Can I Become Emperor by Being This Lazy? - Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Everything was under control. Xu Mao cleared her throat and smoothly delivered her prepared lines: Old Zhang has fully entrusted me with managing these matters. In my view, these grains were obtained by everyone taking risks, so they should be distributed according to contribution – more work earns more rewards. Distribution will be based on how much effort each person exerted, while also making allowances for the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled.
I observed everyone’s performance that night and have verified and supplemented my observations with witnesses to ensure fairness. Xu Mao secretly activated the System surveillance, accurately locating her target before addressing the man bluntly: You’re Zhang Balang, correct? That night during grain transport, you were at the rear of the group. While everyone was busy carrying grain, you hid in the east corner and didn’t carry a single bag of millet. To be honest, if you hadn’t been technically part of the group, I wouldn’t even give you the small portion you’re holding.
Zhang Balang froze instantly, rooted to the spot.

Xu Mao’s account was completely accurate. He was the local ne’er-do-well famous throughout the villages, spending his days idle and devoted to petty theft, always looking to take advantage.

He had joined the group merely to qualify for grain distribution. When they reached their destination, fearing capture by government officers, he had found a hiding spot to observe the situation. His plan was to escape in the chaos if they couldn’t overcome the officers – he had calculated everything perfectly.

As for whether he had hidden in the east or west corner, even he couldn’t remember clearly.

Zhang Balang vaguely recalled running toward the west, but Xu Mao’s tone was so certain that he began to doubt himself.

She must be right about the east corner – probably his memory had failed him.

As he pondered this, condemning glances from the crowd around him made Zhang Balang’s face flush red. He hurriedly clutched his meager portion of millet and slunk away, afraid Xu Mao might take it back.

Xu Mao had deliberately named the wrong location, expecting Zhang Balang to refute her. Unexpectedly, he had fled without a word. She could only search for the next candidate and throw out her challenge: Does anyone else have objections?
Come on, stand up and oppose me angrily!

Among the crowd, a young man who wanted to step forward and protest was pulled back by relatives beside him, who urgently warned: Fool! Madam Xu has only been here briefly yet already recognizes most of us – that shows her capability. Besides, you know perfectly well we’re no match for her in a fight. Just take your grain home peacefully – at least we’ll have rice to cook and won’t starve.
At the mention of food, the dissatisfied immediately came to their senses.

Indeed, all of them combined couldn’t defeat Xu Mao, let alone when some had received larger shares and wouldn’t side with those who got less. Making trouble would be useless.

Looking on the bright side, at least Xu Mao had more conscience than those government officials.

After weighing the pros and cons, everyone abandoned their original intentions.

Xu Mao waited and waited, but no one stepped forward. Instead, people kept nodding, appearing quite approving. Everyone completely accepted her without suspicion and quickly adopted the distribution rule of more work earning more rewards.

Well, the outcome was clear now.

Xu Mao took a deep breath, calming her mind while comforting herself that failure was normal and what mattered was growing stronger through setbacks. She still had backup plans.

The grain distribution caused quite a stir, and officers hurried back to report.

Learning that not only had Xu Mao survived but her prestige kept growing after waking up, Gou Guan grew restless. Summoning two minor officials, he instructed: Go spread word that people can receive grain by mortgaging their land. Give those few households a string of coins – same old rules. I want to hear what I need to hear.
The officials acknowledged the order and departed.

That afternoon, the government posted a notice, and the common people gathered around. The clerk announcing the news proclaimed loudly, The magistrate, understanding the hardships of the people, has issued this decree allowing the borrowing of fields in exchange for grain. Those who wish to claim grain should come to the county office tomorrow to sign. Borrowing for one month grants three liters of grain, while borrowing for three consecutive months grants one peck of rice. Additionally, those willing to serve in the magistrate’s residence should come early—no indenture contracts are required, and the monthly wages are generous.
As soon as the words were spoken, a buzz of discussion arose. People were astonished that the notoriously stingy magistrate had unexpectedly changed his ways and was willing to provide grain.

Where there’s something unusual, there must be a trick, the crowd grew wary.

Only one peck for three months? When Madam Xu distributed grain, each person received at least three pecks! Besides, lending out the land is one thing, but will it be so easy to get it back?
This remark stirred up a storm. Immediately, voices rose from the crowd: She wasn’t distributing her own grain—she used government supplies to boost her reputation. Shameless! And yet some people are fooled by her little tricks and happily speak up for her.
Exactly! Don’t forget, the grain Xu Mao had was looted from the government granary. The county office, out of consideration for the people, hasn’t pursued her crimes, but that doesn’t mean we can twist the truth and praise her as some great benefactor.
Utterly ridiculous! How could a woman who dares to loot government grain be a good person? Who knows how many lives she’s responsible for?
I’ve also heard she used her martial skills to coerce neighbors into helping her steal grain. And when distributing it, she gave more to those who pleased her. If you’re speaking up for her, are you hoping to curry favor and get rewards too?
The person who had complained about the government’s field-for-grain policy never expected their casual remark to provoke such a strong reaction. A flood of disparaging comments about Xu Mao surged forth. When he tried to argue back, no one supported him; instead, he was thoroughly denounced. It seemed that anyone who spoke up for Xu Mao was seen as complicit and utterly wicked.

So this was what everyone thought.

Surrounded by contemptuous and disgusted glances, the complainer felt stung and fell silent.

After this episode, the mood seemed to shift abruptly, and households began discussing the matter of lending their fields.

This year’s famine is severe, and there’s no harvest. Rather than leaving the land fallow, it’s better to lend it to the county office—at least we’ll get a peck of rice, declared Zhang Agong.

Zhao Apo immediately jumped up, cursing loudly, Have you lost your mind? Don’t you know what that corrupt official is like? Once you sign, he’ll never let go of such a prize. Even if you dashed your brains out at the county office, they wouldn’t return it to you!
Zhang Agong hesitated, I see many people willing to sign at the county office. After all, there’s strength in numbers, and with everyone watching, the county office wouldn’t dare not return the land. Besides, it’s just a few meager acres—the county office might not even want them…
Xu Mao, who had been quietly observing, keenly seized the moment. She blinked and came up with an idea. Speaking up, she said, It’s not that I’m overly suspicious, but using land as collateral—this move by the county office is highly questionable. If they truly had compassion, why not set up soup kitchens to distribute porridge? Why focus on land? A greedy beast never turns down free meat, no matter how small. I believe lending the land is unwise.
Moreover, there was another strange detail.

To the common people, land was as precious as life itself—not something they would easily part with. Yet, shortly after the notice was posted, households willing to lend their land had already emerged.

She had good reason to suspect the county office had deployed water armies to steer public opinion—the current discourse was far from normal.

Zhang Agong lowered his head, his expression conflicted. On one hand, he found Xu Mao’s words reasonable; on the other, he couldn’t bear to give up the grain.

If there was truly no issue, and all the neighbors went while his family alone stayed behind, wouldn’t they miss out on a whole peck of rice for nothing!

Seeing that he remained hesitant, Xu Mao felt she had said all she could and refrained from further persuasion.

The morning sun rose in the east, painting the sky a brilliant blue.

After settling Xu Heng, Xu Mao joined the crowd heading to the county office. With so many people gathered today, it was the perfect opportunity for a public speech.

The main gate of the county office remained shut, allowing entry only through a small side door. No one was permitted to enter early without authorization, so the crowd pressed tightly outside, shoulder to shoulder, clogging the street until it was completely impassable.

When Xu Mao reached the street entrance and saw the scene before her, she couldn’t help but cover her mouth and chuckle. She had initially worried that the county office’s efficiency might be too high, preventing a large crowd from gathering.

This was what they called divine assistance!

Carrying a borrowed brass gong, Xu Mao squeezed through the throng, struggling to make her way to a raised platform.

With a loud clang*, she struck the gong sharply, using the jarring sound to capture everyone’s attention. All eyes turned toward her.

Raising her voice, Xu Mao declared, Fellow villagers, I am deeply grateful for your rescue at the execution ground not long ago.
I’ve come today for two reasons: first, having heard the so-called ‘heavenly maiden saving the world’ claims, I don’t want anyone to continue being misled and exploited. I’m here to set the record straight. Second, there are some things I must speak out about.
The guards at the county office entrance recognized Xu Mao by her voice and realized her presence here would likely cause trouble. They tried to stop her, but the sea of people made movement nearly impossible—even shifting half an inch required immense effort. The guards were trapped in the crowd, unable to budge.

Satisfied, Xu Mao turned her attention back to the crowd. I know that lately, some have been calling me a reincarnated heavenly maiden, a savior of the suffering. But that’s not true. The so-called miracles were either misinterpretations of unfamiliar phenomena or fabrications spun by those with ulterior motives. Like all of you, I am an ordinary person—no divine powers, no ability to raise the dead.
If we wish for abundance and prosperity, we must rely on our own hands. Expecting wolves and tigers to suddenly grow a conscience and spit out the meat from their jaws is utterly impossible.
We, the poor, pay heavy taxes year after year to support the wealthy and powerful. Yet in these times of ruthless disaster, the court turns a blind eye. Only when unrest becomes uncontrollable do they ‘graciously’ release grain—and even then, we must mortgage our ancestral lands, risking never getting them back. We kneel before them, begging and thanking them for a single peck of rice to survive the winter. But isn’t disaster relief their duty? Are nobles and officials born inherently superior?!
Are nobles and officials truly born superior?

The noisy street fell into sudden silence as the crowd bowed their heads.

Yes—shouldn’t opening granaries and providing relief be the government’s responsibility? Why must we kneel before officials and press our fingerprints onto documents we can’t even read? All for just one peck of rice, treated as if it were some grand benevolence!

With civil order neglected and military discipline in disarray, the court has lost its way. Officials oppress the people until they rebel. We must abandon illusions, take up arms, and rise—only then can we eat our fill, dress warmly, and share in a prosperous, peaceful world. Keeping her words brief, Xu Mao raised her arm and issued the call: Join me in upholding righteousness—behead every corrupt official!
As soon as she finished, someone immediately responded, shouting, Uphold righteousness—bring forth peace—!

…Raise the banner of righteousness, and bring forth an era of peace!
The scattered responses gradually grew in number, layer upon layer joining in, the momentum steadily building as the voices grew louder and the crowd’s fervor intensified.