The man in the lead crossed his arms, his face full of disdain.
"You think you can rebel? You can't fight back with sticks and woodcutters. You should think carefully about your own strength. Trying to stop a chariot with your bare hands is just overestimating your abilities."
Lingyin was a little nervous because among these people were uncles and elders who had a good relationship with her family, as well as her father Ling Laosan's childhood friend. Even if they were villagers with whom she had a cold relationship or had a grudge, she did not want them to be beheaded.
They weren't looking for trouble; all their money had been taken, putting them in a survival crisis.
With a large family of young and old, and only a little food left, and no money, how are they going to survive?
They are all pitiful people, forced into this situation.
Qiu checked several times and found that Ling Laosan was not among the villagers. She breathed a sigh of relief, but when she saw the villagers who had been struggling to make a living lying on the ground, some injured, some disabled, and some possibly dying, she felt heavy-hearted.
However, the leader did not seem to have any intention of killing them.
"It's just that your village is unlucky. It happened to be when I was in a bad mood, so I levied a little more on you. As for your neighboring village, Daohua Village, we only took 60%. It depends on fate and luck."
Qiao Lian'er frowned. Why would this person say that?
Is he planning to incite armed conflict between villages and shift the conflict to the villagers themselves?
Sure enough, the villagers' faces showed resentment. Why should they take 80% or 90% while the neighboring village only takes 60%? It's not about scarcity but about unfairness. Are the people of Daohua Village more noble than them?
They were no match for the guards carrying swords, nor could they fight against these men.
But between villages, which one is weaker than the other?
“We need to go back quickly, lest your father do something rash and get involved with these troublesome villagers.”
Although the family's food supplies were saved, Qiu was still worried because Ling Laosan was a man who always stood up for the underdog.
Qiao Lian'er quickened her pace, and as she was about to pass those people, two constables came over and stopped her carriage.
Da Yong's brows furrowed, and his fists clenched unconsciously.
"What are you two doing?" Qiao Lian'er asked politely.
"Check your carriages to see if there are any items that should be surrendered."
“Brothers, you can just look around. We just went to the county town to buy some household items. The people at home have already paid what they were supposed to pay.”
These people used their swords to lift the curtain of the carriage door, revealing an empty room with only a mother and her two children inside.
Only then did they reluctantly let them pass.
"brute."
As the carriage passed through this section of road, Da Yong couldn't help but curse.
“It’s understandable that the higher-ups want to wage war and levy taxes, but they’re taking advantage of the laws to do evil and seek personal gain.”
"Wearing this kind of clothing, instead of protecting the country and safeguarding the people's safety and well-being, he does things that only thieves would do. What's the difference between him and a beast in human clothing?"
He now understands more deeply why Lian'er made arrangements in advance, because Lian'er knew that these people would not be able to follow the requirements from above completely.
Otherwise, what's wrong with taking half of it when the country is in real crisis?
The problem is that some people are trying to line their own pockets, so it's not worth it at all.
"Brother Dayong, at a time like this, we can only take care of ourselves."
Qiao Lian'er was truly helpless; in the face of such a powerful force, an individual was like an ant.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
