu Ji was regarded among his kin. He faced the crowd, with Chu Yan and his companions who had just returned from reconnaissance standing behind him.
"I believe you are all curious why I have called this clan meeting," he began, drawing everyone's attention as they nodded in response.
Zhu Ji cleared his throat and raised his voice, "The answer is quite simple: the hardships we are currently facing have been caused by others."
The moment the words were spoken, everyone in the room was taken aback.
"Chief, what do you mean by that?"
Could it be that you want us to rebel?
Though he did not dare to finish his sentence, everyone present understood the implication. The words hinted at nobles and lords, suggesting a rebellion was in the air. Yet, this was not the intention of the people. Until one is truly cornered, rebellion is always a last resort, unless there are no other options left.
Zhu Ji raised his hand to interrupt. "This is not about rebellion. Have you all noticed that the water level of the Hutuo River has significantly decreased recently?"
The crowd nodded in agreement. "Indeed, every passing day, the water seems to diminish even more. Currently, the water flow of the Hutuo River is insufficient for our irrigation needs."
"But Chief, why bring up the Hutuo River?"
Finally, Zhu Ji unveiled the mystery and got straight to the point. "The reason for the reduced water flow is not due to drought; rather, outsiders have tampered with our water source."
While drought can cause river levels to drop, in previous years, even during dry spells, there was still enough water for some irrigation. However, this year, even that minimal irrigation cannot be guaranteed.
"Why is this happening? It is because our Shang Yan and Zhao Family Village have employed pumping facilities that have blocked the flow of our rightful river."
This revelation immediately stirred unrest throughout the assembly.
If the decrease in water flow were due to natural drought, it would be akin to suffering from a natural disaster. In such a case, people might grumble against heaven's unfairness and feel a sense of helplessness. Before Heaven's Mandate, their anger would be futile; they would fear that reckless actions could invite even greater calamities.
However, if the cause of the reduced water flow were intentional human actions, then the situation would be entirely different.
As fellow humans, why should they have the power to control the water source while we are left to face the consequences of water scarcity? The Hutuo River belongs to everyone, not a treasure hoarded by a select few. Therefore, when it was revealed that the Zhao Family was responsible for blocking the flow of the Hutuo River, everyone present expressed their outrage.
However, not all members of the Chu Family were easily mobilized by this statement. A few remained calm and raised a question: "Patriarch, is this matter confirmed?" Zhu Ji nodded in affirmation and pointed to several individuals in the front row, stating, "To ensure the accuracy of the information, I have dispatched personnel in conjunction with the Xiahou Clan to investigate. The investigation has shown that it was indeed the Zhao Family who intercepted the river water. If anyone has doubts, feel free to ask these individuals."
Members of the Chu Clan stepped forward to inquire. Chu Yan and others were well-prepared and responded smoothly. After all, the truth itself was evident, making it easy for them to explain. As the questioning deepened, the frustration on the faces of the Chu Clan became increasingly apparent, like a coiled spring ready to unleash its tension at any moment. At that moment, Zhu Ji was the spark that could ignite it all.
"Now, everyone understands the situation, right?"
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