Chapter 359 Fighting the Government

"Don't worry, everyone. Line up first and we'll weigh you one by one! Pay for what you get!" Apo said to the villagers selling sugarcane.

This year, there is a sugar factory in the county town, and the purchase price of sugarcane is the same as that in Wu County. The people of Rong County saw the notice posted by the government ten days ago.

All in all, it was a profit, saving the cost of hiring a ox cart and the round-trip travel expenses.

Apo was the manager of a sugar factory sent by Jinfeng Village to Rong County. There were eighteen or nineteen men in total.

On the first day of opening, so many villagers came to sell sugarcane, and they all squeezed forward for fear that they would be late.

The men were sweating profusely. Two of them lifted the large scale bar with a wooden lever, while one man adjusted the weight to weigh the weight.

Those who were transporting, keeping accounts, and exchanging money were all so busy that they were dizzy. Soon, the sugarcane piled up like a small mountain in the yard.

The men in the workshop wash the sugarcane and then use a stone mill to crush it to squeeze out the juice.

"Go away! Go away! What are you doing here?" Suddenly a group of ferocious-looking yamen runners rushed in and dispersed the villagers who were selling sugarcane.

The villagers were in a state of panic. Wasn't it designated by the government? Why were these yamen runners forbidding the sale?

"Gentlemen!" Apo stepped forward and greeted them with a smile. "I wonder what brings you here?"

"Where are you from?" The bailiffs had stern faces and looked like they were doing their job impartially.

"My dear officials, we are villagers from Jinfengzhai in Wu County. We are going to Rong County to open a sugar factory!" Apo said as he stuffed money into the pocket of the squad leader.

A few days ago, they went to the county government office to handle the formalities. County Magistrate Yan encouraged them and said that they had done a great thing for the people of Rong County!

What does it mean that these yamen runners are so aggressive today?

"From Jinfengzhai, Wu County? How did you come to Rong County to open a sugar factory? Who gave you the permission?"

The squad leader pushed away Apo's hand that was trying to stuff the money into his pocket and looked around at him, not taking the small amount of money seriously.

Apo raised his head and looked at the squad leader in surprise. "The governor has granted permission. We have already registered with the county office. County Magistrate Yan has also approved it. I wonder if the other officials..."

"Franchise? Who said that only Jinfengzhai can run the sugar factory? This is Rong County, not Wu County. We won't tolerate you bullying the market!"

Come on, kick these troublemakers out! They actually came here to rob Rong County of its gold nuggets! They are so bold! "

The squad leader shouted, and the bailiffs came forward, grabbed the men and pushed them out, and the two sides immediately got into a fight.

While the yamen runners were arguing with the men, another group of yamen runners rushed in. The squad leader led them to the counter and saw baskets of copper coins. His eyes turned red!

I've never seen so much money in my life! The slang people in Jinfeng Village are so arrogant that it makes me jealous and want to bleed.

"Hurry up and move out!" The squad leader said proudly with his hands on his hips, as if this was his family's money.

When the money was carried back, the county magistrate got the lion's share, and those under him got the smaller share.

"What are you doing? We are law-abiding and have come here to open a sugar factory under the orders of the Governor. And you are so brazen! You are robbing us in broad daylight!

Breaking the law while enforcing it! Is there still any law?" Apo shouted angrily, lifting the banner of the squad leader.

"How dare you! Rong County will never allow you unruly people to run wild!" The squad leader was pushed to the ground and was furious.

"Catch them! This is a rebellion! How dare you, a rude and unruly person, disobey the orders of the government!"

"Swish!" The yamen runners drew their swords and slashed at Apo and the others.

Awa and his men grabbed scales, abacus, and sugarcane to resist, but they were ultimately no match for the broadsword and were quickly defeated.

"We want to see County Magistrate Yan!" A dozen men including Apo were covered in blood and were taken away with their arms handcuffed behind their backs, shouting loudly along the way.

The villagers who came to sell sugarcane and the people who were shopping were all trembling with fear. It had been a long time since they had seen such a scene of fighting and killing!

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the handsome and smiling Slang man was beaten to death, becoming a miserable and unruly citizen who defied the government.

"Tsk! Open your dog eyes and see clearly, who is County Magistrate Yan? Now it's County Magistrate Wang!" The squad leader spat a mouthful of thick phlegm on Apo, looking very proud.

"Impossible! A few days ago, when I went to the government office to handle official documents, it was County Magistrate Yan who was in charge. How come it became County Magistrate Wang?

We are here in Rong County to open a sugar factory under the order of the Governor. The county government cannot go back on its word!" Apo objected loudly.

"Hmph! Don't think you're superior just because you have a few bucks! I'm just a commoner, what can I do to fight against the government?

So what if it was the official document approved by County Magistrate Yan? A new emperor chooses new ministers. If you want justice, go to County Magistrate Yan and see if he can still make the decision for you.

Tell you, the troublemakers, that it is now County Magistrate Wang, and anything he doesn't approve of will not count!"

After the squad leader finished speaking, he kicked Apo in the stomach in frustration.

"Ouch!" Apo almost fainted from the pain.

"You Han people are the most despicable. You deceive and bully us Li people! We Li people will not let you go!"

"Wow, you dare to threaten me! You're so tough! I want to see who's tougher, your words or my sword!"

The squad leader drew his sword and chopped at Apo's legs.

"Ah!" Apo screamed and fell to his knees with a thud. The knife sank deeply into his flesh and blood gushed out immediately.

"Brother!" The younger brother Adu broke free from the yamen runners' grip like a madman and rushed forward to hug his brother.

"Oh my God!" The villagers and people who witnessed all this covered their mouths in fear.

"Brother! Brother! Just bear with it for a moment, I'll take you to the clinic right away!"

Regardless of the injuries on his body and arms, Adu carried his pale-faced brother on his back and ran to the clinic.

"Stop! Are you allowed to leave?" The squad leader brought the yamen runners and blocked Adu's way.

"Take them all away! These unruly people, if you don't teach them a lesson, they won't know that the Horse King has three eyes!"

"Get out of the way!" Adu's eyes were bloodshot. The blood from his brother's legs soaked through his clothes and dripped onto the ground.

"Take him away!" The squad leader turned a blind eye to the blood flowing like a stream on the ground.

Several yamen runners came forward, drew their swords, and forced Adu to go to the yamen.

"You are a bunch of jackals, tigers and leopards! Han people with no conscience! I will fight you to the death!" Adu carried his brother on his back and rushed towards the yamen runners.

"Swish!" The swords were all drawn out and pointed at Adu.

Ah Du's eyes were red. How could his flesh and blood withstand the sword and axe? He rushed forward and took several blows. The flesh on his chest and abdomen was torn apart, and the blood stained his front.

But he couldn't break through the obstruction and roared angrily to the sky, "Ah!"

There were many Li people among the onlookers. They were so angry that they surrounded them because they could not bear to see how their people were being slaughtered.

"Let them go!" A strong Li man stepped forward, his fists clenched tightly and veins throbbing.

"Hey! Are you guys trying to rebel?" The squad leader looked fierce but was actually weak.

The Li people have always been barbaric and cruel. If so many of them surrounded me, they would eat me alive!

"You Han people won't let us live, let's see if we dare to rebel?" The Li people said in unison, "Let them go!"

"Rebellion, rebellion! Let's go back and tell the county magistrate to arrest all these rebels!"

The squad leader gritted his teeth and decided not to suffer a loss. With a wave of his hand, the yamen runners ran away with several baskets of money.

"Brother, hold on!" Adu ran wildly with his brother on his back.